Method for processing debit purchase transactions using a counter-top terminal system

• US 6,032,859 A
• Filed: 09/15/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ORUM & ROTH LLC
• Original Assignee: Newview Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Hughes, Michael, Muehlberger, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Application Number:
  US08/929,993
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 235/449, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/375, 235/487, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

A customer operated counter-top terminal system activates various debit card transactions, provides secure communications with a host computer database, and issues a decrypted authorization code to the customer. The system consists of a main terminal unit with an alphanumeric display. The main terminal unit carries a CPU, memory, and all interface devices, including a keypad for the entry of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN), plus programmable function keys and a swipe reader for reading various cards. The main terminal unit further includes a printer for printing receipts for use by a customer and retailer. The system also includes a remote hand-held keyboard having a keyboard display, typically to be held by a clerk for providing a level of privacy desirable to the customer. The system permits processing services to merchants, allowing them to accept all credit and ATM cards for the purchase of goods or services provided by their establishment, thus providing the advantage of a guaranteed payment for the merchant.

Claims

1. A method for processing debit purchase transactions, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a counter-top terminal having telecommunications means operable with a computer, at least one keypad for data entry to the computer, a display responsive to the computer, and a card reader communicating with the computer for modifying purchasing value of a card in response to card use;

entering transaction data to the computer through keypad data entry;

reading a debit styled card through the card reader for providing card data to the computer;

entering a customer authorization code for authorizing access to a customer data base of a host data processor;

entering a clerk authorization code for initiating a debit purchase transaction;

electronically transmitting a transaction request to the host data processor through the telecommunications means of the counter-top terminal for requesting a response of approval or disapproval from the host data processor;

receiving a response from the host computer; and

displaying the response from the host data processor for the debit purchase transaction on the counter-top terminal display.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

entering sales data by the clerk; and

entering confirmation of the sales data from the customer.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of printing a debit transaction receipt in response to a print command from the computer.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting an activation request for a phone card;

processing a data record for the phone card;

creating a message authorization code;

encrypting phone card data for transmitting to the counter-top terminal;

transmitting the encrypted phone card data to the host data processor;

receiving encrypted approval data from the host data processor;

decrypting the encrypted approval data on the computer for the response displaying step.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the steps of:

requesting a credit increase for use with the debit card;

receiving a credit amount from customer;

entering the credit amount into the computer using the keypad;

transmitting credit amount data representative of the credit amount received to the host data processor;

increasing the value of the debit card by the credit amount.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the card reading step comprises the step of swiping the card through the card reader.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a remote keyboard communicating with the terminal unit, and wherein the transaction data entering step includes the step of entering data through the keyboard.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the remote keyboard comprises a hand-held styled keyboard.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the host data processor includes one of a credit authorization provider, a phone card provider, and a telephone switch.

10. A method for processing debit purchase transactions, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a counter-top terminal having telecommunications means operable with a computer, a keypad for data entry to the computer, an alphanumeric display responsive to the computer, and a card reader communicating with the computer;

entering transaction data for a debit purchase transaction to the computer through keypad data entry;

reading a debit styled card through the card reader for transferring card data to the computer;

entering a customer authorization code for authorizing access to a customer data base of the host data processor;

entering a clerk authorization code for initiating a debit purchase transaction;

communicating with a host data processor through the telecommunications means of the counter-top terminal for requesting authorization of the debit purchase transaction;

requesting authorization of the debit purchase transaction from the host data processor; and

receiving the authorization.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of modifying a purchasing value of the card in response to card use.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying the authorization from the host data processor for the debit purchase transaction on the counter-top terminal display.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transaction data entering step comprises the steps of:

entering sales data by the clerk; and

entering confirmation of the sales data by the customer.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of printing a debit transaction receipt in response to a print command from the computer.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the step of:

requesting a phone card;

processing a data record for the phone card;

creating a message authorization code;

encrypting phone card data for transmitting from the counter-top terminal;

transmitting the encrypted phone card data to the host data processor;

receiving encrypted approval data from the host data processor;

decrypting the encrypted approval data on the computer for the response displaying step.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the steps of:

entering a credit amount into the computer using the keypad;

transmitting the credit amount received to the host data processor; and

increasing the value of the debit card by the credit amount.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the card reading step comprises the step of swiping the card through the card reader.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of providing a remote keyboard communicating with the terminal unit, and wherein the transaction data entering step includes the step of entering data through the keyboard.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the host data processor includes one of a credit authorization provider, a phone card provider, and a telephone switch.

20. A method for processing debit purchase transactions, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a counter-top terminal having telecommunications means operable with a computer, at least one keypad for data entry to the computer, a display responsive to the computer, and a card reader communicating with the computer for modifying purchasing value of a card in response to card use;

entering sales transaction data to the computer through keypad data entry by a clerk;

entering confirmation of the sales transaction data by a customer;

reading a debit styled card through the card reader for providing card data to the computer;

entering an authorization code through the keypad for having the computer initiate communication with a host data processor;

electronically transmitting a transaction request to the host data processor through the telecommunications means of the counter-top terminal for requesting a response of approval or disapproval from the host data processor;

receiving a response from the host computer; and

displaying the response from the host data processor for the debit purchase transaction on the counter-top terminal display.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the authorization code entering step comprises the steps of:

entering a customer authorization code for authorizing access to a customer data base of a host processor; and

entering a clerk authorization code for initiating a debit purchase transaction.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of printing a debit transaction receipt in response to a print command from the computer.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the step of:

transmitting an activation request for a phone card;

processing a data record for the phone card;

creating a message authorization code;

encrypting phone card data for transmitting to the counter-top terminal;

transmitting the encrypted phone card data to the host data processor;

receiving encrypted approval data from the host data processor;

decrypting the encrypted approval data on the computer for the response displaying step.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the steps of:

requesting a credit increase for use with the debit card;

receiving a credit amount from customer;

entering the credit amount into the computer using the keypad;

transmitting credit amount data representative of the credit amount received to the host data processor;

increasing the value of the debit card by the credit amount.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the card reading step comprises the step of swiping the card through the card reader.

26. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of providing a remote keyboard communicating with the terminal unit, and wherein the transaction data entering step includes the step of entering data through the keyboard.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the remote keyboard comprises a hand held keyboard.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein the host data processor includes one of a credit authorization provider, a phone card provider, and a telephone switch.

29. A method for processing debit purchase transactions, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a counter-top terminal having telecommunications means operable with a computer, a keypad for data entry to the computer, an alphanumeric display responsive to the computer, and a card reader communicating with the computer;

entering sales transaction data by a clerk for a debit purchase transaction to the computer through keypad data entry;

entering confirmation of the sales transaction data by a customer;

reading a debit styled card through the card reader for transferring card data to the computer;

entering an authorization code through the keypad for having the computer initiate communication with a host data processor;

communicating with a host data processor through the telecommunications means of the counter-top terminal for requesting authorization of a debit purchase transaction;

requesting authorization of the debit purchase transaction from the host data processor; and

receiving the authorization.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of modifying a purchasing value of the card in response to card use.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of displaying the authorization from the host data processor for the debit purchase transaction on the counter-top terminal display.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the authorization code entering step comprises the steps of:

entering a customer authorization code for authorizing access to a customer data base of the host processor; and

entering a clerk authorization code for initiating the debit purchase transaction.

33. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of printing a debit transaction receipt in response to a print command from the computer.

34. The method according to claim 29, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the step of:

requesting a phone card;

processing a data record for the phone card;

creating a message authorization code;

encrypting phone card data for transmitting from the counter-top terminal;

transmitting the encrypted phone card data to the host data processor;

receiving encrypted approval data from the host data processor;

decrypting the encrypted approval data on the computer for the response displaying step.

35. The method according to claim 29, wherein the transaction request transmitting step comprises the steps of:

entering a credit amount into the computer using the keypad;

transmitting the credit amount received to the host data processor; and

increasing the value of the debit card by the credit amount.

36. The method according to claim 29, wherein the card reading step comprises the step of swiping the card through the card reader.

37. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of providing a remote keyboard communicating with the terminal unit, and wherein the transaction data entering step includes the step of entering data through the keyboard.

38. The method according to claim 29, wherein the host data processor includes one of a credit authorization provider, a phone card provider, and a telephone switch.