SMARTCARD AND MAGNETIC STRIPE EMULATOR WITH BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION

• US 20070131759A1
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: X-Card Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: X-Card Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Bona, John, Cox, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/456,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20070131759A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• 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 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• 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 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• 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 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• 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

A handheld unit which is capable of emulating a plurality smartcards or magnetic stripe cards. The unit has the capability of storing a plurality of data sets representing a plurality of accounts. The unit is equipped with a near field communications interface that can emulate a smartcard interface that is capable of communicating with smartcard readers at POS or ATM terminals, or anywhere else a smartcard may be utilized. The unit is equipped with a biometric sensor to positively verify an authenticated user

Claims

1. A device for performing point of sale transactions comprising:

a. memory, for storing information regarding one or more accounts;

b. a user interface, for selecting one of said one or more accounts stored in said memory;

c. an identity verification unit, for verifying the identity of a user of said device; and

d. a communications interface for providing said selected account information in electronic form.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a data port, for loading said information regarding one or more a accounts into said memory.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said user interface comprises:

a. an LCD screen;

b. a numeric keypad; and

c. one or more keys for manipulating a cursor displayed on said LCD screen.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein a list of said accounts is displayed on said LCD screen and further wherein said one or more keys can be used to select one of said accounts from said list of accounts.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said communications interface is not active until the identity of an authorized user of said device is verified.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said communications interface remains active for a predetermined period of time after said user'"'"'s identity is verified.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said communications interface remains active until said selected account information has been transmitted a predetermined number of times.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said identity verification unit is selected from a group comprising a fingerprint scanner, a voice recognition unit and a skin pH analyzer.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said identity verification unit comprises an alphanumeric code entered into said user interface.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing having a magnetic stripe defined thereon and wherein said communications interface is said magnetic stripe.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the portion of said housing having said magnetic stripe defined thereon is comparable in thickness to a credit card and can pass through a standard magnetic stripe reader.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said communications interface is radio frequency based.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said communications interface is a smartcard interface.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said communications interface is a near field communications interface.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said near field communications interface can emulate a smartcard interface.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein a user is authorized to use said device by performing an enrollment process using said user interface and providing a sample authentication token to said identity verification unit.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said sample identification token is a fingerprint.

18. The device of claim 3 wherein said LCD screen displays secondary information regarding said selected account.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said secondary information includes an account number and a logo of the issuer of the account.

20. The device of claim 1 further comprising a camera.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein said camera may be used to capture images of a barcode.

22. The device of claim 21 further comprising:

a. software for reading said barcodes captured by said camera and storing the contents of said barcode in said memory; and

b. the capability of displaying the contents of said barcodes in plain text.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the contents of said barcodes can be uploaded to a point-of-sale terminal via said communications interface.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein said barcodes contain coupon information.

25. The device of claim 14 wherein receipts from transactions made at point-of-sale terminals may be downloaded via said near field communications interface into said memory.

26. The device of claim 14 wherein content may be downloaded into said memory via said near field communications interface.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said content includes advertising content and coupons.

28. A device for performing point of sale transactions comprising:

a. memory, for storing information regarding one or more accounts;

b. a user interface, for selecting one of said one or more accounts stored in said memory;

c. an biometric scanner, for verifying the identity of a user of said device;

d. a housing having a magnetic stripe defined thereon; and

e. a near field communications interface.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein said magnetic stripe can be programmed on the fly with information regarding said selected account.

30. The device of claim 28 wherein said magnetic stripe is erased a predetermined time after said account has been selected.

31. The device of claim 28 wherein said near field communications interface can be used to upload selected account information to a point-of-sale terminal.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein said near field communications interface can be used to upload coupon information to a point-of-sale terminal.

33. The device of claim 31 wherein said near field communications interface can be used to download content to said device.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein said content includes coupons and electronic receipts.

35. The device of claim 28 further comprising a camera.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein said device can capture images of barcodes via said camera, translate said images of barcodes to plain text and store said plaintext in said memory.

37. A device for performing point of sale transactions comprising:

a. memory, for storing information regarding one or more accounts;

b. a user interface, for selecting one of said one or more accounts stored in said memory;

c. an biometric scanner, for verifying the identity of a user of said device; and

d. a near field communications interface.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein said near field communications interface can be used to upload selected account information to a point-of-sale terminal.

39. The device of claim 38 wherein said near field communications interface can be used to upload coupon information to a point-of-sale terminal.

40. The device of claim 38 wherein said near field communications interface can be used to download content to said device.

41. The device of claim 40 wherein said content includes coupons and electronic receipts.

42. The device of claim 37 further comprising a camera.

43. The device of claim 42 wherein said device can capture images of barcodes via said camera, translate said images of barcodes to plain text and store said plaintext in said memory.

44. A system for performing point-of-sale transactions comprising:

a. a computer running an application; and

b. a handheld component comprising;

memory, for storing information regarding one or more accounts;

a user interface, for selecting one of said one or more accounts stored in said memory;

an identity verification unit, for verifying the identity of a user of said device;

a communications interface for providing said selected account information in electronic form; and

a data port for communicating with said application; and

45. The system of claim 44 wherein said application can download account information from account issuers and store said account information on said computer.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein said account information can be downloaded to said handheld component and stored in said memory therein.

47. The system of claim 45 wherein said account information is downloaded to said handheld component, encrypted on said handheld component, and sent back to said application for storage on said computer.

48. The system of claim 44 wherein said application can download content to said handheld component.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said content includes advertising and coupons.

50. The system of claim 44 wherein said communications interface is a near field communications (NFC) interface.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said NFC interface can emulate a smartcard to enable contactless transactions with smartcard enabled point-of-sale terminals.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein said handheld device can communicate with point-of-sale terminals which are also NFC-enabled.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said handheld component can receive electronic receipts from NFC-enabled point-of-sale terminals.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said electronic receipts can be downloaded to said application for storage.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein said application can output said electronic receipts.

56. The system of claim 44 wherein said handheld component can download coupons and advertising content from NFC-enabled portals.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein said coupons can be sent to said application via said data port for storage.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein said application allows a user to delete coupons or can automatically remove coupons when they have expired.

59. The system of claim 44 wherein said handheld component can be electronically coupled with said computer, allowing synchronization between said application and said handheld component.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein data stored on said handheld component minors data stored by said application.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said handheld component couples to said application running on a computer via a cable.

62. The system of claim 44 further comprising a base unit coupled to said computer via a cable, said base unit having a connector capable of mating with said data port on said handheld component.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein said base unit is NFC-enabled, such that said base unit can act as a point-of-sale terminal for purchased made on internet commerce sites via said computer.

64. The system of claim 44 wherein said handheld component further comprises a housing having a magnetic stripe disposed on a portion thereof said portion being of a thickness such that said magnetic stripe is able to be read by a standard magnetic stripe reader.

65. The system of claim 63 wherein said magnetic stripe can be programmed with said selected account information on the fly, and further wherein said selected account information is erased from said magnetics stripe after a predetermined period of time.

66. The system of claim 44 wherein said handheld component further comprises a camera.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein said camera can be used to capture and store images of barcodes.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein said handheld component can interpret said barcodes captured by said camera into plain-text.

69. The system of claim 44 further comprising a rechargeable battery disposed in said handheld component.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein said rechargeable battery may be inductively re-charged via an RF antenna.