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OwnerScott Thomson, Andrew David Bailey +4inventors
InventorsScott Thomson, Andrew David Bailey, David North, Elizabeth Joy Sansom, Andrew Blackburn, Anne Walters
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The invention concerns an electronic processor for use in processing cash transactions comprising an electronic processor and a database. The processor has: 1) an interface for receiving a request from a member using the system for generating a coded number representing a desired cash value to be purchased at a remote terminal, for receiving a request that a number previously allocated may be redeemed, for transmitting to the remote terminal a generated number and for transmitting a message to a terminal indicating that a received request for redemption is valid; 2) a validation section for determining whether or not received requests are valid; 3) a number generation section for generating a coded number in response to a valid request; and 4) a storage section for storing each number generated in response to a valid request in a first table of the database and for storing the total value of cash represented by issued coded numbers which have not been redeemed in a Fund table and for transferring a coded number the redemption of which has been validated to a second table and decrementing the total value in the Fund table by the value represented by each coded number for which a validated redemption request is received so that every coded number issued can never cause more than one increase in the value represented in the fund table and every coded number redeemed can cause only one decrease in the stored value.
An electronic processor system for use in processing cash transactions comprising an electronic processor and a database, the processor comprising:
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processor is adapted to generate the coded number so as to incorporate constraints placed upon the redemption of the coded number, the constraints being represented as a first sequence of digits which form part of the number.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein each coded number includes an initial set of six digits representing an International identification number (IIN) allocated to the member on behalf of whom the coded number has been generated.
A system according to any preceding claim wherein the number generating section is adopted to generate a random multi-digit identification number as part of the coded number in response to a request from a member and at least one check digit
A system according to any preceding claim wherein the processor is adapted to reconcile the total value in the fund table attributed to issued but unredeemed vouchers against physical funds held in or in transit to bank accounts holding only balances related to that fund.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the database includes a table of members who can have coded numbers generated on their behalf and who can have coded numbers redeemed on their behalf, and wherein the processor is adapted to accept messages requesting the generation of coded numbers or the redemption of coded numbers after checking that the message has been issued by a member listed in the member table.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the coded number is nineteen digits long including the IIN number.
A system according to any preceding claim and including a plurality of remote terminals from which requests for coded numbers can be issued.
A method of processing cash transactions utilising an electronic processor and a database, the method comprising the steps of:
A method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the processor is adapted to generate the coded number so as to incorporate constraints placed upon the redemption of the coded number, the constraints being represented as a first sequence of digits which form part of the number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.