Credit card and bank issued debit card operated system and method for controlling and monitoring access of computer and copy equipment

• US 5,619,024 A
• Filed: 12/12/1994
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kolls, Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US08/354,207
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 355/40, 355/200, 355/202, 355/204
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/266 for the use of a photocopier or printing device photocopiers H04N1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• 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 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A vending control system and method for interfacing a control device to a vending machine having input/output control lines along which are transmitted control signals for controlling the operation of the vending machine. The control device includes, means for connecting to the control lines of the vending machine, means for reading the control signal, means for determining operational responses/outputs of the vending machine which correspond to the control signals, means for storing the control signals and information concerning the operational responses and means for reading the stored information to control the vending machine. Control and monitoring of vending transactions comprises means for reading magnetically stored information from a magnetic card, means for obtaining an authorization amount for a transaction, means for storing the authorization amount, means for operating the vending machine without exceeding the authorization amount and means for storing transaction information.

Claims

1. A system for initializing an interface between a control device and a vending machine, said vending machine having control lines along which are transmitted control signals in the form of pulses for controlling operation of said vending machine, said system comprising:

a) means for connecting said control device to said control lines;

b) means for reading, in response to vending machine actuation, said control signals transmitted over said control lines during a period of time;

c) means for processing said read control signals and determining operational responses of said vending machine which correspond to said read control signals; and

d) means, responsive to user input, for adjusting the time period by a predetermined amount if the operational responses determined by the means for processing and determining are incorrect and returning operation to the means for reading.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said period of time predetermined amounts of time until either a re-read control signal matches repeatedly adjusts the time period until a correct operational response is determined by said means for processing or a maximum time limit has been reached.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a copy machine.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a computer.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a micro film reader.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control signals are current levels.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control signals are voltage levels.

8. A method for initializing an interface between a control device and a vending machine, said vending machine having control lines along which are transmitted control signals in the form of pulses for controlling operation of said vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:

a) connecting said control device to said control lines;

b) reading, in response to vending machine actuation, said control signals transmitted over said control lines during a period of time;

c) processing said read control signals and determining, by said control device, operational responses of said vending machine which correspond to said read control signals; and

d) adjusting, responsive to user input, the period of time by a predetermined amount if the operational responses determined are incorrect and returning to step (b).

9. A method for establishing an appropriate time period during which control signals corresponding to operational responses of a vending machine can be monitored, said vending machine having control lines along which are transmitted control signals for controlling vending operation of said vending machine, said method comprising the steps of:

a) accessing the vending machine control lines by connecting a control device to said control lines;

b) causing the vending machine to perform a vending operation and transmit a corresponding control signal;

c) reading control signals, by said control device, transmitted in response to step b) on said control lines over a predetermined period of time;

d) processing, by said control device, said read control signals and determining which vending operation corresponds to the read control signals;

e) if the determined vending operation does not correspond to the read control signal, adjusting the predetermined period of time, by a predetermined amount, over which the control signals were read and returning to step (b);

f) if the determined vending operation corresponds to the read control signal, storing and establishing the time period for subsequent vending machine monitoring.