Abstract:
A communication system for exchanging information between a remote terminal (114) and a host terminal (112) over a signalling channel of an ISDN network (160) which does not need to establish communication over voice or data channels of the ISDN is disclosed. The communication system transmits credit transactions such as authorization requests from a remote terminal to a host computer, processes such transactions, and transmits a response back to the terminal, in which all such communication is performed over a signalling channel (18) of ISDN. Preferably, the authorization request as well as the response from the host includes a "user-user information element" and are formatted in accordance with the CCITT Q.931 standard. (fig. 2).