Device, system and methods of conducting paperless transactions

• US 20050247777A1
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: C-SAM Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: C-SAM Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pitroda, Satyan G.
• Application Number:
  US11/180,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20050247777A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• 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: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A universal electronic transaction card (“UET card”) is capable of serving as a number of different credit cards, bank cards, identification cards, employee cards, medical cards and the like. The UET card includes storage elements, an input interface, a processor, a display, and a communications interface. In a preferred embodiment, the UET card stores transactional information to eliminate paper receipts and includes security features to prevent unauthorized use. The UET card may also be used to replace conventional currency and traveler'"'"'s checks, and may be configured to store and display promotional information, such as advertising and incentives. A communications interface unit (“CIU”) may be provided to interface between the UET card and a personal computer, automatic banking terminal (commonly referred to as ATM machines) and/or an institutional mainframe computer. CIU devices may include electrical contact for recharging a UET card. A system of utilizing the UET card is also provided which includes UET cards and CIU devices which enable the transmission of information between point of sales (or point of transactions) computers and the UET cards. The system further includes point of sales computers configured to communicate with the UET card and with service institution computers. The invention also includes a health care management system utilizing UET cards. In the health care management system, all medical information for a patient may be stored in the UET card so that when a patient receives services from a health care provider, that health care provider connects the patient'"'"'s UET card to the health care provider'"'"'s computer system and can then obtain all pertinent medical information concerning the patient, including the patient'"'"'s medical history, insurance information and the like. In addition, the treatment or services provided by the health care provider are stored in the patient'"'"'s UET card. The invention also includes methods of issuing an account authorization to a UET card, a method of transferring transactional and account information between a UET card and a personal computer or a mainframe computer, a method of using the UET card as a remote terminal for a mainframe computer, and a method of conducting an electronic transaction.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A method of issuing an account by a service institution to a user of a universal electronic transaction card to authorize the user to use the universal electronic transaction card for the account comprising:

a. obtaining predetermined information from the user as required by the service institution;

b. issuing account information for the user, including an account number;

c. establishing an electronic communication between the user'"'"'s universal electronic transaction card and the service institution;

d. downloading to the user'"'"'s universal electronic transaction card the issued account information;

e. registering the electronic transaction card with a central security agency; and

f. receiving personal security information from the central security agency.

34. The method of claim 33 in which issued account information includes the name of the service institution account service and a graphic image of the service institution'"'"'s account service logo.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of receiving personal security information from the central security agency further comprises receiving a personal identification number.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the account information further includes coded security information unique to the user.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the account information further includes coded security information unique to the service institution.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the account information further includes coded security information unique to the service institution and to the user.

39. A pocket-sized device for storing, transmitting, and receiving information, including personal information for a user of the pocket-sized device, account information for accounts with service institutions in which the user has an account, and transactional information for account with service institutions in which the user has an account, for a plurality of service institutions, comprising:

a. a housing, adapted to fit in a pocket or purse;

b. a processor, enclosed in the housing, the processor adapted to process personal information, account information and transactional information;

c. a touch-sensitive display, supported by the housing and coupled to the processor;

d. a memory, enclosed in the housing and coupled to the processor, the memory adapted to store personal information, account information, transactional information, and personal security information received from a central security agency; and

e. a communication circuit enclosed in the housing and coupled to the processor, the processor being adapted to conduct electronic transactions for a plurality of accounts via the communication circuit.

40. The pocket-sized device of claim 39, wherein the communication circuit comprises an infra-red transceiver.

41. The pocket-sized device of claim 39, wherein the communication circuit comprises a radio frequency transceiver.

42. The pocket-sized device of claim 39, wherein the communication circuit is coupled to metallic contacts.

43. The pocket-sized device of claim 39, wherein the communication circuit is adapted to communicate with a point of sale terminal.

44. The pocket-sized device of claim 39, wherein the transactional information includes a plurality of images corresponding to receipts of transactions.

45. The pocket-sized device of claim 39, wherein the account information includes a plurality of images of replicas of cards.

46. A method of conducting an electronic transaction comprising the steps of:

a) selecting from a universal electronic transaction card a service institution account from a group of service institution accounts;

b) establishing an electronic communication between the universal electronic transaction card and a point of sale transaction system;

c) transmitting from the universal electronic transactions card to the point of sale transaction system the account information for the selected service institution account;

d) receiving from the point of sale transaction system a user-changeable transaction record for the transaction to the universal electronic transaction card; and

e) authorizing the transaction on the universal electronic transaction card.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the user-changeable transaction record includes the option of adding a gratuity to the transaction record.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of storing the transaction record in the universal electronic transaction card with respect to the service institution account.

49. A pocket-sized device for storing, transmitting, and receiving information, including personal information for a user of the pocket-sized device, account information for accounts with service institutions in which the user has an account, and transactional information for account with service institutions in which the user has an account, for a plurality of service institutions, comprising:

a. a housing, adapted to fit in a pocket or purse;

b. a processor, enclosed in the housing, the processor adapted to process personal information, account information and transactional information;

c. a display, supported by the housing and coupled to the processor;

d. a memory, enclosed in the housing and coupled to the processor, the memory adapted to store personal information, account information, and transactional information, including a plurality of transaction records;

e. a first communication circuit, adapted to establish data communication to conduct electronic transactions with a merchant, coupled to the housing and to the processor; and

f. a second communications circuit, adapted to establish data communications with at least one service institution;

wherein the pocket sized device is adapted to receive information comprising a monthly statement from at least one service institution.

50. The pocket-sized device of claim 49, wherein the first communication circuit is adapted to establish data communication with a point of sale terminal.

51. The pocket-sized device of claim 49, wherein at least one of the transaction records comprises a receipt.

52. The pocket-sized device of claim 51, wherein the receipt includes a user authorization.