System for voucher or token verification

• US 7,113,929 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Beach, Kirk, Pesch, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdi, Kambiz
• Application Number:
  US09/662,414
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 705/64, 705/65, 705/14, 705/44, 705/1, 705/75, 283/67, 283/70, 283/72, 283/113, 194/216, 194/217, 453/58, 453/63
• US Class Current: 705/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• 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 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/127 in which both online and offline card verification can take place

Abstract

The present invention allows verification of a voucher or token prior to redemption. The voucher or token has a code associated therewith so that a value of the voucher or token may be stored in a database. Later when the voucher or token is presented to a cashier for redemption, the code is submitted to the database in order to retrieve the value associated with that voucher or token. In this way, the voucher or token is verified before redemption. In one embodiment, a verification system includes a voucher or token database, a recognition subsystem and two transceivers. The database knows the code and value associated with the voucher or token. A recognition subsystem reads the code from the voucher or token. The transceivers couple together the database and the recognition subsystem in such a way that the a query can be made by the recognition system to determine the value associated with the code or otherwise verify the validity of the voucher or token.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a voucher or token, comprising:

receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins of multiple denominations;

discriminating the coins to determine a value;

outputting a voucher or token for an amount related to the value of the coins;

recording a code associated with the voucher or token in a voucher or token database;

scanning the voucher or token to retrieve the code at a cashier'"'"'s station;

querying the voucher or token database for information associated with the code; and

determining whether the voucher or token is valid, using the information associated with the code, wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a first communication link to query a back room computer for information unrelated to the code, but wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a second communication link different from the first communication link to query the voucher or token database for the information associated with the code.

2. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

providing a coin counting machine, wherein the steps of receiving, discriminating, and outputting occur at the coin counting machine.

3. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the scanning step is performed with a recognition subsystem.

4. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the recording step includes recording a value associated with the code.

7. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the querying step includes querying a control center which includes at least a portion of the voucher or token database.

8. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the querying step is performed by a recognition subsystem.

9. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the voucher or token includes at least one of a magnetic strip, a bar code or a smartcard.

10. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the voucher or token is at least one of a phone card, a gift certificate, a mass transit pass, a travel ticket, a financial instrument and an event ticket.

11. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

printing the voucher or token.

12. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discriminating step

includes discriminating coins in a kiosk, wherein at least a part of the database is located in the kiosk.

5. A method for verifying a voucher or token, comprising:

receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins of multiple denominations;

discriminating the coins to determine a value;

outputting a voucher or token for an amount related to the value of the coins;

recording a code associated with the voucher or token;

scanning the voucher or token to retrieve the code at a cashier'"'"'s station;

querying a kiosk which includes at least a portion of a voucher or token database for information associated with the code; and

determining whether the voucher or token is valid, using the information associated with the code, wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a first communication link to query a back room computer for information unrelated to the code, but wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a second communication link different from the first communication link to query the kiosk for the information associated with the code.

6. A method for verifying a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the recording step is performed in a remote location from the kiosk.

13. A system which verifies a voucher or token, comprising:

a coin counting machine configured to receive a plurality of randomly oriented coins, discriminate the coins to determine a value, and output a voucher or token for an amount related to the value of the coins;

a cashier'"'"'s station which uses a first communication link with a back room computer to obtain information unrelated to the voucher or token;

a voucher or token database which stores a code associated with the voucher or token;

a recognition subsystem which reads the code from the voucher or token at the cashier'"'"'s station; and

first and second transceivers which form a second communication link, different from the first communication link, wherein the second communication link couples together the voucher or token database and the recognition subsystem, and wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses the second communication link to query the voucher or token database for information associated with the code.

14. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the code associated with a voucher or token is unique.

15. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the voucher or token database stores the amount of the voucher or token.

16. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the transceivers communicate with at least one of the following techniques;

wireless, carrier current, data over telephone voice systems and direct-wired communication.

17. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a modem coupled to the recognition subsystem for electronic verification of the voucher or token.

19. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the system is not coupled to a point of sale system.

18. A system which verifies a voucher or token, the system comprising:

a cashier'"'"'s station which uses a first communication link with a back room computer;

a voucher or token database which stores at least one of a code and a value associated with the voucher or token;

a kiosk which includes a coin counting mechanism, wherein at least a part of the voucher or token database is located in the kiosk;

a recognition subsystem which reads the code from the voucher or token at the cashier'"'"'s station; and

first and second transceivers which form a second communication link, different from the first communication link, wherein the second communication link couples together the voucher or token database and the recognition subsystem, and wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses the second communication link to query the voucher or token database for information associated with the code.

20. A system which verifies a voucher or token, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins of multiple denominations;

means for discriminating the coins to determine a value;

means for outputting a voucher or token for an amount related to the value of the coins;

means for recording a code associated with the voucher or token in a voucher or token database;

means for scanning the voucher or token to retrieve the code at a cashier'"'"'s station;

means for querying the voucher or token database for information associated with the code; and

means for determining whether the voucher or token is valid, using the information associated with the code, wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a first communication link to query a back room computer for information unrelated to the code, but wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a second communication link different from the first communication link to query the voucher or token database for the information associated with the code.

21. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein the means for receiving include

a coin counting machine.

22. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the scanning means includes a recognition subsystem.

23. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the recording means includes a second means for recording a value associated with the code.

24. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the querying means includes means for querying a kiosk which includes at least a portion of the voucher or token database.

25. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

the recording means is located in a remote location from the kiosk.

26. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the querying means includes means for querying a control center which includes at least a portion of the voucher or token database.

27. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the querying means includes a recognition subsystem.

28. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the voucher or token includes at least one of a magnetic strip and a bar code.

29. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

the voucher or token is at least one of a phone card, a gift certificate, a mass transit pass, a travel ticket, a financial instrument and an event ticket.

30. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

means for printing the voucher or token.

31. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 20, wherein the

means for discriminating the coins include a coin counting mechanism in a kiosk, wherein at least a part of the database is located in the kiosk.

41. A system which verifies a voucher or token, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

a kiosk which includes a coin counting mechanism and wherein at least a part of the voucher or token database is located in the kiosk.

32. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, comprising:

receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins of multiple denominations;

discriminating the coins to determine a value;

outputting a voucher or token for an amount related to the value of the coins;

recording a code associated with the amount of the voucher or token;

reading the voucher or token to retrieve the code at a cashier'"'"'s station;

determining the amount associated with the code; and

redeeming the amount associated with the code, wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a first communication link coupled to a back room computer to obtain information unrelated to the code, but wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a second communication link different from the first communication link to determine the amount associated with the code.

33. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

the code contains at least a modem number of an issuing kiosk.

34. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

the code is related to at least one of a printed voucher or token or a preexisting card.

35. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, as claimed in claim 32, further comprising the step of:

recording a residual value associated with the code after the redeeming step.

36. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, as claimed in claim 32, wherein:

the reading step is performed with at least one of a card reader, a smartcard reader and a bar code scanner.

37. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, comprising:

receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins of multiple denominations;

discriminating the coins to determine a value;

outputting a voucher or token for an amount related to the value of the coins;

recording the amount of the voucher or token;

reading the voucher or token to retrieve the amount at a cashier'"'"'s station;

verifying the amount of the voucher or token; and

redeeming the amount of the voucher or token, wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a first communication link to query a back room computer for information unrelated to the voucher or token, but wherein the cashier'"'"'s station uses a second communication link different from the first communication link to verify the amount of the voucher or token.

38. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, the method comprising:

a step for purchasing merchandise at a cashier'"'"'s station which uses a first communication link with a back room computer;

a step for storing, in a database, at least one of a code and a value associated with a voucher or token;

a step for reading the code from the voucher or token using a recognition subsystem; and

a step for verifying the at least one of the code and the value using a second communication link, wherein the second communication link couples together the database and the recognition subsystem.

39. A method for verifying the validity of vouchers or tokens, as claimed in claim 38, wherein:

the recognition subsystem is located at the cashier'"'"'s station.

40. A system which verifies a voucher or token, comprising:

a coin counting machine configured to receives a plurality of randomly oriented coins, discriminate the coins to determine a value, and output a voucher or token for an amount related to the value of the coins;

a cashier'"'"'s station which uses a first communication link with a back room computer to obtain information unrelated to the voucher or token;

a voucher or token database which stores a code associated with the voucher or token, wherein the code is unique;

a recognition subsystem which reads the code from the voucher or token; and

first and second transceivers which form a second communication link, different from the first communication link, wherein the second communication link couples together the voucher or token database and the recognition subsystem for electronic verification of the voucher or token based on the code.