Smart business card system

• US 20030205615A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Marappan, Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 6,783,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The “Smart Business Card” (SBC) is a business card that contains printed textual information on the first side and that has a second side of magnetic media for storing electronic information. The second side contains all of the printed information displayed on the first side of the document and also any additional information the user desires to communicate to recipients of the SBC. Examples of additional information are company profile, company project experience of the person owning the business card, information about any deals, commitments, meeting notices, and reminders to the recipient of the card. The information on the second side is written on the magnetic media in XML format.

To write and read to and from the SBC a special device called the Smart Business Card-Read/Write (SBC/RW) is provided. The SBC/RW has interfaces to desktop computers via the USB port or the serial port, and to handheld devices via the USB/Serial Cradle or the infrared port. A Smart Business Card Program (SBCP) in the personal computer or handheld device enables reading and writing data to and from the SBC through the SBC/RW.

The SBCP is XML enabled so that it will understand the data read from the device. The SBCP may be provided with software to interface with other contact databases such as Linux, Palm OS contact DB, and Win CE, and Contact DB. During installation, the SBCP queries the user about the contact database that will be used. Based on the user selection, the appropriate contact database adapter will be installed and the data will be transferred to the appropriate fields to the contact database. Writing data to the card can also be accomplished using the software provided. Because the data to be read is in XML format, any application capable of handling data in XML format will be able to process the information scanned from the card.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting files in XML format between a Smart Business Card and a computer comprising:

inserting the Smart Business Card into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device; and

using a Smart Business Card Program located in a memory of the computer, creating a file in the Smart Business Card.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a file in the Smart Business Card further comprises creating a content descriptor file in the Smart Business Card.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a file in the Smart Business Card further comprises creating a content file in the Smart Business Card.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a software initialization routine.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a new field creation routine.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a first import routine.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a save routine.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a second import routine.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a first export routine.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing a second export routine.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing an updating routine.

12. An apparatus for transmitting electronic files between a Smart Business Card and a computer comprising:

a first side on said Smart Business Card;

a second side on said Smart Business Card;

a Smart Business Card Read/Write device;

a computer connected to said Smart Business Card Read/Write device;

software located in a memory of said computer;

said computer being directed by said software to perform steps comprising;

creating a first content descriptor file on said second side of said Smart Business Card;

creating a first content file on said second side of said Smart Business Card;

wherein said second side is a magnetic media; and

wherein when said Smart Business Card is inserted into said Smart Business Card Read/Write device, the first content descriptor file and the first content file can be exported to the computer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

wherein when said Smart Business Card is inserted into said Smart Business Card Read/Write device, a second content descriptor file and a second content file can be imported from the computer to the Smart Business Card.

14. A system for transmitting electronic files in XML format comprising:

a Smart Business card having a first side and a second side;

a Smart Business Card Read/Write device;

a computer connected to said Smart Business Card Read/Write device;

software located in a memory of said computer;

wherein the second side is a magnetic media; and

wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, creating a content descriptor file and a content file in the Smart Business Card.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, creating a new field.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, importing a content descriptor file.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, importing a content e file.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, saving a file.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, importing a file.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, exporting a file.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer is directed by said software to perform the step of, responsive to the Smart Business Card being inserted into a Smart Business Card Read/Write device, updating a file.

22. An apparatus for transmitting electronic files between a Smart Business Card and a computer:

a Smart Business Card Read/Write device;

means for connecting said Smart Business Card Read/Write device to said computer; and

means for creating a content descriptor file in a magnetic memory of the Smart Business Card.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for creating a content file in the memory of the Smart Business Card.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for creating a new field.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for saving a file.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for importing a file.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for exporting a file.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

means for updating a file.