Electronic processing system

An electronic processor system for use in processing cash transactions and comprising an electronic processor and a database, the processor comprising:

• a processor for receiving requests in the form of messages in a plurality of different formats from members using the system and for transmitting response messages in response to received request messages;
• a memory device for storing a plurality of message formats, the message formats including a first message format defining a message requesting the generation of a coded number representing a desired cash value to be purchased at a terminal, a second format defining a message that a previously generated number may be redeemed, and a third message format defining a single message requesting the generation of a plurality of coded numbers;
• a unit for determining the format of a received message by reference to the stored message format table;
• a validation unit for determining whether or not a received message of any one of said three formats is valid;
• a holding area for storing messages which have been validated;
• a first storage unit for storing in the holding area a valid message for the generation of a plurality of coded numbers in a batch;
• and
• a number generation section for generating a single coded number in response to a valid request for a single number and to generate as a batch a plurality of coded numbers in response to a request of the third format, each coded number including a random multi-bit identification number, and to generate a response for transmission to said interface if a received message of the second format is determined to be valid;
• said database further comprising storage sections which include said holding area and a plurality of sections for storing in response to instructions received from said processor, each number generated in response to a valid request for a single number and every number generated in response to a valid request for the generation of a plurality of numbers and for storing the total value of cash represented by issued coded numbers which have not been redeemed in a fund table, said processor in operation decrementing the total value of the fund table by the value represented by each coded number for which a validated redemption request is received and incrementing the total value of the fund table by the value represented by a newly-issued coded number.