Distributed device management system

• US 6,505,170 B1
• Filed: 04/10/1997
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Union, Western Union North America
• Original Assignee: Western Union North America
• Inventors: Stoutenburg, Earney, Vogt, Paul J., Seifert, Dean Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Application Number:
  US08/833,849
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 705/18, 705/21, 705/16, 380/24, 380/25, 380/49, 395/712, 395/183.01, 395/183.22, 340/825.26, 340/825.31, 340/825.36, 235/379
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• 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 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

A distributed device management system. The system includes a set of distributed devices, such as point-of-sale devices. The devices are managed by a remote host.

Claims

1. A system for managing distributed point-of-sale (POS) systems, comprising:

a central control system comprising one or more host computers;

a plurality of POS systems, each POS system comprising a POS device, a cash register, a personal computer, and an electronically controlled safe, said POS device, cash register, personal computer, and electronically controlled safe connected by a LAN, each POS system operating according to software loaded in its personal computer, each POS system having a port for communicating with said central control system;

wherein each POS device is a negotiable instrument dispenser, each personal computer is configured to transmit data to the central control system at pre-selected times and to receive response transmissions including instructions from the central control system;

wherein a given POS device verifies the pre-printed information on each negotiable instrument sold through it and records any break in the sequence of the negotiable instruments in a security journal; and

wherein the given POS device alerts the central control system whenever there is a break in the sequence of the negotiable instruments, as an early alarm of possible fraud or theft.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises contacting said host computer to receive a software download.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises contacting said host computer upon occurrence of specified conditions.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said specified conditions include a specified date and time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said POS device contacts said host computer at regularly scheduled intervals.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the response transmission selectively notifies at least one of said POS devices that a software download is required.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the host system determines which POS devices to notify based on the version of the software currently loaded in said POS devices.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the host system determines which devices to notify based on an agent associated with the devices.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the host system determines which devices to notify based on the type of product or service offered by the device.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the host determines which devices to notify based on terminal diagnostic information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a POS device performs a self-check procedure and reports the results to the host computer.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a POS device is connected to a LAN and performs a periodic status check of itself and another device connected to the LAN.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the POS device further transmits the results of said status check to the host.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the negotiable instrument dispenser notifies the host computer when there has been a missing document.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instruction comprises changing specified data stored in the negotiable instrument dispenser.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the instruction comprises changing specified data stored in the POS device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein a POS device is programmed to lock-up if said point-of-sale device cannot perform said instruction within a predetermined time period.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the system is secured, entry of a security code permits access to said portion, and said security code changes periodically.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said security code changes daily.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said negotiable instrument dispenser comprises a money order dispensing machine.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-printed information comprises a serial number.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said serial number is encoded.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said serial number is encoded in a bar code format.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said negotiable instrument comprises a money order form.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one of said POS devices comprises a control terminal.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said control terminal verifies the pre-printed information on a negotiable instrument against a predetermined number provided by said control terminal.