초록 ▼

In a commercial transaction system, a system user uses a card device to interact with sales or transaction terminals to conduct cashless transactions. Each terminal processes data including a balance stored on the card device and updates the stored data at the end of the transaction. The system is s

In a commercial transaction system, a system user uses a card device to interact with sales or transaction terminals to conduct cashless transactions. Each terminal processes data including a balance stored on the card device and updates the stored data at the end of the transaction. The system is specially designed for purchases of items or transactions of relatively small monetary value, where purchases are generally unattended by salespersons. In this manner, the amount of the transaction is deducted from the balance on the card device. When the existing balance associated with the card does not cover the price of the transaction, the system provides an automatic renewal feature which automatically increases the balance of the card device by a predetermined amount. Such a feature allows the purchase to be made without inconveniencing the card user to increase the balance. Each time the balance is increased by an automatic renewal, the card issuing bank bills the card user for increments of the predetermined amount.

대표청구항 ▼

Terminal apparatus for conducting a cashless transaction requiring a transaction amount to complete said transaction, comprising: means for receiving a card apparatus containing data representing at least an available fund; means for reading said data from said card apparatus; means responsive to at

Terminal apparatus for conducting a cashless transaction requiring a transaction amount to complete said transaction, comprising: means for receiving a card apparatus containing data representing at least an available fund; means for reading said data from said card apparatus; means responsive to at least said data representing said available fund for automatically increasing said available fund by a predetermined amount without insertion into said terminal of coins or cash, and without communication with an external central database for approval; and means for decreasing said available fund by said transaction amount to complete said cashless transaction.