Abstract: A receipt generator which produces written receipts at locations remote to the location of use for a conventional charge-card activated system is disclosed. The charge-card activated system provides a telecommunications service and maintains billing records which are supplied at predetermined intervals, such as daily, to a receipt transmission computer. The receipt transmission computer communicates with a personal profile database that associates charge-card numbers with phone numbers assigned to the remote locations. Printing devices, such as facsimile machines, couple to phone lines at these remote locations. The receipt transmission computer identifies, through an examination of charge-card identifiers, particular ones of the billing records for which personal profile database entries exist. The receipt transmission computer then formats a text file for such records.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes various connectors, a battery compartment, and a circuit card is disclosed. The apparatus serves as a battery pack and programmer interface unit (BP/PIU) which mates with a cellular portable telephone (CPT) transceiver to form a CPT assembly. The CPT assembly is specifically adapted for use in connection with an automated registration and registration cancellation system, such as that utilized in the management of rental CPTs. The battery compartment is enlarged so that rental CPT assemblies may be used for a reasonable rental period without requiring a battery recharge. Electrical circuits protect various ones of signals provided at a communications port of the CPT transceiver. Connectors are arranged to permit a CPT programmer to read and program CPT parameters without disassembling the CPT assembly.

Abstract: An interface circuit which adapts an existing telecommunications device, such as a facsimile machine, to successfully operate through an existing cellular mobile radiotelephone. No significant modifications are required of the telecommunications device or of the cellular mobile radiotelephone. The interface circuit includes circuitry to convert a two-wire communication interface of the telecommunications device into a four-wire communication interface required by the cellular mobile radiotelephone. This circuitry includes a received signal altering circuit which permits controlling side tone cancellation independently of transmitted and received signal gain control. In addition, the interface circuit includes a switchhook status detector which monitors the switchhook state of the telecommunications device to control muting in the cellular mobile radiotelephone.

Abstract: Mobile cellular telephone services are automatically vended through a microprocessor controlled vending machine which inventories a plurality of mobile cellular telephones and selectively delivers one of the phones after reading a credit card number from a customer and obtaining credit card approval. The mobile cellular telephone is dispensed and later returned by the customer. When returned by the customer, the mobile cellular telephone is disposed within a receiving unit which uniquely verifies the mobile cellular telephone through its phone number, reads the usage made by the customer of the mobile telephone, and senses the charged condition of the battery within the mobile telephone. The customer's credit card is again read and the bill for rental of the mobile cellular telephone unit, including all telephone usage charges, is computed and directly billed to the credit card number.