Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

inquiry/response system
     
         Any computer system in which data is entered
        {offline} and processed in {batch} form, but information can
        be retrieved on-line.  An example is the checking of credit
        cards.
     
        ["Computer Information Systems for Business V", Thomas Dock
        and James C Wetherbe, West Publishing Company 1988].
     
        (1996-06-24)