Tokens and token handling devices
First Claim
1. A token handling device which performs operations in accordance with operational data stored in the device, and which is capable of communicating with a token in order to determine token data stored by the token, the device being operable to enter a first mode or a second mode in dependence upon the type of operational data, the device being operable in the first mode to perform a said operation and in the second mode to alter the operational data in a manner dependent upon said token data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A token handling device transmits, using an electromagnetic carrier, data, clock pulses and power to a token. The token transmits data by varying the degree of absorbtion of the carrier in synchronism with the clock pulses. These data transmissions are detected by a receiver in the token handling device, the sensitivity of which is adjusted each time a token is received. The token could be used in transactions in place of coins, or alternatively could be used for identification in other areas. Data stored by the token could be used to change the way in which the token handling device operates. The token handling device may for example form a vending machine, and the token could be used to alter the pricing of goods vended thereby. The token handling device may be combined with a coin validator, in which case there is preferably a common path from an entrance slot for carrying both the tokens and the coins to appropriate testing apparatus.
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Citations
46 Claims
- 1. A token handling device which performs operations in accordance with operational data stored in the device, and which is capable of communicating with a token in order to determine token data stored by the token, the device being operable to enter a first mode or a second mode in dependence upon the type of operational data, the device being operable in the first mode to perform a said operation and in the second mode to alter the operational data in a manner dependent upon said token data.
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5. A coin operated machine comprising:
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coin validating means for testing coins and generating signals indicative of the properties thereof; a delivery path for delivering coins to said coin validating means; means for generating an output permitting the vending of a product or the performing of a service, said means storing operational data and being operable to generate said output in dependence on said operational data and the signals from said coin validating means; and token reading means operable to receive tokens from said delivery path and to read data stored by said token, said token reading means being operable to generate a signal dependent on said token data for altering said operational data. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A coin validating and token reading device, said device comprising:
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a common path for receiving and conveying items including coins and tokens; coin validating means arranged to receive items from said common path and to determine whether said items are genuine or non-genuine coins; a reject path and an accept path each arranged to receive and convey items from said coin validating means; means for selectively directing items from said coin validating means to said accept path or said reject path in dependence on an output of said coin validating means; and - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40)
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11. token reading means situated in said reject path for reading data stored by tokens delivered from said coin validating means to said reject path.
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22. A coin validating and token reading device, said device comprising first and second testing stations, one of said testing stations forming a coin validator for determining the validity of coins, and the other said testing station comprising means for reading data stored in a token;
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a first, common path for receiving coins and tokens and for delivering them to said first testing station; second and third paths for selectively receiving items from said first testing station; and first directing means operable in response to an output of said first testing station for selectively directing items to said second or third path; said second testing station being disposed along said second path.
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28. A data-storing token comprising:
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antenna means for receiving a signal generated by a token reader and for providing an output for powering said token; a non-volatile writable memory storing flag data; control means operable to perform a multi-stage communication operation with said token reader, said token being powered-down in an interval between the stages of the communication operation, said control means being operable upon power-up of the token to read said flag data and in dependence on said flag data to perform either (a) a first stage of said communication operation, during the course of which said flag data is altered in a first predetermined manner, or (b) a second stage of said communication operation, during the course of which said flag data is altered in a second predetermined manner.
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32. A coin and token operated machine which is operable to perform a transaction on receipt of one or more coins or a data storing token, said machine comprising token reading means operable to perform a multi-stage communication operation with the token, said token reading means powering-up the token during each stage of said communication operation to enable communication with said token, whereby during an initial stage the token reading means can extract data from the token and during a subsequent stage the token reading means can send to the token updated data for storage thereby in a non-volatile writable memory of the token, said token being powered-down between said initial and subsequent stages.
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35. A token reading device, said device comprising:
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antenna means for transmitting a signal to a token; signal generating means for generating and applying said signal to said antenna means, said signal generating means comprising means for selectively interrupting said signal at timings dependent upon data to be transmitted to said token; and data detection means coupled to said antenna means for detecting changes in the degree of absorption of the signal caused by said token, thereby to detect data transmitted by the token.
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39. A token communication system, said system comprising:
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token reading and writing means including (a) antenna means for transmitting a signal to a token, (b) signal generating means for supplying said signal to said antenna means, (c) data transmission means for selectively interrupting said signal at timings dependent upon data to be sent to said token, and (d) data detection means for detecting changes in the amount by which said signal is absorbed by said token and deriving data determined by the timings at which said changes occur; and the token comprising (a) antenna means for receiving the signal transmitted by the antenna means of said token reading and writing means, (b) power storage means for storing power derived from the signal received by the antenna means of said token, (c) data detection means for detecting interruptions of said signal and deriving data from the timings at which said interruptions occur, (d) data transmission means for selectively altering the impedance across said token antenna means at timings dependent upon data to be transmitted to said token reading and writing means, thereby selectively to alter the amount by which said signal is absorbed by said token, (e) a non-volatile writable memory, and (f) control means for deriving from said memory data for transmission by said data transmission means of said token and for writing into said memory data determined by the data detected by said data detection means of said token. - View Dependent Claims (41, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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42. A coin and token operated machine, the machine comprising:
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control means for initiating a transaction performed by the machine and having means for storing a credit value; coin validation means for providing, in a coin operated mode of the device, signals to said control means to increase said credit value in response to receipt of valid coins; token reading and writing means, said token reading writing means comprising;
(a) antenna means for transmitting a signal to a token, (b) signal generating means for supplying said signal to said antenna means, (c) data transmission means for selectively interrupting said signal at timings dependent upon data to be sent to said token, (d) data detection means for detecting changes in the amount by which said signal is absorbed by said token and deriving data determined by the timings at which said changes occur, (e) means responsive to the derived data for supplying, in a token operated mode of the device, signals to said control means to increase said credit value;said control means being operable in said token operated mode to cause said token reading and writing means to update a credit value stored in said token after said transaction has been performed; and means for dispensing a token whose stored credit value has been updated.
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Specification