Personal portable terminal for financial transactions

• US 4,277,837 A
• Filed: 02/11/1980
• Issued: 07/07/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stuckert, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Eddie P.
• Application Number:
  US06/120,225
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/375, 235/384, 340/149 A, 340/152 R, 340/365 C, 364/900 MS File, 364/704, 364/706, 364/709, 364/715, 364/200 MS File
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0241 of the IC-card-like type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07777 the antenna being of the inductive type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07788 the antenna being of the capacitive type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0034 the connector being capable of simultaneously receiving a plurality of cards in the same insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/006 the housing being a portable casing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0073 having multiple insertion slots, the respective slots suited for the same or different card form factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10326 the antenna being of the very-near field type, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A personal portable terminal for financial transactions adapted for use with one or more data storage and transfer cards (DSTCs) and other external devices, such as point of sale terminals, is disclosed. The transaction device includes keyboard means for entering transaction data and control information, means for temporarily storing transaction data, and logic means for performing arithmetic, logical, and control operations. Said logic means further includes means for storing predetermined programs which are activated by instructions entered via said keyboard. Also included are display means for selectively displaying transaction data and means for transferring selected data from the transaction device into suitable storage means located in said other external device and into at least one DSTC. Further means are disclosed whereby account balance data in one DSTC may be credited while account balance data in another DSTC is debited as a result of the transaction.

Claims

1. A substantially wallet-sized personal portable hand held terminal device (XATR) including keyboard means for entering transaction data, memory means for at least temporarily storing transaction data and other selected data logic means for performing arithmetic operations on data stored in said memory means and data entered via said keyboard means, display means for selectively displaying data to the operator of said terminal device (XATR), control means for causing predetermined operations to be performed by said terminal device (XATR), means for receiving at least one data storage and transfer card (DSTC) in said terminal device (XATR), receiving and transmitting means located in said terminal device (XATR) for coupling with complementary data receiving an transmitting means in said data storage and transfer card (DSTC) for transferring data between said terminal device (XATR) and said data storage and transfer card (DSTC), means in said terminal device (XATR) for preventing the transfer of data to or from a said contained data storage and transfer card (DSTC) until actuated by the operator of said terminal device (XATR), fixed means for directly connecting said terminal device (XATR) to external devices, said external devices including receiving and transmitting means for transferring data between said external devices and said data storage and transfer card (DSTC) contained in said terminal device (XATR), whereby said terminal device (XATR) effectively functions as a controllable interface device between said at least one contained data storage and transfer card (DSTC) and said external devices, means responsive to the recognition of said external device as being a second substantially wallet-sized personal portable hand held terminal device (XATR), for concurrently entering data in said data storage and transfer card (DSTC) located in said first terminal device (XATR) and a data storage and transfer card (DSTC) located in said second connected terminal device (XATR), said last named means being responsive to the approval by both operators of said terminal device (XATRs) for entering data in said both data storage and transfer card (DSTCs) after the data is first displayed on said display means which approval is signified by said operators deactivating said means for preventing in said both terminal devices (XATRs).

2. A personal portable hand held terminal device (XATR) as set forth in claim 1 wherein the respective data receiving and transmitting means located in said terminal device (XATR) comprises radio frequency capacitor plates located in the surface of said terminal device (XATR) adjacent to the positions where said data storage and transfer card (DSTC) and said external device is to be located for air coupling, each said receiving means including means for demodulating a received modulated radio frequency signal and each said transmitting means including means for modulating data information which is to be transmitted upon a radio frequency carrier.

3. A personal portable hand held terminal device (XATR) as set forth in claim 2 including means for air coupling alternating current power between said device and said external device, and between said device and said contained data storage and transfer card (DSTC).

4. A personal portable hand held terminal device (XATR) as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control means therein controls all operations performed in said contained data storage and transfer card (DSTC), whereby said external device concurrently connected to said device may not, for any purpose, directly access said data storage and transfer card while located in said device.

5. A personal portable hand held terminal device (XATR) as set forth in claim 4 including radio frequency shielding means in said terminal device (XATR) substantially surrounding said storage and transfer card (DSTC) when located therein to prevent the radiation of said modulated radio frequency signals into the air.

6. A personal portable hand held terminal device (XATR) as set forth in claim 5 including battery means located therein for providing power to operate the circuitry therein and means for converting alternating current which is air coupled into said device for periodically charging said battery.