Data processing system for locally updating customer data distributed by a host computer to a remote facility and for returning the updated customer data to the host computer

• US 5,535,407 A
• Filed: 02/25/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Original Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Yanagawa, Atsuyuki, Shimizu, Hisao
• Primary Examiner(s): Treat, William M.
• Application Number:
  US08/201,712
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

A customer data processing system includes a host computer for managing customer data and a plurality of processors interconnected with the host computer through telecommunications lines. The host computer has a first storage unit for storing customer data and a customer data batch extracting unit for extracting customer data with a high frequency of use out of the customer data stored therein and for transmitting the extracted customer data in a batch to the processors at predetermined times. Each processor has a second storage unit for storing the customer data fed in a batch from the host computer and local updating unit for updating customer data stored in the second storage unit when a transaction with a customer is concluded. Each processor also has a remote updating unit for updating customer data stored in the host computer through the telecommunications line. Also, each processor has a customer data batch updating unit for transmitting the customer data updated in the local updating unit to the host computer in batch at a predetermined times. In this way, transactions can be processed at high speed, resulting in improved efficiency and security against tapping and so forth.

Claims

1. A customer data processing system, comprising:

a host computer for managing customer data for a plurality of customers, the customer data for each customer including first data representative of a record of transactions by the respective customer;

a first processor for processing customer data; and

a telecommunications line for interconnecting the first processor and the host computer,

wherein the host computer includes

first storage means for storing the customer data,

data extracting means for extracting, from the first storage means, customer data for customers who have made transactions at a frequency higher than a predetermined level, and

transmission means for transmitting the extracted customer data in a batch over the telecommunications line to the first processor,

wherein the first processor includes

second storage means for storing the customer data transmitted by the transmission means,

terminal means, interconnected with the second storage means, for entering second data representative of a transaction desired by a particular customer,

local updating means, operative in response to entry of the second data if the particular customer is a customer whose customer data is stored in the second storage means, for updating the customer data stored for the particular customer in the second storage means,

remote updating means, operative in response to entry of the second data if the particular customer is not a customer whose customer data is stored in the second storage means, for communicating with the host computer through the telecommunications line so that the customer data for the particular customer can be updated in the first storage means, and

batch updating means for transmitting customer data that has been updated by the local updating means in a batch over the telecommunications line to the host computer,

wherein the customer data for each customer further includes third data representing a credit balance for the respective customer,

wherein the customer data processing system further comprises at least one second processor interconnected to the host computer by another telecommunications line, each of the at least one second processors including a second storage means, an input means, a local updating means, a remote updating means and a batch updating means,

wherein the customer data for each customer further includes fourth data representative of a first limited amount up to which the respective customer is allowed to establish a transaction,

wherein the data extracting means of the host computer further comprises means for distributing the first limited amount for each customer to a plurality of second limited amounts each assigned to one of the first and the at least one second processors, the second limited amounts being included in the customer data and being transmitted to each of the first and the at least one second processors by the transmission means, and

wherein the local updating means of a processor subtracts the second data entered by the terminal means for a particular customer from the second limited amount for the particular customer to update customer data stored in the second storage means of the particular processor within the second limited amount.

2. A processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the means for distributing distributes the first limited amount to the second limited amounts on the basis of a frequency at which the customer data for a customer, stored in the first storage means, has been made access to.

3. A processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the local updating means of a processor comprises means for reading out the customer data stored in said second storage means of the respective processor and for adding a predetermined, additional amount allotted to a customer to the second limited amount for the customer included in the customer data that has been read out, to establish an allowable transaction amount for the respective customer, and

wherein the local updating means of the respective processor updates customer data stored in the second storage means of the respective processor within the allowable transaction amount in response to entry of the second data entered by the terminal means.