Abstract:
An apparatus, method and system for identifying, recording, and marking transactions such as, but not limited to, individual business agreements or specific events such as occurring in the commercialization of goods or services. An apparatus comprising a non-numeric memory system, one or more numeric memory registers, a marking means, a means to initialize the alphabetic memory system and numeric registers and means to increment the various alphabetic memory system and numeric registers so as to uniquely identify consecutive events or transactions. The invention has the operability to move the series print position of the non-numeric memory system and the one or more numeric memory registers at various times during the usage of the invention, thereby economizing on the number of characters required to identify a predetermined number of events or transactions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In today&#39;s business world, information on various transactions is generally identified, recorded, or marked by various numbering systems. For example, a single item of merchandise frequently contains a price, a number which refers to its size, shape, color, or quality, the dates the item was made, shipped from factory, or received at one or more points in the chain of commerce, as well as other numbers used for various purposes. The storage and inventory of these various numbers has become a problem in and of itself. The more numbers, and by this is also meant the number of characters in each number, the more difficult it is to remember and use them without error, and the more storage capacity is required in an information retrieval device such as, for example, a computer. Accordingly, there is a rapidly growing demand and need for a method or system for economizing on the amount of numbers required for conducting various transactions. This invention is an improvement on the various apparatuses, systems and methods presently used for identifying, recording and marking various commercial transactions. This invention uses a method or system, and the apparatus for identifying, recording and marking transactions, which economizes on the number of characters required to identify such transactions. Also, each &#34;number&#34;, hereinafter referred to as &#34;transaction number&#34;, created by this invention will be unique within the system itself. 
     Many people in business who are responsible for verifying accounts payable, or checking of accounts received, or checking or tracing lost invoices and the like are continuously overwhelmed by the volumes of transaction numbers they face. Many people are simply intimidated by large transaction numbers. Thus, there is a very good business reason to reduce transaction numbers to simpler numbers. My invention provides a system for reducing the length of transaction numbers thus providing less opportunity for error and hence greater clarity and efficiency. For example, if the present zip code system employed by the Postal Service used my invention, there can be 11.5 times more zip codes than presently exist while still using only five characters. 
     When comparing two transactions or events for sequence, using present means of recording or marking, it may be necessary to compare &#34;year&#34;, &#34;month&#34;, &#34;day&#34;, &#34;hour&#34;, &#34;minute&#34; and perhaps &#34;second&#34;. Whereas, using a numbering system marked by my invention, the transactions or events are recorded as occurrences along a predetermined sequence and the order of occurrence is explained by my transaction numbers. In other words, events are cross-referenced in terms of the sequence--not in terms of calendar time (i.e., keeping score by innings rather than a time clock). After all, calendar time is essentially a cross-reference of celestial phenomena, an agreed upon system for recording &#34;time&#34;. My invention is an apparatus or system for the recordation of occurrences. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a method or system for identifying, recording, and marking transactions such as, but not limited to, individual business agreements, particularly individual or specific sales of goods or services, or specific events such as production or storage of goods. This invention is also directed to the apparatus or system for carrying out such method. This invention is concerned with and directed to economizing the number of characters required for identifying transactions. 
     As an example of the efficiency of this invention, common ordinary number systems which are, for example, limited to six characters provide 999,999 numbers, i.e., 1 to 999,999. (That is, 0 is considered to be an invalid number.) Whereas, in one embodiment of my invention, a six-character system will provide 13,799,999 numbers which represents an improved efficiency and economy of about 1380 percent. 
     This invention is a method or system and apparatus for labeling each transaction and separating such transactions from each other, while placing all transactions in an orderly, understandable sequence. The invention is particularly well-suited for recording, sorting, and compiling by computer. Further, because of the novel features of this invention, as will be explained more fully below, this invention makes this system, apparatus or method of identifying recording or making transactions readily recognizable by its users and by so doing improves the gathering, assimilation, and dissemination of business data. 
     In general, the system numbers and labels transactions in a progressive sequence using characters easily understood and quickly recognized. In general, the system generates a sequential series of characters which are progressively numbered. The series of characters can be generated by an apparatus or machine, such as, but not limited to, an electronic circuit. In a manner somewhat analogous to an office time clock, the transaction document can be inserted into (or prepared by) a machine designed for this system and a transaction number applied to the document. Each transaction number is later than the immediately preceding transaction number by one, regardless of the time interval between consecutive numbers. Thus, each transaction number is one later than the previous transaction number. Thus, the transaction numbers are used to number individual events which occur with the passing of time. Accordingly, the next transaction number, for example stamped on a document, is later by one than the immediate previously stamped transaction number. 
     In general, the transaction numbers occur in a progressive, consecutive sequence and, as such, it is understood that no two transaction numbers can be the same, thereby assuring separate identity for each transaction. 
     Transaction numbers occur in various series with the transaction series being predetermined by the anticipated total of such transactions expected over a predetermined period of time. Each transaction series has a constant predetermined number of consecutive characters assigned to each transaction number. For example, in one embodiment of this invention, if the total transactions anticipated to occur over a five year period is between 1,150,000 and 13,999,999, then a transaction series consisting of six characters would be selected. This means that each transaction number in this transaction series consists of exactly six characters. Where the anticipated number of total transactions is between 91,999 and 1,149,999, then in another embodiment of this invention a transaction series consisting of five characters would be selected. It can be appreciated that where ordinary numbers are used entirely for number transactions that the total number of transactions possible in a five character series is 99,999. Thus, in this particular embodiment of my invention, which will be more fully described below, approximately 1150 percent more numbers are available. Transaction numbers therefore are members of a transaction series and every transaction number of a particular transaction series has the same number of characters. For example, in a transaction series of two characters, every transaction number in such a transaction series has exactly two characters. In a transaction series of three characters, every transaction number has exactly three characters and so on. 
     A novel feature of a preferred embodiment of my invention is that every transaction number has one and only one non-numeric character while all the other characters in any transaction number are numeric characters. To facilitate immediate recognition of a transaction number by a use of my invention, the non-numeric character preferrably is different in size, color, or both from the numeric characters. For example: a four-character transaction number could be &#34;a123&#34;; a five-character transaction number could be &#34;1b234&#34;; and a seven-character transaction number could be &#34;123c456&#34;. In general, the transaction numbers of my invention must contain one or more numeric characters but only one non-numeric character. 
     The progressive, consecutive aspect of the transaction numbers is similar to regular numbers in that &#34;2&#34; is later than &#34;1&#34;; &#34;3&#34; is later than &#34;2&#34;, and so on. Regarding the non-numeric characters in a transaction series, in a preferred embodiment of my invention, lower case alphabetical letters are used with the exception of &#34;i&#34;, &#34;l&#34;, and &#34;o&#34;, which are not used to avoid possible confusion with the numeric characters &#34;1&#34; and &#34;0&#34;. In this embodiment, &#34;b&#34; is later than &#34;a&#34; and &#34;c&#34; is later than &#34;b&#34;, and so on. In other words, the progressive, consecutive aspect is determined by the alphabetical order of the non-numeric or alphabetical character. Furthermore, the position of the non-numeric or alphabetical character in the transaction number is somewhat analogous to the use of a decimal point in decimal numbers. For example, &#34;1234.&#34; is greater than &#34;123.4&#34;, which is greater than &#34;12.34&#34;, which is greater than &#34; 1.234&#34;, which is greater than &#34;.1234&#34;. Here, as the decimal point moves from the farthest left position to the farthest right position, the decimal number becomes greater. In the transaction numbers of this invention, &#34;1234a&#34; is later than &#34;123a4&#34;, which is later than &#34;12a34&#34;, which is later than &#34;1a234&#34;, which is later than &#34;a1234&#34;. Thus, as the non-numeric or alphabetical character in a transaction number moves from the farthest left hand position in the sequential series of characters in a transaction number to the right, the transaction number becomes later. It is important to realize that transaction numbers label events or transactions which are defined by the user and represent a progression along a sequence of occurrences spaced by the passing of time. The amount of time between each individual event, or occurrence, or transaction is not important, only the time-order is important: 
     Because each transaction number of this invention has a single non-numeric character, my transaction numbers are easily recognizable from all other numbers, especially those which consist only of numeric characters. Thus, the transaction numbers of this invention offer two advantages: (1) instantaneous recognition by the user over other numbers used in business, and (2) economy of space since fewer characters are required to label transactions. 
     One embodiment of my invention is a consecutive transaction numbering apparatus comprising an alphabetical memory system 10, herein sometimes referred to as &#34;AMS&#34;, having operable accessibility to a predetermined number of unique Roman alphabetical characters in alphabetical retrievable order. The AMS is designed so that it has a print position for one and only one of the alphabetical characters at a time. By &#34;print position&#34;, as used herein, is meant a condition of a memory system which renders such system operable for printing, stamping marking, or designating a document, transaction or event recordation, whether or not such notations are directly perceptible by the human senses or perceptible with the aid of a device capable of making such notations directly perceptible. 
     In this embodiment, the apparatus also comprises at least one numeric memory register 11, herein sometimes referred to as &#34;NMR&#34;. Each NMR has operable accessability to all 10 arabic numerals in numerical retrievable order. Each NMR is designed so that it has a print position for one and only one of the numeric characters at a time. 
     The apparatus further comprises a printing means 12, operable for marking on a transaction a transaction number which consists of one and only one character from each of the numeric memory registers 11 and from the AMS 10, such that such printed transaction number is arranged in adjacent sequential order. By &#34;marking&#34; as used herein is meant printing, stamping, impressing, or designating a document, transaction or event whether or not such marking is directly perceptible by the human senses or perceptible with the aid of a device capable of making such marking directly perceptible. 
     By the expression &#34;series print position&#34; as used herein, is meant the sequential order of a character in a NMR or AMS in print position relative to the sequential order of the characters in all other NMR&#39;s and AMS in print position. For example, for the transaction number &#34;67g89&#34;, the &#34;6&#34; is in the first series print position, the &#34;7&#34; is in the second series print position, the &#34;g&#34; is in the third series print position, the &#34;8&#34; is in the fourth series print position, and the &#34;9&#34; is in the fifth series print position. The &#34;6&#34; may also be said to be in the series print position farthest to the left, and the &#34;9&#34; in the series print position farthest to the right. 
     The apparatus further comprises an initializing means 13 to initialize each of the NMR&#39;s and the AMS so that (i) the AMS has its first-in-alphabetical-order character in print position; (ii) so that the AMS is in the series print position farthest to the left relative to the series print position of each of the NMR&#39;s; (iii) so that each NMR, except the NMR in the farthest right series print position, has a &#34;0&#34; in the print position; and (iv) so that each NMR in the farthest right series print position has a &#34;1&#34; in its print position. 
     The apparatus also comprises an incrementing means 14 to increment as a group the numeric characters which are in the print position by one. Such incrementation occurs after the marking, or in one embodiment, the printing of a transaction number on a transaction. The means to increment also is operable, when all numeric characters in the print position are &#34;9&#34;, to advance all numeric characters in the print position to &#34;0&#34; and to simultaneously interchange the series print position of the AMS with the series print position the NMR which is in the series print position immediately to the right of the AMS if a NMR is in a series print position immediately to the right of the AMS. 
     The apparatus further comprises an incrementing means 15 to increment the print position of the AMS when the series print position of the AMS is in the series print position farthest to the right relative to each NMR and all of the numeric characters in the print position are &#34;9&#39;s&#34;. Incrementation of the AMS occurs after such transaction number has been marked on the transaction or transaction document. This means to increment the AMS is also operable to reposition the series print position of the AMS by shifting it to the farthest series print position relative to the series print position of each NMR, and to shift the series print position of each NMR one series print position to the right of its former series print position, to advance each &#34;9&#34;, which occupies the print position of each NMR to &#34;0&#34;, and to advance the alphabetical character in the print position to the next alphabetical character in alphabetical order accessible to the AMS. 
     In one embodiment of this apparatus, the alphabetical characters operably accessible by the AMS are the following 23 letters: 
     
         a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, j, k, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y and z. 
    
     In some embodiments of this invention, the AMS may be said, in programmer jargon, to be programmer supplied or user supplied. In such embodiments, the source listing sets up the circuitry necessary to produce the transaction numbers. Such circuitry does not exist in such computers prior to its creation through the source listing. 
     In another embodiment of this apparatus, the total number of numeric memory registers is no greater than 9. In still another embodiment of this apparatus, the apparatus comprises an electronic computer system. Combinations of the various above-described embodiments, of course also are separate embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The sole FIGURE is a block diagram of a system of the instant invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In my invention, any transaction series must have in each transaction number, one and only one non-numeric character and one or more numeric characters. Preferrably, the non-numeric character is an alphabetical character. The simplest example of a transaction series of the type is one having only two characters. There are 459 distinct transaction numbers in this type of series compared to only 99 for a purely numeric character series, i.e., consisting only of integers. In abbreviated format Table 1, shows how each consecutive transaction number is formed, beginning with the first number &#34;a1&#34;. The number to the left of the equal sign is the transaction number of a particular embodiment of this invention, while the number to the right of the equal sign represents the equivalent integer. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________      a1 = 1;    a2 = 2; . . .                             a9 = 9;0a = 10;   1a = 11;   2a = 12; . . .                             9a = 19;b0 = 20;   b1 = 21;   b2 = 22; . . .                             b9 = 29;0b = 30;   1b = 31;   2b = 32; . . .                             9b = 39;c0 = 40;   c1 = 41;   c2 = 42; . . .                             c9 = 49;0c = 50;   1c = 51;   2c = 52; . . .                             9c = 59;. . .      . . .      . . .       . . .z0 = 440;  z1 = 441;  z2 = 442;   z9 = 449;0z = 450;  1z = 451;  2z = 452;   9z = 459.______________________________________ 
    
     As mentioned earlier, in my invention, alphabetical characters &#34;i&#34;, &#34;l&#34; and &#34;o&#34; are not used, but the other 23 alphabetical letters are usually used. Deletion of the alphabetical characters &#34;i&#34;, &#34;l&#34; and &#34;o&#34; prevent the inadvertent confusion with the numeric characters &#34;0&#34; and &#34;1&#34;. This is important because quick recognition of my transaction numbers without possibility of confusion with other numbers is one of the advantages of my invention. Using any non-numeric or alphabetical character which could be confused with any numeric character would be defeating the purpose of this invention. It is to be understood that other non-numeric characters could be used, as for example, the Greek alphabet. Using the Roman alphabet is preferred because the sequential order of the letters in the alphabet is generally understood by everyone. For example, it is generally understood that &#34;p&#34; occurs later than &#34;f&#34; as clearly as &#34;999&#34; occurs later than &#34;007&#34;. 
     A transaction series consisting of four characters is represented in part by the transaction numbers appearing in Table 2. 
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________a001 =    1;    a002 =     2;  on to a999 =                                    9990a00 =  1,000;  0a02 =   1,002;                         on to 9a99 =                                   1,99900a0 =  2,000;  00a2 =   2,002;                         on to 99a9 =                                   2,999000a =  3,000;  002a =   3,002;                         on to 999a =                                   3,999b000 =  4,000;  b002 =   4,002;                         on to b999 =                                   4,9990b00 =  5,000;  0b02 =   5,002;                         on to 9b99 =                                   5,99900b0 =  6,000;  00b2 =   6,002;                         on to 99b9 =                                   6,999000b =  7,000;  002b =   7,002;                         on to 999b =                                   7,999c000 =  8,000;  c002 =   8,002;                         on to c999 =                                   8,9990c00 =  9,000;  0c02 =   9,002;                         on to 9c99 =                                   9,99900c0 = 10,000;  00c2 =  10,002;                         on to 99c9 =                                  10,999000c = 11,000;  002c =  11,002;                         on to 999c =                                  11,999______________________________________ 
    
     As shown in Table 2, 999 transaction numbers can be generated using the first alphabetical character &#34;a&#34; in the first position. Using the letter &#34;a&#34; in the second position allows for the formation of 1000 more transaction numbers. Shifting the letter &#34;a&#34;, as shown above, from the first series print position to the second, then the third, and finally the fourth series print position, permits 3999 transaction numbers to be formed. Using the letter &#34;b&#34; in all four positions permits 4000 more transaction numbers to be formed. Using all Roman letters, except &#34;i&#34;, &#34;l&#34; and &#34;o&#34;, i.e., 23 Roman letters, permits (4×1000×23)-1=91,999 transaction numbers to be formed. Thus, in a four character series, 91,999 transaction numbers can be formed in my invention. This is to be compared to 9999 numbers using entirely numeric characters. Thus, my invention permits about 920% more numbers to be formed using a four character series than that which can be formed using entirely numeric characters. In a six character series, my invention permits (6×100,000×23)-1=13,799,999 separate and distinct transaction numbers to be formed. 
     In Table 3, the volume of transaction numbers which can be formed in my invention are compared to the volume that can be formed from purely numeric characters. 
     In one embodiment of my invention, my transaction numbers are converted to ordinary numbers. My inventive system can perform the conversion without any mathematical calculations as will be explained below. 
     In general, each transaction number has one non-numeric, preferably an alphabetical character. For example, in a transaction series of four characters, the alphabetical character could be in a series print position of one, two, three or four from the left. After determining the series print position of the alphabetical character, one may consult a conversion table, such as Table 4 for a four-character transaction series, to determine a prefix sub-series which consists entirely of numeric characters. Thus, the prefix sub-series, for a given transaction series, is determined from the identity and series print position of the non-numeric character in the transaction number. A suffix sub-series is then determined merely from the sequential order of the numeric characters without regard to the identity or series print position of the non-numeric character. For example, transaction numbers &#34;9n75&#34;, &#34;7n43&#34;, and &#34;5n21&#34; all have the same prefix sub-series, namely &#34;45&#34;, see Table 4. However, each of these transaction numbers has a different suffix sub-series, namely &#34;975&#34;, &#34;743&#34; and &#34;521&#34; , respectively. 
     The conversion is completed by merely attaching the suffix sub-series to the end of the prefix sub-series. Thus, in the above example, the transaction numbers when converted to purely numeric decimal numbers becomes &#34;45975&#34;, &#34;45743&#34;, and &#34;45521&#34;, respectively. Similar conversion tables are presented in Table 5 for a three character transaction series, Table 6 for a five character transaction series, Table 7 for a seven character transaction series, Table 8 for an eight character transaction series, Table 9 for a nine character transaction series, and Table 10 for a ten character transaction series. For example, a transaction number of 789n654321, using Table 10, has a prefix sub-series of &#34;113&#34; and a suffix sub-series of &#34;789654321&#34; which corresponds to the integer &#34;113,789,654,321&#34;. 
     
                                           TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________                       Maximum No. of                       numbers usingNo. of No. of Transaction Nos.                       all numeric                                %Characters that can be formed    characters                                Increase__________________________________________________________________________2     (2 × 10 × 23) - 1 = 459                       99        4593     (3 × 100 × 23) - 1 = 6,899                       999       6904     (4 × 1000 × 23) - 1 = 91,999                       9,999     9205     (5 × 10,000 × 23) - 1 = 1,149,999                       99,999   11506     (6 × 100,000 × 23) - 1 = 13,799,999                       999,999  13807     (7 × 1,000,000 × 23) - 1 = 160,000,000                       9,999,999                                16108     (8 × 10,000,000 × 23) - 1 = 1,839,999,999                       99,999,999                                18409     (9 × 100,000,000 × 23) - 1 = 20,699,999,999                       999,999,999                                207010    (10 × 1,000,000,000 × 23) - 1                       9,999,999,999                                2300 = 229,999,999,999__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________    P1  P2           P3    P4______________________________________a          00    01           02  03b          04    05           06  07c          08    09           10  11d          12    13           14  15e          16    17           18  19f          20    21           22  23g          24    25           26  27h          28    29           30  31j          32    33           34  35k          36    37           38  39m          40    41           42  43n          44    45           46  47p          48    49           50  51q          52    53           54  55r          56    57           58  59s          60    61           62  63t          64    65           66  67u          68    69           70  71v          72    73           74  75w          76    77           78  79x          80    81           82  83y          84    85           86  87z          88    89           90  91______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 5______________________________________P1                  P2    P3______________________________________a       00              01    02b       03              04    05c       06              07    08d       09              10    11e       12              13    14f       15              16    17g       18              19    20h       21              22    23j       24              25    26k       27              28    29m       30              31    32n       33              34    35p       36              37    38q       39              40    41r       42              43    44s       45              46    47t       48              49    50u       51              52    53v       54              55    56w       57              58    59x       60              61    62y       63              64    65z       66              67    68______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 6______________________________________CONVERSION TABLE FOR SIXCHARACTER TRANSACTION SERIESP1           P2     P3         P4   P5______________________________________a     000        001    002      003  004b     005        006    007      008  009c     010        011    012      013  014d     015        016    017      018  019e     020        021    022      023  024f     025        026    027      028  029g     030        031    032      033  034h     035        036    037      038  039j     040        041    042      043  044k     045        046    047      048  049m     050        051    052      053  054n     055        056    057      058  059p     060        061    062      063  064q     065        066    067      068  069r     070        071    072      073  074s     075        076    077      078  079t     080        081    082      083  084u     085        086    087      088  089v     090        091    092      093  094w     095        096    097      098  099x     100        101    102      103  104y     105        106    107      108  109z     110        111    112      113  114______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 7______________________________________CONVERSION TABLE FOR SEVENCHARACTER TRANSACTION SERIESP1       P2     P3       P4   P5     P6   P7______________________________________a   000      001    002    003  004    005  006b   007      008    009    010  011    012  013c   014      015    016    017  018    019  020d   021      022    023    024  025    026  027e   028      029    030    031  032    033  034f   035      036    037    038  039    040  041g   042      043    044    045  046    047  048h   049      050    051    052  053    054  055j   056      057    058    059  060    061  062k   063      064    065    066  067    068  069m   070      071    072    073  074    075  076n   077      078    079    080  081    082  083p   084      085    086    087  088    089  090q   091      092    093    094  095    096  097r   098      099    100    101  102    103  104s   105      106    107    108  109    110  111t   112      113    114    115  116    117  118u   119      120    121    122  123    124  125v   126      127    128    129  130    131  132w   133      134    135    136  137    138  139x   140      141    142    143  144    145  146y   147      148    149    150  151    152  153z   154      155    156    157  158    159  160______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 8______________________________________CONVERSION TABLE FOR EIGHTCHARACTER TRANSACTION SERIESP1      P2      P3     P4    P5   P6    P7   P8______________________________________a    000    001     002  003   004  005   006  007b    008    009     010  011   012  013   014  015c    016    017     018  019   020  021   022  023d    024    025     026  027   028  029   030  031e    032    033     034  035   036  037   038  039f    040    041     042  043   044  045   046  047g    048    049     050  051   052  053   054  055h    056    057     058  059   060  061   062  063j    064    065     066  067   068  069   070  071k    072    073     074  075   076  077   078  079m    080    081     082  083   084  085   086  087n    088    089     090  091   092  093   094  095p    096    097     098  099   100  101   102  103q    104    105     106  107   018  109   110  111r    112    113     114  115   116  117   118  119s    120    121     122  123   124  125   126  127t    128    129     130  131   132  133   134  135u    136    137     138  139   140  141   142  143v    144    145     146  147   148  149   150  151w    152    153     154  155   156  157   158  159x    160    161     162  163   164  165   166  167y    168    169     170  171   172  173   174  175z    176    177     178  179   180  181   182  183______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 9______________________________________CONVERSION TABLE FOR NINECHARACTER TRANSACTION SERIESP1      P2     P3     P4   P5    P6   P7   P8   P9______________________________________a    000    001    002  003  004   005  006  007  008b    009    010    011  012  013   014  015  016  017c    018    019    020  021  022   023  024  025  026d    027    028    029  030  031   032  033  034  035e    036    037    038  039  040   041  042  043  044f    045    046    047  048  049   050  051  052  053g    054    055    056  057  058   059  060  061  062h    063    064    065  066  067   068  069  070  071j    072    073    074  075  076   077  078  079  080k    081    082    083  084  085   086  087  088  089m    090    091    092  093  094   095  096  097  098n    099    100    101  102  103   104  105  106  107p    108    109    110  111  112   113  114  115  116q    117    118    119  120  121   122  123  124  125r    126    127    128  129  130   131  132  133  134s    135    136    137  138  139   140  141  142  143t    144    145    146  147  148   149  150  151  152u    153    154    155  156  157   158  159  160  161v    162    163    164  165  166   167  168  169  170w    171    172    173  174  175   176  177  178  179z    180    181    182  183  184   185  186  187  188y    189    190    191  192  193   194  195  196  197z    198    199    200  201  202   203  204  205  206______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 10______________________________________CONVERSION TABLE FOR TENCHARACTER TRANSACTION SERIES  P1  P2     P3     P4   P5   P6   P7   P8   P9   P10______________________________________a 000 001    002    003  004  005  006  007  008  009b 010 011    012    013  014  015  016  017  018  019c 020 021    022    023  024  025  026  027  028  029d 030 031    032    033  034  035  036  037  038  039e 040 041    042    043  044  045  046  047  048  049f 050 051    052    053  054  055  056  057  058  059g 060 061    062    063  064  065  066  067  068  069h 070 071    072    073  074  075  076  077  078  079j 080 081    082    083  084  085  086  087  088  089k 090 091    092    093  094  095  096  097  098  099m 100 101    102    103  104  105  106  107  108  109n 110 111    112    113  114  115  116  117  118  119p 120 121    122    123  124  125  126  127  128  129q 130 131    132    133  134  135  136  137  138  139r 140 141    142    143  144  145  146  147  148  149s 150 151    152    153  154  155  156  157  158  159t 160 161    162    163  164  165  166  167  168  169u 170 171    172    173  174  175  176  177  178  179v 180 181    182    183  184  185  186  187  188  189w 190 191    192    193  194  195  196  197  198  199x 200 201    202    203  204  205  206  207  208  209y 210 211    212    213  214  215  216  217  218  219z 220 221    222    223  224  225  226  227  228  229______________________________________ 
    
     One embodiment of my invention, for a five character transaction series, is a consecutive transaction numbering apparatus comprising an AMS having operable accessibility to the following 23 lower case alphabetical characters in alphabetical retrievable order: 
     
         a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, j, k, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y and z. 
    
     This embodiment comprises four NMR&#39;s, each of which has operable accessibility to all 10 arabic numerals in numerical retrievable order. 
     This embodiment further comprises a printing means for printing a transaction number directly on a document. 
     This embodiment further comprises a means to initialize each of the memory registers so that the AMS has an &#34;a&#34; in its print position and the AMS in in the first series print position, i.e., the series print position furthest to the left relative to the series print positions of the NMR&#39;s. This means to initialize is also operable to position a &#34;0&#34; in the print position of the NRM&#39;s in the second, third and fourth series print position, and a &#34;1&#34; in the print position of the NRM farthest to the right, i.e., the fifth series print position. Therefore, upon first use, the means to initialize will position in the print position the transaction number &#34;a0001&#34;. 
     This embodiment also comprises a means to increment as a group the four numeric characters, which are in a print position in the four NMR&#39;s, by one. For example, after printing on the first document the transaction number &#34;a0001&#34;, the means to initialize will advance to the print position the transaction number &#34;a0002&#34;. However, had the last transaction number been, for example, &#34;a9999&#34;, this means to initialize would advance all &#34;9&#39;s&#34; to &#34;0&#39;s&#34; and simultaneously interchange the series print position of the &#34;a&#34;, i.e., the first series print position, with the series print position of the first NMR, so as to advance to the print position the transaction number &#34;0a000&#34;. 
     This embodiment also comprises a means to increment the print position of the AMS, when the print position of the AMS is in the fifth series print position and all numeric characters in the print position are &#34;9&#39;s&#34;. For example, if the last transaction number printed on a document was &#34;9999a&#34;, then this means to increment would shift the series print position of the AMS from the fifth series print position to the first series print position, advance the alphabetic character in the print position of the AMS from &#34;a&#34; to &#34;b&#34;, shift the series print position of the first NMR from the first series print position to the second series print position, shift the series print position of the second NMR from the second series print position to third series print position, shift the series print position of the third NMR from the third series print position to the fourth series print position, shift the series print position of the fourth NMR from the fourth series print position to the fifth series print position, and advance all &#34;9&#34; in each of the print positions of each NMR to &#34;0&#34;. In this example, if the last printed transaction number was &#34;9999a&#34;, then the means to increment would shift and advance to the print position the transaction number &#34;b0000&#34;. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     For demonstration, an IBM System 370 computer and IBM model 1403 printer were used. However, any computer with a COBOL compiler will work with the program described below, which is written in COBOL language. Although the program described below sets up the circuitry and system for producing transaction numbers, it is to be understood that any equivalent apparatus or circuitry which will be operable for producing transaction numbers in accordance with the invention described herein and having one and only one non-numeric character and one or more numeric characters, is within the scope of this invention. 
     A transaction series consisting of three characters was selected. A 23 byte alphabetical table consisting of the letters: 
     
         A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z 
    
     was programmer created as part of the source listing. An example of the source program used to produce the three character transaction series is given in Table 11. 
     The above described circuitry produce the following transaction numbers in the sequential order indicated below: 
     A01 to A99, 
     0A0 to 9A9, 
     00A to 99A, 
     B99 to B99 
     9B9 to 9B9, 
     00B to 99B, 
     and so on until transaction number 99Z is produced. 
     A novel feature of the apparatus or circuitry set up as described above, is the movement of the non-numeric character, after the first 99 transaction numbers have been produced, from the first series print position, to the second series print position; the movement of the non-numeric character, after the next 100 transaction numbers have been produced, to the third print position; the advancing of the print position of the non-numeric character to the next-in-alphabetical-order non-numeric character in the programmer-supplied alphabetical table and the shifting of the series print position of the programmer-supplied alphabetical table from the third series print position to the first series print position; and so on until the three character transaction series is exhausted. 
     
                       TABLE 11______________________________________IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.PROGRAM-ID. PROB13.AUTHOR. R. M. BRUCE, COPYRIGHT 1982ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.CONFIGURATION SECTION.SOURCE-COMPUTER. IBM-370.OBJECT-COMPUTER. IBM-370.INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.FILE-CONTROL.SELECT PRTOUT ASSIGN TO SYS006-UR-1403-S.DATA DIVISION.FILE SECTION.ID   PRTOUT.RECORD CONTAINS 133 CHARACTERS LABELRECORDS ARE OMITTEDRECORDING MODE IS F DATA RECORD IS PREC.01   PREC          PIC X(133).WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.77   NCNT          PIC 9(11) VALUE ZERO COMP.77   SAB           PIC 9(4)  VALUE ZERO COMP.77   SWP           PIC 9     VALUE ZERO.77   CSW           PIC 9     VALUE ZERO.01   HLTRS.02     LTRS        PIC X(23) VALUE`ABCDEFGHJKMNPQRSTUVWXYZ`.02     HLTR REDEFINES LTRS.04       ALTR OCCURS 23 TIMES PIC X.01   HERBNO02     NNC         PIC X.02     NUMB.04       NC3       PIC 9     VALUE ZERO.04       NC2       PIC 9     VALUE ZERO.04       NC1       PIC 9     VALUE ZERO.02     LEON REDEFINES NUMB.04       PCNT      PIC 9(3).01   HLINE.02     FILLER      PIC X(20) VALUE SPACES.02     P1          PIC X.02     P2          PIC X.02     P3          PIC X.02     FILLER      PIC X(110)                        VALUE SPACES.PROCEDURE DIVISION.MAINLINE.OPEN OUTPUT PRTOUT.PERFORM CONDITIONING THRU C-EXIT.PERFORM HERB THRU H-EXIT UNTIL NCNT &gt; 305.CLOSE PRTOUT.STOP RUN.CONDITIONING.MOVE 1 TO SAB.MOVE `A` TO NNC.C-EXIT.EXIT.HERB.ADD 1 TO NCNT.ADD 1 TO PCNT.IF PCNT &lt; 100      MOVE 1 TO SWP GO TO SAM.IF PCNT &lt; 200      MOVE 2 TO SWP GO TO SAM.IF PCNT &lt; 300      MOVE 3 TO SWP GO TO SAM.IF PCNT = 300      MOVE 1 TO SWP      MOVE ZERO TO PCNT      MOVE 7 TO CSW.SAM.IF CSW = 7 MOVE ZERO TO CSWPERFORM NNC-RTN THRU N-EXIT.JIM.IF SWP = 1MOVE NC1 TO P3, MOVE NC2 TO P2MOVE NNC TO P1, GO TO BILL.IF SWP = 2MOVE NC1 TO P3, MOVE NNC TO P2MOVE NC2 TO P1, GO TO BILL.IF SWP = 3MOVE NNC TO P3, MOVE NC1 TO P2MOVE NC2 TO P1, GO TO BILL.BILL.WRITE PREC FROM HLINE AFTER ADVANCING 1 LINES.H-EXIT.EXIT.NNC-RTN.ADD 1 TO SAB.IF SAB &gt; 23 MOVE 0001 TO SAB.MOVE ALTR (SAB) TO NNC.N-EXIT.EXIT.______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 2 
     For a second demonstration, the IBM System 370 computer and IBM Model 1403 printer were again used, however, a RPG II language compiler was used instead of a COBOL compiler, as used in Example 1. 
     An example of the source program used to produce a six character transaction series is given in Table 12. The data in the input file &#34;ICR03F01&#34; was fictitious and was used only for demonstration. 
     As can be seen, the RPG II language compiler is more difficult to use, and less efficient with this invention than the COBOL language compiler. 
     An example of the transactions, identified by transaction numbers produced by the circuitry created by this embodiment of my invention is given in Table 13. The transaction numbers are referred to as &#34;HERB NO&#34; in Table 13. 
     In this regard, just as my invention offers an apparatus or means, in effect, for superimposing a predetermined sequence over the business arena for purposes of marking and recording transactions--my invention can also be used for giving &#34;number-labels&#34; to addresses along a network. For example, were the present zip code system labeled with transaction numbers marked by my invention, there could be 111/2 times the present amount of zips--while still using only five characters. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the apparatus and system as herein described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
                                           TABLE 12__________________________________________________________________________FCR03F01  IPEAF3200         80       DISK 14                        SYS030SFPRTOUT  C  F   132  OV  PRINTERSYSLSTICR03F01  FO 91       80         C4I                             1  40CNOI                             5 20 NAMEI                            21 262AMTC N84         MOVE `A`   NNNC    1C             SETON                 84C       TCNT  ADD 1      TCNT    80C       PCNT  ADD 1      PCNT    60C       100000         COMP PCNT             414242C      42200000         COMP PCNT             424343C      43300000         COMP PCNT             434444C      44400000         COMP PCNT             444545C      45500000         COMP PCNT             454646C      46600000         COMP PCNT             41C    41  46     Z-ADDO     PCNTC    41  46     SETOF              46C       TAMT  ADD AMT    TAMT    122Q       NC1   ADD 1      NC1     10C       NC1   COMP 0                32C      32NC2  ADD 1      NC2     10C      32NC2 COMP 0              33C      33NC3  ADD 1      NC3     10C      33NC3  COMP 0                34C      34NC4  ADD 1      NC4     10C      34NC4  COMP 0                35C      35NC5  ADD 1      NC5     10C      35NC5  COMP 0                36C      36NNC  COMP `A`              02C      36NNC  COMP `B`              03C      36NNC  COMP `C`              04C      36NNC  COMP `D`              05C      36NNC  COMP `E`              06C      36NNC  COMP `F`              07C      36NNC  COMP `G`              08C      36NNC  COMP `H`              09C      36NNC  COMP `J`              10C      36NNC  COMP `K`              11C      36NNC  COMP `M`              12C      36NNC  COMP `N`              13C      36NNC  COMP `P`              14C      36NNC  COMP `Q`              15C      36NNC  COMP `R`              16C      36NNC  COMP `S`              17C      36NNC  COMP `T`              18C      36NNC  COMP `U`              19C      36NNC  COMP `V`              20C      36NNC  COMP `W`              21C      36NNC  COMP `X`              22C      36NNC  COMP `Y`              23C      36NNC  COMP `Z`              01C             SETOF                 363534C             SETOF                 3332C      02     MOVE `B`   NNCC      03     MOVE `C`   NNCC      04     MOVE `D`   NNCC      05     MOVE `E`   NNCC      06     MOVE `F`   NNCC      07     MOVE `G`   NNCC      08     MOVE `H`   NNCC      09     MOVE `J`   NNCC      10     MOVE `K`   NNCC      11     MOVE `M`   NNCC      12     MOVE `N`   NNCC      13     MOVE `P`   NNCC      14     MOVE `Q`   NNCC      15     MOVE `R`   NNCC      16     MOVE `S`   NNCC      17     MOVE `T`   NNCC      18     MOVE `U`   NNCC      19     MOVE `V`   NNCC      20     MOVE `W`   NNCC      21     MOVE `X`   NNCC      22     MOVE `Y`   NNCC      23     MOVE `Z`   NNCC      01     MOVE `A`   NNCOPRTOUT  H  301        OVO      OR    IPO                         39 `SIX CHARACTER HERB``S`O                         53 `WAY IN RPG II`O                  UPDATE Y                     80O                         104                        `PAGE`O                  PAGE Z 108O      H  33 OVO      OR    IPO                         26 `HERB NO`0                         46 `ACCT NO`O                         72 `CUSTOMER NAME`O                         108                        `AMOUNT`O      D  1     91             41O                  NNC    20O                  NC5    21O                  NC4    220                  NC3    23O                  NC2    240                  NC1    25O                  CNO  Z 44O                  NAME   74O                  AMT  1 108O      D  1     91             42O                  NC5    20O                  NNC    21O                  NC4    22O                  NC3    23O                  NC2    24O                  NC1    25O                  CNO  Z 44O                  NAME   74O                  AMT  1 108O      D  1     91             43O                  NC5    20O                  NC4    21O                  NNC    22O                  NC3    23O                  NC2    24O                  NC1    25O                  CNO  Z 44O                  NAME   74O                  AMT  1 108O      D  1     91             44O                  NC5    20O                  NC4    21O                  NC3    22O                  NNC    23O                  NC2    24O                  NC1    25O                  CNO  Z 44O                  NAME   74O                  AMT  1 108O      D  1     91             45O                  NC5    20O                  NC4    21O                  NC3    22O                  NC2    23O                  NNC    24O                  NC1    25O                  CNO  Z 44O                  NAME   74O                  AMT  1 108O      D  1     91             46O                  NC5    20O                  NC4    21O                  NC3    22O                  NC2    23O                  NC1    24O                  NNC  25O                  CNO  Z 44O                  NAME   74O                  AMT  1 108O      T  3     LRO                         37 `TRANSACTIONS TODAY`O                  TCNT Z 45O                         85 `TODAY``S DOLLAR AMOUNT`O                  TAMT 1 108__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 13______________________________________HERB NO ACCT NO   CUSTOMER NAME    AMOUNT______________________________________A00001  1111      RAY NEWELL       1,967.89A00002  1112      MARK PELTZMAN    656.78A00003  1113      PETER CONROY     2,845.67A00004  1114      LARRY MURPHY     34.56A00005  1115      DON SMITH        3,723.45A00006  1116      RICHARD BLAKE    12.34A00007  1117      BILL EDWARDS     1,001.23A00008  1118      DAVE SIMMONS     10.12A00009  1119      MARSHA WIGGINS   9,999.99A00010  1120      DOMINGO OCHOA    .01A00011  1121      RICHARD SALAS    2.21A00012  1122      SANFORD WONG     6,543.32A00013  1123      PHILLIP WOLFE    4.43A00014  1124      MIKE GREEN       5,325.54A00015  1125      WILLIE COOKS     6.65A00016  1126      JAMES STRANGE    7.76A00017  1127      MARJORIE MAYBREY 3,108.87A00018  1128      JUANITA PICKENS  9.98A00019  1129      ROBERT ROBERTSON 2,670.09A00020  1130      WALTER RALEIGH   2.10A00021  1131      JACK DANIELS     3.21A00022  1132      SAM SYKES        1,894.32A00023  1133      WILE E COYOTE    5.43A00024  1134      LLOYD DESMARIAS  6.54A00025  1345      MARJORIE MABREY  15.00A00026  1442      MAE MABREY       55.79A00027  1735      EDWIN MABREY     132.11A00028  1946      CHARLEY MABREY   32.00A00029  2031      JACK MABREY      1,013.75A00030  4136      YVONNE MABREY    31.03A00031  4174      EDDIE MABREY     932.74A00032  4913      ALTHEA BALDWIN   7,134.93A00033  5013      LAJUANA CHATMAN  30.95A00034  5107      TRACEY MABREY    173.94A00035  5108      TERRU MABREY     39.71A00036  5197      RUTH CHATMAN     5,941.01A00037  5394      SAMUEL BALDWIN   39.11A00038  5411      GERALD HOLMAN    717.19A00039  5417      J J JACKSON      5,555.55A00040  5419      GLEN ARRINGTON   839.14TRANSACTIONS TODAY 40             TODAY&#39;S      62,526,44             DOLLAR             AMOUNT______________________________________