Customer administered autoload
First Claim
1. A system for automatically loading a pre-determined value from a selectable source onto a patron'"'"'s fare card, the system comprising:
- a central computer having a fare card data base for storing fare card data specific to the fare card;
a means for initializing an autoload flag to “
on”
for automatic loading of the pre-determined value onto the fare card; and
a terminal device in communication with the central computer for automatically loading the fare card with the pre-determined value.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically loading a pre-selected value onto a fare card allows a patron to enter or leave a transit system gate without having to add a fare value at a vending machine. The automatic loading provides added convenience and security for the patron. The vehicle for the automatically-loaded value is either a credit card that is pre-authorized for use by the patron, or the patron'"'"'s available benefits. The automatic loading process may be utilized to autoload values of benefits only, or to load values from a combination of benefits and credit card transactions. The pre-selected autoload value is loaded onto the fare card at the gate before confirmation that the credit card transaction is authorized. The gate sends a message to a transit central computer that an autoload has occurred. The central computer determines whether benefits are available to fill the request, and forwards a request for the difference to a credit processing company.
25 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for automatically loading a pre-determined value from a selectable source onto a patron'"'"'s fare card, the system comprising:
-
a central computer having a fare card data base for storing fare card data specific to the fare card;
a means for initializing an autoload flag to “
on”
for automatic loading of the pre-determined value onto the fare card; and
a terminal device in communication with the central computer for automatically loading the fare card with the pre-determined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for an automatic card-based loading process for loading a benefits value onto a fare card, the method comprising:
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generating an autoload list comprising at least one benefit available, for use with the fare card, a first value for the at least one benefit, and a first control number associated with the each at least one benefit;
initializing the fare card with a storage area for storing an amount remaining, a second value and a second control number;
reading the second value of the at least smart and the second control number from the fare card to a transit gate;
comparing the first control number to the second control number;
if the first control number is different than the second control number, adding the first value for the at least one benefit to the amount remaining and updating the amount remaining on the fare card with the result;
setting the second control number equal to the first control number;
setting the second value equal to the first value; and
updating the first value of the autoload list to zero if the second value is set equal to the first value; and
if the first control number is the same as the second control number, terminating the automatic loading process. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for an automatic loading process for loading a pre-selected credit card value onto a fare card, the method comprising:
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initializing the fare card with a storage area for storing an amount remaining, credit card data, and an autoload flag; and
reading the flag value;
if the flag value is “
on”
,adding the pre-selected credit card value to the amount remaining on the fare card; and
sending the credit card data and the pre-selected credit card value to a credit processing means, if the flag value is “
off”
,terminating the automatic loading process. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification