WO1991007725A2

WO1991007725A2 - Point of sale system

Info

Publication number: WO1991007725A2
Application number: PCT/US1990/006799
Authority: WO
Inventors: John A. Small; David G. Mills; Michael Robert Carroll
Original assignee: Viata Corporation
Priority date: 1989-11-21
Filing date: 1990-11-20
Publication date: 1991-05-30
Also published as: WO1991007725A3; AU6903591A

Abstract

A modular point-of-sale system maintains current transaction screening data and complete transaction data at each point-of-sale processor (POSP) which provides service to a community of point-of-sale terminals (POST's). A wide variety of different customer transactions can be processed without reference to a remote authorization computer. By way of example, customer transactions may include: check authorizations, credit card sales, local store credit sales, debit account transactions, frequent shopper cards, coupons, etc.

Description

POINT OF SALE SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to point-of-sale and point-of- use systems for checking and processing transactions.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Point-of-sale and/or point-of-use systems are widely used in commercial transactions. A typical system comprises: a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POST'S) ; a point-of-sale processor (FOSP) which provides service to the associated point-of-sale terminals (POST'S) and comprises a memory for storing a transaction screening database; a remote point-of- sale host computer (RPOSH) comprising a master database; and arrangements for communication between the remote point-of- sale host computer and a point-of-sale processor to update the transaction screening database. A system may comprise a plurality of point-of-sale processors which are updated by a single remote point-of-sale host computer. Furthermore, in certain systems, the point-of-sale processors include additional memory for maintaining records of local transactions which are completed by use of the associated point-of-sale terminal. Prior art systems generally consist of relatively large computers in which transaction screening is limited to negative and positive credit files; and the transaction files at a point-of-sale processor are limited to recent transactions processed solely by the associated local point-of-sale terminals. Complete transaction data is stored elsewhere.

Such prior art systems are generally uneconomical for use in relatively small, low transaction volume install¬ ations; and for use in areas where dedicated telephone lines are difficult to obtain and/or are expensive.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, our point of sale/use system, which is modular in nature, comprises at least two levels of processor nodes, namely, point-of-sale (POSP) and remote point-of-sale host (RPOSH) processor nodes. Each RPOSH processor includes a master transaction screening data base; and facilities for maintaining up-to-date screening data and complete transaction data in all POSP's.

Our system is adaptable to a wide variety of transaction services ranging from simple check approval transactions to sales credit transactions.

In the present invention, all system control is implemented by small, low-priced processors e.g., IBM compatible PC's, which are distributed at the processor nodes throughout our system. Each processor comprises a finite state software operating system controller, termed a router/scheduler herein, which is adapted to implement the specific tasks which are assigned to a processor. A router/- scheduler manages all of the hardware and software resources of a processor in accordance with a defined priority plan for ordering task execution.

By way of example, service of requests from point of sale terminals (POST'S) and the recording of transactions completed by use of those terminals are the primary tasks which are assigned to a point-of-sale processor (POSP) ; and which are implemented by the router/scheduler in the processor. Other illustrative tasks which are assigned to a POSP are: communication with a RPOSH processor for the purposes of receiving current screening and transaction data from the RPOSH processor; and for sending recent transaction and system data to the RPOSH processor. System surveillance and corresponding remedial action are tasks which are implemented in all processors of our system

In the case of a RPOSH, the primary assigned task is origination of reasonably frequent communication with point of sale processors (POSP's) for the purposes of sending up-to- date screening and transaction data to each POSP; and for the purpose of receiving current transaction data from each POSP. Such communication assures that all POSP's process terminal requests with up-to-date screening information and complete transaction data. Since each POSP has a complete transaction file, which includes transactions processed by other POSP's, it is possible to generate consolidated transaction reports at a terminal of any POSP. Each POSP is arranged to generate a number of different reports which approach the data from different viewpoints. An authorized employee e.g., a manager, enters an access code via a terminal and selects a report type. The report is printed on a printer at the terminal or elsewhere in the facility.

In our system, each point of sale terminal (POST) has an assigned identification code; a plurality of point of sale terminals are connected in parallel to a single standard port of the associated POSP; and the router/-sσheduler therein serves requests from the associated terminals at one level of priority, and serves other assigned tasks with other levels of priority.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1 illustrates a point-of-sale system in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a processor; Fig. 3 illustrates a router/scheduler;

Fig. 4 illustrates a router/scheduler and illustrative stacks controlled thereby;

Fig. 5 illustrates reorganization of system and function stacks in accordance with a priority plan; Fig. 6 illustrates reorganization of argument and alarm stacks in accordance with a priority plan;

Fig. 7 illustrates system initialization; Fig. 8 illustrates a machine cycle of a POST; Fig. 9 illustrates a first machine cycle of a POSP using a generic database; Fig. 10 illustrates a second machine cycle of a POSP using a generic database

Fig. 11 illustrates a database inquiry procedure;

Fig. 12 illustrates a transaction checking procedure; Figs. 13 and 13A illustrate RPOSH and POSP communication;

Fig. 14 is a block diagram of a system which includes a central host processor;

Fig. 15 illustrates off-line credit card authorization; and illustrates flow of communication in the system;

Fig. 16 illustrates off-line reporting procedures.

DEFINITIONS To facilitate the ready understanding of the following description, the following definitions are set forth and define the terms as used herein.

1. CH means Central Host computer.

2. Concurrent tasking means that multiple things are available to happen at the same time.

3. Multi Threading or Multi Threaded means operations in which a plurality of tasks, inquiries and the like can be inputted or transmitted prior to receiving a response to any one of them.

4. Finite State Machine means a machine having a set of inputs that are understood, with nothing else known to the system being allowed to be input and with a predetermined set of outputs that constitute an action.

5. ID means customer or patron designation such as an identification number. 6. LAN means Local Area Network.

7. PIN means Personal Identification Number.

8. POSP means Point-of-Sale Processor.

9. POST means a Point-of-Sale Terminal.

10. POUP means Point-of-Use Processor. 11. POUT means Point-of-Use Terminals. 12. Router/Scheduler is a finite state controller which totally controls all of the software and hardware resources of the point-of-sale processor (POSP) as well as the various products generated by the Remote Point-of-Sale Host (RPOSH) .

13. RPOSH means Remote Point-of-Sale Host.

14. Single Threading or Single Threaded means operations in which a plurality of tasks, inquiries and the like can only be processed serially, that is, a response must be received for each one before the next can be processed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now turning to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, it will be observed that there are therein depicted the principal parts of the system as it is installed in a retail store. The Point-of-Sale processor (POSP) 10 contains a conventional personal computer type microprocessor, memory, storage devices and adaptor cards needed to implement the invention. These are shown in Figure 2. The POSP 10 is connected via conventional circuits such as twisted pair copper wire 11 and standard telephone jacks (not shown) in a continuous loop Local Area Network (LAN) 12. Connected to the local area network are Point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) 13a, 13b and 13d. These are conventional and are preferably terminals such as those manufactured by VeriFone Corporation in Redwood City, California and sold as the VeriFone model TRANS 340 terminal.

Preferably, up to 96 of the VeriFone type terminals may be connected by circuits 11 through the local area network 12 to POSP 10. Each terminal may optionally have connected to it a receipt printer 14a-14d and a PIN pad 15a-15d. Receipt printers I4a-14d are used for printing receipts of transactions for the consumer; and PIN pads 15a-15d are used by the consumer (customer) to enter a secret and secure Personal Identification Number (PIN) during the authorization and processing of specific transactions such as debit card payments. The POSP 10 includes a self-contained communications modem 16 (Figure 2) and is connected to one or more remote host computers 17 through a conventional public telephone line 18. As contemplated by the present invention, the point-of- sale processor system is a totally self-contained trans-action authorization and processing system at the point-of-sale. As described below, a data base of information used to approve transaction inquiries is stored in a disk drive in the point- of-sale processor. Transaction inquiries are created at the point-of-sale terminals 13a-13d either by manual entry through keys 13a'-13d' or by the use of a conventional pre-encoded magnetic striped card (not shown) read by the integral magnetic striped card reader in the terminal 13a-13d. The inquiry message is transmitted along the local area network 12 to the POSP 10. The POSP then accesses its stored database. Since transaction storage memory is provided within the point-of- sale processor memory data base, there is no need for any of the point-of-sale terminals 13a-13d to include transaction memory storage, thus simplifying terminal requirements and adding to reliability and reduced cost.

In the case of an authorization of a check, for example, the data base stores either the ID number or driver's license number of each customer who has previously been approved for check cashing or the ID number or driver's license number of customers who have recently written a check which was bad. Using the data base stored in the POSP, the system returns a response to the terminal instructing the terminal user as to the status of that ID number. The transaction is then approved or declined at the terminal.

Since no external communication is required to perform this function, the response to inquiries at the terminal is very fast and the overall communications cost to authorize and process transactions is very low. Also, as described below, the POSP accumulates all transactions in activity fields within a monolithic data base which maintains a complete record of the number of transactions and the dollar amounts of such transactions over a selected period of time. The system employs its unique activity checking capability to further report information to the terminal user as to the total activity of that ID number or driver's license number during a pre-selected time interval. In this manner, approvals of requests for authorization can be modified by additional information such as an unusually high activity of use of that ID number. The data base in the POSP is updated via periodic communications sessions with a Remote Point-of-Sale Host (RPOSH) . These communications sessions are scheduled at predetermined intervals so as to maintain current the data base in each POSP. In addition, coordination through a Central Host Computer (e.g.. regional or national) may optionally be made by single communication sessions scheduled at predetermined times, typically late at night when communications costs are at their lowest. During such sessions, all transactions and error messages accumulated in the POSPs are transmitted upline to the Remote Point-of-Sale Host computer (RPOSH, e.g. _f computer 17) , and updates in the form of adds, deletes or changes to the POSP data base are transmitted down from the RPOSH to the POSPs. Updates to the database can occur concurrently with terminal operation (e.g.. concurrent tasking) and can, if desired, be performed hourly as opposed to daily in order to achieve a higher frequency of update and more timeliness of data base information.

Referring now to Figure 2, the POSP hardware components are shown. In general overview, the invention utilizes personal computer components which are readily available from many different vendors. The POSP 10 may preferably be an IBM XT, AT or compatible, with a micro-processor 20 such as the industry standard 8088, 80286, 80386, and NEC V20 or the like. The random access memory 21 can be as little as 256 kilobytes or as much as 640 kilobytes (or more) . The fixed disk drive 22 is connected to the microprocessor via fixed disk controller 23 and is used to store the operating system, programs and data. It may be as small as 20 megabytes or as large as 512 mega-bytes. The removable disk drive 24 is connected to the microprocessor via removable disk controller 25 and is used for servicing and the entry of new programs into the system. The service keyboard 26 and the service CRT display 27 are optional since they are not used in normal operation but may be provided for on-site servicing by a service technician. The serial communications adaptor 28 is interconnected between the microprocessor 20 and modem 16 to provide an interface there between. Modem 16 provides communications between the POSP and distant hosts over conventional communications facilities such as public telephone line 18. A suitable LAN adaptor 29, preferably an industry standard RS-45 LAN adaptor, is used to connect the POSP 10 via line 18 to terminals 13a- 13d. Finally, in Figure 2 there is shown conventional clock 30 which operates conventionally in known manner.

Although the foregoing hardware components are described as individual parts, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that they may either be separate items such as chips or separate boards, or they may be portions of a larger motherboard or the like.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown the overall flow chart of the relationship between the operating system Router/Scheduler which is the name given the core operations performed by the processor, the hardware components and the systems or software resources which for purposes of description are hereinafter referred to as stacks. The Router/Scheduler 32 evaluates and reorders requests from the stacks and allocates memory and other hardware resources on which or through which the subroutines are executed by the microprocessor 20. These subroutines are represented as functions, arguments and alarms in the appropriate stacks. The router/scheduler 32 is, as mentioned above, a finite state controller which is in total control of all of the software and hardware resources of the point-of-sale processor 10 including its memories, as well as the various products generated by the host 17.

Before proceeding further, it should be observed that the remote point-of-sale host(s) (e.g.. RPOSHs 301 and 302, Figure 15) and the optional central host 300 include router/- schedulers corresponding to those of the point-of-sale processors.

Further reference to Figure 3 reveals block 33 which represents local network communications, system clock 30, block 34 which represent external communications, block 35 which represents the memory of the Random Access Memory 21, block 36 which represents the memory of the Fixed Drive 22, block 37 which represents the Read Only Memory associated with microprocessor 20, System Stacks 38, Function Stacks 39, Argument Stacks 40 and Alarm Stacks 41.

Referring to Figure 4, there is illustrated the relationship between the Router/Scheduler and the four stacks which represent the functional operation of the system. The system stack is the principal list of demands by the system for disk input/output 50, LAN input/output 51, memory input/output 52 and upline communications input/-output 53. The Router/Scheduler evaluates the system stack 38 and reorders it based on a priority of memory I/O first, LAN 1/0 second and all other requests handled on an equal priority basis. The function stack 39 represents specific requests for subroutines from terminals or communications. Thus, it includes disk read 55, two memory reads 56 and 56a, LAN write 57, LAN read 58 and disk read 59.

The argument stack represents the specific location or action which corresponds on a one-to-one basis with the functions in the function stack. Thus, it includes addresses 61-63, LAN pointers 64 and 65, and null 66.

The alarm stack represents alarms which are accumulated by other parts of the system and are handled on a prioritized basis by the router/scheduler. They are represented by time, functions 67-69. Figure 5 illustrates operation of the system stack 38 and the function stack 39 under the control of the router/- scheduler. When the router/scheduler evaluates the system stack 38 as shown in the 'before' column, it reorders the calls in the system stack on a priority basis. As can be seen in the 'after' condition, the system stack is evaluated and reordered to place the memory I/O call 52 first, LAN I/O calls 51 and 51a second, and all other I/O calls or system calls (e.g.. calls 50 and 53 on an equal basis after that) . The router/scheduler evaluates the function stack on a first-in first-out basis. As a call such as disk read 55 is accessed or popped off of the function stack and other functions are added to the stack, the new functions are added to the bottom, pushing the existing functions upwardly toward the top as signified by upwardly pointing arrow 60. As in the 'before' case which is illustrated, a disk read 55 is popped off the top of the function stack 39 while a new memory read 56b is added to the bottom as signified by horizontal arrow 61.

Figure 6 illustrates operation of the argument stack 40 and alarm stack 41 which are handled in much the same manner as the heretofore described function stack 39. Thus, when the top argument address 61 is accessed or popped off, a new address argument 70 is added at the bottom of the stack as denoted by horizontal arrow 71. The alarm stack 41 is handled totally sequentially, with the alarms 67-69 handled in the order in which they entered the stack. Thus, alarm time,function 67 is handled first, and 68 next, followed by alarm time,function 69. This is illustrated by the disappearance of time,function 67 from the 'after' alarm stack 41 and the moving upward of 68 and 69 as denoted by upward pointing arrow 72.

As mentioned above. Figure 7 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the sequence of operations conducted by the router/scheduler in initialization of the processor during start-up. As will be evident to those skilled in the art, such start-up may occur either at the time of initial installation or after power-up following a normal shut down. In task 100, the router/scheduler 32 polls the terminals 13 to determine how many terminals there are on the local area network 12. If it polls and finds no terminals answering, as represented by condition 101, then it takes the point-of-sale processor down as represented by block 102. If the router/scheduler finds that there are greater than 0 terminals connected to the LAN as represented by circle 103, then it sends a terminal reset 104 to the first terminal (e.g.. 13a, Figure 1) . If it receives a defective response 105, it sends a terminal reset 104 a total of three times as represented by block 106. If after three terminal resets, that particular terminal does not respond properly, then that particular terminal is taken off line as represented by blocks 107 and 108. If it receives a good response as indicated by block 109, then it schedules the terminal to be polled as indicated by block 110. It continues to work through the total number of terminals connected to the LAN until all terminals are either taken down or scheduled to be polled. This is accomplished as illustrated by 'more terminals' logic block 111. Thus, if the answer to the question 'more terminals?' is 'yes', system operation returns as illustrated by line 114 to 'send terminal reset' 104 so as to send a terminal reset to the next terminal in line. If, on the other hand, the answer is 'no', then system operation proceeds via path 115.

Once all terminals have been determined to be in one state or the other (i.e.. either reset or taken down) , then the router/scheduler resets the external communications circuits as represented by block 116. At the same time, it pushes a wake-up call to the alarm stack as signified by block 117. Since the alarm stack 41 is evaluated period-ically by the router/scheduler 32, it will trigger the point-of-sale processor to being running machine cycles as represented by 118. If after resetting external communications (116), it receives a bad response 120, then it assumes that either the model 16 or the external communications (e.g.. telephone line 18) is inoperable and sends a response 121 to the terminals 13a 13n that "phone won't answer." This automatic initialization procedure ensures that all of the system and its terminals, automatically are initialized or re-started if down, by the processor 10 and all terminals 13 are brought on line without any user intervention. It also ensures that communication which is required by the system for proper operation is automatically tested, and users are notified of a communications outage immediately. The advantage of this procedure is that it is automatic, it checks all components for proper operation and notifies users immediately of any condition which would cause the system to be partially or completely inoperable. As mentioned above. Figure 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the sequence of operations conducted by the system when a terminal user initiates an inquiry that is formatted as a terminal message and polled by the processor for inquiry response. Thus, Figure 8 includes steps in the flow of the machine cycle which occur within the terminal. Each terminal 13a-13d . . . 13n includes a processor, memory space, keyboard 13a'. . 13n', display and magnetic stripe reader. Accordingly, the procedure which is indicated within the box 130 labeled 'terminal procedure' is totally internal to the terminal. The program routine which facilitates this operation is automatically downloaded to each terminal during the initialization process. In referring to this and later flow charts the lozenge shaped boxes such as box 130a indicate manual operations entered into the terminal by a user. The CRT display shaped symbol 130b indicates information displayed to the terminal display. All other boxes are logic, which is internal to the system software.

In the example of Figure 8, a check authorization example is illustrated wherein the user presses 1 on the terminal keypad (lozenge 131) to select the check author-ization function. Other possible operations include pressing individual keys to initialize a procedure for credit card authorization, frequent shopper transaction, debit card transaction, electronic benefits transaction, electronic coupon redemption transaction and any other payment form or information authorization and transaction processing which could occur at a point of sale. In the case of the check authorization, the purpose is to provide a retail clerk with the ability to authorize acceptance of a customer check by making inquiry to a locally stored data base of either good or bad checks identified by the ID number of the consumer. The ID number may be a driver's license number, social security number or any other number of alpha numeric designator which is unique to that individual. Entering the ID number prompts the terminal to return a request to enter the amount. The amount of the check is entered and the inquiry messages completed. The message stays at the terminal until polled through the local area network by the point-of-sale processor. The router/-scheduler runs subroutines which communicate with each terminal and retrieve inquiry messages which are available at each terminal. These inquiries are pushed and evaluated to the system stack where the router/scheduler is then able to act upon the inquiry.

In operation, when the terminal is ready for use, a "ready" message will appear on the terminal display as denoted by CRT display symbol 132. Then, when the user presses 1 (or another coded key representing a desired customer checking function) on the terminal keypad 13a'-13d', the CRT display will change to display a message indicating the selected function as represented by CRT display symbol 133. It will then display a messages such as that depicted in CRT symbol 134. The user will then depress key 135 to enter the customer's ID number, and optionally, the display will display the entered number as denoted by CRT display symbol 136. Such display is made optional so as to provide visual security for such number if desired. If the entered number is incorrectly entered, the user may then depress the backspace key 137 to delete the incorrect number of numbers, and the entry may be corrected in the conventional manner by depressing selected ones of the numbers keys.

As mentioned above, an additional feature of the system hereof permits entry of alpha as well as numeric information. According to such feature, advantage is taken of the alpha designation appearing on the keys of the terminal, such alpha designations corresponding to those on conventional telephone keypads. Thus, the letters A, B and C appear on the 2 key, D, E and F on the 3 key . . . . and W, X and Y on the 9 key.

In order to enter alpha data, selection of the alpha mode is made by initially depressing one of the supervisory, keys such as the * key. Following that, the desired letter is entered by depressing the designated key either once, twice, or three times sequentially. For example, to select the letter B, the supervisory key is first depressed to select the alpha mode. The 2 key is then depressed twice for B. If A is desired, such key is depressed only once, and if C is desired, it is depressed three times. Following entry of the alpha data, a supervisory key is again depressed in order to return the terminal to normal numeric entry mode.

After the correct identification numbers are entered, the CRT display asks for entry of the dollar and cents amount of the transaction as denoted by symbol 138. Such amount is then entered as denoted by symbol 139. The amount entered is then displayed as indicated by symbol 140. Such entry may be corrected in like manner to correction of the personal identification number described above.

When the entry amount is confirmed as being correct, the terminal crates a message indicative of the nature of the transaction, identity of the customer and the trans-action amount as denoted by block 141. It then prepares to send that message over the above-described communications path to the point-of-sale processor (POSP) as indicated by symbol 142. This path extends over the aforementioned communications path 11 of the Local Area Network 12 (Figure 1) . As mentioned above, the POSP is continually polling the terminals to identify any that have messages for transmission. When the active terminal is reached, the aforementioned message is transmitted by the terminal to the POSP. This operation is symbolized by block 143 and its connected symbols. Thus, polling of the terminals is symbolized by block 143. If a polled terminal has no traffic, the POSP then proceeds with additional polling as denoted by block 145.

When the answer received by the POSP is "Yes", then the POSP receives the message and pushes the message (block 147) into the system stack 38 where it progresses in the manner described for Figures 4 and 5 and causes the system to proceed through its first evaluation cycle (block 148) as described below. In Figure 9, there is shown an overall diagram- of the first cycle of operation wherein the inquiry which originated at the terminal in Figure 8 is acted upon. The stack status 150 (noted on the left side of the figure) , identifies requests which are in the system stack 151, the function stack 152 and the argument stack 153 at the beginning of this cycle. First, the router/scheduler 32 (Figure 4) orders and evaluates the system stack as denoted by block 154. The polling of a current terminal is always a high priority. Finding a negative data base read (block 155) which is a potential read of the negative database, it pops the function stack (block 156) by removing that item from the stack and calls the transaction evaluation function 157 as denoted by block 158. It then accesses (pops) the argument stack 153 (as denoted by block 159) to find the character address 160 with which to perform the data base read as denoted by block 161. It then reads the database. If the ID number is not in the database (circle 162), it then checks the manager's alert file (diamond 163). This is a separate file of information which can be entered manually by the manager within the store and usually contains ID numbers of persons who have not retrieved a bad check or continue to owe fees of one sort or another to the store. If the ID number is found in the manager's alert file as denoted by circle 164, then the message 'Alert Manager' 165 is returned to the terminal by pushing it to the terminal return data function of the function stack as denoted by block 166. If the ID number is not found in the manager's alert file (circle 167) then a unique four digit number is randomly generated as an approval code and the message 'approved NNNN' (where NNNN is the unique approval code) is returned to the terminal (block 168) .

If after performing the database read 161, the ID number is found to be in the database as signified by circle 169, then the database record is evaluated. If the database record indicates that the decline bit is set (diamond 170 and 'yes' circle 171) , that ID number is shown to be a person who has been reported as having presented an NSF check at some time during the evaluation period and the message 'Declined' is returned to the terminal as noted by block 172. If, on the other hand, the decline bit is not set (as evidenced by circle 173, then the number of checks and the total dollar amount of checks in the record are returned for evaluation (block 174) on the basis of the activity parameters. For further discussion of the activity checking procedure see Figure 12.

At the end of the evaluation of the database read a response is copied and returned to the terminal by pushing the terminal response return data 166 to the function stack where it is then acted upon during the second machine cycle which is illustrated in Figure 10.

As mentioned above. Figure 10 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating a second sequence of operations conducted by the processor as the router/scheduler 32 delivers the message response to the initiating terminal. The router/scheduler 32 orders and evaluates (block 180) the system stack 181 and finds a command 182 to poll the current terminal. It takes (block 183) 'poll current terminal' 184 from the tope of the function stack 185 and during polling, ascertains if data is pending as denoted by diamond 186. If no data is pending (circle 187), then it continues with the poll (block 188) . On the other hand, if data is pending (circle 189) to send to a terminal, then a terminal data packet is transmitted (block 190) to the terminal from which the request came. If the packet is sent successfully as denoted by block 190, then the terminal receives the data packet and displays the response on the terminal. If the packet is not sent successfully (circle 191) , it is resent three times (block 192) . After three unsuccessful retries (circle 193), the transaction is backed out of the system (block 194) as if it never occurred. A display (display 195) is then returned to the terminal indicating 'bad RX COM. ' This display indicates that the operator must re-enter the data or report that the terminal or system is malfunctioning.. As indicated at 196,the operator of the terminal may re-enter data if desired so as to again attempt a successful processing of the customer entry.

Returning again to diamond 190, if the answer to the successful data transmission is 'yes' as denoted by circle 197, then a display representative of such successful transmission is displayed on display 198. As mentioned above, Figure 11 is a schematic logic/flow diagram illustrating the sequence of operations conducted by the router/scheduler as it responds to terminal initiated inquiries and makes decisions using the point-of-sale stored data base. Thus, there are shown the generic procedures followed in inquiries to the database.

An inquiry procedure 200 requires that the database be examined for the presence of the ID number as denoted by diamond 201. If the ID number is not i the database as denoted by circle 202, then the transaction is approved but the ID number and a transaction record are added to the database

(block 203) . In cases where a positive database is used, then the reverse is true and not finding the ID number in the database returns a decline. If the ID number is in the database (circle 204) then the data base record is evaluated for the manager alert bit (diamond 205) . If the manager alert bit is set (circle 206), then a message of 'call manager* (block 207) is returned to the terminal. If the manager alert bit is not set (circle 208) , then the database record is evaluated for the decline bit (diamond 209) . If the decline bit is set (circle 210) then 'declined' is returned to the terminal as denoted by block 211. If, on the other hand, the decline bit is not set (circle 212) , then the activity checking routine (block 213) is run as described below.

Figure 12 is a schematic logic/flow diagram illustra¬ ting the sequence of transaction activity checking operations in which the router/scheduler accumulates authorization activity and uses that and other data base information to alert the terminal user to authorization activity which exceeds predetermined limits. Thus, the transaction activity checking procedure is outlined in this figure. Once the transaction inquiry is processed as in Figure 11, then the existing database record is evaluated for previous activity. The sample database activity transaction record 215 at the bottom of the figure includes the ID number 216, various alert flags 17 such as the manager alert or decline bit, the total number of transactions presented during that day (day activity number 218) , total dollar amount of transactions presented during that day 219, total number of transactions during that week or any other defined period 220, .the total dollar amount of transactions during that week or defined period 221, and various supplementary customer flags 222 or information which is required by the terminal as a part of the authorization. In checking the current day activity, the day activity field 218 is evaluated using POSP configuration parameters. The POSP can thus be configured to set limits which indicate how many approved transactions and the dollar amount of those transactions are allowed in any single day, week or other time period. The total day activity and numbers of checks and dollar amount 223 is evaluated (block 224) against the configuration parameters and if the results are 'yes' as shown in circle 225, that is, it is at or over the set parameters, then the display 'over day limit' 226 is returned to the terminal. If it is not equal to or greater than the permissible day activity (circle 227) , then the weekly activity fields 220 and 221 are evaluated as shown by diamond 228. If the total is greater than or equal to the permissible weekly activity as set by the configuration parameters (circle 229) , then the display "over weekly limit' 230 is returned. If it is not (circle 231) , then the total number of checks and total dollar amount 232 is written (block 233) to the activity transaction as illustrated by sample activity transaction record 234. The activity transaction record is used to update the database record as denoted by block 235.

The purpose of the above-described activity checking is to provide an additional level of security over and above that of a positive or negative database. The basis for transaction activity checking is that abnormally high numbers of transactions approved during a single day or other designated period need to be evaluated by retail store management and an additional level of examination provided of the customer presenting the transaction for approval. In a case of the rapid update system described below, the day activity fields 218 and 219 and the weekly activity fields 220 and 221 are updated by an accumulation of all trans-action activity in a city or region as controlled and communicated by a remote or rapid update point-of-sale host. Figures 13 and 14 are schematic logic/flow diagrams illustrating the system procedures followed in the inter¬ action between the remote point-of-sale host 17 and one or more remote point-of-sale processors 10 (Figure 1) . Thus, they depict the down line communications procedure from the remote point-of-sale host 17 (RPOSH) to the point-of-sale processor 10 (POSP) . The purpose of this procedure is to update the data bases stored at the point-of-sale processor (POSP) and to upload the accumulated transaction activity and error messages stored in the point-of-sale processor to the RPOSH. In the first step 250, the router/scheduler 32 (Figure 4) schedules calls to the POSPs. It dials the first POSP (block 251) and waits for carrier signal (block 252) through the modem, e.g.. modem 16, over the telephone line, e.g.. line 18. If there is no carrier (circle 253), it waits for a predetermined number of seconds before timing out (diamond 254) . If the predetermined timeout parameter is reached (circle 255), then the line (e.g.. line 18) is disconnected and the POSP telephone number is re-dialed (block 256) . If, on the other hand, the predetermined timeout parameter is not reached (circle 257) , then an indication is returned to the 'wait for carrier' 252.

Once the maximum number of re-dials is reached, then the status 'abort' is logged in the status file and dis-played on the CRT display (symbol 258) or in the above-described status file. If after waiting for carrier, the carrier is returned from the POSP (circle 259) , then the introduction message is sent (block 260) , and the system waits for acknowledgement (block 261) . Acknowledgement is returned by the POSP. If no acknowledgement is returned (circle 262) , then the introduction is resent a total of three times (block 263). If after three times no acknow-ledgement to the introduction is received then 'abort' is logged in the above described status file, an abort message is displayed (CRT display 258) , and communication to that particular POSP is terminated.

If acknowledgement is received from the POSP as indicated by circle 264, then any files which are flagged in the out box of the RPOSH for that particular POSP are sent down to the POSP (block 265) . As the items are sent, the system checks the contents of the aforementioned out box (diamond 256) . If there are yet additional messages which have not been sent (circle 267), an indication thereof is returned to the 'send outbox files' 265 so that an additional message is sent. Once the out box is empty (circle 268) , then the down line communication is completed. During this process the remote point-of-sale host (RPOSH) is in control of the communication protocol. Once the out box files for a particular POSP have been completely sent to that POSP, then that POSP gains control of the communication session, and the files that are located in the 'in box' of the POSP are uploaded to the RPOSH as denoted by block 270 (Figure 14) . During uploading, after each file is received, the question is asked "any more incoming files?" (diamond 271) . If the answer is "yes" (circle 272) , the next file is sent. Such questioning continues until the answer is

"no" (circle 273) is received. Once all such files have been completely uploaded, the telephone line (e.g.. line 18) is disconnected from that particular POSP (block 274) . The RPOSH then checks to see if there are any more POSPs to be checked as denoted by diamond 275. If the answer is "yes" (circle

276) , the system is returned (block 277) so that the next POSP in the queue is dialed up as denoted by block 251 in Figure 13, and the above-described procedure is initiated for that POSP. Communication between the RPOSH and its POSPs continues in the above-described manner throughout the entire list of

POSPs until all have been successfully communicated with or an

'abort' has been logged to the status file as described above.

At that time, the answer to the question "any more POSPs to dial?" (diamond 275) is "no" (circle 278) , and the RPOSH then combines the 'in box' transaction data for all POSPs (block

279) into 'out boxes' that are distinctive to each POSP. The transaction data in such 'out boxes' are distinctive for each

POSP, the transaction data for any given POSP including transaction data for all POSPs other than that particular POSP.

At this point transaction data are sent down to the POSPs.

Once such transaction data have been transmitted to all POSPs, the member list is reset (block 280) and the RPOSH remains quiescent until a present alarm condition for the beginning of a new communications session.

The remote point-of-sale host (RPOSH) provides regional processing and can effect large-scale and frequent communications utilizing relatively inexpensive local telephone lines as opposed to long distance lines from a distant processor. The RPOSH, therefore, needs only one communication between itself and a master host (e.g.. the central host computer of Figure 15) in a distant location each day. It in turn is responsible for all updating and transaction uploading from POSPs in its calling area.

In addition to the foregoing features provided by the present invention, the RPOSH includes the feature of rapid update. One of the advantages of the expensive dedicated line transaction processing networks previously used by retailers is that all data is immediately available from all locations at the same time. The present invention provides a similar order of timeliness through its rapid update feature. Rapid update as implemented by the present invention comprises frequent polling of all POSPs in a region by the RPOSH and uploading to the RPOSH only approved transactions along with the dollar amount of each transaction. Once all POSPs have been interrogated by the RPOSH and the transaction data received by the RPOSH, data relating to the approved transactions are transmitted back down to each POSP in the region with exception of the transactions which originated from that POSP. The result of a completed rapid update session is that all POSPs in a region contain in their databases the total number of approved transactions and total dollar amounts of approved transactions which have occurred that day. In this manner persons who attempt to defraud a retailer by using bogus identification or other forms of identification with an ID number which is not in the negative database are prevented from receiving approval for an excess number of transactions or dollar amounts of transactions during a single day or other pre-designated time period. The data bases are updated at least hourly to provide the best balance between cost and timeliness of data.

It should also be noted that the system employs multi¬ threading as contrasted with single threading. According to multi-threading, a plurality of a plurality of tasks, inquiries and the like can be input or transmitted prior to receiving a response to any one of them. Thus, for example, a plurality of inquiries can be input to a POSP prior to the POSP responding to any one of them.

As mentioned above. Figure 14 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship between the Point-of-Sale Processors (POSPs) , the Remote Point of Sale Hosts (RPOSHs) and an optional Central Host (CH) . There, it will be observed are shown the optional Central Host 300, a pair of Remote Point-of-Sale Hosts (RPOSHs) 301 and 302, and a plurality of Point of Sale Processors (POSPs) 303-311 connected in groups to their respective RPOSHs 301 and 302. The dotted lines symbolize the connection of additional RPOSHs and/or POSPs if necessary or desirable.

The operations and interrelationships of the POSPs and the RPOSHs are described above. Also, as mentioned above, the Central Host (CH) may optionally be included to provide wider geographical coverage and coordination of the system. Where a CH is included, it interacts with the RPOSHs in much the same way as described for the POSPs/RPOSHs. However, it is contemplated that less frequent communication will occur between the CH and RPOSHs than between the POSPs and their

RPOSHs. Thus, in the preferred system embodiment, communication is envisioned as occurring between the CH and

RPOSHs once each 24 hours, preferably during the night when communications charges are lowest. As mentioned above, Figure 15 is a schematic logic/-flow diagram illustrating the system operation in an embodiment for authorizing and transmitting credit card transactions such as those for Visa and Mastercard. Thus, the diagram depicts the relationship between the Visa and Mastercard credit authorization networks 313 and the Central Host Processor 300.

Block 313 represents the daily update transmission of a warning bulletin which includes additions to and deletions from the national warning bulletin. According to such procedure, there are identified all Visa and Mastercards which have been reported stolen, lost or have been otherwise ordered by the issuing bank to be retrieved. Such information is received by central host 300 over any conventional communication channel, typically a conventional telephone line (not shown) .

Upon receipt, the central host 300 combines the Visa,

Mastercard and any other update files into a single update file as represented by polygon 314. Examples of other update files are updates to check authorization and other types of off-line authorization data.

The central host 300 then sends updates for files to the RPOSHs (e.g.. 301 and 302 of Figure 14) as symbolized by polygon 315 and RPOSH symbol 17. Although in the prior art, entire files are transmitted from a central clearing point, in accordance with one feature of the present invention, . only changed data needs to be forwarded, thus contributing to economy and reliability. When the RPOSHs (as symbolized by symbol 17) have received updating data, they in turn transmit such updates to their respective POSPs as symbolized by symbol 316. Each POSP then receives updates as symbolized by polygon 317 and updates its data base accordingly as symbolized by symbols 10 and 215. When a credit card is read by the aforementioned magnetic strip reader of the point-of-sale terminal (POST) and the amount of the charge transaction is entered as indicated by block 318, the POSP data base 215 is checked as indicated by diamond 319 for the presence of the aforementioned card ID number. If the card is in the data base, then the terminal display instructs the merchant to take up the card and notify the credit card issuing bank 320. If, on the other hand, the card is not in the data base, then the amount of the purchase is evaluated. If the amount is over the floor limit, then the POSP dials up the authorization network of the appropriate credit card (Visa or Mastercard) and transmits a request for approval as noted by polygon 323. If the authorization is approved (block 324), the POST notifies the merchant and a receipt is printed by the printer attached to the POST and the card holder's signature is optionally obtained (block 325). If the amount of the credit purchase is under the floor limit (symbol 322) , then the transaction is automatically and instantly approved, the POST notifies the merchant and a receipt is printed by the printer attached to the POST and the card holder's signature is optionally obtained (block 325).

The credit transaction is further checked against the activity levels of approved transactions as maintained in the POSPs in a region by the activity checking procedure (Figure 12), and the rapid update procedure as previously described. Following such procedures, the approved credit card transactions are received and re-transmitted to all POSPs in a region in order to maintain a substantially current record of all approved transactions. In this manner, the procedures ensure that a limitation can be placed on the total number of off-line authorizations and the total dollar amount -of off¬ line authorizations which may occur in a single region during a single 24 hour period between the nightly updates of the warning bulletin. This procedure ensures a reduction in risk associated with the acceptance of off-line authorizations. As denoted by block 326, data representing completed transactions are stored in the POSP memory for later trans¬ mission to the RPOSH 17. The approved transactions are collected by the RPOSH 17 from all POSPs 10 in a region (block 327) and consolidated in the RPOSH 17. Approved transactions are uploaded and consolidated in the central host processor 300 as denoted by polygon 328. The central processor transmits data representing all approved trans-actions for all stores of a single retail chain to the bank selected by that merchant for settlement and deposit of credit card transaction amounts into the account of the merchant as noted by polygon 329.

As mentioned above, Figure 16 is a schematic logic/-flow diagram illustrating the system operation in an embodiment for settlement which includes reconciling, correcting, transmitting and printing credit card and other financial transactions between the POSPs and the RPOSH. According to the proposals of the prior art, such settlement required each terminal to be settled individually. Thus, each terminal had to print all transactions without sorting. All correction and reconciliation had to be performed at each terminal. The clerk or manager had to close the batch and manually initiate a transmission of the transactions to the settlement processor and bank.

In contrast with the proposals of the prior art, utilization of the inventive concepts hereof results in marked improvement. Thus, since in the instant system, all terminal transactions in a store are stored (block 328) in the central storage disk 329 of the POSP (e.g., POSP 10), the transactions are available in a single location for sorting and printing of a single consolidated report by a single terminal and a single printer. Additionally, the transactions can be transmitted in a single batch for the entire store rather than for each terminal individually.

To accomplish settlement, after storage (block 329) , the manager enters an access code and begins report selection as noted by symbol 330. The transactions in the fixed disk 329 are indexed by terminal number, type of transaction, time, day and amount, and are prepared for reporting as noted by polygon 331.

The manager first selects the terminal summary report (332) and the report prints (333) on a single printer connected either to the terminal being used by the manager or connected directly to the POSP. The summary report first sorts and totals all transactions by type and by terminal number (334) . The resulting report provides the following information for each terminal number: quantity and total amount of approved checks, quantity and total amount of approved Visa charges, quantity and total amount of Master-card charges, quantity and total amount of Discover charges, quantity and total amount of American Express and other charges, and quantity and total of miscellaneous trans-actions. The summary report is then used to balance and reconcile each checkout location. If all terminals and checkout lanes balance, then the consolidated store batch is closed (341) and later it is automatically uploaded to the RPOSH 342.

If an individual terminal batch is in error, then the manager selects the terminal detail report 335. The terminal detail report is selected for a single terminal and prints (336) on a single printer connected to the terminal being used by the manager. The resulting report first sorts and totals all transactions by type for the selected terminal. The report provides a detailed listing of the following information sorted sequentially by time: approved checks, approved Visa charges, approved Mastercard charges, approved Discover charges, approved American Express and other charges, and all .other miscellaneous transactions (block 337) .

If the manager wishes to view miscellaneous summary reports, he selects miscellaneous summary reports function 338. The miscellaneous reports are then sorted by terminal and are printed (339) as selected from a menu (340) displayed on his aforementioned display.

It will now be evident that there has been described herein, an improved Point-of-Sale Processing System which embodies many innovations and improvements. It should also be evident that the system provides numerous advantages including enhanced effectiveness, improved operating characteristics, improved reliability, greater security and reduced cost. Additionally it will be evident that it is relatively simple to construct from readily available parts that are well known and inexpensive.

Although the invention hereof has been described by way of example of a preferred embodiment, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit, and scope thereof. For example, although the invention is illustrated as employing three tiers of processors, one or more additional tiers could be employed. According to such an arrangement, there could, for example be interposed between the remote point-of-sale hosts and the central host, another tier of such processors. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover any and all equivalents, adaptations and modifications that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A point-of-sale system comprising: a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (13a, 13b,13d) comprising an input arrangement (13, 15) for initiating transaction service requests; and an output arrangement (14) for recording transactions; a point-of-sale processor (10) comprising: a first processor unit (20) ; a first memory arrangement (22) ; a transaction screening database stored in the first memory arrangement (22) ; the point of sale processor (10) including arrangements for serving the transaction service requests and for controlling the point-of-sale terminals to approve or disapprove a proposed transaction; a remote point-of-sale host computer (17) comprising: a second processor unit, a second memory arrangement; a transaction screening database stored in the second memory; and communication arrangements in the point-of-sale processor (10) and in the host computer (17) for two-way data communication between the point-of-sale processor (10) and the host computer (11) ;

CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: each processor comprises a router/scheduler (32) which is adapted to implement the specific tasks which are assigned to a processor; and that the router/scheduler (32) is adapted to manage all of the hardware and software resources of a processor in accordance with a defined priority plan for the ordering of task execution.

2. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 1

CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the router/scheduler (32) comprises a finite state software operating system controller.

3. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 1

CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the router/scheduler in a POSP is arranged to: serve requests for service from associated POST's; approve and disapprove requested transactions in accordance with screening and transaction data stored in the second memory; record details of transactions completed through use of the associated POST's; and conduct bi-directional communication with a RPOSH processor.

4. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 1

CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the router/scheduler in a RPOSH is arranged to: originate timely communication with POSP's; transmit up-to- date screening data and transaction data to each POSP; request and receive local transaction and system data from each POSP; and maintain up-to-date screening and composite transaction databases in memory in said RPOSH processor.

5. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claims 1 or 2 or 3 wherein: the router/scheduler (32) defines a plurality of processor tasks and priority ratings assigned to the tasks; maintains task records (38, 39, 40, 41) in a working memory

(35) ; the task records comprising lists of requested processor actions in the defined order of priority; and the router/scheduler controls the processor (20) to perform the requested processor tasks in their assigned priorities in the task records.

6. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the communication arrangements in the point-of-sale processor (10) and in the host computer (17) provide for dial- up two-way data communication between the point-of-sale processor (10) and the host computer (11) .

7. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: each point of sale terminal (13a, 13b, 13d) has an assigned identification code; and a plurality of point of sale terminals are connected in parallel to a single standard port of the associated point-of-sale processor (10) .

8. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 7 wherein: the router/scheduler (32) serves requests from the associated terminals at one level of priority, and serves other assigned tasks with other levels of priority.

9. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 3 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each point-of-sale processor includes local application software for generating a plurality of different transaction reports on the basis of the complete composite transaction data stored in the first memory arrangement.

10. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 4 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each remote point-of-sale host processor includes local application software for generating a plurality of different transaction reports on the basis of the complete composite transaction data stored in the second memory arrangement.

11. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 3 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each point-of sale processor (POSP) includes local software for monitoring for operating errors; and for initiating remedial action upon detection of an error.

12. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 4 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each remote point-of-sale host processor (RPOSH) includes local software for monitoring for operating errors; and for initiating remedial action upon detection of an error.

13. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 3 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each customer is assigned an identity code; and the transaction data stored in the second memory arrangement comprises a record for each customer.

14. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 13 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT each customer record includes data defining period- of-time dependent accumulated activity limits for screening customer requests; and a point-of-sale processor disapproves a proposed transaction which exceeds the activity limits.

15. A point-of-sale system in accordance with claim 1 CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the system comprises a plurality of groups of point-of-sale processors (groups 303-305, 303-305); a plurality of remote point-of-sale host processors (310,302) corresponding in number to the number of groups of point-of-sale processors; and a central host computer (300) .

16. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A central host computer (CH) including first memory storage means, a plurality of remote point-of-sale host computers

(RPOSHs) having second memory storage means, first communications means for effecting communications between said RPOSHs and said central host, a plurality of point of sale processors (POSPs) each having third memory storage means, second communication means for automatically for effecting period communication between said RPOSHs and said POSPs means, and concurrently sending and receiving data between said POSPs and said RPOSHs at predetermined intervals thereby to maintain data within said second and third memory storage means substantially current, and means including said first communications means for periodically transferring data between said RPOSHs and said central host.

17. A Point-of-Sale Processing system according to Claim 16 including point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) connected in groups to said POSPs and further including means for concurrently updating said third memory storage means while which said POSPs are acting on transactions data originating in said POSTs.

18. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including in each of said memory storage means an entire national data base for credit cards and wherein there is further included means for periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting and deleting only those card data which have changed.

19. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including a plurality of point-of-sale terminals connected to each of said POSTs, said point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means, display means, and no required transaction storage memory.

20. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including means in said RPOSH for periodically polling said at least one POSP to ascertain if said POSP contains any messages for said RPOSH and for causing said any messages to be communicated to said RPOSH while said RPOSH maintains control of intercommunication between said RPOSH and said POSP, and means in said POSP effective when all of said any messages have been communicated to said RPOSH to acquire control of said intercommunication and for causing said RPOSH to communicate to said POSP all information within said RPOSH awaiting communication to said POSP.

21. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including means in said central host for periodically polling said at least one RPOSH to ascertain if said RPOSH contains any messages for said central host and for causing said any messages to be communicated to said central host while sid central host maintains control of inter¬ communication between said central host and said RPOSH, and means in said RPOSH effective when all of said any messages have been communicated to said central host to acquire control of said intercommunication and for causing said central host to communicate to said RPOSH all information within said central host awaiting communication to said RPOSH.

22. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including means in said POSP for repetitively checking the condition of said system for outages and malfunctions while concurrently conducting database updating LAN activities and terminal operations, and for automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

23. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 19 further including priority mean for establishing priorities of processing, said priority means according priority to memory access and to inquiries originating from said POSTs.

24. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 wherein said memory storage means includes transaction storage memory, and means in said POSP responsive to a memory access signal for opening the identified memory file and after access immediately closing said identified memory file.

25. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 24 further including means in said RPOSH responsive to a memory access signal for opening the identified memory file and after access immediately closing said identified memory file.

26. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 24 further including mean in said central host computer responsive to a memory access signal for opening the identified memory file and after access immediately closing said identified memory file.

27. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including router/schedular means in said POSP for exclusively controlling storage memory of said POSP.

28. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including router/scheduler means in said RPOSH for exclusively controlling storage memory of said RPOSH.

29. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including router/scheduler means in said central host computer for exclusively controlling storage memory of said central host computer.

30. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including router/scheduler means in said POSP for dividing POSP operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

31. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including router/scheduler means in said RPOSH for dividing RPOSH operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

32. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including router/scheduler means in said central host computer for dividing central host computer operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

33. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 further including router/scheduler means in said central host computer, said RPOSH and said POSPs for dividing systems operations into pluralities of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

34. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 wherein the POSP storage memory includes transaction storage memory, said POSP storage memory being effective to provide a single storage record for each customer, said single storage record including all data required for authorization, verification and activity checking, a plurality of point-of- sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, router/scheduler means in said POSP, and means including said router/-scheduler means for processing each said single storage record.

35. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 1 wherein the POSP storage memory includes a monolithic transaction storage memory, said transaction storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of single monolithic storage records severally representing a plurality of customer, each of said customers having a different personal identification alpha-numeric designator unique to that customer; a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means; means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP; router/-sσheduler means in said POSP; and means including said router/scheduler means responsive to entry of one of said alpha numeric designators in one of said POSTs for accessing said monolithic storage records and, when predetermined type data for the entered designator is found, to return an alert message to said one of said POSTAs, and when no data or different predetermined data is found for said entered designator, to return a different message to said one of said POSTs.

36. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 wherein said point-of-sale processors (POSPs) each have a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, said storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of storage records, a different one of said storage records being assigned to each customer, a plurality of point-of-sale terminal (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including local area networks (LANs) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSPs, router/scheduler means in each of said POSPs, means including said router/scheduler means for performing predetermined operations including severally entering data relating to customer transactions into said storage records, and means for periodically re-impressing to said transaction storage memory selected data stored therein.

37. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 16 wherein each of said POSPs is keyboard-less and display-less.

38. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A remote point-of-sale host computer (RPOSH) having a first memory storage means, a plurality of point of sale processors (POSPs) each having second memory storage means, communications means for effecting periodic communications between said POSPs and said RPOSH, and means including said communications means for automatically and concurrently sending and receiving shared data between said POSPs and said RPOSH thereby to share with each said POSP shared data from mothers of said POSPs thereby to maintain data in said first memory storage means and said second memory storage means essentially current.

39. A Point-of sale Processing System according to Claim 38 including point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) connected in groups to and POSPs and further including means for concurrently updating said second memory storage means while which said POSPs are acting on transactions data originating in said POSTs.

40. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including in each of said memory storage means an entire national data base for credit cards and wherein there is further included means for periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting and deleting only those card data which have changed.

41. A Point-of-Sale Processing system according to Claim 38 further including a plurality of point-of-sale terminals connected to each of said POSPs, said point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means, display means, and no required transaction storage memory.

42. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including means in said RPOSH for periodically polling each of said POSPs to ascertain if said each of said POSPs contains any messages for said RPOSH and for causing said any messages to be communicated to said RPOSH while said RPOSH maintains control of intercommunication between said RPOSH and said each of said POSPs, and means in said each of said POSPs effective when all of said any messages have been communicated to said RPOSH while said RPOSH maintains control of intercommunication between said RPOSH and said each of said POSPs, and means in said each of said POSPs effective when all of said any messages have been communicated to said RPOSH to acquire control of said intercommunication and for causing said RPOSH to communicate to said each of said POSPs all information within said RPOSH awaiting communication to said each of said POSPs.

43. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including means in each of said POSPs for repetitively checking the condition of said system for outages and malfunctions while concurrently conducting database updating LAN activities and terminal operations, and for automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

44. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including priority means for establishing priorities of processing, said priority means according to memory access and to inquiries originating from said POSTs.

45. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 wherein said memory storage means includes transaction storage memory, and means in said POSP responsive to a memory access signal for opening the identified memory file and after access immediately closing said identified memory file.

46. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including means in said RPOSH responsive to a memory access signal for opening the identified memory file and after access immediately closing said identified memory file.

47. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including router/scheduler means in said POSP for exclusively controlling storage memory of said POSP.

48. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including router/scheduler means in said RPOSH for exclusively controlling storage memory of said RPOSH.

49. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including router/scheduler means in said POSP for dividing POSP operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

50. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including router/scheduler means in said RPOSH for dividing RPOSH operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

51. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including router/scheduler means in said RPOSH and said POSPs for dividing systems operations into pluralities of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

52. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 wherein the POSP storage memory incudes transaction storage memory, said POSP storage memory being effective to provide a single storage record for each customer, said single storage record including all data required for authorization, verification and activity checking, a plurality of point-of- sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, router/scheduler means in said POSP, and means including said router/scheduler means for processing each said single storage record.

53. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 wherein the POSP storage memory includes a monolithic transaction storage memory, said transaction storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of single monolithic storage records severally representing a plurality of customers, each of said customers having a different personal identification alpha-numeric designator unique to that customer; a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means; means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP; router/-scheduler means in said POSP; and means including said router/scheduler means responsive to entry of one of said alpha numeric designators in one of said POSTs for accessing said monolithic storage records and, when predetermined type data for the entered designator is found, to return an alert message to said one of said POSTs, and when no data or different predetermined data is found- for said entered designator, to return a different message to said one of said POSTs.

54. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 wherein said point-of-sale processors (POSPs) each have a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, said storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of storage records, a different one of said storage records being assigned to each customer, a plurality of point- of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including local area networks (LANs) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSPs, router/scheduler means in each of said POSPs, means including said router/-scheduler means for performing predetermined operations including severally entering data relating to customer transactions into said storage records, and means for periodically re-impressing to said transaction storage memory selected data stored therein.

55. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 wherein each of said POSPs is keyboard-less and display- less.

56. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 in which said shared data is approval transaction data.

57. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 38 further including in said first and said second memory storage means an entire national data base for credit cards and wherein there is further included means for periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting and deleting only those card data which have changed.

58. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A point of sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory for storing transactions, a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means, display means, and no required transaction storage memory, means including a Local Area Network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, and means in said POSP responsive to inquiry signals received over said LAN for accessing said storage memory and for responding to said POST with information approving or disapproving a transaction.

59. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 including means for concurrently updating said storage memory with information received from other POSPs while said POSP is acting on transactions data originating in said terminals.

60. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 further including in memory storage means an entire national data base for credit cards and wherein there is further included means for periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting and deleting only those card data which have changed.

61. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 further including means in said POSPs for repetitively checking the condition of said system for outages and malfunctions while concurrently conducting database updating, LAN activities and terminal operations, and for automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

62. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 further including priority means for establishing priorities of processing, said priority means according to memory access and to inquiries originating from said POSTS.

63. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 wherein said memory storage means includes means responsive to a memory access signal for opening the identified memory file and after access immediately closing said identified memory file.

64. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 further including router/scheduler means in said POSP for exclusively controlling storage memory of said POSP.

65. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 further including route scheduler means in said POSP for dividing POSP operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

66. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 wherein said storage memory is effective to provide a single storage record for each customer, said single storage record including all data required for authorization, verification and activity checking; router/-scheduler means; and means including said router/scheduler means for processing each said single storage record.

67. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 wherein said storage memory includes a monolithic transaction storage memory, said transaction storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of single monolithic storage records severally representing a plurality of customers, each of said customers having a different personal identification alpha-numeric designator unique to that customer; router/scheduler means; and means including said router/scheduler means responsive to entry of one of said alpha-numeric designators in one of said POSTs for accessing said monolithic storage records and, when predetermined type data for the entered designator is found, to return an alert message to said one of said POSTs, . and when no data or different predetermined data is found for said entered designator, to return a different message to said one of said POSTs.

68. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 further including router/scheduler means for performing predetermined operations including severally entering data relating to customer transactions into said transaction storage memory, and means for periodically re-impressing to said transaction storage memory selected data stored therein.

69. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 wherein said POSP is keyboard-less and display-less.

70. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 58 in which said means in said POSP responsive to inquiry signals is multi-threaded.

71. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: At least one point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) connected thereto, a remote point-of-sale host computer (RPOSH) , means in said RPOSH for periodically polling said at least one POSP to ascertain if said POSP contains any messages for said RPOSH and for causing said any messages to be communicated to said RPOSH while said RPOSH maintains control of intercommunication between said RPOSH and said POSP, and means in said POSP effective when all of said any messages have been communicated to said RPOSH to acquire control of said intercommunication and for causing said RPOSH to communicate to said POSP all information within said RPOSH awaiting communication to said POSP.

72. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) ; a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means; means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP; and means in said POSP for repetitively checking the condition of said system for outages and malfunctions while concurrently conducting database updating, LAN activities and terminal operations, and for automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

73. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 71 further including priority means for establishing priorities of processing, said priority means according to memory access and to inquiries originating from said POSTs.

74. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, and means in said POSP responsive to a memory access signal for opening the identified memory file and after access immediately closing said identified memory file.

75. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 74 wherein said means for opening the identified memory file includes a router/scheduler.

76. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, and router/scheduler means in said POSP for exclusively controlling said storage memory.

77. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 76 wherein said router/scheduler means is effective to allocate memory, control memory content and re-allocate memory.

78. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim

76 wherein said system includes means to prevent pre- allocation of memory*

79. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim

77 wherein said system includes means to prevent pre- allocation of memory.

80. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim

77 wherein after allocation and use of memory is completed, said memory is made available for different data.

81. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim

78 wherein after allocation and use of memory is completed, said memory is made available for different data.

82. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, communications circuits means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, and router/-scheduler means in said POSP for dividing systems operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities.

83 - A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 82 in which said priorities of said tasks include priority for incoming calls and evaluation of said LAN for terminal activity.

84. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 82 in which said router/scheduler means ensures repetitive and continual checking of the condition of said system for outages and malfunctions and for automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

85. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 82 in which said router/scheduler means ensures repetitive and continuous checking of the condition of said communications circuits for outages and malfunctions and for automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

86. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 82 further including means responsive to identification of communications circuits malfunction for temporary retaining in said POSTs each current transaction therein so as to avoid loss during communications circuits outage.

87. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 84 further including means responsive to identification of communications circuits malfunction for temporary retaining in said POSTs each current transaction therein so as to avoid loss during communications circuits outage.

88. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 82 in which the division into said plurality of individual tasks, for assigning priorities to said tasks and for executing said tasks according to said priorities is conducted concurrently.

89. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for processing customer transactions comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, said storage memory being effective to provide a single storage record for each customer, said single storage record including all data required for authorization, verification and activity checking, a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, router/scheduler means in said POSP, and means including said router/-scheduler for processing each said single storage record.

90. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim

89 in which said all data required for authorization, verification and activity checking includes data required for differing types of transactions.

91. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim

90 wherein said single storage record for each customer is identified with a personal identification designator.

92. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for processing customer transactions comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including a monolithic transaction storage memory, said transaction storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of single monolithic storage records severally representing a plurality of customers, each of said customers having a different personal identification alpha-numeric designator unique to that customer; a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSts) each having manual entry input means and display means; means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP; router/scheduler means in said POSP; and means including said router/scheduler means responsive to entry of one of said alpha-numeric designators in one of said POSTs for accessing said monolithic storage records and, when predetermined type data for the entered designator is found, to return an alert message to said one of said POSTs, and when no data or different predetermined data is found for said entered designator, to return a different message to said one of said POSTs.

93. A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 92 in which memory space for each of said plurality monolithic storage records is interchangeable.

9 . A Point-of-Sale Processing System according to Claim 92 in which memory space for each of said plurality monolithic storage records is identical.

95. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for processing customer transactions comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, said storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of storage records, a different one of said storage records being assigned to each customer, a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means, means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, router/scheduler means in said POSP, means including said router/scheduler for performing predetermined operations including severally entering data relating to customer trans¬ actions into said storage records, and means for periodically re-impressing to said transaction storage memory selected data stored therein.

96. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for processing customer transactions according to Claim 95 in which said means for periodically re-impressing said selected data re-impresses said selected data each 24 hours.

97. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for processing customer transactions according to Claim 95 in which said predetermined operations include data checking, record evaluation and re-impressing each and every record.

98. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for processing customer transactions comprising: A keyboard-less and display- less point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory, said storage memory being effective to provide a plurality of storage records, a plurality of point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means, display means and no transaction memory, means including a local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, and means in said POSP responsive to inquiry signals received over said LAN for accessing said storage memory and for responding to said POST with information approving or disapproving a transaction.

99. A Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising: A remote point-of-sale host computer (RPOSH) having a first memory storage means, a plurality of point of sale processors (POSPs) each having second memory storage means, communications means for effecting periodic communications between said POSPs and said RPOSH, and means including said communications means for sending and receiving share data between said POSPs and said RPOSH thereby to share with each said POSP share data from others of said POSPs thereby to maintain data in said first memory storage means and said second memory storage means essentially current, and means in said first and second memory storage means for storing an entire national data base for credit cards and wherein there is further included means for periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting and deleting only those card data which have changed.

100. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for checking merchant credit comprising: A point-of-sale processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory for storing transactions for each of a predetermined plurality of customers, a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means, display means, and no required transaction storage memory, means including a Local Area Network (LAN) for interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP, means in said POSP for storing preselected transaction limits, and means in said POSP responsive to inquiry signals received over said LAN for accessing said storage memory and for responding to said POST with information identifying said predetermined transaction limits and for identifying any remaining unused amounts within said transaction limits.

101. A Point-of-Sale Processing System for electronic checking comprising: A point-of-use processor (POUP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory for storing transactions for each of a predetermined plurality of persons, a plurality of Point-of- Use Terminals (POUTs) each having manual entry input means, display means, and no required transaction storage memory, means including a Local Area Network (LAN) for interconnecting said POUTs with said POUP, means in said POUP for storing customer bank balances, and means in said POUP responsive to inquiry signals received over said LAN for accessing said storage memory and for responding to said POUTs with information identifying said predetermined bank balances and for identifying any remaining unused amounts within said bank balances.

102. In a coordinated Point-of-Transaσtion Processing System having a central host computer (CH) , a plurality of remote point-of-transaction host computers (RPOTHs) having second memory storage means, and a plurality of point of transaction processors (POTPs) , the method of effecting data communications there between comprising: a. periodically communicating a polling signal from said CH to said RPOTHs to instruct said RPOTHs to send updating data to said CH thereby to keep said CH current, b. periodically communicating data information from said CH to said RPOTHs to provide said RPOTHs with data not provided to said RPOTHs from said POTPs, c. periodically communicating a polling signal from said RPOTHs to said POTPs to instruct said POTPs to send updating data to said RPOTHs to keep said RPOTHs current, and d. periodically communicating data information from said RPOTHs to said POTPs to provide said POTPs with data needed by said POTPs from other POTPs.

103. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing comprising the steps of: a. Providing a central host computer (CH) having data stored therein; b. Storing data in a plurality of remote point-of-sale host computers (RPOSHs) ; c. Effecting communications of stored data between said RPOSHs and said central host; d. Storing data in a plurality of point-of-sale processors (POSPs) ; e. Effecting periodic communications between said RPOSHs and said POSPs and said RPOSHs; f. Automatically and concurrently sending and receiving data between said RPOSHs and said POSPs at predetermined intervals for storage respectively therein such that data stored within said POSPs and said RPOSHs is maintained substantially current; and g. Periodically transferring data between said RPOSHs and said central host for storage respectively therein.

104. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 103 including the steps of: a. Originating transactions data in point-of-sale terminals (POSTs) ; b. Communicating said transaction data originating in said POSTs to said POSPs for storage; c. Concurrently updating data stored in said POSPs with said communicated transaction data while acting on said transactions data originating in said POSTs.

105. A method of point-of-sale processing according to Claim 103 further including the steps of: a. Storing in each CH, RPOSH, and POST an entire national data base for credit cards; and b. Periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting, and deleting only those card data which have changed since the last updating.

106. A method of point-of-sale processing comprising the steps of: a. Storing data in a remote point-of-sale host computer (RPOSH) ; b. Storing data in a plurality of point-of-sale processors (POSPs) ; c. Effecting periodic communications between said POSPs and said RPOSH; and d. Automatically and concurrently sending and receiving data between said POSPs and said RPOSH such that each said POSP share data from others of said POSPs thereby maintaining data stored in said POSPs and in said RPOSH essentially current.

107. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 106 in which said step of automatically and concurrently sending and receiving data includes the step of sharing approval transaction data.

108. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 106 further including the steps of: a. Storing in said RPOSH and said POSPs an entire national data base for credit cards; and b. Periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting, and deleting only those card data which have changed.

109. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing comprising the steps of: a. Storing data including transaction data in a Point- of-Sale Processor (POSP) ; b. Processing said transaction data in said POSP for generating transaction approval or disapproval information for storage therein; c. Manually imputing transaction data into a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) ; d. Displaying selected data at said POSTs; e. Communicating inquiry signals from said POSTs to said POSP; f. Automatically accessing said stored data in said POSP in response to said inquiry signals; and g. Automatically responding to said POST from said POSP with information approving or disapproving a transaction.

110. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 109 in which said steps of communicating inquiry signals, automatically accessing said stored data in said POSP and automatically responding to said POSP with information are conducted concurrently such that a number of inquiry signals can be communicated before the response to a preceding inquiry signal is provided.

111. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 109 further including the steps of: a. Storing in each POSP an entire national data base for credit cards; and b. Periodically updating said entire national data base by adding, correcting, and deleting only those card data which have changed.

112. In a Point-of-Sale Processing System including at least one Point-of-Sale Processor (POSP) having a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) connected thereto and a remote Point-of-Sale Host Computer (RPOSH) , a method of transferring control of communication between said RPOSH and said POSPs comprising the steps of: a. Periodically polling said at least one POSP to ascertain if said POSP contains any messages for said RPOSH; b. Causing said any messages to be communicated to said

RPOSH while said RPOSH maintains control of intercommunication between said RPOSH and said POSP; c. Providing control of said intercommunication to said POSP when all of said any messages have been communicated to said RPOSH; and d. Causing said RPOSH to communicate to said POSP all information within said RPOSH awaiting communication with said POSP.

113. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing System comprising the steps of: a. Storing data in a Point-of-Sale Processor (POSP) ; b. Entering data through a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) ; c. Interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP through a local area network (LAN) for data communication therebetween; d. Repetitively and concurrently checking the condition of said POSP and POSTs for outages and malfunctions, conducting updating of said data stored in said POSP, conducting LAN activities, conducting terminal operations; and e. Automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

114. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 113 further including the step of establishing priorities of processing by which memory access and inquiries originating from said POSTs are given top priority for processing.

115. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing comprising the steps of: a. Storing data in a Point-of-Sale Processor (POSP) ; b. Processing transaction data in said POSP for storage therein; c. Manually entering transaction data into a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) ; d. Communicatively interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP; e. Opening an identified memory file in said POSP in response to a memory access signal; and f. Closing said identified memory file immediately after access thereto.

116. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 115 wherein said step of opening an identified memory file includes the step of controlling said stored data with a router/scheduler.

117. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing comprising the steps of: a. Storing transaction information in a Point-of-Sale Processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory; b. Manually entering transaction information into a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means; c. Interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP for communication there between through a local area network (LAN) ; and d. Exclusively controlling said storage memory with a router/scheduler.

118. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 117 wherein said step of exclusively controlling said storage memory with a router/scheduler further comprises the steps of: a. Effectively allocating memory; b. Controlling memory content; and c. Allocating memory.

119. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 117 wherein said step of controlling said storage memory includes the step of preventing pre-allocation of memory.

120. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 119 further including the step of making memory available for different data after the step of allocating memory is completed.

121. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing comprising the steps of: a. Processing data in a Point-of-Sale Processor (POSP) having a microprocessor; b. Storing data before and after processing in a storage memory including transaction storage memory in the POSP; c. Manually entering data at a plurality of Point-of- Sale Terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means; d. Communicating data between said POSTs and said POSP through circuit means including local area network (LAN) for interconnecting said POST with said POSP; e. Dividing processing operations into a plurality of predetermined categories each including a plurality of individual tasks with a router/-scheduler means in said POSP; f. Assigning priorities to said categories and said tasks with said router/scheduler means; and g. Executing said tasks according to said priorities established by said router/scheduler means.

122. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 121 in which said step of assigning priorities to said tasks further includes the steps of designating incoming calls and evaluation of said LAN for terminal activity as high priority tasks.

123. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 121 further including the steps of: a. Repetitively and regularly checking the condition of the POSP, the POSTs, the interconnecting circuit means and the router/scheduler means for outages and malfunctions; and b. Automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

124. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 120 further including the steps of: a. Regularly and repetitively checking the condition of the communication circuit means for outages and malfunctions with said router/scheduler means; and b. Automatically restoring said outages and malfunctions.

125. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 122 further including the steps of: a. Identifying communication circuit malfunctions; and b. Temporarily retaining in said POST each current transaction therein at the time the communication circuit malfunction is identified so as to avoid loss of current transaction data during communication circuit outage.

126. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 120 in which the steps of assigning priorities to said task and executing said task according to said priorities is conducted concurrently.

127. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing for processing customer transactions comprising the steps of: a. Processing and storing customer transaction data in a Point-of-Sale Processor (POSP) having a microprocessor and a storage memory including transaction storage memory; b. Providing a single storage record for each customer; c. Including in said single storage record for each customer all data required for authorization, verification and activity checking; d. Entering customer transaction data and inquiries about authorization, verification and activity checking through a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) each having manual entry input means and display means; e. Interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP through a local area network (LAN) for communicating data there between; and f. Processing each single storage customer record in said POSP with a router/scheduler.

128. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 127 further comprising the step of including in said single storage record for each customer data required for different types of transactions.

129. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 127 further including the step of identifying each single storage record for each customer with a personal identification designator.

130. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing of customer transactions comprising the steps of: a. Processing data in a microprocessor within a Point- of-Sale Processor (POSP) ; b. Storing data including monolithic transaction data severally representing a plurality of customers in a storage memory in said POSP; c. Including in said stored monolithic transaction data a different personal identification alpha-numeric designator unique to each of said plurality of customers; d. Manually entering alpha-numeric designators at a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) ; e. Routing and scheduling data communications, data storage and data processing in said POSP; f. Accessing said monolithic storage data responsive to entry of one of said alpha-numeric designators at one of said POSTs; g. Returning an alert message to said one of said POSTs when a predetermined type of data for said entered designator is found; h. Returning a different message to said one of said POSTs when no data or different predetermined data is found for said entered designator; and i. Displaying said alert message or said different message at said POST when said message is returned.

131. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 130 further comprising formatting memory space in said POSP and correspondingly formatting said plurality of monolithic storage data into records having identical format so that each of said plurality of monolithic storage records is interchangeable.

132. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing according to Claim 130 comprising the step of establishing identical memory space for each of said plurality of monolithic storage records.

133. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing of customer transactions comprising the steps of: a. Processing customer transaction data in a microprocessor in a Point-of-Sale processor; b. Storing customer transaction data in transaction storage memory in the POSP; c. Storing a plurality of individual customer records such that a different one of said storage records is assigned to each of said plurality of customers; d. Performing predetermined operations including severally entering data relating to customer transactions into said storage records; and e. Periodically reimpressing to said transaction storage memory selected data stored therein.

134. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing of customer transactions according to Claim 133 in which said step of periodically reimpressing selected data further includes the step of initiating said reimpressing step on a regular daily schedule approximately each 24 hours.

135. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing of customer transactions according to Claim 133 in which said step of performing predetermined operations further includes the steps of: a. Data checking; b. Evaluating records; and c. Reimpressing each and every record.

136. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing of customer transactions comprising the steps of: a. Storing transaction data in the memory of a transaction storage of a keyless and displayless Point-of-Sale Processor; b. Providing in said memory a plurality of storage records; c. Manually entering transaction data and inquiries at a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) ; d. Interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP through a local area network communication circuit; and e. Responding from said POSP to inquiry signals received over said LAN from said POST with information approving or disapproving a transaction wherein said step of responding further includes accessing said memory in said POSP.

137. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing comprising the steps of: a. Storing an entire national data base for credit cards in a first memory storage means in a remote Point-of-Sale Host Computer (RPOSH) and also in a second memory storage means in a plurality of Point- of-Sale processors (POSPs) ; b. Interconnecting said RPOSH with said POSPs for periodic communications there between; c. Periodically communicating between said POSP and said RPOSH including sending and receiving share data between said POSP and said RPOSH such that share data from each of said POSPs is communicated from said RPOSH to others of said POSPs thereby maintaining data in said irst memory storage means and said second memory storage means essentially current; and d. Periodically updating said entire national data base in said first and second memory storage means by adding, correcting and deleting only those card data which have changed since the last periodic updating.

138. A method of Point-of-Sale merchant credit checking comprising the steps of: a. Processing transactions for a plurality of customers in a microprocessor of a Point-of-Sale processor; b. Storing transaction data for each of a predetermined plurality of customers in a storage memory including transaction storage memory for each of a plurality of Point-of-Sale Terminals (POSTs) ; c. Interconnecting said POSTs with said POSP through a local area network communication circuitry; d. Storing preselected transaction limits in said POSP and not in said terminals; e. Responding from said POSP to said POSTs when inquiry signals are received over said LAN from any one of said POSTs by accessing said storage memory in said

POSP and sending to said any one of said POSTs information identifying said predetermined transaction limits and identifying any remaining unused amounts within said transaction limits; and f. Displaying said returned information on display means at said any one of said POSTs.

139. A method of Point-of-Sale Processing for electronic checking comprising the steps of: a. Processing transaction data for each of a predetermined plurality of persons in a microprocessor in a Point-of-Use Processor (POUP) ; b. Storing transaction data for each of said predetermined plurality of persons in transaction storage memory in said POUP; c. Manually entering transaction data and inquiry signals at a plurality of Point-of-Use Terminals

(POUTs) each having manual input means, display means and no required transaction storage memory; d. Interconnecting said POUTs and said POUP with local area network (LAN) communication circuits; β. Storing in said POUP customer bank balances; f. Accessing said storage memory in said POUP responsive to an inquiry signal received over said LAN from an originating POUT; g. Responding to said originating POUT with information identifying said predetermined bank balances and identifying any remaining unused amounts within said bank balances; and h. Displaying said identified remaining unused amounts within said bank balance at said originating POUT.