Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-11-13
Stamber, Eric W. (Department: 2162)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S231000, C235S380000, C235S381000, C702S187000, C702S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317650
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to monitoring a commercial system and, more particularly, to a system and method employing portable cards to monitor a commercial system.
2. Description of Related Art
Machines for providing articles or service to a consumer are known. Such machines include vending machines for dispensing merchandise, cash machines for dispensing cash, and various types of game machines that may dispense prizes. Such machines require maintenance from time to time, to replenish inventory, to collect from currency bins, or to repair. The cost of monitoring such machines, for timely maintenance of the machines, can be a substantial cost of doing business.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method for monitoring a commercial system.
To achieve this object and other objects of the present invention, there is a method for a system including a first person, a second person, a card transported by the second person, and a first system. The method comprises the steps, performed by the first system, of performing a first transaction, the first transaction being for transferring title to a first item to the first person; subsequently, beginning a second transaction and communicating a first signal with the card, the second transaction being for transferring title to a second item to the second person; and writing a second signal onto the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of the first system, the condition resulting from the first transaction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a method for a system including a first person, a second person, a card transported by the second person, a first system, and a second system. The method comprises the steps, performed by the second system, of beginning a transaction for the second person by communicating a first signal with the card, the transaction being for transferring title to an item to the second person; and reading a second signal from the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of the first system, the condition resulting from a previous transaction between the first system and the first person.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for operating with first and second persons, and a card transported by the second person. The system comprises logic that performs a first transaction, the first transaction being for transferring title to a first item to the first person, and subsequently begins a second transaction and communicates a first signal with the card, the second transaction being for transferring title to a second item to the second person, and a writer for writing a second signal onto the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of the system, the condition resulting from the first transaction.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for operating with first and second persons, and a card transported by the second person. The system comprises logic that begins a transaction for the second person by communicating a first signal with the card, the transaction being for transferring title to an item to the second person; and a reader that reads a second signal from the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of another system, the condition resulting from a previous transaction between the other system and the first person.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a method for a system including a first person, a second person, a card transported by the second person, and a first system. The method comprises the steps, performed by the first system, of performing a first purchase transaction for the first person; subsequently, beginning a second purchase transaction for the second person and communicating a first signal with the card; and writing a second signal onto the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of the first system, the condition resulting from the first purchase transaction.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a method for a system including a first person, a second person, a card transported by the second person, a first system, and a second system. The method comprises the steps, performed by the second system, of beginning a purchase transaction for the second person by communicating a first signal with the card; and reading a second signal from the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of the first system, the condition resulting from a previous purchase transaction between the first system and the first person.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for operating with first and second persons, and a card transported by the second person. The system comprises logic that performs a first purchase transaction for the first person, and subsequently begins a second purchase transaction for the second person and communicates a first signal with the card; and a writer for writing a second signal onto the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of the system, the condition resulting from the first purchase transaction.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is a system for operating with first and second persons, and a card transported by the second person. The system comprises logic that begins a purchase transaction for the second person by communicating a first signal with the card; and a reader that reads a second signal from the card, the second signal corresponding to a condition of another system, the condition resulting from a previous purchase transaction between the other system and the first person.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4001550 (1977-01-01), Schatz
patent: 4510382 (1985-04-01), Walter
patent: 4959788 (1990-09-01), Nagata et al.
patent: 5036461 (1991-07-01), Elliott et al.
patent: 5091713 (1992-02-01), Horne et al.
patent: 5276312 (1994-01-01), McCarthy
patent: 5285382 (1994-02-01), Muehlberger et al.
patent: 5303844 (1994-04-01), Muehlberger
patent: 5491326 (1996-02-01), Marceau et al.
patent: 5500517 (1996-03-01), Cagliostro
patent: 5520275 (1996-05-01), Foglino
patent: 5526409 (1996-06-01), Conrow et al.
patent: 5557516 (1996-09-01), Hogan
patent: 5559887 (1996-09-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5590038 (1996-12-01), Pitroda
patent: 5694323 (1997-12-01), Koropitzer et al.
patent: 5748908 (1998-05-01), Yu
patent: 5869826 (1999-02-01), Eleftheriou
patent: 5884271 (1999-03-01), Pitroda
patent: 5997170 (1999-12-01), Brodbeck
patent: 6056194 (2000-05-01), Kolls
patent: 6119934 (2000-09-01), Kolls
patent: 6181981 (2001-01-01), Varga et al.
patent: 2162665 (1986-07-01), None
patent: 2083259 (1982-03-01), None
patent: 362031233 (1987-02-01), None
patent: WO90/01199 (1990-02-01), None
Nicholson, Leslie, ‘A Touch of the Future High-Tech Vending Machines will accept Payment by Credit Card.’ Philadelphia Inquirer (PI), Mar. 2, 2000. Edition: SF, Section: Tech.life, p. F01. Dialog # 10562184.*
‘Technology Firms Make Vending Machines Links to E-Commerce’, Philadelphia Inquirer, Mar. 2, 2000, Retrieved from: Dialog file: 09: Business & Industry ®. Dialog Accession # 02737639.*
Nicholson, Leslie, ‘Vending the Rules Machines may bring dot-com to the masses’, Knight Rider tribune, dDnver Post, Mon1 Ed, p. E-08, Apr. 10, 2000. Dialog file: 387: The Denver Post, # 01025716.
Hartley Kevin W.
Hintz Thomas M.
Maxwell Eleanor B.
Powell Ken R.
Snook Corey C.
Jackson Jerome D.
Myhre James W.
SoftCard Systems, Inc.
Stamber Eric W.
LandOfFree
System and method employing portable cards to monitor a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method employing portable cards to monitor a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method employing portable cards to monitor a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2601054