Programmable Electronic Card and Supporting Device

• US 20140339315A1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TNT Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: TNT Partners, LLC
• Inventors: Ko, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/290,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• 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 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/353 Payments by cards read by M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0846 On-card display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0853 On-card keyboard means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A programmable electronic card assembly is provided. The programmable electronic card assembly comprising a smart phone having a receptacle, and a programmable electronic card positionable within and removable from the receptacle of the smart phone for providing power and communications interfaces with the electronic card, the card including a card body and a reprogrammable magnetic stripe positioned on a surface of the card body.

Claims

1. A programmable electronic card assembly comprising:

a smart phone having a receptacle accessible from an exterior thereof; and

a programmable electronic card having a magnetic stripe removably positionable within the receptacle of the smart phone;

a first power interface for charging the programmable electronic card; and

a second communications interface for reprogramming the programmable electronic card.

2. The electronic card assembly of claim 1, wherein the smart phone comprises a graphical user interface screen which provides a plurality of card accounts that can be selected for use, the magnetic stripe of the electronic card electronically reprogrammable to include information relating to the selected credit card for use of the card at a point of sale.

3. The electronic card assembly of claim 1, wherein the second communications interface comprises near field communication technology.

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

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

6. The electronic card assembly of claim 1, wherein the smart phone displays a graphical emulation of a physical card on the user interface screen corresponding to the selected card account.

7. The electronic card assembly of claim 1, wherein the smart phone inductively charges the electronic card when the electronic card is positioned within the receptacle.

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

9. The electronic card assembly of claim 1, wherein the card body includes a graphical user interface screen on a surface of the card body.

10. The electronic card assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle of the smart phone comprises a slot.

11. The electronic card assembly of claim 10, wherein a wall of the slot includes a notch to facilitate user access to and removal of the electronic card from the smart phone.

12. A method of providing a programmable electronic card assembly comprising:

providing a programmable electronic card positionable in a receptacle of a smart phone;

allowing a user to use the smart phone to select one of a plurality of card accounts for the electronic programmable card;

electronically programming a magnetic stripe of the electronic card to include information relating to the selected card account; and

allowing the electronic card to be removed from the receptacle of the smart phone for use of the electronic card at a point of sale.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second communications interface comprises near field communication technology.

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

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

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying on the smart phone a graphical emulation of a physical card corresponding to the selected card account.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising inductively charging the electronic card when the electronic card is positioned within the receptacle of the smart phone.

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

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the receptacle of the smart phone comprises a slot.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a wall of the slot includes a notch to facilitate user access to and removal of the electronic card from the smart phone.