US 5,352,876 A · Method and apparatus for transaction settlement

Abstract

A pre-paid vending machine (10) includes a card reader (15) which reads credit data and secret code number from a credit card (11). When a user inputs a secret code number and amount data from an input display (16), whether or not the input secret code number is the same as the secret code number read from the credit card is checked. If the numbers are the same, the input secret code number, the amount data and the like are transmitted to a credit center (13), where it is determined whether or not a credit can be granted. If the credit can be granted, the input amount data is magnetically recorded on the ID card (12) as a credit amount, whereby the ID card can be used as a pre-paid card. When a user buys a thing by inserting the ID card to an automatic vending machine (20), the price of the thing is subtracted from the credit amount of the ID card.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A system for transaction settlement, said system comprising:

(A) card processing means for receiving a credit card and an ID card, and a telephone circuit for providing communication between said card processing means and a credit center, said card processing means including:
(a) reading means for reading information recorded on the credit card;
(b) determining means for determining whether a margin transaction is possible, said determining means being responsive to the information recorded on the credit card, said determining means also being responsive to information received from the credit center through said telephone circuit;
and
(c) writing means for writing a prepaid amount on the ID card, said writing means being responsive to a determination made by said determining means that the margin transaction is possible;
and
(B) transaction processing means including means for reading the ID card, subtracting means for subtracting a transaction amount from the prepaid amount on the ID card, and means for performing a transaction responsive to the reading of the ID card.

4 more elements

A transaction settlement method, comprising the steps of:

operating a credit center, a card issuing apparatus, and an automatic vending machine;
wherein said step of operating said credit center includes the steps of:
(a) receiving credit information and a credit amount from said card issuing apparatus;
(b) making a determination, based on said credit information and said credit amount, whether said credit amount is within a credit limit amount;
and
(c) transmitting a signal to said card issuing apparatus;
wherein said step of operating said card issuing apparatus includes the steps of:
(a) receiving a credit card and an in-house identification card;
(b) reading said credit information from said credit card;
(c) inputting said credit amount;
(d) transmitting said credit information and said credit amount to said credit center;
(e) receiving said signal from said credit center, and then writing a prepaid limit amount on said identification card, said prepaid limit amount corresponding to said credit amount;
and
(f) outputting said identification card as a prepaid card;
and
wherein said step of operating said vending machine includes the steps of:
(a) receiving said in-house identification card;
and
(b) subtracting a sales amount from said prepaid limit amount;
and
wherein said transaction settlement method further includes the step of using said in-house identification card to actuate a card-operated system, said card-operated system being separate from said automatic vending machine.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for transaction settlement

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for transaction settlement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17