Telecommunications card-access system

Claim 2

An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system connected to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising: (a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a corresponding transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated with each authorization code, and for validating a user's PIN; (b) an access-control module comprising: input means for receiving said user's PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile; means for reading said transaction profile from said card and for reading a selected access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction; display means for displaying said transaction profile; means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction; and control means for controlling said input means, said means for reading, said display means and said means for connecting, for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said means for connecting.

Claim 3

A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising (c) an authorized central issuing system for writing into said card said resident PIN and said number of access authorization codes and associated identification data.

Claim 4

A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said access authorization codes include at least a voice-mail mail box password, a telephone station control password, a mobile identification number for a cellular phone, a bank account code, a credit card number and a preamble code required for an associated access code.

Claim 5

A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said access authorization codes further includes a Mobile Identification Number for identification of a cellular phone user.

Claim 6

A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is a proprietary telephone and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

Claim 7

A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is an analogue telephone and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

Claim 8

A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is a data device or a cellular phone and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

Claim 9

A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is an ISDN basic rate access terminal and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

Claim 10

A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for reading comprises: means for receiving and returning said card; and a reader for reading from said card said transaction profile when said user's PIN has been validated and for reading said selected access authorization code and identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected.

Claim 11

A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control means comprises: means for transmitting said user's PIN to said card for validation; means for enabling said reader to retrieve from said card said transaction profile when said user's PIN has been validated and said selected access authorization code and associated identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected; means for enabling said display means to show said preferred transaction; and means for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data from said card to said means for connecting.

Claim 12

A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input means is a dial pad.

Claim 13

A system as claimed in claim 1, said telecommunications access terminal being of a type provided with a dial pad, wherein said input means is said dial pad of said terminal.

Claim 14

A system as claimed in claim 1, said telecommunications access terminal being of a type provided with a dial pad and a display, wherein said dial pad and said display are common to said module and said terminal.

Claim 15

An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising: (a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a corresponding transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated with each of said authorization code, and for validating a user's PIN; (b) an access-control module, comprising: input means for receiving said user's PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile; means for reading said transaction profile from said card and for reading a selected access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction; display means for displaying said transaction profile; means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction; and control means for controlling said input means, said means for reading, said display means and said means for connecting, for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said means for connecting; and (c) an authorized central issuing system for writing into said card said resident PIN and said number of access authorization codes and associated identification data.

Claim 16

An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising: (a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a corresponding transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated with each of said authorization code, and for validating a user's PIN; (b) an access-control module, comprising: input means for receiving said user's PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile; means for reading said transaction profile from said card and for reading a selected access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction; display means for displaying said transaction profile; means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction; and control means for controlling said input means, said means for reading, said display means and said means for connecting, for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said means for connecting; and (c) an authorized central issuing system for writing into said card said resident PIN and said number of access authorization codes and associated identification data.

Claim 17

An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising: (a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization code and corresponding identification data associated with each authorization code, and for validating an user's PIN; (b) an access-control module comprising: input means for receiving said user's PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile; means for receiving and returning said card; a reader for reading from said card said transaction profile if said user's PIN has been validated and for reading said access authorization code and associated identification data if said preferred transaction has been selected; display means for displaying said transaction profile; means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction; means for transmitting said user's PIN to said card for validation means for enabling said reader to retrieve from said card said transaction profile when said user's PIN has been validated, and said selected access authorization code and associated identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected; means for enabling said display means to show and select said preferred transaction; and means for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data from said card to said means for connecting.

Claim 18

An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising: (a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization code and corresponding identification data associated with each authorization code, and for validating an user's PIN; (b) an access-control module comprising: input means for receiving said user's PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile; means for receiving and returning said card; a reader for reading from said card said transaction profile if said user's PIN has been validated and for reading said access authorization code and associated identification data if said preferred transaction has been selected; display means for displaying said transaction profile; means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction; means for transmitting said user's PIN to said card for validation means for enabling said reader to retrieve from said card said transaction profile when said user's PIN has been validated, and said selected access authorization code and associated identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected; means for enabling said display means to show and select said preferred transaction; and means for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data from said card to said means for connecting.

Claim 21

A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of validating comprises: comparing said user's PIN with said resident PIN and issuing a validation signal when said PIN's coincide; and counting the number of times the user's PIN has been entered and denying user's access to the system if said number exceeds a preset threshold.