Device for exchanging information between a cash register and a payment-processing device

(54) NAME System for payment processing and signal processing device in such a system (56) PUBLICATIONS Cited: - - - (57) SUMMARY: The invention relates to a system (10, 50, 70, 90) for payment processing and a signal processing device ( 50) comprising a data port (40) for communication with a cash register (10).

The signal processing device further comprises a second data port (60) for communication with a presentation device (70) and a third data port for communication with a payment manager (90), and a buffer unit for storing data. The device is arranged, upon receipt of a first set of data at the first data port, to deliver it to a detector unit for checking the first set of data. The detector unit is arranged to forward the first amount of data to the buffer unit, and this is arranged to temporarily store the obtained data and then deliver it to the second data port. The detector unit is arranged to generate a detection signal and deliver it to the third data port, depending on a detected end code. A computing unit is arranged to wait for a pay signal from the third data port, and to generate an amount of information (380) depending on the receipt of the pay signal. The signal processing device is arranged to produce a second data set and deliver it to the second data port, depending on the first data set and the generated amount of information (380).

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The numbers in brackets indicate international identification code, INID code. Letters in clamps indicate international document code.

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Background of the invention

In the retail trade, it is known to use a cash register to enter prices for the goods a customer purchases and also to enter the amount that a customer has paid. According to the prior art, a cash register comprises means for calculating the sum of the prices of the goods, also called the requested amount, and means for calculating the difference between the amount paid and the amount requested.

According to known technology, the cash register is linked to a receipt printer. The cash register has a function for delivering information to the receipt printer so that it can print a receipt. In addition, it has an order function that activates the receipt printer. In addition, the cash register contains a data processing unit to calculate, for example, the difference between the amount paid and the amount requested, which works according to the cash register's specially adapted software.

Furthermore, it is known to attach to a cash register a cash handling equipment, of type CashGuard (registered trademark), which is described in EP-A-0 615 643, whose task is to handle, ie receive and assess, banknotes and coins in a secure way . Furthermore, the purpose of this equipment is to deliver the correct exchange rate and thereby eliminate or reduce the risk of wastage and / or the possibility of improper use of money. However, in order for this payment processing equipment to perform its tasks, it needs to access the information that the cash register handles. Examples of such information are the amount requested.

According to the prior art, it is necessary to adapt the above-mentioned software in the cash register to deliver the correct information to the cash handling equipment and to have the correct printouts delivered from the cash register to the receipt printer.

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Cash registers and payment management equipment have been linked together by connecting the same directly to an interface in the cash register, which then, depending on the cash register's make and execution, has to be modified to achieve the desired function. This has proven to be cumbersome and time-consuming as this is to be done for every model and make of cash register to be used with a payment processing equipment. It is forced to make changes to the cash register's computer program, which may require the cash register manufacturer's participation or permission. In addition, today's cash registers are often built up in a computer network, which can mean that changes or connections cannot be made without having to shut down the entire cash system.

Objects of the present invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a payment processing equipment which is advantageously easy to connect to a cash register and its receipt printer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of payment processing which is connectable to various types of cash registers without having to carry out modification of the cash register, neither in terms of its hardware nor its software.

A further object of this invention is to provide an equipment that can easily and cost-effectively upgrade existing cash registers and, at a limited cost, increase the security of the means of payment.

These, and other objects as set forth in the accompanying specification, are achieved by a device of the kind set forth in claim 1, claim 6, claim 7 and claim 8.

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Brief description of the drawings

In order for the present invention to be readily understood and embodied, it will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a prior art device;

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the signal handling device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a first embodiment of a method according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows a flow chart of a second embodiment of the method;

Figure 5 shows a first embodiment of the system according to the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the system according to the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of the system according to the present invention;

Figure 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the system according to the present invention;

Figure 9 shows a block diagram of a payment processing system according to one embodiment;

Figure 10 shows a functional block diagram of the signal management unit 50.

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Detailed description of the drawings

Figure 2 is a block diagram in principle of one embodiment of the device.

A cash register 10 includes means 20 for entering data, such as, for example, price information, and a data port 30 for data communication. Via the data port 30, the cash register 10 is connected to a first data port 40 of a signal handling device 50, hereinafter referred to as the device 50.

The device 50 includes a second data port 60 for communication with the presentation device 70, and a third data port 80 for communication with a payment processing equipment 90, hereinafter referred to as the equipment 90.

The presentation device 70 may be a printer such as a receipt printer. Alternatively, it may be a monitor or a combination of printers and monitors.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention. According to a first embodiment of the method, this comprises the steps of

SIA Generates a first data set in response to data entered in the cash register 10, and provides the first data set encoded according to a first predetermined code.

S1B delivers the first amount of data to data port 40 via data port 30.

S1C receives data from the data port 40. This data may consist of text and / or figures such as price information with the associated product designation and number, for example Toothbrush, 2 x X SEK;

S2 determines whether the received data corresponds to a predetermined code, e.g. receipt completion generated by a cash register 10 connected to the data port 40;

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<td>S3</td><td>in the event the data received does not correspond to the predetermined code, transmit said data to the data port 60. The data delivered to the data port 60 is forwarded to the display device 70, to control their function. This control data may include such information as, for example, numbers and / or text to be printed, the design and layout of the information, and information on whether the transmitted information should be presented. Then step SI follows again.</td>

<td>S4</td><td>In case the data received corresponds to the predetermined code, the device 50 requests information as the current value of the amount paid. This value is generated by the equipment 90 as banknotes and / or coins are entered into the equipment 90. Alternatively, the present value of the amount paid may be generated by a card reader who reads a credit card in a well-known manner;</td>

<td>S5</td><td>Receive information on amount paid from equipment 90 via data port 80;</td>

<td>S6</td><td>Perform control of information. This check may include a calculation of whether the relationship between the amount paid and the amount requested meets certain conditions;</td>

<td>S7</td><td>In case the control conditions are not met, step S5 should be performed again. If the control conditions are met, information on the requested amount and information on the paid amount must be provided to the data port 60 (step S8);</td>

<td>S9</td><td>When this step of the procedure is reached, the data received from data port 40 has been processed according to the steps described above, which means that a secure payment for goods has been obtained at the equipment.</td>

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90 °. The equipment 50 controls the presentation device 70 to present selected information.

A second embodiment of the method is illustrated in Figure 4. According to the second embodiment, the first steps correspond to the steps described SIA, SIB SIC, S2 and S3.

The code that is checked in step S2 is the code for receipt clearance, ie a confirmation from the cash register that price information for all the goods that a customer wants to buy has been entered. When, in step S2, the code is received and found to be tuned, according to the second embodiment, the steps are performed:

S4B Send a message to payment processing equipment 90, instructing the operator to enter payment method.

Then steps S5B and S6B are performed.

In step S5B, the equipment 90 generates a request signal to an operator that payment means need to be entered. This signal can be presented via a display means 100 arranged at the equipment 90. According to a variant of the invention, the request signal is delivered to the presentation device 70 so as to alert the operator that payment means need to be entered.

According to the second embodiment, step S6B comprises calculating a difference D between paid amount B | and requested amount B_A·

D = Bi - B_A.

According to the second embodiment of the method, the difference D is compared with a preset value K. The value K determines which difference D can be accepted between the amounts Bj and B_A.

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According to a variant of the invention, the variable K has a value of zero, and the criterion for the control step S7B is that D is greater than or equal to K.

If the variable K has the preset value zero, this control step means that the amount paid in must be greater than or equal to the amount requested in order for the equipment 90 to be able to spend some money.

Step S8B is performed if the control criteria described above are met. In step S8B, the presentation device 70, via the data port 60, supplies information such as paid amount Bj, requested amount B_A and the difference D.

After step S8B, step S9 described above is performed.

S10 After step S9, device 50 generates a ready signal which is delivered to equipment 90.

Upon receipt of the ready signal, equipment 90 performs the steps required to output cash to a sum corresponding to the difference D. In addition, in the cash handling equipment 90, internal payments for payments for the current transaction can be reset so that a new operating cycle can be started.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 5, the signal processing unit (50) is a single unit physically separated from a cash register (10), a presentation device (70) and payment processing equipment (90).

The second, third and fourth embodiments, shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 respectively, show how the signal handling unit (50) is an integral part of the cash register (10), the presentation device (70) and the payment processing equipment (90).

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Fig. 9 shows a block diagram of a payment processing system according to one embodiment. The system includes a data input unit 20 which is integrated into the cash register 10. The data input unit 20 is intended for input of a first data set, from which data set the first digit value Ba is countable.

The data input unit 20 is arranged to provide the first amount of data encoded according to a first predetermined code to the cash register data bus 30.

The system further includes a storage means 200, integrated in the payment processing equipment 90, for storing payment means such as banknotes and coins. These means of payment are provided in the storage means 200 in an anti-theft manner and can be removed from the storage means only by an output means 220 in accordance with a payout signal.

The equipment 90 comprises at least one input unit 210 for feeding payment means to the storage means 200.

The payment unit input unit comprises a detector means 230 for generating a second digit value (Bi) in response to the entered payment means.

The system further comprises signal processing device 50 including a control means which, depending on the first digit value and the second digit value, is arranged to generate the payout signal. The control means comprises a first memory means 240 in which at least one selectable program routine is stored in a memory segment 250.

In a second memory segment 260, a second selectable program routine is stored. A computer unit 270 is arranged to operate in accordance with the selected program routine. The memory means 240 may comprise a plurality of program routines, each program routine being adapted to cause the computer unit to interpret the first set of data according to each of their specific codes. In order to

504 358 setting the unit 50 for communication with a specific type of cash register, a therefore adapted program routine is selected.

The selection of the program routine may be carried out by means of a selection means 280 which can communicate with the computer unit 270. The selection means may comprise a set of hardware switches which can be set in the desired position by an operator, or alternatively the selection can be made automatically by switching the device 50 to a cash register 10 or to a presentation means. 70th

Figure 10 shows a functional block diagram of the signal management unit 50. A first amount of data received by the port 40 passes a detector 300 which is tasked with reading the data and detecting the data code for receipt termination 310.

The first set of data comprises one or more data sets, Each data set may include a character combination and one or more numbers. For example, the character combination can be a commodity designation, and the numbers can be a number and / or a price quote.

As long as the receipt end 310 code does not appear, all data is forwarded, via a data buffer 320, to the data port 60.

To the data port 60, a receipt printer 70 is connectable. The receipt printer 70 prints the data coming from the data port 60.

The data buffer 320 stores any amount of data obtained from the port 40 first-in-first out and then delivers the information to the data port 60. Initially, the data to the receipt printer 70 is delayed, however, for such a short time that it does not affect the handling or function of the cash register 10. , but for sufficient time to allow the signal processing unit 50 to process the data contained in the buffer 320. In this processing, a second set of data is generated, and thus final printing is manipulated.

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When detector 300 detects the receipt end 310 data code, the receipt printer 70 is momentarily stopped, after which a detection signal 330 is generated by the detector 300 and delivered to a transmitter unit 340 which delivers via a data bus 350 requesting the payment processing equipment 90 to provide payment amount information B1.

Upon receipt of this request signal, the equipment 90 delivers information on paid amount Bi via the data bus 350 to a receiving unit 360. The receiving unit 360 and the transmitter unit 340 are included in the data port 80.

A computing unit 370 calculates the difference D between the amount Bi delivered by the payment processing equipment 90 and the requested amount Ba delivered by the cash register 10. The requested amount Ba is in the data buffer. The requested amount Ba is in the first data set among the data arriving at the buffer 320 prior to the receipt end 310 data code. This data set includes a designation which is usually subtotal or total and a number corresponding to the requested amount Ba.

If the amount Bi paid into the payment processing equipment 90 exceeds or equals the requested amount Ba from the cash register 10, the receipt shall be terminated by adding in the data buffer 320 an information set 380. The information set 380 is supplied before the data set for receipt completion 380. including texts and sums of the requested amount Ba, the paid amount Bi, and any exchange reproduction D. This information set 380 along with the receipt end 310 data code constitutes the closing portion of the second data set. Once the entire second amount of data has been delivered to the data port 60, the receipt printer 70 is instructed to complete the final print and complete the receipt.

The computing unit 370 generates a signal 390 in response to the closing of the receipt, which is delivered via the sending unit 340 to the payment processing equipment 90 which

504 358 is requested to pay out any difference D in exchange if the difference D is greater than zero. Thus, an internal counter for payments in respect of the current transaction can be reset in the payment processing equipment 90 so that a new operating cycle can be started.

If the response Bi of the payment processing equipment 90 does not reach the requested amount, the sending unit 340 of the device 50 delivers, in one embodiment, a request signal to the payment processing equipment 90. Depending on the payment processing equipment 90, further payment is required.

The receipt printer 70 will close the receipt only when it receives the code for receipt closing 310. This will not happen until the payment amounts to at least the amount requested by the cash register (70). The cash register 10 can also receive a wait signal 400 from the receipt printer 70 via a bus 410. Alternatively, the wait signal can be generated by the calculator 370 and delivered to the cash register. The turn signal informs that the printout is not complete, which can prevent the cash register 10 from starting new registrations in a new case corresponding to a new receipt.

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