A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PUNCH-OUT RFID TRANSACTION DEVICE

• US 20040256469A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Faenza, William J. Jr., Saunders, Peter D., Lasch, Ellen, Webb, Lisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/16 the marking being a hologram or diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• 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 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• 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 present invention relates to a process for providing an irregularly shaped Radio Frequency operable transaction device using conventional International Standards Organization dimensions for conventional transaction cards and traditional transaction card manufacturing machinery. The invention provides for normal manufacture of a plurality of transaction transporters joined together in a single sheet. The outline of a RFID transaction device is impressed in a center portion of one of the transporters. A RFID transaction device including a RFID module may then be removed, or punched out of the transporter in accordance with the transaction device outline. Alternatively, the RFID module may include an outline pressed into the transporter permitting removal of the module from the transporter independent of the removal of the transaction device. The RFID module may then be removed and used to complete a RFID transaction. The invention further includes a carrying case for securing the RFID module from loss or theft.

Claims

1. A method for providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) transaction device, comprising:

preparing a sheet of a plurality of RFID transaction device combinations, wherein each transaction device combination includes a transaction device transporter including a transaction device border defined by the transporter outside perimeter, and a RFID module contained within the transaction device transporter, the RFID module being operable to conduct a RFID transaction using RFID transmission; and

pressing a plurality of distinct RFID module outlines into the sheet, wherein each RFID module outline is pressed so as to lie substantially completely within a transaction device transporter outside perimeter, said pressing of the transaction device outlines being done with sufficient pressure to perforate substantially through the transporter so that the RFID module and the transporter may remain in physical communication, the pressed RFID module outline enabling removal of the RFID module from the transporter, the RFID module being configured to complete a RFID transaction independently of the transporter.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of:

providing he transporter and RFID module to a user prior to removing the RFID module from the transporter.

3. A method according to claim 1 further including pressing an outline of a transaction device into the transporter, wherein the transaction device outline is pressed substantially into the transporter at sufficient depth to permit the transaction device to be removed, the transaction device outline being pressed inside the transporter outer perimeter, and said RFID module outline being pressed inside the transaction device outline.

4. A method according to claim 3, further including the step of providing the transporter, transaction device and RFID module to a user for removal of the transaction device.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein removal of the transaction device is done by a transaction device manufacturer, and the removing of a RFID transaction device is done by a transaction device user.

6. A method according to claim 1 further including providing a RFID outline for removing the RFID module, wherein the RFID module is removed by the user.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the RFID module is International Standards Organization ISO/IEC 14443 compliant.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transporter is International Standard Setting Organization ISO/IEC 7810 compliant.

9. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of providing a transporter including a magnetic stripe, the magnetic stripe being included on one surface of the transporter.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic stripe is International Standards Setting Organization 7811, et seq., compliant.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of a transaction device account number, and transaction device identifier, and user identifier is stored in the magnetic stripe format in the magnetic stripe.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the RFID module includes:

a RFID transponder responsive to a RF interrogation signal; and

a transponder system database, the database operable to store at least one of the transaction device identifier, account identifier or user identifier in magnetic stripe format, the RFID module operable to send the database information in magnetic stripe format.

13. A method according to claim 11, further including the step of pressing an outline of a transaction device into the transporter, the outline pressed substantially through the transporter to enable the transaction device to remain in physical communication with the transporter, the transaction device removable from the transporter, the outline of the transaction device being pressed inside the transporter outer perimeter and outside the RFID module outline, wherein a portion of the removal transaction device intersects the magentic stripe.

14. A method according to claim 13, further including the step of providing the transporter including the magnetic stripe, transaction device, and RFID module to a transaction device user, wherein the transporter, magnetic stripe and transaction device are provided as a transaction device combination, the magnetic stripe being operable to complete a magnetic stripe transaction.

15. A method according to claim 14, further including the step of providing the transporter device combination to a transaction device user, wherein at least one of the transaction device and RFID module is removable from the transporter for independent RF transaction completion.

16. A method according to claim 15, further including the step of providing the transaction device combination to a transaction device user, wherein the transaction device is removed thereby making the magnetic stripe operable for completing a magnetic stripe transaction.

17. A method according to claim 6, further including the step of providing a RFID module case for securing the module.

18. A method according to claim 17, further including the step of providing the RFID module with textual or numerical identifiers, the textual or numerical information being positioned on at least one surface of the module.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the case is transparent, thereby permitting the textual or numerical identifiers to be viewed through a surface of the case by casual inspection.

20. A method for providing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transaction device, comprising:

providing a transaction device transporter, including a RFID module;

pressing a transaction device outline on the transporter, the pressing of the transaction device outline being done circumspect the RFID module; and

providing the transporter, transaction device, and RFID module to a user for the removal of the RFID transaction device including the module from said transporter in accordance with the transaction device outline.

21. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transaction system comprising:

RFID operable transaction module;

a RFID operable transaction device for supporting the module within the transaction device, the RFID module removable from the transaction card for independent operation.

22. A RFID transaction system according to claim 21, wherein said RFID module is removed from said transaction device through machine punching.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said RFID module and said RFID operable transaction device share RFID circuitry prior to removal of the module.

24. A system according to claim 22 wherein said RFID circuitry is in communication with a transaction account issuer for completion of a transaction.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein said RFID operable transaction is further included in a transaction device transporter.

26. A claim according to claim 25 wherein the transporter includes a magnetic stripe, the magnetic stripe International Standards Organization compliant for conducting transactions in a magnetic stripe environment.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein said RFID transaction device is removable from said RFID transaction card in accordance with an RFID transaction device outline, the RFID transaction device operable for completing a RFID transaction.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein said transaction device outline intersects a portion of said magnetic stripe.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein said magnetic stripe is inoperable to complete a magnetic stripe transaction when at least one of the RFID module and transaction device is removed from said transporter.