WO2006090941A2

WO2006090941A2 - Internet communication translation apparatus for difficulty information

Info

Publication number: WO2006090941A2
Application number: PCT/KR2005/000548
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyu-Yeon Won
Original assignee: Systembase Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-02-28
Filing date: 2005-02-28
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: WO2006090941A3

Abstract

An Internet communication translation apparatus (100) can deal with difficulty of communication. The Internet communication translation apparatus has a credit card authorization device (110), a modem for Internet connection, a serial driver, and a first LAN driver. An inspecting device (120) is provided to the lower part of the credit card authorization device. A waiting time for connecting to the server can be shortened, and any possible theft or error of a plurality of credit card payment machines at different remote places can be inspected and notified in real-time from a central property custodian center so that proper measures can be timely taken.

Description

Description INTERNET COMMUNICATION TRANSLATION APPARATUS

FOR DIFFICULTY INFORMATION

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an Internet communication translation apparatus for a difficulty information. More particularly, the present invention relates to an Internet communication translation apparatus capable of processing the authorization information on the card payment which is made by phone-based card payment authorization device by use of the Internet, and transmitting difficulty information when error occurs in the processing of the card payment authorization device.

Background Art

[2] A conventional card authorization device communicates via the telephone line to inquire about the credit card and authorize card payment by communicating with a terminal of a credit card payment service provider.

[3] It usually takes about 20 to 30 seconds for the card authorization device to get an answer from the terminal of the credit card payment service provider. Accordingly, a cardholder or a merchant has to wait long until the transaction is over, and the merchant especially is charged for the telephone communication fees.

[4] Furthermore, users usually do not easily recognize whether device itself is malfunctioning or error is occurring in the communication line when the card authorization process is failed. Accordingly, it is very inconvenient to use. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[5]

Technical Solution

[6] The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Internet communication translation apparatus for use with a card authorization device, which provides a general card authorization device with an Internet communication so as to ease the merchant's burden of communication fees, shorten communication time, and inspect from a central property custodian center a plurality of credit card payment machines at remote distances in real-time basis for possible thefts and conditions of equipments and generate an alarm when any urgent matter occurs so that a manager can attend to a problem properly and timely.

[7] The above objects and other features of the present invention can substantially be achieved by providing an Internet communication translation apparatus which includes, a credit card authorization device, and an Internet translation device having a modem for Internet connection, a serial driver to handle data input and output with respect to the credit card authorization device, and a first LAN driver to process data communication with the modem for Internet connection in accordance with a predetermined Internet communication environment. A card authorization inquiry signal, received from the credit card authorization device, is transmitted to the card authorization server which is connected via the Internet, and a result information to the card authorization inquiry signal, received from the credit card authorization server, is transmitted to the credit card authorization device.

[8] According to one aspect of the present invention, a difficulty information management device may include a credit card authorization device, a movement sensing device to sense any movement around the credit card device from remote place and transmit movement information, and a management device to perform alarming function upon receiving movement information from the movement sensing device. The alarm can be notified to an administrator at remote place.

Advantageous Effects

[9]

Description of Drawings

[10] The above objects and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[11] FIG. 1 illustrates an Internet communication translation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention being connected to the Internet via a card authorization apparatus and a modem;

[12] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the Internet communication translation apparatus of

FIG. 1;

[13] FIG. 3 illustrates an Internet communication translation apparatus having a difficulty solving function being connected according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[14] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the Internet communication translation apparatus of

FIG. 3;

[15] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the interior of an Internet communication translation apparatus having a difficulty solving function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[16] FIG. 6 illustrates processes of inspecting as to whether credit card payment machine is in on-line or not; and

[17] FIG. 7 illustrates processes of inspecting as to the operation of a credit card payment machine.

Best Mode

[18]

Mode for Invention

[19] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[20] FIG. 1 illustrates an Internet communication translation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention being connected to the Internet via a credit card authorization device and an Internet service modem.

[21] Referring to FIG. 1, an Internet communication translation apparatus 50 of the card authorization device 40 is connected as a communication interface between a card authorization device 40 and an Internet access modem 30. Accordingly, the Internet communication translation apparatus 50 of the card authorization device 40 communicates Internet communication of the card authorization device 40 via the modem 30.

[22] FIG. 2 illustrates one example of the structure of the Internet communication translation apparatus 50 of the card authorization device 40. The above will be explained below in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[23] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the translation apparatus 50 includes a first interface

51, a second interface 52, a third interface 53, a signal processor 54 and an indicating unit 58.

[24] The first interface 51 includes a serial cable connection port 51a which is capable of transmitting and receiving data with respect to a general phone card payment authorization device 40 via a serial cable 51b. The serial cable connection port 51a is provided with a serial port driver (not shown) program embedded therein to handle data input and output. Accordingly, data transmitted through the cable 51b is stored, and transmitted upon request from the upper program.

[25] The second interface 52 is provided with a port 52a to transmit and receive data with respect to the modem 30 which corresponds to the Internet service communication pattern selected by the subscriber, for example, to exclusive communication line, ADSL, VDSL, CDMA, GSM, WCDMA and cable modem. A first LAN driver (DHCP, PPPoE, LAN Driver) is embedded in the port 52a to handle data conversion into Internet communication system corresponding to the selected service type.

[26] The third interface 53 is provided with a port 53a to support Internet communication with devices other than the card authorization device 40, for example, to support Internet communication with a computer 60. A second LAN driver (NAT LAN Driver) program is embedded in the port 53a to provide the terminals other than the card authorization device 40 such as the computer 60 with a hub function with respect to input and output data between the card authorization device 40 and the computer 60.

[27] The indication unit 58 indicates operational state in accordance with the signals received from a control unit 55, and includes a power-state indicating unit 58a, a ready-state indicating unit 58b and a link-state indicating unit 58c.

[28] The signal processor 54 includes the control unit 55 and a memory device 56.

[29] The signal processor 54 is installed with various programs 57 for supporting

Internet communication.

[30] The memory device 56 may include one or more memories. It is preferable that the memory device 56 includes a flash memory to store booting and application programs, and a RAM to store temporary data.

[31] The control unit 55 analyzes data received via the interfaces 51, 52, 53 and processes the data.

[32] The control unit 55 determines packet type of the data received from the first interface 51 or the second interface 53, loads program to convert data to the determined packet type, and outputs the converted data through the second interface 54. Additionally, the control unit 55 determines whether the destination of the data from the second interface is card authorization device or the computer, converts the data according to the targeting destination, and outputs the data via corresponding output port, that is, via the first interface or the third interface.

[33] Although the Internet communication translation apparatus and the Internet communication modem were described as being separately constructed in the above embodiment, both can be formed as a single board, that is, the modem may also be built in the Internet translation apparatus. In this case, the second interface will perform function of the first LAN driver only, and the port 52a connected with the modem 30 will be cancelled so that connection will be made directly. The first interface performs function of the serial port driver only, and the port 51a and the cable 51b connected with the card authorization device will be cancelled so that connection will be made directly.

[34] In the following embodiment, the single board incorporating therein the card authorization device, the Internet communication translation apparatus, and the communication modem, will be called as a card authorization apparatus. Referring to FIG. 4, the card authorization apparatus 110 and the inspecting device 120 are shown as being separated from each other for the convenience of understanding. However, one will appreciate that integral structure is also possible, in which a movement sensor 121 of the inspecting device 120 is made to face the lower surface, with the card authorization apparatus 110 being stacked on the upper surface. [35] The following will now explain about a difficulty information inspecting device and a method thereof, which uses the above-described Internet communication translation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[36] FIG. 3 illustrates a difficulty information inspecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a connected state, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a difficulty information inspecting device according to the present invention.

[37] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a difficulty information inspecting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the card authorization apparatus 110 and the inspecting device 120, and is connected on-line 122 via the Internet 10 with a management client 140, a management server 150 and a card payment service provider's server 20. The card payment service provider's server 20 may be constructed in the same way as a general VAN payment server. The management server 150 is constructed such that it real-time inspects the status of the credit card payment machines of the merchants at respective distances through the server system of the central management center, and alarms to the owners of the machines or repair shops to deal with the problems when theft or error is detected. More specifically, the management server 150 connects to the card payment server provider's server 20 and requests to stop the use of the card authorization apparatus 110, and when the card is in error, requests the repair shop for repair. The alarm may be SMS message or e-mail message. Because the management server 150 is at the central management center, the management client 140 is constructed to allow the administrator of the server outside of the shop to connect to the management server 150 at remote place to deal with the problem immediately. The management client 140 is constructed in the same way as the management server 150. The inspecting device 120 may be constructed to connect to the card authorization apparatus 110 by the communication line 111 to encrypt card payment data of the card authorization apparatus 110 and processes card payment authorization through the card authorization server 20, or to periodically transmit call-signal via the communication line 111 to inspect the status of the card authorization apparatus 110. The inspecting device 120 employs a plurality of motion sensors 121 to inspect movement or theft of the card authorization apparatus 110 , and when detecting any changes, notifies the change and the network status information of the inspecting device 120 to the management server 150. The status information may also be transmitted at predetermined intervals even in the times of no change.

[38] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the interior of the inspecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inspecting device 120 includes a display unit 210, an external communication interface unit 250, a terminal movement sensor unit 220, a terminal communication interface unit 230 and a memory device 240. The display unit 210 indicates operation or communication state of the inspecting device, and may usually include LEC or LCD display. The memory device 240 includes an operation software for operating the inspecting device 120 and inspection information stored therein, and the external communication interface unit 250 is provided for the communication of the management server 150 and/or the management client 140. The external communication interface unit 250 has the functions such as ADSL modem, VDSL modem, dial-up modem, LAN and asynchronous and synchronous serial communication ports RS232, RS422, RS485 to perform external communication. The terminal movement sensor unit 220 includes a sensor 120 installed on the upper part thereof so that the sensor 121 can detect any movement around the card authorization device 110 and notifies to the control unit 200 when detecting any movement. The sensor 121 may include any general sensors to detect movement, such as fluxgate sensor, and therefore, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted in the following for the sake of brevity. The control unit 200 controls overall operation of the inspecting device 120, and when notified of movement information from the sensor unit 220, notifies to the management server 150 and/or management client 140 the same through the external communication interface unit 250. The terminal communication interface unit 230 is provided for the communication with the card authorization apparatus 110, and has the asynchronous and synchronous communication functions.

[39] The card payment service provider's server 20 is constructed to process payment authorization when authorization request is received from the inspecting device 120.

[40] The following explanation will now describe about the process of inspecting online status of the card authorization device 110 using the construction as described above.

[41] FIG. 6 illustrates the process of inspecting on-line state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[42] Referring to FIG. 6, the control unit 200 of the inspecting device 120 calls the card authorization device 110 through the terminal communication interface unit 230 (step S300). A response ACK is received from the card authorization device (step S310), and authorization request data is received (step S320). Accordingly, the control unit 200 encrypts requested data through the external communication interface unit 250, transmits authorization approval request to the card authorization server 20, and transmits the result of the request to the card authorization device 110 (step S330). Therefore, the operation is completed. If ACK response is not received at operation S310, the above processes are repeated until call signal is transmitted three times (step S340), and when the response signal is received before call signal is transmitted three times, the operation S320 is performed. If no response is received more than three times at operation S340, or if no authorization a request data is received at operation S320, it is determined if the card authorization device 110 is in off-state (step S350). If the card authorization device 110 is determined to be in off-state, operation is completed, and if not, it is determined that an error has occurred, and therefore, the status information is stored in the memory device 240, and at the same time, the state information is transmitted to the management server 150 through the external communication interface unit 250 (step S370).

[43] FIG. 7 shows the process of inspecting movement of the credit card payment machine. The control unit 200 determines whether any change has been occurred in the state (if any movement has been detected) from the terminal movement sensor unit 220 which includes four movement sensors on the upper part of the inspecting device 120 (step S400), and if so, transmits to the management server 150 the state change information (step S410). If no change has been occurred in the state, the control unit 200 checks if certain time intervals such as 10-minute has elapsed (step S420) so that the state information can be periodically sent (step S430).

[44] According to the state information as received, the management server 150 transmits alarm information such as SMS message or e-mail message to the administrator of the server or the repair shop so that the problem can be properly dealt with.

[45] Although the difficulty information management apparatus according to the above- described embodiment of the present invention includes credit card payment machine, VAN server, credit card payment machine inspecting device, management server and the management client, one will appreciate that the difficulty information management apparatus can also be constructed of card authorization device, movement inspecting device, and management device only. In other words, the difficulty information management device can also be used for processing general difficulty information by providing a movement sensing device to sense movement around the card authorization device and the card payment machine at remote places, together with a management device to attend to alarming function upon receiving movement information from the movement sensing device.

[46] With the Internet communication translation apparatus for difficulty information as described above in a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention, because Internet communication is provided to the existent card authorization devices, communication fees are less charged to the owners, and communication time can also be reduced. Furthermore, because the central property custodian center inspects and notifies in real-time any possible theft or error in the equipment of a plurality of credit card payment machines at different remote places, proper measures can be taken in a timely manner. [47] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described preferred embodiments, but various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability [48]

Sequence List Text [49]

Claims

[1] An Internet communication translation apparatus, comprising: a first interface having a serial driver to handle data input and output with respect to a credit card authorization device; and a second interface having a first LAN driver to process data communication with a modem for connection to the Internet in accordance with a predetermined Internet communication environment, wherein a card authorization inquiry signal, received from the credit card authorization device through the first interface, is transmitted through the second interface to a credit card authorization server connected to the Internet, and a result information to the card authorization inquiry signal, received from the modem through the second interface, is transmitted to the credit card authorization device.

[2] An Internet communication translation apparatus, comprising: a credit card authorization device; and an Internet translation apparatus having a serial driver to handle data input and output between a modem for Internet connection and the credit card authorization device, and a first LAN driver to process data communication of the modem for Internet connection in accordance with a predetermined Internet communication environment, wherein a card authorization inquiry signal, received through the credit card authorization device, is transmitted to a credit card authorization server connected to the Internet, and a result information to the card authorization inquiry signal, received from the credit card authorization server, is transmitted to the credit card authorization device.

[3] A difficulty management apparatus, comprising: a credit card authorization device; a movement sensing device for sensing a movement of the credit card authorization device and transmitting an information on the detected movement by remote control; and a management device for performing alarm function when receiving the movement information from the movement sensing device.

[4] The difficulty management apparatus of claim 3, wherein the alarming function of the management device comprises an alarm notified to an administrator at remote place.

[5] A difficulty information management device comprising: a credit card authorization device; a VAN server for processing authorization when receiving an authorization request data is received from the credit card authorization device; a credit card authorization inspecting device connected with the credit card authorization device by a communication line, for encrypting a credit card payment data and transmitting the data to the VAN server to request authorization proce ssing, the credit card authorization inspecting device having at least one movement sensor installed on the upper part thereof; a management server for inspecting in real-time information on the status of the credit card authorization device transmitted from the inspecting device and performing alarm function; and a management client for connecting to the management server from outside by remote control, wherein the inspecting device transmits the status information to the management server at certain time intervals, inspects movement of the credit card authorization device through the sensors while, at the same time, inspecting on-line status of the credit card authorization device and notifying the result to the management server.

[6] The difficulty information management device of claim 5, wherein the alarm function of the management server comprises an alarm notified to an administrator at remote place when any difficulty information and/or a movement information is detected and received from the inspecting device.