Patent EP0402302A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0402302A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Credit card system
Assignee: LIPMAN ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING Ltd
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Filing: 1990-06-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A credit card system comprises a central unit and plurality of local units communicating with the central unit. The central unit includes a central storage device for each subscriber for storing amounts to be charged to the respective subscribers, and each of the local units includes a plurality of local storage devices assignable to the subscribers, at least one card reader for receiving a subscriber's card and for enabling the subscriber to open a local account, to transfer thereto a predetermined sum from the central unit, and thereafter to order local transactions involving the sale of products or services from the local account, until a specified permitted sum is in the local account. When the local account drops below the permitted sum, a transfer is automatically effected from the subscriber's central storage device. The system thus performs both local and central transactions while minimizing communication with the central unit, thereby enabling credit card transactions of low value, and at high-speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Mordechai Teicher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:28
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/403
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
A credit card system for a plurality of subscribers each having a credit card, comprising: a central unit and a plurality of local units communicating with said central unit; said central unit including a central storage device for each subscriber for storing amounts to be charged to the respective subscribers; each of said local units including: a plurality of local storage devices assignable to said subscribers; at least one card reader for receiving a subscriber's card when inserted therein to order a transaction involving the sale of a product or service, and for identifying the subscriber; an Open-Account means enabling a subscriber of the central unit, upon inserting the subscriber's card into the card reader of the local unit, to open a local account in the respective local unit, to be assigned a local storage device, and to transfer a predetermined sum from the subscriber's central storage device to the subscriber's local storage device; validating means for comparing the cost of the ordered transaction with the amount stored in the subscriber's local storage device, and for validating the transaction if said cost does not exceed said stored amount by a specified permitted sum; and means effective upon validating the transaction for subtracting the cost thereof from the amount stored in the subscriber's local storage device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
A credit card system for a plurality of subscribers each having a credit card, comprising: a central unit and a plurality of local units communicating with said central unit; said central unit including a central storage device for each subscriber for storing amounts to be charged to the respective subscribers; each of said local units including: a plurality of local storage devices assignable to said subscribers; at least one card reader for receiving a subscriber's card when inserted therein to order a transaction involving the sale of a product or service, and for identifying the subscriber; an Open-Account means enabling a subscriber of the central unit, upon inserting the subscriber's card into the card reader of the local unit, to open a local account in the respective local unit, to be assigned a local storage device, and to transfer a predetermined sum from the subscriber's central storage device to the subscriber's local storage device; validating means for comparing the cost of the ordered transaction with the amount stored in the subscriber's local storage device, and for validating the transaction if said cost does not exceed said stored amount by a specified permitted sum; and means effective upon validating the transaction for subtracting the cost thereof from the amount stored in the subscriber's local storage device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to Claim 1, wherein each of said local units further includes: display means for displaying whether or not the transaction has been validated, and the amount remaining in the subscriber's local storage device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said local units further includes means, effective if the amount stored in the local storage unit drops below a specified minimum, then to automatically transfer a predetermined amount from the subscriber's central storage device to the subscriber's local storage device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system according to Claim 1, wherein each of said local units further includes: a depressible Close-Account button enabling a subscriber, upon inserting his credit card into the card reader of the local unit, to close the subscriber's local account and to retransfer the balance in the subscriber's local storage device to the subscriber's central storage device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system according to Claim 1, wherein each of said local units further includes: means, effective upon the local storage device of a specific subscriber being inactive for a specified period of time, to automatically close the local account of the respective subscriber and to retransfer the balance in the subscriber's local storage device to the subscriber's central storage device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system according to Claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of central units for different groups of subscribers; each of said central units including a central storage device for each subscriber of the respective group for storing amounts to be charged to the subscribers of the respective group; all said central units communicating with said plurality of local units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to Claim 1, wherein at least some of said local units include a local network servicing a plurality of card readers at least some of which have an Open-Account means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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