Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator

• US 20080065535A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E-Micro Corporation
• Inventors: Gangi, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location 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 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• 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 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• 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 7/0893 : the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• 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: G07F 7/12 : Card verification

Abstract

A wallet consolidator to process a transaction and related methods, are provided. The wallet consolidator can include a controller to control operation of the wallet consolidator, an input device to receive a copy of information provided to the wallet consolidator, a memory device for storing information, and an output device positioned to communicate at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a computer device, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database, located at a point-of-sale, to process a transaction. The wallet consolidator can also include program product stored in readable memory of the wallet consolidator and operating to receive information stored on at least one of a plurality of cards, to store the received information in the memory device, and to effectuate communication of at least a portion of the stored information to the point-of-sale terminal.

Claims

1. Program product stored in readable memory of a wallet consolidator to control the wallet consolidator, the program product operating to perform the following steps:

receiving information stored on at least one of a plurality of cards;

storing the received information in a memory device; and

effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positioned at a point-of-sale and positioned to process a point-of-sale transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information.

2. Program product as defined in claim 1, wherein the received information includes a digitized image of the at least one of the plurality of cards.

3. Program product as defined in claim 2, wherein the step of effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal includes the step of effectuating communication of the at least a portion of the stored information to a computing device selected from the group of:

a dumb terminal and a database.

4. Program product as defined in claim 1,

wherein the information comprises information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the program product further operates to perform the steps of;

providing a user an option to select a card to add or delete, duplicate information, transfer data, move cash, or access or amend information including at least one of the following;

an electronic coupon, identification information, or a medical record, and

providing an action tree which instructs the user on the use of the wallet consolidator responsive to the user selecting the selected option.

5. Program product as defined in claim 1,

wherein the step of receiving is performed via an input device in communication with at least one of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the input device comprising at least one of the following:

a touch screen or a user input cluster;

wherein the memory device comprises at least one of the following;

a smart card, a memory card, a magnetic tape, an optical memory device, or an optical disc; and

wherein the program product further operates to perform the step of effectuating writing the at least a portion of the information to a transaction card, the information including identification information contained on the plurality of cards.

6. Program product as defined in claim 1,

wherein the step of receiving is performed via an input device in communication with at least one of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the input device comprising at least one of the following:

a touch screen, a smart card reader, a kiosk, a memory card, or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and

wherein the memory device comprises at least one of the following;

semiconductor memory, random access memory (RAM), magnetic memory, or a hard disk.

7. Program product as defined in claim 1,

wherein the step of effectuating communication is performed via an output device in communication with at least one of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the output device comprising one or more of the following:

a wireless communications interface or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and

wherein the at least a portion of the information is communicated for the point-of-sale transaction.

8. Program product as defined in claim 1,

wherein the information comprises identification information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts;

wherein the step of effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal includes the step of effectuating communication of the at least a portion of the stored identification information to a computing device selected from the group of;

a dumb terminal and a database;

wherein the step of effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal is performed via an output device connected to the controller, the output device comprising at least one of the following;

a wireless interface, a wireless communications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface.

wherein the step of receiving is performed via an input device connected to a controller of the wallet consolidator, the input device comprising at least one of the following;

a magnetic stripe card reader, a bar code reader, a keypad, a touch screen, a smart card reader, a kiosk, a memory card, a telephony interface, a wireless interface, a wireline communications interface, a wireless communications interface, an infrared (IR) interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and

wherein the step of storing is performed via the memory device, the memory device connected to the controller and comprising at least one of the following;

a semiconductor memory, a smart card, a memory card, random access memory (RAM), magnetic memory, hard disks, magnetic tapes, an optical memory device, or an optical disc.

9. Program product as defined in claim 1, wherein the program product further operates to perform the step of providing an action tree that instructs the user on the use of the wallet consolidator.

10. Program product as defined in claim 1, wherein the program product further operates to perform the steps of receiving a passcode from a user prior to allowing the user to gain access to the wallet consolidator, and allowing the user to gain access to functions of the wallet consolidator responsive to the passcode.

11. Program product stored in readable memory of a wallet consolidator to control the wallet consolidator, the program product operating to perform the following steps:

storing information identified on at least one of a plurality of cards in a memory device of the wallet consolidator; and

effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positioned at a point-of-sale for use in a point-of-sale transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information.

12. Program product as defined in claim 11,

wherein the information comprises information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the program product further operates to perform the step of providing a user an option to select a card to add or delete, duplicate information, transfer data, move cash, or access or amend information including at least one of the following;

an electronic coupon, identification information, or a medical record.

13. Program product as defined in claim 12, further operating to perform the steps of:

receiving via an input device in communication with at least one of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, information associated with the at least one of the plurality of cards, the input device comprising at least one of the following;

a touch screen, a smart card reader, a kiosk, a memory card, or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and

receiving a passcode from a user prior to allowing the user to gain access to the wallet consolidator.

14. Program product as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of effectuating communication of the at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal is performed via an output device in communication with at least one of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the output device comprising at least one of the following:

a wireless communications interface or a radio frequency (RF) interface.

15. Program product as defined in claim 11,

wherein the program product further operates to perform the step of effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a computing device selected from the group of:

a dumb terminal and a database; and

wherein the received information includes a digitized image.

16. Program product stored in readable memory of a wallet consolidator to control the wallet consolidator, the program product operating to perform the following steps:

receiving information stored on at least one card;

storing the received information in a memory device of the wallet consolidator; and

effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positioned at a point-of-sale and in wireless communication with the wallet consolidator responsive to the at least a portion of the information.

17. Program product as defined in claim 16,

wherein the step of effectuating communication of at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal is performed via a wireless output device in communication with at least one of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the wireless output device comprising one or more of the following:

a wireless communications interface or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and

wherein the at least a portion of the information is communicated for use in a point-of-sale transaction.

18. Program product as defined in claim 16, wherein the received information includes a digitized image.

19. Program product as defined in claim 16,

wherein the information comprises information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the program product further operates to perform the step of;

providing a user an option to select a card to add or delete, duplicate information, transfer data, move cash, or access or amend information including at least one of the following;

an electronic coupon, identification information, or a medical record.

20. Program product as defined in claim 16,

wherein the step of receiving is performed via an input device in communication with at least one of a controller or the readable memory of the wallet consolidator, the input device comprising at least one of the following:

a touch screen, a smart card reader, a memory card, or a radio frequency (RF) interface; and

wherein the program product further operates to perform the steps of;

receiving a passcode from a user prior to allowing the user to gain access to the wallet consolidator, and

allowing the user to gain access to functions of the wallet consolidator responsive to the passcode.