Abstract: A service transaction provider for administering a plurality of accounts for a client includes a computer having a processor, a data storage medium, and a network port. The storage medium is configured to store the clients' personal information, account information, and transactional information. The processor configured to create a database of client information including the client's personal information, account information corresponding to a plurality of accounts associated with the client, and transactional information corresponding to a plurality of transactions conducted by the client; designate as confidential a predetermined first portion of the database client information; designate as non-confidential a predetermined second portion of the database of client information non-confidential; and provide the client with access to the first and second portions of the database of client information via the network port.

Abstract: A method for using an electronic transaction device with an electronic transaction service provider may include the steps of registering the electronic transaction device with the electronic transaction device service provider, registering a plurality of accounts corresponding to a plurality of service institutions, providing a data connection between the electronic transaction device and the electronic transaction device service provider, and storing account information for a plurality of service institutions at the electronic transaction device service provider. The method may also include the steps of providing access to a database of client information to the client and analyzing transactional information in the database of client information for a plurality of accounts.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing user information using a customized computer interface which is user centric and geared toward creating and managing a personal information portal. In one aspect, the invention provides computerized methods for organizing a representation of user activities and information and navigating through an information management system that utilizes the representation.

Abstract: A service transaction provider for administering a accounts for a client includes a computer having a processor, a data storage medium, and a network port. The storage medium is configured to store the clients' personal information, account information, and transactional information. The processor configured to create a database of client information; designate as confidential a predetermined first portion of the database client information; designate as non-confidential a predetermined second portion of the database of client information non-confidential; and provide the client with access to the first and second portions of the database of client information via the network port. Access to the second portion is provided to a plurality of vendors, while access for the first portion is denied to the vendors.

Abstract: The invention also includes methods of issuing an account authorization to a UET card, a method of transferring transactional and account information between a UET card and a personal computer or a mainframe computer, a method of using the UET card as a remote terminal for a mainframe computer, and a method of conducting an electronic transaction.

Abstract: An adapter for use with a conventional POS card reader to interface with PDA's, Wireless Phones, and other Handheld devices, through Infrared or RF media, such that signals received from the devices can be converted to conventional magnetic stripe and/or smart card format, as required by the conventional POS card readers. The adapter includes a housing, including at least a reader-insertable portion capable of being inserted in the card reader, a receive circuit in the housing, a processor in the housing connected to the receive circuit; and a point of sale interface in the reader insertable portion of the housing and connected to the processor. The housing may be approximately the size of a conventional credit card and may be fully reader-insertable.

Abstract: An adapter for use with a conventional POS card reader to interface with PDA's, Wireless Phones, and other Handheld devices, through Infrared or RF media, such that signals received from, the devices can be, converted to conventional magnetic stripe and/or smart card format, as required by the conventional POS card readers. The adapter includes a housing, including at least a reader-insertable portion capable of being inserted in the card reader, a receive circuit in the housing, a processor in the housing connected to the receive circuit; and a point of sale interface in the reader insertable portion of the housing and connected to the processor. The housing may be approximately the size of a conventional credit card and may be fully reader-insertable. The point of sale interface comprises a magnetic stripe emulator, a smart card emulator, or both. The magnetic stripe emulator may comprise at least one electromagnet.

Abstract: A method for using an electronic transaction device with an electronic transaction service provider may include the steps of registering the electronic transaction device with the electronic transaction device service provider, registering a plurality of accounts corresponding to a plurality of service institutions, providing a data connection between the electronic transaction device and the electronic transaction device service provider, and storing account information for a plurality of service institutions at the electronic transaction device service provider. The method may also include the steps of providing access to a database of client information to the client and analyzing transactional information in the database of client information for a plurality of accounts.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing user information using a customized computer interface which is user centric and geared toward creating and managing a personal information portal. In one aspect, the invention provides computerized methods for organizing a representation of user activities and information and navigating through an information management system that utilizes the representation.

Abstract: A universal electronic transaction card ("UET card") is capable of serving as a number of different credit cards, bank cards, identification cards, employee cards, medical and health care management cards and the like. The UET card includes storage elements, an input interface, a processor, a display, and a communications interface. In a preferred embodiment, the UET card stores transactional information to eliminate paper receipts and includes security features to prevent unauthorized use. The UET card may also be used to replace conventional currency and traveler's checks, and may be configured to store and display promotional information, such as advertising and incentives.

Abstract: A universal electronic transaction card ("UET card") is capable of serving as a number of different credit cards, bank cards, identification cards, employee cards, medical cards and the like. The UET card includes information storage elements, an input interface, a processor, a display, and a communications interface. In a preferred embodiment, the display is a touch-sensitive display which provides the user with a number of graphical images which enable the user to selectively chose the type of "credit card" to use for a transaction, and to then choose a particular credit card to use with the transaction. After the choice is made, a graphic image appears on the display which looks like the face of a plastic credit card, including the account number, the user's name, the name of the credit card company and its logo. Thereafter, the user presents the UET card to the point of sales terminal for a sales transaction.

Abstract: An interface circuit used between a telephone office and a subscriber's telephone operated in response to signals identifying incoming calls to provide visual and/or audible indications of the identification information. The incoming signal information is also extended in decoded form to an associated computer, computer network, and/or television screen.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed for telecommunication PCM time division multiplex switching systems of the type having voice access ports, each with a voice path and a signalling path, and having PCM signalling and voice transmit buses to carry information to a switching network. From the network, PCM voice receive buses carry switched voice information to be demultiplexed, converted to analog form and connected to the voice port. A signalling bus carries information from the switching network to registers. The system is improved to enable it to switch data as well as voice information. A data port is provided to accompany each voice port, and the improved system includes means for multiplexing input data at the port and inserting it on the signalling transmit bus once the signalling portion of a call is completed. A receive data bus connects the signalling receive bus to means for demultiplexing data and presenting it to receive data ports.

Abstract: Automated telephones with electronic circuits for outputting dial digit sequences respectively corresponding to different ones of a plurality of user's switches when each switch is momentarily actuated. The circuits permit speed dialing of (i) directory numbers, (ii) tandem sequences for accessing outside centers and specific line numbers, and (iii) access or feature codes. The apparatus is characterized especially by devices to create automatically loop breaks to simulate either a hook flash or a re-seize on-hook condition in certain circumstances and despite the fact that the telephone remains off-hook. By simple wire connections between a master or "secretary's" telephone and each of the member's phone sets within a limited group, intelligence signals are interchanged to provide "key line group" action without an elaborate, separate "control box" and even though each telephone of the group is served by the central system only via its own two-wire line.

Abstract: An automatic call distribution and voice line PBX switching system which includes a control complex having a first microprocessor based control circuit to selectively establish connections between access ports of a switching network. The control complex further includes a second microprocessor based control circuit which communicates data with a group of automatic call distribution positions, each of which is coupled to a different one of a first group of the access ports. The first and second microprocessor based control circuits communicate asynchronously through an interprocessor buffer circuit, and the number of automatic call distribution positions served by both the first and second control may be selected depending upon the particular application for the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing for faults in an analog-to-digital (A/D) section and a digital-to-analog (D/A) section of a code converter in a digital time division, multiplex telecommunications system are disclosed. The A/D section is tested by connecting a digital test pattern via the switching network to the D/A section and monitoring for faults by comparing the resulting output to a reference value. The A/D section is tested by interconnecting the A/D section to be tested between a first previously tested D/A section and a second previously tested D/A section and then connecting the digital test pattern to the first D/A section while monitoring the output of the second D/A section for faults.

Abstract: A common control telecommunications switching system capable of efficiently handling both narrow band and wide band information. The system uses a hybrid digital network having a time division section for switching narrow band signals and a space division section for switching wide band signals. Both networks include connection memories accessible by the central processor for writing connections therein to set up or take down communication paths between selected access ports.

Abstract: A microprocessor control complex for a telecommunications switching system disclosed in the context of a digital time division multiplex switching system. The control complex is arranged as a cluster of hardware identical microprocessors in a distributed processing configuration wherein each microprocessor is provided with its own memory and clock and is programmed to perform a portion of the total function of the switching system. Each microprocessor performs the functions assigned to it independently and asynchronously of the others. Data is transferred between microprocessors in a manner which minimizes the amount of time spent in interprocessor communication. This communication is accomplished via interprocessor buffers which provide dedicated communication channels between partner processors while allowing those processors to continue to operate asynchronously. The distributed control complex allows the software to be modularized with resulting economies in program generation and debugging.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for testing digital tone generators in a digital time division, multiplex telecommunications switching system. The tone generator produces both continuous and interrupted tones, and testing of any tone is accomplished by determining if its successive PCM words are stuck-at-dc. (SDD) and if it is an idle tone (ITD). The combinations of ITD and SDD determine whether (i) the tone generator being tested is malfunctioning, (ii) the test method or apparatus itself has failed, or (iii) the tone generator is functioning properly.

Abstract: Different ones of a plurality of sounds or tones are digitally signaled selectively in the different time slots of recurring frame cycles by initially storing a group of PCM samples for each sound in addressable memory. As each given time slot recurs one sample of a sound preselected for that time slot is read out to a common bus, and as successive cycles occur the address signals applied to the memory during any given time slot are progressively changed to cause repeated scanning of the samples of the preselected sound. After address signals for one time slot have been pulled from a read/write memory, they are replaced by writing "next sample address" signals into the same location of that memory, the latter having a word location for each time slot and being addressed for reading and writing by control signals which exist during and uniquely identify the successive time slots of each cycle.