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Patent US4328544A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4328544A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic point-of-sale system using direct-access storage
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1980-01-04
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Granted: 1982-05-04
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Expires: 2000-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A standalone point-of-sale terminal in a unitary physical package has input/output devices for communicating transaction data between the terminal and an operator, and also has a cash drawer. These devices and a direct-access storage are controlled by a programmable processor which executes low-level routines from read-only addressable memory and serially replaceable high-level applications programs from read/write addressable memory. Both applications programs and transaction data are stored on a single non-volatile, removable storage medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry L. Baldwin
- 👤 Beryl D. Bergschneider
- 👤 Martin E. Chamoff
- 👤 Irving L. Miller
- 👤 Don W. Piller
- 👤 Max J. Robinett
- 👤 Donald L. Thorson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/20; G06Q20/209; G07; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A point-of-sale terminal for recording transaction data, said terminal comprising: programmable processing means including read/write addressable memory for holding both applications programs and data, and further including read-only memory holding routines for loading different ones of said applications programs into said read/write memory; direct-access storage means coupled to said processing means and adapted to read and write a single removable, non-volatile storage medium holding both said applications programs and said transaction data; input means coupled to said processing means for receiving said transaction data from an operator; output means coupled to said processing means for displaying said transaction data; cash-handling means controlled by said processing means in response to said applications programs; and enclosure means for housing all the above means in a single physical package, said enclosure means further including means for inserting and removing said removable storage medium in said direct-access storage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A point-of-sale terminal for recording transaction data, said terminal comprising: programmable processing means including read/write addressable memory for holding both applications programs and data, and further including read-only memory holding routines for loading different ones of said applications programs into said read/write memory; direct-access storage means coupled to said processing means and adapted to read and write a single removable, non-volatile storage medium holding both said applications programs and said transaction data; input means coupled to said processing means for receiving said transaction data from an operator; output means coupled to said processing means for displaying said transaction data; cash-handling means controlled by said processing means in response to said applications programs; and enclosure means for housing all the above means in a single physical package, said enclosure means further including means for inserting and removing said removable storage medium in said direct-access storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, wherein said input means includes a keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, wherein said output means includes both visible display means and printing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The point-of-sale terminal of claim 1, further comprising prompt means responsive to said processing means for displaying messages to said operator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
A point-of-sale terminal for recording transaction data, said terminal comprising: keyboard means for receiving transaction data from an operator; display means for outputting said transaction data to said operator; direct-access storage means for writing said transaction data onto a removable, non-volatile storage medium, and for reading a plurality of applications programs from the same storage medium; addressable memory means having a read/write part and having a read-only part, said read-only part including microcoded routines; programmable processing means coupled to said keyboard means, said display means, said direct-access storage means and said addressable memory means for executing said microcoded routines so as to load different ones of said applications programs from said direct-access storage means to said read/write part and for executing said applications programs directly from said read/write part; and enclosure means for holding the above means in a unified physical package adapted to rest on a counter top.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
A point-of-sale terminal for recording transaction data, said terminal comprising: keyboard means for receiving transaction data from an operator; display means for outputting said transaction data to said operator; direct-access storage means for writing said transaction data onto a removable, non-volatile storage medium, and for reading a plurality of applications programs from the same storage medium; addressable memory means having a read/write part and having a read-only part, said read-only part including microcoded routines; programmable processing means coupled to said keyboard means, said display means, said direct-access storage means and said addressable memory means for executing said microcoded routines so as to load different ones of said applications programs from said direct-access storage means to said read/write part and for executing said applications programs directly from said read/write part; and enclosure means for holding the above means in a unified physical package adapted to rest on a counter top.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The point-of-sale terminal of claim 5, wherein said storage medium is a magnetic medium and wherein said direct-access storage means comprises a drive adapted to hold said magnetic medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The point-of-sale terminal of claim 6, wherein said magnetic medium comprises a flexible magnetic disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The point-of-sale terminal of claim 5, wherein said read-only part of said addressable memory means further includes microcoded routines for controlling said keyboard means and said display means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The point-of-sale terminal of claim 5, wherein said keyboard means, said display means and said direct-access storage means are coupled to said processing means via a common bus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3970992A
Cited
US4220991A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-03 | 1985-11-02 | 1986-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-03 | 1989-11-02 | 1990-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-03 | 1993-11-02 | 1994-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |