Method and apparatus having multiple identifiers for use in making transactions
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in transactions, comprising:
- non-volatile memory containing a set of multiple identifiers associated with a customer account, wherein said multiple identifiers are also known to an agency providing said customer account, and a processor operable to select one identifier from said set of multiple identifiers for use with any transaction involving said customer account.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A payment device is provided for use in transactions such as credit purchases at a retail store. The device includes a non-volatile memory containing a set of multiple identifiers that are associated with a customer account. The multiple identifiers are also known to an agency that provides the customer account. The device further includes a processor operable to select one identifier out of the set of multiple identifiers for use with any particular transaction involving the device and the customer account. This identifier is then conveyed from the device, typically via a store terminal, to the agency that maintains the account.
314 Citations
39 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in transactions, comprising:
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non-volatile memory containing a set of multiple identifiers associated with a customer account, wherein said multiple identifiers are also known to an agency providing said customer account, and a processor operable to select one identifier from said set of multiple identifiers for use with any transaction involving said customer account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for making a transaction with a device, comprising:
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storing within the device a set of multiple identifiers associated with a customer account, wherein said multiple identifiers are also known to an agency providing said customer account, and selecting one identifier from said set of multiple identifiers for use with a transaction involving said customer account. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for use in transactions, including:
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means for storing a set of multiple identifiers associated with a customer account, wherein said multiple identifiers are also known to an agency providing said customer account, and means for selecting one identifier from said set of multiple identifiers for use with any transaction involving said customer account.
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16. Apparatus for use in making a transaction, including:
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non-volatile memory containing a set of multiple identifiers, wherein said multiple identifiers are also known to an agency associated with the transaction, and a processor operable to select one identifier from said set of multiple identifiers for use in any transaction.
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17. A method for opening an account on a portable transaction device comprising:
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opening an account record in an agency computer system, wherein said agency is to provide the account, generating a set of multiple identifiers to be used for transactions on the account, storing the set of multiple identifiers in the agency computer system, and storing the set of multiple identifiers on the portable transaction device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for performing a transaction at a terminal using a portable transaction device, comprising:
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generating a bill for the transaction at the terminal, engaging the portable transaction device with the terminal, transmitting the bill from the terminal to the transaction device, selecting one identifier from a set of multiple identifiers stored on the transaction device for use in the transaction, generating a transaction record on the transaction device, the transaction record incorporating information from the bill and the selected identifier, and transmitting the transaction record to the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of operating a computer account system at an agency, said agency maintaining a plurality of customer accounts on the computer account system, wherein each customer account has a set of multiple identifiers associated therewith, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for a transaction on a customer account, accessing an identifier within the request, determining which set of multiple identifiers the accessed identifier belongs to, and from this determining a customer account for the transaction, and updating the determined customer account in respect of the transaction. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer account system at an agency, said system comprising:
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a plurality of customer account records, wherein each customer account record incorporates a set of multiple identifiers associated therewith, and an index that maps identifiers to corresponding account records, wherein the system is responsive to receiving a request for a transaction on a customer account to access an identifier within the request in order to determine which set of multiple identifiers and hence which customer account the accessed identifier belongs to. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A computer account system at an agency, said system comprising:
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Means for storing a plurality of customer account records, wherein each customer account record incorporates a set of multiple identifiers associated therewith, Means for mapping identifiers to corresponding account records, Means for accessing an identifier within a received transaction request to determine which set of multiple identifiers and hence which customer account the accessed identifier belongs to, and Means for updating the customer account to which the accessed identifier belongs in accordance with the received transaction request.
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Specification