EP1115099A2 - Ausgabesystem für Zugriffcodes von Rechner- sowie Telekommunikationsdiensten - Google Patents

Ausgabesystem für Zugriffcodes von Rechner- sowie Telekommunikationsdiensten Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1115099A2
EP1115099A2 EP01100202A EP01100202A EP1115099A2 EP 1115099 A2 EP1115099 A2 EP 1115099A2 EP 01100202 A EP01100202 A EP 01100202A EP 01100202 A EP01100202 A EP 01100202A EP 1115099 A2 EP1115099 A2 EP 1115099A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
card
terminal
control unit
code
unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01100202A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1115099A8 (de
EP1115099A3 (de
Inventor
Enrico Prosperini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ARPA Srl
Original Assignee
APRA Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by APRA Srl filed Critical APRA Srl
Publication of EP1115099A2 publication Critical patent/EP1115099A2/de
Publication of EP1115099A8 publication Critical patent/EP1115099A8/de
Publication of EP1115099A3 publication Critical patent/EP1115099A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0014—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/42—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for ticket printing or like apparatus, e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dispensing system for distributing access codes for computer and/or telecommunications services, recorded on associated physical storage media such as, for example, plastic or paper cards, said codes allowing access to a wide variety of services consisting for example, by way of indication but not exclusively, of network banking services, electronic diagnostics services, prepaid decremental call cards for telephone and motorway services, discount or special offer coupons, competition and lottery cards, and the like.
  • the distribution of access codes is commonly performed by means of dispensing machines which, in return for payment of a suitable sum, issue cards with a code pre-printed on the card.
  • This code may be associated with the card by means of a variety of techniques which range from stamping - in printed characters - a highlighted combination of alphanumeric characters or bar codes; or also suitable storage of a code on a magnetic strip or in an electronic circuit associated with the card.
  • the dispensing machine merely dispenses, in return for payment, cards which have been previously prepared elsewhere, using the specific methods of the various abovementioned production techniques and with reference to a precise and single type of service.
  • the main object of the invention is to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks by making the process of associating the access code with the corresponding physical storage medium intrinsically safe.
  • a dispensing system for distributing access codes for computer and/or telecommunications services, recorded on associated physical storage media in particular data storage cards, characterized in that it comprises at least one terminal for recording the access code on the card and for the subsequent card issuing operation, said terminal being directly accessible by the purchaser of the abovementioned service(s).
  • a second object of the invention is that of practically eliminating the time delay occurring between the moment of acquisition of the code by the dispensing machine manager and the moment of resale thereof to the end user.
  • the system comprises a central control unit and a telematic network connecting each terminal to the central unit, which, in combination with each other, allow the purchase, telematically, one at a time, of the codes to be associated with the various cards and transfer thereof to the terminal only when the end purchaser has made an explicit request therefor by means of activation of the said terminal.
  • Each terminal in the system may also be provided with means for interfacing with the purchaser, able to provide the said purchaser with a plurality of purchase choices which can be selected from lists of services which vary with regard to the nature of the service provided and/or the purchasable quantity of said service.
  • the terminal is also provided with printing means for printing a receipt of payment for sums paid by the purchaser, the said purchaser also has the advantage of being able to refer to a specific terminal which, in the event of a dispute, is physically and perfectly identifiable.
  • FIG. 1 denotes in its entirety a dispensing system for distributing access codes 2 for computer and/or telecommunications services, recorded on associated storage media which, in Figure 3, are illustrated in the form of data storage cards 3 which are made, for example, of rigid or non-rigid paper or plastic material, but which may also be realized by continuous strips of thin materials or portions thereof.
  • the system essentially comprises ( Figure 1) one or more terminals 4; a central control unit 5 - which may be located in a remote position with respect to the terminals 4 - and a telematic network 6 which operationally interconnects each terminal 4 to the central control unit 5.
  • Each terminal 4 is accessible directly by the purchaser of the abovementioned service(s) and is able to: record itself the access code 2 directly on the card 3 and subsequently issue, to the purchaser, the card 3 thus prepared.
  • the terminals 4 essentially comprise ( Figure 2) a local control unit (7); interface means 8, 13 for allowing the exchange of data between the purchaser of the access code 2 and the local control unit 7; payment acceptance means 9,10a;10b; means 11, 15 for recording the access code 2 on the card 3; means 14 for issuing the card 3 and printing means 16 for printing a receipt of payment.
  • the interface means include an alphanumeric and/or multi-functional keyboard 8 which can be activated by the purchaser and display means 13 - preferably consisting of a monitor or a video display - for showing not only information messages relating to the current interaction between terminal 4 and purchaser, but also a list of services and the associated access codes 2 which can be acquired on the terminal 4, with advanced payment by the purchaser.
  • the payment acceptance means comprise, according to a first embodiment, a unit 9 for accepting money in the form of banknotes and/or coins.
  • the abovementioned acceptance means may also comprise a reader of access codes recorded on cards 3.
  • These readers depending on the possible different types of cards 3, may be realized in the form of a magnetic card reader 10b or by an optical reader of bar codes 10a or conventional printed characters.
  • the means for recording the code on the card 3 include a printing unit 11 for stamping the access code 2 on the card 3; stamping may also be performed, for example, by thermal transfer means or also by relief printing of the printed characters.
  • the means for recording the code 2 on the card 3 include in this case a unit 15 for magnetic writing of said magnetic strip 12.
  • a purchaser of the access code 2 accesses the terminal 4, he/she activates, by interface means 8;13 and by means of a local control unit 7, an interaction with the system 1 which allows one to select, from a list of available services, the type of service required and then determine the desired quantities of said service, after display of the list of associated costs.
  • the local control unit 7 activates an exchange of information with the central control unit 5 at the end of which the latter allocates an access code 2 which is to be printed on the card 3.
  • the local control unit 7 activates the means for recording the code 2 on the card 3, performing, depending on the constructional design of the terminal 4, stamping of the card 3 or magnetisation of the corresponding magnetic strip 12 or also storage of the access code 2 in the electronic circuitry of the card 3.
  • the computer link between the central control unit 5 and the local control unit 7 is preferably of the continuous type in order to allow the allocation, in real time, of the access codes 2 available for subsequent recording on the cards 3.
  • updating of the list of available services and the associated costs it is possible to adopt conversely a link which can be activated periodically for the purpose of updating the various terminals 4.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer And Data Communications (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
EP20010100202 2000-01-04 2001-01-02 Ausgabesystem für Zugriffcodes von Rechner- sowie Telekommunikationsdiensten Withdrawn EP1115099A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SM200000007A SM200000007B (it) 2000-01-04 2000-01-04 Impianto distributore di codici di accesso a servizi informatici e/o di telecomunicazione
SM20000007 2000-01-04

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1115099A2 true EP1115099A2 (de) 2001-07-11
EP1115099A8 EP1115099A8 (de) 2001-10-31
EP1115099A3 EP1115099A3 (de) 2004-04-14

Family

ID=20436050

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20010100202 Withdrawn EP1115099A3 (de) 2000-01-04 2001-01-02 Ausgabesystem für Zugriffcodes von Rechner- sowie Telekommunikationsdiensten

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1115099A3 (de)
SM (1) SM200000007B (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005045772A1 (en) * 2002-12-25 2005-05-19 Christopher Wade Eshelby Apparatus and method for dispensing prepaid vouchers
ITBI20080012A1 (it) * 2008-07-16 2010-01-17 Claudio Selva Metodo per creare un supporto di base adatto alla stampa di un dato univoco e relativo sistema per rilevarlo, archiviarlo, rileggerlo e compararlo telematicamente.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4650975A (en) * 1984-08-30 1987-03-17 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. IC card and an identification system thereof
AU2122495A (en) * 1994-03-17 1995-10-03 Gift Certificate Center, Inc., The Machine-readable indicia certificate dispensing device
US5903633A (en) * 1995-03-27 1999-05-11 Smarttalk Teleservices, Inc. Method and apparatus for prepaid phone card activation and billing
WO1997022919A1 (en) * 1995-12-20 1997-06-26 Intellicard Systems L.P. Apparatus for encoding and dispensing integrated circuit chip cards
US5814796A (en) * 1996-01-31 1998-09-29 Mag-Tek, Inc. Terminal for issuing and processing data-bearing documents
CA2315656C (en) * 1997-12-19 2008-04-29 Visa International Service Association Card activation at point of distribution

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005045772A1 (en) * 2002-12-25 2005-05-19 Christopher Wade Eshelby Apparatus and method for dispensing prepaid vouchers
ITBI20080012A1 (it) * 2008-07-16 2010-01-17 Claudio Selva Metodo per creare un supporto di base adatto alla stampa di un dato univoco e relativo sistema per rilevarlo, archiviarlo, rileggerlo e compararlo telematicamente.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1115099A8 (de) 2001-10-31
SM200000007A (it) 2000-04-05
SM200000007B (it) 2000-04-05
EP1115099A3 (de) 2004-04-14

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