Portable electronic authorization system and method
First Claim
1. A method, comprising steps of:
- (A) storing at least first account information for a first media issued by a first media issuer and second account information for a second media issued by a second media issuer in a database in communication with a transfer server so that the first account information and the second account information exist simultaneously in the database;
(B) establishing a communication link via a non-dedicated public communications channel between a controller associated with the database and a portable electronic device distinct and remotely located from the database, and transferring at least the first account information and the second account information from the database to a memory of the portable electronic device via the communication link so that at least the first account information and the second account information are caused to exist simultaneously in the memory of the portable electronic device;
(C) transporting the portable electronic device to a vicinity of a first point-of-sale (POS) terminal;
(D) when the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the first POS terminal, manipulating a user input of the portable electronic device to select the first media for use in a first transaction at the first POS terminal;
(E1) causing a token attached to the portable electronic device to embody at least a portion of the first account information;
(E2) after performing the step (E1), detaching the token from the portable electronic device, with the token continuing to embody at least the portion of the first account information after the token has been detached from the portable electronic device;
(E3) after performing the step (E2), and when the token is still detached from the portable electronic device, interfacing the token with the first POS terminal and transferring at least the portion of the first account information from the token to the first POS terminal;
(E4) after performing the step (E3), reattaching the token to the portable electronic device;
(F) transporting the portable electronic device to a vicinity of a second POS terminal;
(G) when the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the second POS terminal, manipulating the user input on the portable electronic device to select the second media for use in a second transaction at the second POS terminal;
(H1) causing the token to embody at least a portion of the second account information;
(H2) after performing the step (H1), detaching the token from the portable electronic device, with the token continuing to embody at least the portion of the second account information after the token has been detached from the portable electronic device;
(H3) after performing the step (H2), and when the token is still detached from the portable electronic device, interfacing the token with the second POS terminal and transferring at least the portion of the second account information from the token to the second POS terminal; and
(H4) after performing the step (H3), re-attaching the token to the portable electronic device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment an apparatus includes a housing; a user authenticator, supported by the housing, that authenticates an identity of a user; at least one memory, supported by the housing, that stores transaction information for at least first and second media; and at least one output, supported by the housing, that releases at least a portion of the transaction information to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, a method involves steps of: storing transaction information for at least first and second media in a memory of a device; receiving as input a user'"'"'s selection of one of the at least first and second media; displaying a visual indication to the user regarding which of the at least first and second media has been selected; and transferring at least a portion of the transaction information from the device to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.
357 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method, comprising steps of:
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(A) storing at least first account information for a first media issued by a first media issuer and second account information for a second media issued by a second media issuer in a database in communication with a transfer server so that the first account information and the second account information exist simultaneously in the database; (B) establishing a communication link via a non-dedicated public communications channel between a controller associated with the database and a portable electronic device distinct and remotely located from the database, and transferring at least the first account information and the second account information from the database to a memory of the portable electronic device via the communication link so that at least the first account information and the second account information are caused to exist simultaneously in the memory of the portable electronic device; (C) transporting the portable electronic device to a vicinity of a first point-of-sale (POS) terminal; (D) when the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the first POS terminal, manipulating a user input of the portable electronic device to select the first media for use in a first transaction at the first POS terminal; (E1) causing a token attached to the portable electronic device to embody at least a portion of the first account information; (E2) after performing the step (E1), detaching the token from the portable electronic device, with the token continuing to embody at least the portion of the first account information after the token has been detached from the portable electronic device; (E3) after performing the step (E2), and when the token is still detached from the portable electronic device, interfacing the token with the first POS terminal and transferring at least the portion of the first account information from the token to the first POS terminal; (E4) after performing the step (E3), reattaching the token to the portable electronic device; (F) transporting the portable electronic device to a vicinity of a second POS terminal; (G) when the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the second POS terminal, manipulating the user input on the portable electronic device to select the second media for use in a second transaction at the second POS terminal; (H1) causing the token to embody at least a portion of the second account information; (H2) after performing the step (H1), detaching the token from the portable electronic device, with the token continuing to embody at least the portion of the second account information after the token has been detached from the portable electronic device; (H3) after performing the step (H2), and when the token is still detached from the portable electronic device, interfacing the token with the second POS terminal and transferring at least the portion of the second account information from the token to the second POS terminal; and (H4) after performing the step (H3), re-attaching the token to the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising steps of:
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(A) storing a first version of information including at least first account information for a first media issued by a first media issuer and second account information for a second media issued by a second media issuer in a memory of a portable electronic device so that at least the first account information and the second account information exist simultaneously in the memory; (B) storing a second version of information including at least the first account information and the second account information in a database in communication with a transfer server distinct and remotely located from the portable electronic device so that at least the first account information and the second account information exist simultaneously in the database; (C) transporting the portable electronic device to a vicinity of a first point-of-sale (POS) terminal; (D) when the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the first POS terminal, manipulating a user input on the portable electronic device to select the first media for use in a first transaction at the first POS terminal; (E1) causing a token attached to the portable electronic device to embody at least a portion of the first account information; (E2) after performing the step (E1), detaching the token from the portable electronic device, with the token continuing to embody at least the portion of the first account information after the token has been detached from the portable electronic device; (E3) after performing the step (E2), and when the token is still detached from the portable electronic device, interfacing the token with the first POS terminal and transferring at least the portion of the first account information from the token to the first POS terminal; (E4) after performing the step (E3), reattaching the token to the portable electronic device; (F) transporting the portable electronic device to a vicinity of a second POS terminal; (G) when the portable electronic device is in the vicinity of the second POS terminal, manipulating the user input on the portable electronic device to select the second media for use in a second transaction at the second POS terminal; (H1) causing the token to embody at least a portion of the second account information; (H2) after performing the step (H1), detaching the token from the portable electronic device, with the token continuing to embody at least the portion of the second account information after the token has been detached from the portable electronic device; (H3) after performing the step (H2), and when the token is still detached from the portable electronic device, interfacing the token with the second POS terminal and transferring at least the portion of the second account information from the taken to the second POS terminal; (H4) after performing the step (H3), re-attaching the token to the portable electronic device; (I) altering one of the first version of information stored in the memory of the portable electronic device and the second version of information stored in the database; and (J) establishing a communication link via a non-dedicated public communications channel between a controller associated with the database and the portable electronic device, and communicating commands between the controller associated with the database and the portable electronic device that cause the alteration in the one of the first version of information stored in the memory of the portable electronic device and the second version of information stored in the database to be reflected in the other of the first version of information stored in the memory of the portable electronic device and the second version of information stored in the database. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system, comprising:
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a transferring server comprising a database and a database controller, the database having stored therein so as to be accessible by the database controller at least first account information for a first media issued by a first media issuer and second account information for a second media issued by a second media issuer; and a portable electronic device, distinct and remotely located from the network server, comprising a device controller, a memory, a user input device, a port, and a token releasably retained in the port, the device controller being configured to establish a communication link with the network server via a non-dedicated public communications channel and to enable a transfer of at least the first account information and the second account information from the database to the memory of the portable electronic device via the communication link, the device controller being further configured to select one of the first media and the second media for use in a transaction at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal in response to manipulation of the user input device, and to cause the token to embody at least a portion of the one of the first account information and the second account information that corresponds to the selected one of the first media ard the second media, the token being configured so that after the token is released from the port, the token can be interfaced with the POS terminal to transfer the information embodied by the token to the POS terminal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system, comprising:
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a transferring server comprising a database controller in communication with a database, the database having stored therein a first version of information including at least first account information for a first media issued by a first media issuer and second account information for a second media issued by a second media issuer; and a portable electronic device, distinct and remotely located from the network server, comprising a device controller, a memory, a user input device, a port, and a token releasably retained in the port, the memory having stored therein a second version of information including at least the first account information and the second account information, the device controller being configured to establish a communication link with the network server via a non-dedicated public communications channel and to enable communication of commands between the database controller and the device controller that cause alterations in one of the first version of information stored in the database and the second version of information stored in the memory to be reflected in the other of the first version of information stored in the database and the second version of information stored in the memory, the device controller being further configured to select one of the first media and the second media for use in a transaction at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal in response to manipulation of the user input device, and to cause the token to embody at least a portion of the one of the first account information and the second account information that corresponds to the selected one of the first media and the second media, the token being configured so that, after the token is released from the port, the token can be interfaced with the POS terminal to transfer the information embodied by the token to the POS terminal. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system, comprising:
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a transferring server in communication with a database having stored therein at least first account information for a first media issued by a first media issuer and second account information for a second media issued by a second media issuer; a portable electronic device, distinct and remotely located from the database, comprising a memory, a port, and a token releasably retained in the port; means for establishing a communication link via a non-dedicated public communications channel between a controller associated with the database and the portable electronic device, and for transferring at least the first account information and the second account information from the database to the memory of the portable electronic device via the communication link so that at least the first account information and the second account information are caused to exist simultaneously in the memory of the portable electronic device; means for selecting one of the first media and the second media for use in a transaction at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal; means for causing the token to embody at least a portion of one of the first account information and the second account information that corresponds to the selected one of the first media and the second media; and means for releasing the token from the port so that the token can be used to authorize the transaction at the POS terminal.
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39. A system, comprising:
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a portable electronic device comprising a memory having stored therein a first version of information including at least first account information for a first media issued by a first media issuer and second account information for a second media issued by a second media issuer, means for selecting one of the first media and the second media for use in a transaction at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a port, a token releasably retained in the port, means for causing the token to embody at least a portion of one of the first account information and the second account information that corresponds to the selected one of the first media and the second media, and means for releasing the token from the port so that the token can be used to authorize the transaction at the POS terminal; a transferring server in communication with a database, distinct and remotely located from the portable electronic device, having stared therein a second version of information including at least the first account information and the second account information; and means for establishing a communication link via a non-dedicated public communications channel between a controller associated with the database and the portable electronic device, and for causing alterations In one of the first version of information stored in the portable electronic device and the second version of information stored in the database to be reflected in the other of the first version of information stored in the portable electronic device and the second version of information stored in the database.
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Specification