Electronic credit card-ecc

• US 20030075610A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yong Kin Ong
• Original Assignee: Yong Kin Ong
• Inventors: Ong, Yong Kin
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07777 the antenna being of the inductive type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

Electronic Credit Card (ECC) is an electronic device that enables transmission/reception of data and/or digital information to/from a host computer via a Terminal Station (TS). TS includes Teller Machines in supermarkets/shopping complex, Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), EFTPOS devices and proprietary transceiver devices developed by Creative On-Line Technologies Limited for PC interface. It provides latest financial information including balances on its display unit. Keypads (1) enable PIN (personal identification number) entries so that an ECC is operational. Information Display Unit (2) including an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen or other display screens provides visual information. ENTER key (3) confirms a transaction. It is also used to activate an ECC when a PIN is keyed. Audio Transducer (4) confirms entries made on keypads (1). Audio Transducer is also used to activate a financial transaction via a telephone. Data transmission/reception is via Infra red (5), Magnetic (6) and Radio Frequency (7) devices.

Claims

1. An electronic credit card comprising at least:

a user verification means for verifying the identity of a user;

a means for generating a unique authorisation code when the user'"'"'s identity is verified;

a storage means for storing the user'"'"'s account details for use in an electronic funds transfer transaction; and

a communication means for communicating with a transaction station to provide the transaction station with account details of the user and the authorisation code to facilitate an electronic fund transfer transaction.

2. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic credit card includes a timer means for determining a period of time after which the verification of the user'"'"'s identity ends.

3. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic credit card includes a disablement means for disabling use of the electronic credit card if a predetermined number of attempts verify the identity of the user fail.

4. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 3, wherein the disablement means is activatable remotely by an issuer of the electronic credit card or other authority.

5. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the unique authorisation code is generated in synchronisation with the transaction station.

6. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storage means is arranged to store a financial limit for transactions that the electronic credit card may be used for.

7. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 6, wherein the financial limit is provided to the transaction station by the communication means.

8. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic credit card includes a processor means for keeping track of the use of the electronic credit card and will not generate or provide the authorisation code if the financial limit is exceeded.

9. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 6, wherein the financial limit may be retrieved via the transaction station from a financial institution for storage in the storage means.

10. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storage means is arranged to store more than one set of account details.

11. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storage means is arranged to store electronic cash and the communication means is arranged to facilitate the use of the electronic cash stored in the storage means if the user identification is verified.

12. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user identification means includes a keypad for a personal identification number (PIN) entry and PIN verification means to authenticate the identity of the user.

13. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user identification means includes a fingerprint reader for reading the fingerprint and a fingerprint verifying means for verifying the identity of the user.

14. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user identification means includes a retina scanner for scanning a retina pattern and a retina pattern verifying means for verifying the identity of the user.

15. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication means includes an infra red transfer means.

16. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication means includes a radio frequency transfer means.

17. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication means includes a magnetic induction transfer means.

18. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication means includes a wire contact transfer means.

19. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storage means and communication means are partly in the form of a magnetic strip for storing account details and communication of the account details to the transaction station.

20. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication means includes a telephone network interface.

21. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 6, wherein the storage means stores transaction details and a processor means is provided to calculate the funds available from the financial limit.

22. An electronic credit card in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic credit card is incorporated into another device.