WO2000018088A1

WO2000018088A1 - Telephonic transaction system

Info

Publication number: WO2000018088A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/001064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Linda Anne Wright
Original assignee: Dial A Payment, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-09-18
Filing date: 1998-12-22
Publication date: 2000-03-30

Abstract

A telephone system comprising at least one exchange unit, a plurality of line connections each connected to one of the exchange units, each exchange unit having a corresponding monitor unit connected to it, wherein when a service is requested by a requestor utilising a first line connection from a provider utilising a second line connection, a first monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the second line connection is connected and a second monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the first line connection is connected are arranged to obtain stored information about the second line connection and information about the first line connection, respectively; and wherein the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that a transaction is allowed and processed depending on the information about the second line connection and the information about the first line connection.

Description

TELEPHONIC TRANSACTION SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates broadly to an apparatus for the conduct of a transaction via a telephonic system and a method of using the same. Background of the Invention

Many commercial transactions are today performed over the phone. For example, various goods and services can be obtained by a customer from a vendor by calling the vendor and providing details of credit cards or the like.

Typically, the transaction will involve at least one authorisation process on the vendor' s end but standards of such authorisation tests can vary significantly. There do exist various approaches to authorisation systems available to the vendor, one of which is described in European Patent Application No. 91400094.8 (Publication No. 0440515 Al) . Importantly, once the required details such as the credit card number, expiry date and name are provided by the customer for the authorisation process, the customer often does not participate in the finalisation of the transaction. This is done between the vendor and the credit provider/institution. Therefore, such systems have the disadvantage that whilst being a more or less effective safeguard for the vendor, the customer has no direct means to ensure that the details of the transaction, in particular the amount debited against his credit card, are correct .

An improved customer control over the transaction details is realised in pay-by-phone systems which are offered by more and more providers such as telecommunication companies and gas or electricity companies or more recently, the introduction of telephone banking in general. In such systems the customer controls the amounts transferred and further details of the transaction using a touch-tone capable telephone. On the vendor's side (i.e. typically an automated, voice prompted receiver) transaction details may be checked against bill or account numbers communicated by the customer and authorisation processes similar to the ones discussed above may be employed. A great concern with the use of credit card details alone to pay for transactions made over the phone is that the credit card details can be used by an unauthorised person fraudulently. One approach to reduce this type of misuse has been to provide systems where the physical presence of the card is required at the customer' s end before transactions can be initiated. In such systems card reading devices have to be available at the customer's end. One such system is described in PCT Application No. PCT/US96/12704 (International Publication No. WO97/06627) . In such systems, the transaction will only be authorised provided that information received by the card reading device has been checked by a clearing house, the link to which is established from the vendor's end. The information received within the card reading device is transmitted via conventional telephone lines utilising digital-to-analogue Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) tone generators and decoders in conjunction with common telephone switching apparati. However, as will be readily apparent, the physical presence of a card such as a credit card is in no way a guarantee that only the authorised user is making the purchase. To further reduce the misuse of such systems techniques such as the use of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) or other passwords is normally provided. It would be desirable to provide an alternative approach to telephonic transactions both from the customer's and the vendor's point of view. Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a telephone system comprising at least one monitor unit; at least one exchange unit, each exchange unit having a corresponding monitor unit; a plurality of line connections, each line connection being connected to one of the exchange units and each being identified within the telephone system by an associated number; and a plurality of databases. Further, when a service is requested by a requestor utilising a first line connection from a provider utilising a second line connection, a first monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the second line connection is connected and a second monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the first line connection is connected are arranged to obtain first authentication information stored in a first database under the number of the second line connection and second authentication information stored in a second database under the number of the first line connection, respectively. The telephone system is further arranged in a manner such that a transaction is allowed and processed depending on the first and second authentication information.

In accordance with the telephone system of the present invention, there is no requirement for an additional physical card or the like for the telephonic transaction. Rather, the line connection itself becomes part of the identification process during the transaction in that the monitor units evaluate information about the first and second line connections.

Preferably, when the service is requested by the requestor utilising the first line connection from the provider utilising the second line connection, the first monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the second line connection is connected is arranged to obtain, after receiving an initiating signal from the second line connection, the first authentication information and, depending on the first authentication information, to notify the second monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the first line connection is connected. Further, the second monitor unit is arranged to then obtain the second authentication information and, depending on the second authentication information, to notify the first monitor unit that a transaction can be initiated, and the first monitor unit is further arranged to then obtain first transaction details from the provider and the second monitor unit is arranged to then obtain second transaction details from the requestor, and the telephone system is arranged such that the transaction is allowed and processed depending on the first and second transaction details.

Accordingly, the transaction is allowed and processed depending on a matching of transaction details provided by the provider and the requestor. Therefore, both parties have "control" over the transaction that is being processed.

In one embodiment, the first and/or the second monitor units are arranged to disenable a communication between the requestor and the provider while the first and second transaction details are obtained.

Preferably, the first transaction details comprise a first amount of payment and the second transaction details comprise a second amount of payment and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is allowed and processed only when the first and second amounts obtained are equal.

In one embodiment, the first and second monitor units are further arranged to check whether there is an active telephonic connection between the first and the second line connections and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is not allowed and not processed if there is no active telephonic connection between the first and the second line connections. Advantageously, the second monitor unit is further arranged to obtain a password from the requestor and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the password is incorrect when compared with a password stored as part of the information about the second line connection.

In one embodiment, the first and second databases are arranged to receive data related to the transaction for storage under the number of the second and first line connections respectively. The data stored under the number of the first line connection may comprise a debited amount resulting from the transaction whereas the data stored under the number of the second line connection may comprise a credited amount resulting from the transaction. Preferably, the system is also arranged to generate telephone bills associated with the first and second line connections and to include the data related to the transaction on the telephone bills.

In one embodiment, the second authentication information comprises information about a credit history for transactions made from the first line connection.

In another embodiment, the first and/or second monitor units are further arranged to perform voice recognition of the provider and/or the requestor and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the voices do not match with stored reference data as part of the information about the second line connection and information about the first line connection respectively. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for conducting a telephonic transaction utilising a telephone system comprising at least one exchange unit, a plurality of line connections each connected to one of the exchange units, wherein each line connection is identified within the telephone system by an associated number. The method comprises the steps of requesting a service utilising a first line connection from a provider utilising a second line connection; obtaining first authentication information stored in a first database under the number of the second line connection; obtaining second authentication information stored in a second database under the number of the first line connection and allowing the transaction in relation to the requested service depending on the information about the second line connection and the information about the first line connection.

Preferably, the method comprises requesting a service utilising a first line connection from a provider utilising a second line connection; the receiving of an initiating signal by a first monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the second line connection is connected from the second line connection, the obtaining of the first authentication information, and the notification of the second monitor unit by the first monitor unit, depending on the first authentication information. Further, the method preferably comprises the steps of the obtaining of the second authentication information by the second monitor unit, the notification of the first monitor unit by the second monitor unit that a transaction can be initiated, depending on the second authentication information, the obtaining of first transaction details from the provider by the first monitor unit and the obtaining of second transaction details from a person requesting the service by the second monitor unit and the allowing and processing of the transaction depending on the first and second transaction details.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of disenabling a communication between the person requesting the service and the provider while the first and second transaction details are obtained. Preferably, the first transaction details comprise a first amount of payment and the second transaction details comprise a second amount of payment and the transaction is allowed and processed only when the first and second amounts obtained are equal.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of checking whether there is an active telephonic connection between the first and second line connections by the first and second monitor units, and the transaction is not allowed and not processed if there is no active telephonic connection between the first and the second line connections.

Advantageously, the method further comprises the step of obtaining a password from the person requesting the service by the second monitor unit and the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the password is incorrect when compared with a password stored as part of the information about the second line connection.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of storing data related to the transaction under the number of the second and first line connections in the first and second databases respectively.

The data stored under the number of the first line connection may comprise a debited amount resulting from the transaction whereas the data stored under the number of the second line connection may comprise a credited amount resulting from the transaction.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of generating telephone bills associated with the first and second line connections and including the data related to the transaction on the telephone bills. In one embodiment, the second authentication information comprises information about a credit history for transactions made from the first line connection.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of performing voice recognition of the provider and/or the person making the request by the first and/or second monitor units and the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the voices do not match with stored reference data as part of the information about the second line connection and information about the first line connection, respectively. In the above, various different touch-tone capable devices or devices capable of conveying discrete data signals may be connected to the line connection without departing from the scope of the present invention. Such devices may comprise conventional touch-tone telephones, mobile phones and computer modems. For the purpose of the description in this specification, touch-tone capable devices have been used to represent all other possible devices .

The present invention may be more readily understood from a description of preferred forms of a telephone system and method of utilising the same for telephonic transactions given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a telephone system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a telephone system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the use in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention of the telephone system as illustrated in Figure 2 for performing a telephonic transaction. Figure 4 (divided into Figures 4a and 4b) is a flow chart illustrating the use in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention of the telephone system as illustrated in Figure 1 for performing a telephonic transaction. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of line connections which may be used on both the customer' s and the vendor' s end of the telephone systems as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In Figure 1, the telephone system comprises two separated telephone exchanges 10 and 12, to which a customer touch-tone capable phone 14 and a vendor touch- tone capable phone 16 are connected, respectively. The exchange units 10 and 12 are arranged such that telephonic connections can be made not only to phones connected to the particular exchange unit but also to phones connected to the other exchange unit. The interconnection 18 between the telephone exchange units 10 and 12 may be established by a line connection. However, it will be appreciated that the interconnection 18 may be established using various other means which may comprise RF signals between respective base stations or via satellite or via other such means as become available.

The telephone exchange units 10, 12 have connected to them associated monitor units 20, 22, which in turn are connected to associated databases 24, 26.

A central clearing house unit 28 is provided which is connected to each exchange unit and its associated monitor unit and database. The connection to the clearing house unit is again a telephonic connection which can be made utilising the telephone exchange units 10 and 12. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the telephone exchange units 10, 12 and its associated line connections can be operated by two different telecommunication companies which may be located in different countries. Importantly, in the transaction system as illustrated in Figure 1, customer/vendor relations are only limited by the fact that there must be the possibility of establishing a telephonic connection between them (provided that each exchange unit 10, 12 does have the associated monitor units and access to an associated database and a connection can be made to the clearing house unit) . Importantly also, modifications/additional units must only be added at the telephone exchange level rather than at the customer or vendor line connection end.

In Figure 2, there is illustrated a telephonic transaction system for "local" transactions, i.e. where a customer phone 40 and a vendor phone 42 are connected to the same telephone exchange unit 44.

In the following, an example operation of the components of the embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 2 will be described in conjunction with the flow chart illustrated in Fig. 3. The reference numbers used refer to Fig. 2 unless otherwise stated.

Turning now to Figure 3, a first step is that a customer 40 places a call/opens a telephonic connection to a vendor 42. After the customer 40 and vendor 42 have agreed to initiate a transaction in relation to for example the purchase of goods to be delivered to the customer, the vendor initiates the transaction procedure by inputting an initiation trigger sequence on a touch tone capable device attached to the line connection (e.g. the key pad of the telephone) . The monitor unit 48 associated with the telephone exchange 44 to which the vendor's and customer's line connections are connected receives the initiation trigger sequence and is thereby activated in relation to the planned transaction. The monitor unit 48 obtains information stored in an authorised vendor database 102 (see Fig. 3, and which is one portion of the database 46 in Figure 2) to determine whether or not the initiating vendor 42 is an authorised vendor or not. In the authorised vendor database 102 information is at least organised in a manner such that valid line connections (associated with separate telephone numbers) of authorised vendors are stored therein. Additional information in relation to specific telephone numbers/authorised vendors may be stored in the authorised vendor database 102 such as e.g. special fee regulations for a particular vendor. If the vendor 42 has initiated the transaction sequence from a line connection that is not stored in the authorised vendor database 102, the process is aborted. If the line connection is stored in the authorised vendor database 102, the monitor unit 48 checks whether or not there is an active telephonic connection from the vendor' s line connection to another line connection or not by tracing the telephonic connection between the customer 40 and the vendor 42. If there is an active line connection, the monitor unit 48 then checks whether the line connection to which a telephonic connection is made is stored in an authorised customer database 104 (see Fig. 3, and which is another portion of the database 46 in Figure 2) . In the authorised customer database 104 information is at least organised in a manner such that valid line connections (associated with separate telephone numbers) of authorised customers are stored therein. Additional information in relation to the specific telephone numbers/authorised customers may be stored in the authorised customer database such as for example a credit limit for a particular customer. If the line connection to which a true telephonic connection is made from the vendor' s line connection is not an authorised customer, the process is aborted. If the line connection to which an active telephone connection is made from the vendor' s line connection is stored in the authorised customer database 104, the monitor unit 48 then prompts the customer to enter a Personal Identification Number (PIN) via touch tone. Again, should an invalid PIN number be entered, the process is aborted.

If a valid PIN is entered, the monitor unit 48 prompts both the vendor 42 and the customer 40 to enter the amount of the planned transaction via touch tone. Should the amounts not agree, again, the process is aborted at that stage. While the amounts are entered by the vendor 42 and customer 40, the monitor unit 48 may disenable a direct communication between the line connections.

If the amounts agree, the monitor unit 48 generates the transaction information and this information may be transmitted to both parties via automated voice messages and the transaction details may be stored. Also, the transaction details will be forwarded to a clearing house unit 50. Within the clearing house unit 50, the transaction details will be further processed and recorded. The clearing house unit 50 gives a final approval of the transaction and this approval is communicated back to the monitor unit 48 and/or database 46, where data related to the transaction can be stored for further processing.

In this embodiment, the clearing house unit 50 acts as an "independent" central transaction clearing facility which may be utilised by other parties and may be an internationally recognised clearing house facility.

In the following, an example operation of the components of the embodiment as illustrated in Figure 1 will be given in conjunction with the flow chart illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b. In Figures 4a and 4b, the steps of the flow chart have been numbered and the description is given below with reference to the respective step numbers whereas the reference numbers refer to Figure 1 unless otherwise stated. 1. A Customer 14 places a voice or IVR (Interactive Voice Response) managed call to a vendor 16 to make a purchase or pay an account.

2. The vendor 16 or one of their operators, or an IVR response system makes a series of key presses on their touch-tone capable device, or generates the appropriate tones, initiating the transaction.

3. A monitor unit 22 at the vendor's exchange unit 12 hears the signal and takes control of the line between the customer and the vendor and normal voice communication is suspended. 4. The monitor unit 22 checks to see if the vendor is m good standing in respect of their member-vendor status according to the local database 26. Criteria for this evaluation is set by the owner of the database 26. 5. If so, the monitor unit 22 at the vendor's end notifies a monitor unit 20 at the customer's end to prepare for a transaction.

6. The monitor unit 20 then traces the telephonic connection between the customer 14 and the vendor 16 and establishes that there is an active telephonic connection. If the line is not active, the transaction is aborted with an appropriate message. Normal voice communication is restored. This independent verification of the telephonic line between the customer 14 and the vendor 16 can increase the security of the system significantly.

7. If an active line exists, the monitor unit 20 checks the customer database 24 and verifies that the customer is an acceptable credit customer as m the manner of step 4. above for vendors. Criteria for this evaluation is set by the owner of the database 24. Otherwise, the transaction is aborted with an appropriate message. Normal voice communication is restored.

8. The monitor unit 20 instructs the customer by IVR voice, or by means appropriate to the service context, to enter a PIN number for verification.

9. If the PIN number is entered within a certain specified time, and is correct within a certain specified number of attempts, as determined by the Database 24, the monitor unit 20 notifies the monitor unit 22 that a transaction is possible.

10. If both monitors agree that a transaction is in process, the monitor unit 22 instructs the vendor by IVR voice, or by means appropriate to the service context, to enter the amount of the transaction. 11. The monitor unit 22 informs the monitor unit 20 of the amount. 12. The monitor unit 20 instructs the customer by IVR voice, or by means appropriate to the service context, to echo the amount using the touch key pad or other means to generate the appropriate tones on the customer's telephone. 13. If the echoed amount is correct, as assessed by the monitor unit 20, the monitor unit 20 informs the monitor unit 22 that the transaction has succeeded.

14. The monitor unit 20 generates a transaction number containing a code identifying the customer's telephone carrier, the exchange, the customer credit number, the transaction amount, and a unique number for the transaction. This number is supplied to the customer by voice, or by means appropriate to the service context. Other information may be supplied at the same time, so that the customer records will match the vendor records to complete a paired transaction.

15. This information is temporarily stored against the customer's record in the Database 24.

16. The same transaction number is forwarded to the monitor unit 22 for relay to the vendor by IVR voice, or by means appropriate to the service context.

17. This information is temporarily stored against the vendor's record in the Database 26.

18. Normal communications are restored to both ends of the line. Neither of the monitor units 20, 22 are in communication with each other from this point forward for purposes of this transaction.

19. The monitor unit 20 transmits the customer's portion of the transaction pair to the clearing house Unit 28.

20. The monitor unit 22 transmits the vendor's portion of the transaction pair to the clearing house Unit 28.

21. Both transmissions (steps 19 & 20) are matched upon arrival at clearing house unit 28 to make a complete transaction record. 22. The clearing house unit 28 automatically transmits one transaction statement to the vendor's telephone service company and a corresponding statement to the customer's telephone service company. 23. The vendor's telephone service company honours the credit to the vendor, submits an electronic invoice to the customer's telephone service company via the clearing house unit 28, and pays any fees and charges owing to the clearing house unit 28. 24. The customer's telephone service company

"honours" the debt to the vendor's telephone service company and pays the electronic invoice, along with any fees and charges owing to the clearing house unit 28.

25. The clearing house unit 28 remits the payment amount from the customer' s telephone service company to the vendor' s telephone service company and notifies both telephone service companies that the transaction has been finalised.

It is noted that each of the databases 24 and 26 does comprise a customer database and a vendor database to allow "reverse roles" transactions between the exchange units 12 and 10.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, rather than having a voice or IVR communication between the customer and vendor, the "communication" can be made by using computers attached to line connections via modems to e.g. order goods or services from a vendor's Website on the Internet.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are

1. A telephone system comprising:

- at least one monitor unit;

- at least one exchange unit, each exchange unit having a corresponding monitor unit;

- a plurality of line connections, each line connection being connected to one of the exchange units and each being identified within the telephone system by an associated number; - a plurality of databases; wherein when a service is requested by a requestor utilising a first line connection from a provider utilising a second line connection, a first monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the second line connection is connected and a second monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the first line connection is connected are arranged to obtain first authentication information stored in a first database under the number of the second line connection and second authentication information stored in a second database under the number of the first line connection, respectively; and wherein the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that a transaction is allowed and processed depending on the first and second authentication information.

2. A telephone system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

- when the service is requested by the requestor utilising the first line connection from the provider utilising the second line connection, the first monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the second line connection is connected is arranged to obtain, after receiving an initiating signal from the second line connection, the first authentication information and, depending on the first authentication information, to notify the second monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the first line connection is connected;

- the second monitor unit is arranged to then obtain the second authentication information and, depending on the second authentication information, to notify the first monitor unit that a transaction can be initiated; and wherein the first monitor unit is further arranged to then obtain first transaction details from the provider and the second monitor unit is arranged to then obtain second transaction details from the requestor, and the telephone system is arranged such that the transaction is allowed and processed depending on the first and second transaction details .

3. A telephone system as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the first and/or second monitor units are arranged to disenable a communication between the requestor and the provider.

4 A telephone system as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the first transaction details comprise a first amount of payment and the second transaction details comprise a second amount of payment and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is allowed and processed only when the first and second amounts obtained are equal.

5. A telephone system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second monitor units are further arranged to check whether there is an active telephonic connection between the first and the second line connections and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is not allowed and not processed if there is no active telephonic connection between the first and the second line connections.

6. A telephone system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second monitor unit is further arranged to obtain a password from the requestor and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the password is incorrect when compared with a password stored as part of the information about the second line connection .

7. A telephone system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second databases are arranged to receive data related to the transaction for storage under the number of the second and first line connections respectively.

8. A telephone system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the data stored under the number of the first line connection comprises a debited amount resulting from the transaction and the data stored under the number of the second line connection comprises a credited amount resulting from the transaction.

9. A telephone system as claimed in claim 8, further arranged to generate telephone bills associated with the first and second line connections and to include the data relating to the transaction on the telephone bills.

10. A telephone system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second authentication information comprises information about a credit history for transactions made from the first line connection.

11. A telephone system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and/or second monitor units are further arranged to perform voice recognition of the provider and/or the requestor and the telephone system is arranged in a manner such that the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the voices do not match with stored reference data as part of the first and/or second authentication information respectively.

12. A method for conducting a telephonic transaction utilising a telephone system comprising at least one exchange unit, a plurality of line connections each connected to one of the exchange units, wherein each line connection is identified within the telephone system by an associated number; the method comprising the steps of:

- requesting a service utilising a first line connection from a provider utilising a second line connection; - obtaining first authentication information stored in a first database under the number of the second line connection;

- obtaining second authentication information stored in a second database under the number of the first line connection; and allowing the transaction in relation to the requested service depending on the first and second authentication information.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 comprising the steps of:

- requesting a service utilising a first line connection from a provider utilising a second line connection;

- receiving of an initiating signal by a first monitor unit corresponding to the exchange unit to which the second line connection is connected from the second line connection;

- obtaining of the first authentication information; - notification of the second monitor unit by the first monitor unit, depending on the information about the second line connection;

- obtaining of the second authentication information by the second monitor unit; - notification of the first monitor unit by the second monitor unit that a transaction can be initiated, depending on the second authentication information;

- obtaining of first transaction details from the provider by the first monitor unit; - obtaining of second transaction details from a person requesting the service by the second monitor unit; and

- allowing and processing of the transaction depending on the first and second transaction details.

14. A method as claimed in claims 12 or 13 further comprising the step of disenabling a communication between the person requesting the service and the provider while the first and second transaction details are obtained.

15. A method as claimed in claims 13 or claim 14, when depended on claim 13, wherein the first transaction details comprise a first amount of payment and the second transaction details comprise a second amount of payment and the transaction is allowed and processed only when the first and second amounts obtained are equal.

16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising the step of:

- checking whether there is an active telephonic connection between the first and second line connections by the first and second monitor units; and wherein the transaction is not allowed and not processed if there is no active telephonic connection between the first and the second line connections.

17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, further comprising the step of:

- obtaining a password from the person requesting the service by the second monitor unit and the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the password is incorrect when compared with a password stored as part of the information about the second line connection.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 or 17, further comprising the step of:

- storing data related to the transaction under the number of the second and first line connections in the first and second databases respectively.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the data stored under the number of the first line connection comprises a debited amount resulting from the transaction and wherein the data stored under the number of the second line connection comprises a credited amount resulting from the transaction.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

- generating telephone bills associated with the first and second line connections; and

- including the data related to the transaction on the telephone bills.

21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the second authentication information comprises information about a credit history for transactions made from the first line connection.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 21, further comprising the step of:

- performing voice recognition of the provider and/or the person making the request by the first and/or second monitor units; and wherein the transaction is not allowed and not processed if the voices do not match with stored reference data as part of the first and/or second authentication information respectively.