Method and device for simplifying the use of a plurality of credit cards, or the like

• US 5,276,311 A
• Filed: 07/01/1992
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E-Pass Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hartmut Hennige
• Inventors: Hennige, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPPERD, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US07/908,869
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/492, 235/379, 235/382, 902/3, 902/5
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• 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 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/24 by means of a handwritten signature
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

In connection with a system for simplifying the use of a plurality of credit cards, check cards, customer cards, or the like, it is proposed to provide an electronic multi-function card comprising a storage accommodating a plurality of individual data sets representing individual single-purpose cards, and comprising at least two display boxes in which data can be displayed by electronic activation, and further contact means accessible from the outside which enable the data sets stored at any time to be paged through successively and the individual data of each single-purpose card to be displayed in the display boxes, and permitting further the entry of a secret code and, finally, the data sets and/or individual parts thereof to be entered and read out, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user of an electronic multi-function card to select data from a plurality of data sources such as credit cards, check cards, customer cards, identity cards, documents, keys, access information and master keys comprising the steps of:

transferring a data set from each of the plurality of data sources to the multi-function card;

storing said transferred data set from each of the plurality of data sources in the multi-function card;

assigning a secret code to activate the multi-function card;

entering said secret code into the multi-function card to activate the same;

selecting with said activated multi-function card a select one of said data sets; and

displaying on the multi-function card in at least one predetermined display area the data of said selected data set.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of storing a personal signature of the user on the multi-function card and verifying the personal signature signed by the user at the moment when he uses the card with said stored personal signature.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of entering said secret code into the multi-function card comprises selective operation of input keys at the place of use of the multi-function card whereby entering said secret code accesses a select one of said data sources, and further comprises the steps of:

inserting the multi-function card into a checking terminal for payment purposes, displaying said stored signature in a predetermined one of said display areas of said multi-function card for visual inspection, producing said personal signature at the moment of payment on a document printer assigned to said checking terminal, and comparing said applied personal signature with said displayed personal signature.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the multi-function card further comprises at least one battery, whereby inserting said multi-function card into said checking terminal subjects said at least one battery to a charging surge.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the multi-function card further comprises electrical contacts and wherein said checking terminal comprises a slot for receiving said multi-function card and reading and evaluating said data from the inserted multi-function card through said electrical contacts.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said checking terminal comprises a slot for receiving said multi-function card and reading the evaluating said data sets from said inserted multi-function card.

7. The method according to claim 3 wherein said step of verifying the personal signature is performed at a checking terminal after inserting said multi-function card into said checking terminal.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of verifying said stored signature comprises displaying said stored signature in a predetermined display area of the multi-function card for comparison by visual inspection.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of inserting the multi-function card into a checking terminal, said checking terminal including a sensor pad, and wherein the step of verifying said stored signature comprises electronically comparing said stored signature with a signature produced on said sensor pad.

10. The method of claim 1, including the further step of verifying proper use of said card by comparing the personal signature of the user with a stored signature.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said transferred data set is transferred from a data carrier supplied by an issuing party and said transferred data set is transferred to the multi-function card by introducing said data carrier and the multi-function card into a transmission unit.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said data carrier is a credit card having a readable storage for storing said data set, and said data carrier is introduced into said transmission unit by introducing said readable storage into said transmission unit.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said readable storage comprises an electronic chip.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein said readable storage comprises a floppy disk.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein said readable storage comprises a PROM.

16. The method according to claim 11 wherein said transmission unit comprises a master unit having a first slot for receiving said data carrier and a second slot for receiving the multi-function card, and a keyboard for said step of entering of said secret-code into the multi-function card.

17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the transmission unit comprises a computer having an adapter for receiving said data sets from said data sources, said computer having a keyboard for entering said secret code and said computer being operable to transmit to the multi-functional card said data sets.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said checking terminal erases said stored data sets of the multi-function card in response to use of an incorrect secret code of the multi-function card.

19. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of storing a personal signature of the user on a central computer of the party issuing the data source and comparing the personal signature produced by the user with said stored personal signature to verify use of said card.

20. A device for selecting data from a plurality of data sources such as credit cards, check cards, customer cards, identity cards, documents, keys, access information and master keys comprising:

an electronic multi-function card, said card having storage means for storing a data set from each of the plurality of data sources, said card having at least one display area for displaying said stored data set;

input means for producing a secret code;

activating means for activating said card for use;

processing means responsive to said secret code for enabling said activating means;

selection means for selecting a predetermined one of said stored data sets in said activated card; and

display means for displaying said selected data set on the card in said display area.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the data sources comprise sources having a readable storage for storing said data set, and a transmission unit having a first slot for receiving the data source and a second slot for receiving said card.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the readable storage comprises an electronic chip.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the readable storage comprises a floppy disk.

24. The device according to claim 21, wherein the readable storage comprises a PROM.

25. The device according to claim 21, wherein said transmission unit includes keys, said transmission unit transmitting said data sets from the plurality of data sources to said card in response to operation of said keys.

26. The device according to claim 21, wherein said multi-function card further comprises electrical contacts and wherein said checking terminal comprises a slot for receiving said multi-function card, contacts within said slot for mating with said card contacts to connect said checking terminal with said card.

27. The device according to claim 21, wherein said checking terminal comprises a slot for receiving said multi-function card and connecting means for connecting said card with said checking terminal.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein said contact means comprises light transmitters and light receivers.

29. The device according to claim 27, wherein said contact means comprises a reactive device.

30. The device according to claim 20, wherein said at least one display area comprises a first display area for displaying the name and logo of the data source, a photo of the user of the card and other card data, and a second display area for displaying the signature of the user of the card.

31. The device according to claim 20, wherein the processing means further comprises a safety circuit for blocking the activation of the activating means, said safety circuit being disabled in response to said secret code.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein said safety circuit includes erasing means operable to erase the data stored in the multi-function card in response to an incorrect entry of said secret code.

33. The device according to claim 20, wherein the multi-function card comprises a first set of keys for activating said selection means, whereby the user sequentially accesses each of said data sets from said plurality of data sources;

and a second set of keys for entering the user'"'"'s secret code.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein said second set of keys comprise alpha-numeric keys.

35. The device according to claim 20, wherein the multi-function card further comprises a signature storage means for storing a personal signature of the user in the multi-functional card.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein said processing means further comprise a checking terminal and wherein said display means is responsive to said checking terminal for displaying said stored signature on said card in one of said display areas.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein said checking terminal is operable to produce a second secret code, and said activating means is responsive to said second secret code from said checking terminal to display said stored signature in one of said display areas.

38. The device according to claim 36, wherein said checking terminal comprises a document printer for receiving the signature of the user.

39. The device according to claim 36, wherein said multi-function card further comprises at least one battery and wherein said checking terminal further comprises charging means for charging said battery every time said multi-function card is inserted into said checking terminal.

40. The device according to claim 20, wherein said display means comprise a color display and selected data sets are displayed in said display areas in color.

41. The device according to claim 20, wherein the multi-function card includes at least one rechargeable battery.

42. The device according to claim 41, wherein said multi-function card includes at least two batteries, one of said batteries being operable to power said multi-function card when the other of said batteries falls below a predetermined power level.

43. The device according to claim 20, wherein the multi-function card further comprises solar cells for powering said multi-function card.

44. The device according to claim 41, wherein the multi-function card further comprises a solar circuit for charging said battery.