Device and method for sequencing paricipation in a point-of-sale activity

• US 5,866,890 A
• Filed: 01/16/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diana M. Neuner
• Original Assignee: Diana M. Neuner
• Inventors: Neuner, Diana M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/783,755
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/381, 235/382.5, 235/492, 340/825.31, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems

Abstract

In a device for sequencing a point-of-sale activity, identifiable tokens are used to orderly queue participation. The device announces a token identifier for a next participant, and the participant deposits a token into a token input. A token reader reads the identifier from the deposited token, and a comparator compares it to a previously announced identifier. If the identifiers match, the comparator directs the point-of-sale activity to start. Additionally, a method for queuing a point-of sale activity that includes the steps of dispensing a token having an identifier, placing that identifier in a First-in-First-out buffer, advancing the buffer each time a new participant is needed, announcing that identifier, accepting a token, reading the identifier from that token, matching that identifier to the one announced, and activating the point-of-sale activity.

Claims

1. A device for sequencing participation in a point-of-sale activity using tokens, where each token has an identifier, comprising:

a sequence accumulator comprising a First-in-First-out (FIFO) buffer for holding token identifiers, including a first identifier at the top of the FIFO buffer;

a sequence announcer communicating to the sequence accumulator, wherein the sequence announcer receives and announces the first identifier;

an advance commander communicating to the sequence accumulator wherein the advance commander advances the FIFO buffer;

a token input for receiving a token having a second identifier;

a token reader for reading the second identifier;

a comparator communicating with the sequence accumulator and the token reader and having an output communicating with the point-of-sale activity, whereby the comparator receives the first and second token identifiers and when the identifiers match, directs the output to activate the point-of-sale activity.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a token dispenser,

a token requester communicating to the token dispenser and the sequence accumulator, wherein activating the token requestor causes the token dispenser to dispense a third token having a third identifier, with the sequence accumulator receiving the third identifier and placing the third identifier in the FIFO buffer.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising

a money input,

a money verifier having a paid and unpaid status and communicating to the money input and the comparator, wherein the comparator receives the paid status before directing the output to activate the point-of-sale activity.

4. The device of claim 3 where the money verifier further communicates with the token requestor wherein the paid status activates the token requester.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the money input receives cash.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the money input accepts credit cards.

7. The device of claim 2 further comprising a token dispenser reader communicating to the sequence accumulator and reading the third identifier from the third token and communicating the third identifier to the sequence accumulator.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising

a money input,

a money verifier having a paid and unpaid status and communicating to the money input and the comparator, wherein the comparator receives the paid status before directing the output to activate the point-of-sale activity.

9. A device for sequencing participation in a billiards game comprising:

a plurality of tokens, wherein each token has an identifier,

a sequence accumulator comprising a First-in-First-out (FIFO) buffer for holding token identifiers, including a first identifier at the top of the FIFO buffer;

a sequence announcer communicating to the sequence accumulator, wherein the sequence announcer receives and announces the first identifier;

a next button communicating to the sequence accumulator wherein the next button advances the FIFO buffer;

a token input for receiving a token having a second identifier;

a token reader for reading the second identifier;

a comparator communicating with the sequence accumulator and the token reader and having an output communicating with the game, whereby the comparator receives the first and second token identifiers and when the identifiers match, directs the output to activate the game.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

a token dispenser for dispensing tokens;

a money input comprising a payment verification having a paid and unpaid status, and communicating with the token dispenser, wherein the token dispenser dispenses a token when the token dispenser receives a paid status.

11. The device of claim 9 additionally having a wait timer communicating with the sequence accumulator for advancing the FIFO buffer after a preset time.

12. The device of claim 11 additionally having a hold button communicating to the wait timer for adding additional time to the preset time.

13. The device of claim 9 where the sequence announcer comprises a display.

14. The device of claim 9 where the sequence announcer comprises a speaker.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of accepting and verifying payment.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the point-of-sale activity is billiards.

15. A method for sequencing a point-of-sale activity comprising the steps:

dispensing a token having a first identifier;

placing the first identifier in a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer;

advancing the FIFO buffer each time a new participant is needed for the point-of-sale activity;

announcing the first identifier on a sequence announcer when the first identifier is at the top of the FIFO buffer;

accepting the token;

reading a current identifier from the deposited token;

matching the current identifier to the first identifier;

activating the point-of-sale activity.