Portable electronic authorization system and method

• US 20050050367A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kioba Processing, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chameleon Network Incorporated
• Inventors: Burger, Todd O., Jessen, Karlin B.
• Application Number:
  US10/954,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• 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: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4097 using mutual authentication between devices and transaction partners
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• 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: G09G 2300/0473 Use of light emitting or modulating elements having two or more stable states when no power is applied
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a user authenticator and a transponder. The transponder is permitted to emit a wireless signal representing information stored in the apparatus in response to a wireless interrogation signal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises, a memory, a user input, and a transponder. The memory stores at least first and second distinct codes. The user input permits a user to select any one of the at least first and second codes for transmission in response to a wireless interrogation signal. The transponder emits a wireless signal representing the selected one of the at least first and second codes in response to an interrogation signal. In yet another embodiment, a token that may be used to engage in a transaction at a point of sale comprises a substrate, a rewritable memory, and a reconfigurable display. The rewriteable memory is supported by the substrate and can be selectively configured to store information on the token that identifies an account that is to be used to engage in the transaction at the point of sale. The substrate and memory are configured and arranged such that the substrate can be selectively interfaced with an apparatus at the point of sale to permit the apparatus to read the contents of the memory. The reconfigurable display is also supported by the substrate and displays at least some of the information that is stored in the rewritable memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a user authenticator that authenticates an identity of a user; and

a transponder that is permitted to emit a wireless signal representing information stored in the apparatus in response to a wireless interrogation signal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal representing the information and the wireless interrogation signal are radio frequency signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a memory that stores at least first and second distinct codes, and a user input that permits the user to select any one of the at least first and second codes for transmission in response to an interrogation signal;

and wherein the transponder is permitted to emit a wireless signal representing the selected one of the at least first and second codes in response to an interrogation signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a display that identifies the one of the at least first and second codes the user has selected.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second codes correspond to accounts the user holds with respective first and second unrelated media issuers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with an interrogator that wirelessly emits the interrogation signal, and receives from the apparatus the wireless signal representing the information.

7. A method for using an apparatus, comprising steps of:

using the apparatus to authenticate an identity of a user of the apparatus; and

after the apparatus has authenticated the identity of the user, enabling a transponder of the apparatus to emit a wireless signal representing information stored in the apparatus in response to a wireless interrogation signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal representing the information and the wireless interrogation signal are radio frequency signals.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises steps of:

manipulating a user input on the apparatus to select one of at least first and second codes stored in memory; and

permitting the transponder to emit a wireless signal representing the selected one of the first and second codes in response to the interrogation signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises steps of:

manipulating the user input on the apparatus to select the other of the first and second codes stored in memory; and

permitting the transponder to emit a wireless signal representing the other of the first and second codes in response to the interrogation signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of:

in response to the user manipulating the user input, displaying to the user an identification of the one of the first and second codes the user has selected.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second codes correspond to accounts the user holds with respective first and second unrelated media issuers.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising steps of:

wirelessly emitting an interrogation signal from an interrogator;

receiving the interrogation signal at the transponder;

in response to receiving the interrogation signal, emitting from the transponder a wireless signal representing the information; and

receiving at the interrogator the wireless signal representing the information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of authorizing a transaction based upon the information received at the interrogator.