AN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE MAKING OF A CALLING CARD TELEPHONE CALL

摘要

A telephone calling card apparatus (10) includes a central processing unit (CPU, 50) for storing access data to enable access to a central telephone office connected to a PSTN, account data and a telephone number. The apparatus (10) further includes a dialer (90) in communication with a user interface (52), the PSTN and the central telephone office. The CPU (50) stores a dialed telephone number from the user interface (52). Thereafter, the CPU (50) causes the dialer (90) to transmit access data from the storage device (54), across the PSTN to initiate communication with the central telephone office. Finally, the CPU (50), responsive to requests for information from the central office, causes the dialer (90) to transmit the telephone number and the account data in the order requested by the central telephone office, to complete the calling card transaction.