Data access system wherein subscriber terminals gain access to a data bank by telephone lines

For use in a data retrieval system which includes a plurality of text barge-in telephone lines on which text data from a data bank is circulated, a subscriber terminal capable of serving a plurality of preselected separate basic operating functions, comprising

• display means,
• data processor means,
• memory means having stored therein program instructions for operating such data processor means, said program instructions including display instructions for controlling said display means and operating instructions for controlling the basic operating function of the terminal,
• said display means displaying text data under control of said display instructions and said data processor means,
• means for transferring preselected subscription data to a first portion of said memory means,
• means for comparing the stored subscription data in said memory means with identifier signals accompanying said text data to provide an indication whether the terminal has subscribed to said text data, and
• means for selectively causing the text data on at least one of said text barge-in telephone lines to be displayed when said comparing means indicates that the terminal has subscribed to said text data.

A method of retrieving data from a data bank wherein the retrieved data is transmitted via telephone lines and displayed at a terminal, comprising

• calling from a terminal a subscription barge-in telephone line on which subscription data from said data bank for a multiplicity of subscribers is circulated,
• storing at said terminal the subscription data corresponding to that terminal that is circulated on said subscription barge-in telephone line,
• thereafter calling from said terminal a text barge-in telephone line on which text data from said data bank is circulated,
• comparing an identifying code accompanying the text data appearing on said text barge-in telephone line with the subscription data stored in the terminal, and
• displaying said text data when the aforesaid comparison indicates that there is a predetermined correlation between said identifying code and said stored subscription data signifying that said terminal has subscribed to said text data.