WO2012060774A1

WO2012060774A1 - Transaction managing system which handles dynamic receipt messages

Info

Publication number: WO2012060774A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/051312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Schröder
Original assignee: Retail Innovation Htt Ab
Priority date: 2010-11-03
Filing date: 2011-11-03
Publication date: 2012-05-10

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a transaction managing system, an apparatus for managing transactions and to a method for use in such an apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus (60) for managing transactions, the apparatus being adapted to perform a dynamic receipt message process providing the capability to select among a plurality of text messages and print said messages corresponding to the transaction data printed on a receipt or another document generated by the transaction managing system. According to the invented dynamic receipt message, the content of each message is depending on the transaction data printed on the receipt.

Description

Transaction managing system which handles dynamic receipt messages

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to a transaction managing system, an apparatus comprising control unit for managing transactions and to a method for use in such an apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transaction managing system comprising a control unit for managing transactions, the control unit being adapted to interwork between a transaction register, printer unit and a node entity. BACKGROUND

The use of cash registers to input prices of the goods that a customer purchases is known within the retail industry, as is their use to input the amount that the customer has paid. According to the prior art, a cash register comprises means for calculating a sum of the price of purchased items, also known as a transaction amount, and means for calculating a difference between an amount paid in and the transaction amount. The cash register is normally connected to a receipt printer, and it has a function to deliver information to the receipt printer such that the latter can write a receipt, and it has an order function that activates the receipt writer/printer. Furthermore, the cash register usually comprises a data processing unit that can, for example, calculate the transaction amount and the difference between the amount paid in and the transaction amount.

It is known in transaction managing systems to add receipt messages directed to the customer. The message is printed on the receipt, e.g. in the bottom of the receipt. The message may say something like "Thank you for visiting us, and Welcome Back". However, said known receipt message is said to be static, i.e. the same message is always written on each printed receipt. Thus, the content of a receipt message is static. The document US 2001/0045459 Al provides a Point of Sale system comprising a receipt issuing method. Said system provides an output information defining file having a static message comprising an area to set variable information, i.e. the total price reduction value. However, the text message on the receipt is static, i.e. it only tells a costumer how much reduction the at the special purchase occasion. The known system is limited to handle one text message wherein a variable price value could be varied. It does not provide the possibility to handle different messages. SUMMARY

One object of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is to provide a functionality that provides a dynamic receipt message functionality to a transaction management system. On the contrary to the static receipt message process, the dynamic receipt message process provides the capability to select among different receipt messages. The present dynamic receipt message process is adapted to select and print a receipt message which is linked to a certain purchased article, i.e. item, of in the transaction data. The dynamic receipt message process is a dynamic process for adding messages and information other than the usual information, such as transaction data, time, name of the store, etc.

The dynamic receipt message process provides possibility to add different messages informing a customer about sale offers, commercial messages, sale promotions, etc, to a receipt when it is printed.

Further one object of exemplary embodiments is thus to provide a simplified solution for managing and controlling transactions wherein the solution is independent of a used transaction register program or a type of a transaction register. The transaction register is any kind of register able to register transactions, such as a cash register.

According to an aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided a transaction managing apparatus for use in a transaction managing system. The transaction managing apparatus is adapted to interwork between a transaction register and a printing unit for writing printing files. The apparatus further comprises a control unit configured for receiving transaction data comprising at least one article code from the transaction register. The control unit further comprises a comparison unit configured to compare each article code with stored article codes in a list, a retriever circuit configured to receiving a receipt message corresponding to each article code hit in said list, an adding unit configured to add each of said retrieved receipt messages to a printing file comprising the corresponding transaction data.

According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided a transaction managing system comprising an apparatus for managing transactions which is adapted to interworking between a transaction register and a printer. According to another aspect of exemplary embodiments, there is provided method for use in a transaction managing apparatus, which is adapted to interwork between a transaction register and a printing unit for writing printing files. Said method comprises receiving transaction data comprising at least one article code from the transaction register; comparing each article code with stored article codes in a list; retrieving a receipt message corresponding to each article code hit in said list; adding each of said retrieved receipt messages to a printing file comprising the corresponding transaction data; and sending the printing file to printing unit.

Further aspects and embodiments are provided by the dependent claims.

Thus, even though the expression "receipt message" is used in this disclosure, said expression should not be understood in a limited sense, i.e. only messages printed on a receipt for a transaction, but as a message, text message or information, printed on a receipt or another document separate from the receipt but generated by the present transaction managing system, preferably at the moment of printing a receipt, but not limited to such a receipt printing occasion. In the following description of embodiments, the expression "receipt message" is therefore only used for distinguish such dynamic text messages from other types of messages treated in the following description.

An advantage of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is that the invention works independently of the transaction register program. Still other advantages, objects and features of the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, attention to be called to the fact, however, that the following drawings are illustrative only, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the specific embodiments illustrated as described within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system and a network for performing transactions and in which the present invention may be implemented. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for managing transaction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method for use in an apparatus for managing transactions according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, scenarios, techniques, etc. in order to provide thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent from the following that the present invention and its embodiments may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein by way of reference to particular example scenarios. In particular the invention is described in a non-limiting general context in relation to a transaction register. Note that the present invention is applicable to function in combination with any type of cash registers hereinafter during the description denoted as a transaction register. Such transaction registers include among others traditional Electronic Cash Registers (ECR:s) with very limited programming capabilities e.g. ROM (Read Only Memory) Registers, ECR:s with programming capabilities, PC-based transaction registers, server-based cash registers, i.e. Point-of- Sales (POS) registers. Following will be described exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclosing a transaction managing system, an apparatus comprising a control unit for managing transactions and a method for use in such an apparatus, and wherein the embodiments are independent of transaction register programs and which enable centralized certification.

Fig. 1 discloses a system 1 which comprises at least one transaction management system 10 in which the present invention could be implemented. A transaction management system 10 may comprise an apparatus 60 comprising a control unit, connected to at least one cash register 50 and at least one receipt writer 70 for writing/printing a receipt 12. The apparatus 60 may use encryption algorithms to generate a unique code based on transaction data 16 received from the cash register 50, which unique code is sent to the receipt writer 70 to be printed onto the receipt. Such a system is known from the document WO2006/083219 Al . The authenticity of all receipts that are generated by the system can in this way be subsequently checked. The apparatus 60 and its control unit may therefore be connected via an external network 20, e.g. Internet, ISDN, a wireless network, phone line etc, to a Supervisory Authority 80 (SA). A unique code and the transaction data may be sent to the SA for further registration and storage. Further, the apparatus 60 may also be connected to or integrated with an Electronic Input Device (EID) 65, e.g. a PINpad for card payment, and thus, the apparatus is connected via said external network 20 to a Trusted Authority (TA) 90, such as an acquirer of transactions, e.g. a bank, etc.

There are various means that can be used in order to effect payments, such as debit or credit cards. Credit cards are known to be a flexible way of performing payments. Also, the connection of electronic input devices to a cash register is known. Many vendors need to be able to offer their customers, i.e. end-users, the possibility of using their credit cards for payment. Such an electronic input device is a credit card payment terminal or a Personal Identification Number pad (PINpad) which are electronic input devices used in a debit or smart-card based transaction to input and encrypt a cardholder's PIN.

PINpads are normally used with integrated point of sale devices in which an Electronic Cash register (ECR) machine is responsible for taking a sale amount and initiating/handling a transaction. The PINpad is required so that a customer can use his card (in the case of chip cards) and enter a PIN securely and whereby the card number and the PIN is encrypted before it is sent upstream to a transaction manager of a trusted authority or a bank. In some cases, with chip cards, the PIN is only transferred from the PINpad to the chip (within the PINpad itself) and it is verified by the chip card. In this case the PIN does not need to be sent to the bank or card scheme for verification (this is known as Offline PIN verification').

PINpads are normally equipped with hardware and software security features to ensure that injected security keys and the PIN are erased if someone tries to tamper with the device. The PIN-code is encrypted immediately on entry and an encrypted PIN-block is created. This encrypted PIN-block is erased as soon as it has been sent from the PINpad to the interworking device and/or the chip card. PINs are encrypted using a variety of encryption schemes, the most common being triple DES. Triple DES is the common name for Triple Data Encryption Algorithm (TDEA) block cipher defined by several standards. It is so named because it applies the Data Encryption Standard (DES) cipher algorithm three times to each data block. Triple DES provides a relatively simple method of increasing the key size of DES to protect against brute force attacks, without requiring a completely new block cipher algorithm.

PINpads must be approved to the standards required by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) in order to ensure that they provide adequate security at the point of PIN entry and for the PIN encryption process. One can say that the PINpad must follow the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The PCI DSS, is a set of comprehensive requirements for enhancing payment account data security, was developed by the founding payment brands of the PCI Security Standards Council, including American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc. Inc. International, to help facilitate the broad adoption of consistent data security measures on a global basis. The PCI DSS is a multifaceted security standard that includes requirements for security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design and other critical protective measures. This comprehensive standard is intended to help organizations proactively protect customer account data. According to embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 60 comprises a control unit 200 configured to perform a dynamic receipt message process for selecting and printing at least one message 14 on a receipt 12 containing transaction data 16, or a number of separate paper documents, wherein the transaction data is separated to one paper document, e.g. paper slip or sheet, and the receipt messages to one or more other paper documents, e.g. one document for each receipt message, e.g. sale offer. Each such separate document is then a registered value document, e.g. a voucher, refill code document, message receipts, etc.

Thus, even though the expression "receipt message" is used in this disclosure, said expression should not be understood in a limited sense, i.e. only messages printed on a receipt for a transaction, but as a message, text message or information, printed on a receipt or another document separate from the receipt but generated by the present transaction managing system, preferably at the moment of printing a receipt, but not limited to such a receipt printing occasion.

In the following description of embodiments, the expression "receipt message" is therefore only used for distinguish such dynamic text messages from other types of messages treated in the following description. The present receipt message process is a dynamic process for adding messages and information other than the usual information, such as transaction data, time, name of the store, verification code, etc. It is known to add a sale offer, a commercial message, sale promotion, etc, to a receipt when it is printed. However, said known message process is said to be static, i.e. the same message is printed on each printed receipt during a time period. Thus, the content of a receipt message is static.

On the contrary to the static receipt message process, the dynamic receipt message process provides the capability to select among different messages in such a way that the messages are adapted to the transaction data printed on the receipt. The dynamic receipt message process may be adapted to select among a number of messages and print said selected receipt messages, wherein each message may be linked to a certain purchased article or a number of articles of the transaction data.

Article identification data, hereafter denoted article code, regarding the purchased articles are read from the transaction data and each said code is compared to a message link list of article codes. If one or more of the article codes are identical with the article codes in the list, each such hit triggers the generation of a receipt message, which is logically linked to the article and its code.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the control unit comprises a comparison unit which is configured to compare each from the transaction register received transaction comprising an article code to a message link list of article codes. If one of the article codes is identical with an article code in the list, said article code hit triggers the generation of a receipt message, which is logically linked to the article and its code.

The receipt message to be printed due to an article code hit may be collected in different ways. In some embodiments of the present invention, the receipt message is stored in the control unit from which it is sent to the printer. In other embodiments, the receipt message may be stored digital storages 40 in one or more nodes 30, or in a central node 30, which may be serving several control units simultaneously.

The message link list is stored in digital memory storage. Said list may be provided in different ways. In some embodiments of the present invention, the list is provided by a central supplier that will update the list periodically or whenever needed. The message link list comprises article numbers and the logical links to their corresponding receipt messages, respectively. Said logical links are the information where to find the corresponding, i.e. correct, receipt message. A logical link is preferably information where to find the receipt message. The logical link may be an address, e.g. an address in a memory, an IP address to a node, etc. The node preferably comprises a node entity, e.g. a data processor system and a memory storage, data base or server, etc.

The content and layout of the receipt messages are predetermined before they are stored in the memory storage.

Thus, for each hit in the message link list a message corresponding to the article number is retrieved by the control unit. The control unit is configured to use the link information to retrieve the correct receipt message, of which information, text content, is adapted to suit the purchased article, i.e. item. The receipt message could be a sale offer, such as "if you buy three bottles of Coca Cola, instead of just one, you will get the fourth bottle for FREE". The receipt message could also be an offer to be used at the next visit in the store, e.g. a 10% discount on the total purchase-sum. The receipt is then a registered value document.

When the control unit has retrieved the receipt message, it adds the receipt message to the printing file to be printed by the receipt writer, even denoted printer unit 70. The control unit then sends the printing file to the printer unit, which prints a paper document, i.e. a receipt.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the printing file may be configured to control the printer unit to print, or write, the transaction data 16 and the receipt messages 14 on one and the same document 12, i.e. the same receipt paper, but preferably in separated areas, as illustrated in Fig. 2, for not interfering in the receipt/transaction area. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the printing file may be configured to control the printing unit to produce a number of separate paper documents, wherein the transaction data is separated to one paper document, e.g. paper slip or sheet, and the receipt messages to one or more other paper documents, e.g. one document for each receipt message, e.g. sale offer. Each such separate document is then a registered value document.

According to further other embodiments of the present invention, the printing file may also be provided from a storage or separate node in the system with messages comprising global area or regional area information and commercials, such as information about product releases, sport or culture events, etc. Thus, said messages do not need to be linked or related to a special service, article or item. Such messages could be provided automatically within a certain area and/or time period.

The apparatus 60 comprising the control unit 200 may further be in accessible connection with a Supervisory Authority 80 (SA) which is able to receive transaction data and the unique code for each payment from the apparatus via a network 20. The network may be an internet connection, a wireless connection or any other suitable known network for message communication. All the messages sent over the network are encrypted before sending and decrypted at the SA and/or TA, using triple DES and/or public key/private key algorithms. The SA decrypts and stores the received messages for information control. The Transaction Authority (TA) 90 decrypts each request and encrypts each response before sending them back in a secured way, over the network, back to the apparatus, the TA 90 normally using triple-DES for encryption. The control unit 200 which in this case is PCI DSS certified and/or is using triple DES encryption/decryption, decrypts the transaction responses by the aid of the decrypting circuit. Then the apparatus determines by reading information in the responses how to proceed. This way the apparatus functions as an interworking unit between all other devices, i.e. an Electronic Input Device EID, e.g. a PINpad, the printer, the transaction register, the TA and a Transaction Manager (TM).

Consequently, the apparatus disclosed in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be purchased by a vendor or to a store and easily installed. The apparatus is then either connected to an EID or includes itself the EID. Since the apparatus acts independent of the type of transaction register it is connected to, vendors need not to update their local transaction register with new programs or exchange them to new ones. The apparatus also functioning as a certified sealed box guaranties the security of the information stored and processed within it. All information is stored in encrypted form.

Some embodiments of the present the apparatus 60 comprising a control unit 200 according to the present invention will now be presented in more detail. Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating such a control unit 200 for managing transaction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Said control unit 200 according to an illustrated embodiment comprises a receiver circuit 210, an extracting circuit 212, a comparison unit 214, a memory storage 216 for storing a message link list 218, a retriever circuit 220, an adding unit 222, and sending circuit 226. As illustrated in Fig. 2, all the listed units and circuits of the control unit is connected to and controlled by a Central Processing Unit /CPU) 205.

The receiver circuit 210 is an optional unit of the control unit 200. It is an input unit for receiving transaction data 16 from the cash register/transaction register 50 via an interface A. A specific protocol may be used for the communication of the transaction data between the register 50 and control unit 60. The receiver circuit 210 forwards the transaction data to the extracting circuit 212. In some embodiments, the receiver unit 210 is integrated with the extracting circuit 212. The transaction data 16 comprises the transaction amount and purchased items identified by article identification code, denoted article code.

The extracting circuit 212 is configured to extract the article codes of the purchased items specified in the received transaction data 16. Said one or more article codes are forwarded together with the transaction data 16 by the extracting circuit 212 to the comparison unit 214.

In some embodiments, the extracting circuit 212 may be integrated with the comparison unit 214, which than will perform the step of identifying the article codes in the transaction data 16.

The extracting circuit 212 may also use the transaction data to generate a unique code. The unique code may further be used to validate/authenticate a receipt or to use when controlling and supervising a transaction register 50. The unique code may be separately used for determining the authenticity of the receipt or may be sent to a Supervisory Authority 80. Thus the SA can, through a network, verify very easily the authenticity of a receipt by feeding the unique code that is on the receipt into a computer system of the SA, and decrypt the unique code thereby revealing the transaction data.

The comparison unit 214 is adapted to receive the extracted one or more article codes and the corresponding transaction data 16. However, the receiver circuit and the extracting circuit may be integrated in the comparison unit 214, which then will both receive the transaction data and extract the article codes of the transaction data 16. The comparison unit 214 is adapted to compare each extracted article code with article codes in a message link list 218 stored in a memory storage 216 in the control unit. If one of the article codes is identical with an article code in the list, said article code hit triggers the retrieval of a receipt message, which is logically linked in the list to the article code. The logical link may be an address in a memory, an IP address to a node comprising a memory storage, data base or server. Thus, the logical link may be used as a trigger when sent to a retriever circuit 220. Each hit in the message link list generates a trigger signal. The comparison unit 214 forwards the transaction data 16 to an adding unit 222, when all the article codes of the transaction data have been checked, i.e. compared with the article codes of the message link list 218. Each trigger signal is counted by the CPU and/or the adding unit 222. If the comparison unit 214 have generated and sent a trigger signal to the adding unit 222, the adding unit is adapted to hold the transaction data until the adding unit have received the number of receipt messages 14 corresponding to the number of triggers received from the comparison circuit 214 and/or the CPU. Thus, the adding unit 222 is adapted to forward the transaction data 16 directly as a printing file 224 to a sending unit 226 or directly to a printer unit 70 if the control unit 200 misses a sending unit between the adding unit 222 and the printer unit 70.

The control unit 200 further comprises a retriever unit 220 configured to retrieve, by using the logical link for each hit in the list 218, a receipt message.

The retriever circuit 220 is configured to receive a trigger signal, preferably a trigger message. A trigger message contains important information for identifying the correct receipt message 14. The logical link with or without the article code may be used for triggering the retriever circuit 220. By means of the logical link, the retriever circuit is able to locate the receipt message 14 corresponding to the logical link, and retrieve it from where the receipt message is stored. The receipt message 14 may either be stored in internal memory storage 230 in the control unit 200 or in a node 30 of a communication system 20, e.g. internet. The node 30, which may be a central node for the system 1, comprises node entity 40, such as a memory storage, e.g. data server, data base, etc. for storing the receipt messages. The node 30 may thus be accessible via the internet. The communication may be performed by means of an internet protocol or other suitable adapted protocols. The retriever circuit 220 is adapted to send an addressed receipt message request to the node using the node's IP address. The receipt message request comprises the logical link, e.g. article code and/or store address. The node entity 40 will comprise means, such as computer and software, etc, for receiving and handling said request, finding the receipt message 14 where it is stored, generating a response involving the requested receipt message or messages 14, and sending the response back to the requesting control unit 200 and its retriever circuit 220. A control unit 200 is not dependent of communicating with only one node 30, such as a central node, it may also be adapted to communicate e.g. over Internet, Ethernet, etc, with plenty different nodes for collecting and retrieving necessary information, receipt messages, message link lists, etc. The node entity 40 of the node 30 may also have the functionality to provide message link lists 218 to the control units 200. The link lists 218 may be distributed i.e. sent, over internet to one, or more, or each control unit 200 from an external node.

The retriever circuit 220 is configured to receive a response with one or more receipt messages 14, or message link lists 218. The link lists 218 are forwarded to the memory storage 216, wherein each link list is stored and readable by the comparison unit 214.

The control unit 200 may also comprise an internal memory storage 230 from which the retrieve circuit 220 may retrieve the receipt messages 14 indicated by a logical message link which is a result of a hit in the message link list 218. Internal memory storage 216 comprising all the possible receipt messages 14 has the advantage over an external storage that the time to retrieve a receipt message is shorter. In some embodiments of the invention, both internal 216 and external 40 memory storages are used.

The retriever circuit 220 is further configured to forward receipt messages to the adding unit 222. The adding unit is adapted to receive transaction data 16 via the comparison unit 214 and receipt messages 14 via the retriever circuit 220. It is further configured to combine the transaction data 16 with the one or more message receipts 14 that were the result of the comparison of the article codes of the transaction data into a printing file 224. The retriever circuit is configured to forward the printing file 224 to the sending unit 226.

In some embodiments, the retriever circuit 220 and the adding circuit 222 is integrated into one unit. Thus, the adding unit 222 adds the receipt message 14 to the transaction data 16 to produce a printing file 224 to be printed by the receipt writer 70, even denoted printer unit.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the adding unit 222 is adapted to configure the printing file to control the printer unit to print, or write, the transaction data 16 and the receipt messages 14 on one and the same document 12, i.e. the same receipt paper. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the adding unit 222 is adapted to configure the printing file to control the printing unit to produce a number of separate paper documents, wherein the transaction data is separated to one paper document, e.g. paper slip or sheet, and the receipt messages to one or more other paper documents, e.g. one document for each receipt message, e.g. sale offer. Each such separate document may be then a registered value document, e.g voucher.

The control unit also comprises a sending unit 226 adapted to send the printing file to the printer unit. A separate sending unit is optional, and the sending unit may therefore be integrated with the adding circuit 222 into one common unit. Thus, all three circuits/units 220, 222, 226 may be integrated into one common unit.

If there is no hit (no), either a default receipt message, if any available, is added to the printing file to be printed by the receipt writer, or if there is no default receipt message available, a printing file with only the transaction data to be printed is sent to the receipt writer 70. The printing file 224 may include other information such as: a unique code, purchased items/articles, a date, the TM identity, the transaction amount, a masked end-user credit card number i.e. a coded credit card number (typically printed as for example XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX), a transaction/cash register number, and other information similar to the decrypted transaction response. The above described units and circuits of the present invention may be implemented in digital electronically circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Said units and circuits of the invention may be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps of the invention may be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output.

The invention may advantageously be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program may be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language.

Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto -optical disks; and CD- ROM disks. Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially - designed ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits).

Embodiments of the dynamic receipt message process performed by the apparatus 60 comprising the control unit 200 will now be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 3. The above described embodiments in connection to Fig. 2 are capable to perform the steps of the process described with reference to Fig. 3. Normally, when a cashier working is a store enters a transaction amount, i.e. a total amount to be paid, on the transaction register 50, the transmission of transaction data is then initiated, normally by the cashier pressing on enter key. The transaction data normally comprising identification data regarding the purchased articles and the transaction amount is then sent to the apparatus 60 comprising the control unit 200, which receives (S310) the transaction data and extracts (S320) from the transaction data the article/item identification code, i.e. the article code, among other information.

Note that the apparatus is also capable of generating/extracting a unique code from the transaction data. The unique code is an encrypted string that can be used when decrypted to identify the purchased items and the transaction amount. A number of known description algorithms may be used to encrypt the unique code, such as RSA, Blowfish, Twofish etc.

The control unit 200, which may be Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certified, continues then by comparing (S330) each extracted article code with article codes in a message link list stored in a memory storage in the control unit. If one of the article codes is identical with an article code in the list, said article code hit triggers (S335) the retrieval of a receipt message, which is logically linked in the list to the article code. The comparing and triggering steps are performed by the comparison unit 214, see Fig. 2.

Thus, for each hit (yes), the control unit 200 retrieves a receipt message (S340) by using the logical link, e.g. an address in a memory, an IP address to a node comprising a memory storage, data base or server. How to retrieve a receipt message is described above in Fig. 2, see especially description of retriever circuit 220.

When the control unit 200 has retrieved the receipt message, it adds (S350) the receipt message to the printing file to be printed by the receipt writer, even denoted printer unit. The adding step is performed by means of the adding unit 222 as described above with reference to Fig. 2. The control unit then sends (S360) the printing file to the printer unit 70.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the printing file may be configured to control the printer unit to print, or write, the transaction data 16 and the receipt messages 14 on one and the same document 12, i.e. the same receipt paper. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the printing file may be configured to control the printing unit to produce a number of separate paper documents, wherein the transaction data is separated to one paper document, e.g. paper slip or sheet, and the receipt messages to one or more other paper documents, e.g. one document for each receipt message, e.g. sale offer. Each such separate document is then a kind of value document, e.g. registered value document such as a voucher. If there is no hit (no), either a default receipt message, if any available, is added (S355) to the printing file to be printed by the receipt writer, or if there is no default receipt message available, a printing file with only the transaction data to be printed is sent to the receipt writer.

Favorable use of embodiments of the present invention is to sell so called Electronic Product Codes, such as e.g. refill codes, lottery numbers, etc. Refill codes are aimed for prepaid mobile communications services (also commonly referred to as pay-as-you-go, Pay & Go, or prepaid wireless). Credit is purchased in advance of service use of a mobile phone. The purchased credit is used to pay for mobile phone services at the point the service is accessed or consumed. If there is no available credit then access to the requested service is denied by the mobile phone network. Users are able to top up their credit at any time using a variety of payment mechanisms. One such mechanism is to buy a refill code for a certain amount of money at a store.

According to the following example, the cashier of the store enters an article code corresponding to a mobile phone operator and the transaction amount, i.e. the amount to be prepaid, on the transaction register 50. The transaction data comprises identification data regarding the purchased articles/items and the transaction amount is then sent to the control unit 200, which receives (S310) the transaction data and uses the transaction data to extract (S320) the article identification code, i.e. the article code, among other information.

The control unit 200 then continues by comparing (S330) extracted article code with article codes in a message link list stored in the memory storage in the control unit. As one of the article codes is identical with an article code corresponding to a refill code in the list, said article code hit triggers (S335) the retrieval of a receipt message, which is logically linked to refill codes. The control unit 200 retrieves a receipt message (S340) by using the logical link, e.g. an address in an internal memory of the control unit 200, or an IP address to a node 30 of a mobile phone operator, wherein said node is comprising a memory storage 40, data base or server. The retriever circuit 220 is configured to retrieve a receipt message comprising a unique refill code the internal memory of the control unit 200, or to retrieve a receipt message comprising a unique refill code from the external node 30.

When the control unit 200 has retrieved the receipt message, it adds (S350) the receipt message with the refill code to the printing file to be printed by the receipt writer, even denoted printer unit. The control unit then sends (S360) the printing file to the printer unit. The buyer gets the printed/written receipt with the refill code, which the buyer uses when refilling his/her mobile phone account. The generated receipt or document is then considered to be a registered value document. The embodiments of the dynamic receipt message process may advantageously be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program may be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language. While the invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations and equivalents thereof will become apparent upon reading of the specifications and upon study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims include such alternatives, modifications, permutations and equivalents as fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

An transaction managing apparatus (60) for use in a transaction managing system (10), the transaction managing apparatus (60) being adapted to interwork between a transaction register (50) and a printing unit (70) for writing printing files (224), the apparatus comprises a control unit (200) configured for receiving transaction data (16) comprising at least one article code from the transaction register (50); characterized in that the control unit further comprises a comparison unit (214) configured to compare each article code with stored article codes in a list (218), a retriever circuit (220) configured to receiving a receipt message (14) corresponding to each article code hit in said list (218), an adding unit (222) configured to add each of said retrieved receipt messages to a printing file (224) comprising the corresponding transaction data.

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retriever circuit (220) is configured to retrieve receipt messages from a node (30) connectable by the apparatus (60).

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retriever circuit (220) is configured to retrieve receipt messages from an internal memory storage (230) in the apparatus (60).

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the list (218) is a message link list comprising article codes and the logical links to their corresponding receipt messages, respectively.

The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adding unit (222) is configured to add a default receipt message to the printing file (224) if no article code hit occurred in the comparing process.

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit (222) is adapted to configure the printing file (224) to control the printing unit to produce a number of separate paper documents, wherein the transaction data is separated to one paper document, e.g. paper slip or sheet, and the receipt messages to one or more other paper documents, e.g. one document for each receipt message.

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receipt message comprises an Electronic Product Code, such as e.g. refill code, lottery number, etc.

8. A transaction managing system (10) comprising an apparatus (60) for managing transactions which is adapted to interworking between a transaction register (50), and a printer unit (70), and wherein the apparatus (60) is the apparatus disclosed in any of the claims 1-7.

9. A method for use in a transaction managing apparatus (60), the transaction managing apparatus (60) being adapted to interwork between a transaction register (50) and a printing unit (70) for writing printing files, the method comprising;

- receiving (S310) transaction data (16) comprising at least one article code from the transaction register (50); characterized in that the method further comprises:

- comparing (S330) each article code with stored article codes in a list (218);

- retrieving (S340) a receipt message (14) corresponding to each article code hit in said list (218);

- adding (S350) each of said retrieved receipt messages to a printing file (224) comprising the corresponding transaction data;

- sending (S360 ) the printing file to printing unit (70).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the receipt message is retrieved (S340) from a node (30) connectable by the apparatus (60).

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the receipt message is retrieved (S340) from an internal memory storage (230) in the apparatus (60).

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the list (218) is a message link list comprising article codes and the logical links to their corresponding receipt messages, respectively.

13. The method according to claim 9, comprising: adding (S355) a default message to the printing file (224) if no article code hit occurred in the comparing process (S330).

14. The method according to claim 9, comprising: configure the printing file (224) to control the printing unit to produce a number of separate paper documents, wherein the transaction data is separated to one paper document, e.g. paper slip or sheet, and the receipt messages to one or more other paper documents, e.g. one document for each receipt message.

The method according to claim 9, wherein the receipt message comprises an Electronic Product Code, such as e.g. refill code, lottery number, etc.