Card for service access

• US 6,827,263 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Newman, Andrew Timothy Robert, Yap, Sue-Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/165,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 235/1.51, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/487, 235/492, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

An interface card (16) comprising a substrate (60) with indicia (14) formed thereon is disclosed. The card (10) is configured for insertion into a read device (1). The read device (1) has a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane (8) arranged to overlay the interface card (16) so as to present the indicia (14) to a user of the read device (1) through the membrane (8). The card (16) comprises a memory (19) for storing a distinguishing identifier and a service identifier for identifying a service to be received via an external device (100, 601) according to indicia selected by the user and data stored in the memory (19) and associated with the indicia (14).

Claims

1. An interface card comprising:

a substrate with indicia formed thereon, said card being configured for insertion into a read device, said read device having a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane arranged to overlay said interface card so as to present said indicia to a user of said read device through said membrane; and

a memory comprising a service-specific identifier and a service identifier stored therein, said service identifier being configured for identifying a service and the service-specific identifier being configured for use by an application associated with said service, wherein a specific service to be received is dependent upon the service identifier, the service-specific identifier and user-selected indicia.

2. The card according to claim 1, wherein said service identifier is assigned to a vendor of said service by a central control authority.

3. The card according to claim 1, wherein a memory address stored in said memory and associated with said user-selected indicia is used to access a memory in an external device.

4. The card according to claim 1, wherein said read device comprises:

a central processing unit for generating a session identifier identifying a current session corresponding to a card insertion in said read device, said session identifier being altered each time said interface card is inserted into said read device, wherein said central processing unit is further adapted to send said session identifier to said external device for determining if said interface card has been changed.

5. A control template configured for insertion into a read device, said template comprising:

an electronic card formed of a substrate having associated therewith a memory device;

a plurality of indicia formed arbitrarily on said substrate; and

data stored within said memory device, said data defining at least a mapped position of each said indicium relative to the substrate, a service-specific identifier and a service identifier, said service identifier being configured to identify a service to be provided via a peripheral device upon receipt of further data from said read device and the service-specific identifier being configured for use by an application associated with said service, wherein a specific service to be received is dependent upon the service identifier, the service-specific identifier and user-selected indicia.

6. The control template according to claim 5, wherein said service identifier is assigned to a vendor of a service by a central control authority.

7. The control template according to claim 5, wherein said data defines an address for accessing a memory in said peripheral device.

8. The control template according to claim 5, wherein said address is a URL.

9. An interface card comprising:

a substrate with indicia formed thereon, said card being configured for insertion into a read device having a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane arranged to overlay said interface card upon said card being received therein, whereby at least said card and said indicia can be viewed through said touch sensitive membrane; and

a memory comprising at least a service-specific identifier and a service identifier stored therein, said service identifier being configured for identifying a service to be provided via an external device and the service-specific identifier being configured for use by an application associated with said service, wherein a specific service to be received is dependent upon the service identifier, the service-specific identifier and user-selected indicia.

10. The card according to claim 9, wherein said service identifier is assigned to a vendor of said service by a central control authority.

11. The card according to claim 9, wherein a memory address stored in said memory and associated with said user selected indicia is used for accessing a memory in said external device.

12. The card according to claim 9, wherein said address is a URL.

13. A service providing apparatus for providing a service to a card user utilising a card read device, said card read device comprising a receptacle adapted to receive said interface card comprising:

a substrate with indicia formed thereon, said card being configured for insertion into a read device, said read device having a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane arranged to overlay said interface card so as to present said indicia to a user of said read device through said membrane; and

a memory comprising a service-specific identifier and a service identifier stored therein, said service identifier being configured for identifying a service and the service-specific identifier being configured for use by an application associated with said service, wherein a specific service to be received is dependent upon the service identifier, the service-specific identifier and user-selected indicia.

14. A service providing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, said service providing apparatus comprising a central processing unit, said central processing unit being adapted for receiving, from said read device, a session identifier identifying a current session corresponding to a card insertion in said read device.

15. A service providing apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said session identifier is altered each time said interface card is inserted into said read device.

16. A service providing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said central processing unit is further adapted to determine if said interface card has been changed based on a comparison of the received session identifier and a previously received session identifier.