Electronic cash register capable of performing cash-dispensing transactions

Claim 1

A cashing system comprising a control center and an electronic cash register connected to the control center by a communication channel, the control center comprising: means for receiving data from and transmitting data to said electronic cash register; a customer file for storing cash dispensing data in corresponding relation to individual customer identifying data; and means for receiving a cash dispensing operation request from said electronic cash register, a cash dispensing operation being one where a customer receives cash from said cash register with the amount thereof being chargeable to a customer's account, means for determining whether or not a cash dispensing operation should be permitted, and means for transmitting a cashing permission instruction to said cash register if a cash dispensing operation is permitted, the electronic cash register comprising: a cash drawer; means for performing and recording a sales transaction; a keyboard for performing and recording a sales transaction; a keyboard having a cashing key for selecting a cash dispensing operation in which cash is dispensable from said drawer to said customer with the amount thereof being chargeable to the customer's account, and numerical keys for entering a cash dispensing sum involved in the cash dispensing operation; input means for entering customer identifying data; means for transmitting data concerning a request for a cash dispensing operation, including customer data and a cash dispensing sum, to said control center; and drawer control means for making said drawer operable in response to a cashing permission instruction received from said control center.