Appeal No. 2004-0786
Application No. 08/935,116 Page 20
card and transmits customer identification to a host institution.
In response to an approval signal, a print signal is produced
resulting in the printing of a voucher for a maximum approved
charge. The voucher is indexed with both transaction data and
maximum approved charge data. The customer endorses the voucher,
still at the location remote from the point of purchase station.
The voucher thus becomes valid for the maximum amount of the
proposed charge. The card holder only then approaches the point
of purchase station, and places their order. The transaction is
then totaled. The attendant at the point of purchase updates the
voucher for an actual update amount, which is less than or equal
to the maximum purchase amount approved by the host institution
(col. 4, lines 1-28).
From this disclosure of Bigari, we find that Bigari's
voucher apparatus is remote from the point of purchase, just as
the check verification terminal of Creekmore is near but not at
the point-of-sale terminal (see also col. 6, lines 14-17 of
Bigari). However, although not brought to our attention by
either the examiner or appellants, we find that Bigari
additionally discloses (col. 9, lines 55-61) that figures 5
through 8 [sic,7] disclose an enhanced payment voucher processing
apparatus and system wherein the point of purchase register is
Page: Previous 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007