Appeal No. 2001-1000
Application No. 08/835,404
BACKGROUND
Appellant’s invention relates to a method and apparatus for credit card
processing via a facsimile machine without the need for a traditional credit card swipe
machine. An understanding of the invention can be derived from a reading of
exemplary claim 1, which is reproduced below.
1. A method for making a credit card transaction utilizing a facsimile
machine to transmit information to a credit card processing center, and
thereby enable a small volume of credit card transactions to be affordable,
said method comprising the steps of:
(1) imprinting information relevant to the credit card transaction on a
transmittal form;
(2) transmitting the information on the transmittal form from a first facsimile
transmission/reception capable machine to a second facsimile
transmission/reception capable machine at a first processing location;
(3) converting the information on the transmittal form to an electronic
format which is suitable for delivery to a credit card processing information
center:
(4) accessing the credit card processing information center and
transmitting the electronic format of the information thereto for
determination of whether the credit card transaction is allowable;
(5) receiving an approval status from the credit card processing
information center at the first processing center; and
(6) transmitting the approval status of the credit card transaction to the first
facsimile transmission/reception capable machine.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the examiner in rejecting the
appealed claims are:
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