Credit inquiry service system and method

Abstract

A credit inquiry service system for inquiring about the credit standing of a check or credit card uses subscriber lines of a public communication network. The system includes credit inquiry terminals connected to the subscriber lines for generating and transmitting an inquiry request message requesting information regarding the credit standing of the check or credit card. The credit inquiry terminals also receive an inquiry result message corresponding to the inquiry request message via the subscriber lines. The system further includes a line multiplex device for one by one serially selecting the subscriber lines connected to the credit inquiry terminals, receiving the inquiry request message from one of the credit inquiry terminals connected to a selected subscriber line, and transmitting the inquiry result message corresponding to the inquiry request message to the corresponding credit inquiry terminal. A multiplexer is connected to a distributor of the public communication network to facilitate access of the subscriber lines, and to connect a selected subscriber line to the line multiplex device. A computer center receives the inquiry request message from the line multiplex device and transmits the inquiry request message to a card company's computer. The computer center then receives the inquiry result message indicating the credit standing of the check or credit card, and transmits the inquiry result message to the line multiplex device. The line multiplex device then transmits the inquiry result message back to the respective credit inquiry terminal via its corresponding subscriber line.