Smart card systems and electronic ticketing methods

• US 6,910,627 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• 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, Bruce, Stephen Robert, Simpson-Young, William, Chamley, Cathryn Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/666,482
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/380, 235/492, 705/5, 705/17
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/229 Hierarchy of users of accounts
• 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 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic ticketing system (100, 200) and method (60) utilizing a smart card (31) The smart card can be loaded with pre-purchased tickets which are then booked at a subsequent date. Alternatively, the booking and payment for the ticket can be made at the one transaction. The smart card is customizable by a user (100) who would normally be a promoter or organizer of an event for which tickets are required. Also disclosed is a multiple purpose card (70, 91, 141, 151, 161) which is both a smart card having electronic data stored (78) therein and a conventional business card having information (72) printed thereon for use by a reader. The donee of the card is able to insert same into a card reader (12) to obtain detailed information from the computer (100) of the donor of the card. The multiple purpose smart card may also be used as a trading card (506) as part of a set (500) of similar cards each offering differing levels of user access to a database (526) related to the set.

Claims

1. A system for multiple purpose smart cards, the system including:

a card reader into which said smart card is insertable, said card reader having a pressure sensitive membrane through which at least textual information on a surface of an inserted smart card is visible, said textual information facilitating non-computer based information transfer to achieve a first pre-defined purpose;

said smart card which is adapted for both non-computer based and computer-based information transfer, the smart card comprising;

said textual information;

an electronic memory; and

data stored in the electronic memory enabling other information supplemental to the textual information to be presented, dependent upon pressure directed to the inserted smart card and exerted on said pressure sensitive membrane of the card reader;

said system further comprising;

presentation means communicating with said card reader for presenting the other information; and

a keypad overlay, positionable above said membrane of said card reader, and when so positioned activating an alternate set of computer interpretable functions corresponding to a layout of selectable indicia or icons presented on said overlay, wherein operation of the selectable indicia presented on said overlay is dependent upon pressure which is exerted on a selected indicium of said overlay being transferred to the pressure sensitive membrane, wherein

said additional information facilitates computer-based information transfer to achieve a second purpose; and

the first pre-defined purpose is facilitated based upon the textual information without reference to the additional information.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said overlay forms part of said card reader and is configured to be removably positionable above said membrane to enable user selection of one or more of said alternate set of computer interpretable functions.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said overlay comprises a flap hingedly connected to said card reader and associated with a switch configured to detect positioning of said flap over said membrane to thereby activate said alternate set of computer interpretable functions.

4. A smart card reader device for a multiple purpose smart card for both non-computer and computer-based information transfer, said card reader device comprising:

a pressure sensitive membrane through which textual information on a surface of an inserted smart card is visible, wherein said smart card comprises the textual information, an electronic memory, and data stored in the electronic memory enabling other information supplemental to the textual information to be presented, dependent upon pressure directed to the inserted smart card and exerted on said pressure sensitive membrane, said textual information facilitating non-computer based information transfer to achieve a first pre-defined purpose, wherein said supplemental information facilitates computer-based information transfer to achieve a second purpose, and the first pre-defined purpose is facilitated based upon the textual information without reference to the additional information; and

a keypad overlay positionable over said pressure sensitive membrane, wherein positioning the keypad overlay activates a set of computer interpretable functions related to data within said card reader device, the overlay keypad being adapted for user selection of a key of said keypad to thereby select at least one of said computer interpretable functions, wherein operation of the selectable key of said overlay is dependent upon pressure which is exerted on a selected key of said overlay being transferred to the pressure sensitive membrane.

5. A smart card for booking a desired one of plural selectable places at a venue, said smart card being constructed for insertion into a card reader which includes a pressure sensitive membrane through which an exposed top surface of an inserted smart card is visible, said smart card comprising:

at least one indicium on the exposed top surface of said smart card, said indicium having a plurality of portions having spatial correspondence to the selectable places at the venue; and

an electronic memory which stores data enabling the desired place to be booked dependent upon pressure being exerted on the pressure sensitive membrane at a position over a corresponding portion of said indicium of the inserted smart card having spatial correspondence with said desired place, to thereby select said corresponding portion of said indicium on the inserted smart card, wherein said data includes a link to displayable information regarding a plan of a physical layout of said venue, said displayable information being supplemental to the information provided by said indicium.

6. The smart card as claimed in claim 5, wherein said indicium comprises a representation of said plan.

7. The smart card as claimed in claim 5, wherein said data includes a link to booking transaction data.

8. A system for smart card electronic ticketing, said system comprising:

a smart card as claimed in claim 5;

a vendor computer arrangement comprising a base memory in which is stored booking information regarding said venue to which tickets are sold by a vendor, updating means to update said booking information during the progress of sales, and a vendor communications link; and

a purchaser arrangement comprising a smart card reader, a purchaser communications link which can communicate with said vendor communication link, and a display coupled to said reader and purchaser communications link for displaying electronic ticketing information.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said smart card reader is located at said venue.

10. A method for smart card electronic ticketing, said method comprising the steps of:

a vendor preparing at least one smart card as claimed in claim 5;

distributing to a purchaser one of said smart cards;

said purchaser entering said smart card into a card reader arrangement and selecting the indicum to thereby book the desired place at the venue.

11. A multiple purpose smart card for both non-computer based and computer-based information transfer, the smart card being constructed for insertion into a card reader system, the card reader system including a pressure sensitive membrane through which an exposed top surface of an inserted smart card is visible, and presentation means for presenting additional information to a user of the card reader system, said smart card comprising:

textual information configured on the exposed top surface, said textual information for facilitating non-computer based information transfer to achieve a first pre-defined purpose;

plural indicia configured on the top exposed surface, each indicium having at least one selectable portion associated therewith; and

an electronic memory which stores data enabling additional information supplemental to the textual information to be presented on the presentation means, dependent upon pressure being exerted on the pressure sensitive membrane at a position over the selectable portion of one of said indicia, to thereby select the selectable portion of said indicium on the inserted smart card, wherein

said additional information facilitates computer based information transfer to achieve a second purpose; and

the first pre-defined purpose is facilitated based upon the textual information without reference to the additional information.

12. The card as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data comprises a link to the additional information, and the additional information comprises a supplemental text message supplementing said textual information.

13. The card as claimed in claim 12, wherein the additional information is the textual information in machine-readable form.

14. The card as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data comprises a link to the additional information, and the additional information comprises a supplemental audio voice message supplementing said textual information.

15. The card as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data comprises a link to the additional information, and the additional information comprises a supplemental video message supplementing said textual information.

16. The card as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data comprises a link to the additional information, and the additional information comprises supplemental name and contact information supplementing said textual information.

17. The card as claimed in claim 11, wherein said data comprises a link to the additional information, and the additional information comprises a supplemental business activity supplementing said textual information.

18. A system for multiple purpose smart cards in which each such smart card is adapted for both non-computer based and computer-based information transfer, said system comprising:

said smart card comprising;

textual information configured on an exposed top surface, said textual information for facilitating non-computer based information transfer to achieve a first pre-defined purpose;

plural indicia on the exposed top surface, each indicium having at least one selectable portion associated therewith; and

an electronic memory which stores data enabling additional information supplemental to the textual information to be presented,

said system further comprising;

a card reader into which said smart card is insertable, the card reader having a pressure sensitive membrane through which the textual information and the indicia are visible; and

presentation means communicating with the reader for presenting the additional information, dependent on pressure exerted on the pressure sensitive membrane at a position over a selectable portion of one of the indicia, to thereby select the selectable portion of indicium on the inserted card, wherein

said additional information facilitates computer-based information transfer to achieve a second purpose; and

the first pre-defined purpose is facilitated based upon the textual information without reference to the additional information.

19. A method for presenting information using a multiple purpose smart card adapted for both non-computer based and computer-based information transfer, wherein the smart card comprises both textual information and plural indicia on an exposed top surface thereof, each indicium having at least one selectable portion associated therewith, and an electronic memory which stores data enabling additional information supplemental to the textual information to be presented,

wherein said method comprises the steps of:

facilitating, using the textual information configured on the exposed top surface, non-computer based information transfer to achieve a first pre-defined purpose; and

, in the case that computer-based information transfer to achieve a second purpose is to be facilitated using said additional information, the method comprises the further steps of;

inserting the smart card into a card reader having a pressure sensitive membrane through which the textual information and the indicia are visible;

exerting pressure on the pressure sensitive membrane at a position over a selectable portion of one of the indicia, to thereby select the selectable portion of the indicium of the inserted card; and

presenting the additional information on a presentation means communicating with the card reader, wherein said additional information facilitates said computer-based information transfer to achieve the second purpose, wherein the first pre-defined purpose is facilitated based upon the textual information without reference to the additional information.

20. A computer program for directing at least one processor to execute a procedure for presenting information using a multiple purpose smart card adapted for both non-computer based and computer-based information transfer, wherein the smart card comprises both textual information and plural indicia on an exposed top surface thereof, each indicium having at least one selectable portion associated therewith, and an electronic memory which stores data enabling additional information supplemental to the textual information to be presented,

wherein non-computer based information transfer to achieve a first pre-defined purpose can be facilitated using the textual information configured on the exposed top surface, said computer program comprising:

code for establishing, in the case that computer-based information transfer to achieve a second purpose is to be facilitated using said additional information, communication between said smart card and a card reader into which the smart card is inserted, the card reader having a pressure sensitive membrane through which the textual information and the indicia are visible; and

code responsive to pressure exerted on the pressure sensitive membrane at a position over a selectable portion of one of the indicia, for presenting the additional information on a presentation means communicating with the card reader, wherein the first pre-defined purpose is facilitated based upon the textual information without reference to the additional information.

21. A computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon for directing at least one processor to execute a procedure for presenting information using a multiple purpose smart card adapted for both non-computer based and computer-based information transfer, wherein the smart card comprises both textual information and plural indicia on an exposed top surface thereof, each indicium having at least one selectable portion associated therewith, and an electronic memory which stores data enabling additional information supplemental to the textual information to be presented,

wherein non-computer based information transfer to achieve a first pre-defined purpose can be facilitated using the textual information configured on the exposed top surface;

said computer program comprising;

code for establishing, in the case that computer based information transfer to achieve a second purpose is to be facilitated using said additional information, communication between said smart card and a card reader into which the smart card is inserted, the card reader having a pressure sensitive membrane through which the textual information and the indicia are visible; and

code responsive to pressure exerted on the pressure sensitive membrane at a position over a selectable portion of one of the indicia, for presenting the additional information on a presentation means communicating with the card reader, wherein the first pre-defined purpose is facilitated based upon the textual information without reference to the additional information.

22. A smart card reader for a smart card having indicia on a surface thereof, said reader comprising:

a slot into which the smart card is inserted;

a transparent panel through which the indicia of the inserted smart card are visible;

a detector which detects a point where the transparent panel is pressed;

a keypad, having a plurality of textual information thereon, which is positionable above said transparent panel; and

a processor which outputs keypad information relevant to a textual information on said keypad corresponding to the point detected by said detector when said keypad is positioned above said transparent panel, and indicia information relevant to the indicia on said surface corresponding to the point detected by said detector when said keypad is not positioned above said transparent panel.

23. A smart card reader according to claim 22, wherein said processor reads indicia information from a memory of the inserted smart card, and outputs the read indicia information to an external apparatus.

24. A smart card reader according to claim 23, further comprising a storage which stores a plurality of keypad information, wherein said processor reads keypad information from said storage and outputs the read keypad information to the external apparatus.

25. A smart card reader according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of keypad information includes at least two function buttons.