METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING OFFLINE COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS

• US 20130140361A1
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvin T. Ling
• Original Assignee: Marvin T. Ling
• Inventors: Ling, Marvin T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,280,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/00 Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for conducting offline commerce transactions that use a barcode as an alternative means for personal identification. The user represented in the bar code format, User ID Barcode, is generated from a number that uniquely identifies the user. Numbers such as a cell phone number or a credit card number may be used to generate the User ID Barcode. These numbers are prefixed with a special character before they are converted to the barcode format. Prefixing a special character is necessary so that the bar code generated can be distinguished from any bar code representing products being sold. If a credit card number is used, the User ID Barcode is printed on the back of the credit card which then becomes a 2 and 1 credit card.

Claims

1. A method for conducting offline electronic commerce transactions comprising:

(a) providing a personal code to a person for their use to purchase goods;

(b) converting said personal code into barcode format to form a User ID Barcode;

(c) said User ID Barcode corresponding to said personal code and including at least one special character to distinguish the barcode as a User ID Barcode; and

(d) scanning said User ID Barcode to derive said personal code to obtain authorization for a purchase.

2. The method of claim 1 including downloading said User ID Barcode into a cell phone having a window;

(a) displaying said User ID Barcode on the cell phone window; and

(b) scanning said User ID Barcode displayed in said window to derive said personal code to obtain authorization for a purchase.

3. The method of claim 1 including printing said User ID Barcode on a label or sticker and securing said label or sticker to a carrying member to facilitate scanning the User ID Barcode.

4. The method of claim 1 including printing said User ID Barcode on a label or sticker and securing said label or sticker to a credit card.

5. The method of claim 1 including printing said User ID Barcode on a label or sticker and securing said label or sticker to a cell phone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said personal code is a telephone number assigned to said person.

7. In a method for conducting offline electronic commerce wherein a purchaser provides a personal code to a vendor for the purchase of goods, the improvement comprising:

(a) providing a barcode to said purchaser to be used as their personal code.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said barcode corresponds to the purchaser'"'"'s cell phone number.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said barcode corresponds to a credit card number assigned to said purchaser.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said barcode includes a special character to distinguish it from product barcodes and to identify it as a personal ID code.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said barcode is encrypted.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said barcode is time variant encrypted.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said barcode is user variant encrypted.

14. A method for conducting electronic commerce wherein a purchaser provides a personal code to a vendor for the purchase of goods, the improvement comprising:

(a) providing a barcode to said purchaser to be used as their personal code; and

(b) downloading said barcode into the purchaser'"'"'s cell phone to be displayed on the cell phone window to be read by a barcode reader.

15. A method for conducting electronic commerce wherein a purchaser provides a personal code to a vendor for the purchase of goods, the improvement comprising:

(a) providing a barcode to said purchaser to be used as their personal code;

(b) printing said barcode on a sticker or label; and

(c) applying said sticker or label to a carrying member.

16. The improved method for conducting electronic commerce according to claim 15 wherein said carrying member is a cell phone.

17. The improved method for conducting electronic commerce according to claim 15 wherein said carrying member is a credit card.

18. A method for conducting offline electronic commerce transactions by persons in possession of a cell phone having a window and having a cell phone number comprising:

(a) converting said cell phone number into a barcode format to form a User ID Barcode;

(b) downloading said User ID Barcode into said cell phone;

(c) retrieving said User ID Barcode and displaying it on the cell phone window; and

(d) scanning said User ID Barcode by a barcode scanner to obtain authorization for a purchase.

19. A method for conducting offline electronic commerce transactions by persons in possession of a credit card having data, including a personal identification code, magnetically encoded thereon comprising:

(a) converting said magnetically encoded identification code into barcode format to form a User ID Barcode; and

(b) applying said User ID Barcode to said credit card.

20. The method for conducting offline electronic commerce transactions according to claim 19 wherein said User ID Barcode is printed on labels or sticker secured to said credit card.

21. The method for conducting offline electronic commerce transactions according to claim 19 wherein said User ID Barcode is printed on said credit card.

22. An improved credit card structure comprising:

(a) a credit card having visually identifiable information on a first side thereof indicating the name of the card holder;

(b) a magnetizable strip on a second side thereof having data encoded thereon including a personal identification code of the person whose name appears on the first side of said card; and

(c) a barcode secured to one of said sides, said barcode including said personal identification code in barcode format.

23. The improved credit card structure of claim 22 wherein said barcode is printed on one of said surfaces.

24. The improved credit card structure of claim 22 wherein said barcode is printed on a label or sticker secured to one of said surfaces.

25. A cell phone having a window and means for entering data for appearance in said window, the improvement comprising:

(a) a User ID Barcode stored in said cell phone and viewable in said window to enable a barcode scanner to scan said User ID Barcode in said window.