At+t Corp.

Robert Anthony Checchio

Gregory C Sheehan

Margaret H Redberg

Steven T Kaish

Nancy A Kowalsky

The method and apparatus for pre-authorizing transactions includes providing a communications device to a vendor and a credit card owner. The credit card owner initiates a credit card transaction by communicating to a credit card company data base, and storing therein, a distinguishing piece of information that characterizes a specific transaction to be made by an authorized user of the credit card at a later time. The information is accepted as 'network data' in the data base only if a correct personal identification code (PIC) is used with the communication. The 'network data' will serve to later authorize that specific transaction. The credit card owner or other authorized user can then only make that specific transaction with the credit card. Because the transaction is pre-authorized, the vendor does not need to see or transmit a PIC. In addition, if the credit card is lost or stolen, it cannot be used because all sales using the credit card must be pre-authorized using the confidential PIC.

Method and apparatus for preauthorizing credit card type transactions

A method and apparatus for credit card purchase authorization includes using a credit card validation unit to transmit to a credit card company computer a purchase amount, a credit card number and a purchase token comprising both the purchase amount and credit card number which are encrypted using the user's personal identification code as a key. The transmission can be made by a wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone or PCS communications device. The credit card company computer creates a test token by encrypting the received credit card number and purchase amount using a stored user's personal identification code number as a key. The test token is then compared to the purchase token. If the test token corresponds to the purchase token, the purchase is considered to be authorized.

Method and apparatus for credit card purchase authorization utilizing a

A voice mail system voice mail mailbox having a message container storing a plurality of messages and a pointer indicating a message in the message container. The pointer is initially set to point to a first message in the message container. A first user accesses the voice mail mailbox. At the same time, or any time thereafter, a second user also accesses the voice mail mailbox. Responsive to a command from the first user, the first message is played to the first user. The pointer is then updated to point to a second message in the message container. Responsive to a command from the second user, the second message is played to the second user, simultaneously with the first message being played to the first user.

Growing community of inventors

Dunellen, NJ, United States of America

Robert Anthony Checchio