WO2000058919A1 - Deferred prepayment for utility services - Google Patents

Deferred prepayment for utility services Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000058919A1
WO2000058919A1 PCT/ZA2000/000060 ZA0000060W WO0058919A1 WO 2000058919 A1 WO2000058919 A1 WO 2000058919A1 ZA 0000060 W ZA0000060 W ZA 0000060W WO 0058919 A1 WO0058919 A1 WO 0058919A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electronic purse
utility services
prepayment
funds
storage memory
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA2000/000060
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hermanus Albertus Bos
Original Assignee
Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited filed Critical Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited
Priority to BR0009353-0A priority Critical patent/BR0009353A/en
Priority to EP00916689A priority patent/EP1166236A1/en
Priority to AU37760/00A priority patent/AU3776000A/en
Priority to APAP/P/2001/002276A priority patent/AP2001002276A0/en
Priority to NZ514458A priority patent/NZ514458A/en
Publication of WO2000058919A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000058919A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
    • G07F7/0866—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means by active credit-cards adapted therefor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
    • G06Q20/357—Cards having a plurality of specified features
    • G06Q20/3572—Multiple accounts on card
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
    • G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
    • G06Q20/36—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
    • G06Q20/363—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using electronic wallets or electronic money safes with the personal data of a user

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment and, more particularly, to a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment in which payment is effected by means of an electronic purse or the like.
  • the invention extends to a method of operation of a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment.
  • a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment includes a prepayment meter installed in a consumer's dwelling, and a corresponding vending infrastructure.
  • the system utilises a token to effect the transfer of data from the vending infrastructure to the consumer's prepayment meter.
  • the token can be of various types, but is usually encoded with data representing a selected amount of credit such that, when the token is inserted into the meter, the consumer is allowed to consume utility services up to the value of the credit encoded on the token.
  • Such a prior art system is disadvantageous in that the consumer is required to determine in advance of such a prepayment the quantity of utility services which he wishes to purchase.
  • the prepayment token is then encoded with the quantity of utility services desired by the consumer, with the result that the consumer lacks any flexibility to select how, how much and how often he wishes to spend on the purchase of utility services.
  • a method for the purchase of utility services by prepayment comprising the steps of: connecting an electronic purse having a credit balance to a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility services; selecting a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse to be utilised for the purchase of utility services; enabling the prepayment meter to dispense utility services to the value of the selected quantity of funds; decrementing the credit balance in the electronic purse by the selected quantity of funds; and accumulating the selected quantity of funds in a storage memory in the electronic purse.
  • Further features of the invention provide for the method to include the further steps of: subsequently using the electronic purse at a banking institution; crediting a vendor of the utility services with a total sum of funds accumulated in the storage memory of the electronic purse; and erasing the storage memory of the electronic purse.
  • Still further features of the invention provide for the method to include the still further steps of storing in the storage memory of the electronic purse metering data relating to the prepayment meter and to the purchase of utility services; transferring the metering data from the storage memory of the electronic purse to the vendor of the utility services; and erasing the metering data from the storage memory of the electronic purse.
  • the invention extends to a system for the purchase of utility sen/ices by prepayment with an electronic purse having a credit balance, comprising: a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility services; connection means for connecting the electronic purse to the prepayment meter; a selection facility for selecting a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse to be utilised for the purchase of utility services; and a processor arranged to enable the prepayment meter to dispense utility services to the value of the selected quantity of funds and to decrement the credit balance in the electronic purse by the selected quantity of funds and to accumulate the selected quantity of funds in a storage memory in the electronic purse.
  • the electronic purse to be subsequently usable at a banking institution; for the banking institution to credit a vendor of the utility services with a total sum of funds accumulated in the storage memory of the electronic purse and to erase the storage memory of the electronic purse.
  • the processor to also store in the storage memory of the electronic purse metering data relating to the prepayment meter and to the purchase of utility services, for the system to provide for the metering data to be transferred from the storage memory of the electronic purse to the vendor of the utility services, and for the system to also provide for the metering data to be erased from the storage memory of the electronic purse.
  • FIG.1 is a functional block diagram of a system for the purchase of utility sen/ices by means of prepayment with an electronic purse, according to the invention.
  • a system for purchasing utility services by means of prepayment with an electronic purse is indicated generally by reference numeral
  • the system (1) includes a prepayment meter (2) for regulating the dispensing of utility services to a consumer by a vendor thereof (not shown).
  • the prepayment meter (2) includes a processor (not shown) and a connection means (3) in the form of a smart card reader capable of receiving a smart card-based electronic purse (4) therein.
  • the system includes a banking terminal (5) connected to a data network of a banking institution (6).
  • the banking terminal (5) is typically a point of sale terminal or an automated teller machine of the like.
  • the banking institution maintains a banking account (7) belonging to the vendor (8) of the utility services.
  • the data network of the banking institution (6) may also be connected to that of the vendor (8) of the utility services.
  • an electronic purse (4) having a credit balance therein is inserted into the smart card reader (3) of the prepayment meter (2) when the consumer wishes to make a purchase of utility services by means of prepayment.
  • the consumer is prompted to select a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse (4) which is to be utilised for the purchase of utility services from the vendor (8).
  • the selection is made by the consumer by means of a selection facility (9) in the form of a key pad on the prepayment meter (2).
  • the processor (not shown) enables the prepayment meter (2) to dispense utility services to the value of the quantity of funds selected by the consumer.
  • the credit balance in the electronic purse (4) is decremented by the processor by the value of the selected quantity of funds utilised by the consumer to purchase the utility services. Further, the selected quantity of funds is accumulated in a storage memory on the electronic purse such as a dedicated register on the smart card (4).
  • the system (1) enables a consumer to effect the purchase of utility services by means of a prepayment directly into the prepayment meter (2) without the necessity of visiting a vending site belonging to the vendor of utility services.
  • the prepayment transaction is secure as the purchase of utility services is made against a credit balance in the electronic purse (4) and the funds utilised by the consumer in making the prepayment for utility services is debited to the electronic purse and held "in reserve'' in the purse for subsequent settlement to the vendor's banking account (7) at the banking institution (6).
  • the prepayment transaction described above is incomplete and will remain incomplete until settlement for the prepayment by the consumer has been made to the vendor's banking account. Settlement is made by means of a deferred transaction as will be described below. Settlement is effected at the next occasion, subsequent to the purchase of utility servicers, on which the consumer utilises the electronic purse (4) at an online banking terminal (5) of the banking institution (6). During such use, the account (7) of the vendor (8) of the utility services is credited with a total sum of funds equal to the funds accumulated in the dedicated register of the consumer's electronic purse. Once such a settlement has been made, the contents of the dedicated register of the electronic purse (4) are erased.
  • the consumer is able to effect any number of discrete purchases of utility services by means of prepayment as long as the electronic purse (4) maintains a credit balance sufficient to cover the selected quantity of funds to be utilised for the purchases. Settlement for the plurality of purchases will be made in the same manner as described above.
  • metering data relating to the identity of the consumer prepayment meter can be stored in the storage memory in the electronic purse (4) with every prepayment made by the consumer, together with data relating to each purchase of utility services.
  • the metering data is transferred from the purse by the banking institution to the vendor (8) of utility services as part of the settlement transaction.
  • Such metering data may be used by the vendor of utility services for accounting and management purposes.
  • the invention therefore provides a simple way to enable a consumer to purchase utility services by prepayment directly at a prepayment meter and to defer settlement of the purchase transaction to a subsequent interaction of the consumer's electronic purse with a banking institution.

Abstract

A system for purchasing utility services by prepayment comprises: a prepayment meter for dispensing utility services; connection means for connecting an electric purse to the prepayment meter; and a selection facility for selecting a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse to be utilised for the purchase of utility services. A processor enables the prepayment meter to dispense utility services to the value of the selected quantity of funds, to decrement a credit balance in the electronic purse by the selected quantity of funds, and to accumulate the selected quantity of funds in a storage memory in the electronic purse.

Description

DEFERRED PREPAYMENT FOR UTILITY SERVICES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment and, more particularly, to a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment in which payment is effected by means of an electronic purse or the like. The invention extends to a method of operation of a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The purchase of utility services by means of prepayment is becoming increasingly common, particularly in rural areas and third world jurisdictions.
Generally, a system for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment includes a prepayment meter installed in a consumer's dwelling, and a corresponding vending infrastructure. The system utilises a token to effect the transfer of data from the vending infrastructure to the consumer's prepayment meter. The token can be of various types, but is usually encoded with data representing a selected amount of credit such that, when the token is inserted into the meter, the consumer is allowed to consume utility services up to the value of the credit encoded on the token.
Such a prior art system is disadvantageous in that the consumer is required to determine in advance of such a prepayment the quantity of utility services which he wishes to purchase. The prepayment token is then encoded with the quantity of utility services desired by the consumer, with the result that the consumer lacks any flexibility to select how, how much and how often he wishes to spend on the purchase of utility services.
The use of smart cards as electronic purses is increasing in many jurisdictions. Such electronic purses allow a purchaser to make a payment for purchases from suitably equipped vendors, and for the cost of such purchases to be debited from the purchaser's electronic purse and transferred to the vendor. In order for the vendor to receive the electronic cash transferred from the purchaser's electronic purse, some interaction with a banking institution is necessary, usually via terminal equipment at the point of sale.
It is desirable to provide for the purchase of utility services by means of prepayment effected with an electronic purse at the consumer's prepayment meter itself. It will be appreciated that such a transaction cannot be completed instantaneously due to the absence of a facility to transfer funds from the electronic purse to a vendor of the utility services.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a system for and a method for purchasing utility services by means of prepayment directly into a prepayment meter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention there is provided a method for the purchase of utility services by prepayment, comprising the steps of: connecting an electronic purse having a credit balance to a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility services; selecting a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse to be utilised for the purchase of utility services; enabling the prepayment meter to dispense utility services to the value of the selected quantity of funds; decrementing the credit balance in the electronic purse by the selected quantity of funds; and accumulating the selected quantity of funds in a storage memory in the electronic purse.
Further features of the invention provide for the method to include the further steps of: subsequently using the electronic purse at a banking institution; crediting a vendor of the utility services with a total sum of funds accumulated in the storage memory of the electronic purse; and erasing the storage memory of the electronic purse.
Still further features of the invention provide for the method to include the still further steps of storing in the storage memory of the electronic purse metering data relating to the prepayment meter and to the purchase of utility services; transferring the metering data from the storage memory of the electronic purse to the vendor of the utility services; and erasing the metering data from the storage memory of the electronic purse.
The invention extends to a system for the purchase of utility sen/ices by prepayment with an electronic purse having a credit balance, comprising: a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility services; connection means for connecting the electronic purse to the prepayment meter; a selection facility for selecting a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse to be utilised for the purchase of utility services; and a processor arranged to enable the prepayment meter to dispense utility services to the value of the selected quantity of funds and to decrement the credit balance in the electronic purse by the selected quantity of funds and to accumulate the selected quantity of funds in a storage memory in the electronic purse.
There is further provided for the electronic purse to be subsequently usable at a banking institution; for the banking institution to credit a vendor of the utility services with a total sum of funds accumulated in the storage memory of the electronic purse and to erase the storage memory of the electronic purse.
There is further provided for the processor to also store in the storage memory of the electronic purse metering data relating to the prepayment meter and to the purchase of utility services, for the system to provide for the metering data to be transferred from the storage memory of the electronic purse to the vendor of the utility services, and for the system to also provide for the metering data to be erased from the storage memory of the electronic purse.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG.1 is a functional block diagram of a system for the purchase of utility sen/ices by means of prepayment with an electronic purse, according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figure 1, a system for purchasing utility services by means of prepayment with an electronic purse is indicated generally by reference numeral
(1).
The system (1) includes a prepayment meter (2) for regulating the dispensing of utility services to a consumer by a vendor thereof (not shown). The prepayment meter (2) includes a processor (not shown) and a connection means (3) in the form of a smart card reader capable of receiving a smart card-based electronic purse (4) therein. The system includes a banking terminal (5) connected to a data network of a banking institution (6). The banking terminal (5) is typically a point of sale terminal or an automated teller machine of the like. The banking institution maintains a banking account (7) belonging to the vendor (8) of the utility services. The data network of the banking institution (6) may also be connected to that of the vendor (8) of the utility services.
In use, an electronic purse (4) having a credit balance therein is inserted into the smart card reader (3) of the prepayment meter (2) when the consumer wishes to make a purchase of utility services by means of prepayment. The consumer is prompted to select a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse (4) which is to be utilised for the purchase of utility services from the vendor (8). The selection is made by the consumer by means of a selection facility (9) in the form of a key pad on the prepayment meter (2). Once the selection has been made by the consumer, the processor (not shown) enables the prepayment meter (2) to dispense utility services to the value of the quantity of funds selected by the consumer. The credit balance in the electronic purse (4) is decremented by the processor by the value of the selected quantity of funds utilised by the consumer to purchase the utility services. Further, the selected quantity of funds is accumulated in a storage memory on the electronic purse such as a dedicated register on the smart card (4).
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the system (1) enables a consumer to effect the purchase of utility services by means of a prepayment directly into the prepayment meter (2) without the necessity of visiting a vending site belonging to the vendor of utility services. The prepayment transaction is secure as the purchase of utility services is made against a credit balance in the electronic purse (4) and the funds utilised by the consumer in making the prepayment for utility services is debited to the electronic purse and held "in reserve'' in the purse for subsequent settlement to the vendor's banking account (7) at the banking institution (6).
It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that the prepayment transaction described above is incomplete and will remain incomplete until settlement for the prepayment by the consumer has been made to the vendor's banking account. Settlement is made by means of a deferred transaction as will be described below. Settlement is effected at the next occasion, subsequent to the purchase of utility servicers, on which the consumer utilises the electronic purse (4) at an online banking terminal (5) of the banking institution (6). During such use, the account (7) of the vendor (8) of the utility services is credited with a total sum of funds equal to the funds accumulated in the dedicated register of the consumer's electronic purse. Once such a settlement has been made, the contents of the dedicated register of the electronic purse (4) are erased.
In this manner, the consumer is able to effect any number of discrete purchases of utility services by means of prepayment as long as the electronic purse (4) maintains a credit balance sufficient to cover the selected quantity of funds to be utilised for the purchases. Settlement for the plurality of purchases will be made in the same manner as described above.
Numerous modifications are possible to this embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, metering data relating to the identity of the consumer prepayment meter can be stored in the storage memory in the electronic purse (4) with every prepayment made by the consumer, together with data relating to each purchase of utility services. When the electronic purse (4) is subsequently used on-line to the banking institution (6), the metering data is transferred from the purse by the banking institution to the vendor (8) of utility services as part of the settlement transaction. Such metering data may be used by the vendor of utility services for accounting and management purposes.
The invention therefore provides a simple way to enable a consumer to purchase utility services by prepayment directly at a prepayment meter and to defer settlement of the purchase transaction to a subsequent interaction of the consumer's electronic purse with a banking institution.

Claims

1. A method for the purchase of utility services by prepayment, comprising the steps of: connecting an electronic purse having a credit balance to a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility services; selecting a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse to be utilised for the purchase of utility services; enabling the prepayment meter to dispense utility services to the value of the selected quantity of funds; decrementing the credit balance in the electronic purse by the selected quantity of funds; and accumulating the selected quantity of funds in a storage memory in the electronic purse.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes the further steps of: subsequently using the electronic purse at a banking institution; crediting a vendor of the utility services with a total sum of funds accumulated in the storage memory of the electronic purse; and erasing the storage memory of the electronic purse.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes the further steps of storing in the storage memory of the electronic purse metering data relating to the prepayment meter and to the purchase of utility services; transferring the metering data from the storage memory of the electronic purse to the vendor of the utility services; and erasing the metering data from the storage memory of the electronic purse.
4. A system for the purchase of utility services by prepayment with an electronic purse having a credit balance, comprising: a prepayment meter for dispensing the utility services; connection means for connecting the electronic purse to the prepayment meter; a selection facility for selecting a quantity of funds available in the electronic purse to be utilised for the purchase of utility services; and a processor arranged to enable the prepayment meter to dispense utility services to the value of the selected quantity of funds and to decrement the credit balance in the electronic purse by the selected quantity of funds and to accumulate the selected quantity of funds in a storage memory in the electronic purse.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the electronic purse is subsequently usable at a banking institution.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 in which the banking institution credits a vendor of the utility services with a total sum of funds accumulated in the storage memory of the electronic purse and erases the storage memory of the electronic purse.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the processor also stores in the storage memory of the electronic purse metering data relating to the prepayment meter and to the purchase of utility services.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which the metering data is transferred from the storage memory of the electronic purse to the vendor of the utility services, and the metering data is erased from the storage memory of the electronic purse.
9. A method for the purchase of utility services by prepayment, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A system for the purchase of utility services by prepayment, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
PCT/ZA2000/000060 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Deferred prepayment for utility services WO2000058919A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BR0009353-0A BR0009353A (en) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Deferred prepayment for utility services
EP00916689A EP1166236A1 (en) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Deferred prepayment for utility services
AU37760/00A AU3776000A (en) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Deferred prepayment for utility services
APAP/P/2001/002276A AP2001002276A0 (en) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Deferred prepayment for utility services.
NZ514458A NZ514458A (en) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Deferred prepayment for utility services

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA99/2348 1999-03-26
ZA992348 1999-03-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000058919A1 true WO2000058919A1 (en) 2000-10-05

Family

ID=25587647

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/ZA2000/000060 WO2000058919A1 (en) 1999-03-26 2000-03-27 Deferred prepayment for utility services

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1166236A1 (en)
AP (1) AP2001002276A0 (en)
AU (1) AU3776000A (en)
BR (1) BR0009353A (en)
NZ (1) NZ514458A (en)
WO (1) WO2000058919A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1468408A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2004-10-20 Roiret Entreprises S.A. Electronic system for data management and product and/or service distribution over network(s)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0762350A2 (en) * 1995-09-08 1997-03-12 Sinesonics (Proprietary) Limited Communal metering system
EP0784301A2 (en) * 1996-01-08 1997-07-16 Jürgen Dethloff Method and system for the payment of services and portable data carrier to be used in such a system
EP0789337A2 (en) * 1996-02-09 1997-08-13 Alcatel IC-card, method and system for using payable services
GB2324898A (en) * 1997-05-03 1998-11-04 Plessey Telecomm Electronic purse
NL1006792C2 (en) * 1997-08-18 1999-02-22 Gastec Nv Distribution and payment system for utility such as gas, electricity, hot water, etc

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993022743A1 (en) * 1992-05-07 1993-11-11 Ampy Automation - Digilog Limited Encoding of machine readable cards and secure systems

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0762350A2 (en) * 1995-09-08 1997-03-12 Sinesonics (Proprietary) Limited Communal metering system
EP0784301A2 (en) * 1996-01-08 1997-07-16 Jürgen Dethloff Method and system for the payment of services and portable data carrier to be used in such a system
EP0789337A2 (en) * 1996-02-09 1997-08-13 Alcatel IC-card, method and system for using payable services
GB2324898A (en) * 1997-05-03 1998-11-04 Plessey Telecomm Electronic purse
NL1006792C2 (en) * 1997-08-18 1999-02-22 Gastec Nv Distribution and payment system for utility such as gas, electricity, hot water, etc

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DATABASE WPI Section EI Week 199924, Derwent World Patents Index; Class S01, AN 1999-286566, XP002140956 *
See also references of EP1166236A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1468408A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2004-10-20 Roiret Entreprises S.A. Electronic system for data management and product and/or service distribution over network(s)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR0009353A (en) 2002-01-08
AP2001002276A0 (en) 2001-09-30
NZ514458A (en) 2002-09-27
EP1166236A1 (en) 2002-01-02
AU3776000A (en) 2000-10-16

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