Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc.

Lawrence A Delss

Robert H Montgomery

A system and method for providing Feature Group B or Feature Group D access to the public data network for effecting point of sale transactions such as credit card authorization. The credit card authorization device includes a modem and auto-dialing mechanism which is connected by a station line to an originating central office switch. The originating central office switch is connected via Feature Group B or Feature Group D trunks to a designated destination central office including a stored program control (SPC) switch. The destination central office is a functioning central office connected to other central offices by non-Feature Group trunks. The Feature Group trunks are connected by the switch in the destination central office to a designated line which is connected to a line side modem which is connected via the public data network to a host computer for effecting the credit card authorization. The SPC switch at the destination central office converts the Feature Group number on the Feature Group trunk to a line side number for the station containing the line side modem. Common channel signaling and quick start or ground start are preferably utilized to optimize speed.

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Lawrence A Delss