Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; 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
  • G06Q20/342—Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• • 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
  • G07F7/025—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 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Definitions

• This invention relates to a transaction control system, and more particularly to a system whereby a user on the presentation of a card and verification 5. of. the same can automatically purchase commodities, such as petrol dispensed at a petrol filling station.
• That system is a satisfactory system but with advancing technology it has now become possible to provide improved owner control of that system.
• United Kingdom Patent No. 1,400,654 refers to information, re validity of credit cards, stored in a remote date bank and United Kingdom Patent No. 1,356,425 refers to a customer "meter-token" device which retains details of total fuel taken.
• United States Patent No. 3,484,020 describes the techniques necessary for control of multi-pump set up via *a one card reader and United States Patent No. 5.
• 3,436,736 refers to two cards to match a patients drug requirements against the drugs in a dispensing unit at a hospital.
• United States Patent No. 3,401,830 describes the use of credit cards together with memorized numbers for 10. protection against loss of that card while United States Patent No. 2,792,148 describes the use of credit cards to dispense petrol.
• a transaction control system whereby a holder of the card may purchase and have recorded against his account the purchase of commodities such as petrol, the system being such that on presentation of the user card which is verified against a card 25. presented by the issuer of the credit card, that the verification gives an accept signal to ⁇ a dispensing mechanism to allow the user to dispense the commodity, the system including means whereby when the dispensing is completed that there is an automatic tallying and print-out of the transaction with the users account being debited the amount dispensed.
• the system 5. would use a magnetically coded card which is adapted to be used with a programmable calculator having print-out means .
• This invention is applicable to such things as petrol dispensed at a petrol filling station
• FIG. 1 is a schematic operational diagram
• FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the electronic 20. functions
• FIG. 3 is a diagram of the sequential relation of part of the circuit
• FIG. 4 is a diagram of the timing of data transfer.
• the programmable calculator 1 is interfaced to a control centre 2, the programmable calculator accepting a programme card 3.
• the chomeric pad 4 of the calculator is used to supply further information 3a.
• the control centre is also connected to the pump 6 and a loom 7 showing the operational state of the system.
• the control centre has code wheels to set the machine code.
• FIG. 2 the operation of the electronic circuitry interfaced to a HP97S calculator in the fuel control system is shown.
• (1) Data may be entered into the calculator via an external keypad.
• Lamps are operated to indicate the status of the unit.
• the fuel pump motor is controlled via a solid state relay.
• An 8 bit unit identification code is sent serially 25. from the HP97S calculator using flags 0 and 1.
• Flag 0 is used as the clock and flag 1 as the serial data input to an 8 bit shift register (IC12) .
• the Code pattern at the shift register parallel outputs is compared with that set up by two BCD thumbwheel switches by an 8 bit digital comparator (IC13, 14).
• the comparator 5. output is checked to see if the code is valid, and if so power is provided to the pump through a solid state relay.
• TWo monostable multivibrators (IC17/2, IC17/2) and a gate (IC10/3) provide a 400 ⁇ sec pulse on each-
• a number containing up to 6 digits can be entered into data latches via the external numeric keypad.
• a keyboard encoder detects the operation of 10. any of the numeric keys and produces the equivalent BCD code at its output, in addition to generating a strobe pulse the BCD code is presented to the latch data input bus via a tristate buffer (IC8) enabled by flag 2.
• the strobe pulse is used to enable a second tristate 15. buffer (C2) onto the latch strobe bus after a decoded counter (IC1) has been incremented.
• the result is " equivalent to steering the keyboard decoder strobe output to one of the six data latches as defined by the counter (IC1) .
• the sequential relation between the 20. oscillator signal, the keyboard encoder strobe pulse, the counter incrementing and the tristate buffer enabling is shown in Fig. 3 (not to scale) .
• the oscillator used to provide the debounce function in the keyboard encoder, and other system timing signals, 25. are formed by an RC network with a schmitt trigger input NAND gate (IC22/3) .
• the oscillator frequency is approximately lOKHz.
• the closure of the CLEAR key is detected by sensing when Row 4 and Column 1 of the keyboard matrix are both zero (IC9/4) .
• IC10/4 provides an inverted input or function to clear the data storage latches when the blue light is on and the clear key is pressed, or when Flag 1 is set (ie under program control) .
• the closure of the ENTER key is detected by sensing when Row 4 and Column 3 of the keyboard matrix are both zero (IC9/3) . This is AND'ed with Flag 2 (IC10/2,, IC22/2) to set the Data Ready flip-flop.
• a 5 digit BCD counter is incremented each time a pulse is received via the pulser interface circuitry (3.6) and thus a tally is kept of the fuel being delivered in the current transaction. Transfer of data from this counter to the latches, and hence to the •
• calculator is initiated by the end of pump operation detection circuitry. This counter is reset by Flag 2 when the keyboard mode is selected.
• the counter (IC6) has internal tristate buffers enabling direct connection to the latch data input and
• the end of pump operation circuitry triggers a monostable multivibrator (IC15/1) providing an output pulse of approximately 3m sees. For the duration of 25. this pulse, the oscillator (lOKHz approx.) is gated into the digit strobe scan clock input of .IC6. On each positive going transition of the scan clock input, the internal digit select counter is incremented and new BCD data transferred to the latch data input bus. On each negative going transition of the scan clock input, a monostable multivibrator (IC15/2) is triggered and produces an output pulse at approximately 10 ⁇ sees to enable the digit select outputs of the counter and 5. hence pulse the required latch strobe line to store the BCD digit currently on the latch date input bus.
• IC15/1 monostable multivibrator
• Timing sequences are shown in Fig. 4 (not to scale) .
• the maximum time required to transfer all five digits 10. of the counter to the latches is 600 ⁇ sees (assuming lOKHz clock) .
• the transfer of data from the latches to the calculato is initiated at the end. of the pulse generated by IC15/1, when it clocks the data ready flip-flop (IC 21/1) .
• HP97S calculator may be initiated in two ways and is dependent upon the mode in which the system is operating 20. as defined by the state of Flag 2.
• the two flip-flops comprising IC21 control the initiation of data input to the calculator.
• IC21/1 When IC21/1 is set r either by the ENTER key from the keyboard or by the end of pump operation, it indicates that data is 5. ready in the latches for transfer to the calculator.
• the LOAD line to the calculator On the next rising edge of OSC, the LOAD line to the calculator is set high. The calculator indicates that data is being accepted by setting LE low, which resets the data ready and load flip flops (IC21) .
• the end of pump operation is detected by sensing the removal of supply to the pump motor caused by the switch operated when the nozzle is placed back in the 20. pump housing.
• Sensing is achieved using a 240:12V transformer with a half wave rectifier and capacitor filter.
• the transformer is modified by reducing the number, of low voltage coils to 5 and used as a current detection 25. device.
• the current drawn by the pump motor drops to zero, data is transferred from the litres counter to the latches and then to the calculator (Section 3.3).
• a pulser unit is installed in the pump to provide 30. 100 pulses per litre of fuel supplied.
• the electronic control centre checks a program code against a thumbwheel switch code set in the control centre itself. In this way the system ensures that the owner of one unit, and pack of program cards cannot
• the electronic control centre also cqntrols the action of the lights showing the status of the unit at any time.
• the centre contains the necessary 12.
• the pulser shaft is rotated by a drive between it and the measuring head of any mechanical pump.
• the centre also allows access to the calculator " via the keypad and thereby enables the user to input user 10. numbers, vehicle numbers and odometer readings.
• the system is such that before any transaction the person issuing the card, that is the garage owner would insert into the program of the calculator the particular code 15.' details applicable to that installation including the garage security code function so that on presentation by the user of his card that the unit is programmed to accept the card if the security function details coincide with the function on the users card.
• the information for verification on the users card is not a coded number, but a complex mathematical function, and that on the garage owners card is also a different mathematical function, and the accept verification is only given if the programmable
• the garage owners card could also be provided with information relating to a security function of current delinquent accounts so that if a delinquent account card is presented the unit would not provide- 5. the acceptable signal to the dispensing equipment and would notify the user and garage owner.
• the garage owners card could also provide infor ⁇ mation relating to the current price relating to the petrol at that time, and give details for the total 10. consumption of the machine when it is required at the close of business and the total value of the fuel sold for the day can thus also be printed out at the end of the day.
• the customers card can have information mechanically 15. presented on the tape relating to the company name, if desired and employees name if desired and the company account number.
• the user On presenting the security card, the user then has • to punch into the system his own security number which 20. is known only to him and which verifies the ownership of the card.
• Each card can also have its own card number stored on it if desired.
• the card is validated as the card is entered when the security number is punched in. 14 .
• the system is virtually foolproof for the components of the card of the user which may be parts of the account number, security number and card number thus tally with the garage security code number.
• the accept signal is transmitted to open the-power to the pump, and the pump is switched when the nozzle is taken out of the socket.
• the power on stores one pulse and a second pulse is given on power off supply to cause a print out in terms of the electrical power to the pump.
• the machine When a customer card is represented, the machine automatically updates it with the last transaction stored magnetically and the customer may have to actuate the program button to carry this out.
• the security of the system can be enhanced by the provision of instructions to disregard any 15. request to print out security details, such as numbers, functions and the like and so that if any unauthorised attempt to obtain this information is made, the instructions are ignored.
• a further situation to which this invention is applicable is in relation to owners of fleets 30. of vehicles and-in relation to control and management of such fleets. 15a .
• An example of such a problem may show that the usage of fuel per kilometre may be increasing or varying widely. This may indicate problems of keying in information or it may indicate problems 10. in relation to a particular vehicle. Such information may indicate that the vehicle is due for maintenance.
• Comparison of performance information between 20. vehicles of one type in a fleet and vehicles of another type could also give information as to when vehicles should be replaced and what vehicles should be purchased.
• Control may also be had for the fleet owners bunkering system with periodic supply of information relating to the amount of fuel left in a bunker and warning supplied when the fuel level is such 15. that re-filling Is required.
• control systems can relate to labour transactions to monitor the hours worked by employees and to calculate weekly pay, the system can also cater for different hourly worker rates and analysis 5. of employees time keeping programr
• Project transactions can also be controlled to monitor the parts and labour booked to individual jobs in the production area and also inventory transactions to enable any stored materials to be 10. accurately monitored and material. ⁇ .and movements to be recorded on both a goods inwards and outwards basis.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
• Beverage Vending Machines With Cups, And Gas Or Electricity Vending Machines (AREA)
• Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=3768483

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (6)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1981
  • 1981-04-01 EP EP19810900734 patent/EP0050120A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-04-01 WO PCT/AU1981/000038 patent/WO1981002940A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-04-01 JP JP56500937A patent/JPS57500904A/ja active Pending
  • 1981-04-09 IT IT48247/81A patent/IT1142490B/it active
  • 1981-12-08 DK DK542281A patent/DK542281A/da not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (7)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events