SI21243A - Prepayment system via a distributed goods dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The prepayment system via a distributed goods dispenser, preferably for electric power or gas and similar, according to the invention providing high security against misuse offers the user a simple one-time entering of the prepayment code, preferably an alphanumeric string, while the distributor has the possibility of enhancing this code with information, which the user understands as prepayment and is entered each time into the buffer of the dispenser, including elements regarding the charging of the goods by various criteria, stimulating the user for using the goods in suggested timeframes and quantities as well as simple migration of the user from one source to the other, or the migration of the user to another distributor without such a migration causing the loss of the still available prepayment when moving to another source, the urgency of the replacement of the dispenser when migrating to another distributor while each distributor is provided with constant overview of the use and payments by the individual user at each source or individual user for different data processing. The prepayment system according to the invention is made in such a way that the alphanumeric code (3) also includes data (17) on at least one previous, already consumed and settled period, which was set-up with one of the earlier alphanumeric codes (3) by the same user or previous user on the same dispenser (2).

Description

Iskraemeco d.d.

Prepaid system through Distributed Goods allocator

The subject of the invention

The subject of the invention is a prepaid system through a distributor of distributed goods, in particular electricity, gas, etc.

A technical problem

The technical problem solved by the invention is how to design such a prepaid system through a distributor of distributed goods, which, with high security against misuse, will provide the user with easy entry of the prepaid code, preferably in alphanumeric form, and the distributor to be able to extend this code with information, which is understood by the user as a prepayment and is entered into the memory of the allocator each time, with elements regarding billing of goods according to different criteria, stimulation of the user in the use of goods in the proposed time and quantity areas, and easy transition of the same user from one collection point to another, or user switching distribution , without the transition leading to a loss of unused prepayment when moving to another outlet, the necessity of replacing the allocator when replacing the distributor, allowing the distributor in question a permanent record of use, and

28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Vr the payment of goods at a single customer or individual user for different data processing.

The prior art

Prepaid systems for coins and magnetic cards or chip cards can be used relatively easily without undue use. In addition, the distributor does not have sufficient feedback on the timing and quantity of use of the goods used to manage the distribution.

To remedy these shortcomings, advanced prepaid systems work by paying the sum in any way, and then entering into the meter an alphanumeric prepayment and other information: prices per unit of goods according to time and amount of consumption.

According to European patent EP 420 466, there is a known invention whereby an alphanumeric code generated by a central computer is entered into the meter using a keyboard. The disadvantage of this system is its relatively short code, so it is not possible to enter price and other payment and technical data. For security against counterfeiting, an encryption key is provided, which includes, but is not limited to, meter information. As a result, it is not possible to transfer payments easily to another collection point.

In the invention according to British patent GB 2 357 356, a variable encryption key is provided. The central location encrypted device and the encryption device in the prepaid meter use the key sequence to be synchronized. This system

28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Vr requires that, in the same order as the alphanumeric codes generated at the central location, they are checked in the prepaid meter. This is a limitation for the user, who should be understood as the average person who is not skilled in the art. If the user e.g. loses the data of the previous alphanumeric code, now it cannot enter the new code because it cannot enter the correct sequence of codes. Despite the increased code that allows more data to be entered into the meter, the aforementioned deficiency is such that it encourages a new solution that is supposed to eliminate the aforementioned deficiencies.

The solution to a technical problem

The described technical problem is solved by the system according to the invention, in which any encryption key encrypts data relating to the user or his payment and withdrawal mode in terms of quantities and time zones. For reasons of security, the same alphanumeric data of at least one pre-payment by the same user already stored in the allocator shall also be entered into the alphanumeric code. The user then enters this information in encrypted form, preferably with a keypad into the subdivider, in which the preliminary data is received, in order to determine the identity and correctness of the entry. The information may also include specific identifying information that a potential counterfeit practically cannot detect and simulate. However, identification is not required by the allocator data as such. Therefore, it is possible to generate an alphanumeric code that can easily use the old status (the previous user) at that point of origin and continue to prepay the new user for easy replacement of the withdrawal point. The alphanumeric code entered into the meter will find the old status in the allocator, even if it refers to another user, and allow the new user to continue to the prepaid balance without any reprogramming of the allocator as such, or without the user having to pay particular attention to changing the client location. In the central unit at distributeq, so

28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Vr keeps up-to-date correct information about individual users and the current collection point from which they derive goods, including payment status. However, if the user wishes to change the distributor of the good, the new distributor can obtain from the old one the appropriate code, on the basis of which it generates a code that will allow the continuation of distribution and payment of the goods unhindered for the user, without being forced to replace the allocator as hardware.

The essence of the invention will be explained in more detail below with a description of an embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 schematic

The prepaid system through a distributor of distributed goods, in particular electricity, gas, etc., is derived from a central processing unit 1 operated by the distributor, a customer good allocator 2 and an alphanumeric code 3 produced by the distributor and allowed to be distributed and prepaid upon entry into the allocator 2 accounting for goods consumed.

Process unit 1 contains a database 4, which stores information about individual parts of the system, data about users, allocators, goods, prices and other parameters of their distributions, further coding process unit 5 in which alphanumeric codes 3 are generated by users they bring into their allocators 2 goods as well as input means 6, displays 7, and code 8 printers 3.

28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Vr

The allocators 2 comprise a consumer goods meter 9, a processing unit 10 with memory 10 ', in which the alphanumeric code 3 is stored to release the assignment of a prepaid quantity of good according to the estimated billing pattern, and also stores the information about the prepaid ones. paid and consumed goods, display 11 and input unit 12, preferred keyboard for alphanumeric code 3.

The alphanumeric code 3 contains information 13 on the prepaid monetary value for future expended goods, on the time and quantity billing pattern 14, the technical parameters 15 of the allocator 2 of the good, on the user set 16 of data for connection with the processing unit 10 in the allocator 2, and information 17 on at least one of the previous, already spent and billed periods, which was derived from one of the previous alphanumeric codes 3.

To ensure security against counterfeits, all code 3 data is encrypted in any way with encryption key 18. The encryption key 18 is not tied to the processing unit 10 or the software assembly in the allocator 2 and does not need to be reprogrammed, only when the new code is entered simultaneously new information about the new key ..

The process of prepaying the good through the allocator 2 begins after the user enters the code 3 into the allocator 2 via the entry unit 12. The processing unit 10 receives the code 3 via the data set 16 and then verification of the code 3 begins and, after a successful test, release of the good allocation by changing goods consumed and billed.

28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Vr

Verification of code 3 is based on the fact that code 3 also contains information 17 on at least one previous, already consumed and accounted periods, which was performed with one of the previous alphanumeric codes 3 and which is also stored in the memory 10 'of allocator 2. If this information is in alphanumeric code 3 match the corresponding data in memory 10 'of allocator 2, the verification is successful. Only the distributor is the one who always chooses which part of the data of the 17 previous periods to use for the respective composition of the data 17 in code 3 and prescribes this in the set of 16 data in the code itself. This choice of data 17 can be varied in a sequence known only by the distributor and immanently stored in the allocator 2. The potential creator of illegal codes 3 cannot predict which data to select to generate the respective code 3. Therefore, the effort to break the whole the code generation system is much more demanding and therefore expensive than the prepaid value of a single code. By doing so, this (price) way also makes illegal code generation meaningless.

The verification method described here also results in new useful options. As the verification refers to the user's past consumption of the good, not to the technical characteristics of the allocator 2, the user can change location and continue consuming the goods through another allocator 2 without having to change the allocator. In command 16, the command to transmit to the new user information is entered, and for the first verification on the new allocator 2 the data of the previous user 17 is taken. This makes verification possible according to the procedure described above. The next time you enter a prepaid code, however, information 17 already applies to that user and verification is done in the usual way.

Another new option is to replace the distributor. In compiling the code 3 generated by the new distributor, the information 16 is given, which is communicated by the old distributor to the new one, which then in several steps and with additional commands forms its entire

28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Code 3 and also encrypts it according to its encryption mode, as the data set 16 allows it. This ensures the secrecy of the code generation methods of 3 different distributors, since the transmitted data 16 is insufficient to understand the entire code generation system 3.

It is understandable that a third version is also possible: changing the location of the user and changing the distributor. With the relevant data 16 and 17, the transferor 2 recognizes such a transition and initiates the allocation of goods as intended.

Such a system also makes it easy to collect and manage consumer information without being tied to the physical relocation or replacement of alloters 2 due to any changes and innovations. Even with the introduction of newer (future) allocators 2, the system according to the invention is still usable without fundamental interference with its structure.

The record of code 3 received by the user and then entered into assignor 2 is optional. The simplest is the printed record, it can also only be communicated acoustically, e.g. over the phone. In all these cases, the user enters the code into the allocator via the keyboard. It is also easy to write graphically, for example. as a bar code and transmitted by the user to the allocator via a scanner instead of a keyboard, then the code can be transmitted via an optical signal via an optical cable, IR or RF assembly, and voice transmission is also possible.

It is understandable that one skilled in the art may, on the basis of knowledge of the description of the invention, also make different individual implementation changes without circumventing the essence of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (6)

Patent claims 1. Prepaid system through a distributor of distributed goods, in particular electricity, gas, etc., derived from a distributor-operated central processing unit (1), a consumer good allocator (2) and an alphanumeric code (3) produced by the distributor and allow, after entry into the allocator (2), the distribution and prepaid billing of the consumed goods, comprising a processing unit (1) containing a database (4) which stores information about individual parts of the system, user data, allocators, goods, prices and other parameters of their distributions, further a coding processing unit (5) in which the alphanumeric codes (3) are formed, which are input by the users into their allocators (2), as well as displays (7) and printers (8) of the codes (3), further comprising the allocators (2) a meter (9) of user-consumable goods, a processing unit (10) with memory (10 ') in which the alphanumeric code (3) is stored to release the assignment of a prepaid amount of time Rine according to the estimated billing pattern, and it also stores information on pre-paid and pre-paid goods, a display (11) and an input unit (12), a preferred keyboard or scanner for alphanumeric code entry (3), and contains alphanumeric code (3) prepaid monetary value information (13) for future expended goods, time and quantity billing pattern (14), technical parameters (15) of the allocator (2) of goods, user set (16) data for connection with process unit (9) in the allocator (2) and encrypted with an encryption key (18), characterized in that the alphanumeric code (3) also contains information (17) about at least one of the previous, already spent and accounted periods on the same allocator (2) and which was derived from one of the preceding alphanumeric codes (3) relating to the user who consumed the good in the billing used 28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Vr period, i.e. current or previous, and that verification of the code entered (3) begins after the user enters the code (3) into the allocator (2) via the input unit (12) such that the processing unit (9) receives the code (3) via the assembly ( 16) data based on information (17) in code (3) about at least one previous, already consumed and accounted period, which was performed with one of the previous alphanumeric codes 3 of the same user and which is also stored in the memory (10 ') of the assignor ( 2) compare with the corresponding data in the memory (10 ') of the allocator (2) and approve further procedure if the data match. 2. The prepayment system according to claim 1, characterized in that, at the formation of each code (3), the distributor chooses which portions of data (17) of prior periods to use for each data composition (17) in the code (3) and prescribes this in the assembly ( 16) the data in the code itself. Payment system according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the distributor, when changing the location and thus the assignor (2) of the same user, when generating the code (3), in the data set (16), enter a command to transmit new user information , for the first verification on the new allocator, the data (17) of the previous user is retrieved Payment system according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that when replacing the distribution for a particular user with a retained allocator (2), the new distributor takes into account the information (16) communicated by the old distributor when composing the code (3) and then it forms its entire code and also encrypts it in its own way. 5. The prepaid system according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when changing the user's location and changing the distribution, the new distributor assigns data (16 and 17) based on the data of the previous distribution and the previous user at that location by recognizing the allocator (2). such a transition and triggers the assignment of goods as intended. 28928.doc / V-02 / D30-Vr -1010 6. The prepaid system according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the code message (3) received by the user and then fed into the block (2) in the form of a printed record can also be an audio message, e.g. by telephone, whereby the user enters the code into the assignor (2) via the keyboard, further this message is executable in graphical form, e.g. as a bar code and transmitted by the user to the allocator (2) via a scanner instead of the keyboard as an input unit (12), further transmission of the code via an optical signal via an optical cable, IR or RF assembly or via voice is possible.