ELECTRONIC PAYMENT INSTRUMENT AND PACKAGING

• US 20080086418A1
• Filed: 10/09/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Resources LLC (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Newbrough, Keith, Robbins, Peter, Algiene, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• 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 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards

Abstract

Methods and systems provide and utilize a transceiver-based electronic payment device to consumers in an arrangement which allows for convenient carrying of the device and payment using the device.

Claims

1. An electronic payment device arrangement for use by a consumer, the device arrangement comprising:

a transceiver identifiable by a code;

an attachment coupled with the transceiver and configured to attach the transceiver to a carrier; and

packaging removably coupled with the transceiver, the packaging being configured to display the transceiver for sale at a device purchase location.

2. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, wherein the code comprises account information.

3. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, wherein the code comprises routing information.

4. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, wherein:

the transceiver is configured to be read by a reader communicatively coupled with a plurality of host systems;

the routing information comprises a host identifier associated with at least one of the plurality of host systems; and

the reader is configured to use the routing information to communicate with the at least one host system associated with the host identifier.

5. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured for activation at the device purchase location.

6. The device arrangement recited in claim 5, wherein activation comprises removing at least a portion of the packaging.

7. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to be read by a reader located at a point of sale.

8. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to be read by a reader communicatively coupled with a host system.

9. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, further comprising an enclosure operatively coupled with the transceiver.

10. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, further comprising an enclosure operatively coupled with the transceiver, and wherein the packaging comprises at least one of the enclosure or the attachment.

11. The device arrangement recited in claim 1, further comprising an enclosure operatively coupled with the transceiver, and wherein the enclosure comprises the attachment.

12. An electronic payment device arrangement for use by a consumer, the device arrangement comprising:

a transceiving means identifiable by a code;

an attachment means coupled with the transceiving means and configured to attach the transceiving means to a carrying means; and

a packaging means removably coupled with the transceiving means, the packaging means being configured to display the transceiving means for sale at a device purchase location.

13. The device arrangement recited in claim 12, wherein the code comprises account information.

14. The device arrangement recited in claim 12, wherein the code comprises routing information.

15. The device arrangement recited in claim 14, wherein:

the transceiving means is configured to be read by a reading means, the reading means being communicatively coupled with a plurality of host systems;

the routing information comprises a host identifier associated with at least one of the plurality of host systems; and

the reading means is configured to use the routing information to communicate with the at least one host system associated with the host identifier.

16. The device arrangement recited in claim 12, wherein the transceiving means is configured to be activated at the device purchase location.

17. The device arrangement recited in claim 12, wherein the transceiving means is configured to be read by a reading means located at a point of sale.

18. The device arrangement recited in claim 12, wherein the transceiving means is configured to be read by a reading means communicatively coupled with a host system.

19. The device arrangement recited in claim 12, further comprising an enclosing means operatively coupled with the transceiving means.

20. A system for electronic payment, the system comprising:

a plurality of payment device arrangements, each comprising;

at least one transceiver,

an attachment coupled with the at least one transceiver and configured to attach the at least one transceiver to a carrier, and

packaging removably coupled with the at least one transceiver and configured to display the at least one transceiver for sale at a device purchase location;

a reader configured to;

receive from the at least one transceiver a signal comprising a code being at least one of a set of codes and associated with the at least one transceiver and an account, and

transmit the received code and an instruction to a host system;

the host system being communicatively coupled with the reader and configured to;

receive the transmitted code and the transmitted instruction from the reader, and

perform a function according to the transmitted instruction using the transmitted code and a function attribute; and

a database communicatively coupled with the host system and configured to store the set of codes and a table, the table comprising a set of related attributes for each of the set of codes, the function attribute being at least one of the set of related attributes.

21. The system recited in claim 20, wherein:

the instruction comprises an update command for updating the set of related attributes related to the account associated with the code, and

the function updates the function attribute as directed by the update command.

22. The system recited in claim 21, wherein the update command comprises at least one of an activate command for activating the account for a certain monetary amount, a de-activate command for de-activating the account, or a recharge command for recharging a balance associated with the account.

23. The system recited in claim 20, wherein:

the instruction comprises an interrogate command for interrogating the set of related attributes related to the account associated with the code, and

the function interrogates the function attribute as directed by the interrogate command.

24. The system recited in claim 23, wherein the interrogate command comprises at least one of a validate command for validating the activated status of the account, or a balance inquiry command for checking a balance associated with the account.

25. A method for updating attributes relating to an electronic payment apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of electronic payment device arrangements, each comprising;

at least one transceiver,

an attachment coupled with the at least one transceiver and configured to attach the at least one transceiver to a carrier, and

packaging removably coupled with the at least one transceiver and configured to display the at least one transceiver for sale at a device purchase location.

receiving an instruction and a signal, the signal being transmitted from the at least one transceiver and comprising a code, the code being one of a set of codes each associated with the at least one transceiver and an account;

updating a set of related attributes as instructed by the instruction, wherein the set of related attributes relates to the at least one transceiver associated with the code.

26. The method recited in claim 25, further comprising:

removing the at least one transceiver from the packaging; and

attaching the at least one transceiver to the carrier with the attachment.

27. The method recited in claim 25, further comprising using the at least one transceiver to execute a payment transaction.

28. The method recited in claim 25, wherein the receiving step comprises:

reading the signal at a reader;

transmitting the signal from the reader to a host system; and

receiving at the host system the signal.

29. The method recited in claim 25, wherein the receiving step comprises:

reading the signal at a reader;

transmitting the signal and the instruction from the reader to a host system; and

receiving at the host system the signal and the instruction.

30. The method recited in claim 25, wherein the instruction comprises an account status change command for changing a status of the account associated with the code, changing the status of the account comprising at least one of activating the account for a certain monetary amount, de-activating the account, or recharging a balance associated with the account.

31. The method recited in claim 25, wherein the instruction comprises an interrogate command for interrogating the set of related attributes related to the account associated with the code, interrogating the set of related attributes comprising at least validating a status of the account associated with the code, or checking a balance associated with the account associated with the code.

32. The method recited in claim 25, wherein:

the instruction comprises a payment command; and

updating the set of related attributes as instructed by the instruction comprises;

checking a balance associated with the account to verify that the balance is appropriate for executing a payment transaction, and

adjusting the balance to reflect the execution of the payment transaction when the balance is appropriate.

33. The method recited in claim 32, wherein the updating step further comprises adjusting the set of related attributes to reflect a failed transaction when the proper balance is unavailable.

34. The method recited in claim 32, wherein the updating step further comprises communicating failure of the transaction to the reader when the proper balance is unavailable.

35. The method recited in claim 32, wherein adjusting the balance comprises decrementing the balance.

36. A method for distributing an electronic payment apparatus for sale, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of electronic payment device arrangements, each arrangement comprising;

at least one transceiver;

an attachment coupled with the at least one transceiver and configured to attach the at least one transceiver to a carrier, and

packaging removably coupled with the at least one transceiver and configured to display the at least one transceiver for sale at a device purchase location;

displaying the plurality of arrangements on a display apparatus for sale at the device purchase location; and

distributing at least one of the plurality of arrangements to a consumer upon purchase by the consumer.

37. The method recited in claim 36, further comprising:

removing the at least one transceiver from the packaging; and

attaching the at least one transceiver to the carrier with the attachment.

38. The method recited in claim 36, further comprising using the at least one transceiver to execute a payment transaction.

39. The method recited in claim 36, further comprising providing an activator for activating the at least one transceiver at the device purchase location.