System and a method for carrying out personal and business transactions
The present invention relates to a system and a method for carrying out personal transactions including financial transactions, e-mail transactions, and voice messaging transactions. A user of the system is issued a ten digit identification number in the form of a telephone number. The identification number may be the user's actual phone number or a pseudo phone number. The user is also assigned a PIN number which contains a single or multiple digit security element which allows the user to indicate a security problem and its nature by dialing the assigned PIN number and which allows the user to avoid tripping the security elements of the system by using a digit or digits other than that/those assigned as the significantly placed digit(s) in the PIN number. Access to the system is provided either by dialing a central telephone number or via the Internet.
The present invention relates to an improved system and method for carrying out personal and business transactions, such as financial transactions, e-mail transactions, and voice messaging transactions. The system and method of the present invention may be utilized by hearing individuals as well as hearing impaired or deaf individuals.
Communication plays an increasingly growing role in today's society. Despite dramatic technological changes in the past years, the telephone continues to be a principal means of communication. A growing number of people have cell phones and routinely use them to leave voice messages for friends and associates and conduct business transactions. Sometimes however the telephone number of the individual or business that they are trying to contact is not readily available.
Over the years, messaging systems have been developed which allow a user to leave messages for subscribers to the messaging system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,476 to D'Apuzzo et al., for example, illustrates a nonpublished number messaging system which allows a caller to leave a message for a party having an unpublished telephone number. In this system, calls to a directory assistance operator are routed to a voice mail service provider. A recorded message left by the caller is delivered to the appropriate party by the provider.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,781 to DeJager illustrates a message notification system in which subscribers are automatically notified of newly arrived messages in their mailboxes when they initiate a transaction, such as a calling card call or a withdrawal at an ATM. The mail arrival notification message is delivered to the subscriber as part of the validation process for the credit/debit or calling card number.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,507 to Bobo II illustrates a message storage and delivery system which is connected to a plurality of DID phone lines. The system is designed to receive facsimile messages, voice messages, and data messages. The system assigns a separate telephone number to each user and is capable of receiving more than one message simultaneously for a single user. The messages are stored in a memory and converted into HTML files. The system is connected to the Internet and notifies the users with an e-mail message each time a message is received. The system is also capable of paging a user upon receipt of a message. After receiving notification, the user can download the message onto his/her computer or simply preview the message. A user can also telephone the system to listen to messages.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,239 to Solomon et al. describes a method and an apparatus for establishing anonymous telephone communications between service subscribers and responding callers over public telephone lines. Incoming calls from callers are transferred by a system controller and an additional subsystem to a message recording facility or directly to the desired subscriber.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,747 to Yue et al. relates to a personal number communications system which assigns a personal number to each subscriber and receives from each subscriber communication routing information in the form of one or more hierarchical lists of destinations based on the time of day and day of the week. The system receives communications directed to the subscriber's personal number and identifies the source of the communication. The system then selects a first destination for the communication from the hierarchical list. At the first destination, the system announces the identified source of the communication and requests disposition information as to the acceptance, formal rejection or passive rejection, such as a no answer, of the communication. If rejected, the system routes the communication to the default destination selected by the subscriber. If there is a passive rejection, the system requests communication disposition information from the next destination in the destination list according to the hierarchy selected by the subscriber. The system continues to request communication disposition information from each sequential destination on the destination list until the communication is accepted or until the last destination on the destination list is reached, at which point the communication is routed to the last destination.
Other voice mail and message delivery systems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,226 to Olson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,152 to Solomon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,839 to Beyda et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,461 to Brown et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,271 to Karnowski, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,780 to Kasper et al.
Telephones are also being used in connection with credit card transactions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,250 to McAllister illustrates a system and a method for enhancing the security of credit card use through a telephone system wherein the subscriber may establish through the telephone network a series of parameters which must be satisfied in order to activate the credit card to permit validation by passage of the card through the conventional point-of-sale magnetic swiping device. The parameters may include subscriber establishment of an activation time frame, an activation area, a dollar limit on purchasing power, a temporary PIN valid subject to satisfaction of the other parameters, and voice verification.
Despite these systems, there still is a need for a secure system and method for carrying out financial transactions which also allows a user to leave voice messages and e-mails for others. There is also a need for a system and method for carrying out personal and/or business transactions which leaves a verifiable trail to the identity of the transaction originator. Still further, there is a need for an improved communication system for hearing impaired/deaf persons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a secure system and method for carrying out personal transactions including financial, e-mail, and voice messaging transactions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method as above which enables the utilization of a universal, personal or individual, open market identification coupled with a unique secure transaction identifier.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method as above which utilizes a PIN number having a security component which uniquely indicates trail activation requirements, as well as, the well being of the user.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system and a method as above which allows a wide variety of financial transactions to be carried out at a wide variety of locations.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a system and a method as above which allows users to purchase merchandise over the Internet without having to use and/or expose credit/debit cards.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system and a method as above which allows individuals or entities to purchase merchandise over the Internet even though they do not have a credit card.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system and a method which allows hearing impaired or deaf people to leave emails and voice messages for others.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system and a method which allows hearing impaired or deaf individuals to participate in conference calls with others.
The foregoing objects are attained by the system of the present invention.
As used herein, the term “on-line service provider” means any service provider including but not limited to on-line service providers or independent service providers (ISPs).
In accordance with the present invention, a system for carrying out personal transactions including financial transactions, e-mail transactions, and voice messaging transactions is provided. A user of the system is issued a ten digit identification number in the form of a telephone number. The identification number may be the user's actual phone number or a pseudo phone number, which pseudo phone number is linkable to the user's actual phone number. The user is also assigned a PIN number which contains a single or multiple digit security element which allows the user to indicate a security problem by dialing the assigned PIN number and which allows the user to avoid tripping the security elements of the system by using one or more digit(s) other than those assigned as the security digit(s) in the PIN number.
The system of the present invention allows a user to perform a wide variety of financial transactions including deposits, withdrawals, merchandise purchases, etc. at a wide variety of locations. It also allows a user to purchase merchandise over the Internet without using a debit/credit card.
The system of the present invention allows a user, including a deaf person, to transmit and receive e-mails and to be notified when he/she is a recipient of such e-mails. The system also allows a user to send money to another party and to notify a recipient that money is available and allows the recipient to receive or retrieve the available money. The system enables a user to receive e-mails and/or money notification without actually having a personal computer.
The system of the present invention also allows a user to receive voice messages from both subscribers and non-subscribers to the system. For example, an individual using a pay phone or a cellular phone may leave a message for another party, without utilizing that party's answering machine, which can be retrieved by the another party from another pay phone or another cellular phone.
The system of the present invention also allows hearing impaired or deaf people to participate in conference calls with other hearing impaired or deaf individuals and/or hearing individuals.
Methods for using the system of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing are also described.
Other details of the method and system of the present invention, as well as other objects and advantages attendant thereto, are set forth in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals depict like elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As previously mentioned, the present invention relates to a method and a system for carrying out various types of personal transactions using an identification number in the form of a telephone number. The system may include one or more communication centers 10 whose structure will be described hereinafter. Each of the centers 10 is configured to perform financial, e-mail, and voice messaging transactions as well as other types of personal transactions.
One of the transactions that can be carried out using the method and system of the present invention is called Fast Cash Transaction (FCT). FCT is a monetary system that allows a user to move money, either in the form of real cash or virtual cash, in a number of ways. Virtual cash, as used herein, is cash moved among temporary or non-temporary accounts called Cash On Line Accounts (COLA). The FCT system cures the problems that present day sundry banking and monetary transactions of cash payments and receipts are lacking—namely automation, security, and privacy. Further, the FCT system cures the current problem that most monetary transactions are not “at will” and require customers to be in specific locations at specific times.
Utilizing the FCT portion of the system of the present invention, a user can go to any retail establishment, such as a chain food store or gasoline station, deposit cash under a set format of transactions and request delivery of the cash to a particular third party or to himself. The third party can then go to another retail establishment and redeem the designated amount in cash. The FCT system also allows a user to obtain cash, that had been deposited in another location by a third party, from an automated teller machine (ATM). A user can also keep a certain amount of cash in a private COLA and simply issue instructions about movement of the cash in the account via telephone. If the recipient of the cash being moved has a COLA account, then the amount of money transferred can be credited to his/her COLA account. The recipient could also receive the money being transferred at an ATM, a kiosk, an FCT terminal, or a retail location without having a standing account relationship. The FCT system can also be used to electronically pay bills in the form of e-mail notices, such as mortgage payments via e-mail. It is a more cost-effective approach than dedicated web sites run by individual goods/services providers.
As will be described in more detail hereinafter, utilizing the FCT system, a user can tag a transaction without revealing such tagging if money is being extracted under duress. Alternatively, the user can alert a 911 emergency station via a silent embedded 911 call if a potential violent occurrence is related to the withdrawal. The alarm is automatically activated by a default with each transaction unless turned off by the user utilizing a special feature of his/her PIN number.
A center 10 used to perform a FCT transaction is shown in
The center 10 also has one or more lines for voice transmissions to allow the public to access the center via any telephone system. A point to point transport media, such as T-1, T-3, or wireless, enabling transmission between the center 10 and a telephone company (TELCO), that is further connected by the TELCO to the public network system, such as is presently done by a unit like a DMS 500, enables a large number of telephone transactions. As shown in
The center 10 also includes a voice response unit 22. The voice response unit 22 receives voice and/or DTMF communications from the public and converts them to digital signals. The voice response unit 22 or an ancillary unit communicates the digital signals to the local area network 12 and receives digital instructions from the local area network 12 for responses to be made in response to the voice communications. In this way, necessary information from a user of the system, such as his/her identification number, can be inputted and additional information requested. For example, the voice response unit 22 can be instructed by the local area network 12 to provide the user with voice instructions, such as press 1 for e-mail, press 2 for voice messaging, press 3 for cash transactions, etc., to gain more information about the transaction to be consummated. There are a number of commercial voice response units, such as one sold by Verifone, which can be used for the voice response unit 22. It should be noted that other ways exist to accomplish this function. For example, a text to speech unit 28 can instruct the user in voice based on appropriately triggered questions submitted in text and transmitted in voice while the DTMF unit deciphers the response of the user.
The center 10 further includes a telephone communications system 24 for communicating with outside agencies such as the police, fire, other institutions such as banks, etc. While the system 24 can have any desired configuration, it preferably has a dial out unit 26 and a text to speech unit 28. When performing voice messaging services, the telephone communications system 24 may be linked to sub-message centers (not shown) located around the country for reasons to be discussed hereinafter.
Access to the center 10 can be gained in a number of ways. For example, the public can access the center 10 using any standard telephone and any desired telephone service. As discussed above, telephone communications travel along the voice line to the dual tone multiple frequency device 20 and then to the local area network 12. Alternatively, the center 10 may be accessed via the Internet. Data entered in this manner moves along the line 14 and through router 16 to the local area network 12. Accessing the center 10 in a wireless manner is similar to voice travelling along a voice line except that the airways replace the land line transport media.
The local area network 12 can have any desired architecture.
The local area network 12 further includes a search engine 36 with access to the data bases 34; a set 38 of stored processing instructions which govern the operation and has access to the servers 30 and 32; a server 40 having a set of stored FCT operating instructions to which the server 30 has access; a server 42 having a set of stored voice messaging system operating instructions to which the server 30 has access; a security operation and data base 44 to which each of the servers 30, 32, 40 and 42 have access; and a billing and statistics data base 46 which can be accessed by the servers 30, 32, 40 and/or 42 and to which any of the servers can transfer information.
The security system 44 contains instructions for checking both static and dynamic system states as well as an appropriate data base. For example, when checking static system states, the instructions when implemented by one of the servers in the network 12 checks for: (1) multiple account numbers with the same pin number; (2) multiple pin numbers with same or different account numbers; (3) transactions involving similar amounts, days, and/or time of day; (4) frequent transactions involving a particular user; and (5) the relationship of the transaction originator to an account. From this information pattern calculations and variations can be made and elevated states determined. If an elevated state is determined, an alert to the system can be issued. When checking dynamic states, the data base looks at geographic transactions, frequency of usage, and/or sums and patterns. From these checks, pattern and magnitude variation calculations are made using standard mathematical techniques and from these calculations, elevated states are detected. As before, alerts can be issued to the system when an elevated state is detected.
Each of the servers 30, 32, 40, and/or 42 used in the local area network 12 may comprise any suitable computer known in the art programmed using any suitable program in any suitable language known in the art and any suitable operating system. For example, each server could be a Tandem computer, an uninterruptable Stratus computer, a Hewlett-Packard computer, or an IBM compatible computer. The programming used with the computers should preferably be multi-user, multi-tasking software. Still further, the operating system for each server can be any operating system known in the art, such as Windows NT or a UNIX version.
As discussed above, the center 10 preferably includes a publicly accessible Internet web site for the downloading of free software, client's software, and upgrades, such as those needed to perform FCT transactions, as well as service, Q&A sessions, and general users activity. The web site preferably is operated by its own server (not shown). Preferably, the hardware platform used for the Internet web site is not a node on the local area network at the center 10 and is free standing so as to provide a shield between public access and network operations. A dedicated hardware platform processes all Public Internet transactions and is shielded from the rest of the FCT systems by fire wall architecture 18.
When a telephone is used, the actions of the customer needed to set up the account are voice prompted by the voice response unit 22 or the text to speech complex 24. Deaf and hard of hearing customers receive their prompting in text or sign language as discussed later on. When setting up the account via the Internet, the actions of the customer needed to set up the account are prompted on the customer's monitor via instructions issued by the FCT system 40 or a FCT related server 50 when one is used.
In step 101, the customer or user is prompted to provide certain identification information. For example, the customer may be asked to provide his/her first name, middle initial, surname, home address, home telephone, business address, business telephone number, etc.
When registering and/or setting up an account, each customer is assigned a unique identification number, referred to by the FCT System as a Telephone Number Address (TNA), and a PIN number. In step 102, the customer is prompted for a ten digit identification number in the form of a telephone number. The identification number may be the customer's actual telephone number or a fictitious telephone number that he/she selects or is given by the system. If desired, a customer can request the FCT system to randomly allocate an identification number. Fictitious or pseudo identification numbers are registered with the FCT system and published in an internal FCT directory that is stored in the customer data base.
In step 103, the customer is prompted to select a PIN number. The PIN number may be one which is requested by the customer or a number which is assigned to the customer by the FCT system. The assigned PIN number is stored in the customer data base.
The PIN number is composed of two segments. The segments may be consecutive or interlaced. The first segment is a standard numeric of any number of consecutive digits broken only if it is interlaced with a component of the second segment. Each digit in the first segment can take any numerical value in the range of 0 to 9. The second segment is a single or multiple digit security element. Each digit in the second segment can take any numerical value in the range of 0 to 9. The two segments may be concatenated or interlaced to form a single PIN representation. The security element is a security device for both monetary value transacted as well as the transacting parties. The FCT system and method are designed so that under normal transaction conditions, without any threat to money or persons, the security digit(s) given by the customer may be any digit(s) except the digit(s) selected by the customer for the security digit(s). Under adverse conditions, the security digit(s) in the PIN used by the customer are the numerical value(s) selected for the security digit(s). If the customer uses the selected value(s) for the security digit(s), then the FCT system sends an alarm signal to appropriate authorities via the telephone communication unit 24 at the center 10. The alarm signal triggers elements that identify the location of the customer or parties under duress.
When the customer selects two digits for the second or security segment, a first one of the digits, when used, would signify an adverse condition but not one which involves bodily harm to the customer, while the second one of the digits, when used, would signify an adverse condition which involves potential bodily harm to the customer.
The PIN number may have any desired number of digits. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the PIN number has five digits with the fifth digit in the string being the security digit; however, other combinations may be used to render similar results, such as the fourth, or any other, digit in a four digit PIN number being the security digit. If desired, one of the digits in the first segment of the PIN may specify the location of the second security segment. In step 103, the customer selects a plurality of numbers to form the first segment and one or two single digit numbers to form the second segment. As previously mentioned, the customer can select a digit in the first segment to indicate which digit in the PIN forms the second segment.
As can be seen from the foregoing description, the PIN number used by the customer in the FCT system provides improved user security.
In step 104, the customer may be prompted to provide additional information. For example, a customer may be requested to input a credit/debit card number against which system charges can be debited. In step 104a, the customer verifies all information. In step 104b, the customer agrees to the terms and conditions under which the FCT system operates. The customer also agrees to sign a hard copy of same.
In step 105, the customer can close the registration or account opening session either by hanging up his telephone or logging off the FCT website. Alternatively, the customer can commence an FCT transaction such as depositing funds into his/her newly opened account or withdraw funds that we're already deposited in his/her account after activation by registering as shown in
To assist in carrying out certain FCT transactions, each customer can be issued an FCT card containing his/her identification information and account number on a magnetic strip, or whatever technology the debit/credit card industry is using at the time, and a signature line. The card can look like an ordinary credit card. If desired, the card can also contain a picture of the customer.
In response to this prompt, in step 403, the customer keys in his/her telephone number being used as his/her identification number. This is done by using the key pad on the terminal. The customer in step 404 is then prompted for his/her PIN number. In step 405, the customer enters his/her PIN number without tripping the FCT security system as discussed above. In step 406, the customer is prompted to press “1” for a deposit or “2” for a withdrawal and the amount of money to be deposited or withdrawn. In step 407, the customer keys in the choice. In step 407a, the customer is prompted for the amount (deposit/withdrawal) and keys in the desired amount in step 407b. If the customer has not yet signed a written agreement if required, then he/she does it at the counter (step 407c) and, in step 407d, keys in an affirmative response to any question about such signature. The written agreement may be a standard banking account agreement. In step 408, the operator of the retail store or outlet, who acts as an agent for the FCT system, pays money to the customer if the transaction is a withdrawal or receives money from the customer if the transaction is a deposit. Obviously, if the transaction is a withdrawal, the customer has previously deposited monies into his/her account or such funds were deposited on his/her behalf. If the withdrawal requests exceeds the combined FCT transaction fee and the amount of money in the customer's account, the local area network 12 will issue instructions to cancel the transaction or to modify the transaction. In step 409, the point of sale terminal issues a receipt identifying the transaction. For a deposit, the receipt is for the purchase of virtual cash vouchers. On cashing out, the receipt is for a refund of the virtual cash vouchers.
As can be seen from the descriptions of
In step 602, the customer is prompted by the FCT system to enter his/her identification number and his/her PIN number. The user has the option to store these numbers in the system so that the system can automatically use this information and dispense with the need for prompts. Thereafter, the customer is prompted to enter transactional information including the URL or on-line service provider enabling access to the retailer at which merchandise is purchased on line and also including if desired a dollar limit for the transaction. The customer can also indicate a desire for shipping or delivery of goods or services without revealing to the seller, customer identity and/or address. In step 603, the information which the customer has entered including the URL or on-line service dial-up number or the retailer dial-up number is stored in a buffer located in the computer associated with the terminal or in the personal computer being used by the customer.
In step 604, the computer associated with the terminal or the customer's computer dials up the FCT center 10. After the information downloaded to the FCT center 10 has been stored in a buffer, the FCT programming used by the network 12 opens a temporary folder. This is shown in step 605. As shown in step 606, the FCT program issues a transaction identification number known as a transaction in waiting or TIW. Preferably, the TIW contains sixteen digits. The details of the structure of the TiW will be discussed hereinafter. The TIW is communicated to the computer being used by the customer and is stored in the buffer containing the information of the transaction to be consummated. The TIW may or may not be known to the customer. In a preferred approach to the FCT system, the TIW is not known to the customer even though it is resident in his/her computer.
In step 607, the FCT center 10 disconnects from the user. In step 608, the FCT center 10 connects to a computer utilized by the retailer such as the computer used to control the retailer's point of sale terminals or the retailer's transactions or alternatively routes the customer call to the URL or on-line service previously specified by the customer and held in buffer 603. The FCT center 10 either then, or upon request by the retailer, downloads to the retailer's computer, the details of the forthcoming transaction including the TIW number assigned to same. Alternatively, the FCT center 10 downloads only pertinent TIW information enabling the customer to purchase on-line.
In step 609, the customer connects to the retailer's web site either directly or via the on-line service provider. The customer then selects the merchandise to be purchased, such as books, CDs, etc., using the retailer's website. When it comes to paying the retailer, as shown in step 610, the consumer downloads the TIW from his computer by using a predetermined keystroke or set of keystrokes. If desired, the retailer's computer may be set up to ask the customer for his/her identification and PIN numbers to further verify that it is the customer purchasing the merchandise. In step 611, the retailer's computer transmits the downloaded TIW number to the FCT center 10 for transaction authorization and for debiting the customer's account. In step 612, if the retailer has an account with the FCT center, the account is credited with the amount of the transaction. If the retailer does not have an FCT account, then the computer network 12 initiates payment to the retailer in an alternative manner, e.g. issuing a check to the retailer or partaking in the electronic settlement of the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA). In step 613, the customer is provided with a list of his/her purchases with the retailer's identification number, a bill number, and an indication of the total cost to be debited to his/her account.
In addition to facilitating the buying of merchandise, the FCT system can be used to transfer funds from one individual to another. Such a transaction is similar to that carried out to buy merchandise. To initiate such a transaction, the customer accesses the FCT system and enters his/her identification and PIN numbers, the amount to be transferred, the intended recipient's FCT identification number (pseudo or real), the name of the person to whom the money is being transferred, and the type of transaction, i.e. standard or non-standard. To provide the name of the person to whom the money is being transferred, the letters on the number pad of a telephone or a computer keyboard may be used to spell the first name and the first four letters of the last name of the recipient. After receiving the instructions from the customer, the FCT system opens a TIW for the transaction and keeps the TIW and the customer's identification number and PIN number within the local area network 12. A number, which is preferably unknown to the customer, is assigned to the TIW by the FCT system. As before, the TIW represents a temporary account that automatically closes when the value in the account is depleted. The individual to whom the money has been transferred can withdraw the money as desired by accessing the FCT system. If desired, the money could be cashed out of any ATM or a participating merchant's POS.
One of the advantages to the FCT system is that no transaction in the FCT system occurs without a TIW being open and no transaction is completed successfully without properly closing the TIW. The TIW contains all the historic information related to the transaction, as well as the needed handshakes for it to be completed successfully. The TIW may have any desired byte length, for example 136 bytes. The bytes in the TIW describe the transaction. Table I illustrates a typical TIW.
Since all withdrawals from an FCT temporary account are electronic, it is not possible to take out more money than is in the temporary account.
If the transaction being carried out by the customer is a transfer from one account to another, the FCT system makes the transfer electronically. This is done by debiting the customer's account and placing monies into a temporary account. Following the instructions given by the customer, the FCT system then moves the money in the temporary account to the account of the third party or recipient. This is done using standard banking techniques for transferring funds from one account to another. After the transaction has been completed, the customer may receive a printed receipt recording the particulars of the transaction.
As can be seen from the foregoing description, the FCT system provides wide versatility in making financial transactions. Customers have access to cash anytime, anywhere. Further, the system makes transactions easy since they can be done by ordinary telephone systems. As a result, customers do not even have to leave home to make financial transactions, even those which include the receipt of cash.
The FCT also allows customers to interact with the Internet marketplace. Using their personal computers, which have been programmed with FCT software (client software), customers can browse the Internet and visit vendors' sites. They can purchase goods using their FCT account in lieu of a credit card, without even disclosing their FCT account number on-line. Any purchase made by the customer using the FCT account would be honored so long as the customer has sufficient funds to cover the cost of the article and any applicable fees. Customers can fund their FCT account from home in a variety of manners including credit cards or debit cards utilizing the phone, or through financial transactions utilizing a computer and a bank or credit union account. Customers can also fund their FCT account via the FCT account of a third party or from a point of sale station.
The FCT system can be used by a wide variety of customers for a wide variety of purposes. For example, it could be used by customers in a casino to obtain cash. It could be used by customers who do not qualify for regular credit cards. Vacationers can use the system in lieu of traveler's checks. The system could be used by those who suddenly need to post bail or need to pay unexpected fines. The system could be used by those who want to use a 900 number, either without a trace to their telephone bill, or a pay phone, or a cellular phone. The system could also be used to buy lottery tickets from home. In essence, the system can be used to keep cash in cyberspace that is available day and night in cash form rather than in a traditional bank account.
An FCT business transaction is similar to an individual transaction with one major difference. While a business TNA and PIN are used as in the individual case, access to the business transaction is only through an individual access. That is an individual needs to enter using his/her own personal TNA and PIN in order to gain access to enter the business TNA and PIN. Thus the system always has a “fingerprint” of what individual performed a transaction for the business. Likewise, individual A can transact for individual B when individual B entrusts to individual A both individual's TNA and PIN; however, individual A needs first to identify himself/herself for the system by entering individual A's TNA and PIN number. While it may appear that individual A once armed with both the TNA and PIN of individual B can by-pass the individual entry with his/her own TNA and PIN, the system is capable of detecting idiosyncratic differences between individual A and B and can sound an alarm.
An adjunct to the FCT system being operated by the communication center 10 is an addressless public e-mail network system known as the Publix Network system. In this system, a person can send money to a mailbox of an intended recipient who will be notified when money is in such mailbox and enable retrieval of such funds, whether the recipient has or does not have a computer and an active on-line service access. Using the Publix Network system, it does not matter what on-line or ISP vendor is being utilized by the sender and the recipient of the e-mail. It can be the same vendor or different. The Publix Network system is designed to operate across ISP services. In the Publix Network system, the sender does not need to know the recipient's e-mail address to initiate a mailing. Similarly, sending a fax or paging a party is easily done without the need to know the recipient's fax number or pager and PIN number.
Publix Network is a paradigm which is based on utilizing the recipient's telephone number as the address, which telephone number is the same TNA used in the FCT system. The Publix Network system insures that the message is securely received only by the intended party, even if several parties are using the same telephone number. In this paradigm, the telephone number of the recipient, which needs to be unique, does not need to be a real functioning telephone number and can be a pseudo telephone number chosen by the recipient or by the automated number allocator of the Publix Network system.
E-mail sent to an office address (i.e. telephone number) can easily be directed, either by sender or recipient, for delivery at a home e-mail address or be available to the recipient at both home and office addresses. Likewise, sending the e-mail to a home telephone address could be directed to either home, business, or both addresses by either the sender or recipient. Hence, a sender does not need to know the work place of the recipient, or its e-mail address if the home one is known. Conversely, if the work place number is known, the home number does not need to be known. Furthermore, should an e-mail recipient change employers, mail directed to his or her old address at the previous employer will be available to him or her at the new employer's address without a need to advise the sender about such change, as long as the e-mail is personal.
The Publix Network service utilized by individual e-mail users or businesses, can either be offered to on-line and ISPs as a resource, and/or be utilized independently by the user community.
The Publix Network operation will accord the following added services: (1) notify the e-mail recipient of pending mail arrival while it is still en-route to him or her and irrespective of how long it will take to arrive at the recipient's final address destination; (2) notify the recipient of incoming mail and/or its arrival without the need to have his or her computer connected to the on-line service or the ISP being utilized; and (3) provide the ability to listen on a standard telephone to the content of the e-mail before, as well as after, it arrives at the recipient address.
In operation, each user of the Publix Network system is first registered with the center 10 as a designated e-mail user. This enables one to send cash to an e-mail box and likewise retrieve the cash from an e-mail box. The user is assigned an identification number which is in the form of a ten digit telephone number (TNA). As previously stated, the telephone number may be an actual telephone number or a pseudo telephone number. Each user is also assigned a PIN number which contains the aforementioned first and second segments with the second segment providing a security alert feature.
As shown in
A registered user of the Publix Network system has three options to access electronic mail sent to him/her. They are the traditional personal computer, a telephone for voice delivery of the e-mail, and an independent postal electronic box (PEB). The PEBs may have three configurations—lowest, medium, or full configuration. The lowest PEB configuration contains only an LED which flashes when e-mail is waiting for the user. The medium PEB configuration contains, in addition to the lowest configuration, minimal memory and an LCD through which the user can read a list of the parties who have sent mail without retrieving any of the mail. The full configuration PEB contains, in addition to the medium configuration, an enlarged memory so that messages can automatically be downloaded upon arrival at the Publix Network. The configuration also has an option of a larger LCD display to enable reading mail waiting directly of the PEB. The full configuration PEB can interface to a computer and/or a television set in order to enable reading of mail waiting in the PEB.
The Publix Network system may be enabled to provide a personal safety monitoring service which upon user's request, monitors and ascertains that user's personal safety has not been compromised. The user specifies an activation time, locations for monitoring purposes, and assistance preferences. The Publix Network system then calls the user at the location(s) specified from the time specified at certain intervals. The user needs to respond with his/her assigned PIN number to indicate to the Publix Network system that all is well. Failure to satisfy the PIN number, and any other elements specified by the user, triggers after a specified time a third party intervention to assist the user. In a preferred method of operation, the Publix Network system calls the user's specified number several times at preset intervals with random time sub segmentation. The number of times the Publix Network system calls is random but no less than three times. The Publix Network system calls the user even if the PIN number given in previous calls by the user is correct.
As indicated hereinbefore, to participate in the Publix Network system, the user, which can be either an individual or a business, must register with the system.
The Publix Network system is operated so that the e-mail data is transient and is discarded when one of the following conditions is met: (1) after a designated time period if there is no request by a customer for a longer than standard hold; (2) the customer retrieved the data either actively or passively via a download to a PEB; (3) customer utilized hear mail option; (4) e-mail was forwarded and reached final on-line or ISP destination; (5) special service for keeping data was requested and time is up; and (6) the user ceased being a Publix Network customer and the courtesy retainage time is up.
The transaction form for Publix Network operations is the Transaction-In-Process (TIP) form. In other words, no transaction takes place without a TIP being opened and no transaction can be completed without the TIP being closed. The TIP contains all of the historic information relating to a transaction as well as the needed handshakes for it to be completed successfully. The TIP is formed by a number of bytes, such as 160 bytes inclusive of the CID. Table II gives the meanings for an exemplary byte group.
The Publix Network system may utilize any suitable set of algorithms for a fast, scalable and reliable search engine. The search process is divided into three parts: (1) internal tokenizing of the incoming address; (2) searching a record via the telephone number address (TNA) and (3) identifying the specific individuals targeted by the address utilizing the additional identification (AID) provided by the sender.
There are numerous advantages to the Publix Network system. First, it can be used with recognized and standard e-mail formats, e.g. ns@company.com. Second, it can be used with a specific user ID that is easily recognized internationally and may be obtained currently from established telephone carriers by dialing information. The Publix Network system has the flexibility to be used with old or current e-mail addresses. Still further, the same ID can be used with e-mail address for the home, a person's business or both. The Publix Network system has the ability to broadcast mailing to a group of users sharing the same e-mail address and the ability to differentiate specific users, for receipt of mail, from among a group sharing the same e-mail address. The Publix Network system is a robust system that can identify specific users even if part of the user's e-mail address containing their ID is erroneous. The Publix Network system has the ability to use the same e-mail address for fax dispatch and/or for paging a party and/or wireless phone. The Publix Network system has the ability to arrange personalized or closed chat room activity with a specifically predesignated person at a mutually convenient time to all parties. The Publix Network system also has the aforementioned safety feature which allows the system to monitor the well being of the setting user or any third party designated by the user. The Publix Network system has the ability to notify e-mail recipients of mail received for them even if the receiving party has no personal computer or any other facilities except a standard telephone. The Publix Network system allows a customer or user to call in and receive a voice read-out of e-mail sent to the user and provides the ability to notify pending e-mail recipients regarding e-mail in transit to them without the need to hook up to the Internet or the need to start a personal computer. The Publix Network system also allows a recipient of e-mail, who receives the content by phone, to respond in voice, enabling the e-mail sending party to receive such response. The Publix Network system has the capability to automatically download mail to a user's electronic mail box. The system provides the ability to identify senders and the subjects of e-mails and for PEB holders even before downloads and without being connected to the Internet or without a PC. This is a particular advantage because it allows the user to screen out e-mail that is unsolicited advertising, graphics, or attachments.
The software operation of the Publix Network system is divided as follows. The analysis segment (Segment A) which is of the “Type” in the e-mail address undergoes an analysis to determine the range of services required by the sender. The search engine locates the particular recipient's record and enables one to add to the range of services for which the user has signed up. The application software is composed of three major elements: (1) the Master Operating Procedure (MOP); (2) the MOP Set Up Procedure (MSP); and (3) the Dynamic MOP Procedure (DMP). The MOP procedure contains all the needed information for actions to deliver the required service before and during the operation, and the historic data regarding the specific services rendered after the transaction has been completed. The MSP populates the MOP action bytes for specific operations. This is basically a toggle switch operation for the specific bits in various bytes, resulting in a decimal equivalent that contains the operational requirements. The DMP causes action. This software segment visits with each of the action bytes in the MOP and collects the decimal byte equivalent which it transports to the Action Table generating the service activity.
The following is the typical transaction flow for a specific e-mail piece received at the Publix system. The e-mail address, e.g. ns@publix.net is confirmed to the sending unit as acceptable for reception. The envelope and body of the e-mail is received. The e-mail address is divided into three segments—the type, the telephone number address (TNA) and the auxiliary address segment. Multiple processing occurs. The TNA is used by the search engine to fetch recipient's record. The auxiliary address segment is analyzed by the processing unit based on input from the record. The type is analyzed for services to be rendered. Services indicated by the recipient's record are added to the list generated by the analysis of the Type. MOP set up procedure takes place according to the list generated in the previous two steps. The dynamic MOP procedure goes into effect and attends to each and every byte in the properly populated MOP. Activation of action procedures ensues based on the results of the Dynamic MOP procedure. The completed MOP is filed in the case data base. Third party data base connectivity is activated to the completed MOP.
Another adjunct to the personal transaction system of the present invention is a message center that operates within the environment of the communication center 10 and that is able to link messages stored on line with the ID of a debit or credit card so as to enable a purchasing retail customer who pays with a debit or charge card to be informed at the POS terminal that a message awaits him/her and which he/she can listen to simply by using the closest public telephone. Thus, the debit or charge card is transformed into an individual paging system that is not restricted by location and distance and is useful on a national and international level.
The message center is operated by the network server 30 having access to the FCT and Publix e-mail servers and the voice messaging instructional database or by a voice messaging server 42. The message center is a combination of the following mail and telecommunication facilities done electronically via a single media, the telephone: mail box, answering service, paging service, call forwarding, locator, telegram, and telephoning. The message center enables any individual or entity to dial a central telephone number associated with the center 10 and deposit a voice message. The sender of the message identifies himself/herself to the system via a TNA and then proceeds to identify the intended recipient by the recipient's TNA. The addressee of the voice message can retrieve the message from any touch tone telephone. The addressee is alerted of pending messages when he calls the centralized number, or when reaching his home or office, when automatically his phone rings and upon pick up the message alert will be given. Alternatively, when shopping at a store with a POS terminal, a consumer will be alerted about pending messages whenever he/she uses his/her debit or credit charge card. The message center 42 does not require the depositor of the voice message or its addressee to be pre-registered or have pre-assigned IDs. A user could use the message center to leave him/her a wake-up call or to send timed personalized messages.
Using the message center, a user could be assigned an instantaneous temporary voice box for the duration of the life of the message.
When a communication is received by the message center, it is divided into two parts—a signal part and a message part. The signal part gives addressor and addressee information and is transmitted via the touch tone keys of a telephone. The message part is transmitted via voice using the mouth piece of the telephone. The signal part is routed to the local area network 12 and the message part is routed to a storage device and stored on computer magnetic media. This enables short time multi-track on-line storage of simultaneous calls before moving to the long time storage which is kept until a purging criterion is met. The message storage is functionally the physical layout of the relational data base governed by its directory. All searches for addressees, the locations of their data, and the data objectives, are done at the system level. At the storage level, only deposition, retrieval, and erasure take place, when the appropriate media (magnetic or other) is positioned at a beginning marker and rotates to an ending marker as per system instruction.
If desired, there may be a number of sub-message centers located around the country so as to provide local access to customers. Messages received at one sub-message center can be transferred to another sub-message center as needed. The message information to be transferred (which consists only of the ID with the transfer byte and not the content of the message) contains a block of ID messages grouped together sequentially, and transferred as a packet. The packet transfer can be an independent transfer whereby only the packet is electronically shipped from sub-message center to sub-message center or a tag along transfer, whereby the packet is annexed to other material that is electronically shipped from one sub-message center to another sub-message center. The packet transfer is triggered by either of the following categories—a predetermined event or an unrelated transfer occurs when a communication from one sub-center to another sub-center takes place with regard to any unrelated inquiry. In the latter situation, the packet is annexed to the routed information. A predetermined event may be one of the following cases: (1) a predesignated period, i.e. every hour, at which a packet of all accumulated messages is transferred; (2) an accumulated threshold, i.e. whenever the number of messages in a packet exceed a predetermined number, the transfer is triggered; and (3) an urgent transfer.
An addressee data base may reside at each individual message sub-center. The addressee data base contains the following information: (1) addressee's phone numbers; addressee's identifiers; addressee's debit/credit card numbers; addressee's history; the self-learning procedure of the data base; and the self implementing procedure. The self implementing procedure is needed to facilitate card paging. It requires that there be a correlation between phone numbers of potential addressees and their debit/credit card numbers. Any suitable method known in the art may be used to create the data base.
The internals of software mechanism by which a request from a user moves throughout the system and into delivery hinge on three basic elements—the operating system, the command set, and the case service procedure (CSP). The CSP is a menu list through which is transacted in order as governed by the operating system. It encompasses all elements of service rendering for each and every case handled by the system. Therefore, each case has its own CSP. Upon completion of service delivery, the CSP is archived. The components of the CSP includes the addressee's address pointer, a call processing byte, an annexed byte, a billing address byte, a billing information byte, and a CSP case number.
The operating system works as follows. A series of commands either pull information out or deposit information in one of the several data bases and/or operating tables. The procedure is taken out of a master operation procedure (MOP) which looks like the CSP but is more basic to the operation. It has all the steps needed to move among the data bases and the operating tables. The MOP directs the program steps from block to block throughout the completion of the process. Once a block in the kernel was completed, the MOP pointer is incremented by one and the next MOP instruction is taken on. There can be more than one MOP existing at one time. Their number depends on the number of cases handled by the system.
While the FCT system, the Publix system, and the voice messaging system have been shown as being operated at a single site, if desired, the systems could each be operated at different sites.
In order to provide additional security and redundancy to the personal transaction system of the present invention, more than one center 10 may be constructed and utilized for the system. Of course, each of the centers 10 would be linked to the other centers 10 for information sharing purposes.
While the center 10 has been shown as having a single web site through which users can access the FCT and Publix systems, the center 10 can have a web site for the FCT system and a different web site/access for the Publix system if desired.
One particular advantage to the system of the present invention is that the system may be used by deaf people to leave e-mail messages or voice messages for other individuals. Referring now to
The e-mail message is then forwarded to the e-mail server 73 where a delivery file is opened. The e-mail is put into the queue for delivery. Processor 74 then extracts the TNA of the intended recipient and starts to dial the intended recipient using a telephone line. When the intended recipient is reached, he/she is asked to identify himself/herself and is told that there is a message from a particular person. The intended recipient is then asked if he/she would like to have the message delivered by voice or by e-mail. If the intended recipient decides to have the e-mail message read to them, then either the text of the message is read by an operator or the text of the message is extracted by processor 75 and converted to machine synthesized sounds by text to speech engine 76.
Using the same approach, the message can be delivered in voice form to the intended recipient and left on the recipient's answering machine. Heretofore, technology did not exist to allow a deaf person to leave a voice message on another party's answering machine due to the fact that there is not enough time for a human operator to interface with the machine, relay its message to the deaf person, and receive the message from the deaf person for the machine all in time before the session in the answering machine shuts off. One advantage to using the system of
The system of
Referring now to
The system shown in
Referring now to
Processors 816 are programmed to receive each transmission from a conference participant and to convert the received transmissions into a form suitable for each conference participant. Voice communications received from voice participants are converted by operators or speech recognition routine at processors 816 to text and written to a pad whose contents are later transmitted to TTY users 800 and 802. The processors 816 also take the text transmissions from the TTY users 800 and 802 and converts them to voice communications which are later transmitted to the voice connections 804 and 806. The voice communications may be machine synthesized sounds or may be generated by operators at the computers 816 who are reading the text messages. Processors 816 may comprise any suitable computers known in the art and may be programmed to perform the foregoing functions using any suitable language. LAN server 818 is provided to supervise the operation of the processors 816, the bank 814 of switches, the bank 812 of modems and where applicable the PBX 810. The PBX 810, the modem bank 812, and the switch bank 814 may comprise any suitable systems known in the art.
Utilizing the system of
Referring now to
Referring now to
The TTY/email processes previously discussed can utilize the telephone relay service (TRS) at the communication center 10. The TRS can be utilized in a fully automated or semi-automated fashion, whereby a TRS operator assists the transaction. The TRS operator can be stationed within the center 10 or at a remote location. If stationed at a remote location, the TRS operator functions in a telecommuting fashion as a subordinate or pseudo-subordinate to the center 10. In such a system, the communication center 10 passes control to a telecommuting station where the remote (TRS) operator is located, while enabling operation under its own master control. The following description describes systems where an originating voice call terminates with a TTY or video receiving party and where an originating TTY or video call terminates with a voice receiving party. The systems to be described also extend to email communication with the facility and/or with standard email facilities.
Referring now to
If the processor 1218 determines that there is no need to activate a new telecommuting operator, the message from the TTY or video user is forwarded to one of the telecommuting operators 1217 already on-line and standing by. The stand-by telecommuting operator also has electronic equipment 1226 including a camera where applicable and a telecommuting operator's telephone device 1228. The stand-by telecommuting operator then translates the message into voice and delivers the voice message to the voice recipient. Any response by the voice recipient is transmitted to the TTY or video originator by reversing the foregoing communication flow.
Another system for transmitting a TTY or video originated message to a voice recipient is shown in
Referring now to
There are instances where a hard of hearing person needs to understand what is being said to him/her by either another person or via a device with synthetic speech such as in the prompting by the FCT system. In particular, when such a person accesses the communication center 10, there is a need for the person to make certain inputs based on voice prompting. When a hard of hearing person has difficulty understanding the prompts, the help of a person, a device, or both, is required. Thus, in another aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is provided for a party to receive induced slowed-down stream of speech that enhances and/or enables comprehension of such speech by a hard of hearing person.
The system of the present invention is designed to allow users who access the communication center 10 by computer, landline telephone, or wireless telephone to slow down the voice component of a voice prompting system. In this system, the hard of hearing person receives the speech output at a reduced speed. This is achieved by a programmed computer located at the center 10 which takes in a stream of speech from a person or another device and transforms it to a slower output with the ability to provide the same speaker's voice (as well as synthetic speech) transmitted back to the hard of hearing party.
This slow down procedure is introduced to a hard of hearing person through one of the voice prompts that the person receives when he establishes contact with the communication center 10. For example, the prompt may say “press 4 to slow down prompts and other voice communications”. The center 10 is preferably designed so that the hard of hearing person can activate the speech slow down procedure at any time during a session.
Sometimes slowing down a stream of speech is insufficient as white noise or other people who are talking in the vicinity make it difficult for a hard of hearing individual to transact with the communication center 10 or listen to an isolated voice or sound by choice. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the system allows the hard of hearing user to quickly calibrate to a particular sound or voice that will be recognized henceforth and any other sound or voice will either be reduced in volume, effectually making then non-existent for the hard of hearing person, or be eliminated from the environmental sounds and voices existing at that moment.
Using the system of
Referring now to
Once all of the speakers, and their voice signatures, have been identified by the processor unit 1802, the hard of hearing person can identify which speaker he is interested in listening to. Referring now to
In yet another embodiment of the system of the present invention, a system similar to that of
It is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a personal transaction system and method which fully satisfies the means, objects and advantages set forth hereinbefore. While the present invention has been described in the context of specific embodiments thereof, other variations, alternatives, and modifications will become apparent to one skilled in the art after reading the foregoing description. Therefore, it is intended to embrace all variations, alternatives, and modifications that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1-86. (canceled)
87. A system for sharing operational data amongst conferencing parties including deaf participants comprising:
- means for receiving data communications from each conferencing party;
- means for transmitting said received data communications to a processor;
- said processor having means for gathering all data communications received from said conference call parties; and
- means for transmitting all received data communications to each of said conference call parties from said processor to each of said conference call parties.
88. A system according to claim 87, wherein said gathering means comprises means for copying individual data messages received from each said party onto an intermediary work pad, means for cutting and pasting data messages from said intermediary work pad onto a general work pad, means for copying the general pad in its entirety, and means for pasting the content of said general work pad to a modem which communicates with a respective one of said conferencing parties.
89. A method for sharing data amongst conferencing parties including at least one deaf person comprising the steps of:
- receiving communications containing data messages from at least two of the conferencing parties;
- transmitting said data messages to a processor;
- gathering all said data messages in said processor; and
- transmitting said data messages to each of the conferencing parties.
90. The method according to claim 89, further comprising displaying all said data messages on at least one of a TTY, a computer, wireless mobile apparatus and video apparatus being used by said at least one deaf person.
91. The method according to claim 89, wherein said data gathering step comprises copying each data message onto an intermediary work pad, cutting and pasting data messages from said intermediary work pad onto a general work pad, copying said general work pad in its entirety, and pasting the content of said general work pad to a modem which is connected to a respective one of said conferencing parties.
92-121. (canceled)
122. The system according to claim 87, wherein said receiving means and said processor are located in a communication center.
123. The system according to claim 122, wherein said communication center is at least one of a telephone relay center, a telephone relay service, and a video relay service.
124. The system according to claim 122, wherein said communication center has a local area computer network, a firewall, at least one server, at least one video camera and display monitor, a computer, a plurality of telephone lines, wireless communication means, and at least one voice transmission device.
125. The system according to claim 122, further comprising means for accessing said communication center via at least one of the Internet, Intranet, an Internet web site, wireless mobile means, a computer, equipment with a camera for capturing sign language, and a telephone.
126. The system according to claim 122, further comprising an operator having means for receiving text, voice, and video from at least one of a hearing person and a deaf person, means for transmitting said at least one of said voice, said text and said video from said at least one of a hearing person and a deaf person to another of said hearing person and said deaf person, and means for inserting text into a communication.
127. The system according to claim 122, further comprising means for determining how many operators are actively engaged and means for activating additional operators as needed.
128. The system according to claim 122, further comprising said additional operators being located at a station remote from said center.
129. The system according to claim 87, further comprising a plurality of communication centers containing said receiving means and said processor.
130. The system according to claim 87, further comprising means for enabling each conferencing party to transmit and receive data.
131. The system according to claim 130, wherein said enabling means comprises at least one of a computer, a wireless mobile apparatus, equipment with a camera for capturing sign language and display monitor, a voice transmission device, a telephone line, wireless transmission means, and a TTY device.
132. The system according to claim 87, wherein said means for receiving data comprises means for receiving said data in voice form, text form, and sign language form and for converting said data to another form.
133. The system according to claim 132, wherein said receiving means includes an operator.
134. The system according to claim 88, further comprising means for signing the content of said general work pad and means for communicating said signed content to at least one conferencing party.
135. The method according to claim 89, wherein said receiving step comprises receiving said data in voice form, text form and sign language form and converting said data to another form.
136. The method according to claim 91, further comprising signing the content of said general work pad and communicating said signed content to at least one conferencing party.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 10, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 21, 2008
Inventor: Raanan Liebermann (North Haven, CT)
Application Number: 11/900,238
International Classification: H04M 11/00 (20060101);
