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US 2012/0255994 A1Published application
Mass transit fare processing system
AssigneeSmart Systems Innovations, LLC
InventorMartin Friedrich Ludwig SILBERNAGL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implementation of a system and method for using existing identification token infrastructures for mass transit fare product entitlement and payment is provided. The system and method make use of tokens—usually issued by a third party—for identification purposes and optionally for settlement purposes. The system does not store information on the tokens and instead maintains access control data (i.e., “white” and “black” lists). This implementation differs from known systems that require specially issued credit cards that have dedicated mass transit functionality.
Claims39
A method for gating entry into a first transit system, the method comprising:
- receiving a set of records, wherein each includes an index representative of an individual token, and wherein the set of records includes a set of records representing black-listed tokens wherein a black-listed token will be denied access to the first transit system;
- sequentially reading, at a token terminal, and processing token data from a plurality of tokens, wherein a first token of the plurality of tokens is issued by a first issuer and a second token of the plurality of tokens is issued by a second issuer separate and distinct from the first issuer, and wherein the first issuer and the second issuer are separate from the first transit system;
- processing a third token comprising:
- (a) reading, at the token terminal, token data from the third token;
- (b) determining an index representative of the third token;
- (c) searching for the index representative of the third token in the set of records to determine a status of the third token;
- (d) setting the status of the third token to indicate the third token is an unknown token;
- and
- (e) allowing access into the first transit system and entering, to a transaction history database, an indication of access into the first transit system by a holder of the third token;
- providing, to a processing system, entries from the transaction history database for remote determination of a transaction amount for each entry;
- and
- receiving an update to the set of records.
9 more elements
A method for authorizing a bankcard transaction, the method comprising:
- downloading two sets of records comprising a first set of records and a second set of records, each comprising at least a bankcard identifier, the first set of records representing known invalid bankcards, and the second set of records representing known valid bankcards;
- receiving a first authorization request, referencing a first bankcard;
- checking if the first bankcard matches a known invalid card;
- denying the first authorization request, if the first bankcard matches the known invalid card;
- receiving a second authorization request, referencing a second bankcard, the second authorization request comprising at least the bankcard identifier of the second bankcard;
- checking if the second bankcard matches the known invalid card or the known valid card;
- and
- approving the second authorization request, if the first bankcard does not match any known invalid cards, and matches a known valid card.
5 more elements
A method for controlling access to a transit network by maintaining a black list of identifying tokens, the method comprising:
- granting a potential rider access to a transit system upon presentation of an identifying token, comprising:
- reading a first set of token data from a first identifying token using a token reader;
- computing a first token identifier from token data;
- checking a first token against a black list in memory, using the first token identifier;
- and
- allowing access to the transit network, if the first token is not black listed;
- denying a potential rider access to the transit system upon presentation of an identifying token, comprising
- reading a second set of token data from a second identifying token, using a token reader;
- computing a second token identifier from the token data;
- checking the second token identifier against the black list in memory, using the second token identifier;
- and
- denying access to the transit network, if the second token is black listed;
- removing a third identifying token from the black list after its outstanding balance is paid, comprising:
- successfully charging a payment account associated with the third identifying token;
- and
- removing the third identifying token from the black list;
- and
- adding a fourth identifying token to the black list if the outstanding balance remains unpaid, comprising:
- unsuccessfully charging one or more a payment accounts associated with the fourth identifying token;
- and
- adding the fourth identifying token to the black list.
18 more elements
A fare processing system associated with a set of public transit systems, the fare processing system comprising:
- a first interface to receive a plurality of presentation records from at least one of the set of public transit systems;
- record memory to hold received presentation records;
- rule memory to hold fare rules;
- account memory to store a state of one or more transit accounts;
- a second interface connected to a payment gateway to settle the one or more transit accounts;
- and
- one or more processors, coupled to the first interface and second interface and to the record memory, the rule memory and the account memory, to apply the fare rules held in the rule memory to presentations records held in presentation record memory.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.