Patent ID: 7162015
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: H04M,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system for obtaining credit history information of a person via a telephone network comprising in combination: (a) an automated call handler coupled to the telephone network and capable of receiving a request for credit history information from a caller via the telephone network, querying the caller for details about the request, accessing the requested credit history information, and providing the requested credit history information to the caller in accordance with the request; (b) an audio controller capable of providing outgoing audio messages from the call handler to the caller via the telephone network; (c) gateway terminal coupled to the automated call handler and having a searchable database having stored therein credit history information, wherein the gateway terminal further has a security checker for ensuring access to the searchable database by authorized callers, and wherein the security checker processes security identification information entered by the caller to verify authorization; (d) a plurality of moderns for converting a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal into one digit, wherein the caller selects only one DTMF entry for each character in a name and an address of the person to form a digit string; and (e) a data search handler that searches the searchable database by matching the digit string that corresponds to an actual name and address of the person.