Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Credit or identification card systems
Patent
1996-10-07
2000-08-01
Frech, Karl D.
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Credit or identification card systems
235384, G06K 500
Patent
active
060954108
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for performing and recording transactions in connection with vending of articles, in particular for use in connection with "on board vending", that is, in connection with vending terminals, especially vending trolleys on board transportation means such as aircraft, trains, ferries, buses, etc.
It is known to use computers with entry keys, bar code readers, displays, printers, etc. for performing and recording transaction in connection with on board vending.
For example in GB 2 205 428, an application of a hand-held data terminal (Psion Organiser II) for sales on aircrafts is disclosed. This data terminal provides the user with a limited input/output flexibility and the dynamic key concept described below is not provided.
In WO 86/03869 a pocket-sized personal terminal adapted to be used in connection with different financial transactions is disclosed. A menu driven application utilizing the dynamic key concept is also disclosed. However, the specific problems associated with on board vending is not discussed in this document.
As the vending activity in on board vending environments will often take place under difficult conditions with respect to space and time constraints, and as there is a demand for an increasing efficiency in the on board vending so that all passengers will be offered the opportunity of buying their needs even during short trips such as short flights, there is a demand for on board vending systems which are very easy to operate after a short learning period, yet able to perform all the necessary single and combined transactions which will be required in a modern vending environment. The present invention fulfils this demand and provides a system for performing and recording transactions in connection with the vending of articles, which system ensures a concentrated functionality and a very easy understanding and operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention relates to a system for performing and recording transactions in connection with vending of articles, means, displayed in the display means, the dynamic key showing at least one of the features a)-d) context in which the key is displayed, and the dynamic key is activatable to cause input to the computer means by interaction, by external pointing means, with at least part of the display area occupied by the key, together with the number of articles of the type, activation of the key causing incrementation or decrementation of the number of articles of the type to be input to the computer means, together with the price, in a selected currency, of an article of the type or (where the number of articles of the type is also shown in the label) of the number of articles of the type, information together with specific information of the type, activation of the key permitting change of the specific information.
As will be understood from the following discussion, these features, either alone or in combinations, preferably in combinations where at least the feature a) and more preferably at least the features a) and b) is/are included, permit an extremely simple and safe, yet very effective and advanced, operation of the vending system.
In the present specification and claims, the term key, when used in connection with a key displayed in the display, designates a distinct field of the display allocated to one item of information or connected items of information, such as: in question of articles information, such as:
The distinct field can be graphically highlighted by means of a boundary, and/or a raster, and/or a colour, or it can be distinguished as a single line. The field defining the key can also be divided in subfields or subkeys, but is still to be considered one key in the context of the present definitions.
The term "dynamic", as used in connection with a display key, indicates that the key shows a label which can be exchanged in dependence of the context in which the key is displayed, and/or the contents of which label consists of several e
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patent: 5424524 (1995-06-01), Ruppert et al.
patent: 5442567 (1995-08-01), Small
Andersen Jesper Nykaer
Schultz Jesper
Dataflight Europe A/S
Frech Karl D.
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