초록 ▼

A system and method for controlling off-line credit vend transactions are provided, including a vending system having a vend selection and delivery portion operable off-line, an associated credit card reader, and a transaction controller operatively connected to the card reader to receive informatio

A system and method for controlling off-line credit vend transactions are provided, including a vending system having a vend selection and delivery portion operable off-line, an associated credit card reader, and a transaction controller operatively connected to the card reader to receive information read from an inserted credit card and operatively connected to the vend selection and delivery portion to enable operation thereof. The system is operable, while off-line, to determine acceptability of an inserted card and the current availability at such system of off-line credit for an acceptable credit card, to enable operation of the vend selection and delivery portion if credit is authorized, and to be responsive to vend completion by the vend selection and delivery portion to store transaction information for the credit vend. The credit vend transaction information can later be downloaded and utilized for credit billing purposes. Information for use in determining credit transaction limitation counts and account numbers for preferred cards, and for determining higher credit transaction limitation counts for preferred cards, can be uploaded and stored in the system for use in determining card acceptability and the availability of off-line credit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for controlling an off-line credit vend transaction in a credit vending system having a vend selection and delivery portion, an associated credit card reader for receiving credit cards inserted therein and reading card information data therefrom, including information identifying the exp

1. A method for controlling an off-line credit vend transaction in a credit vending system having a vend selection and delivery portion, an associated credit card reader for receiving credit cards inserted therein and reading card information data therefrom, including information identifying the expiration date and account number of the inserted card, and a transaction controller operatively connected to the credit card reader to receive card information data therefrom and operatively connected to the vend selection and delivery portion of the credit vending system for enabling the operation thereof, the transaction controller including memory storage, including memory for storing credit transaction information, said method comprising the steps of:a. reading information from a credit card inserted into the card reader and verifying that the card is an acceptable card for use in the credit vending system and has not expired; b. verifying, while off-line, the current availability at such credit vending system of off-line credit for the account number of the inserted card; c. enabling selection of a vend by a customer at the vend selection and delivery portion of the credit vending system; and d. storing credit transaction information for such credit vending operation in memory storage of the transaction controller, upon completion of the vend selected by the customer, for subsequent retrieval and credit billing.