Computerized personal portable account register

• US 4,910,696 A
• Filed: 01/27/1988
• Issued: 03/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bratko, Jorand C., Kurt W. Grossman
• Original Assignee: Bratko, Jorand C., Kurt W. Grossman
• Inventors: Bratko, Jorand C., Grossman, Kurt W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Clark, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Application Number:
  US07/148,856
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 364/408, 364/406, 364/705.02
• US Class Current: 708/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application

Abstract

A computer device is provided which is sized and shaped to be hand-held. The computer device includes various memory modes and keys that are generally dedicated to provide particular command functions and to activate particular data channel circuitry for accomplishing account register functions and other functions such as budgeting and balancing. The computer device is especially suitable for use as a computerized checking account register.

Claims

1. A computer device for a personal portable account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected account, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of a selected account by said transaction amount;

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount;

"bud" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BUD" key member, said "bud" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving data, specifying selected budget accounts, and displaying respective fund amounts as respective balances of the respective budget accounts; and

said selected account of the "cw" data channel circuit means is one of said budget accounts of the "bud" data channel circuit means.

2. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein said "cw" data channel circuit further includes transaction number increment circuit means for automatically entering into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means the next sequential transaction number, said transaction number increment circuit means including adder circuit means for adding the unit integer to the transaction number of the immediately previous transaction within said memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means, said automatic entering step occurring upon activation of the "CHK" key member.

3. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein said "cw" data channel circuit further includes clock circuit means for automatically entering the current date into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means upon activation of the "CHK" key member and upon activation of the "WDL" key member.

4. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein said "cw" data channel circuit further includes transaction number increment circuit means for automatically entering into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means the next sequential transaction number, said transaction number increment circuit means including adder circuit means for adding the unit integer to the transaction number of the immediately previous transaction within said memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means, said automatic entering step occurring upon activation of the "CHK" key member;

and wherein said "cw" data channel circuit further includes clock circuit means for automatically entering the current date into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means upon activation of the "CHK" key member and upon activation of the "WDL" key member.

5. The computer device according to claim 4, wherein said pocket-sized case further includes a portion supporting a pad of account slips for hand entry of transaction amounts.

6. The computer device according to claim 5, wherein said account slips are banking checks.

7. The computer device according to claim 1, wherein said "cw" data channel circuit means subtracts said transaction amount to one of said budget accounts and to another selected account.

8. A computer device for a personal portable account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"bud" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BUD" key member, said "bud" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving data, specifying selected budget accounts, and displaying respective fund amounts as respective balances of the respective budget accounts;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member and/or a "WDL" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected one of said budget accounts in response to activation of said "BUD" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of said selected budget account by said transaction amount; and

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount.

9. The computer device according to claim 8, wherein said "bud" data channel circuit means further includes memory means for receiving data specifying selected budget subaccounts of said budget accounts and for assigning respective fund amounts as respective balances of the respective budget subaccounts.

10. The computer device according to claim 8, further including "exp" data channel circuit means including memory means for expenditure balances of said budget accounts and adder means for automatically increasing the expenditure balance of said selected one of said budget accounts by said transaction amount.

11. A computer device for a personal portable account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member and/or a "WDL" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected account, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of a selected account by said transaction amount;

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount;

"bud" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BUD" key member, said "bud" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving data, specifying selected budget accounts, and displaying respective fund amounts as respective balances of the respective budget accounts; and

said selected account of the "dep" data channel means is one of said budget accounts of the "bud" data channel circuit means, said "dep" channel circuit means adds said deposit amount to one of said budget accounts and to another selected account.

12. A computer device for a personal portable account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, sad housing containing a computerized account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member and/or a "WDL" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected account, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of a selected account by said transaction amount;

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount;

"bud" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BUD" key member, said "bud" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving data, specifying selected budget accounts, and displaying respective fund amounts as respective balances of the respective budget accounts; and

"alc" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of an "ALC" key member, said "alc" data channel circuit means including access to memory means for an unallocated funds account circuit, said "alc" data channel circuit means further including memory means for receiving data specifying a budget account and a fund amount for applying to said budget account, said "alc" data channel circuit means further including subtractor/adder circuit means for automatically changing the balance of said unallocated funds account by said fund amount applied to said budget account.

13. The computer device according to claim 12, wherein said "alc" data channel circuit means includes access to memory means of budget account circuitry, and said subtractor/adder circuit means is for automatically changing respective balances of said budget account memory means.

14. The computer device according to claim 13, wherein said "alc" data channel circuit means includes access to memory means for budget subaccounts of said budget accounts.

15. A computer device for a personal portable account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member and/or a "WDL" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected account, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of a selected account by said transaction amount;

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount; and

"exp" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of an "EXP" key member, said "exp" data channel circuit means including access to memory means for said selected accounts, said "exp" data channel circuit means further including circuit means for entry of a particular time period and for calling up the amount expended against said selected account during said particular time period.

16. The computer device according to claim 15, wherein said "cw" data channel means further includes adder circuit means for automatically adding said transaction amount to an account expenditure total stored in memory means, said selected account of the "cw" data channel means is a budget account.

17. A computer device for a personal portable account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member and/or a "WDL" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected account, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of a selected account by said transaction amount;

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount;

"bal" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BAL" key member;

said "bal" data channel circuit means includes memory means for sequentially storing a plurality of transaction identifications, a plurality of transaction amounts, a financial institution balance, and cancelled designator means for memoralizing reduction of or addition to the financial institution balance by a particular transaction amount;

said "bal" data channel circuit means further includes circuitry responsive to activation of a "√

" key member, which circuitry includes circuit means for decreasing or increasing said financial institution balance by a transaction amount when said "√

" key member is activated in respect of a transaction identification corresponding to said transaction amount; and

said memory means is a component of said "cw" data channel circuit means.

18. A personal portable computer device that is a checking account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a portion supporting a pad of checks, said case also including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized checking account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized checking account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected account, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of a selected account by said transaction amount;

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount;

said "cw" data channel means circuit further includes check number increment circuit means for automatically entering into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means the next sequential check number, said check number increment circuit means including adder circuit means for adding the unit integer to the check number of the immediately previous checking transaction within said memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means, said automatic entering step occurring upon activation of the "CHK" key member; and

"exp" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of an "EXP" key member, said "exp" data channel circuit means including access to memory means for said selected accounts, said "exp" data channel circuit means further including circuit means for entry of a particular time period and for calling up the amount expended against said selected account during said particular time period.

19. The personal portable computer device according to claim 18, wherein said "cw" data channel circuit further includes clock circuit means for automatically entering the current date into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means upon activation of the "CHK" key member and upon activation of the "WDL" key member.

20. The personal portable computer device according to claim 18, further including "bal" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BAL" key member;

said "bal" data channel circuit means includes memory means for sequentially storing a plurality of check transactions, each including a check amount, a financial institution balance, and a "√

" designator means for memorializing reduction of or addition to the checking account balance by a particular check amount; and

said "bal" data channel circuit means further includes circuitry responsive to activation of a "√

" key member, which circuitry includes circuit means for decreasing or increasing said checking account balance by a check amount when said "√

" key member is activated in respect of a check transaction corresponding to said check amount.

21. The personal portable computer device according to claim 20, wherein said memory means of the "bal" data channel circuit means further is for sequentially storing check transactions including check numbers and check dates.

22. A personal portable computer device that is a checking account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a portion supporting a pad of checks, said case also including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized checking account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized checking account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"bud" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BUD" key member, said "bud" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving data specifying selected budget accounts and displaying respective fund amounts as respective balances of the respective budget accounts;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member and/or a "WDL" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected one of said budget accounts in response to activation of said "BUD" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of said selected budget account by said transaction amount;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount; and

said "cw" data channel means circuit further includes check number increment circuit means for automatically entering into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means the next sequential check number, said check number increment circuit means including adder circuit means for adding the unit integer to the check number of the immediately previous checking transaction within said memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means, said automatic entering step occurring upon activation of the "CHK" key member.

23. The personal portable computer device according to claim 22, further including "exp" data channel circuit means including memory means for expenditure balances of said budget accounts and adder means for automatically increasing the expenditure balance of said selected one of said budget accounts by said transaction amount.

24. A personal portable computer device that is a checking account register, comprising:

a pocket-sized case including a portion supporting a pad of checks, said case also including a relatively small housing, sized to be hand-held, said housing containing a computerized checking account register assembly, said housing having a display panel and a keyboard panel having a plurality of key members, said computerized checking account register assembly including circuit means for operating on, displaying and storing data in response to manipulation of said key members, said circuit means including;

"cw" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "CHK" key member and/or a "WDL" key member, said "cw" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving a transaction amount, said "cw" data channel circuit means including means for assigning the transaction amount to a selected account, said "cw" data channel circuit means further including a subtractor circuit that automatically reduces a balance of a selected account by said transaction amount;

"dep" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "DEP" key member, said "dep" data channel circuit means including means for assigning a deposit amount to a selected account, said "dep" data channel circuit means further including an adder circuit that automatically increases an account balance by said deposit amount;

said "cw" data channel means circuit further includes check number increment circuit means for automatically entering into the memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means the next sequential check number, said check number increment circuit means including adder circuit means for adding the unit integer to the check number of the immediately previous checking transaction within said memory means of the "cw" data channel circuit means, said automatic entering step occurring upon activation of the "CHK" key member;

"bud" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of a "BUD" key member, said "bud" data channel circuit means including memory means for receiving data specifying selected budget accounts and displaying respective fund amounts as respective balances of the respective budget accounts; and

"alc" data channel circuit means responsive to activation of an "ALC" key member, said "alc" data channel circuit means including access to memory means for an unallocated funds account circuit, said "alc" data channel circuit means further including memory means for receiving data specifying a budget account and a fund amount for applying to said budget account, said "alc" data channel circuit means further including subtractor/adder circuit means for automatically changing the balance of said unallocated funds account by said fund amount applied to said budget account.