Systems and methods for managing multiple accounts on a RF transaction instrument

• US 7,268,668 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Williamson, John R., Saunders, Peter D., Montgomery, Joshua L., Bonalle, David S., Bliman, Michal, Beenau, Blayn W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VY, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/708,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/379, 707/203, 707100-101, 705/41, 705/16, 705/40, 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/505, 380/338
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• 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 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/35765 Access rights to memory zones
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• 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 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for managing a plurality of data sets on a financial transaction instrument configured to facilitate performing a financial transaction. A first data set owner and a second data set owner are enrolled in a multiple account management program. A first data set owned by a first data set owner and of a first format is added to a database on the financial transaction instrument. A second data set of a second format is added to the database. The second data set is owned by a second data set owner, distinct from the first data set owner, and the second format is different from the first format. A condition header identifying a status condition is added to at least one of the first and second data sets. At least one of the first and second data sets is modified in the database.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of data sets on a financial transaction instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

enrolling a first data set owner and a second data set owner in a multiple account management program;

adding to a database on said financial transaction instrument, a first data set of a first format, wherein said first data set is owned by said first data set owner;

adding to a database on said financial transaction instrument, a second data set of a second format, wherein said second data set is owned by said second data set owner, said first data set owner is distinct from said second data set owner, and said first format is different from said second format, said first data set is stored in accordance with said first format, and said second data set is stored in accordance with said second format;

adding a condition header to at least one of said first and second data sets, said condition header identifies a status condition of said at least one of said first and second data sets; and

modifying at least one of said first and second data set in said database,

wherein said financial transaction instrument configured to facilitate performing a financial transaction, and said first data set is added before issuance of said financial transaction instrument, and said second data set is added after issuance of said financial transaction instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said database is a remote database remote from said financial transaction instrument.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said database is a radio frequency database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said modification of at least one of said first and second data sets is performed in accordance with said condition header.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of deleting of said second data set in accordance with said condition header.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second data set is stored in a memory area for said second data set and wherein said memory area is reusable by a third data set after said second data set is deleted from said memory area.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said deleting of said second data set is accomplished without involving an owner of another data set.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding of a third data set to said financial transaction instrument, wherein said third data set is stored, at least partially, in at least a portion of a data storage space that was used to store said second data set.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding, via an interaction device, a third data set of a third format to said financial transaction instrument, wherein said third data set is owned by said first data set owner.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second data sets are each stored as a block of binary information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of said first and second blocks of binary are annotated with at least one status indicator for indicating an action to be taken with said blocks of binary.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said modification of said at least one of said first and second data set is accomplished without involving an owner of another data set.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said enrollment of said first data set owner and said second data set owner authorizes said adding of said first data set and said second data set to said database on said financial transaction instrument.

14. A system for managing a plurality of data sets stored on a radio frequency financial transaction instrument, said financial transaction instrument comprising:

a first data storage area configured to store a first data set in a first format and a second data storage area configured to store a second data set in a second format, said second format is different from said first format,

said first data set associated with a first data set owner and said first data storage area configured to store said first data set in said first format independent of said second data set, and,

said second data set associated with said second data set owner and said second data storage area configured to store said second data set in said second format independent of said first data set;

a remote database configured to store a duplicate of information in said first data storage area and said second data storage area; and

an interaction device configured to read and write data to said first and second data storage areas, said interaction device configured to receive said first and second data sets from said remote data base, and to provide said first and second data sets to said financial transaction instrument, said interaction device being configured to add said first data set before issuance of said financial transaction instrument and to add said second data set after issuance of said financial transaction instrument,

wherein at least one of said first and second data sets stored in said remote database is annotated with a condition header, and

wherein said financial transaction instrument configured to facilitate performing a financial transaction.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of said first and second data sets in said remote database is modified in accordance with said condition header.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of said first and second data sets in said RF transaction database is modified in accordance with said condition header.

17. The financial transaction instrument of claim 14, wherein said condition header identifies at least one of the following status conditions:

loaded, initialized, ready, blocked, removable, and deleted.

18. The financial transaction instrument of claim 14, further comprising a third data storage area, wherein said third data storage area is configured to receive data of any format.

19. The financial transaction instrument of claim 14, wherein said financial transaction instrument includes a radio frequency operable transponder.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said first data set owner and said second data set owner are enrolled in a multiple account management program, said enrollment of said first data set owner and said second data set owner authorizes said provision of said first data set and said second data set to said financial transaction instrument.

21. A method for managing a plurality of data sets on a financial transaction instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

enrolling a first data set owner and a second data set owner in a multiple account management program;

adding to a database on said financial transaction instrument, a first data set of a first format, wherein said first data set is owned by said first data set owner;

adding to a database on said financial transaction instrument, a second data set of a second format, wherein said second data set is owned by said second data set owner, said first data set owner is distinct from said second data set owner, and said first format is different from said second format, said first data set is stored in accordance with said first format, and said second data set is stored in accordance with said second format;

adding a condition header to at least one of said first and second data sets, said condition header identifies a status condition of said at least one of said first and second data sets; and

modifying at least one of said first and second data set in said database,

wherein said financial transaction instrument configured to facilitate performing a financial transaction, and said modifying of said at least one of said first and second data set is accomplished without involving an owner of another data set.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said first data set is added before issuance of said financial transaction instrument, and wherein said second data set is added after issuance of said financial transaction instrument.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said modification of at least one of said first and second data sets is performed in accordance with said condition header.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of deleting of said second data set in accordance with said condition header.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said second data set is stored in a memory area for said second data set and wherein said memory area is reusable by a third data set after said second data set is deleted from said memory area.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said deleting of said second data set is accomplished without involving an owner of another data set.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of adding of a third data set to said financial transaction instrument, wherein said third data set is stored, at least partially, in at least a portion of a data storage space that was used to store said second data set.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising adding, via an interaction device, a third data set of a third format to said financial transaction instrument, wherein said third data set is owned by said first data set owner.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second data sets are each stored as a block of binary information.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein each of said first and second blocks of binary are annotated with at least one status indicator for indicating an action to be taken with said blocks of binary.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein said enrollment of said first data set owner and said second data set owner authorizes said adding of said first data set and said second data set to said database on said financial transaction instrument.

32. A system for managing a plurality of data sets stored on a radio frequency financial transaction instrument, said financial transaction instrument comprising:

a first data storage area configured to store a first data set in a first format and a second data storage area configured to store a second data set in a second format, said second format is different from said first format,

said first data set associated with a first data set owner and said first data storage area configured to store said first data set in said first format independent of said second data set, and,

said second data set associated with said second data set owner and said second data storage area configured to store said second data set in said second format independent of said first data set;

a remote database configured to store a duplicate of information in said first data storage area and said second data storage area; and

an interaction device configured to read and write data to said first and second data storage areas, said interaction device configured to receive said first and second data sets from said remote data base, and to provide said first and second data sets to said financial transaction instrument, at least one of said first and second data sets being configured to be modified without involving an owner of another data set,

wherein at least one of said first and second data sets stored in said remote database is annotated with a condition header, and

wherein said financial transaction instrument configured to facilitate performing a financial transaction.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of said first and second data sets in said remote database is modified in accordance with said condition header.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of said first and second data sets in said RF transaction database is modified in accordance with said condition header.

35. The financial transaction instrument of claim 32, wherein said condition header identifies at least one of the following status conditions:

loaded, initialized, ready, blocked, removable, and deleted.

36. The financial transaction instrument of claim 32, further comprising a third data storage area, wherein said third data storage area is configured to receive data of any format.

37. The financial transaction instrument of claim 32, wherein said financial transaction instrument includes a radio frequency operable transponder.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein said first data set owner and said second data set owner are enrolled in a multiple account management program, said enrollment of said first data set owner and said second data set owner authorizes said provision of said first data set and said second data set to said financial transaction instrument.

39. A data management system comprising:

a financial transaction instrument associated with a first data set of a first format and a second data set of a second format, wherein said first data set is owned by a first data set owner and said second data set is owned by a second data set owner different from said first data set owner, wherein said financial transaction instrument is configured to facilitate at least one of said second data set owner and a user of said financial transaction instrument in managing said second data set without involving an owner of another data set, wherein at least one of said first and second data sets is annotated with a condition header, and wherein said financial transaction instrument configured to facilitate performing a financial transaction;

a database configured to store said first and second data sets, said first data set having a format different from said second format, said database configured to store said first data set in accordance with said first format, and said database configured to store said second data set in accordance with said second format; and

an interaction device configured to communicate with said financial transaction instrument and said database, said interaction device configured to receive said first and second data sets and to provide said first and second data sets to said financial transaction instrument, at least one of said first and second data sets being configured to be modified without involving an owner of another data set.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said first and second data sets are managed via a self-service user interaction device.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein said interaction device is configured to modify at least one of said first and second data sets according to at least one of the following management actions:

adding, updating, and deleting said at least one of said first and second data sets.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein said first data set owner and said second data set owner are enrolled in a multiple account management program, said enrollment of said first data set owner and said second data set owner authorizes said provision of said first data set and said second data set to said financial transaction instrument.