Method for storing data in payment card transaction

• US 6,755,341 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Privasys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Privasys Incorporated
• Inventors: Wong, Jacob Y., Anderson, Roy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US09/667,039
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/492, 235/487, 235/379, 235/449
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• 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 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• 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 data packet can be dynamically stored in a magnetic strip by an encoder of an electronic card and subsequently transferred to a money source after it is read by a standard magnetic stripe reader as part of a verification process of a payment card transaction. A computer contained on the electronic card can run diagnostic tests and send the results to the money source as part of the data packet. One diagnostic test monitors the battery life of the electronic card to permit the money source to replace the electronic card before its battery runs out of useful life. The data packet can also contain data input into the electronic card by the user, such as a customization variable.

Claims

1. A method for alerting a money source to a low battery condition of a battery used in an electronic card, comprising the steps of:

(1) using the electronic card to conduct a plurality of payment card transactions in which a payment card number and a user identifier are submitted to the money source as part of an approval process;

(2) executing a program on a computer of the electronic card to check for a battery life parameter and generate a warning signal when a low battery condition is detected; and

(3) when a warning signal is generated, submitting a low battery indicator to the money source in connection with the approval process.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the program is executed each time the electronic card seeks approval of a preselected number of payment card transactions.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the program generates a battery life signal related to an estimated remaining battery life of the battery.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, comprising the further step of:

(4) submitting a battery life indicator that is based upon the battery life signal to the money source in connection with the approval process.

5. A method as recited in recited in claim 1, comprising the further step of:

(4) providing a user of the electronic card with a replacement electronic card before the battery life parameter drops below a selected threshold.

6. A method as recited in recited in claim 1, comprising the further step of:

(4) providing a user of the electronic card with a replacement electronic card after the low battery indicator has been submitted to the money source.

7. A method for submitting a battery life signal from an electronic card to a money source, comprising the steps of:

(1) using the electronic card to conduct a payment card transaction in which a payment card number and a user identifier are submitted to the money source as part of an approval process;

(2) executing a program on a computer of the electronic card to check for a battery life parameter and generate the battery life signal; and

(3) submitting the battery life signal to the money source in connection with the approval process.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the program is executed each time the electronic card seeks approval of a preselected number of payment card transactions.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, comprising the further step of:

(4) providing a user of the electronic card with a replacement electronic card before the battery life parameter drops below a selected threshold.

10. A method for transferring a data packet from a user of an electronic card to a money source as part of a payment card transaction, comprising the steps of:

generating a user one-time payment card number through use of a card number generator;

using the user one-time payment card number as a payment card number;

storing the data packet in a magnetic stripe of the electronic card that can be read by a standard magnetic stripe reader;

using the standard magnetic stripe reader to read the payment card number, a user identifier and the data packet from the magnetic storage medium as part of a given payment card transaction; and

submitting the payment card number, the user identifier and the data packet to the money source for approval of the given payment card transaction;

wherein the one-time payment card number is correlated with a sequence number that indicates the relationship of the one-time payment card number to a sequence of one-time payment card numbers generated by the card number generator; and

wherein the data packet can be used to obtain the user sequence number.