CA1127305A

CA1127305A - Self-service passenger ticketing system

Info

Publication number: CA1127305A
Application number: CA337,165A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Yuris Nora; Eugene J. Cekander; Masaru Kazaoka; Jim P. Chuang
Original assignee: Cubic Western Data Corp
Current assignee: Cubic Western Data Corp
Priority date: 1978-10-10
Filing date: 1979-10-09
Publication date: 1982-07-06
Also published as: JPS5592987A; EP0010399A1; JPS63195461U; US4247759A

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A system is disclosed for issuing airline tickets without the intervention of any ticket agent. The system includes a plurality of electro-mechanical ticket terminals in communication with a central comput-er. Each of the terminals has a card reader, a modem, destination select buttons, and a printer. In operation, the card reader reads data from a magnetic strip on a ticket purchasers credit card and the modem transmits signals identifying this credit card to the central computer. Subsequently the modem receives signals from the central computer indicating good or bad credit. The push buttons are provided on the terminal to enable the purch-aser to manually select his destination; and the printer prints a ticket to the selected destination conditional on the credit check signals received from the modem.

Description

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SELF SERVICE PASSENGER TICKETING SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods and systems for issuing airline ticket to passengers. In the past, such ticket issuing always required the intervention of a ticket agent. One problem with this prior art system, how-ever, is that it is simply too slow. Consequently, long lines of persons waiting for their ticket are a common sight in any airline terminal.
The above problem is overcome in the disclosed invention through the use of sophlsticated electronic technology. This technology is combined to form a fully automated passenger ticketing syst0m. No intervention by a ticket agent is required. As a result, ticket i~ssuing bottlenecks are elim-inated. The total time required to issue one ticket is less than 10 seconds.
Further, the system is easy to use and can be operated by all pas-sengers. In the preferred embodiment the terminal has a visual display that directs each passenger through a sequence of steps to obtain his ticket.
Also in the preferred embodiment, various checks are made based on informa-tion received from the travelers credit card prior to the issuance of a ticket. These checks allow only certain types of credit cards to be accepted, for example.
Therefore, it is one object of the invention to provide an improved passenger ticketing system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a passenger ticketing system that is fully automated.

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2~3~5 SUMMARY 0~ THE INVENTION
These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the lnvention by a system that includes a plurallty of electro-mechanical ticket terminals in communication with a central computer~ Each of the ticket terminals includes a credit card reader, a ~odem, a plurality of destination selection push buttons, and a printerO In operation, the ticket purchaser manually slides his credit card through the card readerO In response, the terminal transmits elec-tronic signals via the modem to the central computer. There, the credit check is made and signals indicating the results o the check are transmitted back to the terminal. Slmultaneously while this is occurring, the purchaser is directed via a visual display to manuall~ select a destination by means of the push buttons. Also, he is directed to select either a round trip ticket or a one way ticket~ Then, dependent on whether the central computer reports the purchasers credit as being good, the terminal calculates the fare and prints the ticket.
Thus, in accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, there is provided an automated system for issuing airline ~ickets in response to pur-chases by credit card without the intervention of any ticket agent, the system being comprised of a plurality of electro-mechanical ticket terminals ~hich communicate with a central computer adapted to determine whether a cardholder's credit is good or bad, wherein each of the ticket terminals includes: credit card reader means for reading data rom a credit card inserted therein by a ticket purchaser; destination selection means for enabling the ticket purchaser to manually select a destination from a predetermined set of destinations, including a visual display for directing the ticket purchaser through a sequence of selection steps; means for performing a predetermined sequence of status checks based on the data read by the credit card reader means, the status checks being ~,...

, ~ 731~5 performed without communicating with the central computer, and including a parit~ check, a check on the type o card, a check as to whether the card has expired, and a check on the number of purchases made with the card at the ticketterminal; modem means for transmitting signals identifying the credit card to the central computer conditional on the stakus checking means indicating passage of all of the status checks, and for receiving signals from the central computer indicating ~hether the cardholder's credit is good or bad; means for calculatinga fare based on the selected destination; vending means for printing and dispen-sing a ticket to the selected destination conditional on the signals received from the central computer indicating good credit; and means for recording data representative of each ticket dispensing transaction on a removable storage mediumO
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAl!IING
Preferred embodiments of the invention will best be understood by : referring to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;
~igure 1 is a pictorial vie~ of the disclosed ticket terminal in ~peration.
: ~igure 2 is a block diagram of the electronics within the terminal of 2Q ~igure 1.

73~3~

Figure 3 is a flow char~ o~ the major unctions that are performed hy the electrcnics of Fiyure 2.
Figure 4 is a detailed llock diclgram of the cc~n-tral control unit in Figure 2.
Figure 5 i~ a detailed block diagram of the modam -controlle.r of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a detailed bloc~ diagram of the printer module of Figure 2.
D~TATLED DESCRIPTION
ReE~rring now to Figure 1, a system for issuing airline tickets without ths.intervention of any ticket agent will be described in detail. The system includes a plural~ty o~ electro-mechanlcal ticket terminals, one of which is indic~ted via reference n~neral 10. The~e tenminals are plac~d at locat.ions that are con~en.ient to potential ticket purchasers~ To obtain a ticket, a purchaser 11 fir~t slides.his credit card 12 through a card reader 13. Reader 13 includes a slot 14 for guiding card 12 past the re~d heads. Various informatio~ is read from a magl~etic strip.l5 on th~ card as it passes through the reader.
After this information is read from strip 15, the electronics within ~erminal 1~ ~ransmits signals that ~Zentify the credit card to a central compu~er. There, a credit check ls performed on ~he card. Su~sequently, t~rmlnal 10 receives sign~l~ from the-central computer indicating whether the credit ls good or ~ad. Based on thi~ inform~tion, and on othex check~ which terminal 10 performs, a ticket either will or will not be i~sued.
30 Thi5 checking se~uence and ~he hardware for performing it ~7ill be described in greater de~ail in conjunction with the Figures 2 through 6.

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~s t~le above checks are heing perforrned, passenger 11 selects a particul~r ~estination. A total of twenty-our clestination buttons 16 are provided for this purpose.
E~ch of the buttons 16 has a p~rticular destination associated ~ith it; and a destinatiOn is selected simply by depressing the corresponding button. Subseqllently passenger 11 selects either a one wa~ ticket or a round tr~p ticket. A pair of buttons 17 are provided for this purpose. Also, another push button 18 is provided which is marked "C~NCEL". I~ allows the ticket purchaser to abort any ticket selection sequence and beain a new one.
Terminal 10 further includes three indicators l9a, l9b, and 19c which direct the tic~et purchaser through the ticket selection sequence. In Figure 1, indicator 19a is illustrated as being turned on. It directs pur-chaser 11 to perform step number 1. Indicators l9b and 19c respectively direct the purchasar to perform steps 2 and 3. . .
Terminal 10 also operates to giv~ purchaser 11 a~ditional mes~ages via a visual display 20. These msssages include "wait or ticket" and~'lsee ticket agent".
The ~ormer m2ssase ~s ~iven when each of the three manual steps i5 per~or~ed correctly and no reason for not issuing credit to the passen~er is det~cted by the terminal. In that case, the ~ctual tlcket is dispensed through a slot 21. Conversely, the latter message i8 given when some reason for not issu~ng credit to the purchaser is detec~ed by the termin~l.

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~ .~)lock dia~3r~m of the electronics in termi.nal 10 will now be ~scri~ed in conjur!ction with Figure 2. A6 therein illustrated, the~e electr~nics inci~<~es a c~ntral colltrol unit 30 ~hlch is .in cor2lunication wlth and controls vario~s s~e~ial purpose modules 31 t~l~oucJh 37. Control unit 30 provldes all ~f the intelligence in the ~.rminal.
That i~, mcdules 31 through 37 simply res~ond to CO~ h~S
fro~ ~he central control unit.
~{c~ule 31 iq a mo~em controlle~. It operates to pro-Yide a co~unicat.ion link het~en conLrol unit 30 and thecentral ~ompu-~r throngll a mol~em 31a. Basically, in re~pon~e to com~nand.s xo~ control unit 30, ~.odule 31 sencl~ m ssages to th~ centr~l col~pu~r re~uestin-j a credit ahc-ck on a partic~lar cre~it cardl and sen~s sign~ls indicating th~
lS results of the check to unit 30.
~ odule 32 is a magnel_ic t~p~ cassette recorder, It provides the means ~hereby control.unit 31 stores a p~r~.an~r.t record o~ each of the t.ick2t ~ispensing tran~
~ctions that ar~ ma~.e~ '~he cassette itsel~ is reInovable from the t~c~et termir.al. ~his ~llo~Js v~rious off li~e ~ookk~eping oper~tions to be performed on ~h~ s~ore da~a.
~ odule 33 inclu~es a plurality o~ ~er~uinal lden~ifi-cation switches. The &etting of these ~witches uniquely de~ine each termi~al. E'or exar,ple, these s~i~ch settingR
indic~tes the city in which the terminal i~ located, the terminal location, and the term~nal number, l~odule 34 is a printer and ~i~ket dispen~er. B~sicall-y, it respon~2s to co~.ands from control unit 30 ~o print an~
aispense the airli~le tic~e~. Tnese com~;an~`s direct the prin~ing on a character by ch~rhcter basis.

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Module 35 is the credit card reader. The previously descriked manually operated slide through read mechanism 13 is part o this module. ~asically, the module operates to ~ense any data recorded on magne~ic strip 15 and to convert this data to logical sianals for control unit 30 to sense and interpret.
The remaining modules 36 and 37 respectively are a timer module and a ligh~/push button module. Ti~er module 36 operates to provide the hour, day, month, and year to control unit 30. Thls information is used, for example, to determine whether or not the credit card has expired. In comparison, ~o~ule 37 provides an interface to the lights and switches on the termlnal which t~ere previou~ly described in conjunction with Figure 1. Basically, the module forms a 6 bit code that indicates which of the switches has been :depressed: and it responds to a 6 bit code from the control unit to illuminate various ones o the lights~
As was m~ntioned above, all of the intelligence in terminal 10 is included in the central con-trol unlt 30.
This intelligence is indica~ed by the ~low chart o~ Figure

3. First, control unit 30 initiali~es itsel~. This operation încludes the re~e~ting or various regis~ers that are lnternal to the control unit; and also includes ~5 the reading of the information containea in the switches o module 33. Su~sequently, control unit 30 illuminates ght l9a. This in~icates that the terminal is ready for a credit cara to be passed through the card reader. Then the control unlt wai~s for a signal from card reader moaule 35 indica~ing that a credit card has been readO

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Upon the detection of a creclit card, control unit 30 serlds a command to timer ~odule 36 ~ihich starts a ten second ~imer. This timer is set to prevent "silent deaths'. If the tic~.et selection se~uellce is completed within ten seconds. then ~he timer will be reset by the control unit; otherwise the timer will signal the control unit to ~erminate the ticket selec~on sequence.
Next, control unit 30 illuminates light l9b. Thls ~ndicates that a destination should be selected. Then, the contxol unit makes various status checks on ~he credit card that was read. These include a parity chec};, a cheGk on the type of card, a check as to whether the card has e~pired, and a c.leck on the number of transactions ~lade at this terrninal with the card. A parlty error may be caused by a variety of things such as a ticket pur-chaser ins~rting his credit card upside down in the card reader for e~ample. In the event of such an error, con-trol unit 30 displays a me~sage in display 20 and returns to point 'A" in the ~low chart.
~0 If no parity error occur~, then the card type check is performed r Each credit card has digi~s recorded on its magnetic strip that id~ntify the card type. For example, the digit~ 37 identify an ~merican Express card.
These card type dlgits are compared with a predetermined l~t that is stored within the control unl~ 30. By this means, the ticke~ terminal is able to selectively accept or reject particular card types. Also recorded on each credit card is a se~ of numbers identifying when the card expire~. These n~bers are compared by control unit 30 a~ainst the present date a~ receivPd from timer module 36, Ey this means, expired credit cards are rejected without inierrogating the central computer.

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The nu~er o~ tran~actions check o~erates to limi~
the maximum num~er of tickets that can be ontained .rom a ticXet te.rminal at one time. ~or each ticket that ~he ter~linal issues i~ ~stores the corresponding creclit card nu~ber. Subsequently, w~len anothel- ticket i8 rectu2~ted, the li~t of previously used credit cards i9 interrogated.
And i. ~his list shows tha~ ~ive tic~ets ~!~re alr~ady o~tain d by that credit card, than a mess~ge 'see ticke~
a~ent" i~ displayed vi~ dlsplay 20, and control unit 30 returns to polnt A.
When all of the status checks are passedf control unit 3C directs ~odem controller 31 ~o send a messa~e to the central processor. This ~essage iclentifies of the credi~ card which is presc-n~ly.bein~ operatPd on. U}~on receipt of this message, the central proces~or performs : various chec~s to d~termine whether the card holclers credit is good or b~d. It then send~ slgnals indlca~lng this : deten~ination ~ack to moclem controller 31.
This response rom the central ~rocessor is interro-gated by control unit 33. If ~he rc~F~onse indicates thecard holder has bad cre~it, then.the tic~et 6election . process ~er~inate6. Conversely, i a ~ood credit status : i5 indicated, then con~rol unit 30 monitors ~o~ule 37 until a ~stination has b~en selec~d. ~l~n that occurs, ~5 the control module illumi~a~es light l9c~ ~7hich indicatas that a one way or round trip ticket ~hould ~e selected.
~f'cer tha~ s~lec~ion is ma~e, contrs:1 unit 30 us~s the ~estination s~lect inrGnna~c~on and the round tri~/one way ino~.ation to calc~late th~ fare. Priclng da~a to each 30 o~ ~he various ~estlnations is stored in a progra;r~able ROM within the control unit.

~ 73~5 _9 Subsequently, control unit 30 directs printer module 34 tu print a ticXet. ~lso, the control unit directs the cassette recorder 32 to record on the cassette, all of the information that was pr.inted on the ticket. This includes the date, destination, fare, ticket n~un~er, and credit card number.
All o~ the ~unctions in Figure 3 are initiated and controlled by control unit 30. A detailed block dia~ram o this control unit will now be describad in conjunction with ~lgure 4. Basically, ~he control unit is compri~ed of a micro~processor chip 50, a plural~ty of output ports 51 through 56, and a plurality o~ input ports 61 through 66. The output ports provide a means for micro-processor 50 to send commands to each of the previously described mo~ules 31 through 37. Similarlyt the input ports 61 through 66 provide a means ~or receiving infor-mat~on signals from modules 31 through 37. Figure 4 illustxates which ports connect to which module~
Communication between proces~or 50 and the various 20 ports is provided by means of an address bus 50a, a data ~us SQb, and a control bus ~Oc. In one preferred embodi~
ment, the address bus is sixteen bits wide, the ~ata bus is eight bits wide, and the control bus is one bit wide.
This embodiment may suitably ~e imple~ented with processor 50 being an 8080 type micro-processor.
Address ~us 50a in conjunction with the control ~us 50c provide ~he ~eans for selecting eacho~ the ports.
To this end, address 50a 15 decoded ~y an address decoder 70. Ihis ~ecoder has various outputs 71, each GL which connects to one input port and one output port. Selec.ion S
~l o-between an inpu~ po~t or an output port is ~ce by slynals on control bus 50c. For e~ample, suppose the ~i~3nals on address ~us 50a are such that decod~r 70 ~eneratss a s~lect si~nal on le~.~ 71a~ Under these con-5 di~ions ~ a high logic state o~ control buc; 50G operategto s~lect output poxt 51, whexeas a low lo~ic state of control bus 50c op~.r~tes to select inpu~ port 61.
Data bus 5~b is used to trans~.lit dat~ to the output ports ana receiv~ ~a~a from -the in~,ut ports. Ihis lû ~s acllieved by con.~tructin~ eacll of the GlltpUt E~orks as a trig~erable re~is~er. and by cor~structin~ each of t'-e input ~oxts as a r~ster with lo~ic~lly selec~ahle output.
Preferabl~ oth the inpu~ port~ an~ the outpu~ ports are comprlsed o~ I~TEL 8212 chips.
Also included in control un~t 30 i9 a R~ 72 and : a ~O~I 73. Basically, ~he P~M is ~Ised a9 a wor~ axea for m~cro-processor 50. In the preferxed embodir.ent, it has a capacity of 51~ ~ytes. By co2-parison~ ~o~ 73 holds .
instructions for ~he m~cro-processor. These in~tructions are executed ~y ~.icro-processor 50 ln various sequeilc~6 to carry out all o~ the functic~ns thnt ~7ere pseviously des-cri~ed in conjunction with ~igure 3. A listing of the ~nstructions in XOM 13 is ~ncluded herein a~ ~a~le 1.
A portlon of P~OM 73 also stores various data which micro~pxocessor 50 can interrogate ~s needed. For exa~ le, data ir,cludes pricin~ in~ormatlon to th~. vAriou~ destina-t~ons~ Preferably, the R~I chips that hold this data ar~
pac~.aged on a ~eparate card or in soc~et l-olders which ~llo~ th m to be easily chansed.

::

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Referrin~ now to Figure S, a d~t~ loc~ diagr2m of modem module 31 will ~e ~e~cri~;~ec1. Thi~ module inclu~
an interface 80 which mee~s R~232 st~nd~rds. ~eceivers ~la are provide~ for r~ceiving signals from ~he RS232 S i~terface and for conver~ing them to T2L logic level~.
Similarly, translQittRrs ~l~ are provldeA for converting T2L signals to ~S23~ levels. ~he actual modcm to which this inter~ace connec~s i8 a V~DIC ~ull duplex model 2430.
In operation, the central processor sequel1tially polls each ticket t~rminals to dete~ine ~hether or not that terminal has a cr~clit card to ~e checked, ~ll ~essases that ere rece~ved rom interface 80 are first stcred in a ~.essage stora~e ~M ~2. Su~s~quently, after the rne~sage i8 received, it is .~ent to a ~essage comp~re circuit 83. T~liS circuit has a second input fro~ a ROM
~4. This RO~ con~ain~ the ~ormat of various m~essa~es which the ~erminal i~ to r~cogni~e.
If the message in ~A~ 8~ is determined ~ c~mpare circuit ~3 to ~ a poll ~essage, ~hen a siqnal indicating this fact is sent via a l~a~ 85 ~o ~ timing and con-trol circuit 86. In response, control circui~ 86 ~ends a rnessage ba~k ~o ~he central proces~or~ The exact r,lessage sent dep~nd~ on whether or not the modem had previously received ~rom control un~t 3Q, the numb~r o~ a cre~it card to be chec~e~. rhiS number i5 stored in a ~ ~7 by m.eans o~ ~gnals from output port 56.
If ~ 87 has ~ credit sard n~er stored thereln, then thi~ nu~er is sent throu~h a ~.:ultiplexor ~8 and ~hrouc3h trarsmitters ~lb to the remote ~rocessor. Conversely, 30 if P~v'.~ ~7 ha~ no cre~lt car~ number stored therein, then a canned mes52~e ~ 8 r~ad rom RG~ 89 and s2nt through multi-lP~

plevor SB and transmitters 81h, to the central ~rocessor.
Timin~ signal~ for these transmis~ions a~e qenerated by control circuit 86 on leads 90.
t~hen the central processor receives a credit card nu~ber LO be checked, it responcls with a ~.essage on inter-face ~0. ~i~ain, this Ine5sa~e is stored i.n the ~.cssage ~ 8Z. Suh~equently, the me~saye in R~ 8~ is sent 'o compare circuit S3 for comparison with the messages in ~O~ 84. Thi~ ~l~er the r~cei~ed messaqe will indicate either a good cre~it st~tus or a ~ad cre~it statu~. Circuit 83 operates ~o qenerat2 ~ignal~ on leads 91 in~.icating whicn messa~e ~;as recei~ed. ~he6e ~ess~es ar~ su~seq~ently interrogated throu~h inport port G~ by micro~rocessor 50.
~eferring now to ~lgure ~ details of the printer control module will be ~escri~ed. ~aslcally, this module consists only of output port 54 and input port 6~. Signals *rom output ~ort 54 incluaes 7 ~lammer ~elect s~gnals 100, a l~ead motor conJ~rol sigr.al ~ an~ a ~icXet advance signal 102. Simll2rly siqnal~ to input ~or~ 64 consists 2n of two end position s~nse signals 103. q1h~se 5~ ~nals are sent to/received from a Practlcal Automation printer havinq model num~er Dk3PT Ç.
In operation, contr~l unit 30 fir~t monitors the end po~ition ~ignals to determine if the print head i5 ~ n a posit~on where printing can ~egin. On~ of the ond posi~on ~ignals indica~es that the print head is in an extreme le~t posi~ion and thus printing can besin fro~ left to right;
whereas the o~h2r signal indicates ~nat thc print head i6 in an extreme righ~ ~o~i~ion and prin~in~ car. begin from 30 right to left. Upon aetection of one o ~he signals, the head motor control signal is sent. ~his causes the print head to ~OV2 in a la~eral direction in a predet~rmi ned speed.

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- ~.3-Su~ec~uen~cly in s~ncl~ro~ atior. ~ith thi~s sp~d, v~.rious hams;~r select ~sign.~ls are s~nt to ~ e printer. ~o print on~ ch~r~c~er, t~ s2 slwn~ls are l;eld true for 600 ~illi-s~cond~r and are turnç~l off ror 1000 m.illisecon~s. ~.11 5 o~ thi~ g an~ sisnal select-ion 18 accour..ted f~or by the J. icrolproccssor ~ 0 .
The a~o~ lescril~ed ch~xacter hy character prin~ing cont~nu~s until on~ full line io. prin~d. Sub3~uently, the ticke~ ac~ nce signal ~9 s~nt ~o tl~e ~rinter. In 10 resp~n~e, th~ tic};et i~ m~o~rea to a new li~!e~ mh~n printin~
o ~hat new lin~ con;:inues as de:scri.~ed abo~e. }~ total o~ ~our lines ar~ printes~ on eac~ tic1c~t.
C~rd reacter ~cdul~ 35, i~ .er r.~oaul~ 36, ar.ct tape cassette I:}odulc- 3~ also h~ve ~tan~ax~3ized inter~ces 15 simil~r 1:o that d~scribcd above or tne ~:~rint~r. Thelr control is ~m~lc~m~nted ~y sen~5ing ~i~nal~ to ancl rec~ivin~
~ignals ~rom the corre~pondinq output ~nct input por~3.
t~3te actual car~ r~ac~r us~d in terminal lO is th~ mo~el ~0 m~gn~tic strip card xeader that is ~.anu~act~lred }~y 20 Pr..~ric~n Magnetic3 (:ornoratîon~ Simil~rlyt the actu~l t~mer that is ~s~d in te.xmir~al lO lnclud~s a semtGonductor chlp num~ex 58~i that is manu~actured ~y ~75C Corporation.
h~p gives th~ s~con~s, ~inutobs,. hours. ~.d mc~nt~as.
~he yfsar i.5 æet in b~ hand via ~e~.~eral switche~ nd, .~5 ~he ac~ual t~pe cassette that ~ s usea ilt t~r~rlillal 1~) is a model 250B with option ~l 4 that i~ manuac~ured by MF:~
Corporcttion. ~ur~h~r, details orl ~he ~rterfa~e to each o~
these component3 ls ava~l~ble rom their respective manu-factur~ræ .

", ` ~Z7~5 A preferred em~odiment of th~ inven~ion has no~
been de~crihed in aetai1. In add1tion, var~ous changes and mo~ifications may ~e made thereto without departing rom the nature an~ spirit of th~ invention. Therefore, it is to he understood tllat the in~ention is not 1im.it~d to ~ai~ ~etails but ~s defin~ by the appenc'ed c1air~.s.

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-~ 04~e~ic32v~v~ 3~se~ s~3~l-F~
:100~FD0æ~3323~41D137CCllC4121.~4~e0~2CCD0C
;-3~ rv~4~Z~6*~ P-~-~- r2 l;F~-1~51riæ~3~ e31A77231v05C~ C3~c. ~rc~4~
~=DZIa3~2521-rv~-~-2~-C-c~IJv~ -5~*4~rv~-2~ 3--: lZ~53r'~Zr532322F41D3alC~:iC~;2';C37hal3~.4~l)3~1 --12~4~2~2j~3~ ~4~ ~V~ 3Y-~V~P,~;J~4-~.-V5---~5?,~55D~22.~D32~7~3Ec2,ri2~,r,.~
3~C 7 S^ V2! S-~,~v 3C 7 f 7 3 - V- ri2--0C75ZZ~2v 7'~32~ E4~ 431.4E~r ~ rA rz 5~5~ 5C~C-~-7~ -3~ C~e~3rv~A~-~A----: lZ~5.53Zi~ ~.'L241~ C324~ 12 '1~ 52lFFF,2F13132~
5 ~ 3~ 27 ~ ~r ~ 2 4v~ 1~ g ~1~ ~-v~ 3~z~ vv~3~ ? ~ - -~17);~5~5~;~vACc;.4.1772v3'`1e~2h~v~ lD2323233~73 P2v~ 2~Rt~23~5vl~1*~r~Pvl2 ZS~r Z ~36ii 1 C ~213. 41~, r 2 3_ 66 F

~ZJ73~.5 ,, .

TABLE 1 Continued i Data Address ¦ .
~ I ~ ~

5~ 0h-B-1~ 3~ -2`~ 'f~ e~-~31-~ e2~d~A--.

la~5~0~51323~C`C2~A053A37413C323741~057~
-1 7~5-~E~ A l-~ 3*3~-l -F6~&3-~4~ e~ ,A5--: 10060r'00C23C!Z6D17~2F~7C2E705CG212i~ 011:aRel 62~0~C22106C9F~2AD~3I!e~6~6F73DF64~C9F6D6 ~0-3-;~;C~7~~ 0~:~i..F~ c~ ~l3~5 3a.~64~0fiFr,D35,061213230578Ch .----1~06~7~0-~ z~ C9~ c--:1~;0567000637CCA~2235~1AFC9C93A32~1F-40~33F
~ C 3 C L~ C 2 2;
:1~068700710616R4018~13CDC81LAFCD9B06C~C~D7 -- i-0~6~7e0'0~C~-F~0~3i3~01-7Dh~:B~13~0-~71~
la06h700~1e62103407~3~o0F77DE001717;)AE0~6EE

6-~ ~4~e~-37~ 2~ 7~ 7-c~

0806C700~6F077CaD~B00~62034 ~C-~ e2~c~
:1006DF000F77~00~610C2E106~0047~61~CA~fi41 -----10a6~:F'~0~$3^2-1-0~4~7~3-17~t71-717~077.J`-21~0-~
:1~306FFa07F.2~36~2C141237F.23:E632C241CI)Aa~5~4a--.-1~7~v~0 ~ A 0~-0~ 3~3c~
: 10071Fvv367F323241n304210_40CDg513CDA~F07&A

: 1~7~ ~" v~. ~ g v -r F ~ ~ 2~o~_. C C
: :09073F0003CA7707F~.04C~ 070~
7--~80~C~Dc~6~ 7~-J-2~6~ ~C~1~ 57--1$075P,ZZ~1~01~6!~51C2490?CaCDA1052102'~Z7:~237-7 ~ 8~ 63c ~ l e~ cD-~ -E~ -2~ ~7~J~el? 24 - --: :10077~00D2062100~07F.23~632Cl~IlCD320CD~01C6 ~ .-l~-v7~v-æ~-æ~e-2~

: 1 0; ~: 7 ~9 ~ a a 5 ~ A 1 C D 3 c v C r~ 1 E 1~ Q~ 1 C 2 fi ~ ~ 7 C 9 1) R. ~ ; 9 ~

- 10~77A~0002Ch-~7~57-CD~ 1-3D~ io0r2~-~*~a73~-D~F7 --.

a7~7~2~;~531-,~lCA.A''0?C913 zi~?~F~0e-l~2aQe-~G~ *s-~ e~

~ : lZ07~'F?v03PCDC-il5CCD~sa517171717F~';F~51747DA23 10~7T~Fav72a817DA2a~.'317DAæ4æ817D~.Z~P,DE;a4~-~7F~0'~?1~ 177CD~ Cl~4~æ~elcD4~Q~

7~0a2C-D7C13CC17DA~ -03-C31-A0~D304.~1~CF5 lv~3ZFvv34177CDv?vC11~ ~4vC3FC~a7D:E-a421~D417~

77C-~Q~e~C1-1-~4~C-~ -2,717~4~-17~.74 --a72_~F02~ &C.7i43e8D3047C
-3~-~ 77~ 4v~~ t~
: le~ve~cr 'li77CD4~CC317D~7~ e~cz~v~G~r3e S~2i0~ '177CDvA~Cll~ Cv~ 7~4 ;53~5~A41?7C!)~.~iC11~.24:~C~FC~71717-J317~A

h~7~Q,~51;r^k~2~C9~ r,1~-~17I~ 4~'~22-~r~4~ l~~-~

:'~Z~?,~^'Z~3~C5~78v'F1c_3~c~21CG~llA77lv~3 -~æ-~ 2~5r2~ c~ ~e~x~ 7ll l7 :Z~ v22C 41~Q.vC~9~2A.~9~

~13L27~f~5 . -L8-.
TABLE 1 Continued .

Ad ress D~ta . ~ ~
--:1-0~8A~ 32~-3-2~4i-3~7~-~ A~'~c-e~33~3 : 10a8~0æl C;3CFa83h3g41 F5Al C3CFa&~ ' 3~1Fc 2 ?Ç38~-`~Q-4~ 3g41~9-3A-34~ D3~6-~
: 1~528D~00C2140~116Q0~FD~02171717DA40a9177~:
~}~ 2~ ~'*~ ~7D A
: 1ej08FEQ036201~Q~D5~,DI)70ADlCD~3~?0A7bF:E~41 C233a~$~ 3-~3~4~ -3~ ~3~-. a~ 3.~ 4lD~s~Fe.~a - --~ -l-e09-2~-03-~z~i3~ 3-~ 4 ~ -kA~ -3~33--:1~0C350'0~1D304Cc362111~a3C302ec17DhC:B0317B5 ,' : 1009''520CDA2,0&11.474et21AD400F03CD9e~0ACDBllF
--.-1-~'~65~i~0A3i~D~r3-2-33~-i~i~1~4-d~i~7~ 377~~, : l~a9753ZD3~62139417E~ôZ47'?212'9414EDB25E67 -----1-0~3 ~-L 00F~l7~3*33yi-~6~153~-J~ F~3-~e~3~A
- :09~g50050D30532334121hD07D
10;~9~7~ ~23-v~--~v~ "f~
: 1 0~9AF00221Fe~6C30c0336231EQi9C30~e917DADll~
0 0 1~Dt.~ ~e~3 0~3~ .~ 5~ ~ ~'~2-- :
:- :la~gCli.'i3~5C302i~C~l?DADC0c.30201El2C3020936271~iE
. --.-1~0~1}F~3~-~sl~i~3-~9~ P~r~AiR~tkl-~ ~B*01-D~--: 100CE~ ei~0A 17DAFAe~936281 Rl~ C3~209362C1 1~1 P,~l : 290A0Fe01E21 C3020917DA29~AAE
0A170i~1-7DR2Z~k3~.9~l~3~91~C~5~ t~97C~I1~i---: laZA27~03Z3~ A34Zh3c2~ 2hC30c03i^2Fl~
eh.37-~ ~7~h~.~-~.~e~--:~ : 10~.~7e00A363;31~.30C30~0C,3i~3l1~,33c30z0~c.~l77F ,, -~h~vl~6v21~;;3v~v-~v31~ C~322~R
: 10~A~i7000gl7~A7E0A17DA770.4363~ -3CC30~09F3 ~-l-R0A77-~3~3~i-1-1~3-~,3-~2~1~-L~h~ ~3~.~.4~e~e6---3.~A~7~0~20~3~iZ71E~5C 30209~D
--:-l-~0A~ -A 77 ~ e~3~ ~L~l l-:~l---15;~A~000C~4~CDAe0v21D~011~;~4~05e~CD511-~F
10RA~00e~?Z27F' ~v2!~Fv3Q772~3F~ 01C3~4 ~~~~100A~5~0~3~5*0~e~ A~v~ 01~1{.~~.91~nt.~i~~~
l~ôArX0~401A7713230jCc~ 13AC921~421E~73~1;.0 z~ 4 ~1~ vJ~6~k -~7 0C0~2!0~ CT)l t.R~C~ F2~Al F0707 ~7~3~5 , _ --19`~

TA~3LE 1 Cont ' d.

Da ta Addr~ s s ¦

- . 1~ ~ ~ ~-h 1~ ~ h h F v ~ 3~ L ~1S
:lBB3l30~ll)ccl0epc93A344lF~)4eD30~E6B:~3~344~ .
0~3~ -1-D-~ C~l-i~ -A~7~ 6~ 31~---lB.0B39~01.~)51r081F57?D1~6F'? C1~67D24D~ ~i.9~1 ç~9~7~A~63?~-*~i3e~v~31tq~k~;~ ~4-~e~---10t~35C!~0AlC23i30~137312137Cl2C9~EFE3A2~Al7B

4 1 ~ O !iF l~v ~ l v 2 ~ '~ 4 1 ~ r! C ~ ~ ~
: ~8~379~0~60BC93A2~41E;v~C3 .'~3.~1 @r0 ~3~ i 3~--1~ 3~1~1~01~1 , 0,B91 a ~l~F0aA~C3A2~3A2~41 F610 D30i E6EFD30h , .
--- .--10~B~1~3~1-3)-~rvi';'7~iT-4rr'i~rl8~F~i~k~0~te~3----: 1~033100~C,'70337C781213C3D&i~3A2~`41F61CD3CC
l~a~PC10!a~1~6~FD3;~1D ~031';1Al F12D2RB~0P.132A65 0~D1002Cal7D33CAI)~ B3~ 12C3BB0P~3A~F-129 -3~ e-~3~2~4l-D3~ v~-l-PC 7~v~&----:~ 070B~130~241D3a421384317 `~---.-l~;B~8~2i-~0~e~e-~ ~5-~5~41-~,~7Y'~F----.
:laaC~800323241D30421004311BB412:~a3CDDB0C2h :100C280011~E41eE02CDD30CElC9E53~3~41~67~47 "~ O~-c~8~-03-~3~ fOA~ -3l-~e~4~0-~ 3~ e-~4 : laoC4~30OElCaE53A32a~1~6'?F323741D304211843~3 0e~s~-0~-l-e~ ,0e~ 2~@~2~i33----:ô&roC68~'o:~1C9~53A3241E6?~3 ~v`~c ~ l D30 4 212 0 4 311 3 C ~ 2 C D I~ C A :3 ' 05~S~00e000FlC9~53A3~.41~ô7F3232 'lD3042126 i -C~)~0:~4~)'~32-~ 11-t~-4~ G-~ t~,~h----0C ~0ao~oo~1 C9E53A3241~67F323241Dvo427 -----~ C?s~ clei~v~l-C~ R~ 2----:107,CC00000~1C9C90e;003_0F23360F230J)C2CfoC40 -~ e~3~ 0~c~ ,a~, : 090~,~00ZZ7~0F77237~0F7791 2-3'2~e-~33æe-;~A~2~ Y~ ~3-~ -9~
~ l~ZCF9~0C116fo4;~CD3F0D~S13F5CD3FaD~179~5~
---~-100~90006~I~3-1{~ 4.~C-1~31~-r~l~Q~ .-E~ -3c~----: 10~DlC~0036F7c905C20A0~)3~4?.413D3242~1 C2Ol85 ~: 100D39Z0C6,.~f7~17CC91 A0100~0~Fv77~174~7C3'~ ~
-- .-1 ~-~C~ 5C-~-3~ o,~ ~7~ C~2~3~----~P~D59~ A~DCDCh021~7A~32----^ l2~v~J~5-l~~ 1-37*7~ Q~-~I~---1~2D71~eC~)nC~D~s01E63~-:CA_40J)3~1 1322~41h~24 3 ~ 1 r ~ C ~ -4 ~, v ~ ,4 --.0~l32~ .F~, 34l 2le0s~f~77~G ll P~02C-~ .~,3~-~A~15~ e5~ 1-3~5~7----1~3D~l~Zl~ DFC5Cll~10rlv-~;F5CC0~ 13~ R
Dcl~r~v3~,33~.2~ 7e~
~C0DT)1~0Ch~r~D~ v`C4C7D321DDc --20~
TABLE l cont ' d.

Data Address l ¦

3-~ "1~ 2 ' ^ ~ L ' ~ ~ b~ O~0 ~ 1~31 ¦~
: l~l0~ ee,l~ 03c~3l03~2F23~e3cD~3le~e~3~s , .4 ~ *~ 0G'e D-~3 1-@~ A~7 -~ e-~6 101~DA301 3CC36 . 4233649G3364F23365623C921AD
01-0~A}30~-4~0~ ?~-7-----:1010FA000F0DC2~.10C~llB'`400E001AF~CA10F0 - -:07111A001100~0CDFA0F41A~
10113100CA5i)1111~EB4~77C835FD23~111441CDD3~g 0~ t3~ ~Gs~e;~e~ ~3~
101151a00CC357110606C3:FA0FC36hlle607CDF~63 3~i~ 3~ ~ C .J ~A ~ F l ~ L ~ v ~
: lQ1171e~0!3D2761 1144100e~0CDD31eC98Dl"9712FF
~38119103FC1101120612R~127F
: 1011A90015121A121F12?41Z2122~.12331238127Z
73~ ~L c l c5 l l 25~' l c 5 bl ~ cc :1011C900E512rcA12EF12741279127E1283178812D2 ---~l~tll~9~Q-~ ~E&l~l-~ ~iG~Al-C~8~-----lallha~a~9DlClC184~Eh4C348CCEDlTv~lDl~2C6C~Pl -Rs00~ ~e~e~v~ ~e~esel------0120CS20C31 9~A4C4A4gli B5CgC
2~ 2clclcl~:9c~ clCiF~ClcaC
: lQ12.2200C9~FC0C8C8C8FFAFC9C lClF~FF&8888~P,~D
-----101-2-320~FCl-Cl-F~Cl-~ ~2e~tA~8~----, :' :101242~i08181Q1%l~'FFhaC`l8~ FFFFP.58a~iZFF~T'4ai -- - .-~ 52~ ~v~ ~Ev~ .l-e~4r,------;l~lZE2~0CCC8FFA5/`9CCCcB2C0CÇ~FFC0C0FRc>18137 ~1~ 3 C F ~ 2 8 C cs2 F ~ ~ Z, ~-4 ~ 8 :0~12820~F:3FÇ~&8$788F0c:1DlC98E
-9~ 0 ~J5~3~o~tv~&~ ~4~ v~ ~46--- --:1012~a:~8~3~,4~D30~3~37,D~18D32~33;41;27,2E411R
l-2~0T~ p~ B-~p~e~e~e-~
: 1~123~00120B7C~7C2B5127~P,~37C 2~5121DC2Bll2F3 ;_2i~d3~ ,31f',I~3d~CIJ8~13~2r~ 62 : l~l2~3e~e~ 3c~2lss4e~3~F3A 7,v~ v3F4~s~
-- ---l z l 2~ a~ ;~v~ -c-2~ 3~ 3s------- ~712F-3d41 C:~)2 D2! ~CDD~13 ~;~
l v~2~ v'37~3~3~ 9e~ 2 ~=~~~~-:1~1312~0D309~71)212133EC lD3~0C1~5A 13D!3~~ 2 ir~T~sA~ r-~ pvc~ *~ -7-~7~-------: 10133~20 lD30e~Cl)_A13CD9C120030~0Crv313vl1~
--- 1-~1-342~2C-~ -31r~A-~lvv~v~A~i-~------1 ~1352;~ZF9~136~i~233;~;~2CC lFv05CD7C 13C90?~C9 ---~-le-l36z~ D?~,3~4~r~ 3a~v~*~-----~7q~

TABLE 1 cont ' d .

Data Addre~s s I . , A 2~ 41D 3~0D~ 0~C ( jA A
1~137A0016380153C3CDC81515C27C13C~318025~2 1~138AeeCI)C815C~01~02 ~CDC~315C301A8~1CDC8:B~
3~-A~-5~B~ e~8-1-~ ~0~C~ 5 1313AA~ C35CDC815CC)3A3E4113DC2rsDlv37227D
Bl-3~A~3~ 4-K~A~2~3~4~E5~-k3e~v~-3~4i-R~
13CA0~C ~D5133h3E41~DC 2D5133723223C~l El 3~3~ C ~ cv~ C 5~~
0813 ~A Q 041 C D ~2 ~ 3 D8 C35 Rl 4 DE .
3F-2~ 3~ E)3~e~ ~3~e~ -s~..,l~----: 131~;32.3a01r)30;0D~3.3flAFD3.31~3~09D318D309CDa73F
--~ ~?-~0~-v~A~.Ev~03~;5 3?~1-fi~30~)~al-D3~ ~E~----.. : 1014220~AFD3003309D31~D3~9CDC5133~01 D300A3 :~ ~ . i~43~ *~*-~ 2~7h~v~ v~0~vr~ 00G
: 10144200D318D30B3~21D300D~0A0F~24A14AFD319 --~ -45-2B-2-~3-~-5~31-81~3~:~-A~ .C-1-1-~2~-~4~-3 ~ 0~14620001D300I):~33D130A0FD~
--A-~Q~1~4~A~1~29Cl*~ ~l 3~.~A~ 3*1~A~LE~*~~~~
7~$03T~.'8CD3l~D30scD30l5rvlDAADl4c3ccl~D3 ;1-2-~3-3~DC~.o31 hFD3-~33~GD71~D~,39C~3r 10149A0i~80143E~lD3Ç':$D~ 3F.62e~C26714'`D3D15~C
*A~36~ ~ ~3~1-.~ 4>~0 _-~ -4~
14~Aa0n3~0D~03T: 620C2C614CI!3I)15CDP1133243 -----1~14~A0~-~Cl-~ C-l~--~v~ r31~ C~*3~--~~
: a914DAa013AFD31~D30C21C~t0v6 : 1~14~30000DP,~8D~a907DA111507Q7DA0215C93A 1~

-5~3~3;Q~ 3-~s~ 3æ~-30cv~e.~.-3*3~3----: 131513aa41F6Q0323841C3~h153h38~1~62~323851 ----10~5-~3~ 37Cv-33*3~4~-F~4~-3i~ 7ev~k~1----1015330;;~1AD313Dv~BCDC21313CC~70r7~c~002~23EF3 ,1 J 4-~ a-~l~lt~v 1;2;~ r~ 7 2 3 ~ l 3 C ~S 2 C ~ F ~ C F~
- ~571$5300DC-~_lh772rv13~35;Cl3 ---1 0 1-55-A~-~C-25~1~CV~F~Jr5~5~5~C5~J5A~-7~e~----1Z15_h3~15C3F015F5C5160Z5A~7Ck8F154~r3C14 --læl~7~ 327C,~ 0~ 7~ e1-~ 6----1~158A'30677C~:s3274:F7~8.A27477CElCc-'567373~.r'1 l~L%7~.5 TABLE 1 cont ' d .

Data Addre s s I . , ~1 ~ ~ ~e ~F
----1~ 5~.~1274~
:1015AA00FlCgC 5~50E00070707071~60F4705FAC2A6 , ,15-3~ -A&~B7-~ $~e~1~e~3A-----: Z~15CA~00~7~7C2CA157~37~
~A-~L~ 9 ~e~ A 33~k~e~---- !
: 1015~20~3~305C2DC15C3F0151~1DlC11~137CC:51Dl40 2~ e~ C ~ 7 C ~ R 56~ 3 : 101602~02~3C7737C9AF144~7CBAC8798623C3~9~8 -----1-0-i61-20;~1~?4-F2r-47~ ~3~R~1'00~7~2~7~,--- , 1~16220aC21~167ABCC21E162100407E:~38C25Fl~C8 ' --.-1-~1-6-32~2-37-~1e-~ -3~2-~~k~1~8--^-~
: 08164200FF21 FF414~707E~84C .
ifi~*~ e~ e~ 6~ *~
:0A1~5AQ0CA431~RFC571C3e6~0179A
--.l~-~Y~1~2e~6~0~ 1~5~B-1-5~ 4-~0~,~07~---711004~0a3a40021~04003~3400~)00400aAAAh34 7-21~0A-AA-A~.~A*A*A~-A*kAA-A*A~-A~.A~-~A*A*A~---:lZ1731Z0AAAAAAAAhAAAAAAAAAAAAhAAAAAAAAAA2 ---.,~',1~r~ AAAA~'~h-A-~ A~
: 1~17~ 6~1L44~555254~ ,4C474~C41~,4D78 ---:-1017~052~G~f-F~-14~4~ 5~3~r,~3~- 4~5~_~1---- ;
: 3717 C~ 5~4A~353434~312 17~0~64-15~ -2~ -~6~4-C4-l-~ .-DC-25~4~A~---1017~0~-'143534D~553454F53lA~353434~20201E .-~-~3~ -2-~~F5 0a0011~F
... . _ , .
:

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An automated system for issuing airline tickets in response to purchases by credit card without the intervention of any ticket agent, the system being comprised of a plurality of electro-mechanical ticket terminals which communicate with a central computer adapted to determine whether a cardholder's credit is good or bad, wherein each of the ticket terminals includes: credit card reader means for reading data from a credit card inserted therein by a ticket purchaser; destination selection means for enabling the ticket purchaser to manually select a destination from a predetermined set of destinations, including a visual display for directing the ticket purchaser through a sequence of selection steps; means for performing a predetermined sequence of status checks based on the data read by the credit card reader means, the status checks being performed without communicating with the central computer, and including a parity check, a check on the type of card, a check as to whether the card has expired, and a check on the number of purchases made with the card at the ticket terminal; modem means for transmitting sig-nals identifying the credit card to the central computer conditional on the status checking means indicating passage of all of the status checks, and for receiving signals from the central computer indicating whether the cardhold-er's credit is good or bad; means for calculating a fare based on the selected destination; vending means for printing and dispensing a ticket to the select-ed destination conditional on the signals received from the central computer indicating good credit; and means for recording data representative of each ticket dispensing transaction on a removable storage medium.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the fare calculating means for each of the ticket terminals includes at least one removable ROM element having data stored therein representative of pricing information corresponding to the set of destinations from which fares can be calculated.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein each ticket terminal further includes a plurality of terminal identification switches, the pre-selected setting of which uniquely identifies a particular ticket terminal.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the destination selection means for each of the ticket terminals includes means for enabling the ticket purchaser to select a one way ticket or a round trip ticket.