Information card

• US 20050211784A1
• Filed: 03/25/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Justin, Antony Manoj
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0718 the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00
• 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 19/0723 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 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• 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 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• 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

An information card and method of use in connection with external devices and networks is provided. One method embodiment includes storing a variety of user information including a social security number, a driver license record, and a bank account record in a memory on the card. The method further includes selectably communicating the variety of user information in a manner detectable external to the card. And, the method includes selectably updating the variety of user information stored on the card based on user input.

Claims

1. An information card, comprising:

a processor within the card;

a memory within the card and coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes a variety of user information including social security number, driver license information, and bank account information; and

an input/output (I/O) component, coupled to the memory and processor, to communicate the variety of user information in a manner detectable external to the card.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein the I/O component includes I/O components selected from the group of:

a display on the card;

a function key;

a transceiver;

a data port;

an audio input/output;

an optical reader;

a camera; and

a magnetic stripe.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein the card includes a biometric identification mechanism.

4. An information card, comprising:

a processor within the card;

a memory within the card and coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes a variety of user information including social security number, driver license information, and bank account information;

a number of input/output (I/O) components, coupled to the memory and processor, to communicate the variety of user information in a manner detectable external to the card, the number of I/O components including,

a display;

a function key;

a transceiver;

a data port;

an audio input/output;

an optical reader;

a camera;

a magnetic stripe; and

a biometric identification mechanism coupled to the processor, the memory, and the I/O components.

5. The card of claim 4, wherein the function key includes a number of alphanumeric keys and a toggle key to browse menu items presented on the display.

6. The card of claim 4, wherein the display includes a touch sensitive display.

7. The card of claim 4, wherein the transceiver can transmit the variety of user information wirelessly using a communication technology selected from the group of radio frequency (RF) signaling, infra-red (IR) signaling, cellular technology, bluetooth technology, and microwave technology.

8. The card of claim 4, wherein the biometric identification mechanism includes a biometric identification mechanism selected from the group of:

a hand writing on a touch sensitive display;

a voice received on the audio input/output;

a finger print sensor;

a blood analysis DNA sensor;

a neural network sensor;

an odorant sensor; and

an iris scan.

9. The card of claim 4, wherein the variety of user information further includes:

a membership identification;

a password;

a tax identification; and

a medical record.

10. The card of claim 4, wherein the memory includes instructions to cause the transceiver to transmit and receive the variety of user information with an external device.

11. The card of claim 4, wherein the memory includes instructions executable upon receiving user selectable input to place information relating to a particular item among the variety of user information on the magnetic strip.

12. The card of claim 4, wherein the memory includes instructions executable to update the variety of user information based on input to the number of I/O components.

13. An information card, comprising:

a processor within the card;

a memory within the card and coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes a variety of user information including a social security number, a driver license record, a bank account record, a membership identification, a password, a government record, and a medical record;

a number of input/output (I/O) components, coupled to the memory and processor; and

means to selectably communicate and update the variety of user information on the card.

14. The card of claim 13, wherein the means includes component circuitry within the card to connect a display, a function key, a transceiver, an optical sensor, and a magnetic strip on the card.

15. The card of claim 14, wherein the means includes a set of instructions executable in response to input on the number of I/O components.

16. The card of claim 15, wherein the set of instructions are executable to transmit and receive the variety of user information between the card and an external device.

17. The card of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are executable to transmit and receive the variety of user information over a network selected from the group of:

a wireless network;

a local area network;

a wide area network; and

an internet protocol network.

18. The card of claim 13, further including a biometric identification mechanism on the card selected from the group of:

a hand writing sensor;

an audio sensor;

a finger print sensor;

a blood analysis DNA sensor;

a neural network sensor;

an odorant sensor; and

an eye sensor.

19. A computer readable medium having instructions for causing an information card to perform a method, comprising:

storing a variety of user information including a social security number, a driver license record, a bank account record, a membership identification, a password, a government record, and a medical record in a memory on the card;

selectably communicating the variety of user information in a manner detectable external to the card; and

selectably updating the variety of user information based on user input.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the method includes selectably updating the variety of user information based on user input to a touch screen display.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein the method includes wirelessly receiving the variety of user information from information sources external to the information card.

22. A method for use of an information card, comprising:

storing a variety of user information including a social security number, a driver license record, a bank account record, a membership identification, a password, a government record, and a medical record in a memory on the information card;

selectably communicating the variety of user information in a manner detectable external to the information card; and

selectably updating the variety of user information stored on the information card based on user input.

23. The method of claim 22, further including wirelessly transmitting the variety of user information to a device external to the information card.

24. The method of claim 22, further including wirelessly transmitting alert signals in a manner detectable external to the information card.

25. The method of claim 22, further including wirelessly transmitting control signals to a device external to the information card.

26. The method of claim 25, further including wirelessly transmitting control signals to a device selected from the group of:

a home appliance;

a lock mechanism; and

an automobile.

27. The method of claim 22, further including wirelessly receiving the variety of user information from a variety of information sources.

28. The method of claim 27, further including wirelessly receiving the variety of user information from a variety of information sources selected from the group of:

a banking database;

a health database;

a government database;

an employment database; and

an internet connection.