Payment card point-of-sale service quality monitoring system, apparatus, and method

Claim 2

In a transaction authorization network including a point-of-sale terminal and a central computer, wherein the point-of-sale terminal transmits a message regarding a transaction to the central computer, and the central computer processes the message and transmits the message after processing back to the point-of-sale terminal, a system for monitoring the quality of service provided by the transaction authorization network, comprising: means in the point-of-sale terminal for measuring the terminal elapsed time, the terminal elapsed time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the point-of-sale terminal receives the message, means in the central computer for adding message monitoring data to the message, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, means in the point-of-sale terminal for logging the message monitoring data in the message received by the point-of-sale terminal, and means in the point-of-sale terminal for logging the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 3

The quality monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the message monitoring data added to the message by the means in the central computer for adding message monitoring data to the message includes the computer elapsed time, the computer elapsed time being the time that elapses between the time at which the central computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal and the time at which the central computer transmits the message back to the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 4

The quality monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the message monitoring data additionally includes computer identity data.

Claim 5

The quality monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the message monitoring data additionally includes a computer action code.

Claim 6

The quality monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising: means in the point-of-sale terminal for generating terminal message monitoring data for the message, and means in the point-of-sale terminal for logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data.

Claim 7

The quality monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the terminal message monitoring data includes a transaction serial number and the origination time, and the means in the point-of-sale terminal for logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data logs the transaction serial number and the origination time.

Claim 8

The quality monitoring system of claim 6, further comprising means in the point-of-sale terminal for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data added to the message including the transaction serial number.

Claim 9

The quality monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the means in the point-of-sale terminal for logging the message monitoring data in the message logs the message monitoring data in the message such that it can readily be linked to the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data logged for the message.

Claim 10

The quality monitoring system of claim 5, further comprising means in the point-of-sale terminal for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message.

Claim 11

The quality monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the terminal message monitoring data includes a transaction serial number, and the means in the point-of-sale terminal for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data adds the transaction serial number to the message.

Claim 12

The quality monitoring system of claim 5, further comprising terminal uploading means in the point-of-sale terminal for uploading the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time, and the logged terminal message monitoring data.

Claim 13

The quality monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the terminal uploading means uploads the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time, and the logged terminal message monitoring data to the central computer, and the system further comprises means in the central computer for logging message monitoring data in the message, means in the central computer for linking the message monitoring data logged by the central computer with the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time and the logged terminal message monitoring data uploaded by the terminal uploading means.

Claim 14

The quality monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the transaction authorization network further includes an additional computer disposed between the point-of-sale terminal and the central computer, the point-of-sale terminal transmits a message regarding a transaction to the additional computer, the additional computer transmits the message to the central computer, the central computer processes the message and transmits the processed message back to the additional computer, and the additional computer transmits the message back to the point-of-sale terminal, and the system further comprises means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message.

Claim 15

The quality monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message adds message monitoring data to the message that the additional computer receives from the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 16

The quality monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the message monitoring data added to the message by the means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message includes the computer transit time, the computer transit time being the time that elapses between the time at which the additional computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal, and the time at which the additional computer transmits the message to the central computer.

Claim 17

The quality monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the terminal message monitoring data includes the terminal transit time, the terminal transit time being the time that elapses between the origination time and the time at which the point-of-sale terminal transmits the message, and the means in the point-of-sale terminal for logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data logs the terminal transit time.

Claim 18

The quality monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message adds message monitoring data to the message that the additional computer receives from the central computer.

Claim 19

The quality monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the message monitoring data added to the message by the means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message includes the computer elapsed time, the computer elapsed time being the time that elapses between the time at which the additional computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal, and the time at which the additional computer transmits the message back to the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 20

The quality monitoring system of claim 17, wherein the message monitoring data added to the message by the means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message includes the computer transit time, the computer transit time being the time that elapses between the time at which the additional computer receives the message from the central computer, and the time at which the additional computer transmits the message to the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 21

The quality monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the message monitoring data added to the message by the means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message includes computer identity data.

Claim 22

The quality monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the message monitoring data added to the message by the means in the additional computer for adding message monitoring data to the message includes a computer action code.

Claim 23

The quality monitoring system of claims 1 or 13, further comprising terminal uploading means in the point-of-sale terminal for uploading the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time.

Claim 24

The quality monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the terminal uploading means uploads the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time to the central computer, and the system further comprises means in the central computer for logging message monitoring data in the message, means in the central computer for linking the message monitoring data logged by the central computer with the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time uploaded by the terminal uploading means.

Claim 25

The quality monitoring system of claims 1 or 13, additionally comprising means in the point-of-sale terminal for adding message monitoring data to the message received by the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 26

The quality monitoring system of claim 24, wherein the message monitoring data added to the message by the means in the point-of-sale terminal for adding message monitoring data to the message received by the point-of-sale terminal includes an action code.

Claim 27

The quality monitoring system of claim 25, further comprising: terminal uploading means in the point-of-sale terminal for uploading the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time to the central computer, means in the central computer for logging message monitoring data in the message, means in the central computer for linking the message monitoring data logged by the central computer with the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time uploaded by the terminal uploading means, whereby errors in the message received by the point-of-sale terminal may be detected.

Claim 28

In a transaction authorization network including a point-of-sale terminal and a central computer, wherein the point-of-sale terminal transmits a message regarding a transaction to the central computer, and the central computer processes the message and transmits the message back after processing to the point-of-sale terminal, a system for monitoring the quality of service provided by the transaction authorization network, comprising: in the point-of-sale terminal means for measuring the terminal elapsed time, the terminal elapsed time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the point-of-sale terminal receives the message from the central computer, the origination time being the time at which the point-of-sale terminal begins to establish communication with the central computer, means for generating terminal message monitoring data for each message, the terminal message monitoring data including a transaction serial number and the origination time, means for logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data, the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data including the transaction serial number and the origination time, means for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data added to the message including the transaction serial number, means in the central computer for adding message monitoring data to the message, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, the message monitoring data including the computer elapsed time, the computer elapsed time being the time that elapses between the time at which the central computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal and the time at which the central computer transmits the processed message back to the point-of-sale terminal, computer identity data, and a computer action code, and in the point-of-sale terminal means for adding message monitoring data to the message received by the point-of-sale terminal, the message monitoring data including an action code, means for logging the message monitoring data in the message received by the point-of-sale terminal, means for logging the terminal elapsed time for the message, and terminal uploading means for uploading the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time, and the logged terminal message monitoring data.

Claim 29

In a transaction authorization network including a point-of-sale terminal and a central computer, wherein the point-of-sale terminal transmits a message regarding a transaction to the central computer, and the central computer processes the message and transmits the message back after processing to the point-of-sale terminal, a system for monitoring the quality of service provided by the transaction authorization network, comprising: in the point-of-sale terminal means for measuring the terminal elapsed time, the terminal elapsed time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the point-of-sale terminal receives the message from the central computer, the origination time being the time at which the point-of-sale terminal begins to establish communication with the central computer, means for generating terminal message monitoring data for each message, the terminal message monitoring data including a transaction serial number and the origination time, means for logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data, the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data including the transaction serial number and the origination time, means for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data added to the message including the transaction serial number, means in the central computer for adding message monitoring data to the message, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, the message monitoring data including the computer elapsed time, the computer elapsed time being the time that elapses between the time at which the central computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal and the time at which the central computer transmits the processed message back to the point-of-sale terminal, computer identity data, and a computer action code, and in the point-of-sale terminal means for adding message monitoring data to the message received by the point-of-sale terminal, the message monitoring data including an action code, means for logging the message monitoring data in the message received by the point-of-sale terminal, means for logging the terminal elapsed time for the message, and terminal uploading means for uploading the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time, and the logged terminal message monitoring data.

Claim 30

The quality monitoring system of claim 27, wherein the terminal uploading means uploads the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time, and the logged terminal message monitoring data to the central computer, and the system further comprises means in the central computer for logging message monitoring data in the message, means in the central computer for linking the message monitoring data logged by the central computer with the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time, and the logged terminal message monitoring data uploaded by the terminal uploading means, whereby errors in the message received by the point-of-sale terminal may be detected.

Claim 31

A point-of-sale terminal for use in a transaction authorization network including a central computer, the point-of-sale terminal comprising: means for entering a transaction, means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message regarding the transaction from the central computer, means for measuring the terminal elapsed time of the message, the terminal elapsed time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message regarding the transaction from the central computer receives the return message, and means for logging the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 32

A point-of-sale terminal for use in a transaction authorization network including a central computer, the point-of-sale terminal comprising: means for entering a transaction, means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message regarding the transaction from the central computer, means for measuring the terminal elapsed time of the message, the terminal elapsed time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message regarding the transaction from the central computer receives the return message, and means for logging the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 33

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 29, additionally comprising means for logging the origination time of the message, the origination time of the message being logged such that the origination time can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time of the message.

Claim 34

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 30, additionally comprising: means for generating a message identifier for the message, and means for logging the message identifier such that the message identifier can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time of the message.

Claim 35

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 31, wherein the message identifier is the transaction serial number.

Claim 36

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 29, further comprising: means for generating a message identifier for the message, and means for logging the message identifier such that the message identifier can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time of the message.

Claim 37

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 33, wherein the message identifier is the transaction serial number, and the means for generating the message identifier generates the same message identifier for messages regarding the same transaction.

Claim 38

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 29, additionally comprising means for generating a message identifier, and means for adding the message identifier to the message, the message identifier becoming part of the message.

Claim 39

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 29, further comprising means for logging the authorization status data included in the return message, the authorization status data being logged such that it can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time of the message.

Claim 40

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 36, additionally comprising means for uploading the logged authorization status data.

Claim 41

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 29 wherein the origination time is the time at which the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message regarding the transaction from the central computer begins to establish communication with the central computer, and the point-of-sale terminal further comprises: means for measuring the terminal transit time of the message, the terminal transit time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message regarding the transaction from the central computer transmits the message, means for logging the terminal transit time such that the terminal transit time can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time of the message.

Claim 42

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 29, additionally comprising uploading means for uploading the logged terminal elapsed time.

Claim 43

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 39, wherein the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message regarding the transaction from the central computer is additionally for receiving a control signal, and the uploading means is for uploading the logged terminal elapsed time in response to the control signal.

Claim 44

A point-of-sale terminal for use in a transaction authorization network including a central computer that receives and transmits messages, and adds message monitoring data to the messages that it transmits, the terminal comprising: means for entering a transaction, means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message, including message monitoring data, regarding the transaction back from the central computer, means for measuring the terminal elapsed time, the terminal elapsed time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message, including message monitoring data, regarding the transaction back from the central computer receives the return message, means for logging the message monitoring data in the return message, and means for logging the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 45

A point-of-sale terminal for use in a transaction authorization network including a central computer that receives and transmits messages, and adds message monitoring data to the messages that it transmits, the terminal comprising: means for entering a transaction, means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message, including message monitoring data, regarding the transaction back from the central computer, means for measuring the terminal elapsed time, the terminal elapsed time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message, including message monitoring data, regarding the transaction back from the central computer receives the return message, means for logging the message monitoring data in the return message, and means for logging the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 46

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 41, further comprising: means for generating terminal message monitoring data for each message, and means for logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data.

Claim 47

The point-of-sale terminal of claim of claim 42, wherein the terminal message monitoring data includes a transaction serial number and the origination time, and the means in the point-of-sale terminal for logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data logs the transaction serial number and the origination time.

Claim 48

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 43, further comprising means for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data added to the message including the transaction serial number.

Claim 49

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 41, wherein the means for logging the message monitoring data in the return message logs the message monitoring data in the return message such that the message monitoring data in the return message can readily be linked to the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data logged for the message.

Claim 50

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 42, further comprising means for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message.

Claim 51

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 46, further comprising means for uploading the logged message monitoring data, the logged terminal elapsed time, and the logged at least part of the terminal message monitoring data.

Claim 52

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 46, wherein the terminal message monitoring data includes a transaction serial number, and the means for adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data adds the transaction serial number to the message.

Claim 53

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 41, additionally comprising uploading means for uploading the logged message monitoring data.

Claim 54

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 49, wherein the means for transmitting a message regarding the transaction to the central computer and for receiving a return message, including message monitoring data, regarding the transaction back from the central computer is additionally for receiving a control signal, and the uploading means is for uploading the logged message monitoring data in response to the control signal.

Claim 55

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 49, wherein the uploading means is additionally for uploading the logged terminal elapsed time.

Claim 56

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 41, additionally comprising means for adding message monitoring data to the return message.

Claim 57

The point-of-sale terminal of claim 52, wherein the message monitoring data added to the return message includes an action code.

Claim 60

The quality monitoring method of claim 54, additionally comprising: generating, in the point-of-sale terminal, a message identifier for the message, and logging, in the point-of-sale terminal, the message identifier such that the message identifier can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 61

The quality monitoring method of claim 55, wherein step of generating the message identifier includes generating a transaction serial number.

Claim 62

The quality monitoring method of claim 56, wherein the step of generating the transaction serial number includes generating the same transaction serial number for different messages regarding the same transaction.

Claim 63

The quality monitoring method of claims 56 or 57, further comprising adding, in the point-of-sale terminal, the transaction serial number to the message.

Claim 64

The quality monitoring method of claim 54, additionally comprising generating, in the point-of-sale terminal, a message identifier for the message, and adding, in the point-of-sale terminal, the message identifier to the message, the message identifier becoming part of the message.

Claim 65

The quality monitoring method of claim 59, additionally comprising logging, in the point-of-sale terminal, the generated message identifier such that the message identifier can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 66

The quality monitoring method of claim 60, additionally comprising: uploading the logged terminal elapsed time and the logged message identifier from the point-of-sale terminal to the central computer, logging, in the central computer, the message identifier in the message, linking the message identifier logged by the central computer with the logged terminal elapsed time and the logged message identifier uploaded from the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 67

The quality monitoring method of claim 54, further comprising logging the authorization status data included in the message received from the central computer, the authorization status data being logged such that the authorization status data can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 68

The quality monitoring method of claim 62, additionally comprising: uploading the logged authorization status data from the point-of-sale terminal to the central computer, logging, in the central computer, the message identifier in the message, linking the message identifier logged by the central computer with the logged action status data from the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 69

The quality monitoring method of claim 54, wherein the origination time is the time at which the point-of-sale terminal begins to establish communication with the central computer, and the method further comprises measuring, in the point-of-sale terminal, the terminal transit time of the message, the terminal transit time being the time that elapses between the origination time of the message and the time at which the point-of-sale terminal transmits the message, logging, in the point-of-sale terminal, the terminal transit time such that the terminal transit time can readily be linked to the terminal elapsed time.

Claim 70

The quality monitoring method of claim 54, additionally comprising uploading the logged terminal elapsed time from the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 71

The quality monitoring method of claim 65, wherein the step of uploading the logged terminal elapsed time is carried out in response to a control signal received by the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 74

The quality monitoring method of claim 67, wherein the step of adding, in the central computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding the computer elapsed time to the message, the computer elapsed time being the time that elapses between the time at which the central computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal and the time at which the central computer transmits the processed message back to the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 75

The quality monitoring method of claim 68, wherein the step of adding, in the central computer, message monitoring data to the message additionally includes adding computer identity data to the message.

Claim 76

The quality monitoring method of claim 68, wherein the step of adding, in the central computer, message monitoring data to the message additionally includes adding a computer action code to the message.

Claim 77

The quality monitoring method of claim 67, further comprising: generating, in the point-of-sale terminal, terminal message monitoring data for each message, and logging, in the point-of-sale terminal, at least part of the terminal message monitoring data.

Claim 78

The quality monitoring method of claim 71, wherein the step of generating terminal message monitoring data includes generating a transaction serial number and the origination time of the message, and the step of logging at least part of the terminal message monitoring data includes logging the transaction serial number and the origination time of the message.

Claim 79

The quality monitoring method of claim 72, further comprising adding, in the point-of-sale terminal, at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message, the step of adding at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message including adding the transaction serial number to the message.

Claim 80

The quality monitoring method of claim 71, wherein the step of logging, in the point-of-sale terminal, the message monitoring data in the message includes logging the message monitoring data in the message such that the message monitoring data in the message can readily be linked to the at least part of the terminal message monitoring data logged for the message.

Claim 81

The quality monitoring method of claim 71, further comprising adding, in the point-of-sale terminal, at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message.

Claim 82

The quality monitoring method of claim 75, wherein the step of generating, in the point-of-sale terminal, terminal message monitoring data includes generating a transaction serial number, and the step of adding, in the point-of-sale terminal, at least part of the terminal message monitoring data to the message as message monitoring data includes adding the transaction serial number to the message.

Claim 83

The quality monitoring method of claim 67, wherein the transaction authorization network further includes an additional computer disposed between the point-of-sale terminal and the central computer, the point-of-sale terminal transmits a message regarding a transaction to the additional computer, the additional computer transmits the message to the central computer, the central computer processes the message and transmits the processed message back to the additional computer, and the additional computer transmits the message back to the point-of-sale terminal, and the method additionally comprises adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message, the message monitoring data becoming part of the message.

Claim 84

The quality monitoring method of claim 77, wherein the step of adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding message monitoring data to the message that the additional computer receives from the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 85

The quality monitoring method of claim 78, wherein the step of adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding the computer transit time to the message, the computer transit time being the time that elapses between the time at which the additional computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal, and the time at which the additional computer transmits the message to the central computer.

Claim 86

The quality monitoring method of claim 77, wherein the step of adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding message monitoring data to the message that the additional computer receives from the central computer.

Claim 87

The quality monitoring method of claim 80, wherein the step of adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding the computer elapsed time to the message, the computer elapsed time being the time that elapses between the time at which the additional computer receives the message from the point-of-sale terminal, and the time at which the additional computer transmits the message back to the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 88

The quality monitoring method of claim 80, wherein the step of adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding the computer transit time to the message, the computer transit time being the time that elapses between the time at which the additional computer receives the message from the central computer, and the time at which the additional computer transmits the message to the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 89

The quality monitoring method of claim 77, wherein the step of adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding computer identity data to the message.

Claim 90

The quality monitoring method of claim 77, wherein the step of adding, in the additional computer, message monitoring data to the message includes adding an action code to the message.

Claim 91

The quality monitoring method of claims 67 or 77, further comprising uploading, from the point-of-sale terminal, the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time.

Claim 92

The quality monitoring method of claim 85, wherein the step of uploading, from the point-of-sale terminal, the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time includes uploading the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time to the central computer, and the method further comprises logging, in the central computer, message monitoring data in the message, and linking the message monitoring data logged in the central computer with the message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time uploaded from the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 93

The quality monitoring method of claims 67 or 77, additionally comprising adding, in the point-of-sale terminal, message monitoring data to the message received by the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 94

The quality monitoring method of claim 87, wherein the step of adding, in the point-of-sale terminal, message monitoring data to the message received by the point-of-sale terminal includes adding an action code to the message received by the point-of-sale terminal.

Claim 95

The quality monitoring method of claim 88, further comprising: uploading, from the point-of-sale terminal, the logged message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time to the central computer, logging, in the central computer, message monitoring data in the message, and linking the message monitoring data logged in the central computer with the message monitoring data and the logged terminal elapsed time uploaded from the point-of-sale terminal.