Information communication apparatus and method

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention generally relates to a communication system, enabling a user to effectively prevent unsolicited contact from any uninvited third party, defined as at least one other person or device with which the invention has an ongoing call in progress and a credit card authenticating system, enabling a user to have substantially enhanced control over the credit card authorization process to prevent an unauthorized third party from using the credit card and to effectively remove the burden of chargebacks to the credit card merchant for unauthorized third party use.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an overview of the invention and its corresponding components.

#FIG. 2 illustrates the logic flow executed when a user wishes to change his/her telephone number.

#FIG. 2a illustrates the logic flow executed when the user wishes the invention to provide an easy to remember telephone number.

#The invention is an information processing apparatus and method having at least one handset, and at least one exchange, where term “exchange” is defined to mean a related system that ensures calls can be made and received by the user, who is in possession the at least one handset. The preferred embodiment is a cellular telephone network although the invention could also be envisaged as a landline telephony system or other similar systems.

#The invention places the user in control of selecting which calls are permitted to reach either the ACHS or the user's handset. The features of the invention relate to ACHS, telephone number change under the control of the user and automated call authorization (ACA), and encompassing how the user operates call management.

#Telephony systems while fundamentally useful as a communication network do not allow users a great deal of privacy, or control over key aspects over the setup of communication features. Current cellular networks provide handsets which appear to be laden with features. However, such devices are easily viewed as a basic feature expressed in many different ways yet there really isn't a great deal of varied functionality, just a few minor variations of simple services. For example, there are numerous ways to divert calls to ACHS if the handset is outside of range of the cellular network, or if the handset itself is simply switched off, but all such features are just the basic service of diverting calls to ACHS.