SYSTEM, METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR INTERFACING A MULTI-CARD RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) DEVICE WITH A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20100153269A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: McCabe, Colin T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,842,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An interface for a mobile communication device is provided, including at least one memory unit configured to store read/write data associated with transaction accounts, at least one user interface software application, and at least one contactless communication protocol application. A radio frequency identifier unit having an antenna communicates with a radio frequency identifier reader through a contactless transaction account communications channel distinct from a mobile communications channel of the mobile communication device. An input/output interface unit communicates with a corresponding input/output interface unit of the mobile communication device and provide access to and control of the at least one memory unit and the radio frequency identifier unit by a processor of the mobile communication device.

Claims

1. An interface for a mobile communication device, comprising:

at least one memory unit configured to store read/write data associated with a plurality of transaction accounts, at least one user interface software application, and at least one contactless communication protocol application;

a radio frequency identifier unit having an antenna and configured to communicate with a radio frequency identifier reader through a contactless transaction account communications channel distinct from a mobile communications channel of the mobile communication device; and

an input/output interface unit constructed to communicate with a corresponding input/output interface unit of the mobile communication device and provide access to and control of the at least one memory unit and the radio frequency identifier unit by a processor of the mobile communication device.

2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a security unit configured to receive an identifier from the mobile communication device through the input/output interface and determine if a user of the mobile communication device is authorized to enter a transaction using the radio frequency identifier unit.

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein the identifier is at least one of biometric data and login data.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identifier unit is disabled if disconnected from the mobile communication device.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the user interface software application is executable by the processor of the mobile communication device and contains instructions to cause the processor to display graphics associated with the at least one transaction account on a user interface of the mobile communication device, receive a selection of at least one of the plurality of transaction accounts to use for a transaction, and transfer at least the selection to the radio frequency identifier unit to effect a transaction with a radio frequency identifier reader.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the identifier is at least one of biometric data and login data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identifier unit is disabled if removed from the slot.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface, wherein the user interface application contains instructions to cause the processor to display graphics associated with the plurality of transaction accounts on the user interface, receive a selection of at least one of the plurality of transaction accounts to use for a transaction, and transfer at least the selection to the radio frequency identifier unit to effect a transaction with a point-of-sale device through a radio frequency identifier reader.

6. A mobile communications device having and a slot for connecting to a removable card, comprising:

a processor configured to execute at least one user interface software application;

an interface card constructed in accordance with the removable card, including;

a radio frequency identifier unit,

at least one memory unit configured to store read/write data associated with a plurality of transaction accounts, and

configured to receive commands from the processor to perform a contactless transaction with a radio frequency identifier reader in accordance with the read/write data, and at least one contactless communication protocol application.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving an identifier from the mobile communication device; and

determining if a user of the mobile communication device is authorized to enter a transaction.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the radio frequency identifier unit is disabled if disconnected from the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

displaying graphics associated with the plurality of transaction accounts on a user interface of the mobile communication device;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of transaction accounts to use for a transaction; and

transferring at least the point-of-sale device through a selection to the radio frequency identifier unit to effect a transaction with a radio frequency identifier reader.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface card further includes a security unit configured to receive an identifier generated by the processor and to determine if a user of the mobile communication device is authorized to enter a transaction.

7. A method of interfacing a mobile communication device to a contactless payment system, comprising:

storing, in at least one memory unit, read/write data associated with a plurality of transaction accounts, at least one user interface software application, and at least one contactless communication protocol application;

communicating commands generated by a processor of the mobile communication device to an interface device having a radio frequency identifier unit and an antenna; and

communicating contactless transaction information between the radio frequency identifier unit and a radio frequency reader through a contactless transaction account communications channel distinct from a mobile communications channel of the mobile communication device in accordance with the read/write data and the at least one contactless communication protocol application.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifier is at least one of biometric data and login data.

16. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform:

communicating commands generated by a processor of the mobile communication device to an interface device having a radio frequency identifier unit and antenna, the interface capable of storing read/write data associated with a plurality of transaction accounts, at least one user interface software application, and at least one contactless communication protocol application; and

communicating contactless transaction information between the radio frequency identifier unit and a radio frequency identifier reader through a contactless transaction account communications channel distinct from a mobile communications channel of the mobile communication device in accordance with the read/write data and the at least one contactless communication protocol application.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further having stored thereon sequences of instructions which cause the processor to perform:

receiving an identifier from the mobile communication device; and

determining if a user of the mobile communication device is authorized to enter a transaction.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the identifier is at least one of biometric data and login data.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the radio frequency identifier unit is disabled if disconnected from the mobile communication device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further having stored thereon sequences of instructions which cause the processor to perform:

displaying graphics associated with the plurality transaction accounts on a user interface of the mobile communication device;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of transaction accounts to use for a transaction; and

transferring at least the selection to the radio frequency identifier unit to effect a transaction with a point-of-sale device through a radio frequency identifier reader.