Computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles by credit cards

Abstract

 The present invention relates to the technical field of electronic apparatus for telemonitoring and automatic book-keeping and more particularly to a computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles through credit cards. The apparatus comprises an intelligent terminal (1) fitted for example to a taxi, in which there are a microprocessor (3), a plurality of RAMs (5) and EPROMs (4) a display (8) with a keyboard (9), all connected to the taximeter (11) present in said vehicles, which in this case must be of the digital type so that it may interact with said intelligent terminal or, alternatively, the apparatus itself can act as a taximeter; said terminal is also provided with a badge reader (7) to read the credit cards used by the user to pay the fare; the whole memory (5), when transactions have been loaded, can be unloaded, through an appropriate terminal, to a central processor which stores and files the total amount of all fixed, periodic and ordinary, payment operations relating to the management of taxi journeys. Obviously said terminal can also be fitted to other moving vehicles and is managed by a specific software controlling all transaction operations relating to said field, which are then printed by a printer (10) connected to the same intelligent terminal (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles by credit cards.

[0002] It is known that in the field of transportation as far as public or private means subjected to a fare are concerned, there is the particular problem related to the payment of the passage-money by the user. It is usually a cash payment, but this solution has several restrictions. In fact the operation is not of the automated type, sometimes problems arises due to lack of ready money, thefts are possible, book-keeping becomes more difficult and it is not possible to have the payment of the amount delayed; in addition possible extra expenses cannot be charged readily.

[0003] It is also necessary to prepare different types of receipts for the various services and in addition possible necessary controls carried out by firms on the actual expenses of their staff travelling on transfer is not easy, due to the fact that said receipts are drawn up on paper material and by hand.

[0004] For the above reason the automatization of this payment-recording form has been studied in which credit cards from emitter companies appointed to this end are used.

[0005] Presently marketed devices which carry out such functions are connected through modem and telephone line to particular data collection centres belonging to the credit card emitting companies and allow the recording of all transactions, upon authorization by the emitter company, but only at particular fixed sites directly supplied from the main, such as for example Bancomat. For the above reason it is however rather difficult for a travelling user to be able to pay everywhere by credit cards, as he should always be in a place where there is a site connected on a telephone line with the emitter company.

[0006] Obviously this is not always possible and consequently there is a number of restrictions. That is why cash payment is the only one normally used although, as already said, it does not offer an easy recording form and in some cases, above all at night, it causes an increase in stealing possibilities.

[0007] The main object of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks as regards known systems and devices currently in use, by providing a computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles by credit cards, which can ensure an optimal management of the transaction in a very simple and reliable manner at any place, while allowing a strict control thereon by the emitter companies whenever and wherever there is a vehicle having the apparatus installed on board.

[0008] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of a computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles through credit cards, characterized in that it comprises an intelligent terminal installed in the vehicle, wherein there are a microprocessor, a plurality of RAMs, one of which is extractable, a plurality of EPROMs, a display with a keyboard, a printer and a badge reader, all connected in a circuit, said intelligent terminal being in turn connected in a circuit with the tachometer/taximeter on board of the vehicle from which it takes the fare cost data as well as, through connecting means, with a remote on-board terminal, with which the customer keys in his secret identity number, all that being managed by a specific software relating to fixed, periodic and ordinary, payment operations.

[0009] Further features and advantages of the invention will best be understood from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles through credit cards, given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the only figure shows a block diagram of the intelligent terminal and the remote on-board terminal according to the present invention.

[0010] Referring to the drawing, the intelligent terminal usually installed for example on board of a taxi has been identified by reference numeral 1 and outlined with dashes, whereas the remote on-board terminal by which the customer keys in his personal identity number (PIN) has been identified by 2 and outlined with dashes as well.

[0011] In the intelligent terminal 1 there are a microprocessor 3 provided with an EPROM 4 in which the whole management software relating to all fixed periodic and ordinary transaction operations which are present in the field of payments carried out in public/private vehicles subjected to a fare, are allocated.

[0012] Microprocessor 3 is also provided with a RAM 5, consisting of several memories, one of which is a buffer (not shown) and another is the extractable memory into which all transaction operations carried out during the working period are loaded.

[0013] Alternatively, the extractable RAM can be replaced by an optical disk memory.

[0014] 6 denotes a clock enabling time scanning and acting as a date recorder.

[0015] Microprocessor 3 is also connected with a badge reader 7 designed to read the credit cards used by passengers to pay the fare. A display 8 allows monitoring of all operations carried out and keyed in by the operator, through a keyboard 9, as regards both payment and initial keying-ins. In addition, the remote on-board terminal 2 is provided with a keyboard 13, to be used by the customer, to key in his personal identity number, which keyboard is connected to the microprocessor 3 by cable or by optical means such as infrared rays, through the respective interfaces 15 and 15bis passing through the corresponding encoding/decoding means 14 and 12.

[0016] Each transaction operation causes the emission of a double paper receipt by a printer 10 so that the user can be given a receipt and there is also a base list of all operations for the operator.

[0017] Obviously the microprocessor 3 in the apparatus 1 is connected in a circuit with the digital tachometer 11 which usually can be a normal digital taximeter to be fitted to a taxi or already installed therein.

[0018] Alternatively, instead of using a taximeter, the same functions can be performed by the apparatus 1 itself, which processes the parameters of the tachometer costs and travelled time, receiving all necessary data from corresponding means (speedometer and clock).

[0019] Operation of the apparatus according to the invention described above mainly as regards structure, is as follows.

[0020] At the beginning of each journey, for example by taxi, the operator, that is the taxi driver, resets the apparatus and the departure fare appears on display 8. When the journey has begun the apparatus 1 behaves as a normal taximeter and the fare is increased depending upon the time and distance travelled. At the end of the journey, the operator adds extras, if any, using the keyboard 9 in which there are particular keys for each of possible options which are likely to be present in this particular field. If the user wishes to pay cash, the operator, using the keyboard, only digitizes the emission of the paper receipt through the printer 10 and this operation is stored in RAMs 5. If, on the contrary, payment takes place by credit card, the operator introduces the user's credit card into the badge reader 7 which reads the credit card code, controls the expiration date of the credit card (if the credit card has already expired it automatically invalidates the operation and shows cash payment) and allows the customer to digitize, through the keyboard 13, his personal identity number (PIN). If said number is recognized, the emission of a receipt, by means of printer 10, is enabled and the operation is stored. It is stated that if the personal identity number has not been recognized for n times, the procedure allowing payment by credit card is automatically invalidated and cash payment is requested.

[0021] In the receipt there are both identity data and time data, that is referring to date and hour, as well as the amount of the fare, the amount of extras and the taxi code. All remaining data are stored in the recorded transaction, the progressive transaction number included.

[0022] Also recorded in the memory is the credit card code in order to identify the user.

[0023] Usually, whenever it is necessary, the operator must arrange his equipment so that the apparatus 1 may be ready for use with all exact parameters concerning fares, extras, vehicle code number, date, etc. All these operations are carried out through the operator's secret code and are stored in the non-volatile memory. Obviously some data such as those relating for example to the application of a particular fare are directly allocated in EPROM 4 by the manufacturer and therefore they cannot be modified unless the apparatus is brought back to the manufacturer and for the above reason apparatus 1 must be type-tested as a common taximeter fitted to all taxis.

[0024] When the extractable RAM 5 has been filled, or the operator has finished work, or when he judges it suitable, the transferring of the memory contents is carried out, so that all transactions previously executed may be communicated to the credit card emitting company or to the bank associated with such a circuit.

[0025] Usually that part of RAM relating to all transactions is disconnected from apparatus 1 and connected, through a suitable terminal, such as for example a PC, to a data processing centre. In this way the unloading of data from apparatus 1 to the data processing centre occurs, but all transactions present in the extracted RAM are not erased. Only the operator can erase transaction operations and he can carry out the above specified transferring only once as there is a sequential control of the operations which does not allow double transferrings. Obviously the recording mode in the RAM carrier is strictly controlled and depends on a particular algorithm unknown to the operator, since it has been encrypted so as to prevent any form of forgery.

[0026] Obviously during said unloading operation it is checked what follows: data concerning operators, codes of the company to which the vehicle belongs, the latest data-­unloading and the total amount of the unloading operation.

[0027] Exceptional procedures are provided in case of damage to the memory carrier and apparatus 1. The memory erasing takes place only when all data have been transferred and can be carried out also in case of partial damage to the carrier when in its seat, but if all apparatus 1 has been damaged it is necessary to give it back to the manufacturer so that it may be tested in order to see which circuit part has been damaged and try to replace it and make the apparatus perform normal operations again. Obviously the apparatus as constructed can withstand all electronic and mechanical shocks it may be submitted to during normal operation.

[0028] Taximeter 11 is connected to apparatus 1 through a common parallel or serial interface (not shown in the figure) provided for such connections; otherwise, as previously said, the apparatus 1 itself acts as a taximeter using the tachometer 11, clock 6 and all other pieces adapted to this end.

[0029] The invention attains the intended purposes.

[0030] In fact the apparatus 1 can be fitted to any movable vehicle such as taxis, hired cars, motor-boats, boats, etc. and enables direct payment through credit cards, a normal recording of the transaction in a non-volatile memory, the subsequent transmission to the emitter company through an appropriate remote device and the printing of the receipt in two copies for the user-customer and the emitter-operator.

[0031] Obviously the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but modifications and variations are possible all falling within the inventive idea of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles through credit cards, characterized in that it comprises an intelligent terminal (1) installed in the vehicle, wherein there are a microprocessor (3), a plurality of RAMs (5), one of which is extractable, a plurality of EPROMs (4), a display (8) with a keyboard (9), a printer (10) and a badge reader (7), all connected in a circuit, said intelligent terminal being in turn connected in a circuit with the tachometer/taximeter (11) on board of the vehicle from which it takes data concerning fare amounts as well as, through connecting means, with a remote on-board terminal (12), by means of which the customer keys in his secret identity number, all that being managed by a specific software relating to fixed, periodic and ordinary, payment operations.

2. A computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles through credit cards according to claim 1, charaterized in that said intelligent terminal (1) can be fitted to any vehicle provided with means for journey payments submitted to a fare.

3. A computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles through credit cards according to claim 1, charaterized in that said intelligent terminal (1) is connected to the remote on-board terminal (2) through optical means such as infrared ray transmitters and receivers.

4. A computerized apparatus for the payment of fares in moving vehicles through credit cards according to claim 1, characterized in that the extractable RAM of the apparatus itself consists of optical disks.

Drawing