Programmable Electronic Card and Supporting Device

• US 20140291406A1
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TNT Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: TNT Partners, LLC
• Inventors: Ko, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/243,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20140291406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/353 Payments by cards read by M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0846 On-card display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader

Abstract

A programmable electronic card is provided. The electronic card comprising a card body having a graphical user interface screen positioned on a front surface of the card body, a reprogrammable magnetic stripe positioned on a rear surface of the card body, a processor positioned within the card body and in electrical communication with the reprogrammable magnetic stripe and the graphical user interface screen and a memory positioned within the card body in communication with the processor, said memory storing information relating to a plurality of card accounts owned by a user, wherein the graphical user interface screen allows a user to select one of the plurality of card accounts for use and displays a graphical emulation of a physical card on the user interface screen corresponding to the selected card account, which electronically reprograms the magnetic stripe to include information relating to the selected credit card for subsequent use of the card at a point of sale.

Claims

1. A programmable electronic card comprising:

a card body having a graphical user interface screen positioned on a front surface of the card body;

a reprogrammable magnetic stripe positioned on a rear surface of the card body;

a processor positioned within the card body and in electrical communication with the reprogrammable magnetic stripe and the graphical user interface screen; and

a memory positioned within the card body and in communication with the processor, the memory storing information relating to a plurality of card accounts owned by a user,

wherein the graphical user interface screen allows a user to select one of the plurality of card accounts for use and displays a graphical emulation of a physical card on the user interface screen corresponding to the selected card account, the magnetic stripe electronically reprogrammable to include information relating to the selected credit card for subsequent use of the card at a point of sale.

2. The electronic card of claim 1, further comprising a home button on the front surface of the card body, the home button including a fingerprint scanner.

3. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the card body is shaped and sized to conform to the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 standard.

4. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface screen is a flexible OLED screen comprising a touch screen interface.

5. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a credit card.

6. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a plurality of different types of cards.

7. The electronic card of claim 6, wherein the types of cards comprise a credit card, debit card, transit card, membership card, and merchant specific gift card.

8. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the processor of the card executes an application containing digitally clipped coupons.

9. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the processor of the card executes an application to calculate and manage total credit exposure.

10. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the processor of the card executes an application to access a digital passport.

11. The electronic card of claim 1, wherein the processor of the card executes an application to recommend one or more cards to optimize a purchase.

12. A method of using a programmable electronic card comprising:

allowing a user to select one of a plurality of card accounts for use via a graphical user interface screen positioned on a front surface of a card body of a programmable electronic card;

processing the selection by a processor positioned within the card body and in electrical communication with the graphical user interface screen;

retrieving information relating to the selected card from a memory positioned within the card body and in electrical communication with the processor, the memory storing information relating to a plurality of card accounts owned by a user;

displaying on the user interface screen a graphical emulation of a physical card corresponding to the selected card account; and

electronically reprogramming a reprogrammable magnetic stripe to include information relating to the selected card account for subsequent use of the card at a point of sale, the magnetic stripe in electrical communication with the processor and positioned on a rear surface of the card body.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic card further comprises a home button on the front surface of the card body.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the card body of the electronic card is shaped and sized to conform to the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 standard.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface screen is a flexible OLED screen comprising a touch screen interface.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a credit card.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a plurality of different types of cards.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the types of cards comprise a credit card, debit card, transit card, membership card, and merchant specific gift card.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising digitally clipping and storing coupons by an application executed by the processor.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising calculating and managing total credit exposure by an application executed by the processor.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising accessing a digital passport by an application executed by the processor.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising recommending one or more cards to optimize a purchase by an application executed by the processor.

23. A programmable electronic card comprising:

a card body having a graphical user interface screen positioned on a front surface of the card body;

a reprogrammable magnetic stripe positioned on a rear surface of the card body;

a processor positioned within the card body and in electrical communication with the reprogrammable magnetic stripe and the graphical user interface screen; and

a memory positioned within the card body and in communication with the processor, the memory storing information relating to a plurality of card accounts owned by a user,

wherein the graphical user interface screen displays an interactive virtual keyboard and allows a user to select one of the plurality of card accounts for use, the magnetic stripe electronically reprogrammable to include information relating to the selected credit card for subsequent use of the card at a point of sale.

24. The electronic card of claim 23, further comprising a home button on the front surface of the card body.

25. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the card body is shaped and sized to conform to the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 standard.

26. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the graphical user interface screen is a flexible OLED screen comprising a touch screen interface.

27. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a credit card.

28. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a plurality of different types of cards.

29. The electronic card of claim 28, wherein the types of cards comprise a credit card, debit card, transit card, membership card, and merchant specific gift card.

30. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the processor of the card executes an application containing digitally clipped coupons.

31. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the processor of the card executes an application to calculate and manage total credit exposure.

32. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the processor of the card executes an application to access a digital passport.

33. The electronic card of claim 23, wherein the processor of the card executes an application to recommend one or more cards to optimize a purchase.

34. A method of using a programmable electronic card comprising:

allowing a user to select one of a plurality of card accounts for use via a graphical user interface screen positioned on a front surface of a card body of a programmable electronic card;

displaying on the user interface screen an interactive virtual keyboard;

processing the selection by a processor positioned within the card body and in electrical communication with the graphical user interface screen;

retrieving information relating to the selected card from a memory positioned within the card body and in electrical communication with the processor, the memory storing information relating to a plurality of card accounts owned by a user; and

electronically reprogramming a reprogrammable magnetic stripe to include information relating to the selected card account for subsequent use of the card at a point of sale, the magnetic stripe in electrical communication with the processor and positioned on a rear surface of the card body.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the electronic card further comprises a home button on the front surface of the card body.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the card body of the electronic card is shaped and sized to conform to the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 standard.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the graphical user interface screen is a flexible OLED screen comprising a touch screen interface.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a credit card.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a plurality of different types of cards.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the types of cards comprise a credit card, debit card, transit card, membership card, and merchant specific gift card.

41. The method of claim 34, further comprising digitally clipping and storing coupons by an application executed by the processor.

42. The method of claim 34, further comprising calculating and managing total credit exposure by an application executed by the processor.

43. The method of claim 34, further comprising accessing a digital passport by an application executed by the processor.

44. The method of claim 34, further comprising recommending one or more cards to optimize a purchase by an application executed by the processor.

45. A programmable electronic card assembly comprising:

a programmable electronic card holster having a receptacle, a communication interface and a power interface; and

a programmable electronic card positionable within and removable from the receptacle of the electronic card holster for providing power and communications interfaces with the electronic card, the card including;

a card body having a graphical user interface screen on a surface of the card body; and

a reprogrammable magnetic stripe positioned on a surface of the card body.

46. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the electronic card holster comprises a graphical user interface screen.

47. The electronic card assembly of claim 46, wherein the graphical user interface screen of the electronic card holster allows a user to select one of a plurality of card accounts for use, the magnetic stripe of the electronic card electronically reprogrammable to include information relating to the selected credit card for subsequent use of the card at a point of sale.

48. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the electronic card further comprises a home button on the front surface of the electronic card, the home button including a fingerprint scanner.

49. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the electronic card holster further comprises a home button on the front surface of the electronic card holster, the home button including a fingerprint scanner.

50. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a credit card.

51. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the plurality of card accounts includes a plurality of different types of cards.

52. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the electronic card holster is Internet capable.

53. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the electronic card holster displays a graphical emulation of a physical card on the user interface screen corresponding to the selected card account.

54. The electronic card assembly of claim 45, wherein the electronic card holster displays an interactive virtual keyboard.