System and method for wireless transactions

• US 7,003,316 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Virtual Fonlink, Inc.
• Inventors: Vrotsos, Demetrios G., Elias, Georges F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/081,058
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 4555561-5562, 455557-558, 455 901- 903, 455/11.1, 455418-420, 4554141-4144, 455/445, 455347-349, 455/575.1, 705 42- 43, 705/14
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8242 Transaction based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7846 Transaction based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an attachment that may be coupled to a wireless communication device, such as a cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like to perform commercial or other information transactions, as well as to an apparatus, system and method for conducting such transactions. The wireless communication device generally includes an antenna that may be directly accessed by a processor in the attachment for transmission of data to a remote computer over a communication network. The attachment may also include an input device, such as a magnetic stripe reader, smartcard reader, barcode scanner, optical scanner, fingerprint scanner, proximity detector, or the like. When input is received at the input device, the input information may be sent to the attachment processor for processing and transmission to the remote computer via the antenna. The remote computer may process the received attachment-processed data and generate a response to send to the device processor.

Claims

1. An attachment for a wireless communication device, said wireless communication device having an antenna, and outer casing, a communication port and a device processor, said attachment comprising:

an outer casing adapted to couple to said outer casing of said wireless communication device;

an attachment processor;

a first input device; and

a connector adapted to mate with said communication port of said wireless communication device, such that electrical signals may be communicated between said antenna and said attachment processor without said signals being received by said device processor when said connector and said communication port are mated together, wherein said device processor, said antenna, and at least one of said communication port and said attachment processor are connected by an logical bus and have unique bus addresses, and a message received by said antenna includes information identifying the bus address of the intended recipient of said message.

2. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is one of a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, or a computer.

3. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein said first input device is one of a magnetic strip reader, a smartcard reader, an optical scanner, a fingerprint scanner, a signature pad, or a proximity detector.

4. The attachment according to claim 3, wherein said first input device is a magnetic stripe reader, said magnetic stripe reader having a slot and a reader head, said slot extending from a first opening in said outer casing of said attachment to a second opening in said outer casing of said attachment, and wherein said reader head forms a portion of a side wall of said slot.

5. The attachment according to claim 4, wherein said slot is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of said outer casing of said wireless communication device.

6. The attachment according to claim 4, wherein said slot is substantially parallel to a side surface of said outer casing of said wireless communication device.

7. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein said attachment processor configured to process input information received from said input device to generate attachment-processed data to send to said antenna for transmission to a remote computer.

8. The attachment according to claim 7, wherein said attachment-processed data is generated by at least one of encrypting said input information, dividing said input information into data packets, or creating header information to append to said input information.

9. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein said connector is an RS-232 connector.

10. The attachment according to claim 1, further including a selectively engageable latching mechanism and a release mechanism that may be activated to detach said attachment from said wireless communication device.

11. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein said attachment includes a global Positioning system locator chipset to assist in detecting fraudulent use of the attachment.

12. The attachment according to claim 1, further including a second input device.

13. The attachment according to claim 12, wherein said first input device is a magnetic stripe reader and said second input device is a smartcard reader, and said attachment further including a slot having a shallow channel portion through which a portion of a card bearing a magnetic stripe may be swiped and a deeper channel portion of sufficient depth to permit a card bearing a smartchip to be inserted into said slot.

14. The attachment according to claim 12, said processor adapted to process input information received from said first input device in a first manner and adapted to process input information received from said second input device in a different second manner, such that a remote computer to which processed data from said attachment processor is sent can determine whether said attachment processor received said input information from said first input device or said second input device.

15. The attachment according to claim 1, said outer casing of said attachment having a recessed portion conforming to a surface of said outer casing of said wireless communication device.

16. The attachment according to claim 1, further including an attachment memory encoded with instructions to be executed by said attachment processor.

17. The attachment according to claim 16, wherein said attachment processor begins executing said instructions when input information is received at said input device.

18. The attachment according to claim 1, further including a wireless data port for receiving and transmitting data independently of said antenna.

19. The attachment according to claim 18, wherein said wireless data port receives and transmits at least one of infrared, IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth signals.

20. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein a first communication link established between said attachment and a remote computer over a communication network is separate from a second communication link established between said wireless communication device and said remote computer.

21. The attachment according to claim 1, wherein a first application being executed by said device processor is suspended when input is received and a second application is executed by said device processor.

22. The attachment of claim 1, wherein a memory in the attachment is inaccessible to the user.

23. A wireless communication apparatus for transmitting information to and receiving information from a remote computer over a communication network, said wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication device having an antenna, a device processor, an outer device casing, a communication port, and an output device; and

an attachment having an attachment processor, a first input device, a connector, and an outer attachment casing, said attachment being removably coupled to said wireless communication device, wherein

said connector mates with said communication port when said attachment is coupled to said wireless communication device, said attachment processor is configured to communicate signals to said antenna without said signals being received by said device processor when said attachment is coupled to said wireless communication device, said device processor, said antenna, and at least one of said communication port and said attachment processor are connected by an logical bus and have unique bus addresses, and a message received by said antenna includes information identifying the bus address of the intended recipient of said message.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said wireless communication device is one of a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, or a computer.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said first input device is one of a magnetic strip reader, a smartcard reader, an optical scanner, a fingerprint scanner, a signature pad, or a proximity detector.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first input device is a magnetic stripe reader, said magnetic stripe reader having a slot and a reader head, said slot extending from a first opening in said outer casing of said attachment to a second opening in said outer casing of said attachment, and wherein said reader head forms a portion of a side wall of said slot.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said slot is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of said outer casing of said wireless communication device.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said slot is substantially parallel to a side surface of said outer casing of said wireless communication device.

29. The apparatus according to claim 25, further including a second input device, wherein said first input device is a magnetic stripe reader and said second input device is a smartcard reader, and further wherein said slot includes a shallow channel portion through which a portion of a card bearing a magnetic stripe may be swiped and a deeper channel portion of sufficient depth to permit a card bearing a smartchip to be inserted into said slot.

30. The apparatus according to claim 23, said attachment processor being configured to process input information received from said input device to generate attachment-processed data to send to said antenna for transmission to a remote computer.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said attachment-processed data is generated by at least one of encrypting said input information, dividing said input information into data packets, or creating header information to append to said input information.

32. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said connector is an RS-232 connector.

33. The apparatus according to claim 23, further including a selectively engageable latching mechanism and a release mechanism that may be activated to detach said attachment from said wireless communication device.

34. The apparatus according to claim 23, said attachment further including a second input device.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said second input device is one of a magnetic strip reader, a smartcard reader, an optical scanner, a fingerprint scanner, a signature pad, or a proximity detector.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34, said attachment processor adapted to process input information received from said first input device in a first manner and adapted to process input information received from said second input device in a different second manner, such that a remote computer to which processed data from said attachment processor is sent can determine whether said attachment processor received said input information from said first input device or said second input device.

37. The apparatus according to claim 23, said outer casing of said attachment having a recessed portion conforming to a surface of said outer casing of said wireless communication device.

38. The apparatus according to claim 23, said attachment further including an attachment memory encoded with instructions to be executed by said attachment processor.

39. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said attachment processor begins executing said instructions when input information is received at said input device.

40. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said device processor is adapted to instruct a user to provide input information using said first input device.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said output device of said wireless communication device is a display, and further wherein said device processor instructs a user to provide said input information by displaying a message on said display.

42. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said output device of said wireless communication device is a speaker, and further wherein said device processor instructs a user to provide said input information by playing a recorded audio message on said speaker.

43. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said device processor establishes a communication link with a remote computer using said antenna.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said attachment processor receives input information from said first input device, processes said input information to generate attachment-processed data, and sends said attachment-processed data to said remote computer using said antenna over said communication link.

45. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said device processor executes one of a JAVA software application or a WAP software application.

46. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said attachment processor executes one of a JAVA software application or a WAP software application.

47. The apparatus according to claim 23, further including a wireless data port for receiving and transmitting data independently of said antenna.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said data port receives and transmits at least one of infrared, IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth signals.

49. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a first communication link established between said attachment and a remote computer over a communication network is separate from a second communication link established between said wireless communication device and said remote computer.

50. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein a first application being executed by said device processor is suspended while a second application is executed by said device processor.

51. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 23, wherein a memory in the attachment is inaccessible to the user.

52. An attachment for a wireless communication device, said wireless communication device having an antenna, and outer casing, a communication port and a device processor, said attachment comprising:

an outer casing adapted to couple to said outer casing of said wireless communication device;

an attachment processor;

a first input device; and

a connector adapted to mate with said communication port of said wireless communication device, such that electrical signals may be communicated between said antenna and said attachment processor utilizing a transceiver of the wireless communication device when said connector and said communication port are mated together, said device processor, said antenna, and at least one of said communication port and said attachment processor are connected by an logical bus and have unique bus addresses, and a message received by said antenna includes information identifying the bus address of the intended recipient of said message.

53. The attachment of claim 52, further including a global positioning system locator chipset utilized in tracking a location of the attachment.

54. The attachment of claim 52, wherein the attachment communicates with a remote server utilizing the wireless application protocol.

55. The attachment of claim 52, wherein the attachment processor encrypts input information received from the input device so that resulting attachment-processed cannot be read off the antenna by the processor of the wireless communication device.

56. The attachment of claim 52, wherein the attachment processor divides information collected from the first input device into data packets.

57. The attachment of claim 52, wherein the attachment processor appends header information onto information generated by the first input device.

58. The attachment of claim 52, wherein the attachment receives a file representing a transaction receipt, formats the file for use by an output device, and transmits the file to a peripheral device.

59. The attachment of claim 58, wherein the attachment transmits the file utilizing a wireless communication port.

60. The attachment of claim 52, further including a fingerprint scanner to identify a user of the attachment.

61. The attachment of claim 52, further including a proximity detector.

62. A wireless communication apparatus for transmitting information to and receiving information from a remote computer over a communication network, said wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication device having an antenna, a device processor, an outer device casing, a communication port, a transceiver, and an output device; and

an attachment having an attachment processor, a first input device, a connector, and an outer attachment casing, said attachment being removably coupled to said wireless communication device, wherein

said connector mates with said communication port when said attachment is coupled to said wireless communication device, said attachment processor is configured to receive information from the first input device and transmit the information to the remote computer using the transceiver of said wireless communication device when said attachment is coupled to said wireless communication device, said device processor, said antenna, and at least one of said communication port and said attachment processor are connected by an logical bus and have unique bus addresses, and a message received by said antenna includes information identifying the bus address of the intended recipient of said message.

63. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 62, wherein the attachment is powered by a power source of the wireless communication device.

64. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 62, wherein a first power source powers the wireless communication device, an independent power source powers the attachment, and both the first power source and the independent power source are charged from a single charging port.

65. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 62, wherein a memory of the attachment is not accessible by a user of the wireless communication device.

66. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 62, wherein the device processor suspends an application being executed when the device outputs a prompt to enter input to the attachment.

67. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 62, further including a fingerprint scanner to be utilized for validation and the device processor displays a message on a display instructing a user to input a fingerprint.

68. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 62, wherein the attachment processor awakes from a sleep mode when the information is received at the first input device.

69. An attachment for a wireless communication device, said attachment comprising:

an outer casing adapted to couple to an outer casing of said wireless communication device;

an attachment processor;

a first input device; and

a communication port to transfer electrical signals between an antenna of the wireless communication device and said attachment processor utilizing a transceiver of the wireless communication device, a wireless communication device processor, said antenna, and at least one of said communication port and said attachment processor are connected by an logical bus and have unique bus addresses, and a message received by said antenna includes information identifying the bus address of the intended recipient of said message.

70. The attachment of claim 69, further including a global positioning system locator chipset utilized in tracking a location of the attachment.

71. The attachment of claim 69, wherein the attachment communicates with a remote server utilizing the wireless application protocol.

72. The attachment of claim 69, wherein the attachment processor encrypts input information received from the input device so that resulting attachment-processed information cannot be read off the antenna by the processor of the wireless communication device.

73. The attachment of claim 69, wherein the attachment processor divides information collected from the first input device into data packets.

74. The attachment of claim 69, wherein the attachment processor appends header information onto information generated by the first input device.

75. The attachment of claim 69, wherein the attachment receives a file representing a transaction receipt, formats the file for use by an output device, and transmits the file to a peripheral device.

76. The attachment of claim 75, wherein the attachment transmits the file utilizing a wireless communication port.

77. The attachment of claim 69, further including a fingerprint scanner to identify a user of the attachment.

78. The attachment of claim 69, further including a proximity detector.