Apparatus and Method for Aggregating and Accessing Data According to User Information

• US 20110093390A1
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Starr, Robert J., Tischer, Steven, Zellner, Samuel N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,533,070 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: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

An apparatus and method for aggregating and accessing data according to user information are provided. According to one aspect, an interface device for providing data between a first device and a second device comprises an input, an output, logic, and a repository for storing personal data and data associated with one or more users. The input of the interface device receives data in a first format from the first device. The logic receives a data request, identifies a second device for receiving the data, identifies a second format for the second device, and translates the data to the second format. The translated data is then transmitted to the second device via the output. The logic may further collect, aggregate, and transmit the aggregated data to a requesting device. The input may be a product identification input device. The second device may be billed for the data services.

Claims

1. An interface device for providing shared use of personal data between a first device and a second device, comprising:

a repository for storing personal data associated with at least one user;

an input for receiving personal data from the first device;

logic configured for

receiving a request from the second device to use the personal data for electronically purchasing the at least one item,

determining whether a user associated with the request to use the personal data is authorized to use the personal data for purchasing the at least one item, and

transmitting authorization to the second device if the user associated with the request is authorized to use the personal data for electronically purchasing the at least one item; and

an output for transmitting the authorization to the second device.

2. The interface device of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user associated with the request is authorized to use the personal data comprises receiving a device identification, comparing the received device identification with a stored device identification to determine whether the device identifications match, and if the device identifications match, authorizing the second device to use the personal data.

3. The interface device of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user associated with the request is authorized to use the personal data comprises receiving a user identification and password associated with the user, comparing the received user identification and password with a stored user identification and password to determine if the user identifications and passwords match, and if the user identifications and passwords match, authorizing the second device to use the data.

4. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the personal data comprises financial data.

5. The interface device of claim 4, wherein the financial data comprises a credit card number.

6. The interface device of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured for transmitting the personal data to a third device for storage and for transmitting the request to use the personal data to the third device.

7. A method for providing use of data stored at an interface device, comprising:

receiving financial data from a first device at the interface device;

receiving authentication information corresponding to authorized use of the financial data from the first device;

storing the financial data and authentication information;

determining that a user of a second device is attempting to use the financial data via the interface device;

in response to determining that the user of the second device is attempting to use the financial data, requesting authentication information corresponding to the user from the second device;

receiving authentication information from the second device;

if the authentication information matches the stored authentication information from the first device, permitting use of the financial data; and

if the authentication information does not match the stored authentication information from the first device, preventing use of the financial data.