Unified communications and commerce systems and methods, and device therefore

• US 20010038033A1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ali S. Habib
• Original Assignee: Ali S. Habib
• Inventors: Habib, Ali S.
• Application Number:
  US09/815,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20010038033A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/044 comprising galvanic contacts for contacting an integrated circuit chip thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A client/server system that facilitates communications access. A miniature CD-ROM or other physical media can be used to distribute client software to users. Client distribution media may also include additional software, such as that used to encrypt a document, create a virtual private network, videoconference, and the like. Client distribution media can also be used as a credit card, telephone calling card, debit card, employee identification card, access control card, and for other purposes. A server may act as a central point through which communications services, such as data transmission, telephony, video conferencing, and the like, can be accessed. A server may also store user profile information, such as user preferences, user contact information, user calendar information, and other such information. A server can also allow creation of rule based commerce accounts, which can be accessed through client distribution media, or through methods associated with traditional commerce accounts, such as bank accounts.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

physical media capable of storing electronically readable data; and

a reference code imprinted on or associated with said physical media which indicates an identity associated with said media.

2. The device of

claim 1

, in which said reference code includes an account number.

3. The device of

claim 2

, in which said account number corresponds to a prepaid credit card.

4. The device of

claim 2

, in which said account number corresponds to a postpaid credit card.

5. The device of

claim 1

, in which said reference code can be read electronically.

6. The device of

claim 5

, in which said reference code can be read through a magnetic stripe attached to or embedded in said physical media.

7. The device of

claim 5

, in which said reference code can be read through a barcode imprinted on the surface of said physical media.

8. The device of

claim 5

, in which said reference code can be read through a smart chip embedded in or attached to the surface of said physical media.

9. The device of

claim 5

, in which said reference code can be read through an RFID tag embedded in or attached to the surface of said physical media.

10. The device of

claim 1

, in which said reference code can be used to control access to physical locations, such as rooms or buildings.

11. The device of

claim 1

, further comprising a sleeve into which said physical media can be placed, and a reference code imprinted on or associated with said sleeve.

12. The device of

claim 11

, in which said reference code includes an account number.

13. The device of

claim 12

, in which said account number corresponds to a prepaid credit card.

14. The device of

claim 12

, in which said account number corresponds to a postpaid credit card.

15. The device of

claim 11

, in which said reference code can be read electronically.

16. The device of

claim 15

, in which said reference code can be read through a magnetic stripe attached to or embedded in said physical media.

17. The device of

claim 15

, in which said reference code can be read through a barcode imprinted on the surface of said physical media.

18. The device of

claim 15

, in which said reference code can be read through a smart chip embedded in or attached to the surface of said physical media.

19. The device of

claim 15

, in which said reference code can be read through an RFID tag embedded in or attached to the surface of said physical media.

20. The device of

claim 11

, in which said reference code can be used to control access to physical locations, such as rooms or buildings.

21. The device of

claim 11

, in which one or more portions of said sleeve can be removed to allow portions of said physical media to be accessible through said sleeve.

22. A communications system, comprising:

physical media;

a computer;

a device that allows said computer to access said physical media;

a communications means associated with said computer; and

client software for establishing a personalized communications connection.

23. The communications system of

claim 22

, in which said client software is stored on said physical media.

24. A communications method, comprising the steps of:

causing physical media to be accessed by a computer;

running client software stored on said physical media;

determining a physical location;

communicating said location to said client software;

selection of one or more appropriate communications access means by said client software based on said location;

determining a user ID, account number, or other identifier associated with a requested communications connection;

validation of said identifier by said client software requesting validation from a server; and

establishment of a communications connection based on said selected access means and validity of said identifier.

25. The communications method of

claim 24

, in which said physical location is determined by a user entering a zip code, area code, longitude and latitude, or other regional identifier.

26. The communications method of

claim 24

, in which said physical location is determined from a Global Positioning System device.

27. The communications method of

claim 24

, in which said communications access means is determined from a database stored on said physical media.

28. The communications method of

claim 24

, in which said communications access means is determined from a database stored on a server.

29. The communications method of

claim 24

, in which said communications access means is determined by searching a database stored on said physical media and, in the event an appropriate communications access means cannot be determined, searching a database stored on a server.

30. The communications method of

claim 24

, in which said communications connection is a data connection.

31. The communications method of

claim 24

, in which said communications connection is a voice connection.

32. The communications method of

claim 31

, in which said communications connection is a voice connection established using VoIP.

33. A commerce accounting system, comprising:

an account;

a means for editing account attributes; and

rules defining how funds accessible from said primary account may be dispersed, where such rules can be entered through said account attribute editing means.

34. The accounting system of

claim 33

, in which said rules can restrict account fund disbursement to specific vendors and vendor groups.

35. The accounting system of

claim 33

, in which said rules can cause funds associated with said account to be available in specific amounts over one or more time periods.

36. The accounting system of

claim 33

, in which said rules can indicate individual items and item groups authorized for purchase and prohibited from purchase with funds associated with said account.

37. The accounting system of

claim 33

, in which said primary account is comprised of a prepaid account.

38. The accounting system of

claim 33

, in which said primary account is comprised of a postpaid account.