Patent ID: 8271789
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G07C,G07F

Abstract:
1. A system for man aging usage authorizations that are based on use of smart cards, the system comprising: a central computer system; field devices; smart cards carried by potential users, the smart cards carrying only system and usage information but containing no security-relevant user information or credit card information; wherein the central computer system maintains databases containing all information that relates to the users, user accounts, their assigned smart cards, field devices and products; a first communication connection with the field devices established and maintained at least at times by the central computer system; instructions on actions to be conducted, the instructions prepared by the central computer system based on the available information in the central computer system, the instructions being in the form of an instruction list, wherein the instructions are numbered sequentially so that the instructions each have assigned a number, the instruction list being transmitted to the field devices via the first communication connection; wherein the field devices are configured for establishment of a second communication connection with the smart cards when the first communication connection between the field devices and the central computer system is off-line; the field devices being further configured to maintain at least some data inventory of information relating to the smart cards and products so that when the second communication connection is established between at least one of the field devices and at least one of the smart cards, at least some of the instructions are processed from the instruction list; wherein the smart cards are configured so as to memorize the numbers assigned to the instructions that have been processed from the instruction list when the second communication connection has been established; wherein the field devices are configured to determine, at the time when the second communication is established, which instructions no longer have to be performed based on the numbers that are memorized on the smart cards, and process only more recent instructions of the instruction list in the field devices so that no instruction is executed twice, wherein the numbers assigned to the more recent instructions being processed are memorized on the smart cards, wherein the more recent instructions being processed are stored on the at least one field device and transmitted to the central computer system when the first communication connection between the field devices and the central computer system is brought on-line.