Patent US3442522A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3793624A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3793624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Point of sale credit card terminal apparatus
Assignee: Interface Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-08-19
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1991-08-19
Abstract
Abstract Point of sale terminal apparatus is provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention wherein access to a central credit location may be quickly established and once a communication link to such central credit location is established a request for data signal is provided to said point of sale terminal apparatus. The request for data signal is indicated at the point of sale terminal whereupon an operator merely actuates the send button thereat so data from an already inserted credit card, preset sale information print drums and hard wired site or location designators are transmitted to said central location in a clocked logic format. If the sale is authorized on the basis of the data sent, the central location provides an authorized signal which actuates imprinter apparatus at the point of sale terminal apparatus causing the credit card sales form to be automatically imprinted, and the communication link disconnected. However, if the sale may not be automatically authorized the operator at the point of sale terminal may be placed in voice communication with a referral agency. Various overrides are also provided in case of telephone or central location failure.
Inventors
- 👤 V Vaskunas
- 👤 H Hager
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:26
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/403; G06Q20/4037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Terminal apparatus for communicating with remotely located central locations over communications links comprising: multiplex means having a plurality of inputs and a single output, said multiplex means selectively connecting each of said plurality of inputs to said single output in a sequential manner and at a rate determined by timing pulses applied thereto, each of said plurality of inputs accepting a decimally coded input and said single output adapted to provide a decimally coded output signal; means for providing timing pulses to said multiplex means; means for providing a decimally coded input signal representing information to be communicated to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means; means for encoding decimally coded outputs from said single output into a two out of seven Touch-Tone code; and means for applying said encoded outputs to a communication link.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
Terminal apparatus for communicating with remotely located central locations over communications links comprising: multiplex means having a plurality of inputs and a single output, said multiplex means selectively connecting each of said plurality of inputs to said single output in a sequential manner and at a rate determined by timing pulses applied thereto, each of said plurality of inputs accepting a decimally coded input and said single output adapted to provide a decimally coded output signal; means for providing timing pulses to said multiplex means; means for providing a decimally coded input signal representing information to be communicated to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means; means for encoding decimally coded outputs from said single output into a two out of seven Touch-Tone code; and means for applying said encoded outputs to a communication link.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for applying said encoded outputs to a communication link comprises: touch-tone pad and generator means; telephone network means for receiving signals from such Touch-Tone pad and generating means and applying said signals to said communications link; and interface means including a relay array, each relay in said array being connected in parallel with contacts on said touch-tone pad, said interface means receiving two out of seven touch-tone codes from said encoder means and being selectively enabled in response thereto to actuate appropriate ones of said generator means in said touch-tone pad and generator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for providing timing pulses to said multiplex means comprises: pulse generator means for applying a timing pulse to said multiplex means in response to each control level applied thereto; and counter means for applying control levels to said pulse generator means at a predetermined clocking rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for providing a decimally coded input signal to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means includes first means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to one of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means, each digit in said multi-digit decimal code being applied at a rate determined by the rate at which control levels are applied by said counter means to said pulse generator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said counter means includes multi-state means for producing said control levels and multi-condition indicating means for controlling the state of said terminal means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for providing a decimally coded input signal to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means additionally includes second means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to another of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means, said multiplex means applying the multi-digit decimal codes applied thereto by said first and second means to the single output thereof only when said multi-condition indicating means is in one condition, said multi-digit decimal code applied thereto by said first means being connected to the single output of said multiplex means when certain ones of said control levels are produced by said multi-state means and said multi-digit decimal code applied thereto by said second means being connected to the single output of said multiplex means when certain other ones of said control level are produced by said multi-state means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 6 additionally comprising: means for detecting an authorizing signal on said communications link and producing a predetermined signal in response thereto; means responsive to said predetermined signal to change the condition of said multi-condition indicating means from one condition to a second condition; and means for indicating at said terminal apparatus that said multi-condition indicating means is in said second condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for indicating at said terminal apparatus that said multi-condition indicating means is in said second condition comprises powered imprinter means, said powered imprinter means being energized as an indication of said second condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 8 additionally comprising credit card reader means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to a further one of said plurality of inputs to said multiplex means when said multi-condition indicating means is in said one condition, said credit card reader means being operative for appropriately encoded credit cards while said touch-tone pad means directly communicates credit card information to said communications link in the absence of a properly encoded credit card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for providing a decimally coded input signal to each of said pluralitY of inputs of said multiplex means additionally comprises dial generator means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to a predetermined input of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means, each digit in said last mentioned multi-digit decimal code being applied at a rate determined by the rate at which control levels are applied by said counter means, said dial generator means being operative to produce said multi-digit decimal code only when said multi-condition indicating means is in a third condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for providing timing pulses to said multiplex means comprises: pulse generator means for applying a timing pulse to said multiplex means in response to each control level applied thereto; and counter means for applying control levels to said pulse generator means at a predetermined clocking rate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means for providing a decimally coded input signal to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means includes first means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to one of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means, each digit in said multi-digit decimal code being applied at a rate determined by the rate at which control levels are applied by said counter means to said pulse generator means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said counter means includes multi-state means for producing said control levels and multi-condition indicating means for controlling the state of said terminal means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
148 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said means for providing a decimally coded input signal to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means additionally includes second means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to another of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means, said multiplex means applying the multi-digit decimal codes applied thereto by said first and second means to the single output thereof only when said multi-condition indicating means is in one condition, said multi-digit decimal code applied thereto by said first means being connected to the single output of said multiplex means when certain ones of said control levels are produced by said multi-state means and said multi-digit decimal code applied thereto by said second means being connected to the single output of said multiplex means when certain other ones of said control level are produced by said multi-state means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said means for providing a decimally coded input signal to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means additionally comprises dial generator means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to a predetermined input of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means, each digit in said last mentioned multi-digit decimal code being applied at a rate determined by the rate at which control levels are applied by said counter means, said dial generator means being operative to produce said multi-digit decimal code only when said multi-condition indicating means is in a third condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 15 additionally comprising: means for detecting an authorizing signal on said communications link and producing a predetermined signal in response thereto; means responsive to said predetermined signal to change the condition of said multi-condition indicating means from one condition to a second condition; and means for indicating at said terminal apparatus that said multi-condition indicating means is in said second condition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means for indicating at said terminal apparatus that said multi-condition indicating means is in said second condition comprises powered imprinter means, said powered imprinter means being energized as an indication of said second condition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
The terminal apparatus according to claiM 17 additionally comprising credit card reader means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to a further one of said plurality of inputs to said multiplex means when said multi-condition indicating means is in said one condition, said credit card reader means being operative for appropriately encoded credit cards while said touch-tone pad means directly communicates credit card information to said communications link in the absence of a properly encoded credit card.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 5 additionally comprising: means for detecting an authorizing signal on said communications link and producing a predetermined signal in response thereto; means responsive to said predetermined signal to change the condition of said multi-condition indicating means from one condition to a second condition; and means for indicating at said terminal apparatus that said multi-condition indicating means is in said second condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for indicating at said terminal apparatus that said multi-condition indicating means is in said second condition comprises powered imprinter means, said powered imprinter means being energized as an indication of said second condition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The terminal apparatus according to claim 5 additionally comprising credit card reader means for applying a multi-digit decimal code to a further one of said plurality of inputs to said multiplex means when said multi-condition indicating means is in said one condition, said credit card reader means being operative for appropriately encoded credit cards.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
135 words
Terminal apparatus for communicating with remotely located central locations over communications links comprising: multiplex means having a plurality of inputs and a single output, said multiplex means selectively connecting each of said plurality of inputs to said single output in a sequential manner and at a rate determined by timing pulses applied thereto, each of said plurality of inputs accepting a coded input and said single output adapted to provide a coded output signal; means for providing timing pulses to said multiplex means; means for providing a coded input signal representing information to be communicated to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means; means for further encoding coded outputs from said single output into a two out of seven Touch-Tone code; and means for applying said encoded outputs to a communication link.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
135 words
Terminal apparatus for communicating with remotely located central locations over communications links comprising: multiplex means having a plurality of inputs and a single output, said multiplex means selectively connecting each of said plurality of inputs to said single output in a sequential manner and at a rate determined by timing pulses applied thereto, each of said plurality of inputs accepting a coded input and said single output adapted to provide a coded output signal; means for providing timing pulses to said multiplex means; means for providing a coded input signal representing information to be communicated to each of said plurality of inputs of said multiplex means; means for further encoding coded outputs from said single output into a two out of seven Touch-Tone code; and means for applying said encoded outputs to a communication link.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |