Transaction system with prepaid card processing apparatus

Claim 2

A transaction system comprising a transaction apparatus (11) having means (35) for receiving a previously issued portable transaction medium (73) capable of use as a form of payment and capable of issuing a new, replacement, transaction medium (73); each said transaction medium (73) having a machine readable memory area (117) for storing an initial monetary value and a current monetary value and a visible data area for successively displaying the current value; and characterised by, input means (105) for inputting an input monetary value, read/write means (53) for reading the current value from the memory area (117) of the previously issued transaction medium and capable of either; storing an increased current value corresponding to the sum of the current value and the input monetary value in the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium or, storing the increased current value in the memory area of the new transaction medium; and said means (35) then selectively discharging the transaction medium having the increased current value.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 further including mode selection means for selecting an adding operation mode wherein the previously issued transaction medium including the increased current remaining value stored and displayed thereon is reissued when the used region of the visible data area does not exceed a predetermined area.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2, wherein the mode selection means further includes transaction medium issuing mode means for selecting a new transaction medium issuing operation mode wherein the new transaction medium including the current remaining value stored and displayed thereon is issued.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 2 further including means for adding a prescribed premium to the increased current remaining value of the previously issued transaction medium when the addition mode is selected.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 2, wherein the visible data area of the previously issued transaction medium has a plurality of printing rows, and the system further includes means for printing the increased current remaining value in the next available row on the visible data area of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 3 further including memory means for storing data representing a new transaction medium issue fee, the transaction medium issuing mode means includes means for subtracting the new transaction medium issue fee from the current remaining value of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 6 further including means for invalidating the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 7, wherein the invalidating means includes means for punching a portion of the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 3, wherein the visible data area of the new transaction medium has a plurality of printing rows, and the system further includes means for printing the current remaining value in the next available row on the visible data area of the new transaction medium.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 2, wherein the mode selection means includes correction mode means for selecting a correcting operation mode wherein the current remaining value of the previously issued transaction medium is corrected on the basis of the input monetary value from the input means, and the corrected current remaining value is stored in the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 10, wherein the visible data area of the previously issued transaction medium has a plurality of printing rows, and the system further includes means for printing the corrected remaining value in the next available row of the visible data area of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 1 further including memory means for storing data representing a refund fee, and the mode selecting means including refund mode means for selecting a refund operation mode wherein the refund fee is subtracted from the current remaining value of the previously issued transaction medium for determining a refund value, and a prescribed value of cash is discharged according to the refund value.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 12 further including means for invalidating the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 13, wherein the invalidating means includes means for punching a portion of the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 16

A transaction system for receiving a previously issued portable transaction medium as a form of payment, and issuing a new transaction medium, each transaction medium having a memory area for storing one of an initial value corresponding to the initial monetary value of the transaction medium and a current remaining value corresponding to the current monetary value of the transaction medium, and a visible data area of limited size for displaying succesively a modified current remaining value corresponding to the monetary value of the transaction medium after each transaction, the system comprising: means for receiving a previously issued transaction medium; input means for inputting an input monetary value, the input means including a reissuing operation selection key; transaction information processing means for reading out the current remaining value from the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium; transaction medium issuing control means responsive to the reissuing operation selection key for determining an increased current remaining value corresponding to the sum of the current remaining value and the input monetary value for reissuing the previously issued transaction medium; data print means for printing the increased current remaining value in the next available portion of the visible data area of the previously issued transaction medium when the limited size of the visible data area has not been exceeded; and the transaction information processing means storing the increased current remaining value in the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 17

A transaction system for receiving a previously issued portable transaction medium as a form of payment, and issuing a new transaction medium, each transaction medium having a memory area for storing one of an initial value corresponding to the initial monetary value of the transaction medium and a current remaining value corresponding to the current monetary value of the transaction medium, and a visible data area of limited size for displaying succesively a modified current remaining value corresponding to the monetary value of the transaction medium after each transaction, the system comprising: means for receiving a previously issued transaction medium; input means for inputting an input monetary value, the input means including a reissuing operation selection key; transaction information processing means for reading out the current remaining value from the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium; transaction medium issuing control means responsive to the reissuing operation selection key for determining an increased current remaining value corresponding to the sum of the current remaining value and the input monetary value for reissuing the previously issued transaction medium; data print means for printing the increased current remaining value in the next available portion of the visible data area of the previously issued transaction medium when the limited size of the visible data area has not been exceeded; and the transaction information processing means storing the increased current remaining value in the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 15, wherein the transaction medium issuing control means includes means responsive to the reissuing operation selection key for adding a prescribed premium to the increased current remaining value of the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 15, wherein the input means further includes an issuing operation selection key, the transaction information processing means including means responsive to the issuing operation selection key for storing the current remaining value in the memory area of the new transaction medium, the data print means including means for printing the current remaining value on the visible data area of the new transaction medium.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 15, wherein the input means includes an issuing operation selection key, the transaction medium issuing control means including memory means for storing data representing a medium issue fee, the transaction medium issuing control means also including means responsive to the issuing operation selection key for determining the initial value by subtracting the medium issue fee from the current remaining value of the previously issued transaction medium for issuing the new transaction medium.

Claim 21

A system according to claim 18, wherein the transaction information processing means includes means for storing the initial value in the memory area of the new transaction medium, and the data print means includes means for printing the initial value on the visible data area of the new transaction medium.

Claim 22

A system according to claim 19 further including means for invalidating the previously issued transaction medium.

Claim 23

A system according to claim 15, wherein the input means further includes a correcting operation selection key, and the transaction medium issuing control means includes means for correcting the current remaining value of the previously issued transaction medium based on the input monetary value.

Claim 24

A system according to claim 21, wherein the transaction information processing means includes means for storing the corrected current remaining value in the memory area of the previously issued transaction medium, and the data print means includes means for printing the corrected current remaining value in the next available portion on the visible data area of the previously issued transaction medium.