BUSINESS TRANSACTION APPARATUS

• US 3,705,384 A
• Filed: 08/10/1971
• Issued: 12/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eric C. Wahlberg
• Original Assignee: Eric C. Wahlberg
• Inventors: Wahlberg, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/170,520
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149,153,147A 235/61.7B,61.9 194/DIG.6,DIG.7,DIG.8,DIG.9,DIG.14
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06C 27/00 Computing machines characterised by the structural interrelation of their functional units, e.g. invoicing machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 1/00 Machines for printing and issuing tickets printing mechanisms per se B41; output mechanisms of digital computers G06C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency

Abstract

A multiple transaction business machine is provided which includes means for selecting a plurality of transactions, totaling the cost of such transactions and determining the value of payment tendered in satisfaction of the cost of the transactions by payment evaluating means receiving legal tender, credit media and negotiable instruments from the purchaser in tender of satisfaction of the cost of the transactions selected, as well as means for validating the credit media and negotiable instruments presented and means for validating the identity of the purchaser. The machine issues tickets and the like in response to preselection of various modes of transportation, package mailing and handling, etc. A remote data link for the purpose of credit availability verification and purchaser identity is also provided together with remote control, intercom and live identification media.

Claims

1. In a multiple transaction business machine, including means for selecting a transaction or a plurality of transactions, totaling the cost of such transactions and determining the value of payment tendered in satisfaction of the cost of said transactions, payment evaluating means receiving credit media and negotiable instruments from a purchaser in tender of satisfaction of the cost of said transactions comprising:

first validating means scanning said credit media and negotiable instruments and generating a first information signal identifying a selected characteristic thereof;

analyzing means receiving said information signal and including first confirmation means generating a first validation signal as a function of the authenticity of said credit media and negotiable instruments;

second validating means scanning a selected characteristic of said purchaser, generating a second information signal as a function thereof and transmitting same to said analyzing means;

said analyzing means including second confirmation means generating a second validation signal as a function of the authenticity of identity of said purchaser; and

coincidence means receiving and responsive to said first and second validation signals, the cost of said transactions, and the value of payment tendered in satisfaction thereof, selectively constraining said business machine to complete said transaction upon the coincident occurrence of a predetermined relationship of said validation signals, said cost and said value of payment tendered.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said payment evaluating means further includes means receiving legal tender in satisfaction of the said cost of said transactions, validating said legal tender, computing the value thereof and generating and transmitting a value signal therefor to said coincidence means.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said business machine further includes, in combination with said payment evaluating means, transaction designating means comprising:

selection means designating at least one class of transaction to be effected and at least one species of transaction within each said class;

rate means, responsive to said selection means, generating a cost signal for each said selected transaction; and

cost totalizing means receiving and responsive to said cost signals, generating a total cost signal for all of the transactions selected and transmitting said total cost signal to said coincidence means.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, wherein said payment evaluating means further includes means receiving legal tender in satisfaction of the said cost of said transactions, validating said legal tender, computing the value thereof and generating and transmitting a value signal therefor to said coincidence means.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said business transaction machine includes means for making transportation reservations, and printing and vending tickets in confirmation thereof, comprising:

first selecting means generating a selection signals representative of a selected mode, a particular class and a desired one of the scheduled availability of said selected mode and class of transportation;

correlating means receiving said sElection signals and comparing same to prior made reservations to determine availability of said selection and generating availability signals indicative thereof;

cost means responsive to said availability and selection signals generating a transaction cost signal when said reservation selection is available and transmitting said cost signal to said coincidence means; and

printing means, mutually constrained by said coincidence means and said correlating means, printing and vending a ticket in confirmation of said selected reservation when the latter is available and the payment tendered through said payment evaluating means is in full satisfaction of said transaction.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said payment evaluating means further includes means receiving legal tender in satisfaction of the said cost of said transactions, validating said legal tender, computing the value thereof and generating and transmitting a value signal therefor to said coincidence means.

7. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said second validating means comprises a viewing station remote from said business machine;

viewing means at said business machine for viewing said purchaser, interconnected with and transmitting data to said viewing station; and

remote control means at said viewing station, selectively constraining said analyzing means to validate the identity of said purchaser.

8. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said payment evaluating means further includes means receiving legal tender in satisfaction of the said cost of said transactions, validating said legal tender, computing the value thereof and generating and transmitting a value signal therefor to said coincidence means;

and wherein said second validating means comprises;

a viewing station remote from said business machine;

viewing means at said business machine for viewing said purchaser, interconnected with and transmitting data to said viewing station; and

remote control means at said viewing station, selectively constraining said analyzing means to validate the identity of said purchaser.

9. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said business machine further includes, in combination with said payment evaluating means, transaction designating means comprising:

selection means designating at least one class of transaction to be effected and at least one species of transaction within each said class;

rate means, responsive to said selection means, generating a cost signal for each said selected transaction; and

cost totalizing means receiving and responsive to said cost signals, generating a total cost signal for all of the transactions selected and transmitting said total cost signal to said coincidence means; and

wherein said second validating means comprises;

a viewing station remote from said business machine;

viewing means at said business machine for viewing said purchaser, interconnected with and transmitting data to said viewing station; and

remote control means at said viewing station, selectively constraining said analyzing means to validate the identity of said purchaser.

10. The invention defined in claim 9, wherein said payment evaluating means further includes means receiving legal tender in satisfaction of the said cost of said transactions, validating said legal tender, computing the value thereof and generating and transmitting a value signal therefor to said coincidence means.

11. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said business transaction machine includes means for making transportation reservations, and printing and vending tickets in confirmation thereof, comprising:

first selecting means generating a selection signal representative of a selected mode, a particular class and a desired one of the scheduled availability of said selected mode and class of transportation;

correlating means receiving said selection signals and comparing same to prior made reservatioNs to determine availability of said selection and generating availability signals indicative thereof;

cost means responsive to said availability and selection signals generating a transaction cost signal when said reservations selection is available and transmitting said cost signal to said coincidence means; and

printing means, mutually constrained by said coincidence means and said correlating means, printing and vending a ticket in confirmation of said selected reservation when the latter is available and the payment tendered through said payment evaluating means is in full satisfaction of said transaction;

wherein said second validating means comprises;

a viewing station remote from said business machine;

viewing means at said business machine for viewing said purchaser, interconnected with and transmitting data to said viewing station; and

remote control means at said viewing station, selectively constraining said analyzing means to validate the identity of said purchaser.

12. The invention defined in claim 11, wherein said payment evaluating means further includes means receiving legal tender in satisfaction of the said cost of said transactions, validating said legal tender, computing the value thereof and generating and transmitting a value signal therefor to said coincidence means.

13. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said business machine further includes, in combination with said payment evaluating means, recording means effecting recordation of each business transaction of said business machine.

14. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said business machine further includes, in combination with said payment evaluating means, recording means effecting recordation of each business transaction on said business machine;

and receipt means, acting in concert with said recording means, issuing a receipt of each said transaction to said purchaser in response to tender of payment in satisfaction of the total cost thereof.