Credit card, smart card and bank issued debit card operated system and method for processing electronic transactions

• US 6,119,934 A
• Filed: 12/30/1996
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kolls, Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): Fred, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US08/775,440
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/380, 235/375, 355/202, 355/203, 355/204, 340/825.34, 340/825.33, 340/825.35
• 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 20/356 Aspects of software for card payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote 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 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• 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 approved code for a specified authorization amount for a transaction, means for storing the approval code, means for operating the vending machine without exceeding the authorization amount and means for storing transaction information.

Claims

1. A vending machine control system for controlling and monitoring transactions and operation of a vending machine comprising:

a) means for reading magnetically stored information from a magnetic card;

b) means for obtaining an authorization amount for said transactions for said magnetic card from a credit verification source external to said vending machine without causing a charge against said magnetic card to occur;

c) means for storing said authorization amount;

d) means for completing a magnetic card transaction by operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization amount;

e) means for storing a transaction information record comprising transaction information corresponding to said magnetic card transaction and said magnetic information from said magnetic card;

f) means for storing a plurality of said transaction information records, each corresponding to a separate magnetic card transaction;

g) means for selectively initiating a first batch data communication with a remote processing location for causing a plurality of charges to occur against a plurality of magnetic cards based on said stored plurality of transaction information records;

h) means for receiving a settlement record from said remote processing location for each of said magnetic card transactions in said first batch data communication, said settlement record indicating whether said remote processing location has processed said transaction information from each of said magnetic card transactions in said first batch data communication;

i) means for selectively initiating a second batch data communication with a remote service location, separate from said remote processing location, said second batch data communication including said plurality of said transaction information records and said settlement record for each of said magnetic card transactions in said first batch data communication; and

j) means for selectively resubmitting said transaction information records for any magnetic card transactions for which said remote processing location did not process transaction information from one of said magnetic card transactions.

2. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for obtaining an authorization amount for said magnetic card comprises:

i) a communications line;

ii) a modem connected to said communications line; and

iii) a microprocessor connected to said modem, said microprocessor also connected to a memory device, said memory device containing communications information for operating said modem and communicating with said credit verification source to transmit said magnetically stored information and receiving said authorization amount.

3. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization amount comprises:

i) means for selecting a vend and storing selected vend information;

ii) means for determining a cost per selected vend;

iii) means for processing said selected vend information and said cost per selected vend to produce a transaction amount;

iv) means for comparing said transaction amount to said authorization amount to determine whether said selected vend is permitted; and

v) means for completing said vend if said transaction amount is lower than said authorization amount.

4. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means for subtracting said transaction amount from said authorization amount to generate a new authorization amount.

5. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 4 further comprising means for replacing said authorization amount with said new authorization amount.

6. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for communicating transaction information to a remote location.

7. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for initiating a data communication to a remote service location comprises:

i) a communications line;

ii) a modem connected to said communications line; and

iii) a microprocessor connected to said modem, said microprocessor also connected to a memory device, said memory device containing communication information for operating said modem and communicating said transaction information with said remote service location.

8. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for communicating service information to said vending machine from said remote service location.

9. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for communicating service information to said vending machine from said remote service location comprises:

i) a communications line;

ii) a modem connected to said communications line; and

iii) a microprocessor connected to said modem, said microprocessor also connected to a memory device, said memory device containing communication information for operating said modem and receiving said service information from said remote service location.

10. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a copy machine.

11. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a computer.

12. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a computer operated printer.

13. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a computer connected to an on-line service.

14. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said modem is capable of sending a facsimile transmission.

15. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising:

i) a second modem connected to said communications line located at said remote service location; and

ii) a second microprocessor connected to said second modem for receiving said transaction information.

16. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a facsimile machine connected to said communications line at said remote service location for receiving said transaction information.

17. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

i) a second modem connected to said communications line located at said remote service location; and

ii) a second microprocessor connected to said second modem for transmitting said service information.

18. A vending machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a micro film reader.

19. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a printer or a scanner having a pulse generation mechanism which generates a predetermined electrical pulse packet which is used to initiate a print or scan, said means for operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization amount comprises:

i) means for determining if said operating of said vending machine is authorized; and

ii) means for intercepting said pulse packet before a respective print or scan is initiated if said operating of said vending machine is not authorized.

20. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vending machine is a computer with an attached keyboard and said computer has a keyboard enable/disable control, said means for operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization amount comprises:

i) means for determining if said operating of said vending machine is authorized; and

ii) means for disabling said keyboard with said keyboard enable/disable control if said operating of said vending machine is not authorized.

23. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization limit comprises:

1) said modem;

2) a computer connected to said modem; and

3) a memory device containing communication information for communicating with a remote processing location through said modem;

wherein said microprocessor monitors said modem and controls access to said remote processing location through said modem.

25. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 23 further comprising switching means for allowing data to be transmitted to and from said computer and said remote processing location, through said modem, without said data passing through said microprocessor connected to said modem.

27. A vending machine control system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said vending machine is a printer or a scanner having a pulse generation mechanism which generates a predetermined electrical pulse packet for each print or scan corresponding to the size of paper used during a print or scan, respectively, said means for processing said selected vend information and said cost per selected vend to produce a transaction amount comprises:

1) means for reading said pulse packet generated by said pulse generation mechanism during a respective print or scan to determine the size of paper used;

2) means for storing a predetermined cost associated with a size of paper able to be printed on or scanned into said printer and said scanner respectively; and

3) means for determining a transaction amount per print or scan based upon said pulse packet read by said means for reading said pulse packet and said predetermined costs stored in said means for storing a predetermined cost.

21. A method for controlling and monitoring transactions and operation of a vending machine comprising the steps of:

a) reading magnetically stored information from a magnetic card;

b) obtaining, without causing a charge against the magnetic card to occur, an approval code for a specified authorization amount for said transactions for said magnetic card from a credit verification source external to said vending machine;

c) storing said approval code;

d) completing a magnetic card transaction by operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization limit;

e) storing a transaction information record comprising transaction information corresponding to said magnetic card transaction and said magnetic information from said magnetic card;

f) storing a plurality of said transaction information records, each corresponding to a separate magnetic card transaction;

g) initiating, selective, first batch data communication with a remote service location for causing a plurality of charges against a plurality of magnetic cards to occur based on said stored plurality of transaction information records;

h) receiving a settlement record from said remote processing location for each of said magnetic card transactions in said first batch data communication, said settlement record indicating whether said remote processing location has processed said transaction information from each of said magnetic card transactions in said first batch data communication

i) selectively initiating a second batch data communication with a remote service location, separate from said remote processing location, said second batch data communication including said plurality of said transaction information records and said settlement record for each of said magnetic card transactions in said first data communication; and

j) selectively resubmitting said transaction information records for any magnetic card transactions for which said remote processing location did not process transaction information from one of said magnetic card transactions.

22. A method for controlling and monitoring transactions and operation of a vending machine in accordance with claim 21, wherein the step of obtaining an authorization amount for said magnetic card comprises the steps of:

i) operating a modem connected to a communication line;

ii) establishing a communication link with a credit verification source connected to said communication line;

iii) transmitting a transaction amount to said credit verification source; and

iv) receiving a credit authorization for said transaction amount.

24. A method for controlling and monitoring transactions and operation of a vending machine in accordance with claim 22, wherein the step of operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization amount comprises the steps of:

1) connecting a computer to said modem;

2) monitoring and controlling access through said modem by said computer with a microprocessor; and

3) operating said computer connected to said modem to transmit data to and from a remote processing location through said modem.

26. A method for controlling and monitoring transactions and operation of a vending machine in accordance with claim 24 wherein said data to be transmitted to and from said computer and said remote processing location, is passed through said modem, with said data passing through said microprocessor connected to said modem.

28. A method of controlling the operation of a vending machine in accordance with claim 21 wherein said vending machine is a printer or a scanner having a pulse generation mechanism which generates a predetermined electrical pulse packet which is used to initiate a print or scan, said step of operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization amount comprises the steps of:

i) determining if said operating of said vending machine is authorized; and

ii) intercepting said pulse packet before a respective print or scan is initiated if said operating of said vending machine is not authorized.

29. A method for controlling the operation of a vending in machine accordance with claim 21 wherein said vending machine is a computer with an attached keyboard and said computer has a keyboard enable/disable control, said step of operating said vending machine without exceeding said authorization amount, comprises the steps of:

i) determining if said operation of said vending machine is authorized; and

ii) disabling said keyboard with said keyboard enable/disable control if said operating of said vending machine is not authorized.