Card payment system for service dispensing devices

Card payment system for service dispensing devices comprising

• a plurality of service dispensing devices, said service dispensing devices being of at least two types, each said service dispensing device being controlled by operating controls,
• a similar plurality of local controllers, connected respectively to said service dispensing devices,
• a central controller, and
• a service card dispenser,
• said plurality of local controllers, said service card dispenser, and said central controller being connected together for the transfer of information thereamong,
• each said local controller comprising
• storage providing signals representative of
• local controller communications address uniquely identifying said local controller,
• current device rate representing current cost for service from said connected service dispensing device,
• selected language, and
• device type specifying the type of said connected service dispensing device,
• control output connected to said service dispensing device operating controls for the output of control signals to said operating controls,
• local controller display means,
• display control means responsive to said local controller storage for controlling said local controller display means to display in the language indicated by said selected language signals a representation of said current rate to an intending user of the connected said service dispensing device,
• a local controller card reader for reading a card identifier provided on and uniquely identifying a service card presented to said local controller card reader by an intending user of the connected said service dispensing device,
• authorization request and transmitting means for deriving and transmitting to said central controller an authorization request, said authorization request being derived from a card identifier of a card presented to said card reader and from said signals representative of said local controller communications address,
• rate updating means for storing received new current device rate in said local controller storage,
• said local controller being responsive to receipt of a message from said central controller for transmitting an acknowledge message to said central controller,
• said card dispenser comprising
• a payment acceptor
• storage providing signals representative of a card dispenser communications address uniquely identifying said card dispenser,
• a card dispenser card reader for sensing presence or absence of a service card and for reading a card identifier provided on and uniquely identifying a service card presented to said card dispenser card reader, and
• a card dispenser display,
• display control means responsive to said payment acceptor for controlling said card dispenser display to display a representation of the value of the payment presented to said payment acceptor,
• card supply means responsive to said payment acceptor and to absence of a service card in said card dispenser card reader for supplying a new service card to said dispenser card reader, and
• account request and transmitting means responsive to said card dispenser card reader, to said payment acceptor, and to said card dispenser storage for deriving from the card identifier read by said dispenser card reader, from the value of payment presented to said payment acceptor, and from said card dispenser communications address, an account request including an "old/new" specifier having one of two values, and for transmitting the derived said account request to said central controller,
• said card dispenser being responsive to receipt of a message from said central controller for transmitting to said central controller an acknowledge message,
• said central controller comprising
• clock input means for receiving a clock signal,
• non-volatile central controller storage providing signals representative of
• device rate schedule for said service devices,
• account balance for at least one account, each said account being uniquely indexed by a particular card identifier, and
• rate update means responsive to a clock signal received on said clock input means, to stored said device rate schedule, and to device type signals received from a said local controller for transmitting to said local controller new current device rate valid for a current time period,
• account managing means responsive to a said account request received from said card dispenser providing an "old" value of said "old/new" specifier for locating in said central controller storage a corresponding stored account indexed by the card identifier of the received said account request, and for transmitting to said card dispenser an enable message including the value of said indexed account balance incremented by the value of payment of said received account request,
• said account managing means being responsive to a said account request received from said card dispenser providing a "new" value of said "old/new" specifier for establishing in said central controller storage a corresponding stored account indexed by the card identifier of the received said account request, and for transmitting to said card dispenser an enable message including the value of payment of said received account request,
• said account managing means being responsive to a said authorization request received from a said local controller for locating in said central controller storage a corresponding stored account indexed by the card identifier of the received said authorization request, and for comparing said corresponding stored account balance with the device rate of said received authorization request, and responsive to a positive result of such comparison for transmitting to said local controller an authorization message,
• said account managing means being responsive to receipt of an acknowledge message from said card dispenser for incrementing the value of a said stored account balance by an amount corresponding to the value of payment of said received account request,
• said account managing means being responsive to receipt of an acknowledge signal from a said local controller for decrementing the value of a said stored account balance by an amount corresponding to the device rate of said received authorization request,
• said local controller being responsive to receipt of a said authorization message for outputting control signals on said control outputs,
• said local controller display control means being responsive to receipt of a said authorization message and to said selected language signals stored in said local controller storage for controlling said local controller display to display a representation of the current balance of said stored account indexed by the card identifier of the transmitted said authorization request,
• said card dispenser card reader means being responsive to receipt of a said enable message for releasing a service card from said dispenser,
• said card dispenser display control means being responsive to receipt of a said enable message and to said selected language signals stored in said card dispenser storage for controlling said card dispenser display to display a representation of the current balance of said stored account indexed by the card identifier of the transmitted said account request.