Dynamic identification interchange method for exchanging one form of identification for another

• US 6,754,641 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cantaloupe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USA Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kolls, H. Brock
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US09/734,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20010016819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14, 705/26, 700/231-244, 713/183, 713/200-202
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• 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

The present invention relates to a system having access to the Internet for the purposes of transacting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and for communicating voice and data. In addition the present invention relates to a universal advertising and payment system and method for networking, monitoring and effectuating e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business and controlling vending equipment and applications. The system can also effectuate electronic commerce and interactive advertising at the point of sale. Vending equipment can be networked to each other through a first network, programmable and accessible by a PC, server, point of sale (POS) system, property or management information system (PMS/MIS), and networked to a second network. Complete control of a vending machine'"'"'s functionality including usage, control, diagnostics, inventory, and marketing data capture can be effectuated locally or by remote connection to the network.

Claims

1. A dynamic identification interchange method for exchanging a first form of identification having an associated plurality of transaction data for a second form of identification for use with a public access electronic commerce terminal and a universal server, the method comprising the steps:

a) obtaining said plurality of transaction data from said first form of identification;

b) communicating said plurality of transaction data to said universal server, wherein said transaction data undergoes said dynamic identification interchange;

c) returning said second form of identification for further processing based on said dynamic identification interchange;

d) determining whether a period of non-use of said public access electronic commerce terminal has occurred;

e) determining if said period of non-use exceeds a predetermined time period;

f) generating an error message based on said determination of step e);

g) determining if at least one of a system limit and a authorization limit of a user is at least one of reached and exceeded and generating an output based on said determination;

h) reauthorizing said user based on said determination of step g); and

i) reprocessing said plurality of transaction data based on said reauthorization.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic identification interchange is effectuated by a plurality of universal servers.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic identification interchange is effectuated by a global network.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic identification interchange is effectuated by a point of sale system.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic identification interchange is effectuated by a management information system.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said dynamic identification interchange is effectuated by a property management system.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises credit card.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises an infrared communication means.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a smart card.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a magnet card.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a debit card.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a prepaid card.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a room key.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a voice and/or handwriting capture and recognition means.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a bar code reader.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification is a finger print, palm print, or hand print reader.

17. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises biometric means.

18. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a keypad.

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a PCMCIA interface.

20. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a wireless communication means.

21. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first form of identification comprises a hardwire communication means.

22. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a credit card.

23. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises an infrared communication means.

24. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a smart card.

25. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a magnetic card.

26. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a debit card.

27. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a prepaid card.

28. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a room key.

29. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a voice and/or handwriting capture and recognition means.

30. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a bar code reader.

31. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a finger print, palm print, or hand print reader.

32. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a biometric means.

33. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a keypad.

34. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a PCMCIA interface.

35. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a wireless communication means.

36. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second form of identification comprises a hardwire communication means.

37. The method for exchanging a first form of identification having an associated plurality or transaction data for a second form of identification for use with a public access electronic commerce terminal and a universal server, the method comprising the steps:

a) obtaining said plurality of transaction data from said first form of identification;

b) communicating said plurality of transaction data to said universal server, wherein said transaction data undergoes said dynamic identification interchange;

c) returning said second form of identification for further processing based on said dynamic identification interchange;

d) determining whether a period of non-use of said public access electronic commerce terminal has occurred;

e) determining if said period of non-use exceeds a predetermined time period;

f) generating an error message based on said determination of step e);

g) determining if at least one of a system limit and a authorization limit of a user is at least one of reached and exceeded and generating an output based on said determination;

h) reauthorizing said user based on said determination of step g); and

i) reprocessing said plurality of transaction data based on said reauthorization,

wherein said first form of identification comprises a wireless interface for data communication with a wireless device, said second form of identification comprises credit card data, said second form of identification being obtained from said first form of identification based on said dynamic identification interchange.

38. The method for exchanging a first form of identification having an associated plurality of transaction data for a second form of identification for use with a public access electronic commerce terminal and a universal server, the method comprising the steps:

a) obtaining said plurality of transaction data from said first form of identification;

b) communicating said plurality of transaction data to said universal server, wherein said transaction data undergoes said dynamic identification interchange;

c) returning said second form of identification for further processing based on said dynamic identification interchange;

d) determining whether a period of non-use of said public access electronic commerce terminal has occurred;

e) determining if said period of non-use exceeds a predetermined time period;

f) generating an error message based on said determination of step e);

g) determining if at least one of a system limit and a authorization limit of a user is at least one of reached and exceeded and generating an output based on said determination;

h) reauthorizing said user based on said determination of step g); and

i) reprocessing said plurality of transaction data based on said reauthorization,

wherein a user with a wireless communication device is capable of vending goods and/or services from a vending machine and said vended goods and/or services are billed to a credit card.