Data transfer system and data transfer terminal device

• US 5,691,525 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Yukihiko, Aoki, Shigeo, Oka, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): FILIPEK, JEFFER
• Application Number:
  US08/767,150
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/29 characterised by micropayments
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

In a financial transaction data processing system, plural host computers maintained by banks and containing bank account information are interconnected by a communications network, and plural automated teller machines are connectable to the plural host computers. Portable data carriers are provided each containing a non-volatile memory for storing money balances. Also, at a wholesaler location or the like, a terminal device connectable to at least one of the host computers is provided. The portable data carriers are insertable into the automated teller machines to transfer money from a bank account to the portable data carrier inserted in the automated teller machine. Also, the portable data carriers are insertable into the terminal device to transfer money from the inserted portable data carrier to a memory of the terminal device. Accumulated transactions in the terminal device are stored on another portable data carrier which is then taken to an automated teller machine to transfer the money from the portable data carrier to a bank account of the wholesaler or the like. Also, verification of the transaction is effected by transmitting data from the terminal device to a connected host computer.

Claims

1. A financial transaction data processing system comprising:

a plurality of host bank computers operatively maintained by a plurality of banking institutions and each containing account information denoting money balances of plural host bank accounts;

a communications network interconnecting said plurality of host bank computers;

a plurality of automated teller machines operatively maintained by the plurality of banking institutions and connectable to said plurality of host bank computers so as to access said account information to transfer money to and from said plural host bank accounts;

a transaction terminal device detachably and operatively connectable to at least one of said plurality of host bank computers, said transaction terminal device having two IC card insertion slots; and

a plurality of portable IC cards each containing a non-volatile IC chip memory for storing a carrier money balance and each insertable into at least one of said plurality of automated teller machines and into one of said IC card insertion slots of said transaction terminal device;

wherein each of said automated teller machines includes means, responsive to the insertion therein of one of said portable IC cards and to input instructions, for effecting a first transaction by deducting a first specified amount of money from the balance of a designated host bank account of a connected one of said host bank computers and adding the first specified amount to the carrier money balance of said one of said portable IC cards;

wherein said transaction terminal device includes at least one manipulation key for specifying a second specified amount of money, transfer means, responsive to the insertion of two of said portable IC cards into said IC card insertion slots and to input instructions, for effecting a second transaction by deducting the second specified amount of money specified by said at least one manipulation key from the carrier money balance stored in the IC chip memory of a first of said two portable IC cards and adding the second specified amount of money to the carrier money balance stored in the IC chip memory of a second of said two portable IC cards, a memory for storing data relating to said second transaction, and transmitting means for transmitting second transaction verification data indicative of the second transaction from said memory to a connected one of said plurality of host bank computers;

wherein one of said automated teller machines further includes means, responsive to the insertion therein of said second of said portable IC cards and to input instructions, for initiating a verification process in which an amount of the carrier money balance of said second of said portable IC cards is verified with reference to said second transaction verification data transmitted to the connected one of the plurality of host bank computers by said transaction terminal device and, thereafter, if said second transaction verification data has been transmitted to said connected host bank computer, for effecting a third transaction by adding a third specified amount of money to a designated host bank account of a connected host bank computer and deducting the third specified amount from the carrier money balance of said second of said portable IC cards; and

wherein, when said second of said portable IC cards is inserted into said one of said automated teller machines before said second transaction verification data has been transmitted to said connected one of the plurality of host bank computers by said transaction terminal device, said third transaction is effected after said second transaction verification data has been transmitted to said connected one of the plurality of host bank computers by said transaction terminal device.

2. A financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory of said transaction terminal device is for accumulating and storing a plurality of transaction data associated with a plurality of distinct second transactions, and wherein said transmitting means is for transmitting the plurality of the transaction data in batch to the connected one of the plurality of host bank computers for use in said verification process.

3. A financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transaction terminal device includes said two IC card insertion slots within a single housing for inserting said first and second IC cards, respectively, into an interior of said single housing.

4. A financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transaction terminal device includes said two IC card insertion slots within a single housing for inserting said first and second IC cards, respectively, into an interior of said single housing.

5. The financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting means is for effecting an online real time transfer of said second transaction verification data to said connected one of the host bank computers.

6. The financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second transaction verification data stored in said memory is transmitted to the connected one of the host bank computers by said transmitting means via a modem and a communication line.

7. The financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said IC chip of each of said IC cards is provided with enciphering logic.

8. The financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory of said transaction terminal device includes a first memory for storing programs, a second memory for storing working data during processing, and a third memory for storing the data relating to the second transaction, wherein the third memory is a nonvolatile EEPROM.

9. The financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transaction terminal device includes a CPU provided with enciphering logic, and wherein data stored in said third memory is enciphered.

10. The financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitting means is operable to transmit said second transaction verification data to said connected one of said plurality of host bank computers as an online real time transfer and, alternatively, as a batch transfer at a time subsequent to said second transaction.

11. The financial transaction data processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said second of said portable IC cards is inserted into said one of said automated teller machines before said second transaction verification data has been transmitted to said connected one of the plurality of host bank computers by said transaction terminal device, said third transaction is initially only provisionally effected, and is formally effected after said second transaction verification data has been transmitted to said connected one of the plurality of host bank computers by said transaction terminal device.