Data entry system
First Claim
1. A transaction terminal comprising a reader to read data from suitably encoded credit cards, a main keyboard, a main display for displaying information including data entered through the keyboard, a printer, a data processor receiving data from said reader and at least one keyboard, and a program memory containing selectable programs for operating said terminal in a plurality of modes in which it receives data from said credit card reader, wherein the terminal further includes a portable keyboard detachable from the remainder of the terminal and operable when detached to receive a data entry required as part of a transaction at a point remote from the remainder of the terminal and operable to transfer it to the processor independently of the main keyboard and display when reunited with the remainder of the terminal, wherein the portable keyboard unit comprises a memory, a power supply, control logic operative to store keyboard entries in the memory, and an interface to transfer data from the memory to the remainder of the terminal when the keyboard unit is united with the remainder of the terminal, and wherein the portable keyboard unit further includes means to engage a credit card so as to present an encoded portion of the card for reading by said reader, and the unit is united with the terminal for transfer of data when a card is so presented.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a transaction terminal, a credit card reader is used not only to enter data from cards of customers, but a special card is used to place the terminal in supervisory modes in at least one of which it will accept data from further special cards which are used to input data used in the transaction mode, particularly alphanumeric data for printing on transaction slips. The terminal has a customer accessible auxiliary keyboard which may be used for data entry, at a location remote from the main unit, allowing for point of sale data entry, including private entry of a customer'"'"'s Personal Identification Number, either to validate a transaction or during selection of a PIN for encryption by the terminal. Data captured by the auxiliary keyboard is only retained for so long as a customer'"'"'s card resides in a slot in the auxiliary keyboard, and PIN numbers are encoded as part of a sequence in which data is downloaded to the main unit.
28 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A transaction terminal comprising a reader to read data from suitably encoded credit cards, a main keyboard, a main display for displaying information including data entered through the keyboard, a printer, a data processor receiving data from said reader and at least one keyboard, and a program memory containing selectable programs for operating said terminal in a plurality of modes in which it receives data from said credit card reader, wherein the terminal further includes a portable keyboard detachable from the remainder of the terminal and operable when detached to receive a data entry required as part of a transaction at a point remote from the remainder of the terminal and operable to transfer it to the processor independently of the main keyboard and display when reunited with the remainder of the terminal, wherein the portable keyboard unit comprises a memory, a power supply, control logic operative to store keyboard entries in the memory, and an interface to transfer data from the memory to the remainder of the terminal when the keyboard unit is united with the remainder of the terminal, and wherein the portable keyboard unit further includes means to engage a credit card so as to present an encoded portion of the card for reading by said reader, and the unit is united with the terminal for transfer of data when a card is so presented.
- 13. A portable keyboard unit engageable with a transaction terminal to enter data therein, comprising a body, a keyboard supported by said body for the entry of data, means to store data entered by said keyboard, means to transfer data from said store to said terminal when engaged therewith, and means to hold a credit card having an encoded portion such that said encoded portion will be presented to a credit card reader in said transaction terminal when the keyboard unit is engaged therewith.
Specification