(19)

(11)

EP 0 998 732 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 10.05.2000 Bulletin 2000/19 (21) Application number: 98935718.1 (22) Date of filing: 17.07.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G07F 7/10, G07D 1/04 (86) International application number: PCT/US9814/724 (87) International publication number: WO 9905/655 (04.02.1999 Gazette 1999/05)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB IT (30) Priority: 23.07.1997 US 899092 (71) Applicant: AT&T Corp. New York, NY 10013-2412 (US)	(72) Inventor: MOSTAFA, Hashem, Sherif Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 (US) (74) Representative: Modiano, Guido, Dr.-Ing. et al Modiano, Josif, Pisanty & Staub,Baaderstrasse 3 80469 München 80469 München (DE)