GB2323695A - Prepayment utility supply system - Google Patents
Prepayment utility supply system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2323695A GB2323695A GB9806418A GB9806418A GB2323695A GB 2323695 A GB2323695 A GB 2323695A GB 9806418 A GB9806418 A GB 9806418A GB 9806418 A GB9806418 A GB 9806418A GB 2323695 A GB2323695 A GB 2323695A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- station
- consumer
- data
- metering
- utility
- 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
- 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
- G07F7/02—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by keys or other credit registering devices
-
- 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
- G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
- G06Q20/343—Cards including a counter
- G06Q20/3437—Cards including a counter the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
-
- 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
- G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
- G06Q20/347—Passive cards
-
- 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
- G07F7/10—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 together with a coded signal, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
-
- 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
- G07F7/10—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 together with a coded signal, e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
- G07F7/1025—Identification of user by a PIN code
- G07F7/1058—PIN is checked locally
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)
- Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
Abstract
In a time based utility supply method and system 10, supply to a consumer station 14.1 to 14.n of the utility during a basic time period is sold at a vending station 12 at a flat rate, the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) is used for transferring credit transaction data from the vending station 12 to a metering and control station 22 connected to the consumer station, instead of input data relating to tariff index conventionally used in the STS, input data relating to identity of the consumer station is used; and instead of input data relating to dispenser number conventionally used in the STS, data relating to the identity of the metering and control station to which the consumer station is connected, is used.
Description
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
THIS invention relates to prepayment methods and systems for supplying a utility, such as electricity, to consumers.
Time-based prepayment methods and systems for providing a utility, such as electricity, to a plurality of consumer stations are known. In general, such a method comprises the steps of dividing a term for supplying the utility to the consumers into a plurality of basic time periods; generating at a vending station and on request from a consumer, data relating to one or more basic time periods of said plurality of basic time periods paid for by the consumer to be supplied with the utility; causing said data to be transferred to a device for controlling delivery of the utility to the consumer; and causing the device automatically to interrupt supply of the utility to the consumer, if at the end of said one or more time periods, data relating to an immediately subsequent period of said plurality of time periods has not been transferred to the device. Normally, supply of the utility is charged at a fixed flat rate per basic time period.
In general the system comprises a vending station for generating in response to input data prestored and also supplied by a consumer, output data relating to one or more of the plurality of time periods in respect of which the consumer has paid to be supplied with the utility; and a control device for controlling provision of the utility to the consumer, the control device comprising: data input means for receiving the output data; a controller which is in data communication with the data input means; timer means for timing out said one or more time periods also in data communication with the controller; and switch means connected to the controller for interrupting the supply of the utility if, at the end of said one or more time periods, data relating to an immediately subsequent period of said plurality of time periods has not been transferred to the device.
The data is normally transferred from the vending station to the control device in terms of a standard specification also referred to as the Standard
Transfer Specification (STS). According to this specification, input data relating to the kind of transaction, the utility involved, date and time of purchase, credit purchased, dispenser number, supply group code, tariff index and key revision data are encrypted to provide output data to be transferred. In flat rate systems input data relating to tariff index data would be superfluous.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative method of and a system for supplying a recticulated utility to a plurality of consumer stations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a method of supplying a reticulated utility to a plurality of consumer stations, the method including the steps of dividing a term for supplying the utility to the consumer stations into a plurality of basic time periods; at a vending station and in response to input data, generating in accordance with the Standard
Transfer Specification (STS) output data including data relating to one or more basic time periods prepaid for during which at least one of said consumer stations is to be provided with electricity, and data relating to the identity of said at least one consumer station; causing said output data to be transferred to a metering and control station for controlling delivery of the utility to the consumer station; and causing the metering and control station to monitor the one or more basic time periods prepaid for and to interrupt supply of the utility to said consumer station, if at the end of said one or more basic time periods, data relating to an immediately subsequent period of said plurality of basic time periods has not been transferred to the metering station; and wherein in said input data, instead of tariff index data conventionally used in the STS, data relating to the identity of the at least one consumer station is used.
The utility may be electricity, water, telecommunications or any other vendible utility.
Further according to the invention each metering and control station may have a plurality of consumer stations connected thereto; and in the input data, instead of dispenser number data conventionally used in the STS, data relating to the identity of the metering and control station to which said at least one consumer station is connected, is used.
Also included within the scope of the present invention is a system for controlling provision of a utility to a plurality of consumer stations, the system including metering and control stations to which the consumer stations are connected, a central vending station for generating in response to input data and in accordance with the STS output data comprising data relating to one or more basic time periods in respect of which payment has been made for at least one of said consumer stations to be provided with the utility, and data relating to the identity of said at least one consumer station; and means for transferring the output data between the central vending station and the metering and control station to which said at least one consumer station is connected; the metering and control station comprising: data receiver means for receiving the data transferred; a controller which is in data communication with the data receiver means; timer means for timing out said one or more basic time periods prepaid for also in data communication with the controller; and switch means connected to the controller for interrupting the supply of the utility to said at least one of said consumer stations if at the end of the one or more basic time periods prepaid for, data relating to an immediately subsequent period has not been transferred to the metering and control station; and wherein in said input data, instead of tariff index data conventionally used in the STS, data relating to identity of said at least one consumer station is used.
Each metering and control station is preferably connected to a plurality of consumer stations and in the input data, instead of dispenser number data conventionally used in the STS, data relating to the identity of the metering and control station to which said at least one consumer station is connected, is used.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagram which is a basic block diagram of the system according to the invention.
The system according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the diagram. The system 10 comprises a central vending station 12 including a central computer 16.
Consumers (not shown) associated with consumer stations 14.1 to 14.n purchase electricity from the central vending station 12 by paying in advance for supply of electricity over one or more basic time periods of a plurality of time periods, collectively constituting a term. The consumers are all charged at a flat rate per basic time period for uninterrupted supply of electricity during a total period prepaid for. Although the supply may be uninterrupted during the total period prepaid for, the instantaneous current drawn may be limited to say 2.5A. A typical basic time period may be a calender month or a week or a day or even an hour.
The vending station 12 further comprises a token generator 18 for generating a token 20 carrying output data, alternatively a wireless signal generator for generating a signal carrying the data. The token 20 may be a magnetic strip card on which the data is recorded and/or stored or a ticket or the like reflecting a code embodying the data.
The system 10 further comprises a plurality of distributed metering and control stations 22 (only one of which shown in the diagram). Each metering and control station 22 is connected in split configuration between the supply of electricity 24 and a plurality of consumer stations 14.1 to 14.n associated with that metering and control station.
Each metering and control station 22 comprises token input and reader means 26 for receiving the token or the code thereon, or, a receiver for receiving a signal transmitted by the station 12, as the case may be. The metering and control station 22 further comprises a controller 28 for decrypting the data received, for extracting the period credit data and consumer station identity data and for storing the credit data in a memory arrangement 30 as will hereinafter be described. As stated hereinbefore, the credit data relates to basic time periods prepaid for during which the relevant consumer station is to be connected to the supply 24 and during which electricity may be drawn uninterruptedly, subject to the current limitation hereinbefore described.
The metering and control station 22 thus comprises metering means 32 for monitoring time periods in respect of each of the consumer stations connected thereto. The time periods are monitored with reference to the cycle of the alternating supply 24, so that intervals wherein the power supply 24 is disconnected (for example during a power failure) are not subtracted from the period prepaid for.
The metering and control station 22 further comprises means 32 for interrupting the power to any one or more of the consumer stations connected thereto. At the end of a period prepaid for in respect of any one of consumer stations 14.1 to 14.n and if no payment has been made in respect of an immediately subsequent period, the controller 28 causes the interrupting means to interrupt the supply to that consumer station.
Normally in prepayment systems, the credit data to be transferred from the vending station is compiled and/or encrypted according to the Standard
Transfer Specification (STS).
In terms of the STS, the output data to be transferred is generated by encrypting input data relating to: kind of transaction (for example credit transaction); the utility involved; date and time of purchase; credit purchased, dispenser number, supply group code, tariff index and key revision data. In terms of the STS, it is possible to specify one hundred different tariff indices. In flat rate systems, input data relating to tariff index is superfluous. According to the invention, instead of input data relating to tariff index, input data relating to the identity of hundred consumer stations 14.1 to 14.100 connected to a metering and control station 22 may be used. Furthermore, instead of input data relating to dispenser number, input data relating to the identity of the metering and control stations 22 to which the consumer stations are connected, is used.
Accordingly, up to one hundred consumer stations 14.1 to 14.100 connected to each metering and control station 22 may be addressed individually. The total number of consumer stations addressable with the system and method according to the invention represents an improvement of two orders over that addressable with prior art STS based systems.
In use, a consumer associated with any one of consumer stations 14.1 to 14.n may pay in advance at central vending station 12, to be connected to power network 24 for one or more consecutive basic periods. Upon payment of an amount calculated on a flat rate per basic period, the consumer is issued with a token 20 carrying output data generated in accordance with the STS (but with the changes in input data referred to hereinbefore) comprising: data relating to the identity of the consumer station; data relating to the total period paid for; and data relating to the identity of the metering station 22 to which the consumer station is connected.
The token 20 is entered into the reading means 26 of the metering and control station 22. The data relating to the period prepaid for and the identity of the relevant consumer station are extracted from the decrypted data and the data relating to the period is stored in a register associated with that consumer station in the memory arrangement 30.
During the period prepaid for, the supply 24 is connected to the relevant consumer station which may then draw power without interruption, provided the aforementioned current limitation is not exceeded. In the event that the current limit is exceeded, the connection between the supply 24 and the consumer station is interrupted for a predetermined interval.
At the end of the interval, the connection is automatically made again.
If at the end of the period prepaid for, no payment has yet been made in respect of that consumer station for an immediately subsequent period, the controller 28 causes the interrupting means 32 to interrupt the connection between the source 24 and the consumer station.
It will be appreciated that there are many variations in detail on the system and method according to the invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
Claims (7)
1. A method of supplying a reticulated utility to a plurality of consumer
stations, the method including the steps of dividing a term for
supplying the utility to the consumer stations into a plurality of basic
time periods; at a vending station and in response to input data
generating in terms of the Standard Transfer Specification (STS)
output data including data relating to one or more basic time
periods prepaid for during which at least one of said consumer
stations is to be provided with electricity, and data relating to the
identity of said at least one consumer station; causing said output
data to be transferred to a metering and control station for
controlling delivery of the utility to the consumer station; and
causing the metering station to monitor the one or more basic time
periods prepaid for and to interrupt supply of the utility to said
consumer station, if at the end of said one or more basic time
periods, data relating to an immediately subsequent period of said
plurality of basic time periods has not been transferred to the
metering station; and wherein in said input data, instead of tariff
index data conventionally used in the STS, data relating to the
identity of the at least one consumer station is used.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the utility is one or more of
electricity, water, telecommunication services or any other vendible
utility.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a plurality of
consumer stations are connected to each metering and control
station; and wherein in the input data, instead of dispenser number
data conventionally used in the STS, data relating to the identity of
the metering and control station to which said at least one consumer
station is connected, is used.
4. A system for controlling provision of a utility to a plurality of
consumer stations, the system including metering and control
stations to which the consumer stations are connected, a central
vending station for generating in response to input data and in terms
of the STS, output data comprising data relating to one or more
basic time periods in respect of which payment has been made for
at least one of said consumer stations to be provided with the utility,
and data relating to the identity of said at least one consumer
station; and means for transferring the output data between the
central vending station and the metering and control station to which
said at least one consumer station is connected; the metering and
control station comprising: data receiver means for receiving the
data transferred; a controller which is in data communication with
the data receiver means; timer means for timing out said one or
more basic time periods prepaid for also in data communication with
the controller; and switch means connected to the controller for
interrupting the supply of the utility to said at least one of said
consumer stations if at the end of the one or more basic time
periods prepaid for, data relating to an immediately subsequent
period has not been transferred to the metering and control station;
and wherein in said input data, instead of tariff index data
conventionally used in the STS, data relating to the identity of said
at least one consumer station is used.
5. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein a plurality of consumer
stations are connected to each metering and control station; and
wherein in the input data, instead of dispenser number data
conventionally used in the STS; data relating to the identity of the
metering and control station to which said at least one consumer
station is connected, is used.
6. A method of supplying a recticulated utility to a plurality of consumer
stations substantially as herein described with reference to the
accompanying diagrams.
7. A system for controlling provision of a utility to a plurality of consumer stations substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying diagrams.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA972608 | 1997-03-26 |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9806418D0 GB9806418D0 (en) | 1998-05-20 |
| GB2323695A true GB2323695A (en) | 1998-09-30 |
| GB2323695B GB2323695B (en) | 2001-01-10 |
Family
ID=25586329
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9806418A Expired - Fee Related GB2323695B (en) | 1997-03-26 | 1998-03-25 | Prepayment utility supply system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2323695B (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA982556B (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2002047041A2 (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2002-06-13 | Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited | Prepayment meter |
| WO2002080119A1 (en) * | 2001-03-13 | 2002-10-10 | Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited | Generation of vending tokens |
| WO2006011019A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-02-02 | Actaris Measurement & Sytems (Proprietary) Limited | A voucher based payment system and components thereof |
| WO2016066219A1 (en) * | 2014-10-31 | 2016-05-06 | Deutsche Telekom Ag | Prepaid metering adaptor |
| US10902391B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2021-01-26 | Contour Technology (Pty) Ltd. | Automated transaction system |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114220222B (en) * | 2021-11-30 | 2023-09-05 | 杭州海兴电力科技股份有限公司 | Offline prepaid electric quantity recharging method and system |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZA9577B (en) * | 1993-10-06 | 1995-09-06 | Csir | Electricity dispensing system |
| US5451755A (en) * | 1992-10-06 | 1995-09-19 | Electricite De France (Edf) | Self-contained device for self-service delivery of electrical energy |
| EP0762350A2 (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-03-12 | Sinesonics (Proprietary) Limited | Communal metering system |
-
1998
- 1998-03-25 GB GB9806418A patent/GB2323695B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1998-03-26 ZA ZA982556A patent/ZA982556B/en unknown
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5451755A (en) * | 1992-10-06 | 1995-09-19 | Electricite De France (Edf) | Self-contained device for self-service delivery of electrical energy |
| ZA9577B (en) * | 1993-10-06 | 1995-09-06 | Csir | Electricity dispensing system |
| EP0762350A2 (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-03-12 | Sinesonics (Proprietary) Limited | Communal metering system |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2002047041A2 (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2002-06-13 | Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited | Prepayment meter |
| WO2002047041A3 (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2003-10-16 | Merlin Gerin S A Proprietary L | Prepayment meter |
| WO2002080119A1 (en) * | 2001-03-13 | 2002-10-10 | Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited | Generation of vending tokens |
| AP1575A (en) * | 2001-03-13 | 2006-02-17 | Merlin Gerin S A Pty Limited | Generation of vending tokens. |
| WO2006011019A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-02-02 | Actaris Measurement & Sytems (Proprietary) Limited | A voucher based payment system and components thereof |
| AP2235A (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2011-05-18 | Actaris Measurement And System Proprietary Ltd | A voucher based payment system and components thereof. |
| US10902391B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2021-01-26 | Contour Technology (Pty) Ltd. | Automated transaction system |
| WO2016066219A1 (en) * | 2014-10-31 | 2016-05-06 | Deutsche Telekom Ag | Prepaid metering adaptor |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2323695B (en) | 2001-01-10 |
| GB9806418D0 (en) | 1998-05-20 |
| ZA982556B (en) | 1998-09-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20080325 |