Executing Reader Application

• US 20120143707A1
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DeviceFidelity, Inc. (Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: DeviceFidelity, Inc. (Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jain, Deepak
• Application Number:
  US13/313,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

In some implementations, a cradle for a mobile device includes an electrical interface, an antenna, and a reader module. The electrical interface is configured to connect to a port of mobile devices. The mobile device is configured to wireless communicate with a cellular network. The antenna is configured to wirelessly communicate signals with customer devices. The reader module is connected to the antenna and configured to operate as a wireless reader, using the antenna, to the customer devices and authorize transactions using the mobile device to connect to the cellular network.

Claims

1. An attachment for a mobile device, comprising:

an electrical interface configured to connect to a port of mobile devices, the mobile device configured to wireless communicate with a cellular network;

an antenna configured to wirelessly communicate signals with customer devices; and

a reader module connected to the antenna and configured to operate as a wireless reader, using the antenna, to the customer devices and authorize transactions using the mobile device to connect to the cellular network.

2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a cover or a cradle for the mobile device.

3. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the antenna and the reader module are integrated into the attachment.

4. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a card insertable into the mobile device.

5. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the electrical interface comprises at least one of a SecureDigital (SD) interface, a miniSD interface, a microSD interface, a MMC interface, a miniMMC, a microMMC, a firewire or an iDock interface, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.

6. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly communicated signals include at least one of contactless signals, proximity signals, Near Field Communication (NFC) signals, Bluetooth signals, Ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, or Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) signals.

7. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly communicated signals include confidential information, the reader further operable to encrypt the confidential information before using the cellular network to execute the transactions.

8. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the reader module configured to operate as a wireless reader comprises the reader module configured to operate as a wireless Point of Sale (POS) device.

9. The attachment of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrical interfaces for a plurality of different peripherals.

10. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different peripherals comprises at least one of a document scanner, a biometric scanner, or a printer.

11. The attachment of claim 10, wherein the plurality of different peripherals includes a biometric scanner, and the reader module further configured to verify an identity of an individual based on signals from the biometric scanner.