Smarte Carte, Inc.

Positive Access Corporation

Commstar, Inc.

Smart Carte, Inc.

Atm Communications International, Inc.

Fred C Zimmerman

Verne L Severson

Mark G Bussey

Keith Louis Amdahl

Christopher J Rogney

Dan L Otterson

William Stephens

Hugo Vak

A software key control system and method for mobile devices. When a customer orders a software product, the seller issues a temporary activation key which is posted to a key registration web server. The customer then locates the mobile device's unique device ID and accesses the web server to provide the temporary activation key. The web server creates a registration key based on the customer's temporary activation key and device ID. The registration key is transferred to the customer's mobile device and the customer can then register the ordered software product. The system and method of the present invention thereby automate the sale and distribution of keys for mobile devices.

Software key control for mobile devices

A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail. Furthermore, a plurality of electronic sensors are utilized to detect the removal and return of carts to the apparatus and thereby prevent theft of rewards dispensed by the system. In particular, one such sensor utilizes a transmitter and a receiver which are coupled to a transmitter and receiver of a cart key located in close proximity thereto to determine whether a valid cart key is being detected by the sensor, as well as the unique identity of that cart key, so that the apparatus may maintain a queue of the carts retained therein. A control unit in the preferred apparatus utilizes a non-volatile audit memory mounted in the apparatus for storing system parameters such as statistical and configuration information, whereby if the control unit is replaced the system parameters may be restored to the new control unit.

Cart management system

A cart management apparatus for retaining and vending carts such as luggage carts, shopping carts, and strollers, includes a retaining rail for receiving cart keys disposed on the carts, a rotatable paddlewheel including a plurality of paddles, at least one of which projects into the retaining rail to provide an obstruction therein, an electromagnetic brake coupled to the paddlewheel to selectively inhibit rotation of the paddlewheel and restrict removal of cart keys from the rail, and a one-way clutch, also coupled to the paddlewheel to allow free rotation of the paddlewheel in a return direction to allow cart keys to be inserted into the retaining rail when carts are returned to the apparatus. The preferred apparatus may be used with existing carts which are retrofit with cart keys that are suitable for being retained within the rail. Furthermore, a plurality of electronic sensors are utilized to detect the removal and return of carts to the apparatus and thereby prevent theft of rewards dispensed by the system. In particular, one such sensor utilizes a transmitter and a receiver which are coupled to a transmitter and receiver of a cart key located in close proximity thereto to determine whether a valid cart key is being detected by the sensor, as well as the unique identity of that cart key, so that the apparatus may maintain a queue of the carts retained therein.

An automatic process for use in point-of-sale credit card or debit card systems for taking corrective action based on information returned from the banking system and/or the point-of-sale system. The automatic process replaces the human clerk as the interface in control of action by the point-of-sale device enabling unattended operation. The automatic process includes the maintenance of a hot list for denying use of repeatedly rejected cards, stopping the automatic operation if the banking system denies point-of-sale device access, and allows for local proprietary cards to be used independent of the banking system.

Unattended POS system for automatic control of bank system rejections

The technical field of the invention generally concerns electronic mail systems. The present invention provides an ATM or POS system having a terminal (22, 24, 26, 28 or 34) and processor (18 or 36) which are connected to an ATM or POS data communications network. The network also includes a store and forward message switch (52) which stores user messages for remote retrieval and use as an electronic mail system (10) on a data communications network (42). Messages can be stored or retrieved through standard ATM or POS terminals, through a service bureau, through touch tone telephones (84) or via modems (76). Messages can be retrieved remotely and sent to a facsimile machine (82), a remote paging device, computer (72) or the like. Message information may include payment of user bills, completion of user financial transactions and transmission of information from a variety of databases. Such message information may be generated and transmitted by the system at times predetermined by the user.

ATM/POS based electronic mail system

The local telephone message announcing device automatically checks a remote telephone voice messaging system for stored messages in a consistent and timely manner, announces the presence of stored messages through an external indicator and automatically connects the user to the stored messages upon entry of a predetermined command by the user. The device checks for the stored messages by detecting a unique tone sent to a user's telephone set or telephone number by the remote telephone voice messaging system to indicate the presence of stored messages. The detection occurs at predetermined time intervals whereby interference with the operation of the local telephone set is minimized. In addition, the device is easily installed by a person without technical expertise and can be adapted to any type of telephone set.

Growing community of inventors

Deephaven, MN, United States of America

Fred C Zimmerman