Abstract:
A card data processing method for a network kiosk which automatically prompts for card data to be displayed in a web page. The method includes the steps of displaying a web page, displaying a prompt associated with the web page to have an operator use a card reader to read card data stored by an operator card, and receiving the card data from the card reader.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to self-service kiosks and more specifically to a card data processing method for a network kiosk.  
           [0002]    Retailers have a desire to sell their products over networks, such as global networks which are a part of the World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) and which use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol). These retailers wish to provide Internet server web sites which offer the same features as Internet server web sites available to home shoppers who use their computers to connect to the server web sites.  
           [0003]    Kiosks provide a publicly-accessible computing platform for displaying web pages from retailer web sites. Kiosks may be located within a retailer&#39;s transaction establishment or elsewhere, such as in shopping malls. Kiosks may be easily networked to retailer web sites using the TCP/IP protocol. Web pages from web sites may be displayed using known and available web software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer software.  
           [0004]    Kiosks may receive input data from various sources. For example, kiosks may include card readers for facilitating customer payment for products and customer access to loyalty program awards. Kiosks which include touch screens rather than keyboards make entry of personal information, such as credit card information, more difficult.  
           [0005]    It would be desirable to provide a card data processing method for a network kiosk which automatically enters captured card data into a transaction web page.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a card data processing method for a network kiosk is provided.  
           [0007]    The method includes the steps of displaying a web page, displaying a prompt associated with the web page to have an operator use a card reader to read card data stored by an operator card, and receiving the card data from the card reader. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a card data processing method for a network kiosk.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to automatically display captured card data in a web page.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to activate certain links to web content related to the card data following capture of the card data. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a transaction processing system including a network kiosk;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a depiction of a card data configuration file; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 3A and 3B form a flow diagram illustrating the card data processing method of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Turning now to FIG. 1, transaction system  10  includes kiosk  12  and network  14 . Kiosk  12  is preferably located within a transaction establishment, such as a retail store, or transaction environment, such as a shopping mall.  
         [0015]    Kiosk  12  primarily includes processor  16 , touch screen  18 , memory  20 , and storage medium  22 . Kiosk  12  may additionally include a number of peripherals, including card reader  24 , printer  26 , and bar code reader  28 .  
         [0016]    To assist with execution of certain tasks performed by kiosk  12 , kiosk  12  includes a built-in time keeping device, commonly referred to as a system clock, which is synchronized with current time, in order to automatically execute the tasks at their scheduled times.  
         [0017]    Processor  16  controls operation of kiosk  12  and executes web browser software  32  and web wrapper software  36 .  
         [0018]    Web browser software  32  allows an operator to access information and purchase products from retailers through network  14 , which preferably includes World Wide Web (WWW or “web”) servers. Web browser software  32  may include commercially-available web browser software, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software. Microsoft® Internet Explorer web browser software is configured into a kiosk operation using a “-k” command line option. This option hides toolbars and menubars to prevent operator access to those functions.  
         [0019]    Web browser software  32  retrieves and displays web pages  44  from network  14 , which includes a plurality of interconnected servers Web pages  44  include web pages which display information about products and services offered by the kiosk owner as well as other web pages. Web pages  44  assist operators to find information about products sold by the kiosk owner and to complete purchases of such products. For this purpose, web pages  34  may include a start or “home” page which operates as a default page from which operation begins and to which operation returns when an operator is finished using kiosk  12 . Web pages  44  may be written using hypertext markup language (HTML) or other suitable web page language.  
         [0020]    Web wrapper software  36  provides security functions. During operation, web wrapper software  36  prevents an operator from accessing kiosk files, other applications, the operating system software, or basic input-output system (BIOS) firmware, and prevents the operator from causing kiosk  12  to reboot.  
         [0021]    Under the present invention, web wrapper software  36  additionally enables card reader  24  when web browser software  32  is displaying a web page which contains fields for storing recorded card data or hypertext links to other content, including web pages, which rely on or are related to recorded card data. Web wrapper software  36  then enables input to those hypertext fields or links. A listing of web pages which are associated with card data information may be coded into web wrapper software  36  or listed in card data configuration file  38  to allow a kiosk owner to control operation.  
         [0022]    Touch screen  18  includes display  40  and input device  42 . Display  40  and input device  42  may also be separate units. Input device  42  may record personal information from an operator.  
         [0023]    Memory  20  is used by processor  16  to store executed program information, including web wrapper software information.  
         [0024]    Storage medium  22  stores software including web wrapper software  36 .  
         [0025]    Card reader  24  reads operator cards, which may include loyalty, credit, debit, smart, and/or other types of cards carried by an operator, such as a customer. For this purpose, card reader  24  may include a magnetic stripe reader (MSR) or smart card reader. Card reader  24  may record personal information of the operator.  
         [0026]    Printer  26  prints information from web wrapper software  32 , including information on web pages  44  from network  14 . For example, printer  26  may print information relevant to a transaction completed by an operator using kiosk  12 .  
         [0027]    Bar code reader  28  reads bar codes on products to obtain product identification numbers. Kiosk  12  queries a transaction server with the identification numbers to obtain information about the product and displays the information.  
         [0028]    Turning now to FIG. 2, card data configuration file  38  includes record  46  for each web page  44  that contains fields for storing recorded card data or hypertext links to other content, including web pages, which rely on recorded card data. Each record  46  includes entries PAGE, LINK, FIELD, and INFORMATION.  
         [0029]    Entry PAGE identifies a particular web page  44  which contains fields for storing recorded card data or hypertext links to other content, including web pages, which rely on recorded card data.  
         [0030]    Entry LINK identifies hypertext links in each web page  44  identified in card data configuration file  38 , including links to web pages, which rely on recorded card data. These links are functional only when web wrapper software  36  has enabled reading of card data by card reader  24 .  
         [0031]    Entry INFORMATION identifies types of information obtained from a card by web wrapper software  36 .  
         [0032]    Entry FIELD identifies fields in each web page  44  identified in card data configuration file  38  which are mapped to the retrieved card data from card reader  24  in entries INFORMATION.  
         [0033]    In operation, web wrapper software  36  compares an address of a displayed page to entries PAGE in card data configuration file  38 . If the address of the displayed page is located within card data configuration file  38 , web wrapper software  36  enables reading of cards by card reader  24  and data storage in fields for storing card data. Web wrapper software  36  obtains recorded card data from card reader  24  and uses the mappings of entries INFORMATION to entries FIELD to display the retrieved card data in fields in the displayed web page. Web wrapper software  36  also enables hypertext links under entries LINK.  
         [0034]    For example, suppose web browser software  32  is displaying a web page for completing payment for an on-line transaction. Suppose that the web page includes fields which must be filled out by the customer. These fields include Name fields (First, Middle Initial, and Last) and Credit Card fields (credit card number, credit card type, and credit card expiration date) Web wrapper software  36  displays a prompt to the customer to swipe a credit card through card reader  24 . After the customer has swiped the credit card, web wrapper software  36  obtains track information contained in the credit card&#39;s magnetic stripe and automatically populates the Name and Credit card fields using the track information. Advantageously, the present invention facilitates faster finalization of on-line transactions.  
         [0035]    Turning now to FIG. 3, the method of the present invention is illustrated beginning with START  60 .  
         [0036]    In step  62 , web wrapper software  36  waits for another web page to be displayed.  
         [0037]    In step  64 , web wrapper software  36  obtains an address for a displayed web page.  
         [0038]    In step  66 , web wrapper software  36  reads records  46  in card data configuration file  38 .  
         [0039]    In step  68 , web wrapper software  36  compares PAGE entries in records  46  with the address of the displayed page. If one of the PAGE entries in records  46  is the same as the address of the displayed page, operation proceeds to step  70 . Otherwise, operation returns to step  62  to wait for another web page to be displayed.  
         [0040]    In step  70 , web wrapper software  36  enables reading of cards by card reader  24  and displays a prompt to the operator to use card reader  24 .  
         [0041]    In step  72 , web wrapper software  36  receives card data from card reader  24 .  
         [0042]    In step  74 , web wrapper software  36  reads FIELD entries associated with the retrieved card data and INFORMATION entries in record  46  to determine where the card data should be displayed. In the example in FIG. 2, name information maps to the first field, address information maps to the second field, card number information maps to the third field, points information maps to the fourth field, and balance information maps to the fifth field.  
         [0043]    In step  76 , web wrapper software  36  causes web browser software  32  to display the retrieved card data in the corresponding fields of the displayed web page. Web wrapper software  36  automatically populates the fields with the retrieved data.  
         [0044]    In step  78 , web wrapper software  36  reads LINK entries in record  46 .  
         [0045]    In step  80 , web wrapper software  36  enables the links in record  46  on the displayed web page.  
         [0046]    Operation then returns to step  62  to wait for another web page to be displayed.  
         [0047]    Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.