Multiple function electronic cards

• US 20060091223A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel, Wagner, Elizabeth
• Granted Patent: US 7,097,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• 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 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/229 Hierarchy of users of accounts
• 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: 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

Abstract

Electronic cards include a package having vertical and horizontal dimensions of a standard credit card, and including first and second opposing faces. A flat panel display extends over the first face. A dynamic magnetic encoder is provided on the second face. A user input device also is provided on the package. A processor is provided in the package that is configured to display a substantially full size image of a credit card on the flat panel display, and to control the dynamic magnetic encoder to provide magnetic stripe information for the credit card, in response to user selection of the credit card via the user input device. Accordingly, the look (image) of a credit card can be emulated, as well as the magnetic stripe information that would be provided by the credit card, in response to user selection of the credit card.

Claims

1. An electronic card comprising:

a package having vertical and horizontal dimensions of a standard credit card and including first and second opposing faces;

a flat panel display extending over substantially the first face;

a user input device on the package; and

a processor in the package that is configured to display a substantially full size image of a predetermined credit card on the flat panel display, in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device.

2. An electronic card according to claim 1 further comprising:

a dynamic magnetic encoder on the second face;

wherein the processor is further configured to control the dynamic magnetic encoder to provide magnetic stripe information for the predetermined card, in response to user selection of the predetermined card via the user input device.

3. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to display a substantially full size image of a Social Security card, a driver'"'"'s license, an employee identification card, a frequent buyer card, a medical identification card and/or an insurance identification card in response to user selection via the user input device.

4. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to display an image of a coupon, a receipt, a map, a Web page, a financial statement and/or a personal photograph, in response to user selection via the user input device.

5. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to execute a security, financial, Web browser, video, data processing, synchronization, computer personalization, electronic key, shopping and/or subscriber identification application, in response to user selection via the user input device.

6. An electronic card according to claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, an RFID transmitter, a short range wireless transceiver, a cellular transceiver, a bar code display, a location system, an electrical contact and/or a biometric reader in and/or on the package.

7. An electronic card according to claim 1 further comprising a biometric reader on the package, and wherein the processor is configured to display the substantially full size image of a predetermined credit card on the flat panel display in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device, and verification of a user identity via the biometric reader.

8. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein the user input device comprises a soft key that is incorporated into the flat panel display, a keypad on the package, a keyboard on the package and/or a voice recognition system.

9. An electronic card according to claim 1 in combination with a wallet that is configured to hold the electronic card and to interact therewith.

10. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein the flat panel display is a first flat panel display, the electronic card further comprising:

a second flat panel display on the second face;

the processor being further configured to display an image of a back face of the predetermined credit card on the second flat panel display, in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device.

11. An electronic card according to claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to display a user signature, a credit card code and/or a credit card issuer telephone number for the predetermined credit card, in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device.

12. An electronic card according to claim 1 further comprising:

a radio frequency system in the package;

the processor being further configured to interface with a credit card server using the radio frequency system, to provision, deactivate, renew and/or upgrade the predetermined credit card.

13. An electronic card according to claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a file comprising the substantially full size image of the predetermined credit card from the credit card server, the file also including an account code and/or an authentication key.

14. An electronic card according to claim 12 in further combination with the credit card server.

15. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to prevent use of at least one credit card, prevent predetermined display content and/or prevent execution of at least one predetermined application in the electronic card, in response to instructions from an issuer of the electronic card.

16. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to control information exchange in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device.

17. An electronic card comprising:

a package having vertical and horizontal dimensions of a standard credit card and including first and second opposing faces;

a flat panel display extending over substantially the first face;

a dynamic magnetic encoder on the second face;

a user input device on the package; and

a processor in the package that is configured to control the flat panel display and the dynamic magnetic encoder and is responsive to the user input device.

18. An electronic card according to claim 17 wherein the processor is configured to display a representation of a predetermined credit card on the flat panel display and to control the dynamic magnetic encoder to provide magnetic stripe information for the predetermined credit card, in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device.

19. An electronic card according to claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to display an image of a coupon, a receipt, a map, a Web page, a financial statement and/or a personal photograph, in response to user selection via the user input device.

20. An electronic card according to claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to execute a security, financial, Web browser, video, data processing, synchronization, computer personalization, electronic key, shopping and/or subscriber identification application, in response to user selection via the user input device.

21. An electronic card according to claim 17 further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, an RFID transmitter, a short range wireless transceiver, a cellular transceiver, a bar code display, a location system, an electrical contact and/or a biometric reader in and/or on the package.

22. An electronic card according to claim 17 further comprising a biometric reader on the package, and wherein the processor is configured to display the representation of a predetermined credit card on the flat panel display and to control the dynamic magnetic encoder to provide magnetic stripe information for the predetermined credit card, in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device, and verification of a user identity via the biometric reader.

23. An electronic card according to claim 17 wherein the user input device comprises a soft key that is incorporated into the flat panel display, a keypad on the package, a keyboard on the package and/or a voice recognition system.

24. An electronic card according to claim 17 in combination with a wallet that is configured to hold the electronic card and to interact therewith.

25. An electronic card according to claim 17 wherein the flat panel display is a first flat panel display, the electronic card further comprising:

a second flat panel display on the second face;

the processor being further configured to display an image of a back face of the predetermined credit card on the second flat panel display, in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device.

26. An electronic card according to claim 25 wherein the processor is configured to display a user signature, a credit card code and/or a credit card issuer telephone number for the predetermined credit card, in response to user selection of the predetermined credit card via the user input device.

27. An electronic card according to claim 17 further comprising:

a radio frequency system in the package;

the processor being further configured to interface with a credit card server using the radio frequency system, to provision, deactivate, renew and/or upgrade the predetermined credit card.

28. An electronic card according to claim 27 wherein the processor is further configured to receive a file comprising the representation of the predetermined credit card from the credit card server, the file also including an account code and/or an authentication key.

29. An electronic card according to claim 27 in further combination with the credit card server.

30. An electronic card according to claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to prevent use of at least one credit card, prevent predetermined display content and/or prevent execution of at least one predetermined application in the electronic card, in response to instructions from an issuer of the electronic card.

31. An electronic card comprising:

a package having vertical and horizontal dimensions of a standard credit card and including opposing faces;

a flat panel display on one of the faces;

a user input device on the package;

a radio frequency system in the package;

a biometric input system on one of the faces; and

a processor in the package that is configured to control the display, the radio frequency system and the biometric input system, and that is responsive to the user input device.

32. An electronic card according to claim 31 wherein the processor is further configured to execute a security, financial, Web browser, video, data processing, synchronization, computer personalization, electronic key, shopping and/or subscriber identification application, in response to user selection via the user input device.

33. An electronic card according to claim 31 wherein the radio frequency system comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, an RFID transmitter, a short range wireless transceiver, a cellular transceiver and/or a location system in and/or on the package.

34. An electronic card according to claim 31 in combination with a wallet that is configured to hold the electronic card and to interact therewith.

35. An electronic card according to claim 31 wherein the flat panel display is a first flat panel display, the electronic card further comprising:

a second flat panel display on the other of the faces;

the processor being further configured to control the second flat panel display in response to the user input device.

36. An electronic card according to claim 31 wherein the processor is further configured to interface with a credit card server using the radio frequency system.

37. An electronic card according to claim 36 in further combination with the credit card server.

38. An electronic card according to claim 31 further comprising an electrical contact on one of the faces, wherein the processor is further configured to control the electrical contact.