EP0387046A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication system employing prepaid card
Assignee: NIHON CARD TRANSFER CORP
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Filing: 1990-02-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A communication system enables users to purchase various articles of merchandise and services such as data supply services, and to get refunds through communication lines such as telephone lines and prepaid cards. The communication system comprises a prepaid card 1, a communication terminal 2, and a host computer. The prepaid card has its own identification data. The communication terminal reads data stored in the prepaid card, and when the user enters necessary data into the communication terminal, a communication starting command is produced, enabling the communication terminal to transmit data to the host computer over the communication line. The host computer processes the transmitted data, instructs the communication terminal to rewrite data stored in the prepaid card, instructs the delivery of a purchased article, and/or gives the user any of various data services.
Inventors
- 👤 Keinosuke Isono
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:35
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/3437; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G07F17/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A communication system employing a prepaid card comprising: a prepaid card having a storage area for storing various data and inherent identification data including at least unalterable data; a communication terminal for reading data from and writing data in said prepaid card, entering necessary data after having read data from the prepaid card, and sending the read data and/or necessary data through a communication line in response to a communication starting command; and a host computer for performing necessary procedures in response to the communication from said communication terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A communication system employing a prepaid card comprising: a prepaid card having a storage area for storing various data and inherent identification data including at least unalterable data; a communication terminal for reading data from and writing data in said prepaid card, entering necessary data after having read data from the prepaid card, and sending the read data and/or necessary data through a communication line in response to a communication starting command; and a host computer for performing necessary procedures in response to the communication from said communication terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said communication terminal has means for altering at least a portion of the data stored in said storage area only in response to a command transmitted from said host computer over said communication line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said host computer has means for storing the identification data of said prepaid card and generating a file for necessary procedures based on said identification data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A communication system according to claim 3, wherein said host computer has means for storing the identification data of said prepaid card when said prepaid card is used for the first time in combination with the communication terminal, and generating a file for necessary procedures based on said identification data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A communication system according to claim 3, wherein said host computer has means for storing the identification data of said prepaid card in advance of use of said prepaid card in combination with the communication terminal, and generating a file for necessary procedures based on said identification data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein said host computer has only a signal modem for use as a communication modem for exchanging at least a portion of the data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 6, wherein said communication terminal has only a signal modem for use as an communication modem for exchanging at least a portion of the data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 7, wherein said communication terminal has a display unit for displaying the entered data and/or a printer for printing the entered data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 8, wherein said communication terminal has a ten-key pad for entering the data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 9, wherein said communication line comprises a telephone line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 10, further including a telephone, said communication terminal being connected to said telephone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A communication system according to claims 1 through 11, wherein an unalterable telephone number is stored in said prepaid card, said communication terminal having automatic dialing means for automatically dialing said unalterable telephone number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A communication system according to claim 12, wherein at least two unalterable telephone numbers are stored in said prepaid card.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A communication system according to claim 13, wherein automatically dialing said at least two unalterable telephone numbers is done depending on the orientation of said prepaid card at the time said prepaid card is inserted into said communication terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 14, further including another host computer, at least two host computers being accessible by said communication terminal in combination with said prepaid card.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
A communication system according to any one of claims 1 through 15, further including an automatic refunding machine, said host computer being connected to said automatic refunding machine, said automatic refunding machine having means for reading the data from said prepaid card and means for transmitting the identification data from said automatic refunding machine to said host computer, said host computer having means for checking the data of said prepaid card which have been entered from said communication terminal, based on said identification data from said automatic refunding machine, for calculating an amount of money to be refunded, and for instructing said automatic refunding machine to refund said amount of money.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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