System and method for performing a variety of transactions having distributed decision-making capability

Claim 1

A system for use by a multiplicity of users to perform a variety of transactions through a system operator and effect collection of payment for said transactions by said system operator, said system comprising: a plurality of telephone instruments respectively having a telephone identifier, said telephone instruments further including means for inputting a user identifier; each of said telephone instruments further having a plurality of user actuators thereon respectively indicative of a particular transaction, said transactions including bill payment, product/service requests and closed network long distance telephone service; system processor means in communication with said respective of said telephone instruments upon actuation of a selected user actuator by said user, said system processor means operative to receive at least said telephone identifier from said telephone instrument; said system processor means being further able to determine which type of said transactions is being requested based on actuation of said selected user actuator; payment means for effecting payment of bills rendered by third parties to said user on behalf of said user; product/service means for effecting requests of products/services on behalf of said user; long distance means for effecting long distance telephone calls by said user from said telephone instrument through a closed network; collection means for collecting payment for said transactions based on receipt of at least said telephone identifier from said telephone instrument; and wherein said system processor includes: (a) at least one gateway computer having table means for storing therein a plurality of tables respectively corresponding to one of maid telephone instruments; (b) said gateway computer further having validity processor means for checking whether a request for bill payment from one of said telephone instruments is valid, said validity processor means operative to check said request for bill payment by receiving both of said telephone identifier and said user identifier and comparing said identifiers with data in a corresponding table; (c) a central computer in communication with said at least one gateway computer and operative to forward a payment command to said payment means, said central computer having a complete database containing sufficient information regarding said user and said third party to effect bill payment thereto as requested.

Claim 2

A system for use by a multiplicity of users to perform a variety of transactions through a system operator and effect collection of payment for said transactions by said system operator, said system comprising: a plurality of telephone instruments respectively having a telephone identifier, said telephone instruments further including means for inputting a user identifier; each of said telephone instruments further having a plurality of user actuators thereon respectively indicative of a particular transaction, said transactions including bill payment, product/service requests and closed network long distance telephone service; system processor means in communication with said respective of said telephone instruments upon actuation of a selected user actuator by said user, said system processor means operative to receive at least said telephone identifier from said telephone instrument; said system processor means being further able to determine which type of said transactions is being requested based on actuation of said selected user actuator; payment means for effecting payment of bills rendered by third parties to said user on behalf of said user; product/service means for effecting requests of products/services on behalf of said user; long distance means for effecting long distance telephone calls by said user from said telephone instrument through a closed network; collection means for collecting payment for said transactions based on receipt of at least said telephone identifier from said telephone instrument; and wherein said system processor includes: (a) at least one gateway computer having table means for storing therein a plurality of tables respectively corresponding to one of maid telephone instruments; (b) said gateway computer further having validity processor means for checking whether a request for bill payment from one of said telephone instruments is valid, said validity processor means operative to check said request for bill payment by receiving both of said telephone identifier and said user identifier and comparing said identifiers with data in a corresponding table; (c) a central computer in communication with said at least one gateway computer and operative to forward a payment command to said payment means, said central computer having a complete database containing sufficient information regarding said user and said third party to effect bill payment thereto as requested.

Claim 11

A system for use by a multiplicity of users to request payment by a system operator of bills rendered by a third party to said users, said system comprising: a plurality of telecommunication instruments respectively having an instrument identifier, said telecommunication instruments further including means for inputting a user identifier; at least one gateway computer having table means for storing therein a plurality of tables respectively corresponding to one of said telephone instruments; said gateway computer further having gateway processor means for validity checking requests for bill payment from said telecommunication devices, said gateway processor means operative to receive both of said telecommunication identifier and said user identifier and comparing said identifiers with data in a corresponding table; a central computer in operative communication with said gateway computer, said central computer having a complete database containing sufficient information regarding said user and a payee to effect bill payment thereto as requested; payment means in communication with said central computer and operative upon receipt of a payment command therefrom for effecting payment to said third parties of said bills; and collection means for collecting payment for said transactions.

Claim 12

A system for use by a multiplicity of users to request payment by a system operator of bills rendered by a third party to said users, said system comprising: a plurality of telecommunication instruments respectively having an instrument identifier, said telecommunication instruments further including means for inputting a user identifier; at least one gateway computer having table means for storing therein a plurality of tables respectively corresponding to one of said telephone instruments; said gateway computer further having gateway processor means for validity checking requests for bill payment from said telecommunication devices, said gateway processor means operative to receive both of said telecommunication identifier and said user identifier and comparing said identifiers with data in a corresponding table; a central computer in operative communication with said gateway computer, said central computer having a complete database containing sufficient information regarding said user and a payee to effect bill payment thereto as requested; payment means in communication with said central computer and operative upon receipt of a payment command therefrom for effecting payment to said third parties of said bills; and collection means for collecting payment for said transactions.