US20080043936A1

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Publication number: US20080043936A1
Application number: US11/900,238
Authority: US
Inventors: Raanan Liebermann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: ALEXANDER TRUST
Priority date: 2000-09-14
Filing date: 2007-09-10
Publication date: 2008-02-21
Also published as: US20080005023A1; US20080043935A1; US20080043733A1; US20080002815A1; US20080002814A1; US7287009B1

Abstract

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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illustrates a nonpublished number messaging system which allows a caller to leave a message for a party having an unpublished telephone number.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 INVENTION

Accordingly, 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

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a center for performing personal transactions in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a local area computer network used in the center ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the opening of an account for performing financial transactions using the system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the making of a deposit or withdrawal at a remote location using the system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an ATM transaction withdrawing money using the system of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the purchase of merchandise from a retailer using the system of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a system which enables a deaf person to leave a message for another in text or voice form;

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for allowing a hearing impaired or deaf person to initiate an IM or ICQ session;

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for issuing an IM or ICQ invitation when either party is not connected at the time;

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for having a conference call of TTY users;

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for sharing data amongst conferencing parties which include hearing impaired or deaf participants;

FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic representation of a system, for having a web IM or ICQ session involving TTY users;

FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for a TTY user to communicate with a voice recipient via a telecommuting operator;

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a system for a TTY user to communicate with a voice recipient via a telecommuting operator;

FIG. 15 illustrates a system for allowing a voice originator to communicate with a TTY user via a telecommuting operator;

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart illustrating how speech or other sounds can be slowed down for a hard of hearing person;

FIG. 17 illustrates a system for enabling a hard of hearing person to listen to a particular speech or sound;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of a method employed in the system ofFIG. 17 to identify various speaking parties or sounds; and

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a method employed in the system ofFIG. 17 to block out unwanted speech or sounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

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 centers10 whose structure will be described hereinafter. Each of thecenters10 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.

Acenter10 used to perform a FCT transaction is shown inFIG. 1. Thecenter10 is also preferably used to support voice messaging, e-mail transaction, and other communication systems in accordance with the present invention. Thecenter10 includes alocal area network12 having one or more servers and a number of data bases needed to operate the center and perform the FCT, voice messaging, e-mail, and other communication transactions. Data can be received by thelocal area network12 from a web site which can be accessed via the Internet through any Internet service provider viadata line14 androuter16.Data line14 may comprise any suitable data transmission line known in the art. Similarly,router16 may comprise any suitable router known in the art. A firewall18 is provided to prevent unauthorized personnel, such as hackers, from gaining access to the information stored in thelocal area network12. The firewall18 may include blocking routers as well as dedicated pre-bastion and bastion systems differentiating between systems' read and write authorizations. Any suitable firewall technology known in the art may be used for the firewall18.

Thecenter10 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 thecenter10 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 DMS500, enables a large number of telephone transactions. As shown inFIG. 1, communications coming over a voice line pass through a dual tone multifrequency device (DTMF)20 before being forwarded to thelocal area network12.

Thecenter10 also includes avoice response unit22. Thevoice response unit22 receives voice and/or DTMF communications from the public and converts them to digital signals. Thevoice response unit22 or an ancillary unit communicates the digital signals to thelocal area network12 and receives digital instructions from thelocal area network12 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, thevoice response unit22 can be instructed by thelocal area network12 to provide the user with voice instructions, such aspress 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 thevoice response unit22. It should be noted that other ways exist to accomplish this function. For example, a text tospeech unit28 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.

Thecenter10 further includes atelephone communications system24 for communicating with outside agencies such as the police, fire, other institutions such as banks, etc. While thesystem24 can have any desired configuration, it preferably has a dial outunit26 and a text tospeech unit28. When performing voice messaging services, thetelephone communications system24 may be linked to sub-message centers (not shown) located around the country for reasons to be discussed hereinafter.

Access to thecenter10 can be gained in a number of ways. For example, the public can access thecenter10 using any standard telephone and any desired telephone service. As discussed above, telephone communications travel along the voice line to the dual tonemultiple frequency device20 and then to thelocal area network12. Alternatively, thecenter10 may be accessed via the Internet. Data entered in this manner moves along theline14 and throughrouter16 to thelocal area network12. Accessing thecenter10 in a wireless manner is similar to voice travelling along a voice line except that the airways replace the land line transport media.

Thelocal area network12 can have any desired architecture.FIG. 2 schematically shows one such architecture where thelocal area network12 includes aserver30 for operating the network and aserver32 dedicated to operating the e-mail function. Other servers can be added for specific applications that are independent though related conceptually. Thelocal area network12 also includes a number ofdata bases34 including, but not limited to, a historical data base, a maintenance data base, a customer data base, a billing and collection data base, a statistical data base, an administrative data base, a transactions data base, a data base for holding messages, and a retained message database. The data bases can be combined as appropriate and may be stored in any suitable storage device known in the art using any suitable storage media.

Thelocal area network12 further includes asearch engine36 with access to the data bases34; aset38 of stored processing instructions which govern the operation and has access to the

servers

30 and32; aserver40 having a set of stored FCT operating instructions to which theserver30 has access; aserver42 having a set of stored voice messaging system operating instructions to which theserver30 has access; a security operation anddata base44 to which each of the

servers

30,32,40 and42 have access; and a billing andstatistics data base46 which can be accessed by the

servers

30,32,40 and/or42 and to which any of the servers can transfer information.

Thesecurity system44 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 thenetwork12 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/or42 used in thelocal area network12 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, thecenter10 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 thecenter10 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 architecture18.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the process for a customer to register with and/or open an account with the FCT system operated by thecenter10. The customer can use any telephone to open an account in a relatively short amount of time by accessing the FCT system via a central telephone number such as an 800 number. Alternatively, the customer can use his/her personal computer to access the FCT system via the Internet site operated by thecenter10 or via a dedicated FCT Internet access website operated by thecenter10.

When a telephone is used, the actions of the customer needed to set up the account are voice prompted by thevoice response unit22 or the text tospeech complex24. 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 theFCT system40 or a FCT related server50 when one is used.

Instep101, 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. Instep102, 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.

Instep103, 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 thetelephone communication unit24 at thecenter10. 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. Instep103, 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.

Instep104, 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. Instep104a, the customer verifies all information. Instep104b, 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.

Instep105, 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 inFIG. 3.

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.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating in schematic form the manner in which a customer can make a deposit into, or a withdrawal from, his/her account using a point of sale terminal at a store, an outlet, etc., connecting the information to theFCT center10. Instep401, the customer goes to any desired location having a point of sale terminal that can be connected to theFCT center10 and swipes an FCT card, which is also known as a card on demand (COD). Instep402, the customer responds to the prompt on the terminal asking for the customer's account number.

In response to this prompt, instep403, 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 instep404 is then prompted for his/her PIN number. Instep405, the customer enters his/her PIN number without tripping the FCT security system as discussed above. Instep406, 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. Instep407, the customer keys in the choice. Instep407a, the customer is prompted for the amount (deposit/withdrawal) and keys in the desired amount instep407b. If the customer has not yet signed a written agreement if required, then he/she does it at the counter (step407c) and, instep407d, keys in an affirmative response to any question about such signature. The written agreement may be a standard banking account agreement. Instep408, 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, thelocal area network12 will issue instructions to cancel the transaction or to modify the transaction. Instep409, 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.

FIG. 5 illustrates a transaction carried out by a customer at an ATM. As shown therein, instep501, the customer inserts any credit card or a COD card into the ATM. Instep502, the customer is prompted for account information, that is the telephone identification number (TNA) for his/her account. Instep503, the customer keys in his/her identification number using the key pad on the ATM machine. Instep504, the customer is prompted for his/her PIN number. Instep505, the customer keys in his/her PIN number either in a way which does not trip the FCT security system or in a way which does trip the FCT security system if the transaction is being made under duress. Instep506, the customer is prompted for the dollar amount of the transaction, i.e. money to be withdrawn from his/her account. Instep507, the customer keys in the dollar amount. As before the FCT system verifies that the customer has the requested amount of cash and required transaction fees in his/her account. If the customer does not have sufficient cash in his/her account, then either the transaction is cancelled or the customer is prompted to modify the transaction to a lesser amount. Instep508, the customer takes his/her credit card or the COD card out of the machine along with any cash being dispensed.

As can be seen from the descriptions ofFIGS. 4 and 5, the FCT system and method makes cash deposits and withdrawals much easier to transact. It also provides the convenience of allowing the customer to carry out such transactions at a wide range of stores, outlets, non-banking institutions, and ATM machines. It allows an unrelated third party to deposit an amount on behalf of a customer at a geographically remote location and the customer can withdraw such amounts at another geographically placed ATM or a point of sale (POS) station.

FIG. 6 illustrates a FCT transaction where a customer is purchasing merchandise. As shown instep601, the transaction may be initiated using a terminal, such as a POS terminal with connectivity to thelocal area network12 or by using a personal computer. Using either device, the user first clicks on a FCT transaction icon if displayed on the screen associated with the terminal or computer or swipes a card. Transactions may also be accomplished in a similar manner by utilizing a POS or a standard phone or in certain instances an ATM machine with the customer responding to prompts by the system.

Instep602, 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. Instep603, 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.

Instep604, the computer associated with the terminal or the customer's computer dials up theFCT center10. After the information downloaded to theFCT center10 has been stored in a buffer, the FCT programming used by thenetwork12 opens a temporary folder. This is shown instep605. As shown instep606, 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.

Instep607, theFCT center10 disconnects from the user. Instep608, theFCT center10 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 inbuffer603. TheFCT center10 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, theFCT center10 downloads only pertinent TIW information enabling the customer to purchase on-line.

Instep609, 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 instep610, 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. Instep611, the retailer's computer transmits the downloaded TIW number to theFCT center10 for transaction authorization and for debiting the customer's account. Instep612, 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 thecomputer network12 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). Instep613, 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 thelocal area network12. 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.

TABLE I


Byte Number	Byte Group Name	Remarks/Function

1-12	Time Stamp	Time module. Part of case ID
13-20	Group Serial Number	Identify order within a time
		module
21	Entrance Byte
22	Personal Security
23	Business Security
24	Escalation Byte
25-44	Customer's TAN
45-49	PIN
50-69	Secondary TAN	When transacting for someone
		else
70	TIW Locator Matching
71-86	Monetary Sum	Five decimal digits are allocated
		for
87-111	Target TAN
112	Transaction Byte
113	FCTE Byte
114	Other Transactions
115	Router Bookkeeping
116	Router Verification
117	Security Byte
118	Security Activation
119	Fees Byte
120-130	CID Bytes
131-136	Date of Birth

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 thecommunication center10 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 thecenter10 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 inFIG. 2, the Publix Network system is operated by adedicated server32. Theserver32 preferably has three search engines available to it. The first search engine, the personal ID search engine, identifies a user by searching for his/her TNA and retrieving his/her file. The user, besides being an individual, could be a company, an agency, etc. The second engine is a reverse personal ID directory which is a reverse directory. The user specifies the non Publix e-mail address of an addressee and obtains the Publix e-mail address for the addressee. The third search engine is a company search directory which enables a user to key in the acronym of a company's name and find out the descriptor appropriate for the company. When using the company search directory, the user does not need to stay on line to do the search. Rather, the Publix Network system can download to the user's system the complete block of descriptors relevant to the specified company name upon the next on-line connection to the Publix Network system. The user can scroll and decide about the pertinent descriptor off line.

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.

TABLE II


Byte Number	Byte Group Name	Remarks/Function

1-12	Time Stamp	Time module. Part of
		case ID
13-19	Group Serial Number	Identify order within a
		time module
20	Entrance Byte
21	Media Byte
22	Device Destination Byte
23	Data Destination Byte
24-43	Customer's TNA
44-48	PIN
49-71	Sender'sReturn Address
72	Publix Procedural Activities
73-87	Field C and D in IAS
88-112	Secondary OAS
113	Transaction Byte
114	Public phone card Byte
115	Completion Pending Procedures
116	Router Bookkeeping
117	Router Verification
118	Static Security State
119	Dynamic Security State
120	Security Activation
121	Administrative Procedure
122-136	CID Bytes
131-136	Date of Birth
137-160	Primary OAS	The outgoing address
		segment

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 thecommunication center10 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 thenetwork server30 having access to the FCT and Publix e-mail servers and the voice messaging instructional database or by avoice messaging server42. 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 thecenter10 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. Themessage center42 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 thelocal area network12 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 onecenter10 may be constructed and utilized for the system. Of course, each of thecenters10 would be linked to theother centers10 for information sharing purposes.

While thecenter10 has been shown as having a single web site through which users can access the FCT and Publix systems, thecenter10 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 toFIG. 7, deaf people communicate by phone using adevice70 called a text telephone or TTY. Typically, deaf people dial a toll free number and an operator, either a human operator or a non-human device operator, assists in making calls to hearing persons, with the operator acting as an interpreter between text from the TTY and voice or as an interface to the desired service. Prior to the present invention, a deaf person using a TTY was incapable of leaving a message on a standard answering machine, such asmachine78, and was unable to send or receive e-mail. With the present invention, a deaf person using aTTY70 can send an e-mail or a voice equivalent message using theTTY70 as a transport device by connecting to the communication network of the present invention. To leave an e-mail, the deaf person dials a dedicated number such as an 800 number for access to the e-mail services provided by acommunication center10 in accordance with the present invention. After the center has been contacted viarelay72, a number of prompts are sent to the deaf person who responds using his/her TTY. For example, the deaf person is prompted to (1) provide the number, preferably the TNA, of the party he/she is trying to reach; (2) provide a return number or TNA for the e-mail; and (3) provide the name signature to the message. The deaf person may also be prompted to provide the e-mail address for the intended recipient if he/she knows it. The responses to the prompts provide the header to the e-mail. The header is then coded by thecenter10. Thereafter, the deaf person is prompted for the text of the message. The deaf person inputs the e-mail text using his/her TTY. When the message is completed, it too is coded by thecenter10. Thecenter10 then assigns a link number which joins the coded header to the coded message.

The e-mail message is then forwarded to thee-mail server73 where a delivery file is opened. The e-mail is put into the queue for delivery.Processor74 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 byprocessor75 and converted to machine synthesized sounds by text tospeech engine76.

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 ofFIG. 7 is that aTTY70 can be used to leave an e-mail message for a party who does not have a personal computer. While a deaf person may use a TTY to leave the e-mail or voice message, he/she may use a personal computer in lieu of a TTY to leave the e-mail or voice message. Furthermore, in all the cases where a TTY is used to send and receive text, the deaf person can use specialized equipment provided with a camera, to sign into the camera, and then convert the signing into or from text either at theunit710 or at theTRS712.

The system ofFIG. 8 enables an instant message (IM) or ICQ session between web users who are on line and TTY users. In this system, thetelephone relay service712, theLAN server713 and theweb server714 act as a computer/server for a deaf person who does not have a personal computer. They determine initially whether the intended recipient is on-line or not. If it is determined that the intended recipient is not on-line, he/she can be summoned to an IM or ICQ session by the deaf person sending an email containing a session request using his/herTTY710. The email, as before, includes a TNA address for the intended recipient. As before, thecenter10 dials up the intended recipient and delivers a voice message calling him/her to an IM or ICQ session. Once contact has been established between theTTY user710 and the intended recipient usingpersonal computer715, the deaf person types his/her message using his/herTTY710. The message is then sent to theweb server714 viaTRS712 andLAN server713. Theweb server714 converts the message to the proper format for e-mail. Thecenter10 then transmits the converted message to the PC user. The PC user then replies and sends the reply to theweb server714. Theweb server714 converts the e-mail into the proper format for receipt by a TTY. Once the conversion has taken place, it is transmitted to the TTY user via theTRS712. TheLAN server713 enables supervision of the operation of theTRS712 and theweb server714. As can be seen from the foregoing discussion, the system ofFIG. 8 enables a deaf person to participate in an IM or ICQ session even though the deaf person does not have a personal computer.

Referring now toFIG. 9, a system is shown in which an individual at apersonal computer750 can issue an IM or ICQ request to a hearing impaired or deaf person who has a personal computer but who is not on line. As shown in this figure, the individual atpersonal computer750 connects to theweb site753 associated with thecommunication center10 via thepublic telephone network751 andline740. He/she then sends an email containing the TNA of the intended deaf or hearing person recipient. At thecenter10, the email is routed totelephone relay service752 and then toprocessor756. As before, thecenter10 has aLAN server757 which supervises the network operation ofprocessor756. Inprocessor756, the email text is extracted and converted into a format compatible with a TTY if appropriate. Theprocessor756 dials out the TNA of the intended deaf person recipient and delivers the invitation to the IM or ICQ session toTTY758. Alternatively, theprocessor756 dials out the TNA of the intended hearing person recipient not then on line and delivers by telephone an invitation to the IM or ICQ session to telephone759.

The system shown inFIG. 9 can also be used by a deaf person to issue an IM or ICQ invitation to a PC user. As before, the deaf person would dial through the public network and end at a dedicated line at thecenter10 for handling TTY messages using his/herTTY758. The deaf person would identify the intended recipient including his/her telephone number address and would identify himself/herself. The deaf person would issue the invitation in text form. The invitation communication is received by theTRS752 which directs the communication to theprocessor756. Theprocessor756 extracts the TNA of the intended recipient and dials out vialine742 andpublic network751. Once the PC user answers his/hertelephone759, the invitation to the IM or ICQ session is delivered either by an operator at thecenter10 when theTRS752 is utilized or via machine synthesized sounds. The same method may be used by hearing individuals, with or without TTYs to invite others to an IM or ICQ session.

Referring now toFIG. 10, a system is shown which enables a conference call of hearing impaired or deaf individuals and/or hearing individuals. Heretofore, there has been no effective system for conferencing hearing impaired or deaf individuals. As shown in this figure, a number of hearing impaired or deaf individuals and/or hearing individuals access thecommunication center10 via any public telephone network(s)808. The hearing impaired or deaf individuals utilizeTTYs800 and802 to access thecommunication center10 via telephone network(s)808, while the hearing individuals utilize voice connection devices, such as

telephones

804 and806. Each communication from a hearing impaired or deaf individual or a hearing individual is forwarded to astandard PBX system810 located in thecenter10. In one embodiment, thePBX system810 directs each communication from deaf and hard of hearing persons, and when applicable, also hearing persons to abank812 of modems. In an alternative embodiment, a hearing person can branch out of thePBX810 to atelephone line820. A bank ofswitches814 is provided to connect each of the modems in thebank812 to one of the connecting lines in thePBX812 and to one of theprocessors816.

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 atprocessors816 to text and written to a pad whose contents are later transmitted toTTY users800 and802. Theprocessors816 also take the text transmissions from theTTY users800 and802 and converts them to voice communications which are later transmitted to the

voice connections

804 and806. The voice communications may be machine synthesized sounds or may be generated by operators at thecomputers816 who are reading the text messages.Processors816 may comprise any suitable computers known in the art and may be programmed to perform the foregoing functions using any suitable language.LAN server818 is provided to supervise the operation of theprocessors816, thebank814 of switches, thebank812 of modems and where applicable thePBX810. ThePBX810, themodem bank812, and theswitch bank814 may comprise any suitable systems known in the art.

Utilizing the system ofFIG. 10, the text of each communication during the conference call can be displayed on theTTYs800 and802. Additionally, theprocessors816 and/or their operators convert the text written by the deaf or hearing impaired individuals into machine voice communications which can be heard by the

voice connection users

804 and806. Heretofore, such a system was not available due to the limitations of TRS equipment and legal restrictions on calling assistants.

Referring now toFIG. 11, a system is shown for sharing data amongst conferencing hearing impaired or deaf individuals. As before, each hearing impaired or deaf individual utilizes aTTY840 to communicate data to the other conference participants. The input from each conference participant may be transmitted to acommunication center10 via anypublic telephone network842. Each data stream is received from thePBX843 by an individual modem located inmodem bank844. The transmitted data is then forwarded to a processor orcomputer848 located at thecenter10. Theprocessor848 is programmed to have a number of

modules

850,852,854 and856 which respectively perform the following functions. Inmodule850, data from each TTY user is copied onto an intermediary work pad. Inmodule852, the multiple entries on the intermediary work pad are cut and pasted onto a general work pad. Inmodule856, the content of the general work pad, which contains the multiple entries from the individual modems, is copied so that each conference participant can receive the entire content of the general work pad. Inmodule856, the content of the general work pad is pasted to a number of individual modems in themodem bank844 for transmission to each conferencing participant. Thereafter, inmodule858, the content of each general work pad is transmitted to each conference participant. Thebank846 of switches insures that the communications are directed to the proper modems for transmission to the proper individuals. When the TTY users receive the contents of the general work pad, they receive it in a textual form that allows them to see all of the communications and data transmitted by the conferencing parties. They can also see it in sign language if desired and if they have the equipment for same. Heretofore, there did not exist any such system for allowing multiple hearing impaired or deaf individuals to share data in such a manner. Themodem bank844 and theswitch bank846 may comprise any suitable equipment known in the art. Theprocessor848 may comprise any suitable computer known in the art which has been programmed in any suitable computer language to carry out the identified functions. If desired, an operator at theprocessor848 may perform the various functions outlined in

modules

850,852,854, and856.

Referring now toFIG. 12, a system is shown for hold a web IM or ICQ session with a number of conferencing parties some of whom are hearing impaired or deaf

individuals using TTYs

900 and902 and individuals, either hearing impaired, deaf, or hearing, using

personal computers

904 and906. Using this system, each individual, using his/her TTY or personal computer, establishes communication with thecenter10 using anypublic telephone network908 for a direct dial up or connecting through thenetwork908 to an ISP provider. In thecommunication center10, a communication from the conference or session initiator is received. This communication contains the TNA for each conference call participant and information as to how each participant will participate, i.e. via TTY or personal computer, as well as the identification and telephone number address of the initiator. Thecenter10 then communicates with each of the participants through thenetwork TRS910 and/or theweb server912. ALAN server914 enables theswitch920 to supervise the conference call to insure that communications are being received from and transmitted to each participant. TheTRS910 may comprise any suitable TRS known in the art. Similarly, the

servers

912 and914 and switches920 may comprise any suitable processors or computers known in the art. Using the system ofFIG. 12, text messages containing the communications from each of the participants will be displayed on the

TTYs

900 and902 and on thepersonal computers914 and916.

The TTY/email processes previously discussed can utilize the telephone relay service (TRS) at thecommunication center10. 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 thecenter10 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 thecenter10. In such a system, thecommunication center10 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.

If theprocessor1218 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 thetelecommuting operators1217 already on-line and standing by. The stand-by telecommuting operator also haselectronic equipment1226 including a camera where applicable and a telecommuting operator'stelephone device1228. 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 inFIG. 14. In this variation, the TTY or video originated communication is forwarded to acommunication center10 havingPBX1212 viapublic telephone network1200. ThePBX1212 transfers the call to remotetelecommuting operator station1232 where it is received byelectronic equipment1226 having a modem and/or a video reception portion. The remote telecommuting operator then interfaces with theequipment1226, reads the TTY message or views the video, and speaks into atelephone device1228. The operator's voice containing the message is transmitted to the intended voice recipient via a trunk to trunk transfer in thecenter10,PBX1212, andpublic network1200. For the voice recipient to respond to the TTY user, the voice message travels in the reverse manner to the TTY user.

Referring now toFIG. 15, a system is illustrated for conveying a voice message to a TTY or video receiving party. In this system, the voice originator dials up thecommunication center10 usingpublic telephone network1200. The voice message generated by the originator is transmitted toPBX1212 in thecenter10. ThePBX1212 then transmits the voice message to the remotetelecommuting operator station1232 viapublic telephone network1200 andline1234. The voice message is received by the remote telecommuting operator's telephone device orunit1228. The remote operator listens to the message and then inputs it intoelectronic equipment1226. Such input can be text or alternatively singing to the camera portion ofequipment1226 where applicable. As before theelectronic equipment1226 has a TTY modem and/or a dial up standard modem. The converted message is then transmitted vialine1236 to thepublic telephone network1200 and via thepublic telephone network1200 to one of the modems inbank1214. From thebank1214, one or more switches inbank1216 are thrown to forward the message toPBX1212.PBX1212 then transmits the text or video message to the TTY or video receiving party via thepublic telephone network1200.

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 thecommunication center10, 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 thecommunication center10 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 thecenter10 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.FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating what occurs within this programmed computer. Inbox1601, a stream of words and other sounds are received by the computer. Inbox1602, the stream of words and sounds are stored in any suitable storage device known in the art. Alternatively, the words and sounds may be stored with a hearing human operator located at the computer and who is reading a screen. Inbox1603, a time delay is introduced between the words and other sounds. This can be done by slowing down the stream of words as a whole. Inbox1604, the output of the computer is transmitted to the hard of hearing person. The output can be through a device or a speaking human operator.

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 thecommunication center10. For example, the prompt may say “press 4 to slow down prompts and other voice communications”. Thecenter10 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 thecommunication center10 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.FIGS. 17-19 illustrate a system for enabling a hard of hearing person to eliminate environmental sounds and concentrate on what is being said by one or more individuals.

Using the system ofFIG. 17, a hard of hearing person in a public place, such as a restaurant uses awireless telephone1701 to establish communication with thecommunication center10. A land line and standard telephone capabilities can be used for connectivity with equipment such as RJ-11, if available, as well as hook-up to a microphone. Amicrophone1703 potentially with receiving and processing is connected to thetelephone1701 to receive and transmit the voices of the various people in the public place and to receive and transmit other external sounds. After a connection has been established, the hard of hearing person is prompted by theprocessor1802 to indicate whether or not he/she is wearing a hearing aid device. If the answer is yes, theprocessor1802 knows that communications to be sent to the hard of hearing person are to be sent to a hearing aid and thus triggers adjustments to the sound level accordingly. If the answer is no, theprocessor1802 knows that communications are to be sent to some other speaker that is near, or in, the ear of the user and again sound level is adjusted accordingly.

Referring now toFIG. 18, the hard of hearing person and the other people with whom a conversation is being held speak into themicrophone1703 associated withtelephone1701. In thecommunication center10, the speech is picked up and routed through a TRS to aprocessor unit1802. Theprocessor unit1802 is used to determine whether an individual speaking at any moment is a recognized speaker whose voice pattern is in a data base associated with theprocessor unit1802. If the processor determines that the speaker is in the data base, it identifies the speaker and does not proceed with a new ID procedure. If theprocessor1802 determines that the speaker is not in the data base, it initiates a new identification procedure. First, it finds out if the ID procedure is local to the device. If it is, the speaker is identified. If it is not local, an external identification procedure is used where the hard of hearing person assigns or keys in a number, a letter, or initials to identify the speaking person, which number, letter, or initials are stored in theprocessor unit1802. Individual attributes of the speaker, such as voice signature, are also stored inprocessor unit1802 with reference to the speaker's ID.

Once all of the speakers, and their voice signatures, have been identified by theprocessor unit1802, the hard of hearing person can identify which speaker he is interested in listening to. Referring now toFIG. 19, once the hard of hearing person has signified the person or even sound of interest, the characteristics of the person or the sound are identified by theprocessor unit1802. The identified characteristics are used to single out the desired speaker or sound. Thereafter, any sound or speech which does not have the identified characteristics is blocked out by theprocessor unit1802 and not delivered to the ear of the hard of hearing person. Alternatively, the volume of the sound or speech of no immediate interest to the hard of hearing may be lowered. If the sound or speech does have the identified characteristics, the sound or speech are delivered to the ear of the hard of hearing person via the telephone relay system and the wireless telephone. As before, the hard of hearing person can prompt thecommunication center10 to enhance the volume of the singled out sound or speech. The delivered speech may be delivered by the telephone either to an ear piece in the user's ear or to the user's hearing aid. One of the advantages to this system is that a hard of hearing person does not have to invest in expensive equipment to be able to hold a conversation with another person in a noisy environment. The only piece of equipment required by the hard of hearing person in the system of the present invention is a telephone such as a wireless telephone and the microphone unit.

In yet another embodiment of the system of the present invention, a system similar to that ofFIG. 8 may be used to allow a deaf person to participate in a chat room. To do this, the deaf person again uses thecommunication center10 as a web access unit viaserver714. Using his/herTTY710, the deaf person identifies for thecenter10 the chat room to which he/she would like to connect. Thecenter10 then uses itsweb server714 to establish contact with the chat room. Communications from the chat room are transmitted to theweb server714 and put into a buffer. The communications are then converted to a format which can be read by a TTY or alternatively changed into a video stream of sign language and transferred at a slow speed for text and alternatively appropriate video speed to the deaf person's TTY orvideo710. By transferring the communications at a slow speed, the deaf person is better able to read them all. To reduce the number of communications being transmitted, the deaf person using his/herTTY710 can tell theweb server714 which individual(s) communications should be displayed. To participate in the chat room, the deaf person uses his/herTTY710 to compose a message. The message is then delivered over the telephone connection between theTTY710 and thecenter10 to theTRS712 and then to theweb server714. In theweb server714, the message is converted to a format compatible with the format being used for the chat room and then transmitted to the chat room. Alternatively, if the deaf person'sunit710 contains a camera and certain processing capabilities, such person can communicate with the chat room via sign language. In this embodiment, the text transmitted to the deaf person is converted to sign language he/she can view, while their signing to the camera is converted to text sent to the chat room. In this embodiment, the actual image of the deaf person is never transmitted and is deciphered to text which is sent out. Heretofore, deaf people could not participate in chat rooms using a TTY because telephone systems were not configured to do this.

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.