Patent EA-000775-B1 (EA)
Title: System for facilitating the ordering and paying of services by means of a communication network
Inventor: PIETERSE ROB
IPC: G06Q20/00
Filed: 1996-10-09
Abstract: 1. Facilitating unit (2) for enabling services by providing communication routes between a user terminal (8), a service unit (7) and support units (3, 4, 5), the facilitating unit (2) comprising a voice response system (21) and a communication server (22) mutually connected by a control link (23) and a data link (24), the voice response unit (21) being arranged for handling a service request and passing the request to the communication server (22) via the control link (23), the communication server (22)being arranged for setting up, in response to the service request, a communication route from the voice response system (21) via the data link and the communication server (22) to one of a support unit. 2. Facilitating unit (2) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of voice response systems (21). 3. Facilitating unit (2) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of communication servers (22). 4. Facilitating unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a voice response system (21) comprises one or more voice response units (213), a first switch (211) for routing an incoming call to a voice response unit (213), a second switch (212) for routing an incoming call to the communication server (22), and a control unit (214) for controlling the voice response units (213) and for passing control signals to the communication server (22). 5. Facilitating unit (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication server (22) comprises a processor system (221), a first interface (222) for exchanging data signals and a second interface (223) for exchanging control signals with the voice response system (21). 6. Facilitating unit (2) according to claim 5, wherein the first interface (222) comprises at least one modem. 7. Facilitating unit (2) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the communication server (22) further comprises a third interface (224) for exchanging data signals with a support unit (4) via a data network (14). 8. System (1) for electronic financial services, comprising a communication network (6), a facilitating unit (2) according to any of the preceding claims and coupled with the network (6) and one or more support units (3, 4, 5), a terminal (8) coupled to the communication network, a service unit (7) coupled to the communication network, the terminal (8) being provided with an interface device (10) for exchanging information with a payment means (9). 9. System according to claim 8, wherein a support unit is a transaction unit (3) comprising at least one security module (31) for storing transaction data. 10. System according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a support unit is a revaluation unlit (4) for revaluing smart cards (9). 11. System according to claim 10, further provided with a data network (14) for exchanging transaction data between the facilitating unit (2) and the revaluation unit (4). 12. System according to any of the claims 8 through 11, in which the interface device (10) is arranged for communicating with a support unit (3, 4, 5) on a first level and with the IC card (9) on a second level, each level involving a different data rate. 13. System according to any of the claims 8 through 12, wherein the communication network (6) comprises a fixed telephone network. 14. System according to any of the claims 8 through 12, wherein the communication network (6) comprises a mobile telephone network.