Universal Credit Card Apparatus and Method

• US 20110028184A1
• Filed: 09/08/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, J. Carl
• Granted Patent: US 8,490,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• 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 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The apparatus and method described herein provides for creating multiple spatial patterns, such as magnetic patterns on credit cards. The invention includes storage of information from which patterns may be created, a pattern creation device for creating the spatial patterns, and control whereby the information which is stored is selectively utilized to cause the pattern creation. This allows multiple desired patterns to be simulated, allowing convenient replacement of a number of separate pattern carrying devices.

Claims

1. A telephone comprising:

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator; and

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to transmit a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED.

2. The telephone of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive data from an external device.

3. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the information is an account identifier.

4. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the information is a form of data.

5. The telephone of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of the information is stored in the memory.

6. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display a message.

7. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

8. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the display is an optical display configured to simulate a pattern.

9. The telephone of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensitive component configured to receive an input.

10. The telephone of claim 1, further comprising an input/output interface coupled to the emitter and the control circuit.

11. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the at least one credit card account comprises two or more credit card accounts.

12. A telephone comprising:

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one identification card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator; and

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a calculator, a personal reminder, a clock, and a television.

13. A telephone and credit card system comprising:

in a telephone;

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator;

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to emit a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED; and

a console configured to communicate with the control circuit and receive data to provide access to at least one of an account, a service, and a feature.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator; and

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to communicate a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED.

16. A method comprising:

using a memory device to store information related to at least one credit card account;

selecting the information from the memory device;

displaying at least part of the information upon selection of a designator; and

using at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, a display, and an infrared LED to send a signal relating to the information.

17. A telephone comprising:

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory; and

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information as an optical pattern upon selection of the designator.

18. The telephone of claim 17, wherein the optical pattern is selected from the group consisting of a programmable optical pattern, a photographic pattern, a programmable key pattern, and a pattern utilized for security applications.

19. The telephone of claim 17, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of a LCD, a LED, a CRT, an incandescent display, a florescent display, a flip dot display, an electromechanical display, and a holographic display.

20. The telephone of claim 17, further comprising a power source.

21. The telephone of claim 20, wherein the power source is one of an electric generator and a piezoelectric generator.

22. The telephone of claim 17, wherein the optical pattern is a bar code.