Telecommunications card-access system

An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising:

• (a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a corresponding transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated with each of said authorization code, and for validating a user's PIN;
• (b) an access-control module, comprising:
• input means for receiving said user's PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile;
• means for reading said transaction profile from said card and for reading a selected access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction;
• display means for displaying said transaction profile;
• means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction;
• and
• control means for controlling said input means, said means for reading, said display means and said means for connecting, for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said means for connecting;
• and
• (c) an authorized central issuing system for writing into said card said resident PIN and said number of access authorization codes and associated identification data.

An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising:

• (a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization code and corresponding identification data associated with each authorization code, and for validating an user's PIN;
• (b) an access-control module comprising:
• input means for receiving said user's PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile;
• means for receiving and returning said card;
• a reader for reading from said card said transaction profile if said user's PIN has been validated and for reading said access authorization code and associated identification data if said preferred transaction has been selected;
• display means for displaying said transaction profile;
• means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction;
• means for transmitting said user's PIN to said card for validation
• means for enabling said reader to retrieve from said card said transaction profile when said user's PIN has been validated, and said selected access authorization code and associated identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected;
• means for enabling said display means to show and select said preferred transaction;
• and
• means for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data from said card to said means for connecting.

A method for accessing and controlling a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising the steps of:

• writing in a portable memory device card, at an authorized central issuing system, a resident PIN and a transaction profile for a user, said transaction profile being defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated to each of said authorization code;
• introducing said card into a means for reading provided at a telecommunications access terminal;
• inputting an user's PIN on input means at said telecommunications access terminal and transmitting said users's PIN to said card;
• validating said user's PIN, reading said transaction profile from said card and displaying said transaction profile on a display means;
• selecting a preferred transaction on said input means;
• reading from said card an access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction;
• transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data for said preferred transaction to said telecommunication network.

A method for accessing and controlling a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising the steps of:

• writing in a portable memory device card, at an authorized central issuing system, a resident PIN and a transaction profile for a user, said transaction profile being defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated to each of said authorization code;
• introducing said card into a means for reading provided at a telecommunications access terminal;
• inputting an user's PIN on input means at said telecommunications access terminal and transmitting said users's PIN to said card;
• comparing said user's PIN with said resident PIN and issuing a validation signal when said PIN's coincide;
• and
• counting the number of times the user's PIN has been entered and denying user's access to the system if said number exceeds a preset threshold;
• selecting a preferred transaction on said input means;
• reading from said card an access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction;
• transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data for said preferred transaction to said telecommunication network.