Customer administered autoload
First Claim
1. A system for automatically loading a pre-determined value from a selectable source onto a patron'"'"'s smart card, the system comprising:
- a central computer having a smart card data base for storing smart card data specific to the smart card;
a means for initializing an autoload flag to “
on”
for automatic loading of the pre-determined value onto the smart card; and
a gate device in communication with the central computer for automatically loading the smart card with the pre-determined value.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically loading a pre-selected value onto a smart card allows a patron to enter or leave a transit system gate without having to add a fare value at a vending machine. The automatic loading provides added convenience and security for the patron. The vehicle for the automatically-loaded value is either a credit card that is pre-authorized for use by the patron, or the patron'"'"'s available benefits. The automatic loading process may be utilized to autoload values of benefits only, or to load values from a combination of benefits and credit card transactions. The pre-selected autoload value is loaded onto the smart card at the gate before confirmation that the credit card transaction is authorized. The gate sends a message to a transit central computer that an autoload has occurred. The central computer determines whether benefits are available to fill the request, and forwards a request for the difference to a credit processing company.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for automatically loading a pre-determined value from a selectable source onto a patron'"'"'s smart card, the system comprising:
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a central computer having a smart card data base for storing smart card data specific to the smart card;
a means for initializing an autoload flag to “
on”
for automatic loading of the pre-determined value onto the smart card; and
a gate device in communication with the central computer for automatically loading the smart card with the pre-determined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for an automatic loading process for loading a benefits value onto a smart card, the method comprising:
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generating an autoload list comprising at least one benefit available for use with the smart card, a first value for the at least one benefit, and a first control number associated with the at least one benefit;
initializing the smart card with a storage area for storing an amount remaining, a second value and a second control number;
reading the second value and the second control number from the smart card to a transit gate;
comparing the first control number to the second control number;
if the first control number is different than the second control number, adding the first value for the at least one benefit to the amount remaining and updating the amount remaining on the smart card with the result;
setting the second control number equal to the first control number;
setting the second value equal to the first value; and
updating the first value of the autoload list to zero if the second value is set equal to the first value; and
if the first control number is the same as the second control number, terminating the automatic loading process. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for an automatic loading process for loading a pre-selected credit card value onto a smart card, the method comprising:
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initializing the smart card with a storage area for storing an amount remaining, credit card data, and an autoload flag; and
reading the autoload flag;
if the autoload flag is “
on”
,adding the pre-selected credit card value to the amount remaining on the smart card; and
sending the credit card data and the pre-selected credit card value to a credit processing means, if the autoload flag is “
off”
,terminating the automatic loading process. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
determining whether patron benefits are available; if the patron benefits are available, subtracting at least a portion of the patron benefits from the pre-selected credit card value;
initiating a credit process for requesting a credit transaction from a credit card processing company.
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18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of
receiving one of an approval or a denial from the credit card processing company; - and
if the denial is received, adding the smart card to a negative list, wherein the negative list is utilized to set the autoload flag to “
off”
.
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Specification