SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING AN ACCOUNT

• US 20150048159A1
• Filed: 08/13/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Martinez de Velasco Cortina, Francisco, Mullis, Joe, Reitsler, Manfred, Nyalamadugu, Seshi, Monsalvo, Rodolfo
• Granted Patent: US 9,355,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07794 the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• 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 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

An account is managed using information read from a dual frequency transponder. Information stored on the dual frequency transponder can be read by a NFC-enabled device and by a UHF RFID reader. The information links, corresponds, or otherwise provides access to account information stored at a remote server. For example, a NFC-enabled device can read the information from the dual frequency transponder and use that information to enable instant and on-the-spot recharging of a toll account. In addition, a UHF RFID toll reader can scan information from the dual frequency transponder and use that information to debit toll charges from the correct toll account. The dual frequency transponder can be embedded in a license plate and read using a reader placed in the road. Additionally, the transponder can be configured to function at the correct frequency only when a valid vehicle registration sticker is applied to the license plate.

Claims

1. A system for managing an account, comprising:

a dual frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is configured to operate using a first frequency band and a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band is used to manage the account, and wherein the second frequency band is used to monitor and to detect activity with respect to the account;

a device comprising a first RFID reader and configured to;

read, using the first RFID reader, information stored on the dual frequency RFID tag;

access, based on at least a portion of the information read from the dual frequency RFID tag, information associated with the account; and

perform a first action with respect to the account.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the account information is stored at a remote server and wherein the device accesses the account information stored at the remote server based on at least a portion of the information read from the dual frequency RFID tag.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first action includes retrieving and displaying at least a portion of the account information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first action includes making a payment to recharge a balance of the account.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the device is configured to make the payment to recharge the account balance using a virtual wallet on the device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein making the payment to recharge the account balance includes causing an update to the account information stored at the remote server.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the account comprises a prepaid toll account.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second RFID reader associated with an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, and wherein the second RFID reader is configured to:

access information stored on the dual frequency RFID tag using the second frequency band; and

provide at least a portion of the information stored on the dual frequency RFID tag to the ETC system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the ETC system is configured to perform a second action with respect to the prepaid toll account based at least in part on the information from the dual frequency RFID tag.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second action includes applying a toll charge to the prepaid toll account.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band comprises a high frequency (HF) band, and the second frequency band comprises an ultra-high frequency (UHF) band.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the dual frequency RFID tag is embedded in a license plate.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first reader is configured to read information stored on the dual frequency RFID tag using NFC.

14. A method of managing an account, comprising:

reading, using a first RFID reader, information stored on a dual frequency RFID tag, wherein the dual frequency RFID tag is configured to operate using a first frequency band and a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band is used to manage the account, and wherein the second frequency band is used to monitor and to detect activity with respect to the account;

accessing, by a device comprising the first RFID reader, information associated with the account based on at least a portion of the information read from the dual frequency RFID tag; and

performing, by the device, a first action with respect to the account information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the account information is stored at a remote server and wherein the account information stored at the remote server is accessed by the device based on at least a portion of the information read from the dual frequency RFID tag.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first action includes retrieving and displaying at least a portion of the account information.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first action includes making a payment to recharge a balance of the account.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the payment to recharge the account balance is made using a virtual wallet on the device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein making the payment to recharge the account balance includes causing an update to the account information stored at the remote server.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the account comprises a prepaid toll account.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

accessing, using a second RFID reader associated with an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, information stored on the dual frequency RFID tag using the second frequency band; and

providing at least a portion of the information stored on the dual frequency RFID tag to the ETC system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the ETC system is configured to perform a second action with respect to the prepaid toll account based at least in part on the information from the dual frequency RFID tag.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second action includes applying a toll charge to the prepaid toll account.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the first frequency band comprises a high frequency (HF) band, and the second frequency band comprises an ultra-high frequency (UHF) band.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the dual frequency RFID tag is embedded in a license plate.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the first reader is configured to read information stored on the dual frequency RFID tag using NFC.