Patent ID: 6182052
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
A user interface for a dial up communications network for accessing an account, conducting a transaction, obtaining a service or obtaining information, said communications network including a user operable terminal for sending and receiving communications at a remote location relative to a provider of the account, transaction, service or information and a gateway service platform for processing and transmitting said communications to and from the user operable terminal and to and from at least one computer associated with the provider of the account, transaction, service or information, said user interface comprising:said user operable terminal having a user friendly touch screen display of virtual buttons that are changeable in accordance with differing modes of operation of the terminal, said terminal providing instructional prompts enabling the user to operate the terminal, said terminal having an internal processing unit programmed to provide a multiplicity of preprogrammed choices represented by different displays of virtual buttons with respect to the account, transaction, service or information, said multiplicity of preprogrammed choices being perceptible to the user, said terminal being capable of registering the user's input to the terminal corresponding to the user's selection from the multiplicity of preprogrammed choices displayed on the touch screen;data transmission means for communicating the user's selection registered as the user's input from the multiplicity of preprogrammed choices to the service platform;data receiving means enabling the touch screen to display data concerning the account, transaction, service or information received from the computer through the service platform in response to the user's selection from the multiplicity of preprogrammed choices;means for simultaneously displaying on the touch screen the multiplicity of preprogrammed choices and an option selectable by the user to communicate by voice or TDD through the service platform to a representative of the provider with regard to the account, transaction, service or information;means for maintaining in the processing unit of the terminal a record of dial-up connection numbers associated with a representative of a provider of each account, transaction, service or information displayed that is associated with a voice or TDD option;means for dialing the dial-up connection number of the representative of the provider in response to user selection of the voice or TDD option; andmeans for enabling the user to communicate with the representative of the provider by voice or TDD upon the user's selection of said option said means comprising a switch that upon selection of the voice or TDD option by the user, data communication between the service platform and the terminal is terminated, the dial-up number associated with the provider is dialed and a direct voice or TDD connection between the terminal user and the representative of the provider is initiated.