Financial and similar identification cards and methods relating thereto including awards

• US 20080308627A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Randy A. Gregory, Randy D. Sines
• Original Assignee: Randy A. Gregory, Randy D. Sines
• Inventors: Sines, Randy D., Gregory, Randy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/156,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking

Abstract

Apparatuses forming portable identification cards and associated methods are described. A preferred apparatus includes an input device adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data, a memory for storing reference data, a processor configured to compare the authentication data entered by the consumer to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data, an indicator for informing a merchant directly or indirectly when the processor has determined that the consumer has entered valid authentication data, programming which determines if use of the card has resulted in grant of an award, and a power source adapted to supply power to the processor and the indicator.

Claims

1. An apparatus forming a portable identification card which can be read using a magnetic card reader, comprising:

a magnetic stripe on the identification card for storing information readable by the card reader;

at least one input device on the identification card adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data;

a memory for storing reference data mounted to the identification card;

a processor mounted to the identification card and configured to validate or invalidate the authentication data entered by the consumer relative to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid or invalid authentication data;

an indicator configured to inform a merchant when the processor has determined that the consumer has entered valid authentication data;

programming on the identification card that determines whether an award is being made;

a power source adapted to supply power to the processor and the indicator.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to provide authentication data entered by the consumer.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the consumer.

5. An apparatus forming a portable identification card, comprising:

at least one input device on said card for a user to enter authentication data;

a memory on said card for storing data including reference data;

a processor on said card configured to perform a validation analysis of the authentication data entered by the user relative to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the user is valid or invalid authentication data;

at least one indicator on said card configured to provide information used to inform a merchant when the processor has determined that the user has entered valid authentication data;

programming on the identification card that determines whether an award is being made;

a power source adapted to supply power for the apparatus.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user.

9. An apparatus forming a portable identification card which can be read using a card reader, comprising:

a coding piece on said card for storing information that can be read by said card reader;

at least one input device on said card adapted for a user to enter data including authentication data;

a memory on said card for storing reference data;

a processor on said card configured to perform a validity analysis of the authentication data entered by the user using the at least one input device to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data;

at least one indicator on said card configured to provide a security code when the processor determines that the user has entered valid authentication data;

programming on the identification card that determines whether an award is being made;

a power source on the apparatus and adapted to supply power to the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the indicator is a digital display.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the indicator is a selectively visible code.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the indicator is a controllably lit static security code.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time.

16. An apparatus forming a portable identification card, comprising:

at least one input device adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data;

a memory for storing reference data;

a processor configured to perform a validity analysis of the authentication data entered by the consumer using at least the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data;

an indicator configured to provide a security code when the processor determines that the consumer has entered valid authentication data, wherein the security code may be viewed by a merchant; and

programming on the identification card that determines whether an award is being made;

a power source on the apparatus adapted to supply power to the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the indicator is a digital display.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the indicator is a lighted code.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the consumer, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time to allow informing a merchant.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the at least one input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the consumer, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time.

22. A method for processing a portable identification card, comprising:

entering authentication data using at least one input integrated with the portable identification card and adapted to receive entry of authentication data by a consumer;

performing a validation analysis of the authentication data entered by the consumer to reference data stored in a memory integrated with the portable identification card to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data or invalid authentication data;

indicating whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data which authorizes use of the portable identification card on said at least one indicator integrated with the portable identification card;

presenting information from the identification card to a merchant for allowing the merchant to determine from the indicating step whether the user input valid authentication data;

selectively accepting payment by the merchant using the identification card depending upon whether performing a validation analysis indicates valid authenticating data was input by the consumer;

presenting the identification card information to an authority empowered to accept or deny payment;

receiving an indication of whether the authority has approved the transaction;

granting an award to the user of the portable identification card based upon a variable determination by the identification card.

23. A method for processing a portable identification card, comprising:

entering authentication data using at least one input integrated with the portable identification card and adapted to receive entry of authentication data by a consumer;

performing a validation analysis of the authentication data entered by the consumer to reference data stored in a memory integrated with the portable identification card to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data or invalid authentication data;

indicating whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data which authorizes use of the portable identification card on said at least one indicator integrated with the portable identification card;

presenting the portable identification card to a merchant for allowing the merchant ii to determine from the indicating step whether the user input valid authentication data;

selectively accepting payment by the merchant using the identification card depending upon whether performing a validation analysis indicates valid authenticating data was input by the consumer;

presenting the identification card to an authority empowered to accept of deny the payment;

receiving an indication of whether the authority has approved the transaction;

granting an award to the user of the portable identification card based upon a variable determination by the authority.