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
  • G07F7/08—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
  • G07F7/1008—Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• • 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
  • G06Q20/38—Payment protocols; Details thereof
  • G06Q20/40—Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
  • G06Q20/403—Solvency checks
  • G06Q20/4033—Local solvency checks
• • 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
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an arrangement fox making payments by credit card or charge card, such arrangements or apparatus being known as apparatus for Electronic Funds Trans ⁇ fer at Point of Sale (EFTPDS).
• EFTPDS Electronic Funds Trans ⁇ fer at Point of Sale
• the other problem is that the till operator is not able to check whether the account to ⁇ hich the credit card applies has sufficient means to cover the cost of the goods purchased_or services rendered.
• the credit limit of a credit card is exceeded, problems are created for the respective credit card finance companies or like bodies responsible for the card.
• the present invention offers a solution to the handling proble associated ⁇ ith credit card paymens, or EFTPOS, of ⁇ hich problems the t ⁇ o mentioned above are the most common.
• the present invention relates to an arrangement for making payments ⁇ ith a credit card, including a card reader, a keyboard for entering the sum required and possibly a per ⁇ sonal code number, a display, a printer, and a microprocessor ⁇ hich is arranged to control the display and to receive from the card reader a signal related to the account for ⁇ hich the card is made out and optionally to other information read from the card, and ⁇ hich is also arranged to control the printer, the microprocessor being intended for connection to a bank computer and/or to the computer bank of a credit card finan ⁇ cing company, in order to debit the account concerned, the arrangement being characterized in that a memory is connected to the microprocessor; in that the microprocessor includes a random number generator or a corresponding device; in that there is provided a further keyboard
• the single figure of the dra ⁇ ing is a block schematic of an arrangement according to the invention for making credit card payments, or electronic fund transfers at point of sale, in stores, supermarkets, air terminals, and like places ⁇ here at least one till operator or cash point operator is avail ⁇ able to take payment for the goods purchased or services rendered.
• the arrangement includes a card reader 1, a key ⁇ board 2 for entering the sum required and optionally also a personal code number, possibly together ⁇ ith further informa ⁇ tion, a display 3 for displaying, inter alia, the data entered on the keyboard 2, . and a microprocessor 4 and a printer,5.
• the microprocessor 4 is programmed to control the display 3 in a manner ⁇ hich, inter alia, reproduces on the display the data entered on the keyboard 2 and also information as to whether or not the microprocessor has accepted the card read by the card reader and to whether the sum involved can be accepted or not.
• the microprocessor 4 is arranged to receive from the card reader 1 , on line 6, a signal which relates to the account for ⁇ hich the credit card is issued and optionally also to other data read from the card.
• the credit card is suitably of the kind provided ⁇ ith a magnetic tape in ⁇ hich readable informa ⁇ tion or data is stored.
• This optional additional data or information may have the form of a personal code, a maximum permitted credit limit per calendar day, or a debiting occasion, etc.
• the microprocessor 4 is also constructed to cause the printer 5 to print out certain data or information, via the line 7.
• the microprocessor k is connected in a known manner, via the telephone network, or in another corresponding manner,to computers which process the account on which the card is issued, such as a bank computer or the computer of a credit card financing company, in order to establish what funds are available on the account, and in order to debit the account.
• computers which process the account on which the card is issued, such as a bank computer or the computer of a credit card financing company, in order to establish what funds are available on the account, and in order to debit the account.
• the arrangement includes a so-called scrambler 8 and a modem 9 for connection to the telephone network.
• the reference numeral 10 indicates a modem of, for example, a bank
• the reference numeral 11 indicates a bank computer
• the reference numerals 12, 13, 14 indicate respective computers of other institutions, such as different credit card financing companies ⁇ ith ⁇ hich the bank cooperates.
• the reference numeral 11 may instead indicate a coordinating computer of the credit card company
• the reference numerals 12, 13, 14 may indicate banks and/or other credit card companies.
• the microprocessor 4 is also programmed to instruct the printer 5 to print-out the sum required on a receipt or record slip 15, among other things.
• This sum is exemplified as SEK 1200:- in the dra ⁇ ing and is referenced 16.
• the arrangement hitherto described is kno ⁇ n to a large extent.
• the arrangement described hitherto can be considered to constitute an arrangement for dispensing cash against a tendere credit card, namely a so-called ba ⁇ komat (registered trademark) or an autobank, ⁇ hich are to be found outside a large number of banks and at other locations.
• a tendere credit card namely a so-called ba ⁇ komat (registered trademark) or an autobank, ⁇ hich are to be found outside a large number of banks and at other locations.
• ba ⁇ komat registered trademark
• autobank autobank
• a RAM-type memory 17 is connected to the microprocessor 4.
• microprocessor 4 incorporates a random number generator or is correspondingly programmed to generate random numbers.
• the microprocessor 4 is also arranged to store in the memory 17 the aforesaid signals from the card reader 1 together ⁇ ith a number generated by the random number generator.
• Togethe is meant that at least the sum required inserted through the keyboard 2 shall be stared in the memory 17 pair ⁇ ise ⁇ ith a randomly generated number.
• the microprocessor instructs the printer to print-out a record slip on ⁇ hich, inter alia, the sum 16 and a number, 18, is printed.
• the arrangement includes a further keyboard 19, 20, 21 in one or more till points or cash points A, B and C, these keyboards 19, 20 " , 21 being connected to the microprocessor 4.
• the further keyboards 19, 20, 21 are intended to be used for entering the number 18 printed on the record slip 15 by the printer 5.
• the microprocessor 4 receives from one of the further keyboards 19, 20, 21 a signal ⁇ hich corresponds to a number-related signal, the microprocessor compares this signal ⁇ ith the pairwise combina ⁇ tions of sum and number stored in the memory 17.
• the microprocessor When the number to ⁇ hich the signal relates is found in the me mory 17, the microprocessor is programmed to send a signal over line 8, 9, 10 to the computer 11-14 of a bank or a credit card financing company instructing the computer to debit the account to ⁇ hich said sum relates.
• One ⁇ r more card readers 1, keyboards 2, displays 3 and prin ⁇ ters 5, to ⁇ hich customers may turn in order to obtain a record slip, or recipt 15, at any time during their stay on the purchasing premises, is or are placed centrally in a store, supermarket or like establishment.
• the customer approaches the card reader and inserts his/her card in a slot 22 herefor, and then enters the sum required, and optionally a personal code, through the keyboar 2.
• the microprocessor is programmed to check whether or not the account for ⁇ hich the card has been issued has sufficient means to cover the transacted sum, this check being made in a kno ⁇ n manner through communication ⁇ ith the computer 11-14 of a bank and/or a credit card financing company.
• the microprocessor is program- med to first make this check and then to instruct the printer 5 to issue a record slip 15, as described above, provided that sufficient funds are available.
• a printer 5 ⁇ f this kind is inexpensive and simple and the text produced can thus be readily falsified. Consequently, it ⁇ ould be quite inadequate for the record or transaction slip simply to sho ⁇ the sum involved. This ⁇ uld make it easy to forge or falsify a record slip.
• the printer 5 Because there is recorded on the record slip a number ⁇ hich has been selected at random, this number being purely a nume ⁇ rical number or any alpha-numerical character sequence ⁇ hatso- ever, and because the combination of sum and number is stored in the memory 17, ⁇ he ⁇ the number is entered through one of t- e-- eyboards 19, 20 , 21 the mi croprocessor i s abl e to ascertai n the authenticity o f the number by checking that th is number has actuall y been printed by the printer 5 .
• the keyboards 19, 20, 21 are intended to be used for entering the number 18 and the sum 16 recorded on the slip 15 printed by the printer 5.
• the microprocessor is therefore constructed to make a comparison bet ⁇ een the signal received from a keyboard and combinations of pairs of sums and numbers stored in the memory 17, ⁇ ith respect to both sum and number.
• the microprocessor does not effect a debiting procedure until a comparison has been made and the- aforesaid combination on the record slip has been sh ⁇ n to agree ⁇ ith an equivalent combination in the memory 17.
• This embodiment thus enables the customer to change his/her mind, i.e. not to use the record slip, or receipt, as a means of payment.
• the microprocessor 4 is programmed to effect a debiting superviseng only when a signal is obtained from one of the further keyboards 19-21 within a preselected period of time from the time at which the printer 5 issued a record slip 15. This means that a printed record slip will be invalid after a given period of time has lapsed.
• a suitable time period in this regard is, e.g., one hour.
• the microprocessor 4 is constructed to compare the random number last generated with the numbers printed by the printer during the immediate prece ⁇ ding preselected time period, and in the event that this number has not been printed during said time period to print said number or otherwise to generate a new number and to compare this number with the numbers already printed.
• each record or trans ⁇ action slip beco.mes unique.
• Each record slip can therewith be said to constitute a valuable document possessing a rela ⁇ tively high security level, despite its simplicity.
• a part of the aforesaid preselected time period is utilized to effect the necessary credit check.
• the printer prints a record slip prior to carrying out a credit control through the computers 12-14.
• data to this effect is stored in the memory together ⁇ ith the sum-number combination. This; affords sufficient time for the check to be made without requiring the customer to wait. In certain cases the time involved may rqggh several minutes.
• the micro- • processor is programmed to send an error signal to respective keyboards over lines herafor, this error signal activating a signalling device, e.g. a red lamp 23-25 on the keyboard.
• a signalling device e.g. a red lamp 23-25 on the keyboard.
• the reason may be that not sufficient funds are available, that the number or alternatively the combination has, or have, not been printed on a record slip, or that there has not been time to carry out a credit check.
• the microprocessor is programmed to send to the memory a signal to the effect that this combination shall be considered as being invalid, this signal being coupled to the relevant combination in the memory.
• the keyboards 19-21 may be equipped ⁇ ith a green lamp 26-28 signifying that the record slip is a valid form of payment, these lamps being ignited by the micropro ⁇ cessor ⁇ hen it has found the combination entered through the keyboard 19-21.
• the customer estimates the total cost of his/her purchases. If the estimate is too low, the customer pays the difference in cash at the till point, whereas if the sum estimated is too high the difference is repaid at the till point.
• the present invention thus solves the problems recited in the introduction.
• the arrangement also affords practical and economical advan ⁇ tages.
• the respective apparatus in ⁇ hich the arrangement is installed are situated remote from the cash registers used at the till points or sale points in the store etc., these cash registers varying ⁇ idely in make and design.
• the cash register be used for direct credit control purposes of the kind for ⁇ hich the ' present invention is used, it ⁇ ould be necessary to provide each cash register ⁇ ith an appropriate interface for coupling the cash register to various computers from ⁇ hich information relating the amount of funds or means available can be collected.
• Such a system ⁇ ould be very expensive.
• the present invention can be readily installed at relatively lo ⁇ costs.
• the cash register is provided ⁇ ith connections to the microprocessor 4 corresponding to the connections 29-31 for the aforesaid keyboard, and also ⁇ ith control lamps correspon ⁇ ding to the aforesaid lamps 23-25; 26-28.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)
• Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20360626

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (25)

• 1985
  • 1985-06-18 SE SE8503039A patent/SE448127B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1986
  • 1986-06-18 DE DE8686903709T patent/DE3672986D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1986-06-18 WO PCT/SE1986/000297 patent/WO1986007647A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1986-06-18 EP EP19860903709 patent/EP0229101B1/en not_active Expired

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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