WO2003046710A2

WO2003046710A2 - Commercial electronic communication devices

Info

Publication number: WO2003046710A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2002/000188
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Gadifele Modibane
Original assignee: Joseph Gadifele Modibane
Priority date: 2001-11-29
Filing date: 2002-11-28
Publication date: 2003-06-05
Also published as: AU2002348220A8; AU2002348220A1; WO2003046710A3

Abstract

A commercial electronic communication device is described. It comprises a docking station including the various necessary peripherals and a hand held computer device which is releasably docked in the docking station.

Description

COMMERCIAL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES

This invention relates to commercial electronic communication devices (CECD).

A CECD is herein defined as an electronic device used in commerce for a number of purposes such as arranging for the charging for a transaction, and for producing "pre-paid" receipts for charging cell phones, power supplies or the like.

These CECDs are well-known in the retail and restaurant outlets. These have to carry out a number of tasks. It must (i) maintain information which is normally the price of goods or services, (ii) be able to read the identification means of a purchaser, such as the credit card, debit card or smartcard, (iii) be able to contact a verification point, (iv) it must be able to converse with the verification point to verify (a) the identification of the retail user and (b) the identification means; and (v) be able usually to confirm that there are funds available for the transaction. In addition the CECD normally comprises a printer to print a receipt or other instrument which must be signed by the purchaser or which will contain codes that the purchaser may use to recharge an electrical or electronic unit such as a mobile telephone, an electricity meter, a land line telephone or the like.

The apparatus for maintaining information and conversing with a verification point would necessarily be a computer or similar device. The other parts of the CECD would operate on much simpler instructions and carry out much simpler operations, normally on the instructions of the processing device.

The CECD will normally be operated by a operator, who may be a trader or merchant, an agent for an organisation for selling e.g. telephone time, power or the like, or any similar person. The operator will normally act on the instructions of a third party who will be called herein a "purchaser" who will have had business relations with the operator either directly or with the operator acting as an intermediary for an organisation as mentioned above.

According to one aspect of invention there is provided a CECD comprising a docking unit and a hand held computer processing device (hereinafter called "a hand held device") which is removably received in the docking unit and which is electrically connected to the docking unit, the docking unit incorporating operating devices including means for reading the identification means of a purchaser, means for contacting a control point, and printing means and the hand held device being capable of receiving and maintaining information, able to converse with the control point and incorporating means to actuate the operating devices in the docking unit.

The connection means may comprise a land-line telephone, a GSM/GPRS module, a mobile telephone, a transceiver or the like. Preferably the docking unit is a fairly substantial unit that can remain safely in position on for example a counter, a desk or the like. Alternatively the docking unit may be a mobile unit. The hand held unit may be relatively small and used by the operator to enter information either at the location of the docking unit or remote therefrom and thereafter when docked in the docking unit may actuate the various operating devices therein.

The docking unit may comprise means for the powering of the various parts thereof. This means may be a connection to the mains supply, battery or the like.

Embodiments of invention now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings

Figure 1 is a front view of a commercial electronic communication device of the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of another commercial electronic communication device of the invention, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of yet another commercial electronic communication device of the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a commercial electronic communication device ("CECD") 10. The device 10 comprises an enlarged docking unit 12 of aesthetically pleasing appearance and shaped for ease of operation. In the top or front surface 14 of the docking unit 12 there is a recess 16. A hand held computer processing unit 18 (hereinafter called a "hand held device") incorporating an operating system including a micro-processor is provided. The hand held device 18 may be a "Palmpilot" or the like. The device 18 is normally received in the recess 14. Suitable electrical connections (not shown) are provided between the hand held device 18 and the docking unit 12 which permits the hand held device 18 to be easily withdrawn from the recess 14 and to be simply returned thereto.

The docking unit 12 incorporates a number of operating devices or peripherals. These peripherals include a magnetic strip reader indicated at 20 capable of reading the magnetic strip on a debit or credit card 22 when passed through the reader. Another peripheral would be a smartcard reader, the slot 24 of which is shown in Figure 2 and into which a smartcard could be inserted so that the smartcard can be read or receive data. A third peripheral is a modem (not shown) together with means for transmitting signals received from the modem through a telephone system which may be a land line telephone, a cellular or mobile telephone, a satellite telephone, a transceiver or the like. A GSM/GPRS module constitutes a further peripheral embodied in the docking unit 12.

Furthermore the docking unit comprises a thermal printer 26 for printing receipts or documentation 28 to be received or to be signed by the purchaser.

A power supply inlet connection 30 is provided on the docking unit which can be connected to a source of power to power the various peripherals in the docking unit.

In addition a rechargeable battery (also not shown) which can be charged by the mains is contained in the docking unit 12 to provide power should the mains fail or main electricity not be available.

The hand held device 18 incorporates a touch screen 32 whereby information can be introduced to it. It, the hand held device 18, also incorporates a rechargeable battery system (not shown) for powering it. This rechargeable battery can be charged by a power from the mains (or docking unit battery) through the connections provided at the recess 14.

In use, an operator using the CECD 10 will enter information on to the hand held device screen 32 giving data in relation to a particular transaction. Once this has been introduced into the hand held device 18, the hand held device 18 can be used for further processing of the transaction. If the hand held device has been used in the position remote from the docking unit 12, it will be returned to the docking unit 12.

The purchaser will swipe the credit or debit card 22 through the magnetic strip reader 20. The information from the magnetic strip reader 20 will be sent to the hand held device 18 which will then actuate the modem and the telephone system. This will communicate with the verification point and when there is confirmation which is sent back via the modem to the hand held device 18, the hand held device will actuate the printer 26 which will print a document 28 that the user will execute.

In addition, the hand held device 18 will incorporate instructions so that when actuated by an operator it may communicate with a vendor, for example a telecommunications company such Telkom, a public service provider for public service telephone networks, to mobile telephone networks or to utility companies such as electricity supply companies or any other data base user. When it has verified that there is money available, it, the hand held device 18, will again communicate with the vendor to specify the amount of air time or power to be purchased. The hand held device will now actuate the printer 26 to print the appropriate receipt 28 from which the purchaser will find a code to enable him to recharge his cellular phone, charge his power unit in the home power supply unit in the home and the like. Furthermore the purchaser may acquire power window air time, video time or other services such the internet connection. Furthermore the hand held device 18 may be programmed to render the CECD 10 capable of performing the following operations viz money transfers, merchant transactions, banking transactions etc.

As mentioned above there is a smartcard reader 24. When the smartcard reader is used as opposed to the magnetic strip reader the hand held device would be programmed to affect the smartcard so that data will be transferred to the smartcard thereby altering the balance available to the owner of the smartcard.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 wherein is shown another CECD 100. This device 100 comprises the same parts as the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 (which items are indicated by the same numbers but with the prefix " 1") with an additional verification device 102 into which the operator can add the purchaser's pin number or any other personal access code to verify that the purchaser is entitled to use a smart card or credit or debit card. This is required as an additional protection against fraud.

Furthermore the CECD 100 is provided with clips or guides 104 which provide a docking area for the hand held device 118.

A further CECD 200 is shown in Figure 4. This device 200 comprises the same parts as the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 (which items are indicated by the same numbers but with the prefix "2").

In the device 200, the printer 226 serves as the base or docking unit. There is a removable smart card reader 202 which rests on printer 226. A clip or guide unit 204, which is "U"-shaped in plan, is mounted on the rear end of the printer 226 to serve as a docking area for the hand held device 218.

The devices 100 and 200 can be used in generally the same manner as the CECD 10.

It will be seen that by removing the hand held device from the recess, it can be used at locations which are conveniently to the merchant. It will be understood too that other hand held devices may be used instead of the hand held device. The hand held device may be easily programmed to carry out other operations. It may be removed from the CECD to a location where it may be provided with suitable encoding. It will be understood too that the hand held device is a mass produced unit which can be relatively inexpensively produced and will make the cost of manufacturing the CECD to be held to very reasonable levels.

It will seen too that because of the incorporation of the units of the telephone which do not operate by land line, the CECD can provide significant assistance to operators and purchasers who are remote from land lines or who are in countries where insufficient land lines are provided to cope with the population or where such land lines are often out of order.

The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings. For example the hand held device may be a cellular telephone. Some of the peripherals may be omitted and other peripherals, such as a bar code scanner, may be added.

Claims

1 A commercial electronic commumcation device comprising a docking unit and a hand held computer processing device (hereinafter called "a hand held device") which is removably received in the docking unit and which is electrically connected to 5 the docking unit, the docking unit incorporating operating devices including means for reading the identification means of a purchaser, means for contacting a control point, and printing means and Me hand held device being capable of receiving and maintaining information, able to converse with the control point and incorporating means to actuate the operating devices in the docking unit.

2 A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection means is a land-line telephone, a mobile telephone, a transceiver or the like.

3 A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the docking unit is a fairly substantial unit that can remain safely in position on for example a counter, a desk or the like.

4 A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the docking unit is a mobile unit.

5 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the hand held device is a "Palmpilot". 6 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the docking unit comprises powering means for powering of the various operating devices.

7 A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the powering means is a connection to the mains supply.

8 A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the powering mens comprises a battery.

9 A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

10 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a verification device into which a personal access code may be entered to verify that the purchaser is entitled to use a smart card or credit or debit card.

11 A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12 A method of carrying out a transaction using a commercial electronic commumcation device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10 substantially as hereinbefore described.