Wireless Biometric Computer Mouse with Integrated Credit Card Reader

• US 20090289110A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oi Holdings 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: Oi Holdings 1, LLC
• Inventors: Garrett, Peter, Regen, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/470,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0336 Mouse integrated fingerprint sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• 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 20/40145 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

Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention, a computer mouse is provided and includes a digital medium for storing executable software and user data, a wireless transceiver, a credit card reader, and a biometric scanner. A user operating the mouse connected to a computing appliance may validate stored credit card information as belonging to the user by performing a biometric match of biometrics of the user taken by the biometric scanner against biometrics and profile data stored in a network-based data server, and whereupon a successful match of biometrics invokes a graphics user interface stored on the digital medium to display on a display device accessible to the computing appliance, the interface containing the credit card information belonging to the authenticated user for the one or more cards authenticated.

Claims

1. A computer mouse comprising:

a digital medium for storing executable software and user data;

a wireless transceiver;

a credit card reader; and

,

a biometric scanner;

characterized in that a user operating the mouse connected to a computing appliance may validate stored credit card information as belonging to the user by performing a biometric match of biometrics of the user taken by the biometric scanner against biometrics and profile data stored in a network-based data server, and whereupon a successful match of biometrics invokes a graphics user interface stored on the digital medium to display on a display device accessible to the computing appliance, the interface containing the credit card information belonging to the authenticated user for the one or more cards authenticated.

2. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the digital medium is an onboard memory chip.

3. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the graphics user interface has network connectivity to the network-based data server via a universal resource locator.

4. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the credit card reader has a card insert bay.

5. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the credit card reader as a card-swiping slot.

6. The computer mouse of claim 1 further including one or more visual indicators of a successful read by the card reader.

7. The computer mouse of claim 6 further including one or more visual indicators of a successful read of biometrics.

8. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the network-based data server is hosted by a credit card company issuing the credit card or cards owned by the user.

9. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the network-based data server is hosted by a third-party service organization that services multiple credit card companies and financial institutions.

10. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the biometrics scanner scans thumb or finger prints.

11. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the biometrics scanner scans the user'"'"'s eye.

12. The computer mouse of claim 1 wherein the digital medium holds credit card information for multiple users that have authorization to use the mouse as a card reader.

13. A method for authenticating credit card data for use in a network-hosted shopping interface comprising the steps:

(a) reading the credit card data using a credit card reader in communication with a network-connected computing appliance;

(b) scanning a biometric of the credit card owner using a biometrics scanner in communication with the network-connected computing appliance;

(c) transmitting the credit card data and the scanned biometric along with a graphics user interface or a command to execute a graphics user interface to the network-connected computing device;

(d) executing a universal resource locator from the graphics user interface, the universal resource locator addressing an authentication service hosted on a network-connected data server;

(e) sending the credit card data and scanned biometric to the authentication service;

(f) performing a lookup in a data repository via the authentication service to attempt to match the credit card data and biometric to data held in the repository;

(g) upon finding a match, sending all relevant credit card data and information back to the graphics user interface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein in step (a) the credit card reader is integrated with a computer mouse.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein in step (b) the biometrics scanner is integrated with the computer mouse and credit card reader.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein in step (a) the credit card data is read by inserting a credit card into a card bay of the credit card reader.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein in step (b) the biometric scanner scans a fingerprint or a thumbprint.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein in step (c) the method of transmission is wireless data transfer.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein in step (d) execution of the universal resource locator is automated and occurs as part of executing the graphics user interface.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein in step (g) the information sent back includes additional credit card data validated by the same biometric match.

21. The method of claim 20, further including a step (h) for selecting a credit card data set returned to the graphics user interface in step (g) for use in an online shopping interface displayed on the network-connected computing appliance.

22. The method of claim 21, further including a step (i) for populating a Web form with the credit card data and information selected in step (h).