US3719927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Credit control system
Assignee: TRW Data Systems Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-28
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Granted: 1973-03-06
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Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A credit control system which positively authorizes every credit purchase, furnishes account balance status and accumulates the dollar amount of every credit purchase. Customer account numbers, status, credit limit and account balance are stored in a magnetic memory. Remote keyboard units interrogate the memory as to account number and amount of purchase for each purchaser. If the status of the account is valid and there is a positive credit balance, a credit authorization signal is received at the remote keyboard unit. If the status of the account is invalid, or if the status of the account is valid and the credit balance is negative, a credit denial signal is received at the remote keyboard unit, and a credit authorizer unit is activated. The credit authorizer unit permits manual electronic inspection of the credit file of interest to determine if credit should be authorized for the current transaction. If credit is to be authorized, or denied, a credit authorization, or denial signal is received at the remote keyboard unit.
Inventors
- 👤 L Michels
- 👤 G Minka
- 👤 D Kovar
- 👤 R Harper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:10
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/403; G06Q20/4037; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A credit control system comprising: a memory for storing customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; first means for loading into the memory said customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; coincidence means for comparing a generated customer account identification symbol to be checked with thE customer account identification symbols stored in said memory, said coincidence means producing signals indicating the presence or absence in the memory of said generated customer account identification symbol; second means, responsive to the absence of said customer account identification symbol in said memory, for comparing a purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol with a preselected credit limit to determine whether the purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol exceeds the preselected credit limit; third means, responsive to a determination that said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol does not exceed said preselected limit, for loading said memory with said generated customer identification symbol, an appropriate status symbol and said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol; fourth means, responsive to the presence of said generated customer account identification symbol in said memory, for determining whether the status of the generated symbol is restricted; fifth means, responsive to a proper status determination by said fourth means, for determining whether the sum of the accumulated balance associated with said generated symbol, and the purchase amount exceeds the credit limit for said generated symbol; and sixth means, responsive to a proper determination by said fifth means, for loading said memory with the sum of the accumulated balance and current purchase amount for said generated symbol customer account.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A credit control system comprising: a memory for storing customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; first means for loading into the memory said customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; coincidence means for comparing a generated customer account identification symbol to be checked with thE customer account identification symbols stored in said memory, said coincidence means producing signals indicating the presence or absence in the memory of said generated customer account identification symbol; second means, responsive to the absence of said customer account identification symbol in said memory, for comparing a purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol with a preselected credit limit to determine whether the purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol exceeds the preselected credit limit; third means, responsive to a determination that said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol does not exceed said preselected limit, for loading said memory with said generated customer identification symbol, an appropriate status symbol and said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol; fourth means, responsive to the presence of said generated customer account identification symbol in said memory, for determining whether the status of the generated symbol is restricted; fifth means, responsive to a proper status determination by said fourth means, for determining whether the sum of the accumulated balance associated with said generated symbol, and the purchase amount exceeds the credit limit for said generated symbol; and sixth means, responsive to a proper determination by said fifth means, for loading said memory with the sum of the accumulated balance and current purchase amount for said generated symbol customer account.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
280 words
A credit control system comprising: a memory for storing customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; first means for loading into the memory said customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; coincidence means for comparing a generated customer account identification symbol to be checked with thE customer account identification symbols stored in said memory, said coincidence means producing signals indicating the presence or absence in the memory of said generated customer account identification symbol; second means, responsive to the absence of said customer account identification symbol in said memory, for comparing a purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol with a preselected credit limit to determine whether the purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol exceeds the preselected credit limit; third means, responsive to a determination that said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol does not exceed said preselected limit, for loading said memory with said generated customer identification symbol, an appropriate status symbol and said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol; fourth means, responsive to the presence of said generated customer account identification symbol in said memory, for determining whether the status of the generated symbol is restricted; fifth means, responsive to a proper status determination by said fourth means, for determining whether the sum of the accumulated balance associated with said generated symbol, and the purchase amount exceeds the credit limit for said generated symbol; and sixth means, responsive to a proper determination by said fifth means, for loading said memory with the sum of the accumulated balance and current purchase amount for said generated symbol customer account.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
280 words
A credit control system comprising: a memory for storing customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; first means for loading into the memory said customer account identification symbols, credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols; coincidence means for comparing a generated customer account identification symbol to be checked with thE customer account identification symbols stored in said memory, said coincidence means producing signals indicating the presence or absence in the memory of said generated customer account identification symbol; second means, responsive to the absence of said customer account identification symbol in said memory, for comparing a purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol with a preselected credit limit to determine whether the purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol exceeds the preselected credit limit; third means, responsive to a determination that said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol does not exceed said preselected limit, for loading said memory with said generated customer identification symbol, an appropriate status symbol and said purchase amount symbol associated with said generated symbol; fourth means, responsive to the presence of said generated customer account identification symbol in said memory, for determining whether the status of the generated symbol is restricted; fifth means, responsive to a proper status determination by said fourth means, for determining whether the sum of the accumulated balance associated with said generated symbol, and the purchase amount exceeds the credit limit for said generated symbol; and sixth means, responsive to a proper determination by said fifth means, for loading said memory with the sum of the accumulated balance and current purchase amount for said generated symbol customer account.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A credit control system as claimed in claim 1 and further including: means for performing check digit verification on the customer account identification symbol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A credit control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory is cyclically scanned by said coincidence means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
A credit control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coincidence means for comparing the generated customer account identification symbol with the customer account identification symbols stored in said memory comprise: means for cyclically scanning each customer account identification symbol stored in said memory; means for determining the start of a read cycle; a resettable record counter capable of incrementing in response to a pulse; means for resetting said record counter at the start of a read cycle; means for comparing each customer account identification symbol stored in said memory with the generated customer account identification symbol; means for incrementing said record counter in response to a pulse output from said comparator indicating each read symbol stored in said memory is not the same as the generated symbol; an address register; and means for storing the count in said record counter in said address register in response to an output from said comparator indicating the read symbol stored in said memory is the same as the generated symbol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A credit control system as claimed in claim 4 and further including means for finding a blank location in said memory comprising: means for looking for an all zero record; means for indicating the end of a read cycle; and means for storing the count in said record counter in said address register in response to said means for looking for an all zero record; so that the number stored in said address register represents the address of an available blank space in said memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
171 words
In an automatic machine implemented method of checking credit which includes the steps of storing in an automatic machine customer account identification symbols, and associated credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols, generating a customer account identification symbol to be checked and a present purchase amount symbol associated therewith, and determining whether the customer account identification symbol to be checked is stored in the machine, the improvement comprising the steps of: determining whether the present purchase amount is greater or less than a preselected credit limit if the customer account identification symbol to be checked is not stored in the machine; sending an appropriate invalid credit status response if the present purchase amount is greater than the preselected credit limit; and storing in the automatic machine the customer account identification symbol being checked, an associated credit status symbol, the preselected credit limit symbol and the present purchase amount, if the present purchase amount is less than the preselected credit limit, and sending an appropriate valid credit status response.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
171 words
In an automatic machine implemented method of checking credit which includes the steps of storing in an automatic machine customer account identification symbols, and associated credit status symbols, credit limit symbols and accumulated balance symbols, generating a customer account identification symbol to be checked and a present purchase amount symbol associated therewith, and determining whether the customer account identification symbol to be checked is stored in the machine, the improvement comprising the steps of: determining whether the present purchase amount is greater or less than a preselected credit limit if the customer account identification symbol to be checked is not stored in the machine; sending an appropriate invalid credit status response if the present purchase amount is greater than the preselected credit limit; and storing in the automatic machine the customer account identification symbol being checked, an associated credit status symbol, the preselected credit limit symbol and the present purchase amount, if the present purchase amount is less than the preselected credit limit, and sending an appropriate valid credit status response.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
An automatic machine implemented method of checking credit as claimed in claim 6 and further including the steps of: determining whether the associated credit status symbol indicates a restricted account, if the customer account identification symbol to be checked is stored in the machine; sending an appropriate invalid credit status response if the associated credit status symbol indicates a restricted account; determining whether the present purchase amount added to the accumulated balance is greater or less than the associated credit limit if the associated credit status symbol indicates a not restricted account; and sending an appropriate invalid credit status response if the present purchase amount added to the accumulated balance is greater than the associated credit limit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
An automatic machine implemented method of checking credit as claimed in claim 7 and further including the steps of: increasing the accumulated balance by the present purchase amount; and sending an appropriate valid credit status response if the present purchase amount added to the accumulated balance is less than the associated credit limit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
An automatic machine implemented method of checking credit as claimed in claim 16 and further including the steps of: increasing the accumulated balance by the present purchase amount and sending an appropriate valid credit status response if the present purchase amount added to the accumulated balance is less than the associated credit limit; determining whether the present purchase amount is greater or less than a preselected credit limit if the customer account identification symbol to be checked is not stored in the machine; sending an appropriate invalid credit status response if the present purchase amount is greater than the preselected credit limit; and storing in the automatic machine the customer account identification symbol being checked, an associated credit status symbol, the preselected credit limit symbol and the present purchase amount, if the present purchase amount is less than the preselected credit limit, and sending an appropriate valid credit status response.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An automatic machine implemented method of checking credit as claimed in claim 16 and further including the step of: performing check digit verification on the customer account identification symbol.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |