A system is disclosed for maintaining an up-to-date record of credit accounts, and for determining the status of an account prior to completion of a credit transaction to be billed to that account. Upon completion of each credit transaction the system automatically enters information pertinent to the transaction into the appropriate account record maintained at a central data processor station. This continual updating of each credit account as transactions occur makes the current status of any account available immediately upon inquiry by an authorized user of the system. Remote terminal units advantageously located at specified points of sale in each authorized user''s facility are utilized to transmit inquiries regarding the status of credit accounts, and to receive replies authorizing or rejecting the transaction for which the inquiry was made. The system includes a multiplicity of the terminal units, a plurality of supervisory data units each associated with a group of the terminal units, a central data processor station with special purposes or general purpose computers implemented or programmed to manipulate stored data on command from the remote terminal units or from the supervisory data units, and a network for communication between the central data processor station and the remote terminal units and supervisory data units.

Unattended data transmission

System for maintaining the status of credit accounts

A modem capable of three modes of operation; a normal mode, a reduced power mode responsive to a control signal from a function controller within the modem, and a further reduced power mode responsive to a control signal from the computer. The function controller monitors activity within the modem and applies or removes power transparently as required to exit or enter the first reduced power mode. The control signal from the computer enables the modem to enter or exit the further reduced power mode, in which no modem functions are available.

Power-down modem

Apparatus and method for monitoring the state of the phone line, directly or as reflected by signals from the modem, and controlling the application of power to a computer so that the computer is powered in response to an incoming call. The apparatus includes a controllable power switching element interposed between the power source and the computer's power input, and logic circuitry responsive to the state of the phone line or modem interface for controlling the power switching element. An alarm clock also controls the power switching element to power the computer up at a predetermined time.

Device for controlling the application of power to a computer

An electrical circuit is disclosed which provides the capability of starting up an unattended computer or similar device either from a remote location or at a predetermined date and time. The circuit includes an electrical energy storage device which, when a telephone ring signal is detected, initiates start-up of the computer. Alternatively, an interrupt from a date timer may initiate start-up of the computer using the energy storage device. Once start-up of the computer is initiated, its power supply provides the necessary voltage which, in conjunction with a latching transistor, maintains the electrical circuit providing AC power to the power supply and computer and recharges the electrical energy storage device. Finally, an electrical signal to power-down the computer may be initiated either remotely or through software instruction.

Method and apparatus for power-up of unattended computer

A printer/recorder apparatus, for use with a 12 or 16 key pushbutton telephone communications system, for providing a permanent record at the calling and/or called party stations of transmitted messages containing alphanumeric date. The apparatus is in the form of a compact, portable unit having a selfcontained printer and adapted to be coupled acoustically and mechanically, but not electrically, to a telephone set. The alphanumeric characters, punctuation and mathematical symbols, and function signals for controlling the operation of the telephone or other device at the called station are arranged pursuant to a coding scheme into two groups, each group having a plurality of subgroups with individual members thereof corresponding to the 10 numeric buttons on the telephone dial, and the * and # buttons (and the other non-numeric buttons in a 16-key system) controlling the switching between groups and the cycling among subgroups. A selectably illuminable code chart display, mounted on the face of the unit, enables the sender of a message to determine the particular group and subgroup of characters, symbols and/or function signals selected.

Unattended data transmission

Citations

System for maintaining the status of credit accounts

Power-down modem

Device for controlling the application of power to a computer

Method and apparatus for power-up of unattended computer

Pushbutton telephone printer/recorder

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