Apparatus and method for accessing events, areas and activities
February 15, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesOn-line/off-line automated banking system Financial data processing system Electronic access control system for coin-operated games and like selectively accessible devices Capacitive card and reader parking system Video gaming system with pool prize structures Product sales data processing system for on-line connection to host CPU Control system for health club facilities and equipment Multi-user card system Method and apparatus for dispensing money orders Card issuance apparatus with cancellation mode InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 550251 filed on 07/09/1990US Classes:705/17, Having interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit235/380, Credit or identification card systems235/382, Permitting access463/25, Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation (e.g., game entry, betting, prize level, etc.)705/39, Including funds transfer or credit transaction705/41Having programming of a portable memory device (e.g., IC card, "electronic purse")ExaminersPrimary: Envall, Roy N. Jr.Assistant: Bodendorf, Andrew Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesG06F 015/30G06F 015/28 AbstractAn access control system and method is provided for an activities center wherein activities are available for customers. The control system employs a plurality of access cards, a comptroller processor, at least one credit station and a plurality of access stations. Each access card is encoded for a respective customer, and the comptroller processes data, creates customer account files correlated to each customer's account file identifier, stores the customer account files, verifies customer account files to determine availability of credit and issues either approval or disapproval. The credit station reads an account file identifiers on an access cards and signals the processor to open the customer account file. An access station is associated with each activity and reads an access card to signal the comptroller processor to open the customer account file. Debit circuitry within each access station generates a debt signal corresponding to a selected cost debt for the respective activity, and the comptroller processor then generates approval or disapproval depending on the customer account credit for that activity. The access station has receiving circuitry responsive to the approval or disapproval signals from the comptroller processor to grant or deny customer access to the selected activity. A plurality of types of credit are used, and the comptroller processor maintains corresponding subaccounts, and the customers may allocate payment at the credit station among the types of credit available.Other References
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