Multi-role transaction card

• US 20060131393A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Patton, David L., Cok, Ronald S.
• Application Number:
  US11/021,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20060131393A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• 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 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual

Abstract

Transaction cards, transaction card systems, and methods for operating the same are provided. A transaction card has a display, a non-volatile memory having a plurality of transaction data sets each set having data for one of a plurality of transaction partners with whom a consumer holding the transaction card can execute a transaction and an input device adapted to determine a transaction partner for a transaction and to generate a transaction partner signal. A controller is adapted to receive the transaction partner signal, to select a transaction data set based upon transaction partner signal and to cause the display to present an image based upon data in the selected transaction data set, so that said image has image content that is at least in part related to a transaction that can be performed with the determined transaction partner.

Claims

1. A transaction card comprising:

a) a display;

b) a non-volatile memory having a plurality of transaction data sets each set having data that is indicative of one of a plurality of transaction partners with whom a bearer of the transaction card can execute a transaction;

c) an input device adapted to determine a transaction partner for a transaction and to generate a transaction partner signal; and

d) a controller adapted to receive the transaction partner signal, to select a transaction data set based upon transaction partner signal and to cause the display to present a transaction-specific image based upon the data stored in the selected transaction set so that the display presents transaction specific information that is relevant to transactions with the determined transaction partner.

2. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction data provides data that can be used by controller to generate an image on display that can be used during the transaction.

3. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction data includes data from which controller can cause the display to present at least in part one of graphic information, icons, logos, trademarks, promotional information, direction information, contact information, sale information, discount information, directional information, images, text, identification characteristics, images, image sequences, video and audio authentication imagery, steganographic information, encoded information, and authentication information.

4. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction data includes at least one of a user identification, a retailer identification, insurance identification, next of kin identification, transaction identification, and payment information, delivery information, credit information, debit information.

5. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said input comprises a receiver circuit adapted to receive signals from a reader device of a transaction system wherein the communication circuit is adapted to determine a transaction partner based upon the received signals from the reader device.

6. The transaction card of claim 1, further comprising transmitter circuit adapted to generate signals based upon transaction data, said signals being generated in a form that is readable by at least one of an optical, electrical, and magnetic reader device of a transaction system.

7. The transaction card of claim 6, wherein said transmitter is operable to generate signals in more than one form and wherein the form is selected based upon the determined transaction partner.

8. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein said display comprises at least one of a display formed at least in part by imaging elements that controllably emit light, a display formed at least in part by imaging elements that controllably modulate light, and imaging elements that controllably reflect light.

9. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the display comprises an organic light emitting display, polymer light emitting display, a cholesteric display, a display formed from bi-stable materials, a display formed from electrophoretic elements or an electro-luminescent display.

10. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the input circuit comprises a user input device adapted to convert a user input action into a transaction partner signal.

11. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the input circuit comprises an audio capture system or other sensor adapted to sense conditions form which the controller can determine a transaction partner.

12. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the display is operable in at least one mode to present transaction specific data for different transaction types in a cycle so that an observer can observe all of the transaction specific images associated with the transaction card within a period of time.

13. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transaction data sets includes promotional data for presentation on display when a transaction specific image is presented on the display.

14. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the display further includes means to acquire an image.

15. The transaction card of claim 1, wherein the image acquired is a fingerprint.

16. A transaction system for use by a plurality of transaction partners, the system comprising

at least two different transaction card readers, each transaction card reader having a transaction card input adapted to receive information from a transaction card during transaction in a manner that is different from the remaining ones of the at least two transactions;

said transaction card reader being adapted to provide a signal to the transaction card from which the transaction card can determine a transaction partner and, in response thereto the transaction card will provide information that can be received by the transaction card input in the manner in which the transaction card receiver is adapted to receive the information.

17. The transaction system of claim 16, wherein each transaction card reader further comprises a transaction card transmitter circuit adapted to store transaction data in a memory in the transaction card.

18. The transaction system of claim 16, wherein each transaction card reader is operable to store promotional information for more than one of the transaction partners in a memory in the transaction card.

19. A method for operating a transaction card having a memory and a display, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a transaction card having a non-volatile memory with stored transaction data;

determining a transaction partner;

obtaining transaction data from the memory based upon the determined transaction partner; and

presenting an image on the display based upon the obtained transaction data, so that said image has image content that is at least in part related to a transaction that can be performed with the determined transaction partner.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of receiving data representing promotional material relevant to a transaction partner and presenting the promotional material on the display.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of determining when a transaction is not occurring and presenting a cycle of images on the display based upon the obtained transaction data.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing an output signal in a form that is readable by a reader of the selected transaction partner.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of sensing for signals containing updated transaction data, downloading the updated transaction data and storing the updated transaction data in a memory.

24. A method for operating a transaction card having a memory and a display, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a transaction card having a non-volatile memory;

determining a transaction partner;

obtaining transaction data from the transaction partner, wherein the transaction data includes at least one image or graphical element; and

storing the transaction data, so that said image or graphical element has content that is at least in part related to a transaction that can be performed with the determined transaction partner using the transaction data.