US 5,396,545 A · Self configuring data card terminal

Abstract

A low cost, easily manufacturable, and easy to use card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card. A two piece case snaps securely together without screws or other fasteners. The case includes printed circuit board supports for receiving and temporarily supporting a single, double sided circuit board. The circuit board includes minimized circuit components, including a microcomputer with integral program read-only memory. An improved data read head sub-assembly facilitates assembly and provides for precise positioning of data read head and substantially parallel biasing of the read head against the magnetic stripe of a data card. Keying features ensure that the read head subassembly is mounted in the proper orientation. An integral strain relief mechanism formed in the two piece case provides strain relief for power cord without additional hardware. An improved data decode method for the microcomputer decodes data in real time as it is read from the magnetic stripe on the card and obviates random access memory external to the microcomputer. An adaptive method is provided for initially configuring and thereafter operating the card transaction terminal, by affixing a predetermined string of additional access characters to a host telephone number in the event that a first attempt to contact a host computer system fails.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A method for initially configuring and thereafter operating a card transaction terminal, the transaction terminal including a programmed microcomputer, electronic communications circuitry for communicating with computer systems via a telephone line in conducting card transactions, and a memory for storing at least one telephone number, comprising the steps of:

(1) causing the communications circuitry to seize the telephone line;
(2) dialing a first string of digits associated with a host computer system;
(3) detecting whether the host computer system is connected in response to dialing of said first string of digits;
(4) in response to detection that the host computer system is not connected in response to dialing of said first string of digits, dialing a modified string of digits associated with said host computer system;
(5) detecting whether the host computer system is connected in response to dialing said modified string of digits;
(6) storing an access flag indicative of whether the host computer system was connected in response to dialing of said first string of digits or said modified string of digits;
and
(7) responsive to the state of said access flag, automatically utilizing either a second string of digits associated with a computer system or a second modified string of digits associated with said computer system for subsequent communications,
whereby the transaction terminal is automatically operative to configure itself to a telephone system of a user.

6 more elements

A card transaction terminal system operative to initially configure itself to a telephone system of a user and thereafter operate with minimized participation of the user in initializing and subsequently operating the terminal, comprising:

a programmed microcomputer associated with the terminal;
electronic communications circuitry associated with the terminal, said communications circuitry being connected to a telephone line for communicating with a host computer system;
a memory associated with the terminal for storing at least one host telephone number;
said microcomputer being operative to:
(1) cause the communications circuitry to seize the telephone line;
(2) dial a first telephone number associated with a first host system;
(3) detect whether said first host system is connected in response to dialing said first telephone number associated with said first host system;
(4) in response to detection that said first host system is not connected in response to dialing said first telephone number, dial a modified telephone number associated with said first host system;
(5) detect whether said first host system is connected in response to dialing of said modified telephone number associated with the first host system;
(6) store an access flag indicative of whether the first host system was connected in response to dialing of said first telephone number associated with said first host system or said modified telephone number associated with said first host system;
and
(7) corresponding to the state of said access flag, automatically utilize, in connection with a second host system, either a second host telephone number associated with said second host system or a modified host telephone number associated with said second host system for subsequent communications,
whereby the transaction terminal is automatically operative to contact the first host system, configure itself to the telephone system of a user, and utilize either the second host telephone number associated with the second host system or the second modified host telephone number associated with the second host system when communicating transactions to the second host system.

10 more elements

Apparatus for configuring a data communications device to a telephone system, comprising:

a programmed microcomputer;
a memory for storing at least one telephone number;
data access arrangement circuitry for connection to and communications on said telephone system;
said microcomputer being operative for:
(1) dialing a prestored string of digits including a telephone number associated with a host computer system with said data access arrangement circuitry;
(2) detecting whether the host computer system is connected in response to dialing said prestored string of digits;
(3) in response to detection that the host computer system was not connected in response to dialing of said prestored string of digits, forming a modified string of digits including said telephone number associated with the host computer system;
(4) dialing said modified string of digits with said data access arrangement circuitry;
(5) detecting whether the host computer system is connected in response to dialing of said modified string of digits;
(6) storing an access flag indicative of whether the host computer system was connected in response to dialing of said string of digits or said modified string of digits;
and
(7) in response to the state of said access flag, automatically utilizing a second prestored string of digits including a second telephone number associated with a computer system or a second modified string of digits including said second telephone number associated with said computer system for subsequent communications.

9 more elements

A dialing device operative to adapt itself to a telephone system, comprising:

a programmed microcomputer;
a memory for storing at least one telephone number;
data access arrangement circuitry for connection to and communications on said telephone system;
said microcomputer being operative to:
(a) adapt the device to said telephone system by:
(1) dialing with said data access arrangement circuitry a first string of digits including at least a telephone number stored in said memory;
(2) detecting whether the dialing of said first string of digits was successful;
(3) in response to detection that the dialing of said first string of digits was not successful, dialing with said data access arrangement circuitry a modified string of digits including at least said telephone number stored in said memory;
and
(4) storing an access flag indicative of whether the dialing of said first string of digits or said modified string of digits was successful;
and
(b) for subsequent communications, dial a second string of digits including at least a second telephone number stored in said memory or a second modified string of digits including at least said second telephone number stored in said memory, as determined by the state of said access flag,
whereby the dialing device, corresponding to the state of the access flag, is operative to configure itself to the telephone system of a user and dial out a stored telephone number or a modified stored telephone number, depending upon the detected characteristics of the telephone system.

10 more elements

A method for initially configuring and thereafter operating a card transaction terminal to minimize the participation of a user of the terminal required to initialize the terminal and subsequently operate the terminal for communication of card transactions to a host system, the transaction terminal including a programmed microcomputer, electronic communications circuitry for communicating with the host system via a telephone line for conducting card transactions, and a memory for storing at least one host telephone number, comprising the steps of:

(1) causing the communications circuitry to seize the telephone line;
(2) dialing a first host telephone number;
(3) detecting whether the host system is connected in response to dialing of said first host telephone number;
(4) in response to detection that the host system is not connected in response to dialing said first host telephone number, affixing a predetermined string of additional access characters to said first host telephone number to form a modified host telephone number;
(5) dialing said modified host telephone number;
(6) detecting whether the host system is connected in response to said dialing of said modified host telephone number;
(7) storing an access flag indicative of whether the host system was connected in response to dialing of said first host telephone number or said modified host telephone number;
and
(8) responsive to the state of said access flag, automatically utilizing a second host telephone number or a second host telephone number preceded by said predetermined string of additional access characters for subsequent communications with host system,
whereby the transaction terminal is automatically operative to configure itself to a telephone system of a user, and to utilize either said second host telephone number or said second host telephone number preceded by said predetermined string of additional access characters when contacting the host system for communicating transactions.

7 more elements

A method for initially configuring and thereafter operating a card transaction terminal to minimize the participation of a user of the terminal required to initialize the terminal and subsequently operate the terminal for communication of card transactions to a host computer system, the transaction terminal including a programmed microcomputer, electronic communication circuitry for communicating with the host computer system via a telephone line for conducting card transactions, and a memory for storing at least one host telephone number, comprising the steps of:

(1) causing the communications circuitry to seize the telephone line;
(2) dialing a first host telephone number;
(3) detecting whether the host computer system is connected in response to dialing said first host telephone number;
(4) executing a configuration routine in response to detection of connection to the host computer system;
(5) in response to detection that the host computer system is not connected in response to dialing said first host telephone number, affixing a predetermined string of additional access characters to said first host telephone number to form a modified host telephone number;
(6) dialing said modified host telephone number;
(7) detecting whether the host computer system is connected in response to dialing said modified host telephone number;
(8) executing said configuration routine in response to detection of connection to the host computer system;
(9) storing an access flag indicative of whether the host computer system was connected in response to dialing of said first host telephone number or said modified host telephone number;
and
(10) responsive to the state of said access flag automatically utilizing either a second host telephone number or a second host telephone number preceded by said predetermined string of additional access characters for subsequent communications,
whereby the transaction terminal is automatically operative to contact a computer system, configure itself to a telephone system of a user, and to utilize either a second host telephone number or a second host telephone number preceded by said predetermined string of additional access characters when communicating transactions to host the computer system associated with said second host telephone number.

9 more elements

A card transaction terminal system operative to initially configure itself and thereafter operate, with minimized participation of a user for initializing the terminal and subsequently operating the terminal for communication of card transactions to a host computer system, comprising:

a programmed microcomputer associated with the terminal;
electronic communication circuitry associated with the terminal for communicating with the host computer system via a telephone line for conducting card transactions;
memory means associated with the terminal for storing at least one host telephone number;
said microcomputer being operative to:
(1) cause said communication circuitry to seize the telephone line;
(2) dial a first host telephone number;
(3) detect whether the host computer system is connected in response to dialing of said first host telephone number;
(4) in response to detection that the host computer system is not connected in response to dialing said first host telephone number, affix a predetermined string of additional access characters to said first host telephone number to form a modified host telephone number;
(5) dial said modified host telephone number;
(6) detect whether the host system is connected in response to dialing of said modified host telephone number;
(7) store an access flag indicative of whether the host system was connected in response to dialing of said first host telephone number or said modified host telephone number;
and
(8) responsive to the state of said access flag, automatically utilize either a second host telephone number or a second host telephone number preceded by said predetermined string of additional access characters for subsequent communications,
whereby the transaction terminal is automatically operative to contact a computer system, configure itself to a telephone system of a user, and utilize either a second host telephone number or a second host telephone number preceded by said predetermined string of additional access characters when communicating transactions to the host computer system.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self configuring data card terminal

Life of this patent

Self configuring data card terminal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51