GB2320354A

GB2320354A - Module for transaction terminal

Info

Publication number: GB2320354A
Application number: GB9726053A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart James Nairn; Edward Black
Original assignee: De la Rue International Ltd
Current assignee: De la Rue International Ltd
Priority date: 1996-12-13
Filing date: 1997-12-09
Publication date: 1998-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-09
Also published as: GB9726053D0; GB9625905D0; GB2320354B

Abstract

A module 3 for removably attaching to a transaction terminal 1,2 which supports at least two payment schemes has a terminal configuration memory for storing data defining configuration information relating to the transaction terminal user which is common to the at least two payment schemes, and two couplers for attachment to respective scheme memories storing data defining information relating to the transaction terminal user specific to a respective payment scheme, the memory and couplers being electrically connected to the remainder of the transaction terminal in use. The payment schemes may be electronic purse schemes and the scheme memories may be stored on memory cards or I.C. cards.

Description

MODULE The invention relates to a module for removably attaching to a transaction terminal.

Transaction terminals are often used by retailers to enable EFTPOS type transactions to be carried out. In these transactions, the terminal may be connected on-line to a remote host which carries out checks on a customer before authorising a transaction and may then record details about the transaction. In other cases, the transaction terminal is not connected on-line to a remote host and details are stored locally for subsequent transfer. This may be via an on-line connection which is made later or by physically transferring the stored data through the post or otherwise to the remote host.

In order to simplify the construction of such transaction terminals, it is desirable to hold the retailer's terminal configuration in a removable memory module. This defines information such as the retailer's name and address, bank account etc. The use of a removable memory module simplifies construction of the transaction terminals which do not need to be retailer specific and also makes it much easier for the retailer to swap his configuration to another terminal and continue trading if the current terminal fails. The use of the memory module prevents the retailer from having to reconfigure a new terminal and to log it onto a remote host computer such as a Bank.

Such memory modules are known in applications such as

the De La Rue FortronickF95 and the Racal Cardmate k

Recentlv, the use of electronic purse schemes has been

developed. Examples include Mondex affd Visa Cash. In p these schemes, typically both the retailer and the customer have a smart card on which is stored a certain amount of cash in electronic form and during a transaction the cash is transferred electronically from one card to the other.

Effectively, this is the electronic equivalent of a normal cash transaction. Electronic cash or purse transactions require special terminals to be provided and a different terminal for each proprietary protocol under which the transaction is performed.

In accordance with the present invention, a module for removably attaching to a transaction terminal which supports at least two payment schemes has a terminal configuration memory for storing data defining configuration information relating to the transaction terminal user which is common to the at least two payment schemes; and at least two couplers for attachment to respective scheme memories storing data defining information relating to the transaction terminal user specific to a respective payment scheme, the memory and couplers being electrically connected to the remainder of the transaction terminal in use.

With this invention, a single module is used to provide both the terminal configuration information memory and couplers for the payment scheme memories. This enables terminal upgrades and replacements to be achieved very easily without the need to remove scheme memories or perform configuration of the new terminal.

Conveniently, the module can be clipped into a transaction terminal, the act of clipping the module in place making an electrical connection between the module components and a processor within the module. For additional security, or as an alternative, a solenoid lock or the like may be used to lock the module to the terminal which in turn can be secured to a mounting surface. By releasing the clip (and/or solenoid if used), the retailer can remove his financial data and electronic cash from one terminal and fit it to another.

In some examples, the module memory may also store configuration information relating to the transaction terminal user for use in a transaction involving a remote host. For example, the transaction terminal could be used as an EFTPOS terminal.

The scheme memories will typically comprise integrated circuit cards such as Smart cards or the like, but could be simple memory cards.

An example of a transaction terminal and a memory module according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the transaction terminal; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the expansion unit shown in Figure 1; and, Figure 3 is an exploded view of the lower section of the expansion unit shown in Figure 2.

The transaction terminal shown in Figure 1 comprises a base unit 1 having a smart or memory card reader support 2 at one end and a memory expansion unit 3 pivoted to the base 1 at the other end. In Figure 1, the expansion unit 3 is shown in an intermediate position during assembly.

When fully assembled, the expansion unit 3 lies along the surface of the base unit 1 and is locked in position as will be described in more detail below.

The expansion unit 3 is shown in more detail in Figure 2 and comprises upper and lower sections 4,5. The sections are connected via tabs 6 on the upper section 4 and slots 7 on the lower section 5 at one end and by screws 8 and sockets 8' towards the other end. The upper section 4 includes a plastics moulding which defines a battery housing 9, power from the batteries in the housing 9 being coupled to the electronic components in the lower section 5 via a cable 10.

The lower section 5 is shown in Figure 3 in exploded form and comprises a plastics moulding 11 in which is supported a first smart card guide 12, a printed circuit board 13, a second smart card guide 14 and a retaining plate 15 which is secured to the plastics moulding 11 via screws 16. The printed circuit board 13 includes a set of memories 17, a microprocessor 35, a first card coupler 18 and a second card coupler (not shown) on the other side of the printed circuit board 13.

The card guide 12 is associated with a slot 19 in the plastics moulding 11 while the card guide 14 is associated with a slot 20 in the plastics moulding 11.

The expansion unit 3 is held in place on the base 1 of the transaction terminal via rear tabs 21 which are received in slots (not shown) of the base unit 1 and a solenoid controlled plunger 22 which is received in a Ushaped retainer 23 on the base 1. The plunger 22 is controlled by a solenoid 24 from a transaction terminal keyboard (not shown).

Communication between the printed circuit board 13 and the remainder of the transaction terminal is achieved via two sets of in-line sockets 25 on the underside of the plastics moulding 11 and corresponding sets of in-line pins 26 on the base unit 1. These sockets and pins 25,26 mate as the expansion unit 3 is located on the base unit 1.

A recess 27 is provided on the underside of the plastics moulding 11 to receive a SIM-lock card which will engage with a SIM-lock card coupler on the printed circuit board 13.

Typically, the memory 17, card couplers 18 and the SIM-lock card coupler will be connected to a common data bus which connects to a microprocessor in the transaction terminal via sockets/pins 25,26.

In use, the memories 17 will hold retailer specific data including: Retailer Identification Information Name and Address Account/Bank Reference Terminal Configuration Details Supported card and transaction types Transaction and floor limits Bank Host details: telephone numbers, security keys, etc.

Transaction Details Stored transactions for subsequent transfer to host Daily and shift total information In addition, for each electronic purse scheme operated by the retailer, a separate integrated circuit card, such as a smart card, will be inserted into one or more of the slots 19,20 or recess 27. A card in the slot 20 will contact the first card coupler 18 while a card in the slot 19 will contact the second card coupler (not shown) on the other side of the printed circuit board 13. The information contained on these integrated circuit cards is used during a transaction to authenticate the customer's card and to provide security operations to transfer value.

In most electronic purse schemes, value is transferred from the customer's card to the retailer's card in the expansion unit or from the retailer's card to a customer's card in the case of a refund. In some schemes, value is removed from the customer card and stored in the expansion unit memory 17 for later transfer to a host and the retailer card is used to generate electronic authentication certificates for the transaction.

It should be appreciated that a primary advantage of this invention is that when a terminal upgrade or replacement is required, the retailer simply removes the expansion unit 3 from the old terminal and inserts it in the new one. There is no need to remove the retailer cards in the slots 19,20 or recess 27 individually or perform configuration of the new unit since the necessary information for this is already in the memories 17.

In a typical transaction, therefore, when a customer presents his card, the retailer will indicate to the transaction terminal processor the electronic purse scheme which is involved. Typical schemes available today include Mondex and Visa Cash. The customer then provides his card to the retailer who will insert it into the card reader in the support 2 and will enter the amount of the transaction via a keyboard 30 on the expansion unit 3 and the amount will be shown on an LCD display 31 controlled by the microprocessor 35 on the PCB 13. The customer will be authenticated in a conventional manner, for example by validating a PIN entered via the keyboard 30 and this will be checked by the microprocessor 35 within the transaction terminal. If the customer is authenticated, the microprocessor will then debit the appropriate amount of cash from the customer's card by writing a new cash amount into that card and at the same time the appropriate memory within the expansion unit (either the memory 17 or one of the cards in the slots 19,20 or recess 27) will be credited with an equivalent amount.

Although not shown, the transaction terminal could also enable transactions to be carried out with a remote host as for example in an EFTPOS application in which case the necessary retailer specific data would be stored within the memories 17.

Claims

1. A module for removably attaching to a transaction terminal which supports at least two payment schemes, the module having a terminal configuration memory for storing data defining configuration information relating to the transaction terminal user which is common to the at least two payment schemes; and at least two couplers for attachment to respective scheme memories storing data defining information relating to the transaction terminal user specific to a respective payment scheme, the memory and couplers being electrically connected to the remainder of the transaction terminal in use.

2. A module according to claim 1, wherein the couplers comprise memory card couplers.

3. A module according to claim 1, wherein the couplers comprise integrated circuit card couplers.

4. A module according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the payment schemes comprise electronic purse schemes.

5. A module according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the module memory and couplers are connected to a common data bus.

6. A module for a transaction terminal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A transaction terminal comprising an input device for inputting data relating to a transaction; a processor for handling at least part of the transaction; and a module according to any of the preceding claims, the memory and couplers of the module being connected to the processor for data communication with the module memory and scheme memories.

8. A terminal according to claim 7, further comprising means for connecting the terminal to a remote host.