Prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards

Details Prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards Prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards

G - Physics

01

R

354/40

G01R 11/02 (2006.01) G07F 7/00 (2006.01) G07F 15/00 (2006.01)

Patent

CA 1281419

Abstract of the Disclosure A prepayment utility metering method and apparatus is described which uses encoded mag-stripe cards to transfer purchase information from the utility billing office to the customer's premises. The mag- stripe cards are read at the customer's premises by a microprocessor-controlled utility metering and control device which meters the utilities according to the amount purchased at the utility billing office. The value information encoded on the mag-stripe cards is comprised of the amount of the purchase coded in terms of number of shaft revolutions of the metering disk, a rate schedule for metering the value of the utilities consumed, and a special sequential password containing an encrypted combination of the consumer's account number, the consumer's site identification, and the sequence number of the current purchase. This encoding scheme for prepayment of utilities provides an effective and economical method of distributing utili- ties that prevents fraud and tampering. The present invention also includes a method and apparatus for providing an emergency credit to uti- lity consumers when the prepurchased amount is exhausted. An emergency mag-stripe card is used to credit the user's account with a purchased amount of utilities adequate to tide the consumer over until the billing office opens on the next business day. The emergency mag-stripe card cannot be used more than once, and the credit amount in the meter must be reple- nished by a new purchase of utilties before the emergency card can be used again.

553552

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Prepayment metering system using encoded purchase cards will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFCA-PAI-O-1248801