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US5536923A
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Payment memory medium and method of use thereof
Assignee: Gemplus SA
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Filing: 1994-09-01
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2014-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of electronic payment comprising: providing a memory with an EPROM counter and a pointer; inserting the memory into a machine; decrementing the counter in steps which correspond to a unit of payment, in an irreversible manner, until the counter is equal to the pointer; stopping the decrementing; and incrementing the pointer, without removing the memory from the machine, when a gain is achieved in response to a random external event.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Jacques Foglino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/0866; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/3433; G07F7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for electronic payment comprising: a memory including i) an erasable counter that represents a number of units consumed by writing a series of cells one after another while counting one bit each time and ii) a pointer that represents a face value in binary code; wherein said erasable counter is decremented in steps which correspond to a unit of payment until said counter is equal to said pointer, and said pointer is incremented, without removing said memory from said machine, when a gain is achieved in response to a random external event.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
An apparatus for electronic payment comprising: a memory including i) an erasable counter that represents a number of units consumed by writing a series of cells one after another while counting one bit each time and ii) a pointer that represents a face value in binary code; wherein said erasable counter is decremented in steps which correspond to a unit of payment until said counter is equal to said pointer, and said pointer is incremented, without removing said memory from said machine, when a gain is achieved in response to a random external event.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of electronic payment comprising: providing a memory with i) an erasable counter that represents a number of units consumed by writing a series of cells one after another while counting one bit each time and ii) a pointer that represents a face value in binary code; inserting said memory into a machine; decrementing said erasable counter in steps which correspond to a unit of payment until said erasable counter is equal to said pointer; stopping said decrementing; and incrementing said pointer, without removing said memory from said machine, when a gain is achieved in response to a random external event.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of electronic payment comprising: providing a memory with i) an erasable counter that represents a number of units consumed by writing a series of cells one after another while counting one bit each time and ii) a pointer that represents a face value in binary code; inserting said memory into a machine; decrementing said erasable counter in steps which correspond to a unit of payment until said erasable counter is equal to said pointer; stopping said decrementing; and incrementing said pointer, without removing said memory from said machine, when a gain is achieved in response to a random external event.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of electronic payment comprising: providing a memory with i) an EPROM counter that represents a number of units consumed and ii) a pointer that represents a face value; inserting said memory into a machine; decrementing said counter in steps which correspond to a unit of payment, in an irreversible manner, until said counter is equal to said pointer; stopping said decrementing; and incrementing said pointer, without removing said memory from said machine, when a gain is achieved in response to a random external event.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of electronic payment comprising: providing a memory with i) an EPROM counter that represents a number of units consumed and ii) a pointer that represents a face value; inserting said memory into a machine; decrementing said counter in steps which correspond to a unit of payment, in an irreversible manner, until said counter is equal to said pointer; stopping said decrementing; and incrementing said pointer, without removing said memory from said machine, when a gain is achieved in response to a random external event.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of electronic payment according to claim 3, wherein providing the memory includes providing the memory with a consumable units area corresponding to the pointer before said pointer is incremented; and a potentially consumable units area, wherein a boundary between the said consumable units area and said potentially consumable units area is defined by the pointer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of electronic payment according to claim 3, wherein providing said memory includes providing a single memory device having a one part which makes up said counter and another part which makes it possible to store the value of said pointer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of electronic payment according to claim 3, wherein providing said memory includes providing a memory that is contained within a smart card.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of electronic payment according to claim 3, wherein inserting said memory into said machine includes inserting said memory into a gambling machine.
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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) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |