Learning fare collection system for mass transit

• US 7,568,617 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smart Systems Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Specialty Acquirer LLC
• Inventors: Polish, Nathaniel, Silbernagl, Martin Friedrich Ludwig
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US11/668,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/384, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382.5, 705/13, 705/14
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]

Abstract

An implementation of a system and method for gating entry in a transit system using information from a bankcard, such as a credit card or debit card is provided.

Claims

1. A bankcard terminal for gating entry into a first transit system, the bankcard terminal comprising:

a first interface to communicate with a processing system associated with a set of transit systems including the first transit system, wherein the first interface provides for uploading information to the processing system and downloading information from the processing system;

a bankcard reader comprising a receiver to receive data, as bankcard data, upon a current presentation of a bankcard by a holder, wherein the bankcard comprises one of a credit card and a debit card;

a processor, coupled to the bankcard reader and to the first interface, to receive the bankcard data and to generate a hash identifier based on the bankcard data from the currently presented bankcard, wherein the hash identifier comprises a hash of at least part of the bankcard data;

memory, coupled to the processor, to hold a list of bankcards comprising, for each bankcard in the list, a hash identifier of a bankcard previously presented, by a respective holder of the bankcard, to the processing system; and

a second interface, coupled to the processor, to send a signal to an access controller.

2. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a wireless interface.

3. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a wired interface.

4. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein the receiver of the bankcard reader comprises a credit card reader.

5. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein the receiver of the bankcard reader comprises a wireless receiver.

6. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the bankcard data comprises a bankcard number; and

the hash identifier of the currently presented bankcard is based on the unique bankcard identifier number.

7. The bankcard terminal of claim 6, wherein:

the bankcard data further comprises a name of a card holder; and

the hash identifier of the currently presented bankcard is further based on the name of the cardholder.

8. The bankcard terminal of claim 6, wherein:

the bankcard data further comprises an expiration date; and

the hash identifier of the currently presented bankcard is further based on the expiration date.

9. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein the access controller comprises a turnstile.

10. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein the access controller comprises a human.

11. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, wherein the access controller comprises at least one of audio feedback circuitry and visual feedback circuitry.

12. The bankcard terminal of claim 1, further comprising a third interface, coupled to the processor, to a bankcard verification system.

13. A method for validating entry into a first transit system using a bankcard terminal, the method comprising:

downloading, from a processing system associated with a set of transit systems including the first transit system, a list of bankcards comprising, for each bankcard in the list, a hash identifier of a bankcard previously presented, by a respective holder of the bankcard, to the processing system, wherein the bankcard comprises one of a credit card and a debit card;

receiving, from a bankcard reader, bankcard data comprising data from a bankcard currently presented by a holder of the bankcard;

generating a hash identifier based on the bankcard data from the currently presented bankcard, wherein the hash identifier comprises a hash of at least part of the bankcard data;

determining whether the currently presented bankcard is contained in the list of bankcards;

verifying the currently presented bankcard with a bankcard verification system, if the bankcard was not contained in the list of bankcards; and

denying access, if the act of verifying the currently presented bankcard with the bankcard verification system results in a determination of an invalid bankcard.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the bankcard data comprises a bankcard number; and

the act of generating the hash identifier of the currently presented bankcard comprises generating the hash identifier based on the unique bankcard identifier number.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the bankcard data further comprises a name of a cardholder; and

the act of generating the hash identifier of the currently presented bankcard further comprises generating the hash identifier based on the name of the bankcard holder.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the bankcard data further comprises an expiration date; and

the act of generating the hash identifier of the currently presented bankcard further comprises generating the hash identifier based on the expiration date.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of determining whether the currently presented bankcard is contained in the list of bankcards comprises using the generated hash identifier as a parameter in a lookup function.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the bankcards previously presented comprises a presentation by the respective holder through a web interface.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the bankcards previously presented comprises a presentation by the respective holder through a bankcard terminal.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the bankcards previously presented comprises a presentation by the respective holder through an interactive telephone system.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the bankcards previously presented comprises a presentation by the respective holder through a request through a financial institution.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the bankcards previously presented comprises a presentation by the respective holder through a bankcard reader at a transit system from the set of transit systems.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of verifying the currently presented bankcard with the bankcard verification system comprises verifying the currently presented bankcard with a clearing and settlement network.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of verifying the currently presented bankcard with the bankcard verification system comprises receiving an authorization, from a clearing and settlement network, for an amount of funds from an account linked to the currently presented bankcard.

25. The method of claim 13, further comprising updating the list of bankcards with the generated hash identifier to show the bankcard as a known valid bankcard, if the act of verifying the bankcard results in a determination of a valid bankcard.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of generating the hash identifier of the currently presented bankcard comprises generating a cryptographic hash.

27. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing access if the bankcard is a known valid bankcard.

28. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising uploading, to the processing system, updates to the list of bankcards.

29. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising:

downloading, from the processing system, updates to the list of bankcards; and

incorporating the updates to the list of bankcards into the list of bankcards.

30. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of verifying the currently presented bankcard with the bankcard verification system results in a failed attempt.

31. The method of claim 13, wherein the act of verifying the currently presented bankcard with the bankcard verification system comprises receiving, from the bankcard verification system, an indication that the bankcard verification system rejected authorization of a financial charge.

32. A method for validating entry, into a first transit system, using a bankcard terminal, the method comprising:

downloading, from a processing system associated with a set of transit systems including the first transit system, a list of bankcards comprising, for each bankcard in the list, a hash identifier of a bankcard previously presented, by a respective holder of the bankcard, to the processing system, wherein the bankcard comprises one of a credit card and a debit card;

receiving, from a bankcard reader, bankcard data comprising data from a bankcard currently presented by a holder of the bankcard;

generating a hash identifier based on the bankcard data from the currently presented bankcard, wherein the hash identifier comprises a hash of at least part of the bankcard data;

determining whether the currently presented bankcard is contained in the list of bankcards;

denying access, if the currently presented bankcard is not contained in the list of bankcards; and

uploading, to the processing system, at least one bankcard identifier granted access to the first transit systems.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

downloading, from the processing system, updates to the list of bankcards; and

incorporating the updates into the list of bankcards.

34. A processing system associated with a set of transit systems including at least one transit system, the processing system comprising:

a first interface to communicate with at least one bankcard terminal;

a processor coupled to the first interface;

memory, coupled to the processor, to hold a list of bankcards comprising, for each bankcard in the list, a hash identifier based on bankcard data from a bankcard previously presented, by a respective holder of the bankcard, to the processing system, wherein the bankcard comprises one of a credit card and a debit card and wherein the hash identifier comprises a hash of at least part of the bankcard data;

a second interface, coupled to the processor, to communicate with a bankcard verification system; and

a third interface, coupled to the processor, to communicate with a bankcard registration system.

35. A method for maintaining a list of bankcards at a processing system associated with a set of transit systems including at least one transit system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a bankcard registration system, bankcard data of a bankcard currently presented by a respective holder of the bankcard, wherein the bankcard comprises one of a credit card and a debit card;

providing a hash identifier based on bankcard data from the currently presented bankcard, wherein the hash identifier comprises a hash of at least part of the bankcard data;

determining whether the hash identifier is contained in a list of bankcards comprising, for each bankcard in the list, a hash identifier of a bankcard previously presented, by a respective holder of the bankcard, to the processing system;

verifying the currently presented bankcard with a bankcard verification system, if the bankcard is not contained in the list of bankcards; and

downloading, to at least one bankcard terminal, the list of bankcards.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising incorporating the currently presented bankcard into the list of bankcards, if the act of verifying the currently presented bankcard with the bankcard verification system results in receiving an indication of a valid bankcard.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising downloading, to at least one bankcard terminal, updates to the list of bankcards.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising reporting a failure, if the act of verifying the bankcard results in a determination of an invalid bankcard.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising removing, from the list of bankcards, the currently present bankcard, if the act of verifying the bankcard results in the determination of an invalid bankcard.

40. A computer-readable medium comprising machine readable code for performing the acts of:

downloading, from a processing system associated with a set of transit systems including the first transit system, a list of bankcards comprising, for each bankcard in the list, a hash identifier of a bankcard previously presented, by a respective holder of the bankcard, to the processing system, wherein the bankcard comprises one of a credit card and a debit card;

receiving, from a bankcard reader, bankcard data comprising data from a bankcard currently presented by a holder of the bankcard;

generating a hash identifier based on the bankcard data from the currently presented bankcard, wherein the hash identifier comprises a hash of at least part of the bankcard data;

determining whether the currently presented bankcard is contained in the list of bankcards;

denying access, if the currently presented bankcard is not contained in the list of bankcards; and

uploading, to the processing system, at least one bankcard identifier granted access to the first transit systems.