Contactless payment method and device, using a re-usable card

• US 6,874,685 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Moreau, Jean-Louis, Simonin, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US09/554,002
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/380, 705/26
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/10 Movable barriers with registering means
• 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

In a transport system using contactless microcircuit cards, users are obliged to hand in a card when the credit shown on it has been used up. The value of the cards is recharged and they are then sold again. Recovering and recharging the cards reduces the ticketing cost per journey.

Claims

1. A contactless payment method using a rechargeable medium, comprising:

offering up the medium in the vicinity of a contactless reader; and

debiting the medium with the cost of a requested service if a credit shown on the medium is at least equal to said cost;

wherein, to oblige the user to hand in the medium when the credit shown by the medium is less than a fixed amount, said contactless payment method further comprises,

verifying if the credit shown by the medium is less than a fixed amount and, if so, inviting the user to hand in the medium that the user is using, and

providing a service only after the user has handed in the medium.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a light and/or sound and/or mechanical signal invites the user to hand in the medium.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first door opens to invite the user to hand in the medium.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein for verifying that each object handed in by a user is a rechargeable medium, said contactless payment method comprises:

collecting the handed-in object in a collection chute under the first door;

retaining the object in the chute by means of a second door;

verifying that the object in the chute is a rechargeable medium; and

opening the second door if the object handed in is a rechargeable medium.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if said user inserts an object that is not said rechargeable medium, said first door remains open until said user removes said object and deposits said rechargeable medium.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contactless payment method further comprises;

verifying that each object handed in by a user is a rechargeable medium, and

providing a service only if the object is a rechargeable medium.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contactless payment method further comprises sorting collected media into different hoppers of the receptacle according to the nature of the media.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said contactless payment method further comprises delivering to each user handing in their rechargeable medium a ticket indicating that they have handed in their rechargeable medium.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, to debit the cost of a requested service, said contactless payment method writes data into a memory of a microcircuit incorporated in the medium.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein if said user hands in an object other than said rechargeable medium, said object is refused but not retained.

11. A contactless payment device using a rechargeable medium, comprising:

a contactless reader, and

means for debiting, in the medium, the price of a requested service if the credit shown on the medium is at least equal to that price,

wherein, to invite the user of the medium to hand in the medium when the credit shown on the medium is less than a fixed amount, said contactless payment device includes;

means for verifying if the credit shown on the medium is less than a fixed amount,

means for inviting the user to hand in the medium they are holding if the credit shown on the medium is less than a fixed amount,

means for collecting the handed in medium, and

means for supplying a service only after the user has handed in the medium.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the means for inviting the user to hand in the medium include luminous signal emitting means and/or audible signal emitting means and/or mechanical signal emitting means.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the means for inviting the user to hand in the medium include a first door and means for opening the door.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said contactless payment device further comprises:

means for verifying that each object handed in by a user is a rechargeable medium; and

means for providing a service only if the object is a rechargeable medium.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said contactless payment device further comprises:

a second door downstream of the first door and a chute between the two doors; and

means for opening the second door only if the verifying means indicate that an object placed in the chute is a rechargeable medium.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein if said user inserts an object that is not said rechargeable medium, said first door remains open until said user removes said object and deposits said rechargeable medium.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein said contactless payment device further includes means for routing collected media to different hoppers according to the nature of the media.

18. The device according to claim 11, wherein said contactless payment device further includes means for delivering to each user who has handed in a rechargeable medium a ticket indicating that they have handed in their rechargeable medium.

19. The device according to claim 11, wherein, to debit the cost of a requested service, said contactless payment device includes means for writing data in a memory of a microcircuit incorporated in the medium.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein if said user hands in an object other than said rechargeable medium, said object is refused but not retained.