Methods and apparatus for electronically storing and retreiving value information on a portable card
First Claim
1. An electronic value storage system, comprising:
- a plurality of transportable solid-state media, each solid-state medium being adapted for the secure storage of information in a reference fingerprint, the information representing stored value; and
a plurality of electronic read/write units, each read/write unit being adapted to store and retrieve data from ones of the solid-state media, the read/write units being further adapted to read and write authentication information from and to the solid-state media, the authentication information being resistant to duplication and serving to locally identify a solid-state device containing authentic stored value information without accessing a remote authentication unit.
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Abstract
A value storage system in which information representing value is directly written to an easily portable storage medium as a reference fingerprint. The value storage system includes a plurality of read/write units for storing and retrieving the value information. Each of the read/write units may include a data authenticator for authenticating information previously stored on the storage medium, the authentication information consisting of a numerical representation of a level of trapped charges representing the reference fingerprint. The read/write units may be connected to a central server which retrieves information from each of the read write units, stores information, and provides various accounting and statistical analyses, as well as reconciling transactions between two or more read/write units. The value stored may represent units of value employed in a customer loyalty program which are stored on the portable media during a sales transaction and then later redeemed for purchase of or discounts on merchandise, a gaming player'"'"'s points or winnings, or any of a host of types of value related information which may be carried on a portable card.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic value storage system, comprising:
- a plurality of transportable solid-state media, each solid-state medium being adapted for the secure storage of information in a reference fingerprint, the information representing stored value; and
a plurality of electronic read/write units, each read/write unit being adapted to store and retrieve data from ones of the solid-state media, the read/write units being further adapted to read and write authentication information from and to the solid-state media, the authentication information being resistant to duplication and serving to locally identify a solid-state device containing authentic stored value information without accessing a remote authentication unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a plurality of transportable solid-state media, each solid-state medium being adapted for the secure storage of information in a reference fingerprint, the information representing stored value; and
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14. A read/write unit for reading and writing information onto a solid-state medium, comprising:
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a data authentication unit for reading and writing authentication information onto the medium, the data authentication unit programming data into each memory cell by applying a voltage which causes charges to be trapped in the memory cell, making a measurement of the level of trapped charges in the memory cell after the memory cell is programmed, generating a numerical representation of the level of trapped charges as a reference fingerprint of the memory cell, and storing the numerical representation, the data authentication unit being further operative to authenticate stored authentication information by comparing the reference fingerprint to numerical representations of a subsequent measurement of the levels of trapped charges in the memory cells defining an authentication fingerprint, in order to determine whether the data stored in the memory cells is authentic a reading unit for reading information from the medium; and
a writing unit for erasing previously written information from the medium and programming the medium with new information. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A central server for use in a customer loyalty system, the server adapted to receive information from each of a plurality of read/write units and to transmit updated parameters to each of the read/write units, the server comprising:
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a communications interface for receiving information from and transmitting information to each of the plurality of read/write units;
storage for storing the information received and the information to be transmitted;
a processor for analyzing and compiling the information received from each of the plurality of read/write units;
an output interface for generating reports of compiled information in desired formats; and
a user interface for programming information to be transmitted to each of the plurality of read/write units, the user interface being further operative to receive instructions for report generation.
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21. A method of monitoring and rewarding customer loyalty, comprising:
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providing each customer with an easily portable solid-state storage medium, the storage medium being receptive to the recording of information by a recording device;
when a customer makes a purchase, recording a number of points on the storage medium, the number of points recorded being related to the purchase by criteria stored in the recording device, the point total being stored directly on the storage medium, the storage medium comprising a plurality of semiconductor memory cells;
accepting points for redemption for purchase of or discounts on merchandise or services, the existing point totals being read from the storage medium, the points used being deducted from the total, and the new point total being stored on the storage medium; and
authenticating the storage medium before accepting it for a transaction, the method of authentication comprising;
programming data to the plurality of memory cells by applying a plurality of voltages such that charges are trapped in each of the memory cells;
measuring the levels of the trapped charges in the plurality of memory cells after the memory cells are programmed;
generating numerical representations of the measured levels of trapped charges as a reference fingerprint;
storing the reference fingerprint; and
comparing the reference fingerprint to numerical representations of a subsequent measurement of the levels of trapped charges in the memory cells defining an authentication fingerprint, in order to determine whether the data stored in the memory cells is authentic. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification