System for automatic access to automated telephonic information services

An information services system (12) accessed via telephones by subscribers stores lists of codes for accessing automated telephonic information services, such as telephone banking, airline reservations, stock quotes, etc. A subscriber to an information services system according to the invention accesses the system and enters a gateway learn mode (84) in which the subscriber is given a dial tone via a switch which permits the information services system to separately identify signals from the subscriber and from the number called by the subscriber. Representations of the dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) signals generated by the subscriber are stored (88) as tone codes, together with time codes indicating when the DTMF signals should be generated in an execution mode. In addition, command signals (90), preferably received as voice signals, from the subscriber are detected using voice recognition and control codes are stored (92) corresponding to the command signals. The list of codes produced from the tone, time and control codes can be used upon request by the subscriber or automatically with a frequency determined by the subscriber, to access the automated telephonic information service.