U.S. patent application number 09/960644 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-24 for system and method employing portable cards to send data between systems.
Invention is credited to Hartley, Kevin W., Hintz, Thomas M., Maxwell, Eleanor B., Powell, Ken R., Snook, Corey C..
Application Number | 20030136830 09/960644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23164694 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030136830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Powell, Ken R. ; et
al. |
July 24, 2003 |
System and method employing portable cards to send data between
systems
Abstract
A system and method employing portable cards, carried by
consumers, to send data between system.
Inventors: |
Powell, Ken R.; (Athens,
GA) ; Hartley, Kevin W.; (Marblehead, MA) ;
Hintz, Thomas M.; (Indianapolis, IN) ; Maxwell,
Eleanor B.; (Crawford, GA) ; Snook, Corey C.;
(Meredith, NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Office of Jerome D. Jackson
Suite 100
211 N. Union Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
23164694 |
Appl. No.: |
09/960644 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09960644 |
Sep 24, 2001 |
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09301748 |
Apr 29, 1999 |
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6317650 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/381 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 9/026 20130101;
G07F 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/381 |
International
Class: |
G06F 007/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for a system including a card transported by a first
person, the method comprising: writing a first signal to the card;
reading the first signal from the card; reading a second signal
from the card; and sending the first signal to a location specified
by the second signal.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending includes sending the first
signal over a wide area communication link.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal includes an IP
destination address.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal includes a TCP
destination port number.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal includes an IP
destination address and a TCP destination port number.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second signal includes a
Universal Resource Locator.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the system includes a first system
and a second system, the first signal corresponds to a condition of
the first system, and the reading steps are performed by the second
system.
8. The method of claim 7 further including the step, performed by
the first system, of writing the second signal to the card.
Description
[0001] This Application is a Continuation of copending application
Ser. No. 09/301,748 of KEN R. POWELL, KEVIN W. HARTLEY, THOMAS M.
HINTZ, ELEANOR B. MAXWELL, and COREY C. SNOOK for SYSTEM AND METHOD
EMPLOYING PORTABLE CARDS TO MONITOR A COMMERCIAL SYSTEM, filed Apr.
29, 1999, the contents of which is herein incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to monitoring a commercial
system and, more particularly, to a system and method employing
portable cards to monitor a commercial system.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Machines for providing articles or service to a consumer are
known. Such machines include vending machines for dispensing
merchandise, cash machines for dispensing cash, and various types
of game machines that may dispense prizes. Such machines require
maintenance from time to time, to replenish inventory, to collect
from currency bins, or to repair. The cost of monitoring such
machines, for timely maintenance of the machines, can be a
substantial cost of doing business.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved system and method for monitoring a commercial system.
[0007] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
there is a method for a system including a card transported by a
first person. The method comprises writing a first signal to the
card; reading the first signal from the card; reading a second
signal from the card; and sending the first signal to a location
specified by the second signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system in accordance with a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process performed by the first
embodiment preferred of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a retail store in accordance with a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIGS. 4A and 4B are another type of view of a part of the
retail store.
[0012] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are enlarged views of some products
shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0013] FIG. 6A is a plan view of one of the customer cards shown in
FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0014] FIG. 6B is a side view of the card shown in FIG. 6A.
[0015] FIG. 6C is an enlarged, partial view of the card shown in
FIG. 6A.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a drawing of a shelf unit shown in FIG. 4A.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the shelf unit shown in FIG.
7.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a process performed by the shelf
unit shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0019] FIGS. 10A and 10B are the other type of view of another part
of the retail store.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a drawing of a card interface shown in FIG.
10A.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a diagram of a message sent in the second
preferred system.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a diagram of another message sent in the second
preferred system.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the first preferred computer
system.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a check-out station shown in
FIG. 10A.
[0025] FIG. 16 represents a table employed by the checkout station
to process coupon redemptions.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a customer card.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a diagram of some memory contents of a customer
card.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a message sending shelf unit dispensed count data
from system 920 from computer 552.
[0029] FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a headquarters site.
[0030] FIG. 21 is a report printed by the headquarter site, in
response to receiving shelf unit dispensed count data.
[0031] FIG. 22 is a diagram of a system in accordance with the
third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a customer card 215' in
accordance with the third preferred system.
[0033] FIG. 24 is a view of a vending machine in the third
preferred system in more detail.
[0034] FIG. 25 is a flow chart of a process performed by the
vending machine shown in FIG. 29.
[0035] FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the customer card 215' after
the owner of the card has performed a transaction with the vending
machine of FIG. 29.
[0036] FIG. 27 is a chart of a record written by the vending
machine and stored on card 215'.
[0037] FIG. 28 is a block diagram of an audit site.
[0038] FIG. 29 is a diagram of a paper report generated by the
audit site of FIG. 31.
[0039] The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and
which constitute a part of this specification, illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
explain the principles of the invention, and additional advantages
thereof. Throughout the drawings, corresponding elements are
labeled with corresponding reference numbers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] First Preferred Embodiment
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a system 100 in accordance with the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes
system 5, system 10, system 15, system 20, system 30, system 25,
audit site 35, and audit site 40. Customer 209 carries a portable
card 214 for enabling transactions with one of systems 5, 10, 15,
20, 30, and 25. Customer 208 carries a portable card 215 for
enabling transactions with two or more of system 5, 10, 15, 20, 30,
and 25. Customer 211 carries paper currency 216 for enabling
transactions with one of systems 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 25.
[0042] Each of systems 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 may include, for
example, a vending machine, a game machine, electronic transaction
machine, or a computer network with multiple point-of-sale (POS)
terminals in a store. Each of systems 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 25 has
circuitry for communicating with portable cards such as card 214
and card 215. In this Patent Application, the word circuitry
encompasses dedicated hardware, and/or programmable hardware, such
as a central processing unit (CPU) or reconfigurable logic array,
in combination with programming data, such as sequentially fetched
CPU instructions or programming data for a reconfigurable
array.
[0043] Some of the systems such as system 5, system 15, system 20,
and system 30 are isolated without a coupling to a wide area
communication path, such as a WAN backbone, telephone line, ISDN
line, or radio link. Other systems, such as system 10 and system 25
are connected with wide area communication paths. System 10 has a
communication path to audit site 35 via a modem and telephone link
12. System 25 has a communication path to both audit site 35 and
audit site 40 via ISDN line 14 and Internet 10.
[0044] Customer card 215 stores signals for customer 208, and may
have a unique identifier associated with customer 208. Signals
stored on card 215 may include electronic currency or discount
coupons, for example.
[0045] Customer 208 may present her card 215 to an isolated system,
such as system 15. System 15 uses a contactless technique to detect
and communicate with card 215, without touching card 215. In
response to detecting card 215, system 15 performs a transaction
with customer 208. System 15 also writes data about the condition
of system 15 onto card 215. Subsequently, customer 208 may present
card 215 at a wide-area-connected system, such as system 10. System
10 uses a contactless technique to detect and communicate with card
215, without touching card 215. In response to detecting card 215,
system 10 performs a transaction with customer 208.
[0046] System 10 also reads the data about the condition of system
15 from card 215. Subsequently, system 10 sends the condition data
for system 15 to audit site 35, via telephone line 14 and Internet
10. System 10 also erases the data, about the condition of system
15, from card 215; system 10 deallocates the memory space used to
store the condition of system 15 on card 215.
[0047] System 10 is spatially removed from system 15, and a
processor in site 35 is spatially removed from systems 10 and
15.
[0048] Thus, a service worker need only be dispatched to system 15
when condition data, transmitted via customer cards, indicates
system 15 needs service, or if for some reason there is an absence
of condition data from customer cards.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows a process performed by system 100 shown in FIG.
1. System 100 performs transactions in a first system for a
plurality of customers. (step 3). For example, system 100 may
perform transactions in system 30 for customers 211 and customers
209.
[0050] Subsequently, system 100 performs a transaction in the first
system for an additional customer by communication with the
customer's card. (step 5). For example, system 100 may perform a
transaction in system 30 for customer 208 by communicating with
card 215.
[0051] Subsequently, from the first system, system 100 writes
first-system condition data onto the card of the additional
customer. The first-system condition data is a result of
transactions with the plurality of customers. (step 10). The
additional customer moves the card to a second system. (step 15).
For example, customer 208 could then carry her card 215 to system
10.
[0052] The second system communicates with the card to perform
another transaction. (step 20). For example, system 10 could deduct
electronic currency from card 215 in exchange for giving customer
208 merchandise.
[0053] The second system also reads the first-system condition
transaction-related data from the first card. (step 25). For
example, system 10 would also read condition data describing system
30 from card 215.
[0054] System 100 then sends the first-system condition data over a
wide band communication link. (step 30). For example, system 10
sends the condition data for system 30 to audit site 35 via WAN
telephone link 12.
[0055] Second Preferred Embodiment
[0056] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of store 1000 in accordance with a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Shelves 11,
12, 21, 22, 31, and 32 include product areas 111, 121, 110, 120,
130, 141, 151, 161, 140, 150, 160, 171, 181, 170, 180, and 190.
Each product area includes a plurality of a respective product.
Customers shop in store 1000, by removing products from the shelves
and bringing the products to one of the checkout station 900, 901,
or 902. Some computers in checkout stations 900, 901, 902
communicate with financial computer 512 via computer network cable
1510. Other computers in checkout stations 900, 901, 902
communicate with computer 552 via computer network cable 1610.
[0057] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 10A and 10B are each a partial view of store
1000. Customers 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 270, 280, and 290, shop in
store 1000. Store 1000 has a plurality of product areas, each
corresponding to a respective product. Product Area 110 has Delta
brand detergent. Product Area 120 has Old World brand pasta.
Product Area 130 has Lighthouse brand light bulbs.
[0058] Some of the product areas have a respective shelf unit for
writing an electronic coupon onto a customer card. Product Area 110
has Shelf unit 115. Product Area 120 has Shelf unit 125. Product
Area 130 has Shelf unit 135.
[0059] More specifically, Product Area 110 has bottles of detergent
112 grouped together on multiple shelves. Bottles of detergent 112
are contiguously grouped, meaning that no other product is between
any two bottles of detergent 112. No other product is between shelf
unit 115 and bottles of detergent 112. Shelf unit 115 is on a shelf
under some of the bottles 112 and over some of the bottles 112. In
other words, Shelf unit 115 is adjacent to bottles 112 and
supported by a shelf that is in vertical alignment with some of the
bottles 112.
[0060] FIG. 5A shows an enlarged view of some of the bottles of
detergent 112. Each bottle of detergent has a common Universal
Product Code (UPC) symbol 114. Symbol 114 encodes a 12-digit number
that is part of a product identification system documented by the
Uniform Code Council, Inc., Dayton, Ohio. In UPC Product Code
format, the first digit is a 0, designating a product. The next
five digits are a manufacturer ID. The next 5 digits are an item
number. The last digit is a check digit.
[0061] Each UPC symbol 114 is a group of parallel lines that
encodes a number (0 17075 00003 3) that uniquely identifies Delta
Detergent. In other words, symbol 114 is different from UPC symbols
of units of other products. Each bottle of detergent 112 also has a
common character label 113 that verbally describes the product.
Character label 113 is "DELTA DETERGENT." Label 113 is different
from labels of units of other products.
[0062] Product Area 120 has boxes of Old World brand pasta 122
contiguously grouped together on multiple shelves. FIG. 5B shows an
enlarged view of some of the boxes of pasta 122. Each box of pasta
122 has a common UPC symbol 124, which is a group of parallel lines
that encodes a number (0 17031 00005 3) that uniquely identifies
Old World pasta. In other words, symbol 124 is different from UPC
symbols of units of other products. Each box of pasta 122 also has
a common character label 123 that verbally describes the product.
Character label 123 is "OLD WORLD PASTA." Label 123 is different
from labels of units of other products.
[0063] Product Area 130 has boxes of Lighthouse brand light bulbs
132 grouped together on multiple shelves. FIG. 5C shows an enlarged
view of some of the boxes of light bulbs 132. Each box of light
bulbs 132 has a common UPC symbol 134, which is a group of parallel
lines that encode a number (0 17054 1017 6) that uniquely
identifies Lighthouse light bulbs. In other words, symbol 134 is
different from UPC symbols of other products. Each box 132 also has
a common character label 133 that verbally describes the product.
Character label 133 is "LIGHTHOUSE LIGHT BULBS." Label 133 is
different from labels of other products.
[0064] Similarly, other product areas in store 1000 each have a set
of respective products contiguously grouped together. Respective
units of a certain product have a common UPC symbol, different from
UPC symbols on units of other products, that uniquely identifies
the certain product. Respective units of a certain product have a
common label, different from labels on units of other products,
that uniquely identifies the certain product. Product area 140 has
bottles of ABC brand ketchup 142 contiguously grouped together, and
shelf unit 145. Product area 150 has boxes of Fido brand dog food
152 contiguously grouped together, and no shelf unit. Product area
160 has loaves of Boxer brand bread 162 contiguously grouped
together, and shelf unit 165. Product area 170 has cartons of
Clover brand milk 172 contiguously grouped together, and no shelf
unit. Product area 180 has packages of Chicago brand bacon 182, and
no shelf unit. Product area of 190 has packages of Clover brand
butter 192 contiguously grouped together, and no shelf unit.
Product area 111 has boxes of XYZ brand paper napkins contiguously
grouped together. Product area 121 has rolls of XYZ brand paper
towel contiguously grouped together. Product area 141 has boxes of
Wheat brand crackers contiguously grouped together. Product area
151 has Tropical brand canned fruit contiguously grouped together.
Product area 161 has V brand canned vegetables contiguously grouped
together. Product area 171 has cans of Chicago brand meat
contiguously grouped together. Product area 181 has boxes of Mill
brand flour contiguously grouped together.
[0065] To receive an electronic coupon in the store, a customer
inserts her respective card into the shelf unit adjacent to a
product the customer wishes to purchase, and the shelf unit then
writes an electronic coupon onto the card. In other words, the
shelf unit writes an electronic coupon into a memory on the card,
in response to a person presenting the card at the shelf unit.
[0066] The customer then removes the product from the shelf and
places the removed product into her cart.
[0067] FIG. 6A shows a plan view of customer card 215 carried by
customers 210, and FIG. 6B shows a side view of card 215. Card 215
is 8.5 cm by 5.4 cm, the length and width of a typical financial
credit card. Card 215 is slightly thicker than a typical financial
credit card. Card 215 includes a magnetic stripe 2410, interface
contacts 2420 for communication with the checkout station, and
embossed area 2430 for displaying the card owner's name. Magnetic
stripe 2410 allows a conventional credit card stripe reader to read
basic data from the card. Magnetic stripe 2410 is not necessary to
the operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0068] FIG. 6C shows interface contacts 2420 in more detail.
Interface contacts 2420 are configured in accordance with ISO
7816-2: 1988(E), Identification cards--Integrated circuit (s) cards
with contact--Part 2: Dimensions and locations of the contacts,
promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO), and available from the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. According to ISO
7816-2, contact 2421 is assigned to VCC (supply voltage), contact
2422 is assigned to RST (reset signal), contact 2423 is assigned to
CLK (clock signal), contact 2424 is reserved for future use,
contact 2425 is assigned to GND (ground), contact 2426 is assigned
to VPP (programming voltage), contact 2427 is assigned to I/O (data
input/output), and contact 2428 is reserved for future use. Card
215 communicates with the checkout stations through contact 2427
using a half duplex scheme, meaning that contact 2427 is for
communicating data signals either to or from the card.
[0069] FIG. 7 shows shelf unit 115, including green light 350, and
interface slot 352. Shelf unit 115 has no external wires connecting
shelf unit 115 to another device. Interface slot 352 has a width
sufficient to accommodate the width of one of the customer cards.
When a customer card is in interface slot 352, conductive contact
354 inside interface slot 352 touches contact 2427 on the customer
card. Interface slot 352 has other contacts (not shown) for
touching the other card contacts 2420.
[0070] FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of shelf unit 115, including
central processing unit 5160, nonvolatile memory 5165, and battery
5170. Memory 5165 stores program 5145, executed by CPU 5160, and
coupon ID 5135 and a dispensed count 5136 (COUNT). Memory 5165 is a
random access, addressable device.
[0071] FIG. 9 shows a processing performed by processor 5160 and
program 5145 in shelf unit 115. CPU 5160 and a program in memory
5165 act to perform the processing shown in FIG. 9. When a person
inserts a card into interface slot 352 a switch (not shown) in
interface slot 352 alerts CPU 5160 that a card has been inserted
into the slot. Subsequently, CPU 5160 causes contact interface
electronic 356 to reset the card. CPU 5160 then receives a record
from the card (step 10).
[0072] CPU 5160 analyzes the received record to determine whether
the card is a customer card that is eligible to receive paperless
coupons in store 1000 (step 20). If the card is an eligible
customer card, CPU 5160 increments the value of COUNT (step 35),
and sends to the customer card a record containing a coupon cell.
The coupon cell includes an identification code (coupon ID 5135)
for the product currently being promoted by the shelf unit (bottles
of delta detergent 112), and a 2-byte count of coupons dispensed
from a particular shelf unit during the current promotion (COUNT
5136). (step 40).
[0073] CPU 5160 then turns on green light 350 to indicate to the
customer that an electronic coupon has successfully been
transferred to her customer card (step 60), thereby allowing the
customer to conveniently verify whether she is eligible for a
discount before selecting the product.
[0074] If the card is not an eligible customer card but is instead
a program card (step 70), CPU 5160 receives a new value for coupon
ID 5135 from the program card, thereby changing the electronic
coupon dispensed by the shelf unit. (step 80). A type of system
program card is a subject of copending application of KEN R.
POWELL, ELEANOR B. MAXWELL, and COREY C. SNOOK for SYSTEM AND
METHOD EMPLOYING A PORTABLE CARD TO CONFIGURE A STORE FOR PRODUCT
PROMOTION, filed concurrently with the instant application, the
contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
[0075] CPU 5160 then sets COUNT equal to zero. (step 85).
[0076] CPU 5160 then turns on green light 350. (step 86).
[0077] FIGS. 10A and 10B show another part of store 1000, including
checkout stations 900, 901, and 902. Each checkout station includes
a UPC bar code reader that detects an optical (electromagnetic)
signal reflected from a UPC symbol. Checkout station 900 includes
card interface system 920 having a card interface slot 914,
checkout station 901 includes card interface system 921 having a
card interface slot 914, and checkout station 902 includes card
interface system 922 having a card interface slot 914.
[0078] FIG. 11 shows card reader/writer 915 including interface
slot 914 having a width sufficient to accommodate the width of one
of the customer cards. When a customer card is in interface slot
914, conductive contact 912 inside interface slot 914 touches
contact 2427 (shown in FIG. 5C) on a customer card. Interface slot
914 has other contacts (not shown) for touching the other card
contacts 2420 (shown in FIG. 5C), thereby applying power and a
clock from the interface to the card.
[0079] Before shopping in the store, each of these customers
obtained a customer card. For example, customer 230 obtained
customer card 235 from a bank, by completing an application. The
application contained questions to collect demographic data,
including birth date, income level, past buying patterns,
geographic location, size of family, level of education, and
job-related data. The bank subsequently wrote customer
identification data for customer 230 onto customer card 235, and
issued customer card 235 to customer 230, and sent the customer's
demographic data to headquarters site 13100 (see FIG. 25) which
then stored the demographic data on a magnetic disk in center
13100. Each of customers 210, 220, 240, 250, 270, 280, and 290
obtained a respective customer card in a similar manner.
[0080] While shopping in store 1000, each of customers 210, 220,
230, 240, 250, 270, 280, and 290 carries his or her respective
customer card. Customer 210 carries card 215, customer 220 carries
card 225, customer 230 carries card 235, customer 240 carries card
245, customer 250 carries card 255, customer 270 carries card 275,
customer 280 carries card 285, and customer 290 carries card 295.
Each customer tows a shopping cart to hold selected products.
Customer 210 tows cart 212, customer 220 tows cart 222, customer
230 tow cart 232, customer 240 tows cart 20 242, customer 250 tows
cart 252, customer 270 tows cart 272, customer 280 tows cart 282,
and customer 290 tows cart 292. Each customer removes one or more
desired products from a shelf and places the removed product into
her cart.
[0081] Upon completion of shopping, each customer brings selected
products from the shelves to checkout station 900, 901, or 902.
[0082] Each customer redeems the electronic coupons by presenting
her customer card, allowing the store clerk to insert the presented
card into smart card reader/writer 915. For example, referring to
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 10A, and 10B, a customer such as customer 290
completes the purchase of her selected products 293 by transferring
products 293 from her cart 292 to station 300, and by presenting
card 295 for insertion into card interface slot 314; customer 270
completes the purchase of her selected products 273 by transferring
products 273 from her cart 272 to station 300, and by presenting
card 275; customer 280 completes the purchase of her selected
products 283 by transferring products 283 from her cart 282 to
station 300, and by presenting card 285; customer 390 completes the
purchase of her selected products 393 by transferring products 393
from her cart 392 to station 301, and by presenting card 395;
customer 380 completes the purchase of his selected products 383 by
transferring products 383 from his cart 382 to station 301, and by
presenting card 385; customer 490 completes the purchase of his
selected products 493 by transferring products 493 from his cart
492 to station 302, and by presenting card 495; customer 480
completes the purchase of his selected products 483 by transferring
products 483 from his cart 482 to station 302, and by presenting
card 485;customer 470 completes the purchase of his selected
products 473 by transferring products 473 from his cart 472 to
station 302, and by presenting card 475. Customer 210 completes the
purchase of her selected products 214 by transferring products 214
from her cart 212 to station 300, and by presenting card 215 for
insertion into card interface slot 314. It is presently preferred
that card insertion occur at the beginning of the checkout
transaction, although card insertion could happen later. Card
interface system 920 reads the coupon offers and corresponding
shelf unit COUNTs from the card.
[0083] A checkout clerk (not shown) scans each selected product
past bar code reader 910, or enters the product selection
information manually via keyboard 918. The clerk also scans paper
coupons past bar code reader 910, or manually reads the paper
coupons and enters the coupon information manually via keyboard
918. The CPU and program in system 930 processes the paper coupon
information in the context of the selected products to determine
discount eligibility.
[0084] A CPU and program in system 920 perform electronic coupon
redemption, by processing the selected products in the context of
the coupon information from the customer's card to determine
discount eligibility.
[0085] At the conclusion of the transaction, the shelf unit coupon
cells on the card are erased and the clerk is notified to remove
the customer's card from slot 914 and return it to the customer.
Checkout station 900 determines a total amount due and prints the
total amount due on display 917 and on the customer's paper
receipt.
[0086] FIGS. 12 and 13 show messages processed by cash register
system 930 in checkout station 900. FIG. 12 shows a message 3002
sent by system 930 to financial computer 512, via network cable
1510, in response to receiving a product signal from bar code
reader 910. Message 3002 is a request for product information for
the most recently scanned product 293.
[0087] FIG. 13 shows a message 3004 sent from financial computer
512 to system 930, via network cable 1510. Financial computer 512
sends a message 3004 in response to receiving a message 3002.
[0088] After system 930 determines a basic price for the product by
processing a message 3004, system 930 displays the description of
the product and product price on display 917. Thus, system 930 acts
to detect a product scanned by bar code reader 910 and determine a
basic price for the product by sending a message 3002 to financial
computer 512 and receiving a message 3004 from financial computer
512. System 930 scans and processes each product 293 in a similar
manner.
[0089] System 930 processes discount tender signals generated by
card interface system 920, to deduct discounts from the basic price
and determine a total amount due. System 930 displays the total
amount due on display 917.
[0090] Similarly, customer 390 in FIG. 10A will complete the
purchase of her selected products 393 by transferring products 393
from her cart 392 to station 901, and by presenting card 395 for
insertion into interface slot 914 of station 901; and the clerk
will scan each selected product 393 past UPC bar code reader 910.
Customer 490 in FIG. 10B will complete the purchase of his selected
products 493 by transferring products 493 from his cart 422 to
station 902, and by presenting card 495 for insertion into
interface slot 914 of station 902; and the clerk (not shown) will
scan each selected product 493 past UPC bar code reader 910 of
station 902.
[0091] The second preferred system and method will now be described
in more detail.
[0092] FIG. 14 shows another aspect of the first preferred system.
Local Area Network (LAN) 1500 in store 1000 includes ethernet cable
1510 and 4 computers: financial computer 512, cash register system
930, cash register computer 931, and cash register computer 932.
Cash register system 930 is in checkout station 900, cash register
computer 931 is in checkout station 901, and cash register computer
932 is in checkout station 902. Each of computers 512, 930, 931,
and 932 has a respective network address uniquely identifying the
computer in network 1500. Each of computers 512, 930, 931, and 932
has a respective network interface card for recognizing when a
packet containing the computer's address is sent over cable 1510,
temporarily storing such a packet, and alerting the computer's CPU
when such a packet is recognized.
[0093] Local Area Network (LAN) 1600 in store 1000 includes
ethernet cable 1610 and 4 computers: computer 552, card interface
system 920, card interface system 921, and card interface system
922. Card interface system 920 is in checkout station 900, card
interface 921 is in checkout station 901, and card interface system
922 is in checkout station 902. Each of computers 552, 920, 921,
and 922 has a respective network address uniquely identifying the
computer in network 1600. Each of computers 552, 920, 921, and 922
has a respective network interface card for recognizing when a
packet containing the computer's address is sent over cable 1610,
temporarily storing such a packet, and alerting the computer's CPU
when such a packet is recognized.
[0094] Computer 552 sends shelf unit dispensed count data to
headquarters site 13100, shown in FIG. 20, via a modem and
telephone signal path 812. Headquarters site 13100 is located
outside of store 1000.
[0095] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of checkout station 900 including
cash register system 930 and card interface system 920. Cash
register system 930 includes an IBM 4680-4690 Point of Sale (POS)
System. Cash register keyboard 918 allows manual entry of
alpha-numeric-data. Disk 925 provides long term storage. Bar code
reader 910 generates a bar code signal, and sends the bar code
signal to CPU 950 via bus 951. Poll display 917 displays product
data in response to signals from CPU 950. CPU 950 executes program
943 in random access, addressable memory 323.
[0096] If bar code reader 910 sends a bar code for a product to CPU
950, CPU 950 sends a message 3002 to financial computer 512 via
network interface 937, and CPU 950 sends the product UPC code to
CPU 952 in system 920 via RS232 line 928. More detail about
communication between cash register systems and card interface
systems is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application of KEN R.
POWELL, KEVIN W. HARTLEY, ELEANOR B. MAXWELL, and COREY C. SNOOK
for COMPUTER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND METHOD FOR A STORE, filed
concurrently with the instant application, the contents of which is
herein incorporated by reference.
[0097] In card interface system 920, CPU 952 executes program 942
in memory 933. CPU 952 and program 942 act to receive electronic
coupons from a customer card, via reader/writer 315. Memory 933
stores redemption control table 947, which enables CPU 952 to
determine if a product has a corresponding electronic coupon
offer.
[0098] Checkout stations 901 and 902 each have the same
capabilities and hardware as checkout station 900.
[0099] FIG. 16 is a simplified diagram of redemption table 947.
Each row in FIG. 16 represents an entry in redemption table 947,
and each of the 5 columns shown represents an entry field.
[0100] The first field is a coupon ID stored as 4 hexadecimal
digits. The second field is a UPC product code corresponding to the
coupon ID. The second field is stored as binary coded decimal. The
third field in FIG. 16 is a reward type. A reward type of 2
represents a percent off coupon, and a reward type of 0 represents
a cents off coupon.
[0101] The fourth field in FIG. 16 is the reward quantity.
[0102] The first entry shows a reward quantity of 20 percent
because the reward type field is 2. The second entry shows a reward
quantity of 75 cents off because the reward type is 0. The third
entry shows a reward of 50 cents off because the reward type is
0.
[0103] The fifth field shown in FIG. 16 is the DISPENSED_COUNT
field, stored as 4 hexadecimal digits. The DISPENSED_COUNT field,
of a particular entry, is a count of the number of the entry's
coupon dispensed in the store. For example, the second entry shows
1389 coupons dispensed for coupon number 54.
[0104] CPU 952 extracts and processes the DISPENSED_COUNTs passed
from the shelf units via the customer cards. These counts are
passed as 2-byte values for each unique shelf unit coupon offer
dispensed to the customer card (for each shelf unit represented on
the customer card). CPU 952 saves the 2-byte values in redemption
control table 947 for pickup by headquarters site 13100, via
computer 552.
[0105] Checkout stations 901 and 902 each have the same
capabilities and hardware as checkout station 900, cash register
systems 931 and 932 each have the same capabilities and hardware as
cash register system 930, and card interface systems 921 and 922
each have the same capabilities and hardware as card interface
system 920.
[0106] FIG. 17 is a block diagram of customer card 215, including
CPU 8450, and memory 8460. Random access memory 8460 includes three
addressable segments: nonvolatile read only memory (ROM) 8461;
nonvolatile, electrically erasable memory (EEPROM) 8462; and memory
8463 for temporary storage. Station interface 8425 includes a
serial to parallel converter for transferring data signals between
contact 2427 (FIG. 6C) and CPU 8450 over parallel bus 8452. ROM
8461 stores a program 8465 executed by CPU 8450.
[0107] Each of customer cards 225, 235, 255, 245, 275, 285, 295,
385, 395, 475, 485, and 495 have the same hardware structure as
customer card 215.
[0108] EEPROM 8462 stores customer card identification data 8467.
Customer card identification data 8467 is a 6 byte field that
uniquely identifies the card. For example, identification data 8467
in customer card 235 uniquely identifies the card held by customer
230.
[0109] EEPROM 8462 also stores coupons (product pricing data)
received from one or more coupon dispensing devices. This product
data includes a list of product discounts 8435. When a customer
inserts a customer card into a coupon dispensing device, CPU 8450
receives a coupon code for the product from the device and adds the
code to the list.
[0110] FIG. 18 shows coupon table 8435, which is in a data
structure within other data structures in EEPROM 8462 of customer
card 215. Each row in FIG. 18 represents a coupon cell, an entry in
table 8435, and each of the two columns represents a field within
each cell, within each entry. The first field represented by the
left column, is a 4 hexadecimal digit coupon number. Table 8435 has
three entries, reflecting the fact that customer 210 has received
three electronic coupons from shelf units in store 1000. The entry
having the coupon number 1317 corresponds to a coupon for purchase
of a box of Old World Pasta 124. The entry having the coupon number
0054 corresponds to a coupon for purchase of a box of Lighthouse
Light Bulbs 134. The entry having the number 3656 corresponds to a
coupon for purchase of detergent bottles 112.
[0111] The second field in table 8435, represented by the right
column shown in FIG. 18, is a dispensed count received from a
dispensing unit.
[0112] CPU 952 communicates with a card in interface slot 914
through smart card reader/writer 915. A switch (not shown) in
interface slot 914 alerts reader/writer 915, which alerts CPU 952,
that a card has been inserted into the slot. Subsequently, CPU 952
causes smart card reader/writer 915 to reset the card. The card
then answers the reset by sending an "answer to reset" data block
in accordance with the ISO standard ISO 7816-3: 1989 (E). CPU 952
then reads a customer card ID record, the reader/writer 915. CPU
952 then reads a pointer record and, using the pointer record,
reads coupon cell table 8435 in EEPROM 8462 of the customer card,
and temporarily stores table 8435 contents in memory 933.
[0113] When CPU 952 receives a product UPC code from CPU 950, CPU
952 searches the UPC product code field of redemption control table
947, to determine whether the product has a matching entry in table
947. If the product does have a matching entry in table 947, CPU
952 searches table 8435 to confirm that the customer has the coupon
of her card. If the customer has the coupon on her card and the
qualifier conditions are satisfied, CPU 952 sends discount
information to CPU 950 via RS232 line 928, causing CPU 950 to
adjust the total amount due.
[0114] Methods of detecting selected products, and sending discount
information to a Point of Sale system, is a subject of copending
application of KEN R. POWELL, KEVIN W. HARTLEY, ELEANOR B. MAXWELL,
and COREY C. SNOOK for COMPUTER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND METHOD FOR
A STORE, filed concurrently with the instant application, the
contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. Of course
variations on the second embodiment of the invention may be
practiced with a single CPU having electronic coupon processing
integrated with conventional UPC product scanning and price
lookup.
[0115] CPU 952 uses the shelf unit COUNT, received via the
DISPENSED_COUNT field of a coupon cell from a customer's card, to
conditionally update the dispensed count information of the current
flight redemption data, by conditionally setting the
DISPENSED_COUNT field in the matching entry of redemption table
947. More specifically, CPU 952 executes the instruction:
[0116] IF TABLE_8435 [CARD_INDEX, DISPENSED_COUNT]>
[0117] TABLE_947 [I, DISPENSED_COUNT]
[0118] THEN
[0119] TABLE_947 [I, DISPENSED_COUNT]=TABLE_8435 [CARD_INDEX,
DISPENSED_COUNT],
[0120] wherein I is the index in table 947 of the coupon that
matches the product code received from CPU 950, and TABLE_8435 is
an array that holds table 8435 received from the customer card. In
other words if the shelf unit dispensed count from the customer
card is less than the current dispensed count in redemption table
947, then ignore it (assume it is an old count). Otherwise, replace
the DISPENSED_COUNT in redemption table 947 with the shelf unit
DISPENSED_COUNT from the customer card (assume the count
increased).
[0121] In other words, if TABLE_947 [I, DISPENSED_COUNT] is
considered to be a type of stored signal, and TABLE_8435
[CARD_INDEX, DISPENSED_COUNT] is considered to be a first signal,
CPU 952 reads the first signal from a card and conditionally
maintains the stored signal depending on a content of the first
signal.
[0122] An advantage of this conditional updating, based on a
content of the data, is that the coupon cells need not include a
lengthy time stamp.
[0123] In summary, the shelf units of the second preferred system
accumulate statistical data as customers use their cards to receive
electronic coupons. When a particular customer presents her card to
the shelf unit, the shelf unit writes an electronic coupon onto her
card. The shelf unit also writes dispensed count data, accumulated
over previous days, onto her card. Subsequently, when the customer
uses her card at a checkout station, the station reads the
dispensed count data. Thus, the second preferred system uses
customer cards to audit the shelf units. In other words, when the
shelf unit writes a coupon onto the customer card of an additional
customer, the shelf unit also writes data corresponding to
transactions made by a plurality of other customers.
[0124] In other words, shelf unit 115 acts to perform a transaction
with a plurality of customers. For example, shelf unit 115 may
dispense electronic coupons to customers 230, 240, 270.
Subsequently, shelf unit performs a transaction with customer 210,
by communicating with card 215 of customer 210. More specifically,
shelf unit 115 writes an item onto card 215. The item a coupon
cell, which is an entry in coupon table 8435. The entry is a type
of signal. The second field of the coupon cell is a dispensed count
for shelf unit 115. This dispensed count reflects the number of
electronic coupons dispensed to previous customers. Thus, this
dispensed count is essentially a condition of shelf unit 115,
resulting from previous transactions with a plurality of other
customers.
[0125] Subsequently, card interface system 920 reads the dispensed
counts from table 8435 from card 215 and conditionally writes each
read dispensed count into the dispensed count field of the
corresponding entry in table 947.
[0126] FIG. 19 shows a message 3051 sent by system 920, via network
cable 1610, to computer 552. Message 3051 includes the dispensed
counts from each entry in redemption table 947. Subsequently,
computer 552 sends the dispensed counts, from message 3051, to
headquarters site 13100 via telephone signal path 812, which is a
type of wide area communication link.
[0127] System 920 may be considered spatially removed from the
shelf units.
[0128] Subsequently, headquarters site 13100 receives the dispensed
counts from computer 552. Responsive to the received dispensed
counts, headquarters site 13100 prints a report on paper 517 shown
in FIG. 21. To print the report of FIG. 21, headquarter site 13100
uses the dispensed count most recently received from computer 552,
to generate the information in the DISPENSED COUNT column.
Headquarter site 13100 uses the most recently received information,
in combination with older information stored in headquarter site
13100, to generate the information shown in the DISPENSED RATE
column shown on the report on paper 517. The last two lines on
paper 517, indicating a malfunction of the dispenser for a coupon
8273, are essentially a display of a signal indicating that a
machine needs service.
[0129] Third Preferred Embodiment
[0130] FIG. 22 shows system 102 according to a third preferred
embodiment of the present invention. Vending machine 360, vending
machine 362, vending machine 364, and paper cash dispensing machine
366 are each isolated without wide area signal paths to other
systems. Machines 360, 362, 364, and 366 each includes circuitry
for communicating with a customer card.
[0131] Customer 309 carries a portable card 214' for enabling
transactions in system 102. Customer 325 carries a portable card
215' for enabling transactions in system 102. Customer 326 carries
paper currency 216 for enabling transactions in system 102.
[0132] System 102 also includes audit site 135 and audit site
344.
[0133] Gas station computer system 131 is in gas station 139.
Computer system 131 includes gas pump point of scale (POS) terminal
132 with card interface slot 133, gas pump POS terminal 134 with
card interface slot 135, telecommunications circuitry 138, and
network cable 137 coupling POS terminal 132, POS terminal 134 and
telecommunications circuitry 138 together. POS terminals 132 and
134 are each spatially removed from machines 360, 362, 364, and
366.
[0134] Telecommunications hardware 138 is coupled to audit site 40
via the Internet 10 and wide area communications link 14.
Communications hardware 138 may include a modem, PSTN interface
circuitry, or T1 connection interface circuitry, for example.
Telecommunication hardware 138 could also be a wireless transceiver
for satellite communication, for example.
[0135] Thus, computer system 131 is connected to other systems via
a wide area signal path. System 131 has circuitry, such as POS
terminal 132, for communicating with a customer card.
[0136] Retail store checkout system 141 includes retail point of
sale (POS) terminal 142 with card interface slot 143, modem 148,
and cable 147 coupling POS terminal 142 to modem 148. Modem 148 can
be coupled to audit site 135 via telephone link 121. System 141 is
in retail store 149. Thus, checkout system 141 is coupled to
another system via wide area telephone link 121. POS terminal 142
includes circuitry that communicates with customer cards.
[0137] FIG. 23 is a block diagram of customer card 215', including
stored electronic currency 32, which may be debited by a
transaction machine, such as gas station POS terminal 134, vending
machine 362, or retail store POS terminal 142. Memory 8462 also
includes a transaction machine condition record 36, previously
written by a transaction machine conducting a transaction with card
215'.
[0138] FIG. 24 shows vending machine 362 in more detail. Vending
machine 362 dispenses food items 312 in exchange for coin or paper
currency, or for stored value from a customer card, or for
creditor's rights obtained by communication with a credit card.
When a customer wishes to purchase a package of food 312 from
vending machine 362, she may insert paper currency into paper
currency slot 306, coins into coin currency slot 304, or a card
into card slot 308. She then selects one of the food packages 312
using keypad 314. In response, vending machine 362 dispenses the
selected food package 312 via door 310.
[0139] Vending machine 362 includes CPU 311 and memory 315 storing
machine ID 321. CPU 311 reads from and writes to card interface
slot 308, and updates data items in memory 315. Data items in
memory 315 include current time and date 322. Data items in memory
315 also include statistical data such as product dispensed counts
327, paper currency receipt data 316, coin currency receipt data
317, and coin currency return data 324. Product dispensed counts
327 is an array of rows and columns having respective dispensed
count values corresponding to the rows and columns of food packages
in machine 362. Paper currency receipt data 316 includes respective
counts for each of the number of $1 bills, $5 bills, $10 bills, and
$20 bills received via currency receipt slot 306. Coin currency
receipt data 317 includes respective counts for each of the number
of quarters, dimes, and nickels received via coin slot 304. Coin
currency return data 324 includes respective counts for each of the
number of quarters, dimes, and nickels returned to customers as
change via coin return port 319.
[0140] FIG. 25 is a flow chart of a process performed by CPU 311
executing a program stored in memory 315. To begin a transaction,
CPU 311 receives value tender from coin slot 304, currency slot
306, or card slot 308. (step 20). The customer selects a product
using keypad 314, and CPU 311 receives the resulting product
selection signal from keypad 314. (step 25). CPU 311 determines
whether the selected product can be dispensed to the customer. The
selected product can be dispensed to the customer if the product is
present in machine 362, meaning that previous transactions have not
exhausted the supply of the product, and sufficient value was
tendered for the product price. (step 42). If the product is to be
dispensed, CPU 311 completes the transaction by causing machine 362
to dispense the product and return any change, if tangible currency
was tendered; or to deduct electronic currency from a stored value
card if the customer is using such a card for the transaction.
(step 45). CPU 311 updates the statistical data by incrementing a
product dispensed count in array 327, corresponding to any product
dispensed to the customer. CPU 311 also updates currency receipt
data 316 or 317 to reflect any currency received from the customer,
and updates currency return data 324 to reflect any coins returned
to the customer as change. (step 47).
[0141] If slot 308 contains a type of customer card that can store
condition data (step 50), processor 311 writes a condition record
34 onto the customer card (step 55), as shown in FIG. 26. FIG. 26
shows card 215' after vending machine 362 has performed the process
of FIG. 30 with a customer using card 215'. Condition record 34
includes the IP address of a computer to receive audit data about
vending machine 362, the TCP port number associated with process on
the computer to receive the audit data, and the audit data itself,
which includes data about currency receipts and food package
inventory.
[0142] FIG. 27 shows condition record 34, written by vending
machine 362, in more detail. Each of the three columns in FIG. 27
represents a field in condition record 34. The first column,
representing the first field in record 34, is destination data
including the IP Internet address for a computer in audit site 135,
and the TCP port number associated with an application running in
the computer in audit site 135.
[0143] The second column, representing the second field, is the
time and place where condition data was collected. The second field
includes time-date information 322 and machine ID 321.
[0144] The third column, representing the third field in record 34,
includes dispensed counts 327 for each row in vending machine 362,
thereby providing an indication when machine 362 needs to be
replenished with additional food packages 312. The third field in
record 34 also includes currency receipt data 316, currency receipt
data 317, and currency return data 324, thereby providing an
indication when machine 362 needs to have its currency bins
emptied.
[0145] Subsequently, when the customer carrying card 215' uses her
card at gas pump POS terminal 132, for example, system 131 reads
record 34 from her card 215', as well as performing a gas
dispensing transaction with her. System 131 also erases record 34
from card 215'; system 131 deallocates the memory space used to
store record 34 on card 215'.
[0146] System 131 uses the IP destination address and a TCP
destination port number in record 34 to construct a TCP/IP packet
for sending over Internet 10. In this example, the destination of
the packet is a server in audit site 135. Thus, the processor sends
audit data from record 34 to one of a plurality of audit sites in
accordance with a destination identifier (IP address) stored on the
card.
[0147] When the customer uses her card at gas pump POS terminal
132, system 131 also reads record 36 from the customer's card.
System 131 also erases record 36 from card 215'; system 131
deallocates the memory space used to store record 36 on card
215'.
[0148] System 131 uses an IP destination address and TCP
destination port number, stored in record 36, to construct a TCP/IP
packet for sending over Internet 10. In this example, the
destination of the packet containing audit data from record 36 is a
destination other then audit site 135.
[0149] Although in the third preferred embodiment the vending
machine audit data is directed using an IP address, many alternate
variations are possible, including a Universal Resource Locator
(URL), which a Domain Name Server may translate to an IP address; a
telephone number; a custom code; or no code, in which case the data
could always be directed to a fixed destination.
[0150] In other words, vending machine 362 may perform a
transaction with customer 326 by receiving paper currency 216 and
dispensing a food package to customer 326, and may perform a
transaction with customer 309 by receiving electronic currency from
card 214' and dispensing a food package to customer 309.
Subsequently, vending machine 362 acts to begin a transaction with
customer 325 and communicate with card 215'. Vending machine 362
may complete the transaction with customer 325 by deducting
electronic currency from card 215' and sending a food package (an
article of tangible merchandise) to customer 325. Vending machine
362 writes record 34, which is a type of signal, onto card 215'.
Record 34 corresponds to a condition of vending machine 362. The
statistical data in record 34 results from previous transactions
for a plurality of other customers.
[0151] Subsequently, customer 325 begins a transaction at POS
terminal 132 in gas station 139, to buy gasoline, which is a type
of tangible merchandise. Gas station POS terminal 132 reads record
34 from card 215' and sends record 34 over wide area communication
link 14, to a processor in audit site 135.
[0152] FIG. 28 shows a block diagram of audit site 135. Audit site
135 includes modem 368 for receiving vending machine statistical
data from wide area communication link 370. Audit site 135 receives
statistical data for multiple vending machines from a plurality of
customer cards, via link 370. Memory 520 includes statistical data
record 560 for machine 360, statistical data record 562 for machine
362, and statistical data record 564 for machine 364. Each of
records 560, 562, and 564 includes a respective time and date field
corresponding to time-date field 322 in the condition records
received link 370. When CPU 550 receives a condition record via
link 370, CPU 550 only updates a corresponding record in memory 520
if the time-date field and the received record has a time-date
later than an existing time-date in the corresponding record in
memory 520. Thus, relatively stale statistical data will not
overwrite relatively fresh statistical data in memory 520. In other
words, if statistical data in a record received via link 370 is
considered a first signal, and the time-date field 322 in the
record is considered a time signal, and record 562 is considered a
stored signal, CPU 550 conditionally maintains the stored signal
depending on a content of the time signal. CPU 550 refrains from
overwriting the record 562 if time-date field in record 562 is
equal to or later than the time-date field 322 of the received
condition record.
[0153] CPU 550 further processes the received condition data to
print a report on paper 374 Dime using printer 372. FIG. 29 shows
the report on paper 374, including information on the status of
various vending machines, including vending machine 362.
[0154] Conclusion
[0155] Although the illustrated cards have been shown with a
relatively simple, abstract, memory organization, more involved
memory organizations are possible, allowing a single card to
function in numerous applications. Condition data could be stored
in a variety of locations on a card. Condition data could be
tightly intermingled with application data, as shown by the coupon
cell scheme in the second preferred embodiment, for example.
Condition data could also be stored in reserved records on the
card, as shown in the third preferred embodiment of the invention,
for example.
[0156] Embodiments of the invention may be practiced with many
types of transactions including, for example, a coupon dispensing
transaction, a coupon redemption transaction, a product purchase
transaction, an electronic currency replenishment transaction, or a
paper cash dispensing transaction.
[0157] Writing of condition data to a card may be independent or
dependent on a transaction being successful and complete. For
example, in the third preferred embodiment the writing of condition
data to a card is independent of whether the customer received a
product. In other words, in the third preferred embodiment it is
only necessary that some customer, carrying a customer card, begin
a transaction. Condition data written to the card will result from
transactions with previous customers. The condition data written to
the card may or may not also result from a transaction with the
card carrying customer.
[0158] Embodiments of the invention may be practiced without
writing condition data each time a customer card is used in a
transaction. For example, condition data could be written to only a
certain percentage of the cards presented for transactions.
Further, writing of the condition data may be dependent upon some
state of a machine. For example, a vending machine might only write
condition data if currency bins have received a certain amount of
currency, or if inventory of a certain product is below a certain
quantity. Further, writing of condition data may be triggered by a
transaction being unsuccessful.
[0159] Similarly, embodiments of the invention may be practiced
with a wide-area-connected system that does not necessarily read
any condition data each time a card is presented for a
transaction.
[0160] Although the illustrated embodiments show condition data
having a plurality of digits and a plurality of fields, it is
contemplated that condition data could be a single digit indicating
that a machine needs service, for example.
[0161] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects
is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative
apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described.
Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without
departing from the spirit or the scope of Applicants' general
inventive concept. The invention is defined in the following
claims.
* * * * *