Method and apparatus for validating credit information during home delivery of order

In a home delivery system for validating credit tendered to a delivery person when the person delivers an order to a recipient at a residence,

• (a) a host computer with memory means for storing credit validation data;
• (b) portable housing means carried by the delivery person;
• (c) credit data entry means mounted in said housing means for entering credit information concerning the recipient;
• (d) data processing means mounted in said housing means and coupled with said credit data entry means for storing said credit information;
• (e) first transmission means mounted in said housing means and operatively associated with said data processing means to transmit said credit information from said portable housing means to said host computer for examination to generate validation information indicating whether said credit information is acceptable;
• (f) receiver means mounted in said housing and operatively associated with said data processing means;
• (g) printer means mounted in said housing and operatively associated with said data processing means;
• and,
• (h) second transmission means operatively associated with said host computer for transmitting said validation information to said receiver means to generate validation information signals from said receiver means to said data processing means, said data processing means, when said validation information signals indicate said credit information is acceptable, activating said printer means to print a receipt for the recipient to confirm that the order was delivered to the recipient and paid for by the recipient.