Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

There is described a card charging system comprising: (a) one or more smart card reading devices; (b) a transaction recording-payment facility; and (c) one or more security modules located between the one or more reading devices and the transaction recording-payment facility. The transaction facility is operable to receive signals from the one or more security modules to enable a purchase to be made in return for an amount of credit debited from a card; the one or more security modules record individual use of the card in respect of time and amount debited. The system further includes a clearing center to which information is transmitted from the one or more security modules to order the clearing center to keep a record of the location of each security module, whereby the clearing center is enabled to keep up to date a log of individual card usage, the clearing center log including the time and location of each card transaction, as well as any remaining credit on the card, and wherein the clearing center incorporates means for identifying any inconsistencies in the log with respect to the card credit and the locations and times of transactions.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim