Credit and bank issued debit card operated system and method for controlling a prepaid card encoding/dispensing machine
First Claim
1. A vending machine control system for controlling and monitoring credit card transactions of a pre-existing vending machine which encodes prepaid cards, said pre-existing vending machine having a currency acceptor and control interface lines for use in encoding said prepaid cards, said vending machine control system comprising:
- a) means for reading magnetically stored information from a credit card;
b) means for obtaining an authorization amount for said transactions for said credit card from a credit verification source external to said vending machine;
c) means for storing said authorization amount;
d) means for selecting a prepaid amount to be encoded on a prepaid card;
e) means for determining whether a prepaid amount selected with said means for selecting is below a maximum allowed transaction amount;
f) means for controlling the encoding of a prepaid card in response to said means for selecting;
g) means for storing transaction information corresponding to said operation of said vending machine and said magnetic information from said credit card;
h) means for housing elements a) through g) separately from said pre-existing vending machine; and
i) means for connecting said vending machine control system to said pre-existing vending machine at a point on said control interface lines which is operationally related to said currency acceptor such that said pre-existing vending machine can be operated with either currency or said credit card.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling and monitoring credit card transactions of a vending machine which dispenses and or encodes prepaid cards. Means are provided for reading magnetically stored information from a credit card, receiving an authorization amount for the transaction from a credit verification source which is external to the vending machine, storing the authorization amount, selecting a prepaid amount to be encoded on a prepaid card, determining whether a selected prepaid amount is below a maximum allowed transaction amount, controlling the encoding of a prepaid card in response to a selected prepaid amount, and storing transaction information corresponding to the operation of the prepaid card vending machine and the magnetic information from the credit card.
438 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vending machine control system for controlling and monitoring credit card transactions of a pre-existing vending machine which encodes prepaid cards, said pre-existing vending machine having a currency acceptor and control interface lines for use in encoding said prepaid cards, said vending machine control system comprising:
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a) means for reading magnetically stored information from a credit card; b) means for obtaining an authorization amount for said transactions for said credit card from a credit verification source external to said vending machine; c) means for storing said authorization amount; d) means for selecting a prepaid amount to be encoded on a prepaid card; e) means for determining whether a prepaid amount selected with said means for selecting is below a maximum allowed transaction amount; f) means for controlling the encoding of a prepaid card in response to said means for selecting; g) means for storing transaction information corresponding to said operation of said vending machine and said magnetic information from said credit card; h) means for housing elements a) through g) separately from said pre-existing vending machine; and i) means for connecting said vending machine control system to said pre-existing vending machine at a point on said control interface lines which is operationally related to said currency acceptor such that said pre-existing vending machine can be operated with either currency or said credit card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling a pre-existing vending machine to encode a prepaid card, said pre-existing vending machine includes a magnetic card writing device, comprising the steps of:
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a) retrofitting a controller, separate from said pre-existing vending machine, to said pre-existing vending machine, wherein said controller includes a memory for storing a plurality of pulse per dollar counts for a plurality of different pre-existing vending machines; b) obtaining a pulse per dollar count from the memory which is compatible with said pre-existing vending machine; c) generating, based on said obtained pulse per dollar count, a pulse code for transmission to said magnetic card writing device within said pre-existing vending machine; d) transmitting said pulse code from said controller to said pre-existing vending machine; e) receiving said pulse code at said pre-existing vending machine; and f) writing a prepaid amount to a magnetic card based on said received pulse code.
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15. A method for controlling and monitoring credit card transactions and operation of a pre-existing vending machine for encoding prepaid cards, said pre-existing vending machine having a currency acceptor and control interface lines such that said currency acceptor generates pulses along said interface control lines to encode a value on a prepaid card, comprising the steps of:
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a) retrofitting a controller, separate from said pre-existing vending machine, to said pre-existing vending machine by way of a connection to said control interface lines at a point operationally related to said currency acceptor; b) reading, at said separate controller, magnetically stored information from a credit card; c) obtaining, at said separate controller, an approval code for a specified authorization amount for said transactions for said credit card from a credit verification source external to said separate controller and said vending machine; d) storing said approval code at said separate controller; e) selecting, at said separate controller, a prepaid amount to be encoded on a prepaid card; f) determining, at said separate controller, whether said selected prepaid amount selected is below a maximum allowed transaction amount; g) controlling, by said separate controller, the encoding of a prepaid card in response to said selected prepaid amount; and h) storing transaction information corresponding to said operation of said vending machine and said magnetic information from said credit card. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification