JPH05298532A - Device and method for processing legal validity and fund transaction of credit and debit card from automatic vending machine and similar terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a device and method for processing credit card transactions. CONSTITUTION: In a device 10 for processing credit card transactions, a plurality of automatic vending machines 12 is connected to a data processor 24 through communication links 22. The device 10 is incorporated with a temporary storage device 26 and the data processor 24 which can perform access to an electronic clearing facility 36 through time zone-wise communication tariff communication link 32. In addition, the device 10 generates real time communication with the clearing facility 36 in order to confirm the legal validity of a card 20 and to start the raising of funds for transactions larger than a predecided amount and off-line batch communication with the facility 36 when the communication tariff becomes lower in order to start the raising of funds for transactions smaller than a predecided amount.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing the legal effect of credit and debit cards and fund raising transactions, and in particular to credit from remote automated equipment, such as vending machines and similar terminals. And apparatus and methods for processing debit card transactions.

In recent years, processing credit and debit transactions, including vending machines and automated teller machines,
Numerous automatic machines have been developed. An example of a machine adapted to sell automated vending machines, particularly videocassettes, is disclosed in Brown's U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,705, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The vending machine disclosed in the above Brown '705 patent operates electronically when a customer presents a credit card or similar encoded transmission permit, the identification of which is a vending and borrowing video. Used to control the subsequent return of the cassette.

Nowadays from retail stores as well as from vending machines as taught by Brown's' 705 patent.
There are a number of electronic clearing facilities that receive real-time input via long-distance communication links to confirm the legal validity of credit and debit cards, and to further raise funds and / or initiate transfer of funds for each transaction. .. (For simplicity, the term "credit card" will be used hereinafter to refer to both credit and debit cards). In the past, access to electronic clearing facilities was done manually over long distance communication links; more recently, at each retail facility or vending machine to read the customer's credit card, an automatic credit card reader was used. After the equipment is located and initiates long-distance communications to the clear facility and addresses the customer's credit card information to the clear facility, the clear facility may legally enforce the customer's credit card and Certain transactions are confirmed to be within the customer's credit or debit limits.

In the case of electronic vending machines of the type disclosed in Brown's' 705 patent, each individual transaction is usually a modest amount, so long distance communications charges represent a significant operating expense. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a method and apparatus for processing credit card transactions for a device having a data processing device and a temporary storage device, which also verifies the legal validity of the card. It has a device for communicating with an electronic clearing facility and a device for collecting funds or initiating transfers for each credit card transaction. According to the method of the present invention, a real-time communication is created from the device to the electronic clearing facility to confirm the legal validity of the card and to initiate the collection of funds for each transaction in excess of a predetermined amount. , And batch transfers only at a time between the device and the clearing facility are made at a time when communication rates decrease in order to begin raising funds or transfers for those transactions within the device below a predetermined amount.

Further, according to the method of the present invention, information about each customer's credit card is stored in the storage device of the device, and each time a card not stored in the storage device is used in the device, A real-time confirmation communication from the device to the clear facility is created, independent of transaction volume. Information about each customer's card is retained in the storage of the device for a first predetermined period of time (eg, on the order of 15 days) after being verified. The transaction is then included in each batch communication to the verified card identified in the storage device during the first predetermined time period, wherein the card is used for transactions up to a predetermined amount. ..

In accordance with the present invention, the identification of any card for which legal force has been denied in a clearing facility is maintained in storage for a second predetermined period of time and thereafter throughout the second predetermined period of time. It is also preferable to continuously deny any previously denied customer card in the device (without communication to the clearing facility). Before generating real-time communications or storing transactions for subsequent batch communications to a clear facility,
Regarding credit card expiration dates and legally valid card numbers, the first step in the device is also part of the method to do a local check.

The apparatus of the present invention receives a credit card of a customer in a particular transaction and provides an output display of the customer's credit card format, number, and expiration date and the volume of the customer's transaction. It is particularly suitable for use with at least one vending machine equipped with a reader. The apparatus further receives and stores at least a portion of the transaction output, further comprising (a)
Includes a data processing / temporary storage device that generates either (b): (a) the card identification has not been stored in the temporary storage device for a predetermined period prior to the transaction, or Real-time output for each specific customer transaction, including credit cards, whether the transaction is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, or both; or (b) temporary storage of card identification for a predetermined period prior to the transaction. Batch storage output for each specific customer transaction, including cards that are stored in the device and whose transaction volume is less than or equal to a predetermined volume.

The device further receives real-time output of the data processing and storage device and checks the legality of the customer card, or raises or raises funds for specific customer transactions above a predetermined amount. A device that produces real-time communication with an electronic clearing facility, via a long-distance communication link, for initiating a transfer, or both; Includes a device that causes batch communications to an electronic clearing facility via a long-distance communications link to initiate fund raising or transfers for all customer transactions represented by the output.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, the device 10 of the present invention is adapted for use with a plurality of vending machines 12, which are connected to a data processing device 24 via a communication link 22. This is because the purpose of this description is similar to the multiple vending machine shown in Brown's' 705 patent using each vending machine 12 so arranged. Briefly, each vending machine 12 has an area 14 for storing articles for sale, an input device 16 (eg, keypad) used by a customer, and a card reader 18 for receiving the customer's credit or debit card 20. including. Vending machine 1 above
Each of the two has its own internal data processing device 2
4 and the temporary storage facility 26, each vending machine 12 being coupled thereby, is provided with a communication link,
Of course it will be understood once. The data processing device 24 includes addressing buses 28 and 30 as well as a temporary storage device 26. In addition, the data processing device 24 has a data input 34 to the communication link 32, which of course appears to be "time-rated, time-rated", i.e., the communication link 32 is a controlled telephone industry or "Other common carriers, ie telephone companies" (O
It is considered to be a link operated by CC members,
The long distance telephone call volume rate changes depending on the time of day when the telephone call volume is started through the link 32. Generally, the long-distance communication charge rate drops dramatically during the period from midnight to 6:00 am at the time when communication is started.

The communication link 32 is a data link 38.
The electronic clearing facility 36 is accessed through and its functions and availability are well known in the credit and debit card clearing industry. Currently, there are several major electronic clearing facilities in the United States, including the following: Electronic Clearing House, Agoura Hills, CA (Electronic Clearing)
House, Agoura Hills, Calif
ornia) National Data Center, Atlanta, Georgia (National Data Center, At)
Ranta, Georgia) McDonnell Dou, McDonnell Douglas Payment Systems, Irvine, CA
glass Payment Systems, Irvi
ne, California)

According to the invention, the data processing device 24 is
In order to achieve the following device communication protocol for dealing with customer credit transactions, refer to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and are programmed in the manner described further below: Article 1 : Each credit card initially Local equipment-level checks against solid legal force and expiration date standards. Article 2 : The device initiates real-time communication with the Electronic Clearing Facility for each transaction, including "new" credit cards (as defined below), regardless of the volume of the transaction. Article 3 : A "new" credit card, once verified by the electronic clearing facility, retains the card's identification in the device's storage for a first predetermined period. Article 4 : If a "new" credit card is rejected by an electronic clearing facility, the identification of the above card will cause a second predetermined period of time (the first and second predetermined period of time being the same). Can also be) maintained in the storage of the device.

Article 5 : If the previously confirmed credit card is used in the above device for a transaction of a predetermined amount or more during the first predetermined period, the transaction will be Real-time communication with the electronic clearing facility is initiated for the electronic clearing facility. Article 6 : If the previously denied credit card is used in the device during the second predetermined period,
The device rejects the card. Article 7 : If the previously confirmed credit card is used in the device for transactions below a predetermined amount during the first predetermined period, the electronic clearing facility will be in real time. Without communication, the transaction is confirmed locally and information about the credit card and transaction is
Stored in the storage of the above device, along with similar transactions,
Then, for example, when the communication rate is low, the device will communicate with the electronic clearing facility at a predetermined time in order to download all the stored transactions.

Due to the above communication regulations, a "new" credit card is a card that has never been used before in the device, or a credit card that has been used before.
Or used after a second predetermined time period. Typically, the first and second predetermined periods are on the order of 15 days, and the predetermined trading volume can be any arbitrarily selected amount. By way of example, for a videocassette vending machine, such as that shown in Brown's' 705 patent, the predetermined trading volume could be on the order of $ 20 ($ 20.00).

One of ordinary skill in the data processing arts will understand that the above communication conventions and apparatus of the present invention are accomplished through various hardware and software arrangements. One of the above sequences is shown in Figures 2-6, and details are described below.

2 and 3 show the real-time communication and off-line batch communication configurations of the device according to the invention, respectively. In FIG. 2, the data processing device 2 of the device 10 of FIG.
It is understood that the four and temporary storage stores 26 are incorporated within the vending machine 12. Sequence 4 in Figure 2
Reference numeral 0 indicates a real-time communication configuration, in which the vending machine 12 directly communicates with the local telenet node 42 and / or the digital access node 44, and from there to the electronic clearing facility 36. As so configured, this device is essentially the same as a current retail credit card verification and transaction collection device.

As shown in FIG. 3, according to the conventional data processing analysis of the customer's credit card and the transaction volume of the customer, it is once confirmed that the specific transaction meets the conditions of Article 7 of the communication protocol listed above. Once determined, each transaction is temporarily stored in the temporary storage device 26 until the appropriate time to batch download all the stored transactions to the electronic clearing facility at one time while the long distance communication rate for the communication link 32 is at a minimum. Stored therein, which significantly reduces the overall costs associated with the operation of each vending machine 12. To this end, the nighttime batch is based on the local telnet node 42.
And then to a telemail storage facility 46 that includes both a "collection mailbox" 48 and a "transaction mailbox" 50. The “mailboxes” 48 and 50 are used to collect data from multiple vending machines 12. Of course, it will be understood that it is essentially an electronic data storage facility. At the appropriate time, the batch store transaction information in the collection mailbox 48 passes through the corresponding local Telenet node 52 and is then downloaded to the electronic clearing facility 36. Similarly, the same transaction information stored in the transaction mailbox 50 passes through the local node 54 and moves to the operator 56 who is the research object of the fully automatic vending machine.

4, 5 and 6 are data processing logic diagrams, respectively, which allow the device 10 to determine whether credit card authorization communication to the electronic clearing facility 36 is appropriate (FIG. 4), fund transfer. Real-time communication is appropriate (ie, the transaction volume exceeds a predetermined amount) or offline batch storage is appropriate (FIG. 5), and the manner in which batch storage transactions are uploaded and downloaded (FIG. 5). FIG. 6) shows the procedure. Each of these figures uses conventional logic symbols.

Structure of the above credit card approval (FIG. 4)
If so, the device 10 at 60 begins the first local node 4
Try to connect 2 to 3 times (Figures 2 and 3). If the connection is not made at 62, the device 10 connects to the first toll-free number (1-800), and if available,
Instructed electronic clearing facility 36, as seen at 64
Connect to. If this connection fails, the device 10 tries the 800 number of another electronic clearing facility at 66. Connected in any case, the device 10 then sends a formatted approval request record to the electronic clearing facility 36. This facility 36 responds in a standard format regarding approval or denial. After recognizing the answer of approval or denial, the data processing device 24 operates according to the communication protocol described above.

A direct real-time transaction (ie, the transaction is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount) or, alternatively, an offline storage deposit (ie, the transaction amount is less than the predetermined amount) is shown in FIG. It is outlined. At the first junction point 68, the above amount is “PD. Predetermined amount” (prede
terminating amount) or more or less. If the response to the above query is negative, the quantity is stored in the batch file 70. On the other hand, if the response to the inquiry is affirmative, the real-time communication 72 about the electronic clearing facility 36.
Starts according to the logic diagram of FIG.

The manner in which offline batch store transactions are handled is shown in FIG. In this configuration, the device 1
0 automatically initiates the communication link at 74 during the daytime hours when the long distance tariff is lowest, perhaps early in the morning. The diagram of FIG. 6 also shows the flow 76 into the collection mailbox 48 and the transaction (operator) mailbox 50.

Accordingly, the apparatus and method of the present invention is an effective and advantageous manner for remote vending machines or similar facilities that have a data processing device and a temporary storage device and can establish communications with an electronic clear facility. It will be appreciated that this allows for the processing of a large number of credit card transactions for a relatively modest amount.

This completes the description of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. However, the invention is intended to be limited only by the following appended claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus and method of the present invention connected to a number of vending machines of the type disclosed in Brown's' 705 patent.

2 is a flow chart showing the real-time operation of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an off-line batch communication device configuration of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a logical diagram and flowchart showing the operation and method of the apparatus of the present invention for obtaining credit card authorization.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart and logic diagram showing the manner in the apparatus and method of the present invention for confirming whether a specific transaction is a real-time transaction subject or a batch transaction subject.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart and logic diagram illustrating the operation and method of an apparatus for controlling the storage of batch customer transactions that communicate offline to an electronic clearing facility.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 device 12 vending machine 14 article storage area 16 input device 18 card reading device 20 credit or debit card 22 communication link 24 data processing device 26 temporary storage facility or temporary storage device 28 addressing busbar 30 addressing busbar 32 time zone Communication rate (eg, long distance) Communication link 34 Data input 36 Electronic clear facility 38 Data link 40 Array 42 Local telenet node 44 Digital access node 46 Telemail storage facility 48 Collection mail box 50 Transaction mail box 52 Local telenet Node 54 Local Node 56 Operator 60 Position No. 62 Position No. 64 Position No. 66 Position No. 68 First Junction 70 Batch File 72 Real Time Communication 74 Position No. 76 Flow

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Gary D'Abrieu Francis 33803 Oakland Parkway, Lakeland, Florida 33803, Apartment 184

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A method of processing a credit card transaction in a device having a data processing device and a temporary storage device, wherein the device also provides legal effect of the card to each credit card transaction in the device. It has a device that communicates with an electronic clearing facility that confirms and initiates the collection of funds, and the above method: For each transaction above a predetermined amount, verify the legal effect of the card and Initiating a real-time communication from the device to the electronic clearing facility to initiate the collection; and for all transactions within the device below a predetermined amount, a communication rate to initiate collection of funds. A batch communication occurs between the device and the electronic clearing facility at one time when the power consumption decreases; 2. Information of each card used in the device is stored in a storage device of the device;
And irrespective of the transaction volume, each time a card not stored in a storage device is used in the device, a real-time confirmation communication occurs from the device to the clear facility; The method according to Item 1. 3. Further: after confirmation, information about each card is maintained in the memory of the device for a first predetermined period of time; and for each batch communication the first And including transactions for confirmed cards identified in the storage device for a predetermined period of time and used for transactions of less than a predetermined amount; The method described in. 4. The electronic clearing facility also maintains an identification of any card whose legal effect has been denied in the storage of the device for a second predetermined period of time as well. And, during the second predetermined period of time, any previously denied card is rejected by the device without causing real-time communication to the clearing facility. The method according to 3. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of confirming the expiration date of each card at the device before real-time communication occurs at the electronic clearing facility. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of checking the card against a legally valid card number in the device before initiating real-time communication with the electronic clearing facility. Method. 7. A utilization report for the device, wherein the utilization report includes information about both real-time and batch communications, producing the utilization report. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises: 8. A method of processing a credit card transaction occurring in a device having a data processing device and a temporary storage device, said device also confirming the legal validity of the card for each credit card transaction. And a device for communicating with an electronic clearing facility that initiates the collection of funds, the method comprising: storing a record of each card used for customer transactions in the device for a defined period of time in the storage device of the device. Keep in place; for each card not currently recorded in the storage device, or for any transaction above a predetermined amount, to verify the legal force from the device to the electronic device. Generate real-time communications to the clearing facility; store information for each transaction below the predetermined amount, and for cards currently stored in storage, Storing in the device; and thereafter for initiating fund raising for transactions of the device below the predetermined amount and including cards for records currently maintained in storage; Producing an off-time batch communication between the device and the clearing facility; 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of maintaining a plurality of credit card records for which a confirmation has been previously received from the electronic clearing facility in a storage device. 10. The electronic clearing facility further comprises:
Records of any card whose legal effect has been denied shall also be maintained in the storage of the device for a predetermined period of time; and during the predetermined period of time, the clear facility. 10. The method of claim 9, including the step of: denying any previously denied card in the device without causing a real-time legal effect communication to the device. 11. The electronic clearing facility further includes real-time communications, or subsequently stores transactions for off-time batch communications, prior to card expiration date and legally valid card number. In contrast, the method of claim 8 including the step of first conducting a continuity check in the device. 12. A device, including at least one vending machine, for processing each legal card and cash raising activity for each in-device credit card transaction with an electronic clearing facility, the device comprising: a specific customer. A card reader for each vending machine that receives a customer's credit card during a transaction and provides those transaction outputs that display the format, card number and expiration date, and transaction volume of the customer's transaction. Receiving and storing at least a portion of the transaction output,
Further, (a) including cards for which a card identification has not been stored in a storage device for a predetermined period prior to a transaction, and / or a transaction is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, or both. Real-time output for a specific customer transaction; or (b) including a card whose card identification has been stored in a storage device for a predetermined period prior to the transaction and whose transaction volume is less than or equal to a predetermined volume. Batch processing output for specific customer transactions; data processing / temporary storage storage device; receiving real-time output of the data processing / temporary storage storage device, and checking the legal effect of the customer card A device that provides real-time communication to an electronic clearing facility for the purpose of, or for initiating, raising funds for a particular customer transaction above a predetermined amount, or both; And receiving batch storage output for a specific period of time and then causing batch communication to the electronic clearing facility to initiate funding for all specific customer transactions displayed by the batch output during the specific period of time. Consisting of;