Cashless spending system and method

• US 20040107162A1
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guest Technologies
• Original Assignee: Safetzone Technologies
• Inventors: Couch, Eric, Giraldin, Patrick W., Giraldin, Timothy W., Crowley, Martin F., Kelly, Regan E., Gross, Y-Tin
• Granted Patent: US 7,147,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for the communication for a confined area of a facility. Personal identification information of a group member into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area. Monetary deposit information for the member group is received, and transaction information is received from at least one cashless station. Transaction reports are created.

Claims

1. A method of communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

receiving personal identification information of a group member into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

receiving monetary deposit information for the member group;

receiving transaction information from at least one cashless station; and

creating transaction reports.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including receiving spending limit information for each group member.

3. A method according to claim 2, further including receiving spending limit change information.

4. A method according to claim 1, further including determining the total amount of cash spent and displaying said total amount.

5. A method according to claim 1, further including determining the amount of the cash to be returned to the group member.

6. A method according to claim 1, further including receiving account information at the cashless station via a personal identification locator.

7. A system of communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

means for receiving personal identification information of a group member into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

means for receiving monetary deposit information for the member group;

means for receiving transaction information from at least one cashless station; and

means for creating transaction reports.

8. A system according to claim 7, further including means for receiving spending limit information for each group member.

9. A system according to claim 8, further including means for receiving spending limit change information.

10. A system according to claim 7, further including means for determining the total amount of cash spent and means for displaying said total amount.

11. A system according to claim 7, further including means for determining the amount of the cash to be returned to the group member.

12. A system according to claim 7, further including means for receiving account information at the cashless station via a personal identification locator.

13. A software system of communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

module for receiving personal identification information of a group member into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

module for receiving monetary deposit information for the member group;

module for receiving transaction information from at least one cashless station; and

module for creating transaction reports.

14. A software system according to claim 13, further including module for receiving spending limit information for each group member.

15. A software system according to claim 14, further including module for spending limit change information.

16. A software system according to claim 13, further including module for determining the total amount of cash spent and module for displaying said total amount.

17. A software system according to claim 13, further including module for determining the amount of the cash to be returned to the group member.

18. A software system according to claim 13, further including module for receiving account information at the cashless station via a personal identification locator.