Electronic wallet or purse with means for funds transfer

• US 6,112,984 A
• Filed: 06/12/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John D. Snavely
• Original Assignee: John D. Snavely
• Inventors: Snavely, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL GUNYOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/332,205
• Time in Patent Office: 451 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 235/472.01, 902/25, 902/26, 902/27, 902/40, 340/825.33, 340/825.35
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

An electronic money storage and transfer system wherein at least electronic money is transferable between a centralized repository of money containing at least one financial account accessible by an account identification number. The portable electronic wallet including a dedicated modem for accessing the financial account in the financial institution and a telecommunications receptacle for receiving a telecommunications plug for connecting the portable electronic wallet to the other electronic money storage and a plurality of portable electronic money transfer devices.

Claims

1. An electronic money storage and transfer system wherein at least electronic money is transferable between a centralized repository of money containing at least one financial account accessible by an account identification number and a portable electronic wallet, said wallet being independently connectable to other money storage and electronic money transfer devices so that electronic money may be transferred between said portable electronic wallet and said other money storage and electronic money transfer devices, said system comprising:

means, in a financial institution, for electronically transferring said electronic money between said financial institution and said portable electronic wallet, said portable electronic wallet comprising;

a first set of memory locations for storing said account identification number,

a second set of memory locations for storing said electronic money transferred from said financial institution to said portable electronic wallet,

a modem incorporated in said portable electronic wallet for accessing said financial account in said financial institution, and utilizing said account identification number stored in said first memory locations for storing said account identification number to transfer a selected quantity of said electronic money from said financial account in said financial institution into said second set of memory locations of said portable electronic wallet,

a telecommunications receptacle for receiving a telecommunications plug for connecting said portable electronic wallet directly to said other electronic money storage and electronic money transfer devices and transferring said electronic money therebetween without connection to said financial institution, and

interface means for interfacing with said first set of memory locations, said second set of memory locations, and said means for connecting said portable electronic wallet to said other electronic storage and electronic money transfer devices.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a transaction record associated with a money transaction is transferred to said other money storage and electronic money transfer devices.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transaction record is in the form of a check record transferrable to said financial institution and to said other money storage and electronic money transfer devices upon connection thereto.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein all said check records are transferred to said centralized repository of money for maintaining a record of said check records.

5. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein a said check record and electronic money associated therewith may be transferred to another said electronic money storage and electronic money transfer device.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said modem in said electronic wallet is couplable by said telecommunications receptacle to other money storage and electronic money transfer devices by said telecommunications plug for transferring said electronic money therebetween without connection to said financial institution.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein when said portable electronic wallet is connected telephonically by said telecommunications receptacle and said telecommunications plug, said wallet is at least partially electrically powered by current from said telephone lines.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein quantities of time and quantities of a substance may be purchased directly by providing a tone indicative of a purchased said quantity of time and a purchased quantity of a substance through said receptacle and said plug to said portable electronic wallet.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein two said electronic wallets may be coupled together, and at least electronic money transferred therebetween.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a third set of memory locations in said portable electronic wallet for storing a predetermined amount of credit, and wherein said first memory locations further include memory locations for storing a credit account number, for accessing a credit account and transferring credit to said third set of memory locations.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 including control instructions for rendering said portable electronic wallet incapable of performing financial operations if said electronic money and said credit is exhausted.

12. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said money storage and electronic money transfer devices include cash registers.

13. A battery powered electronic wallet conveniently sized for carrying in a pocket, said electronic wallet enabling transfer of money transactions as a stand-alone financial entity without connection to a financial institution, said electronic wallet comprising:

an electronic microcomputer further comprising a plurality of program memory locations for storing a computer program containing computer instructions for conducting a plurality of types of electronic money transactions,

a first plurality of erasable programmable memory locations for storing a selected quantity of electronic money transferred from said financial institution,

a second plurality of erasable programmable memory locations for storing at least one account number of a financial account in said financial institution, said financial account accessible by said electronic wallet,

a modem responsive to said microcomputer for connecting said electronic wallet to a communications device,

a liquid crystal display responsive to said microcomputer for displaying at least information related to said electronic money transactions,

a keypad for allowing interface with said microcomputer,

telephone line interface circuitry, including a hook switch, for enabling connection to a telephone line, said interface circuitry further comprising a current regulator, voltage regulator, and bridge rectifier for utilizing power from said telephone line when said electronic wallet is coupled to said telephone line,

security means requiring an access key code to gain access to all electronic money and account access functions,

means for telephonically coupling said electronic wallet, independently of said financial institution, directly to other electronic devices capable of exchanging electronic money,

whereby a user of said electronic wallet may transfer said selected quantity of electronic money to said electronic wallet from said financial institution and thereafter use stored said selected quantity of electronic money in said electronic wallet to make purchases and otherwise transfer money without connection to said financial institution.

14. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 13 further comprising analog communications circuitry responsive to said microcomputer and said modem for enabling a user of said electronic wallet to communicate telephonically.

15. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 13 further comprising circuitry responsive to tones indicative of time and quantity, for purchasing increments of time and quantities of a substance.

16. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a third plurality of erasable memory storage registers for storing a selected amount of financial credit from at least one credit source, for enabling purchases up to a limit of said credit.

17. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 16 wherein said electronic wallet further comprises means for blocking purchases or transferring electronic money from a said electronic wallet if there is not sufficient electronic money and credit to cover said purchase or transfer.

18. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a spare set of erasable programmable memory locations for storing data in said electronic wallet entered from said keypad.

19. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first plurality of erasable programmable memory locations include memory locations for storing a check record, said check record and electronic money associated therewith being transferrable to another electronic money storage and electronic money transfer device, and further being transferrable to said financial institution.

20. An electronic wallet as set forth in claim 13 wherein said other electronic devices capable of exchanging electronic money include cash registers.