Abstract:
An upgrade card system capable of replacing a prior art credit card terminal system is disclosed. The upgrade card system provides for expanded functionality compared to the prior art credit card terminal system for accepting fleet card payments and providing for additional reports, alerts and different delivery mechanisms.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This applications claims priority to U.S. Prov. Pat. App. No. 61/877,690, filed on Sep. 13, 2013, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The various embodiments and aspects disclosed herein relate to a credit card terminal for a vending machine. 
         [0004]    Vending machines have a mechanism for dispensing a product or service upon receipt of a payment. Typically, the vending machines have a controller at the vending machine and a credit card terminal which coordinates a credit card payment and the activation of the vending machine. Throughout the day, numerous transactions may take place automatically without the owner&#39;s involvement. Unfortunately, these systems still suffer from various operational and functional deficiencies discussed herein. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved system for vending products and services. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An upgrade card system is disclosed which replaces a prior art credit card system. Typically, the upgrade card system and the prior art credit card system is the unit or component of the vending machine that communicates with a financial institution to complete a transaction. The prior art credit card system is typically located within the vending machine itself. The upgrade card system may now be located within the convenience store. The upgrade card system provides for additional operations and functions which were not available from the prior art credit card system. The upgrade card system reroutes all peripheral components of the vending machine such as the card reader, printer, display and keypad through the upgrade card system which then either passes signal from a controller through the upgrade card system to the peripheral units or bypasses the controller to directly control the peripheral units. In this manner, additional functionality and operations are enabled. The upgrade card system additionally has communications lines through a traditional phone line and/or the internet to enable financial transactions. 
         [0007]    More particularly, a vending machine capable of receiving credit card payment or a fleet card payment is disclosed. The vending machine may comprise a card system, a card reader, a display, optional audio output, a keypad, a printer and a controller. The card system may have an internet communication channel for authorizing the credit card payment or the fleet card payment. The card reader may be in direct communication with the card system for reading numbers on a credit card or a fleet card. The display may be in direct communication with the card system for prompting a user for information. The printer may be in direct communication with the card system for outputting a receipt. The keypad may be in direct communication with the card system for receiving user input. The controller may be in communication with a vending mechanism for vending a product and in direct communication with the card system for selectively dispensing a vended product through the vending mechanism. 
         [0008]    The controller controls the display and keypad by relaying control signals through the card system to the display and keypad. The controller receives information from the card reader and the keypad by relaying information from the card reader and keypad to the controller through the card system to the controller when processing a credit card transaction. The card system directly controls the display and keypad and the card system receives information from the card reader and the keypad when processing a fleet card transaction. 
         [0009]    The vending machine may further comprise a plurality of vending machines in communication with each other. One of the card systems of the plurality of vending machines may be set up as a server whereas the remaining card systems of the vending machines may be set up as a client so that all credit card transactions are authorized with the server card system. 
         [0010]    The machine may allow for the user to set configuration settings of the controller through a web browser in communication with the controller by way of the card system. 
         [0011]    The card system of the machine may send reports and alerts to designated email or text message recipients. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, a method of accepting payments with a credit card or with a fleet card on a vending machine is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of swiping a card reader with a card; transmitting information read by the card reader to a card system; processing the information in the card system to determine whether the card is a fleet card or a credit card. If the card is a credit card, then the following steps are performed, namely, (1) sending information to the controller received from a card reader and keypad through the card system; (2) sending information to the display and the printer originating from the controller through the card system; (3) authorizing the credit card over the internet or a modem line. If the card is a fleet card, then the following steps are performed, namely, (1) receiving information from the card reader and the keypad with the card system; (2) sending information to the display and the printer originating from the card system; (3) authorizing the fleet card over the internet or a modem line. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, a method of accepting payments with a credit card or with a fleet card on a vending machine is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of swiping a card reader with a card; transmitting information read by the card reader to a card system; processing the information in the card system to determine whether the card is a fleet card or a credit card; receiving information from the card reader and the keypad with the card system; sending information to the display and the printer originating from the card system; and authorizing the fleet card over the internet or a modem line. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a first embodiment of a prior art credit card terminal system; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a second embodiment of a prior art credit card terminal system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the upgrade card system incorporated into the prior art credit card terminal system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an upgrade card system incorporated into the prior art credit card terminal system shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating steps of the upgrade card system when incorporated into the prior art credit card terminal system shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  for processing credit card payments and fleet cards; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic of the upgrade card system providing internet access to the upgrade card system and a controller of the prior art credit card terminal systems shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of a plurality of upgrade card systems connected to each other in a client-server configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring now to drawings, an upgrade card system  10  is disclosed which interfaces with an existing controller  12   a  or  12   b  of a vending machine  14  for providing additional functionality to operators of existing vending machines  14 . The upgrade card system  10  provides for additional functionality by replacing the existing card system with the upgrade card system  10 . In doing so, the vending machine  14  is now able to accept other types of payment systems (e.g., fleet cards) and also provides remote capabilities of configuring and receiving alerts and reports from the controller  12   a  or  12   b  and the upgrade card system  10 . The upgrade card system  10  interfaces with the controller  12   a  or  12   b  and other peripheral devices of the vending machine  14  that were previously controlled by the controller  12 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , prior art vending machine systems are shown. In  FIG. 1 , a user swipes a credit card into a card reader. The card reader may be located near, on or within the vending machine. The card reader reads the card number and transmits that information to the controller. The controller may provide visual and/or audio prompts to the user on the display to select a product to be dispensed from the vending machine. The user enters the selection by way of the keypad or other pushbuttons. Once the selection is made, the controller has the credit card number and the amount to be charged. The controller  12   a  transmits this information to the card system. The card system reaches out to a financial institution to obtain authorization for the credit card charge. Once the credit card charge is authorized, the card system transmits a signal to the controller indicating that the credit card charge is authorized. The controller sends a signal to the vending machine to vend the product or service and also sends a signal to the printer to print a receipt if desired by the user. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a different prior art vending machine system in which the card reader does not communicate directly with the controller but communicates directly with the card system. In this instance, the card reader reads a credit card number from a credit card. The credit card number is transmitted to the card system. The card system upon receiving the credit card number queries the controller for the amount to be charged. The controller may prompt the user to select a product to be dispensed from the vending machine by way of the display. The user enters a selection by way of the keypad or other pushbuttons. Once the selection is made, the controller sends the amount to be charged based on the user&#39;s selection to the card system. The card system reaches out to the financial institution to obtain authorization for the charge. Upon receiving authorization, the card system sends a signal to the controller indicating that the credit card charge is authorized. The controller may also send a signal to the printer to print a receipt if desired by the user. 
         [0025]    The prior art systems shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  do not allow for fleet cards and other payment systems. Rather, these systems are limited to credit card transactions and special keypad codes that may be purchased from the cashier to operate the vending machine. Additionally, the prior art systems shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  may have no alert features and do not allow for remote access. The phone line connection is may solely be used for managing credit card transactions. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , two different controllers  12   a  or  12   b  are shown which can interface with the upgrade card system  10 . In  FIG. 3 , the upgrade card system  10  is configured to operate with the controller  12   a.  The controller  12   a  operates similar to the controller shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 4 , the upgrade card system  10  is configured to operate with the controller  12   b.  The controller  12   b  operates similar to the controller shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a first embodiment of a vending machine  14  with the upgrade card system  10  is shown. The peripheral units such as the card reader  16 , display  18 , printer  20  and keypad  22  are in direct electrical communication with the upgrade card system  10  to receive information from the peripheral units and/or to transmit information to the peripheral units. The controller  12 , display  18 , printer  20 , card reader  16  and the keypad  22  are located near the product dispenser  24 . The product dispenser  24  may be a garage access gate, car wash, fuel dispenser, food dispenser, vending machine, and any type of automatic machine operated upon payment of a monetary fee or other payment mechanism. The upgrade card system  10  is typically located within the vending machine but may also be located inside of a convenience store. The upgrade card system  10  processes the payment. 
         [0028]    The upgrade card system  10  can be configured to operate with controller  12   a  or controller  12   b.  In particular, the upgrade card system  10  can have a physical switch or configuration setting to choose either option  1  or option  2  shown in  FIG. 5  when processing a credit card transaction. 
         [0029]    The upgrade card system  10  may have two communication ports  26 ,  28 . The communication port  26  may be in communication with a phone line so that the upgrade card system  10  can conduct credit card authorizations and fleet card authorizations through traditional phone line communications. The communication port  28  may be a coaxial connector or a CAT  5  connector used for providing Internet access by way of cable or a digital subscriber line (DSL). The communication port  28  provides a preferred means of obtaining credit card and fleet card authorizations instead of the phone line. The phone line connected to the communication port  26  may function as a backup system in the event that Internet access is disrupted. 
         [0030]    The upgrade card system  10  may also have additional connectors for providing communication between the card reader  16 , display  18 , printer  20  and the keypad  22 . As discussed above, the peripheral units  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  are located near the product dispenser  24  where the customer or user of the vending machine  14  is making payment. The upgrade card system  10  is located typically within the vending machine but may also be located in a separate building such as the convenience store on the same premises as the product dispenser. The communication line between the upgrade card system  10  and the peripheral units  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  may be made with a hardwired connection that is routed between the upgrade card system  10  and the peripheral units  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22 . Alternatively, it is also contemplated that the communication between the upgrade card system  10  and the peripheral units  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  may be established with a wireless connection such as Wi-Fi. The wireless Wi-Fi connection may be encrypted in order to protect the financial transaction. It is contemplated that the upgrade card system  10  may have a transceiver located in the convenience store and connected to the upgrade card system  10 . The peripheral units  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  located at the product dispenser  24  may have a transceiver as well. The transceiver of the product dispenser  24  may be in a wireless communication with the transceiver connected to the upgrade card system  10 . 
         [0031]    The upgrade card system  10  may also be in communication with the controller  12   a  with a hardwired connection or a wireless connection. A hardwired connection would require the upgrade card system  10  and the controller  12   a  to each have a connector which receives a hardwired line that extends from the upgrade card system  10  to the controller  12   a.  If wireless communication is established between the upgrade card system  10  and the controller  12   a,  then the controller  12   a  may communicate with the upgrade card system  10  by way of the transceiver located near the product dispenser  24  which transmits information to the transceiver in communication with the upgrade card system  10 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the operation of the vending machine  14  shown in  FIG. 3  will be discussed. The user may approach the product dispenser  24  to receive the product dispensed by the vending machine  14 . In order to actuate the product dispenser  24 , the user may swipe either a credit card or a fleet card into the card reader  16 . The card number is transmitted to the upgrade card system  10  by way of communication line  30 . The upgrade card system  10  receives  100  the card number and determines  102  whether the card being swiped is either a credit card or a fleet card by inspecting the numbers of the card. In either case, the credit card number or a dummy credit card number is transmitted  104  to the controller  12   a  since the controller  12   a  is expecting to receive a credit card number. The credit card information is transmitted  104  to the controller  12   a  from the upgrade card system  10  by way of communication line  52 . In this sense, the upgrade card system  10  emulates or spoofs the controller  12   a  into operating as it would have as shown in  FIG. 1  in the prior art vending machine  14 . At this point, the controller  12   a  drives the transaction and the upgrade card system  10  merely passes information between the controller  12   a  and the peripheral units  18 ,  20  and  22 . In particular, the controller  12   a  may prompt the user to enter a selection if the user has not done so yet by sending a text based message to the display  18  through the upgrade card system  10  by way of communication lines  32 ,  34 . The controller receives a vend selection  108 . 
         [0033]    The controller  12   a  sends a signal to the upgrade card system  10  via communication line  40  and requests that the upgrade card system  10  obtains  110  credit card authorization from a financial institution by way of the Internet connection line  46 . If the Internet connection is interrupted, then the upgrade card system  10  may obtain credit card authorizations through the phone communication line  48 . The benefit of having the Internet connection line  46  is that obtaining credit card authorization through the Internet is faster than obtaining credit card authorization through the phone line  48 . By way of example and not limitation, the time required to obtain credit card authorization over the Internet may be a few seconds, whereas, the time required to obtain credit card authorization through the phone line  48  may take up to a minute. During peak usage times of the vending machine  14 , there may be a number of people waiting to utilize the vending machine  14 . If there is an excessive wait time, then obtaining credit card authorization through the phone line may be unacceptably slow. As such, it is preferred that the credit card authorization be through the Internet communication line  46  and if the Internet communication line  46  is interrupted, then the upgrade card system  10  may utilize the phone line  48  as a backup. 
         [0034]    Once credit card authorization is received, the upgrade card system  10  transmits  112  the authorization to the controller  12   a  by way of communication line  40 . With this authorization, the controller  12   a  activates the product dispenser  24  to vend the product by transmitting a signal to the product dispenser by way of communication line  50 . The product dispenser  24  may be a carwash, access gate in a parking garage, a gasoline pump, or other vendible product or service. At some point during the transaction, the upgrade card system  10  sends a signal to the printer  20  to print  114  a receipt by way of communication lines  44 . 
         [0035]    If the card number is a fleet card number upon inspection of the card numbers, the upgrade card system  10  transmits a signal to the display  18  to prompt  116  the user to enter vehicle data. The user enters the vehicle data (e.g., odometer reading and vehicle number) by way of keypad  22 . The information entered into the keypad  22  is received  116  by the upgrade card system  10 . The controller  10  then prompts  108  the user to provide a vend selection by displaying text on the display  18  by way of communication line  32  and  34  and receive  108  the vend selection. Thereafter, the upgrade card system  10  may obtain  120  the fleet card authorization by communicating with the financial institution by way of the Internet connection line  46  or the phone line  48 . Once the fleet card authorization is received, the upgrade card system  10  may transmit  112  the authorization to the controller  12   a  through communication line  40 . The controller  12   a  may activate the product dispenser  24  to vend the product. At some point during the transaction, the upgrade card system  10  may send a signal to the printer  20  to print  114  a receipt through communication line  44 . 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 3 , the controller  12   a  drives the entire transaction with the user when a credit card is involved. However, when the card being swiped is a fleet card, the upgrade card system  10  spoofs the controller  12   a  into thinking that a credit card transaction is being made and drives the rest of the transaction with the user and the financial institution. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the upgrade card system  10  can interface with controller  12   b  which operates in a similar fashion to that shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the operation of the vending machine  14  is as follows. The user swipes a card in the card reader  16 . The card number is transmitted and received  100  by the upgrade card system  10  through communication line  30 . The upgrade card system  10  detects whether the card being swiped is a credit card number or fleet card number based on the numbers themselves. If the card being swiped is a credit card, then the upgrade card system  10  proceeds through option two shown in  FIG. 5 . In particular, the controller  10  prompts  108  the user to enter a vend selection by displaying text on the display  18 . The controller sends a signal to the display  18  via the upgrade card system through communication lines  32  and  34 . The controller receives a vend selection  108 . The controller  12   a  sends a signal to the upgrade card system  10  via communication line  40  and requests that the upgrade card system  10  obtains  110  credit card authorization from a financial institution. The upgrade card system  10  obtains  110  credit card authorization by reaching out to the financial institution by way of the phone line  48  through a communication port  26  or preferably the Internet connection line  46  through communication port  28 . Once the upgrade card system  10  receives the credit card authorization from the financial institution, the upgrade card system  10  transmits  112  the authorization to the controller  12  through communication line  40 . The controller  12  activates the product dispenser  24  to dispense the product or service by sending a signal through communication line  50 . The controller  12   b  also transmits a signal to the printer  20  to print  114  a receipt by sending a signal through communication lines  42 ,  44 . 
         [0038]    If the card being swiped is a fleet card then the upgrade card system  10  processes the transaction as described above in relation to  FIG. 3  and the fleet card option shown in  FIG. 5 . A special receipt specific to fleet cards can be printed on the printer  20  by the upgrade card system via communication line  44 . 
         [0039]    In another aspect, the upgrade card system  10  allows an operator of the vending machine  14  to remotely configure the controller  12   a  or  12   b  and also configure the upgrade card system  10 . In particular, the upgrade card system  10  may be connected to the internet. The operator may access a web address of the upgrade card system  10  by way of a web browser  60 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The web browser  60  accesses the configuration options of the upgrade card system and the controller options. The upgrade card system options include but are not limited to an email address, phone number to text and/or fax number where reports and alerts may be sent to. The upgrade card system may also provide an option to set the time of day to run a settlement or post. The upgrade card system may have a number of other options for configuration which can be accessed remotely through the web browser  60 . The web browser can also access the configuration options of the controller  12  by way of the upgrade card system  10 . The upgrade card system interfaces with the controller  12  so that the upgrade card system  10  can configure the options of the controller  12 . The upgrade card system is also connected to the internet  62 . The web browser  60  accesses the configuration settings of the controller by way of the upgrade card system. The controller options may include information as to the price of one or more of the vend selections and other options as well. 
         [0040]    The vending machine  14  may have one or more sensors  64 . By way of example and not limitation, the sensors  64  may sense a low change status, out of soap status, or other status related to the operation of the product dispenser  24  or other aspects of the vending machine. The sensors  64  may send a signal to the upgrade card system  10  directly or through the controller  12 . The upgrade card system  10  may send the alert in any preferred manner set up by the operator. By way of example and not limitation, the alerts may be sent through email, text to the phone number listed in the upgrade card system or fax number. 
         [0041]    The upgrade card system  10  may be set up as a client server situation. When there are multiple product dispensers  24  (e.g., multiple car washes or fuel pumps), each one of the product dispensers will have a controller and an upgrade card system. A first upgrade card system  10   a  may have the internet and phone line  46 ,  48 , so as to be set up as a server while the remaining upgrade card systems  10   b - 10   n  are set up as a client to the first upgrade card system. When authorizations are being made, all authorizations are being made through first upgrade card system. Additionally, all reports and alerts are sent out to the intended recipients through the first upgrade card system. The web browser  60  may access the server and client upgrade card systems and controllers to configure the options for these components. 
         [0042]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of communicating between the upgrade card system and the controller. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.