System and a method for carrying out personal and business transactions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for carrying out personal transactions including financial transactions, e-mail transactions, and voice messaging transactions. A user of the system is issued a ten digit identification number in the form of a telephone number. The identification number may be the user's actual phone number or a pseudo phone number. The user is also assigned a PIN number which contains a single or multiple digit security element which allows the user to indicate a security problem and its nature by dialing the assigned PIN number and which allows the user to avoid tripping the security elements of the system by using a digit or digits other than that/those assigned as the significantly placed digit(s) in the PIN number. Access to the system is provided either by dialing a central telephone number or via the Internet.

1 - 102 . (canceled)  
   
   
       103 . A system for facilitating the participation of a hard of hearing person in a conversation with at least one speaker in a public place comprising: 
 a center with which said hard of hearing person can communicate;    said center including means for receiving spoken words from said at least one speaker and said hard of hearing person and other sounds from said place;    means for identifying said at least one speaker of said spoken words and said other sounds;    said means for identifying comprising means for identifying characteristics of said at least one speaker of said spoken words and each other sound; and    means for allowing only the delivery of selected one of said at least one speaker and said other sounds to said hard of hearing person.    
   
   
       104 . The system according to  claim 103 , wherein said identifying means has a data base and means for identifying whether said at least one speaker or sound is in said data base.  
   
   
       105 . The system according to  claim 103 , further comprising means for delivering the speech of a selected speaker or a selected sounds to a hearing enhancement device used by said hard of hearing user.  
   
   
       106 . The system according to  claim 103 , further comprising means used by said hard of hearing person to identify each speaker or sound.  
   
   
       107 . The system according to  claim 106 , wherein said identification means used by said hard of hearing person comprises a keypad and an operator.  
   
   
       108 . The system according to  claim 103 , wherein said receiving means communicates with a microphone located in said place.  
   
   
       109 . A method for facilitating the participation of a hard of hearing person in a conversation with at least one speaker in a place comprising: 
 providing a center with which said hard of hearing person can communicate, which center has means for receiving spoken words and sounds from said place;    receiving said spoken words and sounds from said place;    identifying each speaker of said spoken words and said sounds;    said identifying sound comprising identifying sound characteristics of each said speaker and each of said sounds; and    delivering only words from a selected speaker or a selected sound to said hard of hearing person.    
   
   
       110 . The method according to  claim 109 , wherein said delivering step comprises blocking delivery of words from non-selected speakers or non-selected sounds.  
   
   
       111 . The method according to  claim 109 , wherein said identifying step comprises identifying whether the sound characteristics of a particular speaker are in a database.  
   
   
       112 . The method according to  claim 109 , wherein said identifying step comprises said hard of hearing person identifying each speaker.  
   
   
       113 . The method according to  claim 112 , wherein said hard of hearing person identifies each speaker using at least one of a keypad and an operator.  
   
   
       114 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein said delivering means lowers the volume of non-selected speech and non-selected sounds.  
   
   
       115 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein said delivering step comprises delivering selected speech or sounds to a hearing enhancement device used by said hard of hearing person.  
   
   
       116 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein said delivering step comprises delivering selected speech or sounds to an ear piece worn by said hard of hearing person.  
   
   
       117 . The method according to  claim 109 , wherein said identifying step is performed by at least one of a preprogrammed processor and an operator.  
   
   
       118 . A system for improving the ability of a hard of hearing person to hear sounds issued over a telephone, said system comprising: 
 a center with which said hard of hearing person communicates;    said center is located at one of a remote location and an enabling apparatus used by the hard of hearing person location;    means for allowing said hard of hearing person to indicate a desire to slow down the speed of spoken words being transmitted by said center; and    means within said center for slowing down a stream of spoken words being forwarded to said hard of hearing person.    
   
   
       119 . The system according to  claim 118 , wherein said means for slowing down further comprises means for adding a time delay to said stream of spoken words.  
   
   
       120 . The system according to  claim 119 , wherein said means for slowing down and for adding a time delay comprises a preprogrammed processor and at least one of an operator.  
   
   
       121 . The system according to  claim 120 , wherein said processor has a buffer for storing words and/or sounds in said stream.  
   
   
       122 . The system according to  claim 103 , further comprising said hard of hearing person communicating with said center via a communication apparatus.  
   
   
       123 . The system according to  claim 103 , further comprising said hard of hearing person communicating with said center via at least one of a computer and an enabling apparatus.  
   
   
       124 . The system according to  claim 118 , further comprising said hard of hearing person communicating with said center via a communication apparatus.  
   
   
       125 . The system according to  claim 118 , further comprising said hard of hearing person communicating with said center via at least one of a computer and an enabling apparatus.