RFID Transponder Dispenser and Authorizer

• US 7,194,441 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACC Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Accelitec, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Melvin M., Bartz, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELISCA, PIERRE E
• Application Number:
  US11/275,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 705/75, 705/50, 705/51
• US Class Current: 705/75
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• 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 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A RFID transponder dispenser and authorizer (RTDA) system for distributing and activating an RFID Transponder at a point of purchase. The system has a storage for Transponders and Transponders in the storage. It also has at least one electronic data reader, network access to a processor system, and an application for customer data verification, electronic data and account data verification across the network at the processor, an interface to the RTDA apparatus to control dispensing of Transponders, and receiving an account verification code and an activation confirmation code from the processor. The RTDA reads customer electronic account data, verifies same and verifies the account is valid, dispenses a Transponder to a customer, reads the Transponder ID code, and associates the Transponder ID code with the customer'"'"'s electronic account data in a unique customer record in an RFID database, and receives an account activation confirmation code and displays confirmation of activation to the customer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a transponder configured to provide a unique identifier to a reader without physically becoming in contact with the reader;

presenting a user interface configured to receive from the user information including account information for at least one payment account the user desires to associate with the unique identifier;

providing a local reader, wherein the transponder is previously encoded with the unique identifier, and the local reader reads the unique identifier for purposes of associating the at least one payment account with the unique identifier;

verifying a validity of the user information;

associating the user information with the unique identifier; and

dispensing the transponder to the user.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier provided by the transponder is associated with more than one payment account.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one payment account includes one of:

a credit card account;

a debit card account;

a bank account; and

a loyalty points account.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the user interface receives the user information from an input device including at least one of:

a magnetic strip reading device;

a magnetic ink character reading device;

a bar code reading device;

a user entry device; and

a digital imaging device.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein verifying the validity of the user information includes one of:

determining whether the payment account is active;

determining whether the payment account is in good standing;

determining whether information entered by the user via the user entry device matches the user information associated with associated information presented by a magnetic strip, magnetic ink characters, and a bar code presented by the user for verification; and

determining whether the user information received via the user entry device corresponds with account information associated with the payment account.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein verifying the validity of the user information is conducted by engaging a network.

7. A method of claim 4, wherein the user information includes one of:

a driver'"'"'s license number;

a birth date;

a billing address;

an encrypted value; and

image data.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the user information is used as security information to validate use of the transponder.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the user information is associated with the unique identifier in a network.

10. A method of claim 1, further comprising associating security information with the unique identifier.

11. A method of claim 1, further comprising associating a loyalty points account with the unique identifier.

12. A method, comprising:

identifying a transponder configured to provide a unique identifier to a reader without physically becoming in contact with the reader;

presenting a user interface configured to receive from the user information including account information for at least one payment account the user desires to associate with the unique identifier, wherein the user interface receives the user information from an input device including at least one of;

a magnetic strip reading device;

a magnetic ink character reading device;

a bar code reading device;

a user entry device; and

a digital imaging device;

verifying a validity of the user information, including at least one of;

determining whether the payment account is active;

determining whether the payment account is in good standing;

determining whether information entered by the user via the user entry device matches the user information associated with information presented by a magnetic strip, magnetic ink characters, and a bar code presented by the user for verification; and

determining whether the user information received via the user entry device corresponds with account information associated with the payment account;

associating the user information with the unique identifier; and

dispensing the transponder to the user.

13. A method of claim 12, wherein the unique identifier provided by the transponder is associated with more than one payment account.

14. A method of claim 12, further comprising providing a local reader, wherein the transponder is previously encoded with the unique identifier, and the local reader reads the unique identifier for purposes of associating the at least one payment account with the unique identifier.

15. A method of claim 12, wherein the at least one payment account includes one of:

a credit card account;

a debit card account;

a bank account; and

a loyalty points account.

16. A method of claim 12, wherein the user information includes one of:

a driver'"'"'s license number;

a birth date;

a billing address;

an encrypted value; and

image data.

17. A method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the user information is used as security information to validate use of the transponder.

18. A method of claim 12, wherein the user information is associated with the unique identifier in a network.

19. A method of claim 12, further comprising associating a loyalty points account with the unique identifier.

20. A method, comprising:

identifying a transponder configured to provide a unique identifier to a reader without physically becoming in contact with the reader;

presenting a user interface configured to receive from the user information including account information for at least one payment account the user desires to associate with the unique identifier, wherein the user interface receives the user information from an input device including at least one of;

a magnetic strip reading device;

a magnetic ink character reading device;

a bar code reading device;

a user entry device; and

a digital imaging device;

verifying a validity of the user information by engaging a network, including at least one of;

determining whether the payment account is active;

determining whether the payment account is in good standing;

determining whether information entered by the user via the user entry device matches the user information associated with information presented by a magnetic strip, magnetic ink characters, and a bar code presented by the user for verification; and

determining whether the user information received via the user entry device corresponds with account information associated with the payment account;

associating the user information with the unique identifier; and

dispensing the transponder to the user.