GB2319384A - Electronic funds transfer meter and method - Google Patents
Electronic funds transfer meter and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2319384A GB2319384A GB9723734A GB9723734A GB2319384A GB 2319384 A GB2319384 A GB 2319384A GB 9723734 A GB9723734 A GB 9723734A GB 9723734 A GB9723734 A GB 9723734A GB 2319384 A GB2319384 A GB 2319384A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- meter
- charges
- card
- funds
- amount
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/10—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- G01R11/00—Electromechanical arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. of consumption
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/04—Payment circuits
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
- G06Q20/36—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
- G06Q20/363—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using electronic wallets or electronic money safes with the personal data of a user
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F15/00—Coin-freed apparatus with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
- G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
- G07F7/0866—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means by active credit-cards adapted therefor
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Development Economics (AREA)
- Economics (AREA)
- Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
- Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
- Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
Abstract
An electronic funds transfer meter includes an IC card reader (200) for reading an IC card, so as to permit the transfer of funds to pay for the use of a utility, through the IC card, a display (210) for displaying to a user an operation menu and the processed results of the meter, a keypad (230), for receiving the input of the user through keys including function keys and number keys for selecting from the operation menu of the meter, and funds transfer processing keys, a communication module (260) for transmitting data to and receiving data from public utilities (130) and financial organizations (120), a memory (240) for storing the remote control program and the operational program of the meter, received through communication networks from the public utilities and the financial organizations, and a meter controlling portion (220) for controlling the IC card reader (200), display (210), keypad (230), memory (240), and communication module (260) in order to execute the programs stored in the memory (240), to calculate the charges for the amount of use and to electronically transfer funds. The IC card may carry a secret user number which can be checked against a secret number in the meter.
Description
AN ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER METER
AND A FUNDS TRANSFER METhOD
The present invention relates to a meter, and more particularly, to an electronic funds transfer meter capable of measuring the amount of use by periods, calculating and displaying the charges for the amount of use, and transferring funds using an IC card, and a funds transfer method.
At present, various apparatuses for measuring utility charges such as electric charges, gas charges, and water charges are constructed as an accumulative counter for merely calculating the amount of use. A consumer obtains the amount of use from the accumulative counter but cannot obtain the cost of the use. The charges for the amount of use are paid as follows. First, meter readers of public utilities measure the amount used by consumers or perform a remote meter reading, on a regular basis. Then, the amount of use is converted into charges for the amount of use by a computer, and a bill for the charges is sent to a consumer. The consumer confirms the details of the bill and pays the charges through a bank window, within a designated period.
As mentioned above, since the public charge measuring meters are constructed as only accumulative counters for displaying the amount of use, many workers and various processing steps are required in order to demand payment for the charges. Also, the public utility meter is not sufficiently examined and checked. Namely, when there are partial defects and errors in the meter, there is no method for checking whether there are any errors or controlling the errors from a distance. Therefore, regular examinations must be performed by many workers.
There are also problems in demanding payment for the charges and paying the charges. Namely, due to the complexity in demanding payment for the utility charges and in paying the charges, the bill may not be issued or reach the consumer within the designated period for paying the charges, the bill must be re-issued when lost during the delivery to the consumer, and extra fees must be charged in the case that the charges are not paid within a designated period.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic funds transfer meter, comprising an IC card reader for reading an IC card, so as to transfer funds to pay for the use of a utility, through the IC card, a display for displaying to a user an operation menu and the processed results of the meter, a keypad, for receiving the input of the user through keys including function keys and number keys for selecting from the operation menu of the meter, and funds transfer processing keys, a communication module for transmitting data to and receiving data from public utilities and financial organizations, a memory for storing the remote control program and the operational program of the meter, received through communication networks from the public utilities and the financial organizations, and a meter controlling portion for controlling the IC card reader, display, keypad, memory, and communication module in order to execute the programs stored in the program, to calculate the charges for the amount of use and to electronically transfer funds.
The operational programs stored in the memory comprise means for calculating and recording the charges for the amount of use, means for electronically transferring funds, and means for keeping security and for examining the meter.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring funds using an electronic funds transfer meter, comprising the steps of checking whether a card is input, checking whether the secret number of a user coincides with the secret number of the meter, processing the payment of the charges for the amount of use, and communicating through a value added network and displaying on a screen the result obtained by processing the concerned amount of money.
The step of processing the payment of the charges for the amount of use comprises the steps of checking whether the payment due date has arrived, and if it has arrived, displaying the charges of this month on a screen, if the payment due date has not arrived, checking whether the charges were paid in the last month, if the charges were paid in the last month, displaying the charges up to the present on the screen, and if the charges were not paid in the last month, displaying on the screen the sum of the charges of the last month plus a late fee.
An example of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an example of the construction of an entire system to which the present invention is employed;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic funds transfer meter according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process of installing and initializing the electronic funds transfer meter according to the present invention; and,
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operating process of the electronic funds transfer meter according to the present invention.
In order to construct an electronic funds transfer meter for solving problems of a charging system in which the current public utility meter is used, meters must be supplied which can calculate the amount of use and charges by periods and transfer the funds of an advance payment card, a direct payment card, and an after payment card, by calculating the amount of use and charges by periods. The meters should be connected to the central control systems of concerned organization, such as a public utility and a financial organization, through a value added network such as a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN) or an integrated services digital network (ISDN), so as to facilitate the use thereof by the consumers.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the construction of an entire system to which the present invention is applied.
The entire system includes an IC card 100, an electronic funds transfer meter 110, a financial organization central system 120, and a public utility central system 130. The
IC card 100 refers to an advance payment card, a direct payment card, and an after payment card, which are widely used. The IC card has a larger memory capacity and greater security than a magnetic card. The electronic funds transfer meter 110 is for calculating the amount of use and charges by periods and for performing the funds transfer function of the IC card. It is connected to the central systems of a public utility and a financial organization through a PSTN and an ISDN. The financial central system 120 is connected to the electronic funds transfer meter 110 through the PSTN or the ISDN, in order to transfer the charges for the amount of use through the concerned financial organ. The financial central system 120 is connected to the public utility central system 130 through the PSTN and the ISDN in order to manage information on the funds transfer and the receipt of the charges. The utility central system 130 refers to the central controlling system installed in the public utility organizations. The utility central system 130 exchanges information through the PSTN and the ISDN.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic funds transfer meter according to the present invention. The electronic funds transfer meter includes an IC card reader 200, an LCD module 210, a meter control portion 220, a keypad 230, a memory 240, a DC power supply 250, and a communication module 260.
The IC card reader 200 is an interfacing apparatus according to the international standard IC card requirements. The IC card reader 200 reads the IC card so as to transfer the charges for the amount of use through the IC card. The LCD module 210 is a display portion and displays to the user an operation menu and the processed results of the meter. The keypad 230 includes function keys and numeric keys for selecting from the operation menu of the meter, and funds transfer processing keys.
The keypad 230 receives the input of the user through the above keys. The communication module 260 transmits data to and receives data from the public utilities and the financial organizations through the PSTN and the ISDN using a modem. The memory 240 stores the remote control program and operational program of the meter, received through communication network from the public utilities and the financial organizations, and provides a memory area for amending or supplementing the above operational programs. The meter control portion 220 is for the overall control of the electronic funds transfer meter, and controls the IC card read of 200, the LCD module 210, the keypad 230, the memory 240, and the communication module 260, executes the operational program stored in the memory 240, and includes a ROM 222, a RAM 224, and a controller 226. The DC power supply 250 supplies the DC power required for the above meter using AC power as an input.
The remote control program and operational program of the meter stored in the memory 240, have the functions of calculating and recording the charges for the amount of use, electronically transferring funds, keeping security, and diagnosing the meter.
The function of calculating and recording the charges is for calculating and recording the amount of use of the meter every month, for recording the total of the amount of use and the charges of the previous month, and for automatically calculating the extra fees and displaying them in the case that the payment is not completed within a period for paying the charges.
The function of electronically transferring funds is for outputting the charges and whether payment has been made on a screen, in a period for paying the charges, announcing a funds transfer state, clearing the amount of use of the meter and the charges, after the payment is completed, and requesting sales and processed details for a certain period.
Also, the function of keeping security and diagnosing the meter is for informing of a state in which the system of a financial organization or public utility goes down or communication therewith is hindered, in the process of paying the charges and keeping security, for supplying processed details, for performing back-up, and for examining the system.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process of installing and initializing the meter, which is explained as follows. First, it is determined whether the meter has a secret number (step 300). If the secret number exists, it is determined whether the secret number should be changed (step 310).
If the meter has no secret number, it is checked whether a card is inserted (step 320). If the card is inserted, all the memories in which initial data is stored are cleared (step 330). Then, the initial values are set (step 340). The above initial values are as follows. The date of installation of the meter, the total amount used before installing the meter, the secret number of the meter identical to the secret number of a card, a late fee rate, basic charges, and a payment due date.
After the initial values of the meter are set as mentioned above, the operation thereof is described as follows with reference to FIG. 4 which is a flow chart showing the operating process of the meter. First, it is checked whether a card is inserted into the IC card reader 200 (step 400). After the card is input, the secret number of the card is input through the keypad 230, and it is checked whether the secret number of the card coincides with the secret number of the meter (step 410). If the two secret numbers were identical, it is checked whether the payment due date has arrived (step 420). If the payment date has arrived, an amount of money, corresponding to the charges for the amount of use of this month, is displayed on a screen (step 460). If the payment date has not arrived, it is checked whether the charges of last month were paid (step 430). If those charges were not paid, the charges of the last month are added to the late fee and the sum is displayed on a screen by the LCD module 210 (step 450). If the charges of last month were paid, the charges up to the present are displayed on the screen (step 440) and the process is terminated. Meanwhile, it is checked whether the charges displayed on the screen in the steps 450 and 460 are to be paid now (step 470). If the charges are to be paid, the concerned amount of money is transferred by communicating with a bank through a value added network using the communication module 260, and the result is displayed on the screen (step 480), and the process is terminated. If the charges are not to be paid, the process is terminated.
In the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of workers of public utilities, to more effectively use public funds, and to let consumers conveniently use public utilities. This is achieved by realizing a network system in which organizations such as public utilities and financial organizations are connected using the conventional PSTN or the ISDN, by constructing a meter capable of measuring the amount of use and calculating the charges for the amount of use by periods, displaying the charges, and electronically transferring funds using an IC card which is widely used.
Claims (6)
1. An electronic funds transfer meter, comprising:
an IC card reader for reading an IC card, so as to transfer funds to pay for the use of a utility, through the IC card;
a display for displaying to a user an operation menu and the processed results of the meter;
a keypad, for receiving the input of the user through keys including function keys and number keys for selecting from the operation menu of the meter, and funds transfer processing keys;
a communication module for transmitting data to and receiving data from public utilities and financial organizations;
a memory for storing the remote control program and the operational program of the meter, received through communication networks from the public utilities and the financial organizations; and
a meter controlling portion for controlling the IC card reader, display, keypad, memory, and communication module in order to execute the programs stored in the program, to calculate the charges for the amount of use and to electronically transfer funds.
2. The electronic funds transfer meter of claim 1, wherein the operational programs stored in the memory comprise:
means for calculating and recording the charges for the amount of use;
means for electronically transferring funds; and
means for keeping security and for examining the meter.
3. A method for transferring funds using an electronic funds transfer meter, comprising the steps of:
checking whether a card is input;
checking whether the secret number of a user coincides with the secret number of the meter;
processing the payment of the charges for the amount of use; and
communicating through a value added network and displaying on a screen the result obtained by processing the concerned amount of money.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of processing the payment of the charges for the amount of use comprises the steps of:
checking whether the payment due date has arrived, and if it has arrived, displaying the charges of this month on a screen;
if the payment due date has not arrived,
checking whether the charges were paid in the last month;
if the charges were paid in the last month, displaying the charges up to the present on the screen; and
if the charges were not paid in the last month, displaying on the screen the sum of the charges of the last month plus a late fee.
5. An electric funds transfer meter substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to any of
Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
6. A method of transferring funds substantially as shown in and/or described with reference to any of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| KR1019960053826A KR100188437B1 (en) | 1996-11-13 | 1996-11-13 | Electronic funds transfer meter and funds transfer method |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9723734D0 GB9723734D0 (en) | 1998-01-07 |
| GB2319384A true GB2319384A (en) | 1998-05-20 |
| GB2319384B GB2319384B (en) | 2000-10-04 |
Family
ID=19481750
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9723734A Expired - Fee Related GB2319384B (en) | 1996-11-13 | 1997-11-10 | An electronic funds transfer meter |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP3853048B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100188437B1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2756079B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2319384B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2414103A (en) * | 2004-05-12 | 2005-11-16 | Siemens Energy Services Ltd | Utility meter |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6553353B1 (en) * | 2000-01-28 | 2003-04-22 | John Joseph Littlejohn | Advanced metering system enabling regulation and billing of utilities by third party interagent |
| FR2823586A1 (en) * | 2001-04-11 | 2002-10-18 | Alg Fabae | Payment device for paying for utilities such as water, gas and electricity used by market stall holders, used temporarily on a regular or irregular basis, is based on an electronic payment terminal for use with credit cards, etc. |
| FR2849739B1 (en) * | 2003-01-06 | 2005-04-15 | Gal Claude Le | ADDRESSABLE MEASUREMENT HOUSING |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5530232A (en) * | 1993-12-22 | 1996-06-25 | Datamark Services, Inc. | Multi-application data card |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4240030A (en) * | 1978-12-14 | 1980-12-16 | Bateman Jess R | Intelligent electric utility meter |
| GB2042777B (en) * | 1979-02-21 | 1983-05-11 | South Eastern Elec Board | Electrical energy consumption meter |
| US4803632A (en) * | 1986-05-09 | 1989-02-07 | Utility Systems Corporation | Intelligent utility meter system |
| GB2208955A (en) * | 1987-08-19 | 1989-04-19 | Gen Electric Plc | Prepayment systems for supply of a commodity |
| FR2633076B1 (en) * | 1988-06-17 | 1993-08-20 | Chabbi Ali | MEMORY CARD CONSUMPTION COUNTING METHOD AND DEVICE |
| FR2696568B1 (en) * | 1992-10-06 | 1994-11-04 | Electricite De France | Autonomous self-service electrical energy delivery device. |
-
1996
- 1996-11-13 KR KR1019960053826A patent/KR100188437B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1997
- 1997-11-10 GB GB9723734A patent/GB2319384B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-11-12 FR FR9714158A patent/FR2756079B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-11-13 JP JP31242597A patent/JP3853048B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5530232A (en) * | 1993-12-22 | 1996-06-25 | Datamark Services, Inc. | Multi-application data card |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2414103A (en) * | 2004-05-12 | 2005-11-16 | Siemens Energy Services Ltd | Utility meter |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2756079B1 (en) | 2006-08-04 |
| JPH10302155A (en) | 1998-11-13 |
| GB2319384B (en) | 2000-10-04 |
| KR19980035477A (en) | 1998-08-05 |
| KR100188437B1 (en) | 1999-06-01 |
| GB9723734D0 (en) | 1998-01-07 |
| JP3853048B2 (en) | 2006-12-06 |
| FR2756079A1 (en) | 1998-05-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20081110 |