Apparatus and method for data transfer between stand alone integrated circuit smart card terminal and remote computer of system operator

摘要

A hand held, unitary assembly, data collection device for an off-line vending machine such as a parking meter, which is operable by smart integrated circuit chip cards. The vending machine has a chip card reader, and which stores data as to the sale of goods/services from the machine. The device has a first portion which mechanically and electrically fits the vending machine reader; and a second portion with an opening to receive a PCMCIA card. Data is retrieved and transferred to the PCMCIA card. The first and second portions are rigidly joined to one another forming a unitary assembly, and the second portion securely holds the PCMCIA card, and is also a handle for gripping the device.