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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. A transaction execution terminal comprising:
a card handling subsystem which receives cards and reads information stored
on received cards under control of a control subsystem;
a selectively variable display operating under control of a control
subsystem and displaying information commanded by a control subsystem;
a user keyboard having keys arranged in a plurality of keyboard fields with
each keyboard field being related to a predetermined category of user
transaction request information and including a plurality of keys each
defining different mutually exclusive information states for the cetegory
of user transaction request information to which the field relates, one
key within at least one field being a variable information state key, the
activation of which indicates that the information state indicated thereby
is to be determined by a combination of at least one subsequent keyboard
key activation in conjunction with a predeteremined schecule correlating
key activation combinations with information states; and
a control subsystem which controls the operation of the card handling
subsystem and receives account card information therefrom, which commands
the display of information on the variable display to aid a terminal user
in the use of the terminal, and which receives keyboard key activtion
information in a predetermined sequence requiring one information state
indication from each of a plurality of successive keyboard fields.
2. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 1 above,
wherein one of the keyboard fields is a transaction selection field
containing a variable information state key and a plurality of other keys,
each other key permitting a different type of transaction request to be
indicated by the activation thereof.
3. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 1 above,
wherein one of the keyboard fields is a from account field containing a
variable information state key and a plurality of other keys, each other
key in the from account field permitting a different account from which
funds are to be removed to be wholly identified by the activation thereof.
4. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 1 above,
wherein one of the keyboard fields is a to account field containing a
variable information state key and a plurality of other keys, each other
key in the to account field permitting a different account to which funds
are to be added to be completely identified by the activation thereof.
5. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 1 above,
wherein one of the keyboard fields is a numeric keyboard field including a
plurality of numeric keys, each permitting an indication of a different
number by the activation thereof and wherein an information state
indicated by the activation of a variable information state key is
determinable by the subsequent activation of a combination of at least one
key within the numeric field.
6. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 1 above,
further comprising cash issue subsystem which operates in response to the
control subsystem to issue a requested amount of cash to a terminal user
and wherein the control subsystem is further controls the cash issue
subsystem to cause the issuance of a requested amount of cash in response
to the satisfaction of a set of predetermined conditions.
7. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 6 above,
wherein the keyboard includes a transaction selection field permitting a
requested type of transaction to be indicated by the activation of a key
therein, a from account field permitting an account from which funds are
to be taken to be indicated by the activation of a key therein, a to
account field permitting an account to which funds are to be added to be
indicated by the activation of a key therein, and a numeric field
permitting a number to be indicated by the selective activation of one or
more keys therein, and wherein the transaction selection field, from
account field and to account field each include a variable information
state key.
8. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 7 above,
wherein the transaction selection keyboard field includes a withdraw key,
the activation of which indicates a cash issue transaction request; an
account inquiry key, the activation of which indicates a request to have
information pertaining to a selected account displayed by the variable
display; and a transfer key, the activation of which indicates a request
to have a selected quantity transferred from one account to a different
account; wherein the to account field includes a from checking account
key, the activation of which indicates that funds are to be transferred
from a user checking account; a from savings account key, the activation
of which indicates that funds are to be transferred from a user savings
account; and a from credit card account key indicating that funds are to
be transferred from a user credit card acount; and wherein the to account
keyboard field includes a to checking account key, the activation of which
indicates that funds are to be transferred to a user checking account; a
to savings account key, the activation of which indicates that funds are
to be transferred to a user savings account; and a to credit card account
key, the activation of which indicates that funds are to be transferred to
a user credit card account.
9. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 6 above,
further comprising a transaction statement subsystem which operates in
response to the control subsystem to issue documents providing written
records of executed transactions and wherein the control subsystem further
controls the issuance by the transaction statement subsystem of documents
providing written records of executed transactions.
10. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 7 above,
further comprising a communication subsystem which operates in response to
the control subsystem to provide bidirectional communication between the
transaction terminal and a central data processing system having a data
base storing account information for potential terminal users, and wherein
the control subsystem controls the transmission of transaction request
information to the central data processing system nd controls the
execution of requested transactions in accordance with commands received
from the central data processing system.
11. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 2 above,
wherein the transactions which may be selected subsequent to the
activation of the variable information state key of the transaction
selection keyboard field include the sending of blank checks to the user,
the opening of a Christmas savings account, the closing of a selected
account and the purchase of travel insurance.
12. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 5 above,
wherein at least one of the keyboard fields is a function selection field
permitting the identification of a particular type of transaction which
the user wishes to have executed, wherein the function selection field
includes a variable information state key, wherein the combinations of
numeric key activations which subsequently determine the information state
indicated by activation of the function selection field variable
information state key are arranged by predetermination in to a plurality
of categories of sequential function indication numbers, and wherein all
functions which are indicated by the same category of sequential function
indication numbers require the entry of information from the same keyboard
fields for the complete identification of a requested transaction.
13. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 12 above,
wherein the control subsystems stores a plurality of variable inforamtion
state delineation numbers, each defining the boundary between two
categories of sequential function indication numbers.
14. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 12 above,
wherein at least one category of sequential function indication numbers
requires the entry of no additional keyboard information to fully identify
a requested transaction.
15. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 12 above,
wherein at least one category of sequential function indication numbers
requires the further entry of an amount through the numeric keyboard field
but no further identification of any account by key activation.
16. The transaction execution terminal as set forth in claim 12, wherein at
least one category of sequential function indication numbers requires the
further entry of information by keyboard key activation of information
indicating an account from which funds are to be withdrawn.
17. A transaction execution terminal comprising:
a card handling subsystem which operates in response to control system
commands to receive a card having information recorded thereon and read
said recorded information;
a document handling system which operates in response to control system
commands to selectively issue documents to a terminal user;
a keyboard having a plurality of keyboard fields including a function
selection keyboard field having a plurality of nonencoded keys, each of
which indicates a selected function by the activation thereof, and at
least one optional selection key, the activation of which permits a
selected function to be indicated by the subsequent activation of a
seleccted combination of keyboard keys in accordance with a predetermined
code; and
a control system connected to receive card information from the card
handling subsystem and keyboard information from the keyboard and generate
control system commands which are coupled to control the operation of the
card handling subsystem and document handling system in response thereto.
18. A terminal for performing a plurality of different banking functions
under control of a bank customer, comprising:
card reading means for reading customer account identification information
from an encoded card;
first customer operable keyboard means for selectively designating one of a
plurality of transaction types, at least one of said types being definable
by an application program resident in an remote host computer in response
to the activation of a first keyboard means key and a combination of
second keyboard means keys;
second customer operable keyboard means for selectively modifying at least
one key of the first keyboard means to define a selected transaction in
accordance with a predetermined code; and
means responsive to data key activation on said first and second keyboard
means and information read by said card reading means for transmitting a
message to a remote host which message indicates the information read by
the card reading means and the keys which a user activates on the first
and seond keyboard means.
19. A transaction execution system comprising:
a host data processing system storing information for a plurality of
customer accounts; and
a transaction execution terminal in communication with the host data
processing system, the terminal including:
a card handler which receives an account card and reads customer
identification information encoded thereon;
an optical display which displays selected messages to aid a user in the
operation of the terminal;
a keyboard connected to input information to the terminal in response to
the activation of keys by a user, the keyboard being divided into a
plurality of mutually exclusive fields with each field being utilized for
the entry of a different category of information relating to a user
transaction request, and at least one of the fields including a plurality
of keys wherein one key with the field is activated to the exclusion of
other keys in the field to specify information corresponding to a
requested transaction, at least one key within the field being an optical
selection key, the activation of which indicates that the category of
information to which the field pertains is to be specified by the
subsequent activation of a predetermined combination of one or more keys
on the keyboard; and
control circuitry coupled to the host data processing system, card handler,
optical display and keyboard, the control circuitry controlling the
operation of the card holder, display and keyboard, communicating user
transaction related information between the host data processing system
and the terminal, and controlling terminal operation to cause the terminal
to execute user requested transactions on command from the host data
processing system.
20. A transaction execution system which receives transaction request
information and user identification information and executes requested
transactions, the system having a card reader which reads information from
a user card and being characterized by a keyboard through which user
information is input to the system and which has at least two different
keyboard fields with at least one of the fields including a plurality of
keys of which one key within the field is activated to the exclusion of
the other keys in the field to specify information corresponding to a
requested transaction, at least one key within the field being an optional
selection key, the activation of which indicates that the category of
information to which the field pertains is to be specified by the
subsequent activation of a predetermined combination of one or more keys
on the keyboard. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to the following patent applications which are
concurrently filed herewith and assigned to a common assignee:
1. "Transaction Execution System With Secure Data Storage and
Communication," Ser. No. 483,084, Filed June 25, 1974, by Thomas G.
Anderson, et al.
2. "Modular Transaction Terminal with Microprocessor Control," Ser. No.
482,860, Filed June 25, 1974, by William A. Boothroyd.
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates to a transaction execution terminal and more
particularly a cash issue terminal having a keyboard with a plurality of
mutually exclusive fields, at least one of the fields including an
optional selection key permitting an information state for the field to be
indicated by activation of the optical selection key followed by
activation of a predetermined combination of keys in a numeric field.
2. History of the Prior Art.
Transaction execution terminals are currently available which permit the
execution of a limited number of predetermined transactions. For example
one terminal receives payroll checks in a predetermined format, reads the
dollar amount of the check and issues cash in the amount of the check.
Other transaction terminals have been utilized to extend banking services
to a user without need for the immediate presence of a bank teller. Such
terminals typically require the insertion of a user credit card followed
by the keyboard entry of a personal ID number which corresponds to the
credit card and permits a verification of the authenticity thereof. The
keyboard is typically divided into a plurality of mutually exclusive
fields to permit the user to identify the nature of a requested
transaction. For example, a transaction selection field may include a
withdraw key, a deposit key, and an account inquiry key. Other keyboard
fields may be provided to indicate dollar amounts and bill denominations
or entry of a personal ID number. Such terminals are extremely limited in
the range of transactions which may be executed and include a separate key
for the identification of each information state.
Summary of the Invention
A transaction execution terminal in accordance with the invention includes
a mechanical control subsystem, a user communication subsystem, a
transaction statement dispenser subsystem, an operator function subsystem,
a terminal communication subsystem which may connect the terminal with a
large scale data processing system having many accounts in its data base,
a processor support subsystem performing hardware oriented terminal
control functions, and a control subsystem which operates under program
control to supervise and coordinate the operations of the other
subsystems. The user communication subsystem includes an optical display
and a keyboard through which transaction request information may be
entered by a user. The keyboard contains a plurality of mutually exclusive
fields including a transaction selection field, a from account field, a to
account field, and a numeric field. The transaction selection, from
account and to account fields each contain an optional selection key, the
activation of which permits a user to define the information which is to
be entered for that field by subsequently activating a selected
combination of keyboard keys in accordance with a predetermined schedule.
The modifier technique permits separate keys to define the more commonly
used information categories of each field without encoding while encoded
modifiers used in conjunction with the optional selection keys provide for
expansion to an unlimited number of additional categories without
significantly increasing the size or complexity of the keyboard.
In a preferred example, the transaction execution terminal is implemented
as a cash issuing banking terminal. Connection of the terminal to an
on-line host data processing system with real time access to the bank's
customer accounts permits optimal screening of transaction requests prior
to execution and immediate adjustment of relevant accounts after execution
of a requested transaction. An optional off-line host records transaction
information for later account updating. In a typical application a user
inserts a credit card containing information magnetically stored thereon
into the machine and then enters a personal ID number through the numeric
field of the keyboard. After reading the magnetic information from the
credit card and verifying the authenticity thereof by making a preliminary
determination of a correspondence between the credit card information and
the personal ID number, the terminal permits the selection of a
transactions. Specific keys are provided for the more common transactions
such as the issuance of cash, account inquiry, funds transfer, deposit,
payment by deposit, or payment by funds transfer. Other transactions may
be selected by activation of the optional selection key. Following
activation of the optional selection key, the user activates a selected
combination of keys in the numeric keyboard field to identify a particular
transaction in accordance with a prearranged schedule or code. For
example, a bank may have a published schedule of additional functions and
code numbers which may be selected by any user. These functions may
include the opening of a Christmas card account, a request for additional
blank checks, a purchase of travel insurance or any other prearranged
transaction that a bank may wish to accommodate. In addition, a user may
arrange to transact other business through the terminal which may be
applicable only to him. For example, one optional code may be
predetermined to represent a request to renew an automobile insurance
policy while the same code when entered by a different user might
represent a request to borrow money against a prearranged line of credit.
Following selection of the transaction, a key within the from account field
is activated if this field is applicable. Specific keys are provided to
permit funds to be selectively transferred from a checking account, a
savings account or a credit card account. Activation of the optional
selection key permits additional accounts to be selected for debiting by
using numeric modifier keys in accordance with a prearranged encoded
schedule. The to account field may be implemented in a manner identical to
the from account field. This permits the identification of an account to
which funds are to be transferred if applicable. For instance, a person
may wish to transfer funds from his savings account to his checking
account or from a credit card account to pay his electric bill by
transferring funds from his credit card account to a special utility
account. The selective encoding of transaction functions thus permits the
functional utility of the keyboard to be greatly expanded without an
attendent increase in hardware complexity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the invention may be had from a consideration of
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a transaction execution terminal in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an operational flow chart illustrating the steps and branches
involved in the operation of the transaction execution terminal shown in
FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of the operational subsystems of
the transaction execution terminal shown in FIG. 1.
Detailed Description
As shown in FIG. 1 a transaction execution terminal 10 in accordance with
the invention includes an outer security shell or enclosure 12 and a user
access panel 14. The user access panel 14 includes a privacy panel 16
which surrounds the user access panel and extends forward therefrom to
shield user activity from the observation of nearby persons. A logo panel
18 occupies approximately the upper half of the area of the user access
panel 14. The logo panel 18 permits identification of the proprietor of
the terminal 10 and accommodates a protective translucent door which is
raised behind the panel 18 when the terminal 10 is in use. When the
terminal 10 is not in use the door is lowered or closed to protect the
keyboard and optical display area of the user access panel 14 from the
weather and damage by unauthorized persons. The terminal 10 is shown in
FIG. 1 with door protective dooe raised behind the logo panel 18 and
therefore obscured from view. A credit card receiving slot 20 is
positioned in the lower right-hand portion of the user access panel 14 and
is not covered when the protective door is closed if the terminal 10 is
displaying an open condition. A person wishing to use the terminal 10
inserts a credit card 21 through the slot 20. If the terminal 10 is able
to read information which is magnetically recorded on the card without
parity error and if the information corresponds to acceptable card
information, the protective door is opened to make a keyboard 22 and an
optical display 24 available to the user. If the data recorded on the
credit card is found unacceptable, the card is returned to the slot 20 and
the protective door remains closed while an illuminated message which
informs the user of the unacceptability of the card is visible through the
translucent door.
The keyboard 22 includes five separate keyboard fields. These fields
include a transaction selection field 26, a from account field 28, a to
account field 30, a numberic field 32 and an execution control field 34.
As soon as the protective door is open a message is illuminated on optical
display 24 which instructs the user to enter his personal ID number
through the numeric keyboard field 32. The security of the personal ID
number is maintained by not displaying the number as it is entered through
keyboard 22. The personal ID number has a predetermined correspondence
with the credit card and permits a verification of the authenticity of the
card. A person who merely finds, steals or forges a credit card is thus
unable to ude the terminal 10 without first establishing the corresponding
personal ID number. A terminal user is permitted a predetermined number of
tries such as three to enter the correct personal ID number within a
predetermined time period. If the number is not entered within these
predetermined limits the protective door is closed and the credit card is
either returned or retained at the option of the terminal proprietor.
After the personal ID number is properly entered the user is instructed by
the optical display 24 to select a desired transaction by activating one
of the keys within the transaction selection field 26. The keys of the
keyboard 22 are arranged in a matrix of eight columns and four rows with
the transaction selection field 26 occupying columns 1 and 2. While the
individual keyboard keys may have any desired predetermined meaning, the
following designations are assumed for this example. The key at row 1
column 1 in the upper left-hand corner of keyboard 22 is a withdraw key or
a cash issue key. Activation of this key would indicate that the user
wishes to have cash issued to him by the terminal 10 in return for the
debiting of one of his accounts. An optional selection key is located at
row 2 column 1. Activation of this key permits an expansion of the
available transaction functions in accordance with a prearranged schedule
that is developed by a terminal proprietor and a user. Activation of the
optional selection key followed by the activation of a predetermined
combination of keyboard keys permits any prearranged transaction to be
selected. For example, a proprietor may have 20 common transaction
services having preassigned numberic modifier codes which are available to
all users. Any credit card user is thus permitted to activate the optional
selection key and then enter one of the modifier codes through the numeric
field 32 in order to select one of the prearranged transactions. In
addition, the proprietor may make special arrangements for the execution
of additional functions with each user on an individual basis. A person
wishing to execute one of these individually arranged transactions would
activate the optional selection key and then enter the desired modifier
code by activation of a selected combination of keys in the numeric field
32 of keyboard 22. The use of other non-numeric keys for modifier codes
would, of course, be possible but would increase the likelihood of user
confusion and error. In addition, a given user may arrange with the
proprietor to assign the optional selection key a particular meaning by
itself without need to activate additional keys. The meaning of the
optional selection key is thus individually determinable for each separate
user.
An account inquiry key is located at row 3 column 1 and causes account
information for a particularly identified account to be illuminated on the
optical display 24. The displayed account information might include
account balance, credit limit, most recent transactions or other
information related to the account. Activation of a transfer key located
at row 4 column 1 permits the transfer of funds from one user account to
another. For example, funds might be transferred from a savings account to
a credit card account. A deposit key located at row 1 column 2 enables the
subsequent identification of an account to which funds inserted into the
terminal 10 through a deposit flap 38 are to be credited. Upon completion
of a deposit transaction, deposited materials are transported by the
terminal 10 to a storage container which is not accessible to a terminal
user. At row 2 column 2 there is located a payment by deposit key which
permits a user to pay a bill by transferring funds from a selected user
account to a prearranged account belonging to a user creditor. For
instance, the user may wish to transfer funds from a savings or checking
account to a water district account in order to pay his monthly water
bill. In this embodiment the key at row 4 column 2 is not implemented but
is reserved for future use.
For this example assume that the user activates the optional selection key
at row 2 column 1 and then enters the number 18 through the numeric field
32 to indicate that he wishes to open a special Christmas card account.
For the convenience of the user the keys of the account selection, from
account and to account fields contain back lights. All of the keys within
a field from which the next selection is to be made are lighted to
indicate the proper field. As soon as a key is activated the back lights
for the non-selected keys are extinguished with the activated key
remaining illuminated and the keys within the next field becoming
illuminated. Thus, upon selection of the optional selection key only the
back light for the key located at row 2 column 1 would remain illuminated
within the transaction selection field 26 and all of the keys within the
from account field 28 would become illuminated to indicate the next field
of selection.
Assuming that the user wishes to open the Christmas card account by
transferring funds from an ordinary checking account, the user would
activate a from checking key at row 1 column 3. This activation would
extinguish all of the back lights within the column 3 from account field
28 except for the selected from checking key. Since the to account field
30 is not applicable to the opening of a Christmas savings account, the
back light for this field would not be illuminated and the user would next
be directed by the optical user guidance display 24 to enter a dollar
amount through the numeric keyboard field 32 to indicate the amount of the
initial deposit. Other keys which the user might have selected within the
from account field 28 include a from savings key at row 2 column 3, a from
credit card key at row 3 column 3 and from optional selection key at row 4
column 3.
The from optional selection key of the from account field 28 is analogous
to the optional selection key of the function selection field 26. If a
user wishes to open accounts such as multiple business accounts in
addition to the usual checking, savings and credit card accounts he
arranges a schedule with the terminal proprietor wherein a number is
assigned to correspond to each of the separate accounts. Funds can then be
transferred from any selected account by activating the from optional
selection key and then entering a prearranged modifier code through the
numeric field 32 of the keyboard to indicate a number corresponding to the
additional account from which funds are to be debited. For example, if a
user desires to transfer funds from an account having a prearranged number
20 to another additional account having a prearranged number 6, he would
begin the transaction request by activating the transfer key at row 4
column 1 within the function selection field and would then activate the
from optional selection key at row 4 column 3. Upon activation of the from
optional selection key the back lights of the remaining keys within the
form account field 28 would be extinguished and only the transfer key at
row 4 column 1 and the from optional selection key at row 4 column 3 would
remain back lighted. The optical display would then instruct the user to
enter the code number corresponding to the desired additional account
through the numeric keyboard field 32. Upon entry of the number 20 the
back lights of the to account field at column 4 would become illuminated
and the optical display 24 would instruct the user to select an account to
which the funds are to be transferred. The keys of the to account field 30
in column four correspond to the keys of the from account field 28 in
column 3. In other words, a to checking key is at row one, a to savings
key is at row two, a to credit card key is at row three, and a to optional
selection key is at now four.
In the present example the user would activate a to optional selection
account key at row 4 column 4 and the back lights on the remaining keys
within the two account field 30 would be extinguished. This would leave
the transfer key row 4 column 1, the from optional selection key at row 4
column 3 and the to optional selection key at row 4 column 4 illuminated.
The optical display 24 would next instruct the user to enter a number
identifying the additional account to which funds are to be transferred
through the numeric keyboard field 32. In the present example the user
would activate a key corresponding to number 6. Although not required, it
would normally be expected that the numeric modifier codes for
identification of optional selection accounts would be the same for both
the to account field and the from account field.
Upon selection of the account to which funds are to be transferred, the
optical display 24 would direct the user to enter the dollar amount of the
requested transfer through the numeric keyboard field 32. While the
specific arrangement of the numeric keyboard field is not material to the
present invention, it will be assumed that this field occupies columns 5,
6 and 7 with keys corresponding to numerals 1, 2 and 3 in row 1, keys
corresponding to numerals 4, 5 and 6 in row 2, keys corresponding to
numerals 7, 8 and 9 in row 3, and keys corresponding to correction,
numeral 0 and decimal point in row 4. The user thus indicates a dollar
amount, for example, by activating keys 2, 1, 4, decimal, 3 and 3 to
indicate the amount $214.33.
If operating on-line with a host data processing system the terminal 10
would communicate the credit card and user request information to the host
data processing system in a transaction request message upon completion of
the entry of the dollar amount. After verifying the personal ID number,
the existence of the accounts, and the sufficiency of funds, the host data
processing system would authorize completion of the requested transaction.
This authorization might also include a command to require verification of
the transaction prior to execution. The user would then be requested to
order the execution or cancellation of the transaction and the essence of
the transaction would be illuminated on the optical display 24. The user
would then have the option of cancelling the transaction by activating a
cancel key with the execution control field 34 at row 1 column 8 or of
commanding execution of the transaction by activating a proceed key at row
4 column 8 within the execution control field 34. The keys at row 2 column
8 and row 3 column 8 are not implemented in this example but are available
for additional execution control functions if desired.
A terminal 10 in accordance with this invention thus provides tremendous
flexibility in the identification of a desired transaction by providing
optional selection keys which permit encoded identification of an
unlimited number of special functions or accounts as well as individual
specific keys which permit the unencoded selection of the most common
functions and accounts by the activation of a single key. This arrangement
thus combines the simplicity of single key activation for the commonly
utilized functions and accounts with the capability of expanding the
available functions and accounts through multiple key activation.
An operational flowchart of the transaction execution terminal 10 is shown
in FIG. 2. A transaction begins with the insertion of a credit card 21 in
the credit card slot 20 at step 50. Upon detection of the insertion of a
credit card part way into the slot 20, the terminal 10 is initialized for
the start of a new transaction at step 52. This initialization 52 includes
the resetting of any system status registers which may have been set
during the course of the execution of a previous transaction and the
performance of any other functions which might be necessary to prepare the
terminal 10 to receive a new transaction request.
Following initialization a card entry step 54 is executed in which the
partially inserted card is transported completely into the terminal 10 and
past a read head to a rest location. As the credit card passed beneath the
read head, information stored on a magnetic stripe is read therefrom. The
information which is read from the card is then checked for parity, for a
longitudinal redundancy check character (LRC), and for proper message
formats such as a start of card character (SOC) or end of card character
(EOC). If one of these read error conditions is detected the credit card
may be reread and is returned back through the slot 20 after a selected
number of retries. A message is illuminated on the guidance display 24
which is visible through the closed unit translucent panel door, to
indicate that the card is not acceptable. After the information has been
read from a card in the proper format and without parity error, the
terminal proprietor, at its option, may require a check of a bank number
which is read from the magnetic stripe. If the bank number is not one
which is acceptable to the terminal 10, the card is returned and a message
is illuminated on a display panel 38 to indicate that the card is invalid
at the terminal 10.
Once the determination is made that the information read from the credit
card is acceptable, the panel door covering the user display 24 and
keyboard 22 is opened at step 56. If the terminal is unable to
successfully open the door, the transaction is cancelled with the credit
card 21 being returned to the user through slot 20 and the terminal 10
closes. A status message indicating this door jam error condition is sent
to the host data processing system. After the door is successfully opened,
or if the door was already opened, an enter ID number step 58 is executed.
During the course of this step 58 the display 24 is illuminated to request
the user to enter his personal ID number through the numeric field 32 of
keyboard 22. During the course of this step 58 a user is allowed a
predetermined number of tries such as three with a predetermined time
limit such as sixty seconds to enter a six digit personal ID number. Upon
entry of an ID number at least a portion of the number may be checked (at
the option of the bank) for a predetermined correspondence with selected
information which has been read from the credit card. If a user fails to
enter an acceptable ID number within a predetermined period of time and
number of tries, one of two alternatives may occur, at the option of the
terminal proprietor. If a partial message option is selected, a status
message is sent to the host data processing system which contains the
credit card information and indicates that a proper ID number was not
entered. The host may respond by ordering the terminal 10 to either retain
or return the credit card and display an appropriate message on optical
display 22. The transaction is cancelled. If a partial message option is
not selected, the terminal 10 displays an appropriate message, returns the
credit card and cancels the transaction.
Once an acceptable personal ID number has been entered, a function
selection step 60 is executed with the back lights of the function
selection keyboard field 26 being illuminated and a message being
illuminated on optical display 24 asking the user to select a desired
function. The sequence of terminal operations can then follow many
different paths or branches depending upon which function is selected. If
the withdraw key is activated to request the issuance of cash, the user is
directed at step 62 to activate a key within the from account select field
28. The user may either activate such a key or return to point A by
activating a key within the previously entered function selection field
26. Under normal conditions the user would activate a selected key within
the from account field 28 to indicate the account which is to be debited
when cash is issued. As noted above, if the user selects the optional
selection key within the from account field he must also enter a keyboard
code number to identify the optional account which he wishes to select.
Once the user has identified the account to be debited he is directed at
step 64 to enter the dollar amount of the requested withdrawal. This
dollar amount is entered through the numeric keyboard field 32 and
displayed on the optical display 24 as it is entered. Instead of advancing
to the enter amount field the user may, of course, return to either of the
prior fields as indicated by points A and B. Assuming that a dollar amount
is entered, the user then must verify at step 66 that he has correctly
entered the desired amount by activating the proceed key within the
control field 34. In lieu of activating the proceed key the user may
return to the function selection field indicated at point A, the from
account field indicated at point B or the enter amount numeric field
indicated at point C. Upon activation of the proceed key the information
read from the credit card is combined with the information entered through
the keyboard to generate a transaction request message which is
communicated to a host data processing system in a step 68 designated host
communications. The host, which may be an on-line data accounting system
or merely an off-line transaction recording system, makes whatever checks
of the correspondence between the ID number and account number, account
balance or other checks that are to be executed and sends back a
transaction reply message which tells the terminal how to proceed.
Typically the transaction reply message would order the terminal to
illuminate at step 70 an appropriate message on optical display 24, to
print at step 76 a transaction statement summarizing the withdrawal
transaction, to assemble at step 72 the requested cash or to receive at
step 74 the requested deposit, and at step 78 to return the user credit
card. However, the transaction message may also disapprove the requested
transaction with the credit card being either returned to the user or
retained by the terminal 10 at step 78. In either case, the issuance of a
printed transaction statement is optional. For a normal cash issue
transaction, the terminal 10 would display a message on optical display 24
indicating that user should retrieve his credit card 21 from slot 20,
would assemble the requested amount of cash within an escrow area within
the machine at step 72, would print the commanded transaction statement at
step 76 and would assemble the printed statement with the cash, and return
the card 21 through the slot 20 at step 78. After the card is returned
through the slot 20 the terminal 10 issues at step 80 the cash and
transaction statement which have been assembled in the escrow area through
the slot 40. Upon removal of the issued documents from the slot 40, the
terminal undergoes a termination step 82 in which a status message is sent
to the host to indicate that the transaction has been completed and in
which the access panel door is closed. In the event that the cash is
removed and a credit card is reinserted before the panel door is closed
the terminal control passes to the initialize step 52. In the event that
the credit card is not reinserted, the terminal enters a halt condition
84.
At any time prior to the time the terminal 10 begins to actually issue cash
through the slot 40, the user may activate the cancel key within the
control field 34. Upon activation of this key the terminal control
optionally passes to the return or retain credit card step 78 with the
card being returned and the termination step 82 then being executed.
Alternatively, an incomplete transaction request message may be sent to
the host with the host directing credit card control. In the event that a
malfunction occurs, the credit card return or retain step 78 is executed
is possible, the termination step 82 is executed to the extent possible
and then at step 86 the terminal enters a closed condition as a result of
the malfunction. A status message sent during the execution of the
termination step would inform the host of the malfunction and closure
condition.
In the event that the user activates the inquiry key within the function
selection field 26 during the function selection step 60, control passes
to a step 90 wherein he is next directed to activate a key within the from
account select field 28. After the desired account is selected, the
transaction request message is sent to the host data processing system at
step 68. If all authorization tests are passed, the host sends back a
transaction reply message which directs the terminal 10 to display
appropriate account information for the selected account on the optical
display 24 at step 70. In addition, a transaction statement may be
optionally p | | |
