US4645873A — Transactional telecommunication system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 399 words

A transactional system serving subscribers in a plurality of localities, comprising a national data base having a plurality of groups of addressed segments of data storage, each group storing data pertaining to an associated one of said localities, each group being addressable by a locality number, a plurality of access-number addressed segments of data storage, each assigned to one of said subscribers and storing a locality number for said one of said subscribers, means for linking said access-number addressed segments of data storage to said groups of locality number addressed segments of data storage, so that locality data stored in the group of locality number addressed segments of data storage associated with a subscriber's locality number is automatically addressed upon receipt of said subscriber's access number, wherein at least one of said localities comprises a plurality of sub-localities, wherein each of said locality numbers has a predetermined number of digits signifying said localities, and at least one additional digit for identifying respective sub-localities, wherein said locality numbers are zip code numbers, wherein said groups of addressed segments of data storage comprise classified ad sections, each having a respective number of ads stored therein, wherein said linking means comprises means for retrieving a subscriber zip code from said access number addressed segments of data storage in response to entry of said subscriber's access number, means for addressing groups of data storage segments using the retrieved zip code number and for counting the number of ads in any locality number addressed segments of data storage corresponding to localities having the same first 3 digits as said retrieved zip code, and means for transmitting to a subscriber controlled data access means the so counted ads, if said number of ads is less than a predetermined maximum ad number, or transmitting only sub-locality ads in locality number addressed segments of data storage having zip codes having the same first 4 digits as said retrieved zip code, if the so counted number of ads exceeds said predetermined maximum number; and said subscriber-controlled data access means comprising a plurality of subscriber units, each having a locality number corresponding to a geographic location thereof, each subscriber having an access number, means for transmitting said access number to said national data base, display means for displaying locality data received from said national data base, and means for said national data base to receive and process said access-numbers.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 399 words

A transactional system serving subscribers in a plurality of localities, comprising a national data base having a plurality of groups of addressed segments of data storage, each group storing data pertaining to an associated one of said localities, each group being addressable by a locality number, a plurality of access-number addressed segments of data storage, each assigned to one of said subscribers and storing a locality number for said one of said subscribers, means for linking said access-number addressed segments of data storage to said groups of locality number addressed segments of data storage, so that locality data stored in the group of locality number addressed segments of data storage associated with a subscriber's locality number is automatically addressed upon receipt of said subscriber's access number, wherein at least one of said localities comprises a plurality of sub-localities, wherein each of said locality numbers has a predetermined number of digits signifying said localities, and at least one additional digit for identifying respective sub-localities, wherein said locality numbers are zip code numbers, wherein said groups of addressed segments of data storage comprise classified ad sections, each having a respective number of ads stored therein, wherein said linking means comprises means for retrieving a subscriber zip code from said access number addressed segments of data storage in response to entry of said subscriber's access number, means for addressing groups of data storage segments using the retrieved zip code number and for counting the number of ads in any locality number addressed segments of data storage corresponding to localities having the same first 3 digits as said retrieved zip code, and means for transmitting to a subscriber controlled data access means the so counted ads, if said number of ads is less than a predetermined maximum ad number, or transmitting only sub-locality ads in locality number addressed segments of data storage having zip codes having the same first 4 digits as said retrieved zip code, if the so counted number of ads exceeds said predetermined maximum number; and said subscriber-controlled data access means comprising a plurality of subscriber units, each having a locality number corresponding to a geographic location thereof, each subscriber having an access number, means for transmitting said access number to said national data base, display means for displaying locality data received from said national data base, and means for said national data base to receive and process said access-numbers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

A transactional system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for storing "ad viewed" data indicative of subscribers viewing of a given ad in "ad viewed" data storage locations.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 104 words

A transactional system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising subscriber controlled selection means for selecting an item from one of said transmitted classified ad, means in said data base for transmitting subscriber data and selected item identifying data back to said subscriber, means receiving a verification signal from said subscriber when the so transmitted data is correct, and means for storing said selected item and subscriber data upon receipt of said verification signal; wherein said selected item is sold by a predetermined vendor; and wherein said data base further comprises means for transmitting selected item data and subscriber data to said vendor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 288 words

A transactional system serving subscribers in a plurality of localities, comprising a national data base having a plurality of groups of addressed segments of data storage, each group storing data pertaining to an associated one of said localities, each group being addressable by a locality number, a plurality of access-number addressed segments of data storage, each assigned to one of said subscribers and storing a locality number for said one of said subscribers, means for linking said access-number addressed segments of data storage to said groups of locality number addressed segments of data storage, so that locality data stored in the group of locality number addressed segments of data storage associated with a subscriber's locality number is automatically addressed upon receipt of said subscriber's access number, wherein said national data base is accessible by non-subscribers and comprises access code generating means including a random number generator for generating an access-number for any non-subscriber who attempts to access said data base, and means for storing the so generated access-number in one of said access number-addressed segments of data storage, wherein said non-subscriber further furnishes his home address to said national data base, wherein said access number is mailed to said non-subscriber at said home address, whereby said non-subscriber becomes a subscriber; said transactional system further comprising subscriber-controlled data access means, including a plurality of subscriber units, each having a locality number corresponding to a geographic location thereof, each subscriber having an access number, means for transmitting said access number to said national data base, means for transmitting data to said subscriber-controlled data access means, display means for displaying locality data received from said national data base, and means for said national data base to receive and process said access-numbers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 288 words

A transactional system serving subscribers in a plurality of localities, comprising a national data base having a plurality of groups of addressed segments of data storage, each group storing data pertaining to an associated one of said localities, each group being addressable by a locality number, a plurality of access-number addressed segments of data storage, each assigned to one of said subscribers and storing a locality number for said one of said subscribers, means for linking said access-number addressed segments of data storage to said groups of locality number addressed segments of data storage, so that locality data stored in the group of locality number addressed segments of data storage associated with a subscriber's locality number is automatically addressed upon receipt of said subscriber's access number, wherein said national data base is accessible by non-subscribers and comprises access code generating means including a random number generator for generating an access-number for any non-subscriber who attempts to access said data base, and means for storing the so generated access-number in one of said access number-addressed segments of data storage, wherein said non-subscriber further furnishes his home address to said national data base, wherein said access number is mailed to said non-subscriber at said home address, whereby said non-subscriber becomes a subscriber; said transactional system further comprising subscriber-controlled data access means, including a plurality of subscriber units, each having a locality number corresponding to a geographic location thereof, each subscriber having an access number, means for transmitting said access number to said national data base, means for transmitting data to said subscriber-controlled data access means, display means for displaying locality data received from said national data base, and means for said national data base to receive and process said access-numbers.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

A transactional system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said access code is a number comprising a private key and a public key.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

A transactional system in set forth in claim 5, wherein said access code is a hexadecimal number, and wherein said private key comprises the first 5 digits and said public key comprises the second 5 digits of said hexadecimal number.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 98 words

A transactional system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said data base further comprises subscriber initiated means for placing classified ads for storage in said groups of locality number addressed segments of data storage, said ad placing means comprising input data receiving means for receiving ad data and said public key from an advertising subscriber, transmit means for transmitting said ad data back to said advertising subscriber for verification, and means for storing said ad data and billing said advertising subscriber in response to a verification signal indicative of correctness of said ad from said advertising subscriber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 62 words

A transactional system as said forth in claim 5, further comprising an electronic mail system, wherein messages including said public key of a mail sending subscriber are stored at a receiving subscriber message location indentified the receiving subscriber's public key; and wherein so-stored messages are transmitted to said receiving subscriber in response to a message request and the receiving subscriber's access code.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

A transactional system as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said subscribers further has a password; and wherein said national data base requires said access number and said password for entry thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 321 words

A transactional system serving subscribers in a plurality of localities, comprising a national data base having a plurality of groups of addressed segments of data storage, each group storing data pertaining to an associated one of said localities, each group being addressable by a locality number, a plurality of access-number addressed segments of data storage, each assigned to one of said subscribers and storing a locality number for said one of said subscribers, means for linking said access-number addressed segments of data storage to said groups of locality number addressed segments of data storage, so that locality data stored in the group of locality number addressed segments of data storage associated with a subscriber's locality number is automatically addressed upon receipt of said subscriber's access number, subscriber controlled data access means having a plurality of subscriber units each having a locality number corresponding to its geographic location, each subscriber having an access-number, wherein said data access means comprises means for transmitting said access-number to said national data base, and display means for displaying locality data received from said national data base, a predetermined number of telephone lines linking said subscriber controlled data access means to said national data base, wherein said national data base further comprises means for answering subscriber calls, means for assigning a process identification number to each received call, means for comparing the number of process identification numbers to said predetermined number of telephone lines, and means for commencing timing of said calls when said number of process identification numbers is equal to said predetermined number of telephone lines, wherein said transactional system further comprises revenue-producing transactions and non-revenue transactions, and wherein said means for commencing timing of said calls delays timing of said revenue-producing transactions relative to timing of said non-revenue producing transactions; and means for transmitting data to said subscriber controlled access means, and means for said national data base to receive and process said access-numbers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 321 words

A transactional system serving subscribers in a plurality of localities, comprising a national data base having a plurality of groups of addressed segments of data storage, each group storing data pertaining to an associated one of said localities, each group being addressable by a locality number, a plurality of access-number addressed segments of data storage, each assigned to one of said subscribers and storing a locality number for said one of said subscribers, means for linking said access-number addressed segments of data storage to said groups of locality number addressed segments of data storage, so that locality data stored in the group of locality number addressed segments of data storage associated with a subscriber's locality number is automatically addressed upon receipt of said subscriber's access number, subscriber controlled data access means having a plurality of subscriber units each having a locality number corresponding to its geographic location, each subscriber having an access-number, wherein said data access means comprises means for transmitting said access-number to said national data base, and display means for displaying locality data received from said national data base, a predetermined number of telephone lines linking said subscriber controlled data access means to said national data base, wherein said national data base further comprises means for answering subscriber calls, means for assigning a process identification number to each received call, means for comparing the number of process identification numbers to said predetermined number of telephone lines, and means for commencing timing of said calls when said number of process identification numbers is equal to said predetermined number of telephone lines, wherein said transactional system further comprises revenue-producing transactions and non-revenue transactions, and wherein said means for commencing timing of said calls delays timing of said revenue-producing transactions relative to timing of said non-revenue producing transactions; and means for transmitting data to said subscriber controlled access means, and means for said national data base to receive and process said access-numbers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-02-23	1990-08-25	1991-02-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-02-23	1994-08-25	1995-02-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-02-23	1998-08-25	1999-02-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Transactional telecommunication system

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