US5329589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mediation of transactions by a communications system
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1993-06-03
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Granted: 1994-07-12
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Expires: 2013-06-03
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for employing a communications system with actively connects communicating entities to mediate transactions. Disclosed are general methods and apparatus for mediating transactions, methods and apparatus permitting information from one transaction to be used in other transactions, and methods and apparatus for performing credit card transactions in which the vendee need not disclose his credit card to the vendor. An implementation of a system for performing credit card transactions in a stored program-controlled telephone switching network is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander G. Fraser
- 👤 Carlos A. Perea
- 👤 Roy P. Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:57
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/02; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/403; G06Q20/4037; H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/53; H04M15/90; H04M17/00; H04M17/02; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/016; H04M2215/0172; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13515; H04Q2213/13566
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of employing a communications routing system of a type which functions generally to establish connections with arbitrary ones of a plurality of entities to in addition mediate a transaction involving delayed payment between certain ones of the entities including a customer, a vendor, and an approving entity which approves the transaction, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction specifier from the customer in the communications routing system; and responding in the communications routing System to the transaction specifier by performing steps including obtaining at least an identifier known to the approving entity from the customer, obtaining at least a debit amount from the vendor, providing the identifier and the debit amount to the approving entity, receiving an indication from the approving entity whether the transaction is approved, and providing the indication to the vendor, the communications routing system functioning during the steps to establish connections with the certain ones of the entities as required for the steps.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of employing a communications routing system of a type which functions generally to establish connections with arbitrary ones of a plurality of entities to in addition mediate a transaction involving delayed payment between certain ones of the entities including a customer, a vendor, and an approving entity which approves the transaction, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction specifier from the customer in the communications routing system; and responding in the communications routing System to the transaction specifier by performing steps including obtaining at least an identifier known to the approving entity from the customer, obtaining at least a debit amount from the vendor, providing the identifier and the debit amount to the approving entity, receiving an indication from the approving entity whether the transaction is approved, and providing the indication to the vendor, the communications routing system functioning during the steps to establish connections with the certain ones of the entities as required for the steps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: the step of responding to the transaction specifier includes the step of employing the communications system to connect the customer and the vendor with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein: the step of employing the communications system to connect the customer and the vendor occurs before the step of obtaining a debit amount from the vendor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: the method does not include any step in which the identifier is disclosed to the vendor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: the communications routing system is a switching portion of a telephone system; and the step of receiving a transaction specifier includes the steps of: receiving a special telephone number in the switching portion; and using the special telephone number to derive the transaction specifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method set forth in claim 5 wherein: the step of receiving a transaction specifier further includes the step of using the special telephone number to derive a telephone number of the vendor and the step of responding to the transaction specifier includes the step of using the telephone number to obtain transaction information concerning the transaction from or provide transaction information to the vendor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method set forth in claim 5 wherein: the switching portion retains the telephone number from which the special telephone number was called; and the step of responding to the transaction specifier includes obtaining the telephone number from which the special telephone number was called from the telephone system as part of the transaction information.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
37 words
The method set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein: the steps performed in response to the transaction specifier include entering information concerning the transaction in a transaction record.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 8 wherein: the method further includes the steps of receiving a further transaction specifier in the communications system; and responding to the further transaction specifier by performing a further transaction as specified by the further transaction specifier and the transaction record.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of employing a telephone system including a switching portion to mediate a transaction involving delayed payment between a customer, a vendor, and an approving entity which approves the transaction, the telephone system being able to establish connections to the customer, the vendor, and the approving entity and the method comprising the steps of: receiving a call in the switching portion which employs a special telephone number specifying the transaction; and responding in the switching portion to the special telephone number by performing steps including determining a telephone number for the vendor; causing the telephone system to request an identifier known to the approving entity from the customer; causing the telephone system to receive and store the identifier; causing the telephone system to use the telephone number for the vendor to connect the customer with the vendor; receiving a transaction amount in the telephone system from the vendor; providing the identifier and the transaction amount to the approving entity; and responding to an indication by the approving entity whether the transaction is approved by providing the indication to the vendor.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of employing a telephone system including a switching portion to mediate a transaction involving delayed payment between a customer, a vendor, and an approving entity which approves the transaction, the telephone system being able to establish connections to the customer, the vendor, and the approving entity and the method comprising the steps of: receiving a call in the switching portion which employs a special telephone number specifying the transaction; and responding in the switching portion to the special telephone number by performing steps including determining a telephone number for the vendor; causing the telephone system to request an identifier known to the approving entity from the customer; causing the telephone system to receive and store the identifier; causing the telephone system to use the telephone number for the vendor to connect the customer with the vendor; receiving a transaction amount in the telephone system from the vendor; providing the identifier and the transaction amount to the approving entity; and responding to an indication by the approving entity whether the transaction is approved by providing the indication to the vendor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of employing a communications routing system of a type which functions generally to establish connections with arbitrary ones of a plurality of entities to in addition mediate a plurality of types of transactions involving certain ones of the entities which have between them transaction information other than the information required by the communications system to establish communications between the entities, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction type specifier specifying one of the types of transactions in the communications routing system; in the communications routing system, responding to the transaction type specifier by activating a transaction manager within the communications routing system; and in the transaction manager, selecting a transaction algorithm corresponding to the transaction type specified by the transaction type specifier from a set of transaction algorithms; and in the transaction manager, performing as required by the transaction algorithm the steps of employing the communications routing system to obtain first transaction information from at least one of the entities involved in the transaction and employing the communications routing system to provide second transaction information to at least one of the entities involved in the transaction, the communications routing system functioning during the steps to establish connections with the certain ones of the entities as required for the steps.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of employing a communications routing system of a type which functions generally to establish connections with arbitrary ones of a plurality of entities to in addition mediate a plurality of types of transactions involving certain ones of the entities which have between them transaction information other than the information required by the communications system to establish communications between the entities, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction type specifier specifying one of the types of transactions in the communications routing system; in the communications routing system, responding to the transaction type specifier by activating a transaction manager within the communications routing system; and in the transaction manager, selecting a transaction algorithm corresponding to the transaction type specified by the transaction type specifier from a set of transaction algorithms; and in the transaction manager, performing as required by the transaction algorithm the steps of employing the communications routing system to obtain first transaction information from at least one of the entities involved in the transaction and employing the communications routing system to provide second transaction information to at least one of the entities involved in the transaction, the communications routing system functioning during the steps to establish connections with the certain ones of the entities as required for the steps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method set forth in claim 11 wherein: for a first set of at least one of the transaction types, the step of providing second transaction information provides second transaction information including less than all of the first transaction information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method set forth in claim 12 wherein: for at least one of the first set of transaction types, the step of obtaining first transaction information includes the step of obtaining an entity identifier for at least one of the entities as part of the first transaction information; and for the at least one transaction type, the step of providing second transaction information provides second transaction information which does not include the entity identifier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method set forth in claim 13 wherein: the step of obtaining first transaction information further includes the steps of obtaining a transaction amount from at least one of the entities as at least part of the first transaction information; and including an indication of the capability of the entity identified by the entity identifier to perform a transaction in the mount of the transaction amount as part of the second transaction information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method set forth in claim 11 wherein: the steps performed as required by the transaction algorithm include the step of employing the communications system to connect entities with each other as required by the transaction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method set forth in claim 11 wherein: the communications routing system is a switching portion of a telephone system; and the step of receiving a transaction specifier includes the steps of: receiving a special telephone number in the switching portion; and using the special telephone number to derive the transaction specifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method set forth in claim 16 wherein: the step of receiving a transaction specifier further includes the step of using the special telephone number to derive a telephone number of one of the entities and the step of responding to the transaction specifier includes the step of using the telephone number to obtain transaction information from or provide transaction information to the entity reachable by the telephone number.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method set forth in claim 16 wherein: the switching portion retains the telephone number from which the special telephone number was called; and the step of responding to the transaction specifier includes obtaining the telephone number from which the special telephone number was called from the switching portion as part of the first transaction information.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in any one of claims 11 through 18 wherein: the steps performed in the transaction manager further include the step of entering information concerning the transaction in a transaction record.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method set forth in claim 19 wherein: the method further includes the steps of receiving a further transaction type specifier in the communications system; and in the transaction manager, performing a further transaction as required by the transaction record and the transaction algorithm corresponding to the further transaction type specifier.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of employing a communications routing system of a type which functions generally to establish connections with arbitrary ones of a plurality of entities to in addition mediate transactions involving certain ones of the entities, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction specifier specifying a first one of the transactions from one of the entities in the communications routing system; responding in the communications muting system to the transaction specifier by performing steps including obtaining transaction information from at least one of the entities as required by the first one of the transactions, entering the transaction information in a transaction record for the first one of the transactions stored in the communications routing system, and ending the first one of the transactions; receiving a further transaction specifier from one of the entities in the communications system; and responding to the further transaction specifier by performing a further transaction as specified by the further transaction specifier and the transaction record, the communications routing system functioning during the steps to establish connections with the certain ones of the entities as required for the steps.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of employing a communications routing system of a type which functions generally to establish connections with arbitrary ones of a plurality of entities to in addition mediate transactions involving certain ones of the entities, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction specifier specifying a first one of the transactions from one of the entities in the communications routing system; responding in the communications muting system to the transaction specifier by performing steps including obtaining transaction information from at least one of the entities as required by the first one of the transactions, entering the transaction information in a transaction record for the first one of the transactions stored in the communications routing system, and ending the first one of the transactions; receiving a further transaction specifier from one of the entities in the communications system; and responding to the further transaction specifier by performing a further transaction as specified by the further transaction specifier and the transaction record, the communications routing system functioning during the steps to establish connections with the certain ones of the entities as required for the steps.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method set forth in claim 21 wherein: the step of ending the first one of the transactions is performed as a result of an interruption of the first one of the transactions; and the step of performing the further transaction consists of continuing the interrupted first one of the transactions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in claim 22 wherein: the step of ending the first one of the transactions is performed when the first one of the transactions is interrupted by one of the participants.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method set forth in claim 21 wherein: the first transaction and the further transaction are stages of a larger transaction which involves more stages than the first transaction and the further transaction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 21 wherein: the further transaction is a separate transaction which requires the transaction information in the transaction record.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
82 words
The method set forth in any one of claims 21, 22, 24, or 25 wherein: the step of responding to the transaction specifier includes the steps of associating a transaction identifier with the transaction record and providing the transaction identifier to at least one of the entities; and the step of responding to the further transaction specifier includes the steps of receiving the transaction identifier from the at least one entity and employing the transaction identifier to locate the associated transaction record.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
70 words
The method set forth in any one of claims 21, 22, 24, or 25 wherein: the step of responding to the transaction specifier includes the step of placing the transaction record in a predetermined order with respect to any other transaction records for transactions involving the entities; and the step of responding to the further transaction identifier includes the step of employing the predetermined order to locate the transaction record.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of employing a communications system to mediate a transaction involving delayed payment between a customer, a vendor, and an approving entity which approves the transaction, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction specifier from the customer in the communications system; and responding to the transaction specifier by performing steps in the communications system including obtaining at least an identifier known to the approving entity from the customer, obtaining at least a debit amount from the vendor, providing the identifier and the debit amount to the approving entity, receiving an indication from the approving entity whether the transaction is approved, and providing the indication to the vendor without providing the identifier to the vendor.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of employing a communications system to mediate a transaction involving delayed payment between a customer, a vendor, and an approving entity which approves the transaction, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a transaction specifier from the customer in the communications system; and responding to the transaction specifier by performing steps in the communications system including obtaining at least an identifier known to the approving entity from the customer, obtaining at least a debit amount from the vendor, providing the identifier and the debit amount to the approving entity, receiving an indication from the approving entity whether the transaction is approved, and providing the indication to the vendor without providing the identifier to the vendor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-11 | 1998-01-10 | 1998-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-11 | 2002-01-10 | 2002-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-11 | 2006-01-10 | 2006-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |