HK1059982B - Centralised system and method for dispensing services to automatic sales terminals - Google Patents

Description

Centralized processing system and method for distributing service by using automatic sales terminal

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of sales services by means of automatic dispensing devices which can dispense data carriers which can access services selected by payment.

Background

The term service is to be understood in its broadest sense, e.g. it includes the use of a telephone network (mobile or on a transit public network), ticketing (theater tickets, trade show tickets, cultural event tickets, sports tickets, etc.), logging onto the internet, purchasing tickets, various gifts, restaurant tickets, etc.

Automatic service access distributors, particularly for long distance telephone services, are known from the patent documents US-A-5868236 and US-A-5696908, which obtain A personal access code known as the english code PIN ("personal identification number"). The code is printed on a page and distributed to customers after the transaction, when a prepaid sum of their telephone calls has been selected and validated, for example using a bank card reader. In that case, the code PIN corresponds to a virtual anonymous account number which can be used for the prepayment. The code PIN thus obtained by the user is therefore pressed on the telephone keys at the start of the call, when the line is opened to code according to the usual calling program. Service access is interrupted when the prepayment is exhausted. It should be noted that only account information, i.e. the code PIN, is printed on the page. The carrier on which the information can be displayed is, for example, the page mentioned above, i.e. the so-called "worthless" or "non-technical" type of carrier.

In addition, there are also some automatic dispensers that can provide similar services but utilize smart cards. In this case, the user can obtain a card at the time of the transaction, which can enter the telephone network via a docking terminal equipped with a card reader. The card contains data stored in an electronic memory that indicates to the operator the prepaid credit present and some other relevant information. In this case, the bearer itself is a main technical unit element of the available services. In WO-A-9722919 an embodiment of A dispenser is described which is commercially available with A telephone smart card preloaded with A value determined when the transaction is recharged. The associated dispensing terminal is equipped with a smart card encoder which writes a prepaid value selected by the customer, the smart card having not been prepaid at first.

From the patent document US-A-5513117 there is also known A wish and complimentary card dispenser, the telephone card of which is prepaid, which enables the customer to print the pattern or information of his choice on the product purchased.

If these different dispenser services are relatively easy to access, it can be well documented that: they cannot technically realize the development of the commercial delivery needs in these fields in the current state of the art.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to achieve this development, the invention proposes a service distribution system comprising a management centre to which at least one automatic distribution terminal destined for distributing printed carriers constituting a service accessor is connected, the distribution system being characterized in that: it comprises printing means at the automated branch terminal for locally printing on the carrier a visual marking information by which the service and/or the provider of the service is identifiable.

This arrangement allows the production of component carriers, such as non-technical or technical operating cards, which have an appearance corresponding to the list of operating agencies responsible for the provision of services, which relate to printed fonts and other contents.

Advantageously, the visual label is formed by a service provider's diagram, which is loaded to said terminal in the form of print data, so as to locally enable the printing of said visual label.

This arrangement can also be used to locally implement visual labels having the same appearance as the pre-printed carrier, for a given service, for example: distribution services (shops, kiosks, etc.) through other channels.

The system can then work with a plurality of individual operating mechanisms and/or provide a plurality of different services, all identified by a visual label on the dedicated card, thus eliminating the need to reduce carrier stock in each terminal. This allows for a versatile use without practical limitations, involving various different operating mechanisms or ranges of services provided. Only one terminal card loader can guarantee all the requirements regarding carrier stock management, which allows using rather simple and well-known mechanisms and which can be adapted relatively easily to existing distribution terminals.

This approximation can also be directly adapted to changes in various visual labels or to changes in addition of new visual labels corresponding to new services offered, without having to make changes to the carrier storage in the terminal as a whole. In a preferred embodiment, the print data of the visual label is remotely loaded into each terminal by the management center, for example, in advance in one update cycle.

In an advantageous embodiment, the activation of the printing device is intended to print visual markings at the time of the transaction.

The visual label is usually a distinct part from the card, which is not changed for the type of service and the type of the specific provider. It may comprise at least one of the following parts expressed in different ways:

-an indication (76) of a service provider or service,

-a dedicated identifier (78, 80), and

-the coloured background (82) can be monochromatic or polychromatic, with or without a pattern.

Graphical data associated with each printable visual label may also be pre-stored at the automated dispensing terminal. In this case, these graphic data can be remotely loaded into the distribution terminal by the management center within the cycle of the update period.

Alternatively, the graphical data associated with the visual label to be printed at the time of the transaction may be transmitted from the management centre to the automatic dispensing terminal at the time of the transaction.

Preferably, the printing means are provided at the automated dispensing terminal for printing the change data on the carrier during the transaction, wherein at least one of:

a personal password (code PIN) which makes it possible to obtain the services which have been purchased in the course of the transaction,

-the total amount of credit required for the purchased service,

-the serial number of the vector,

-a valid expiry date assigned to the carrier, and

-a code specific to the purchased service.

The personal code is preferably provided on the underside of the carrier portion and is covered with an opaque film which is removed to expose the code.

Each terminal may also comprise printing means for printing on the support and/or displaying at least one advertisement on the screen.

These data relating to the printing of the advertisement can be stored at the dispensing terminal and remotely loaded to the dispensing terminal by the management center during the update cycle.

However, it is also possible to design that advertisement print data to be printed at the time of a transaction is transmitted from the management center to the automatic distribution terminal at the time of the transaction.

In order to obtain the advantage of such versatility that can be achieved, the system should advantageously be functionally connected, through the management centre, to a plurality of operating organs that need to be serviced individually, so as to arrange in harmony the various services of these operating organs, which can be selected and sold through the automatic distribution terminal.

Preferably, the carrier is stored in the automatic distribution terminal in blank form or in pre-printed form with some data elements that may represent all the services available for sale by the terminal, so that the carrier before printing is multipurpose for the various services offered.

In addition, each terminal may also include means for printing the total sales conditions for the different services offered.

In one embodiment, the automated distribution terminal may include a loader of blank carriers for various carriers that may be distributed: non-technical operating cards, magnetic cards, smart cards, and the like.

The personal password is advantageously transmitted to the automatic allocation terminal at the time of the transaction by means of the management centre. It can be transmitted to the management centre by the operator responsible for the services involved, when the loading step is remotely controlled during the validation cycle of the system.

In some preferred embodiments, each automatic dispensing terminal comprises a screen which displays information relating to the progress of the transaction in an interactive manner, in connection with the management centre and the local database.

The system may additionally be configured to be able to reload a pre-opened account of accessible services.

It may allow the input and payment of an accurate prepaid value in accordance with the service ordered, the accurate amount being printed on the carrier.

Preferably, the system comprises means for encrypting and decrypting cryptographic data exchanged between the management centre and each of the automatic distribution terminals.

It may be specifically designed to be able to purchase several services in one transaction, either of the same type or of different types, the purchases being accumulated in a bill as the display of the purchases is made, each service so purchased causing the printing of a dedicated carrier.

The system may include means for collecting a user profile, the user profile containing accumulated information relating to at least one of:

-the geographical location of the used automatic allocation terminal,

-selecting one or more of the purchased services,

-a total amount of consumption, and

-data provided by the user via the automatic distribution terminal upon interrogation during the transaction, so that a daily acknowledgement page of the user is established, the user's files being accessible to the management centre.

This arrangement may display a plurality of advertisements on the carrier and/or on the screen of the automatic dispensing terminal as a file created by the user of the terminal.

In a preferred embodiment, the system additionally manages the loyalty programs of the users, which may determine loyalty programs, deferral programs, extent of gifts, etc. based on loyalty accounts provided and maintained at the management center. Loyalty may be dominated by businesses with the operator responsible for the service or by the entire range of sales based services from each of the different individual service-responsible operators managed by the management centre and the automatic distribution terminal.

The system may allow printing of the personal information on the carrier.

Preferably, it additionally comprises means for displaying to the user comparative information on the total sales rate and/or the total conditions of the different services offered.

The comparison information can be loaded and stored in a local database of each automatic distribution terminal by using a remote control from a management center.

The automated dispensing terminal may also include an audio interface configured with a microphone and a speaker that allows the user to remain in contact with the customer service.

An interactive display device can be arranged to display the reception page directly controlled by the management center and to change the menu content remotely.

If necessary, the automatic dispensing terminal may include a data entry means for writing electronic data relating to the prepayment in the technical operating card at the time of a transaction for purchasing or refilling the card with the card.

The system can work with carriers in the form of technical cards, in particular smart cards and/or magnetic cards, on which prepaid data are stored by means of a data entry device.

The system may also operate with carriers in the form of non-technical cards.

At least one of the services provided may involve a phone card designated for sale on a fixed or mobile network.

At least some automated dispensing terminals are effectively utilized as pre-paid internet self-service outlets that use a screen and keypad, a terminal modulator, and are associated with suppliers through a management center from an internet gateway portal.

The invention also relates to an automatic dispensing terminal specially adapted for this system, characterized in that it comprises printing means for locally printing on the support a visual marking information with which the service and/or the supplier of the service can be identified by its appearance.

The invention also relates to a service distribution method based on a management center, the management center is connected with at least one automatic distribution terminal to distribute printed carriers, which can be used as a service accessor, and the method is characterized in that: a visual label may be printed on the carrier at the automatic dispenser that identifies the service provider from its appearance.

The invention aims at any choice of system with the objective of variably applying the method.

Drawings

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several preferred embodiments, which are given purely by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a simplified block diagram showing the block diagram of the network structure of the service distribution terminal of the invention;

figure 2 is a block schematic diagram of the various functional units of the distribution terminal of figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the various steps carried out during the purchase of a card prepaid on the network of FIG. 1, and also indicating the information exchange carried out during these steps;

figures 4a and 4b show respectively the front and the back of a prepaid card resulting from the transaction shown on figure 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 3, showing a case of a personal prepaid card purchase; and

fig. 6 is a block diagram similar to fig. 3, showing the reloading of the prepaid card.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1, the distributor network 1 of the present invention for distributing services comprises a management center 2 to which all automatic distribution terminals 4 belong. These automatic distribution terminals are connected to the management center 2 by means of a two-way telephone connection or a two-way radio relay connection. Other bi-directional connections are also contemplated (private communication networks, local information buses, etc.). The connection should ensure the exchange of digital data, each terminal 4 being provided with a modulator 8 (shown separately here for the sake of simplicity). Likewise, the management center 2 is also provided with a modem 10.

The data sent by the management centre 2 are intended to be encrypted portions and the encryption and decryption steps 12 are arranged upstream of the modem 10 according to an embodiment known per se. Each terminal 4 also has corresponding encryption and decryption means (as shown in figure 2).

The management centre 2 is also associated with the external environment via a telephone network 12 (public or not), in particular:

different operating means 14, which are responsible for the sale of the services by the terminal 4, are separate or even competing with each other,

-a connection to the Internet 16,

and to the banking world 18.

The information obtained from this external environment, which must be subject to log-in billing, is stored in a central database 20 in the management center 2. Some of the main functions of the management centre 2 relating to the sale of the services are concentrated in the control device 22, which is directed towards the terminals 4 ensuring the role of the services, the role of remote management, the role of verification and the security of the access to the internet, as well as the roles that will be mentioned later.

Communication specificity over the internet is guaranteed by the internet communication module.

Other more detailed functional aspects of the management center 2 will be explained in the following description.

To accomplish its various tasks, the management center 2 uses one or more communicating computers which form an integral system with the various peripheral devices constituting a hard device which can be prepared by the technicians themselves, who are specialists in the field of remote interactive terminal management. Therefore, the detailed structure of the management center 2 will not be elaborately described.

Fig. 2 is a block schematic diagram of some of the main units of the automatic allocation terminal 4. In the central part of the terminal there is a management device 26 which ensures control of all the different units. These units of the terminal include:

the above-mentioned modem 4, which forms the interface with the management center 2 to ensure: the supply of variable data to be transmitted to the customer, the reloading of cards or tickets enabling services, the technical control of the terminal and the transmission of data collected by the user on the terminal;

the local database 28 contains, in particular, all the information that makes it possible for the terminal to implement certain internal functions;

an interactive display screen, such as a touch screen 30, indicated by finger contacts. Wherein the touch screen can access a commercial site for undertaking services for consumers to purchase or recharge carriers such as prepaid cards. The touch screen 30 disseminates various general information (advertising, comparison data, adjustment changes, tariffs, etc.). Besides, it can also observe data and navigate to surf the internet. Thus, the terminal can facilitate the user's access to the commercial site using the Internet or related equipment, and even enable commercial transactions that reach the issuing of the card, on which various service and vendor-related and differentiated visual labels are printed locally by the terminal;

card supply 32, which provides the cards as access carriers for the services purchased. The card carrier may supply a non-value type or smart card or a track blank card (plastic or paper card). The card supply can be supplemented or replaced by a pre-cut paper automatic reel, each sheet constituting a value-free carrier for accessing services. A plurality of card feeders can be provided so as to allow a plurality of uses (non-technical type cards, smart cards, etc.) different by carrier type. In an exemplary embodiment, the terminal may include three blank card feeders, each for storing: non-technical cards, "open" smart cards, all of which are easily programmed or loaded according to the service purchased; and "open" magnetic cards, facilitating programming or local loading according to the services purchased;

the colour printer 34, which can print variable data and fonts, can print blank cards or other blank carriers as printed cards, for example, which should display the sales according to the service object concerned, that is to say give it a PIN-type access code, a visual label which can be called a trademark or a service object label, a mode of use and possibly also an advertisement to an advertiser, which wishes to transmit information indirectly by means of the service card. In embodiments, the printer is machined on both the front and back sides, which allows visual indicia of different characteristics to be printed on both sides of the card to be dispensed. The printer may interact with the card support on which the code PIN is initially masked behind an opaque film which may be scratched off to maintain the security of the code at the desired moment. In that case a device is provided for depositing an opaque film layer on the printing location, which is active after the code has been printed. This option is particularly advantageous for example when multiple cards are purchased in the same transaction for a third party account, each transaction not being assigned to a purchaser;

the encoder 36 of the electronic smart card or of the magnetic electronic card can enter data in the card memory area regarding the number and/or type of services purchased, for example the number of available bits in the case of a telephone card. In the case of smart cards, the encoder comprises an interface to a contact-type card or contactless card;

the payment terminal 38 can pay for the subscribed services by using a bank card or other card, i.e. other types of cards. For this purpose, the payment terminal is provided with a slot for receiving the card, a keyboard 39 for collecting the password, a data communication device and possibly a cashing device;

a first monochrome printer 40 for printout of check-out tickets, operating on a first cylinder 42, which is intended to direct the user to provide a receipt, and on a second storage cylinder 44, which is intended to ensure the safety of the respective commercial transaction;

a second monochrome printer 48 for printing general sales conditions relating to the sold services, which printer is fed by a paper roll 50;

a receptacle 52 forming a chute for receiving all the printed carriers supplied by the dispensing terminal: cards, payment tickets, total sales and tariff;

a keyboard 54, sorted by alphabetical and numeric combination, possibly combined with a screen-aiming checker, which functions in cooperation with the touch screen 30, and in particular it also:

keying within the scope of an individual order, information text, such as a wish card access card, a telephone card, a presentation ticket, etc., which is then printed with a color printer 34,

-keying the account number and/or card number when performing the reloading of the top-up program,

-keying out account numbers and/or card numbers when performing a loyalty program, and

-internet navigation on;

an encryption and decryption module component 56, connected to the modem 4, which can exchange encryption information with the management center 2, in particular the bank card and the access service password; and

an audio interface 58 comprising a microphone and a loudspeaker, which contacts the customer service via the management centre 2. In that case the consumer can enter a state of communication with the management centre in order to get some supplementary information (tariff, functions, promotions, solutions to usage problems, etc.). This interface may be supplemented by a video interface (or based on a touch screen 30) equipped with a camera and a dedicated screen in order to ensure the functional role of the video phone.

In some modes of operation, the color and monochrome printers 34, 40 and 48 described above may all be integrated into a common multi-purpose printing system.

It can be noted that: printing of some cards, such as smart cards, magnetic cards, or printing of non-technical cards from a blank print carrier, may result in an unlimited number of different cards from the common storage of the cards contained in the card supply 32. One can thus partially prepare the charts with visual markings (special logos, graphic text, colored patterns, etc.) all suitable for the different operating organs responsible for the service. The graphic card particularly details the display of the goods, the single or multiple suit, the characteristic characters used for the different parts, the designs, the hyphen, the marking symbols, the photos and so on are printed. The card thus produced then has the same appearance as the same service (shop, post office, etc.) issued in the ordinary sales network.

A first operating embodiment of the automatic distribution system 1, which is a service arranged in the sales domain of telephone cards, which may be of the non-technical type or smart cards, will now be described with reference to fig. 3. However one can understand that: the system is opened to allow the sale of various types of services or products, access to which is achieved by means of a print carrier. These products and services may come from a large number of available separate operating mechanisms in each different domain and/or competing operating mechanisms in the same domain. In particular, the system can manage 100 an even greater number of different services and products, by virtue of the versatility of its storage carrier. By way of example only, services, products and carriers may relate to, in addition to telephone prepaid cards and internet prepaid cards: mobile phone recharge cards, movie prepaid cards, reputation cards, service and reservation cards, transportation certificates, travel securities, sports activities securities, drama securities, admission to entertainment centers, parks of interest, hotel room cards, and the like.

In the initial mode of operation, the automatic dispensing terminal 4 displays on its touch screen 30 the hospitality information 54 which is from the information stored in the local database 28. This information shows in summary the transaction possibilities in the form of titles all provided to the customer, for example:

selecting a different telephone card which can be used on the public wired network or for mobile telephony, and which indicates the name of the supplier (operating agency), in cooperation with a marking in the form of its image,

-selecting cards for access to the Internet, distributed by one or several access providers,

-selecting a personal card on which the user can print his chosen pattern or information,

-displaying the ongoing promotion situation,

-a comparison control of the services,

-total sales, and

-an advertisement.

Some of these titles are interactive, allowing users to delve into their activity measures. Thus, while specifying the "comparison of services" header (touching the corresponding image), one opens the comparison table and can select the explicit comparison criteria: such as the price per minute of communication to a particular country according to different operating agencies. These information are stored in the local database 28 and updated by the management center 2 during the remote maintenance cycle.

The totality of these information constitutes an inquiry step E2 which makes it possible to arrive at a card selection performed with the indication on the touch screen 30 (step E4). The local database 28 is then interrogated to provide data relating to the selected card which is transmitted to the touch screen 30 under the control of the management means 26.

In the case of a response, the terminal 2 may display on the screen a supplementary description relating to the selected card and it is recorded in the reception page very exclusively. The description may refer back to the original selection, which provides the possibility of returning to the receiving page 54 (the circuit recycles on R1).

In the case where there is no return to the received page or the supplementary explanation page, the selection of the card value is made (step E6). This step may enable the user to select a prepaid sum of communications to be matched to the account, which is to be used or updated in an unpaid manner by means of the card. There are two ways to implement the selection: either a selection of an amount of one of the displayed items on the corresponding space (e.g., 5, 10, 25, 40 Euros) is made on the touch screen 30 by finger touch or an accurate amount is entered on a keypad arranged in alphanumeric combination. It is appropriate to note that: a specific choice of prepaid amount is a possibility to start business because the card is made in an interactive manner and because its carrier is initially empty, which allows various amounts to be printed in locations reserved for indicating payments or updating prepaid.

Once the selection is completed, the terminal controls the display of a desired number of cards, which is selected when a corresponding grid is designated on the touch screen (step E8).

The terminal then asks whether the user wishes to make further purchases (step E10). if this is the case, the program returns to step E4 of card selection, while storing the purchases listed in steps E4 and E6 above. It is thus possible to control a number of successive purchases before all payments are made.

Data regarding card selection and card count are transmitted to the management device 26 for shaping and retransmission to the management center. In the case of adding a control command (step E10 and re-loop through R2), the management device creates a message complement request routine.

When the selected service is fully enumerated, the terminal generates an "order control basket" which is displayed on the touch screen in symbolic form, such as an image which indicates the value and quantity of the sample, and the cumulative total of purchases for each purchased card.

After the selection step (no additional control or additional control at step E10), the terminal displays all subscription controls (step E12). In that case, information may be displayed asking the user to validate the subscription (step E14).

In the event of a rejection of effectiveness, the shopping program returns to the consultation step E2 of the service (switch back on R3). In the opposite case, the management device takes into account the validation of the order and performs the phase of communication with the management centre 2.

At which time the order instructions are transmitted to order control 22 (fig. 1) in accordance with a predetermined agreement that it first checks to determine if the order control instructions can be executed. The order control instructions are pre-guaranteed locally at the terminal 4, such verification being mainly against on-time changes, such as an out-of-service at one of the operating authorities 14, which prevents the accomplishment of the transaction. After the check, the management center sends an acceptance message or rejection message to the terminal 4.

In the case of reception of the order control command, the terminal answers and at the same time starts a payment routine (step E16), which may be carried out in coordination with the management centre 2 and the bank server 18.

Such routines, which are known per se in the field of dispensers, use interactive display programs to enable the user to insert his bank card into the slot of the payment terminal 38, to collect his encryption code, to record the collected information and the chip data or track data and to transmit this information to the management centre 2, where it is processed by the bank server 56 of the management centre. This information is transmitted from the management centre to the bank payment processing centre 18 which can answer an acceptance or rejection of the consultation with the database 58. Acceptance or rejection is transmitted via the management center 2 to the distribution terminal 4.

In the case of acceptance, the terminal may make one or more service access cards and issue payment tickets.

The data to be printed on the blank carrier comes from both the local database 28 and the central database 20.

The central database 20 may be, in particular, the source of the personal identification number PIN to be printed. The identification code is then transmitted to the terminal together with the accepted subscription information.

This arrangement avoids the code PIN being stored at the terminal and therefore reduces fraudulent attacks.

The code PIN is supplied to the management centre 2 by the different service-undertaking operators during the supply cycle outside the transaction, while using a specific calling program. In this way, the management centre can directly supply the appropriate code PIN without having to interrogate the relevant operating agency beforehand. The various code PINs are stored in the central database 20 using digital sections. When the code provided at the time of the transaction comes from any terminal in the network, it is then considered unusable and the tracker in the database specifies the next code PIN to be used at the next transaction.

However, it is also contemplated that an alternative approach may require the use of a code PIN in the vicinity of the relevant operating agency for each transaction, if it is desired not to maintain the code PIN stored in a management center.

Thus, for each controlled purchase card, the management centre 2 is associated with a unique code PIN which is in accordance with the protocol record of the operator responsible for the service (consistency of the number of ciphers, the coding, the predetermined sequence). In that case, the management centre forms a specific file for each card, which includes the matching code PIN, the prepaid value paid (this information is transmitted from the terminal), and possibly other parameters relating to the transaction. This file is stored in archive memory 62 to allow internal management of the system. It can also be transmitted, in whole or in part, to the operator 14 so that the operator can know that the code PIN, which it has previously transmitted to the management centre, has been given up to a customer on the one hand, and the prepaid amount attributed to the code on the other hand. The operator can thus directly enable the account thus opened with the communication prepayment in order to allow the call.

These operations may be carried out simultaneously, or with a slight delay, in the transmission of the code PIN to the automatic allocation terminal 4.

The code PIN is transmitted in encrypted form between the operating agency 14, the management centre 2 and the dispensing terminal 4.

The code PIN received by the terminal 4 is decrypted and processed by the management means 26 to form a component of the overall print data to be printed on the blank card. In the embodiment considered, the code PIN constitutes a variable one of these print data, in the sense that it is specific to each transaction.

Figures 4a and 4b show the front and back sides, respectively, of an embodiment of an initial blank card 70, which is then printed at the beginning of a transaction. The parts so printed include:

visual label 72 of the card, which includes all the printed parts (fonts and printed symbols) that identify the operator that is subject to the service and the type of service concerned. The visual label 72 includes, for example: a card type indication 74 in text, an operator name or indicia 76 responsible for the service, a dedicated logo (here interleaved letters 78 and symbolic indicia 80), and a colored background 82 which may be single or multi-colored, with or without graphics;

a card value 84, which corresponds to the value paid, expressed in degrees (one hundredth) by appearance or displayed immediately when prepaid;

the serial number 86 of the card, which allows identification of the transaction and, if possible, technical or commercial control by the operator responsible for the service in case of problems;

service expiry date 88, the date when the service is defined not only by the prepaid sum but also by the length of the prepaid;

a code PIN 90, which can make use of the telephone service, while composing the code before the customer communicates, possibly while pressing the up button or the asterisk button of the telephone;

use mode (shown here on the card reverse side, fig. 4 b); and

an advertising heuristic 94, possibly with letters 94 a. The advertiser may be completely unrelated to the service being charged, but simply utilizes the card 70 as an advertising carrier.

In the embodiment described above, the data is depicted on both sides of the card 70, which requires a suitable printer. For the sake of technical simplicity it is of course also possible to have a single face containing all these data, while the other face remains blank, or to pre-print all the patterns or information common to the various services, such as advertisements, calendars, fonts, etc.

All of these print data can be classified into two broad categories: the specific data per transaction, the so-called variable data, and the general instruction data, are constant for the same purchased service.

The variable data includes a code PIN 90, a card number 86, and an expiration date 88. It is known that the code PIN is transmitted to the terminal 4 at the time of the transaction. The same is true for at least some other variable data. In this case, the management centre 2 transmits the number assigned to the card and the expiry date of the card together with the code PIN, while referring to its central database 20, or while communicating with the operator 14 responsible for the service. It is nevertheless contemplated that both the card number and the prepaid expiry date are stored in the local database 28 of the distributor 4. In practice, the card number may simply correspond to any number of digit updates that vary, each distribution terminal receiving a start number determined by the relevant operating agency and forwarded by the management center 2. The card number may also correspond to an algorithm calculated by the management device 26 in accordance with the code PIN. The expiry date may correspond only to a period count valid from the transaction date, which period is previously determined at the terminal 4 by the known operator responsible for the service.

The general command data is stored in the local data 28 of the distribution terminal 4. The database additionally contains all visual labels 72, one for each service and/or service-responsible operator 14, several expressions of usage that may vary from service to service provided, and all advertising heuristics 94. The selection of advertising elicitations may be predetermined (e.g., in a rotating manner), or tailored to the psychometric profile of the customer, as will be described later.

Thus, when printing, the management device 26 selectively retrieves general instructional data from the local database 28 that varies with the transaction.

Printing the card (step 18. fig. 3) is followed by printing of the printed payment ticket (step E20). Before the transaction is agreed upon, the dispensing terminal asks by means of the touch screen 30 whether the customer wishes to obtain the total sales conditions (step E22). In the affirmative case, the printer 40 is activated to print out these conditions on the pages (step E24). Various sales conditions may be attributed to each service sold and/or to each individual operator.

The transaction is in that case effected by outputting the printed finished product (step E26), i.e. one or more service cards 70, payment tickets, and if necessary, the pages also contain the conditions of sale. These end products are all present in the receiving groove 52.

Finally, the transaction program returns to the consultation step E2 (re-cycle through R4) for a new transaction.

A second transaction process is now described with reference to figure 5, according to which the customer selects information that may be selected for application to the card 70. This process may be a selection provided by a system other than the transaction process described with reference to figure 3. Common parts of the processes of figures 3 and 5, whether the equipment hardware or the steps, are provided with the same reference numerals and are not elaborately repeated; only a few differences are described.

To employ this process, the customer selects the "personal card" tab using the touch screen 30 when performing the consultation step E2.

A page is then rendered on the touch screen (step 26) in one of a plurality of data formats (presentation by time of day, image, text title, etc.) stored in the local database 28.

At least some of which may incorporate information keyed by the customer. To do so, the process is followed by collecting the information text title via the keyboard 54 (step E28). At that time, all contained dataforms and the programmed information are then collected in the visual label 72 described above.

The process then proceeds as in the case of fig. 3, with personal card 70 being printed and dispensed from color printer 34.

A third transaction process, which may reload a top-up value for an issued card, is now described with reference to fig. 6. Common parts of the processes of fig. 3 and 6, whether hardware equipment or steps, are given the same reference numerals and are not elaborately repeated; only a few different parts are described.

The transaction process begins with selection step E2, where the customer selects any items for card reloading (e.g., mobile phone or web pad).

Subsequently, the customer selects a card to be reloaded (the type of service of the operator undertaking the service within the service range, etc.) by selection of the image displayed on the touch screen 30 (step E4).

Once the selection is complete, the customer collects the account number and/or the personal code associated with the card by means of the keypad 54. The obtained code PIN, and/or the card number, may be referred to singularly. The data thus collected are transmitted to the management centre 2, which, possibly after having been preprocessed, transmits them to the relevant service operator 14. The operator queries the data bank 60 and decides to accept or reject the reload request.

In the case of an acceptance retransmitted to the distribution terminal 4 via the management center 2, the management center requests the customer to select reloading of the values (step E34), which is performed according to the provisions described with reference to step E6 of fig. 3.

Details about the reloading (prepaid amount, new date due, etc.) are displayed on the touch screen 30.

The transaction process continues with payment being paid (steps E14 through E20). When payment is serviced by the bank server 18, the management centre 2 confirms the operator undertaking the service, and can cause the operator to record the transaction unambiguously.

When a non-technical or no-value card is concerned, it is not necessary to print a new card, especially if the code PIN remains unchanged.

However, it is possible to consider printing of a new card 72, and even in the case of reloading, printing of some new data (new prepaid sum, new expiry date, and possibly also new code PIN) on a relatively simple carrier, such as a bill of payment or a payment ticket.

The management system 1 of the distribution terminal can also implement various service sales processes using technical operating cards such as smart cards or magnetic cards.

In this case, the color printer 34 prints a smart card or magnetic card 70, which is free of visual labels and no login prepaid value. In that case the transaction additionally comprises recording electronic data on a chip or track corresponding to the confirmed value by means of the encoder 36.

The terminal 4 may also be designed to be able to reload smart cards or magnetic cards that have been previously issued. In this case, a slot (not shown) is provided for receiving the card so that the encoder 36 can enter it to record data relating to the new prepay.

The management system 1 of the distribution terminal of the invention offers the possibility of some personalized services, in particular concerning the selection of advertisements, special offer offers for supply and real and reliable measures.

In practice, the management centre 2 is able to collect and catalog in its database 20 information relating to the shopping habits of each customer, the customer shopping being identifiable by the information read from their bank card, when carrying out the shopping control validation steps E14 and E16. However, in order to achieve the benefit of obtaining this information earlier in the transaction, the terminal 4 may be programmed to ask the customer to introduce his bank card, for example when selecting the service step E2. The card information is read at this point and can be used to effect various parameters of the transaction within the personal service. It is also possible to give a customer number at the first transaction, which will be recorded by the customer at the beginning, for example, using the touch screen 30 or using the keyboard 54 at successive transactions. These identification information are transmitted (by means of a bank card or by means of a customer code) to the management centre 2 in order to enable the latter to create, for each customer, a file that can be enriched in each transaction, comprising various information among them:

-the name and/or number assigned to the bank card, or the customer number, which information constitutes the basic identification of the customer,

statistics (number and operating agency (s)) on the selection of different services purchased during a given period,

a statistical table of the amounts of charges for the different services purchased, which makes it possible in particular to establish a total budget for all transactions,

a brief description of the shopping (frequency, periodic detection of shopping without specific services, etc.), and

one or more geographical locations of the dispenser terminals used by the customer, this information being obtained when the terminals are exchanged with the management centre 2 during the transaction.

All or part of this information may be used to create customer psychometric maps of different business criteria, either from the management of the system 1, or from the operating agency responsible for the service, or from the advertiser. Thus, a plurality of different psychometric charts can be established for the same user. Of course, the scope and confidentiality of such information is maintained within the scope of current laws and regulations.

Due to these different individual psychometric maps, the operator of the management system of the dispensing terminal 4 of the invention can authenticate the customer (preferably from the beginning of the transaction) and consult the management centre 2 database 20 relating to the psychometric maps of the customer established. These data are then processed using a personalization program to control one or more of the following functions:

selecting advertisements to be printed on the carrier 70 (see fig. 4a) and/or selecting advertisements that can be successively visualized on the touch screen 30. For example, one might select a particular advertisement for customers based on a clear geographic location (regional assignee, business, etc.) or select a product advertisement and customer service selection advertisement that suits the consumer's mind. The selection of the advertisements to be displayed is established by the management centre 2 on the basis of its customer files. The data relating to the selection is then transmitted to the automatic distribution terminal (4) in the form of control instructions so that the terminal can select one or several of the advertising announcements stored in the local database 28.

-the customer's habitually used undertaking the replenishment or new service provisioning of the service operator or the provision of services according to a spending budget limited to the amount spent;

the loyalty program may be run to determine loyalty points, degrees of deferral, degrees of gifting, etc. based on the opened loyalty account. Loyalty may be effected within the business of a single operator, in which case the program runs as if it were in a normal distribution network, with direct operator intervention, or within the overall scope based on the total distribution of services from separate operators with different assumed services, all managed by the management centre 2 and the terminal 4. In this case, the loyalty program will be established at the operating mechanism of the distribution terminal network 1 of the present invention.

To get confidence to the customer, several possibilities can be considered: a timekeeping delay is enjoyed in the course of conducting the transaction, negotiable points are taken at later transactions, gifts are provided, possibly printed by the terminal and exchanged for degrees of receptivity, prepayments are increased (by time or by monetary value) relative to selected values, etc.

In order to create a more accurate psychometric map, an embodiment of the present invention may additionally manage the process of collecting information on demand. The program may present a series of questions about the customer (identity, age, occupation, life range, etc.) that the customer may answer using the touch screen 30 when conducting the transaction. The interaction may also be displayed during the transaction (psychological tests, etc.) so that the customer's condition may be outlined. This information is then transmitted in an upstream manner to the management centre 2 for processing and enrichment of the customer files.

The system 1 also enables the terminal 4 to operate as an internet-outlet terminal in a pay-free service manner. In this case, the touch screen 30 may act as a target location monitor and the alphanumeric combination sorting keypad 54 may be used to enter data. The connection of the terminal to the internet is managed at the management center 2 using the internet communication module 24. For this purpose, a telephone channel is opened between the terminal 4 and the management center 2 throughout the internet navigation process. The management centre 2 then acts as a relay with the access provider outside the system.

Payment for the service may be made via the payment terminal 38 by a just-in-time purchase or by means of a code PIN introduced into an internet access account. This access can be achieved in particular by means of a sales card with the aid of the dispensing terminal 4.

The system also provides for the cyclic control of remote maintenance and updates managed by the management center 2. Remote maintenance is typically performed at night and may:

control the consumption status of each dispensing terminal 4 (printer, card, paper roll, etc.);

-controlling the overall status of the distribution terminal;

updating the local database (new visual labels, promotions of goods, conditions of sale, advertising pages to be stored, etc.);

implementing the various necessary requirements according to the central database 20;

control and re-execution of code PIN central storage (using dialog records between the management centre 2 and the various operating authorities 14); and

-checking the proper functioning and connection of the network.

From all this that is done, one can understand that: the working operation of the system 1 according to the invention is based on a bidirectional exchange of information between the different operating means 14, the management centre 2 and the terminal system which are responsible for the services. The location where these different pieces of information are stored may be different from the location that varies with the installation equipment described in the embodiments.

The local storage of various data at the automatic dispensing terminal 4, in particular those relating to information to be displayed on the touch screen 30 and printed on the support, is intended in particular to avoid the transmission of these signals from the management centre 2 or directly from the operator 14 undertaking the service at the time of the transaction. This local information storage can therefore reduce the line communication time of the terminal with its management center or with the operator responsible for the service at the time of the transaction.

However, due to the increased data transmission rates and the possible reduction of communication costs, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention to transmit at least some of the above-mentioned information at the time of the transaction from the management center or from the service-responsible operating entity, and to vary it according to the need for punctuality.

The relevant information may be transmitted to the terminal as such at the time of the transaction (where it no longer needs to be stored in the database 28 at the dispensing terminal), such information may be, for example, at least one of the following:

graphic data on visual annotations to be printed on the support (for example in the form of printed card files),

-data relating to advertisement illustrations to be displayed on the screen and/or on the carrier,

-the total conditions of sale,

-the mode of use,

-a reception page on the screen,

-interactively displaying different screen pages on the screen,

-a management program for executing the tasks of the terminal,

-customer psychometric charts, minutes and offer management data and loyalty points,

-and so on.

Access to these different information using the automatic allocation terminal can be achieved in different ways. In relation to a specific connection (for example on a telephone line) between the terminal and the management centre, the latter then has the most interactive announcement for transmitting it to the terminal in real time.

One can also design to: the management center 2 operates or works with system specific internet addresses that manage some or all of the transaction intelligence information. (an internet site working with a management centre can also be considered as part of the management centre). In this case, the automatic distribution terminal may operate as an internet terminal connected to the specific web site. The customer of the system can then talk directly to the web site during the transaction and can obtain all the required information using this alternative. The web site also manages personal data in terms of psychometric maps, loyalty points, etc. to transmit specific information. It also transmits data to be displayed and printed on the carrier.

And (4) industrial application. The invention provides technical equipment which can use automatic distributors to purchase carriers which can open various access services (telephone, commercial service, credit service, etc.), for example, the services can be opened by means of cards with locally printed visual labels suitable for the services, so that the multi-purpose supply services can be obtained from the same storage of blank carriers.

Claims (45)

1. A service distribution system (1) comprising a management centre (2) and at least one automatic distribution terminal (4) assigned to distribute a printed carrier (70) constituting a service accessor, the system comprising printing means (32, 34, 50) at the automatic distribution terminal (4) for locally printing a visual label (72) on the carrier (70) by which visual label (72) the appearance of a service and/or service provider can be identified; the method is characterized in that:

said visual label is formed from a supplier's chart, which is loaded in said terminal (4) in the form of print data to generate a partial printout of said visual label (72);

the carrier (70) is stored in the automatic dispensing terminal (4) in blank form or in the form of units pre-printed with a view to all services sold via said terminal, so that said carrier is available for the different services available before printing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the printing means (32, 34, 50) are programmed so that the visual label (72) can be made locally to look the same as a pre-printed carrier for a given service.

3. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the visual label (72) comprises at least one of the following distinctive forms of printed parts:

-an indication (76) of a service provider or service,

-a dedicated identifier (78, 80), and

-the coloured background (82) can be monochromatic or polychromatic, with or without a pattern.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the printing means (32, 34, 50) is in the form of a device for facilitating the partial printing of visual indicia (72) on both sides of the carrier (70).

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: the printing device (32, 34, 50) is activated to print a visual label (72) at the time of the transaction.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: the illustration data relating to each visual label (72) capable of partial printing is stored in advance at the automatic distribution terminal (4).

7. The system of claim 6, wherein: the graphic data relating to each printable visual label (72) is remotely loaded into the dispensing terminal (4) by the management centre (2) during the update cycle.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: graphic data relating to visual labels to be printed at the time of a transaction are transmitted from the management center (2) to the automatic distribution terminal (4) at the time of the transaction.

9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the automatic dispensing terminal (4) further comprises printing means (32, 34, 50) for printing variable data on the carrier (70) during the transaction, at least one of the following:

a personal password (code PIN 90) may output the purchased service in the middle of the transaction,

-a total amount of payment (84) required for the purchased services,

-a vector series number (86),

-a service expiry date (88) assigned to the carrier (70), and

-specific usage patterns for purchased services.

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: it has a means for covering the personal code (code PIN 90) with an opaque film which can be scratched off.

11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: it is additionally provided with printing means (32, 34, 50) at the automatic dispensing terminal (4) for printing on the support (70) and/or displaying at least one advertisement (94, 94a) on the screen (30).

12. The system of claim 11, wherein: the print data of the advertisement is stored in the distribution terminal (4).

13. The system of claim 11, wherein: the advertisement data to be printed at the time of the transaction is transmitted from the management center to the automatic distribution terminal (4) at the time of the transaction.

14. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: it is functionally connected to a plurality of operating units (14) which are independent of each other via a management centre (2) in order to arrange all the different services of these operating units to be selected and sold via an automatic distribution terminal (4), each service being locally printed with a specific visual marking by means of a printing device (32, 34, 50) according to a diagram relating to the services to be undertaken.

15. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: the automatic allocation terminal (4) comprises a loader of blank carriers (70) for various distributable carriers such as non-technical cards, magnetic cards, smart cards.

16. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein: it is additionally provided with means (48, 50) for printing the total sales conditions for the various services offered.

17. The system according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein: the personal password (code PIN 90) is transmitted from the management center (2) to the automatic distribution terminal (4) at the time of transaction.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein: the personal password (code PIN 90) is transmitted to the management centre (2) by the relevant service operator (14) at the stage of remote loading during the system maintenance cycle.

19. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein: each automatic dispensing terminal (4) comprises a screen (30) which can display information relating to the progress of the transaction in an interactive manner in connection with the management device (26), and a local database (28).

20. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterised in that it includes means (36) to allow reloading of the top-up value to a pre-opened account for accessing the service.

21. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein: it has means (30, 54) for receiving and paying any customer-determined prepaid value in accordance with the required service, the amount (84) being printed on the carrier (70).

22. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein: it comprises encryptors and decryptors (4, 12) of secret data exchanged between the management centre (2) and each automatic distribution terminal (4).

23. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein: it comprises means for purchasing a plurality of services in only one transaction, either of the same type or of different types, the purchases being accumulated in a memory as the display of the purchase proceeds, each service so purchased causing the printing of a dedicated carrier.

24. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein: it includes means for obtaining a customer file containing accumulated information relating to at least one of:

-the geographical location of the used automatic allocation terminal,

-selecting one or more purchased services,

-an amount spent, and

-data provided by the customer via the automatic dispensing terminal (4) when a transaction consultation is made,

so as to establish the psychological test chart of the current day of the customer, and the file can enter the management center (2).

25. The system of claim 24, wherein: the advertisements are printed on a carrier (70) and/or displayed on a screen (30) of an automatic dispensing terminal (4), varying according to psychometric charts created for the customer using the terminal.

26. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein: it manages a loyalty program which may provide degrees of loyalty, postponement, gifts, etc., varying according to the loyalty accounts opened and maintained at the management centre (2).

27. The system of claim 26, wherein: loyalty is at its disposal within the business of the operating agency (14) undertaking the service.

28. The system of claim 26 or 27, wherein: loyalty is dominated by a total scope based on sales from different operator service systems that are independently charged with services, which are managed by the management centre (2) and the automatic distribution terminal (4).

29. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein: it has means (54) for enabling personal information to be printed on the carrier (70).

30. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein: it comprises means (26, 28, 30) for displaying to the customer comparative information on sales prices and/or total sales conditions for the different services offered.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein: the comparison information is loaded remotely from the management centre (2) into a local database (28) of each automatic distribution terminal (4).

32. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein: the automated dispensing terminal (4) includes an audio interface (58) including a microphone and a speaker to enable the customer to be associated with the party serving the customer.

33. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein: it comprises an interactive display (30) which can display a reception page directly controlled by the management centre (2) and can also change the content of the menu remotely.

34. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein: the automatic dispensing terminal (4) comprises a data input (36) for logging electronic data relating to prepayments in the smart card at the time of purchase of the card or at the time of card reloading transaction.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein: the carrier is in the form of a technical card, in particular a smart card and/or a magnetic card, on which the prepaid card is stored with a data input (36).

36. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein:

the carrier is in the form of a non-technical card (70).

37. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein: at least one of the services offered is in respect of the sale of cards destined for use in connection with fixed or mobile network telephones.

38. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein: at least some of the automatic allocation terminals (4) are also operated by prepayment as internet service free outputs using a display screen (30) and a keyboard (54) and also a terminal modem (4) and associated with the internet-related provider via a management centre (2).

39. Automatic dispensing terminal (4) specially adapted for a system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising printing means (32, 34, 50) for generating a partial printout of a visual label (72) on a support (70) to identify a service and/or a service provider by the appearance of the visual label (72); the method is characterized in that:

the terminal comprises means for loading print data for generating a partial printout according to a visual label of a supplier's chart;

the terminal stores the carrier (70) in blank form or in pre-printed form with units valid for all services sold via the terminal, so that the carrier is available for different services available before printing.

40. A service distribution method based on a management center (2) connected to at least one automatic distribution terminal (4) which designates a support (70) for distributing prints, which constitutes a service accessor, at the automatic distribution terminal (4) visual markings (72) are printed locally on the support (70), by the appearance of which visual markings (72) the service and/or the service provider can be identified; the method is characterized in that:

the printing device prints the visual label formed by the supplier's chart, which is loaded in the terminal (4) in the form of print data to generate a partial printout of the visual label (72);

the carrier (70) is stored in the automatic dispensing terminal (4) in blank form or in pre-printed form with units valid for all the services sold via the terminal, so that the carrier is available for the different services available before printing.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein: visual indicia (72) are printed at the time of the transaction.

42. The method of any one of claims 40 to 41, wherein: the visual label (72) comprises at least one of the following printed portions in distinctive form:

-an indication (76) of a service provider or service,

-a dedicated identifier (78, 80), and

-the coloured background (82) can be monochromatic or polychromatic, with or without a pattern.

43. The method of any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein: graphic data relating to each printable visual label (72) may be stored in advance in the automatic dispensing terminal (4).

44. The method of claim 43, wherein: graphic data relating to each printable visual label (72) can be remotely loaded by the management centre (2) into the dispensing terminal (4) during the update cycle.

45. The method of any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein: graphic data relating to visual labels to be printed at the time of the transaction are transmitted from the management centre (2) to the automatic distribution terminal (4) at the time of the transaction.