System and method for providing and RFID transaction device

• US 7,429,927 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• 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: Kunian, Danielle, Ing, Samantha S, Francolini, Gail A, Bonalle, David S, Nulle, Danielle R
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/161,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/572.9, 340/572.7, 340/568.1, 340/10.1, 340/5.8, 340/551, 340/5.61, 340/5.4, 235/492, 380/270, 380/44
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details

Abstract

A system and method for attaching a Radio Frequency operable transaction device to an article using various attachment apparatus are disclosed. The invention includes attaching a transaction device to an article using apparatuses comprised of bands, clips, clamps, drawstrings, and adhesives. The present invention allows for the securing of an RF transaction device (e.g., a payment fob) to a consumer'"'"'s person thereby enabling a transaction to be completed without the need for the consumer to manually present the transaction device.

Claims

1. A system configured to removably attach a radio frequency identification (RFID) transaction device to an article worn by a person, comprising:

an RFID module for sending transaction account information in response to an interrogation signal, wherein said transaction account information comprises a merchant code, a transaction account code and transaction data;

said RFID module comprising a secure memory, an authentication circuit, a modulator/demodulator, and a data memory capable of storing encrypted data related to payment information related to said person wearing said article, an authentication key and demographic information related to said person wearing said article,

said RFID module configured to receive the interrogation signal from an RFID reader device for conducting mutual authentication using said authentication key, and transmit said payment information related to said person wearing said article, and said demographic information related to said person wearing said article to the RFID reader device, wherein said RFID reader device transmits said payment information and demographic information along with purchase data and a merchant code to a processor for authorization of said payment information and receives an authorization approval from said processor for use in completing a financial transaction,

an RFID carrier housing encasing said RFID module, said RFID carrier housing comprising an attachment apparatus configured to attach said RFID carrier housing to said article worn by said person, wherein said attachment apparatus is operable to remove said RFID module from said article worn by said person, and wherein said attachment apparatus comprises a first string affixed to a first end of said RFID carrier housing and a second string affixed to a second end of said RFID carrier housing, wherein said attachment apparatus includes a sliding string fastener joining said first string to said second string at a substantially fixed location, said sliding string fastener operable to slide from a first end of said first string to a second end of said first string, and operable to slide from a first end of said second string to a second end of said second string, said sliding string fastener operable to tighten along the length of said first and second string.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus is configured to at least one of removably attach, permanently attach and partially attach said RFID carrier housing to said article.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus comprises an adhesive pad, affixed to said RFID carrier housing for use in adhering said RFID carrier housing to said article.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus comprises an attachment apparatus housing including a first elastic band configured to affix said RFID carrier housing to said article, and a coil spring affixed to said elastic band configured to retract said elastic band into said attachment apparatus housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus comprises an elastic band affixed to said RFID carrier housing configured to affix said RFID carrier housing to said article, wherein a first end of said elastic band is affixed to said RFID carrier housing and a second end of said elastic band is affixed to the second end of said RFID carrier housing, said first end of said elastic band and said second end of said elastic band forming a loop for insertion of said article.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus comprises a string configured to affix said RFID carrier housing to said article, and wherein a first end of said string is affixed to the first end of said RFID carrier housing and a second end of said string is affixed to the second end of said RFID carrier housing forming a loop, and a sliding string fastener for fixing an area of said loop.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus comprises a spring biased clamp, said spring biased clamp including a first clamp jaw in abutment with a second clamp jaw opposing said first clamp jaw, wherein said spring facilitates an abutment of said first clamp jaw and said second clamp jaw.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus comprises a molded clip, said molded clip including a first clip jaw in proximity to a second clip jaw, said first clip jaw and said second clip jaw held in proximity one to another.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment apparatus comprises an inlay for at least one of holding, enclosing, and supporting said RFID module.

10. A method for attaching an RFID transaction device to an article worn by a person, said method comprising:

affixing an attachment apparatus to said RFID transaction device, wherein said RFID transaction device comprises a secure memory, an authentication circuit, a modulator/demodulator, and a data memory capable of storing encrypted data, and said RFID device configured to receive an interrogation signal from said RFID reader device for conducting mutual authentication using an authentication key, and transmit payment information related to said person wearing said article and demographic information related to said person wearing said article to the RFID reader device, wherein said RFID reader device transmits said payment information and demographic information along with purchase data and a merchant code to a processor for authorization of said payment information and receives an authorization approval from said processor for use in completing a financial transaction,

attaching said RFID transaction device to said article worn by the person, using said attachment apparatus, an RFID transaction device housing encasing said RFID transaction device, and wherein said attachment apparatus comprises a first string affixed to a first end of said RFID housing and a second string affixed to a second end of said RFID housing, wherein said attachment apparatus includes a sliding string fastener joining said first string to said second string at a substantially fixed location, said sliding string fastener operable to slide from a first end of said first string to a second end of said first string, and operable to slide from a first end of said second string to a second end of said second string, said sliding string fastener operable to tighten along the length of said first and second string.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of attaching said RFID transaction device comprising at least one of removably attaching, permanently attaching and partially attaching said RFID transaction device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of affixing said attachment apparatus to said RFID transaction device comprises affixing an elastic band to the RFID transaction device housing forming a loop and attaching said RFID transaction device to said article by placing said article in said loop such that said elastic band surrounds said article.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of affixing said attachment apparatus to said RFID transaction device includes affixing the first string and the second string to the RFID transaction device housing forming a loop and attaching said RFID transaction device to said article by using a fastener to adjust a circumference of said loop around said article.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of affixing said attachment apparatus to said RFID transaction device includes affixing a spring biased clamp to the RFID transaction device housing and attaching said RFID transaction device to said article by placing gripping jaws of said spring biased clamp in non-abutment and inserting said article.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of affixing said attachment apparatus to said RFID transaction device includes attaching a molded clip to the RFID transaction device housing, wherein said molded clip includes a first molded clip jaw molded in proximity to a second molded clip jaw thereby creating a passageway therebetween, and attaching said RFID transaction device to said article by placing said article in said passageway.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of attaching said RFID transaction device to said article comprises inlaying said RFID transaction device substantially within a portion of said article.