Patent · US Expired

Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station

US5031098A · kind A · utility

127Cited by
10References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 1989
Grant dateJul 9, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/70
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A mobile customer service station includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer's credit card. The console further includes a cash drawer. The operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powdered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a radio communication system. The radio communications system is controlled by a central computer and includes a plurality of portable data terminals which are coded to individually communicate with the central computer. The infusion of the customer service st…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.