Smart card which temporarily stores transactions in non-secure memory and consolidates the transactions into secure memory

• US 6,760,796 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1999
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Rossmann, Wolf Dieter, Savage, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US09/433,133
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30-33, 705/36-45, 705/34-35, 235/380, 235/492, 235/379-385, 713/169, 710/72, 710/301, 711/147-153
• US Class Current: 710/72
• 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 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart card and to a method of operating the smart card in which the smart card has input/output means enabling the smart card to receive and transmit data regarding individual financial transactions. The smart card has a microprocessor which incorporates a read only memory, a random access memory and input/output ports. The smart card is able to communicate through the ports when suitably positioned within a smart card reader. The internal operations of the smart card are controlled by the microprocessor as determined by program microinstructions that are stored in the read only memory. The microinstructions include a number of application programs enabling the smart card to conduct financial transactions, other related applications and transaction logging operations. The smart card has a secure area and an unsecured area within the random access memory. The microprocessor is programmed to store in the unsecured store area individual transactions which may be automated transactions using the smart card or manual transactions entered as updates into the smart card. The microprocessor is programmed to transfer transactions from the unsecured store area and consolidate them into a consolidated log of transactions in the secured area. As a result, an updated statement of cashflow is available to the user from the consolidated log.

Claims

1. A smart card comprising:

input/output means for enabling the smart card to receive and transmit data regarding individual financial transactions;

a store for storing the transactions individually; and

program means for processing the individual transactions to consolidate them into a consolidated log of transactions,

wherein

i) the store includes a secured area and an unsecured area, and

ii) the program means transfers data from the unsecured area and consolidates the data into the secured area.

2. A smart card according to claim 1, wherein the program means is operable selectively either

i) to authorize and process automated financial transactions or

ii) to process manual transactions.

3. A method of operating a smart card having

(A) a number of input/output ports for enabling the smart card to receive and transmit data regarding individual financial transactions, and

(B) a memory which includes a secured area and an unsecured area, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) logging the transactions individually in the unsecured area; and

(b) processing the individual transactions so as to consolidate them into a consolidated log of transactions, wherein the processing includes the step of transferring transactions from the unsecured area to the secured area.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

selectively authorising and processing automated financial transactions or processing manual transactions.

5. A method of operating a smart card, comprising:

a) maintaining a secured memory and an unsecured memory within the smart card;

b) undertaking an automated transaction with either an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, or a Point of Sale terminal, POS, wherein the ATM or POS loads financial data into the unsecured memory;

c) undertaking manual updating, independent of an ATM or POS, wherein data is loaded into the unsecured memory under direct control of a user; and

d) reading data from the unsecured memory, consolidating the data, and storing consolidated data in the secured memory.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the data read from the unsecured memory of paragraph (d) includes (1) data automatically loaded from the ATM or POS and (2) data manually loaded by the user.

7. A smart card, comprising:

a) a secured memory and an unsecured memory;

b) means for undertaking an automated transaction with either an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, or a Point Of Sale terminal, POS, wherein the ATM or POS loads financial data into the unsecured memory;

c) means for undertaking manual updating, independent of an ATM or POS, wherein data is loaded into the unsecured memory under direct control of a user; and

d) means for reading data from the unsecured memory, consolidating the data, and storing consolidated data in the secured memory.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the data read from the unsecured memory of paragraph (d) includes (1) data automatically loaded from the ATM or POS and (2) data manually loaded by the user.