Patent GB-1152933-A (GB)
Title: Identification Card Control System
Inventor: GOLDMAN ROBERT NORMAN
IPC: G07F7/12
Filed: 1967-06-12
Abstract: 1,152,933. Cheeking credit cards, identification cards &c. TELECREDIT Inc. 12 June, 1967 [16 June, 1966], No. 27100/67. Heading G4T. A control system for use with credit cards, employee identification cards, or the like, having data recorded thereon relating to the past use of the card, includes means for sensing data recorded on a card presented thereto and preventing the card being used too frequently in a predetermined time interval. For example, the system may prevent a credit card or employee identification card being used more than once a day or limit the holder of a credit card to a fixed amount of credit in each month. In the first embodiment, Fig. 5, the credit card or employee identification card carries two magnetic tracks 40, 42, the first recording the last date on which the card was used and the second spaced timing pulses C. The control apparatus includes date drums preset to generate binary signals D1-D9 A card inserted in the apparatus is conveyed past microswitches M1-M3, reading heads 78, 80, and recording heads 88, 89. Initially, the card closes microswitch M1 to set flip-flop P1. The set output is applied to AND gate 136, triggered by timing pulses C to step a ring counter 140. The latter controls AND gates A1-A9 passing-the signals D1-D9 to AND gates 150, 190. The gate 150 is controlled by set output P1 to pass the signals D1-D9 to AND gate 152 and through INVERTER 154 to AND gate 162. The date signals R read from the card are applied to AND gate 162 and the inverted signals R<SP>1</SP> applied to AND gate 152. If the dates are the same, or, if the date on the card is later than the date set on the apparatus, the flip-flop 164 remains reset indicating that the card is unacceptable. The card now closes microswitch M2 to reset flip-flop P1 and set flip-flop P2. The set output P2 is applied to AND gates 182, 184 and 190. The flip-flop 186 is set (NG) or reset (NG<SP>1</SP>) according to whether the card is unacceptable or acceptable. If acceptable, the AND gate 190 passes the signals D1-D9 to the recording head 88 updating the card. The outputs NG, NG<SP>1</SP> control flip-flops 208, 206 energizing rejection or acceptance lamps 20, 18, respectively. If both flip-flops 206, 208 remain reset, a lamp 22 is illuminated to indicate a fault. In the second embodiment, Fig. 7, the credit card bears information relating to the last month in which the card was used, together with-the total amount of credit received in that month, all recorded in track 40. The control apparatus includes a date drum preset to generate binary signals D1-D4 and an amount drum adjusted to display the amount of credit sought and generate binary signals D5-D9. A selected switch 301, 303, 305 and 307 is closed by the sales assistant according to the total amount of credit available to the holder in any month. The date signals D1-D4 are passed to AND gate 262 and through INVERTER 264 to AND gate 266. The date signal recorded on the credit card is applied to AND gate 266 and the inverted signal applied to AND gate 262. The flip-flop 272 is set (V) or reset (V<SP>1</SP>) according to whether the card is valid or invalid, respectively. Flip-flop 280 is set (I) or reset [I<SP>1</SP>) according to whether the dates are the same, or not, respectively. The reset output V<SP>1</SP> and set output I control AND gate 321 to set flip-flop 317, the set output NG operating reject lamp 352. When the card is valid and the dates differ, the signals D5-D9 are passed by AND gates 260 and 301, and OR gate 303 to a register 300. When the card is valid and the dates the same, the signals D5-D9 are passed by AND gates 260 and 288 and the amount recorded on the credit card is passed by AND gate 292, whereby the total is summed in adder 294. The total is applied through OR gate 303 to the register 300. To ensure that the credit limit is not exceeded, the appropriate AND gate 291, 293, 295, 297 is triggered when the limit is reached to set flip-flop 313. If a signal passes OR gate 303 after flip-flop 313 has been set, AND gate 315 is triggered to set flip-flop 317. The amount stored in register 300 is recorded on the card during the second phase of operation (P2).