System for associating identification and personal data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources to facilitate a transaction and related methods

• US 7,516,886 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E-Micro Corporation
• Inventors: Gangi, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haupt; Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US11/929,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/492, 235/381, 235/383, 235/379, 705 70- 75
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/2295 Parent-child type, e.g. where parent has control on child rights
• 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 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• 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: G07F 7/12 Card verification

Abstract

A system to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction and related methods, are provided. The system can include a computer in communication with a database to store personal control IDs and sets of personal data associated with personal control IDs identifying a selected different person for use by a selected one of one or more providers identified by provider ID, and program product to perform the operations of receiving a set of personal data from a remotely positioned user, requesting and receiving a personal control ID from the user to associate with a set of personal data, storing the personal control ID and the set of personal data in the database, receiving a request for at least a portion of the set of personal data of the user, and providing customized information based on a data profile derived from the set of personal data of the user.

Claims

1. A system to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction, the system comprising:

a computer having memory and configured to interface with a plurality of remotely positioned users and at least one remotely positioned provider of components of data profiles to facilitate one or more transactions through a point-of-transaction terminal;

a database accessible by the computer to store a plurality of personal control IDs and a plurality of sets of personal data, each set of personal data associated with a corresponding different one or more of the plurality of remotely positioned users; and

program product stored in the memory of the computer and including instructions that when executed cause the computer to perform the operations of;

receiving a set of personal data from each of the plurality of remotely positioned users,

receiving a personal control ID from each of the plurality of remotely positioned users to associate with the respective set of personal data,

storing the personal control ID and the respective set of personal data of each of the plurality of remotely positioned users in the database,

receiving a request for at least a portion of the set of personal data of at least one of the plurality of remotely positioned users from the point-of-transaction terminal remote from and in communication with the computer, the request including both the personal control ID of the respective user and a provider ID, a provider ID being associated with one of, or both, a merchant or service provider or at least one provider of components of data profiles, and

providing a customized set of identification data responsive to a data profile derived from the set of personal data of the at least one of the plurality of remotely positioned users to facilitate one or more transactions through the point-of-transaction terminal.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the customized set of identification data includes user credentials recognized by the point-of-transaction terminal, and the system further comprising a data processor remote from and in communication with the computer and a display associated with a merchant or service provider location of the point-of-transaction terminal and viewable by either a user or a transaction site operator when providing the customized set of identification data.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the set of personal data of each of the plurality of remotely positioned users includes user credentials associated with the at least one provider of components of data profiles, wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles further comprises a plurality of providers of components of data profiles, and wherein the data profile is selectively associated with a separate one of the plurality of providers of components of data profiles.

4. A system as defined in claim 3,

wherein the user is a first user;

wherein the program product further comprises instructions to perform the operations of distributing electronically the user credentials to the first user; and

wherein the system further comprises a first ID instrument associated with the first user and having memory to receive the user credentials, a second ID instrument associated with a second user and having memory to receive the user credentials, a first ID instrument program product stored in the memory of the first ID instrument and including instructions that when executed cause the first ID instrument to perform the operation of forwarding the user credentials from the first ID instrument to the second ID instrument for use by the second user to facilitate therefrom one or more transactions through the point-of-transaction terminal.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the set of personal data of each of the plurality of remotely positioned users includes user credentials associated with the at least one provider of components of data profiles, and wherein the program product further comprises instructions that when executed cause the computer to perform the operations of:

receiving user credentials either directly or indirectly from a provider of at least one component of the data profile, associating the user credentials with a provider ID and the personal control ID, and processing changes, updates, and additions to user credentials to thereby define revised user credentials in digitized either point-of-sale or point-of-transaction ready form.

6. A system as defined in claim 5,

wherein the user is a first user;

wherein the program product further comprises instructions to perform the operations of distributing electronically the revised user credentials to the first user; and

wherein the system further comprises a first ID instrument associated with the first user and having memory to receive the revised user credentials, a second ID instrument associated with a second user and having memory to receive the revised user credentials, a first ID instrument program product stored in the memory of the first ID instrument and including instructions that when executed cause the first ID instrument to perform the operation of forwarding the revised user credentials from the first ID instrument to the second ID instrument for use by the second user to facilitate therefrom one or more transactions through the point-of-transaction terminal, and a second ID instrument program product stored in the memory of the second ID instrument and including instructions that when executed cause the second ID instrument to perform the operation of forwarding the revised user credentials from the second ID instrument to the first ID instrument for use by the first user to facilitate therefrom one or more transactions through the point-of-transaction terminal.

7. A system as defined in claim 1,

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles provides one or more of:

a personal name, a personal ID to be associated with a set of personal data, a personal pictorial image, personal fingerprint data, personal checking account data, personal driver'"'"'s license data, personal biometric data, a personal social security number, a personal ID password, a personal data password, a pin number, credit card data, debit card data, prepaid card data, frequent purchaser data, medical data, bank account data, investment data, coupon data, processed data points, data based on an existing set of personal data generated in response to a previous transaction, and a membership;

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles comprises one or more of;

a credit card issuer, a debit card issuer, an ID issuer, a financial institution, a public authority, a retail establishment management center, or an administrator or maintainer of the computer; and

wherein the merchant or service provider comprises one or more of;

a gasoline vendor, a grocery store, a supermarket, or a provider of one or more of;

grocery items, food, medical services, medical supplies, insurance, ticketing, event ticketing, sporting events, money transfers, ATM devices, self-service devices, secure facilities, or identification services.

8. A system as defined in claim 7,

wherein the merchant or service provider is not a provider of components of data profiles;

and

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles is not a merchant or service provider.

9. A computer readable medium that is readable by a computer providing a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction, the computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the operations of:

receiving a set of personal data from a remotely positioned user to be stored in the computer;

receiving a personal control ID from the user to associate with the set of personal data;

receiving a request for at least a portion of the set of personal data of the user, the request including the personal control ID of the user and the provider ID, a provider ID being associated with one of, or both, a merchant or service provider or at least one provider of components of data profiles;

deriving a data profile from the set of personal data of the user responsive to the personal control ID and the provider ID; and

providing a customized set of identification data responsive to receiving the personal control ID of the user and the provider ID and based on the data profile of the user to facilitate one or more transactions through a point-of-transaction terminal.

10. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 9,

wherein the instructions further include those to perform the operation of providing the customized set of identification data for use by the provider identified by a provider ID in performing at least one of the following:

identifying the user, verifying the identity of the user, and supplementing additional transactional information beyond that stored on an ID instrument.

11. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions further include those to perform the operations of:

storing the personal control ID and the data profile in a database accessible by the computer; and

sending the personal control ID and the customized set of identification data via a communication network to perform one or more transactions through the point-of-transaction terminal.

12. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 9,

wherein the personal control ID of the user is acquired from an ID instrument presented at a point-of-transaction;

and

wherein the personal control ID includes a subscriber identity module ID number associated with the ID instrument.

13. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions further include those to perform the operations of:

processing changes, updates, and additions from the provider identified by a provider ID; and

providing the changes, updates, and additions to the data profile responsive to the processing.

14. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions further include those to perform the operations of:

processing changes, updates, and additions from providers of components of data profiles;

providing the changes, updates, and additions to the data profile responsive to the processing; and

updating one or more ID instruments associated with the data profile to reflect changes, updates, and additions to the data profile.

15. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 9,

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles provides one or more of:

a personal name, a personal ID to be associated with a set of personal data, a personal pictorial image, personal fingerprint data, personal checking account data, personal driver'"'"'s license data, personal biometric data, a personal social security number, a personal ID password, a personal data password, a pin number, credit card data, debit card data, prepaid card data, frequent purchaser data, medical data, bank account data, investment data, coupon data, processed data points, data based on an existing set of personal data generated in response to a previous transaction, and a membership;

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles comprises one or more of;

a credit card issuer, a debit card issuer, an ID issuer, a financial institution, a public authority, a retail establishment management center, or an administrator or maintainer of the computer; and

wherein the merchant or service provider comprises one or more of;

a gasoline vendor, a grocery store, a supermarket, or a provider of one or more of;

grocery items, food, medical services, medical supplies, insurance, ticketing, event ticketing, sporting events, money transfers, ATM devices, self-service devices, secure facilities, or identification services.

16. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 9,

wherein the merchant or service provider is not a provider of components of data profiles;

and

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles is not a merchant or service provider.

17. A computer readable medium that is readable by a computer providing a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction, the computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the operations of:

receiving a set of personal data of a user including user credentials via an ID instrument to add the user to a user network associated with the computer;

associating a personal control ID with the user credentials on the computer;

receiving the personal control ID of the user from an ID instrument via a communication network;

identifying via the computer the user as a member of the user network responsive to the personal control ID;

deriving via the computer a data profile from the user credentials for use by a provider identified by a provider ID to thereby provide customized identification data to the provider identified by a provider ID, a provider ID being associated with one of, or both, a merchant or service provider or at least one provider of components of data profiles; and

providing via a communication network customized set of identification data to the provider identified by the provider ID to facilitate one or more transactions through the ID instrument from which the personal control ID was received.

18. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions further include those to perform the operations of:

processing changes, updates, and additions from providers of components of data profiles;

providing the changes, updates, and additions to the data profile responsive to the processing; and

updating one or more ID instruments associated with the data profile to reflect changes, updates, and additions to the data profile.

19. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the set of personal data includes a membership ID indicating that the user presenting the ID instrument is a member of the user network associated with the computer and is authorized to access a point-of-transaction terminal associated therewith, and wherein the customized set of identification data includes the membership ID.

20. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 17,

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles provides one or more of:

a personal name, a personal ID to be associated with a set of personal data, a personal pictorial image, personal fingerprint data, personal checking account data, personal driver'"'"'s license data, personal biometric data, a personal social security number, a personal ID password, a personal data password, a pin number, credit card data, debit card data, prepaid card data, frequent purchaser data, medical data, bank account data, investment data, coupon data, processed data points, data based on an existing set of personal data generated in response to a previous transaction, and a membership;

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles comprises one or more of;

a credit card issuer, a debit card issuer, an ID issuer, a financial institution, a public authority, a retail establishment management center, or an administrator or maintainer of the computer; and

wherein the merchant or service provider comprises one or more of;

a gasoline vendor, a grocery store, a supermarket, or a provider of one or more of;

grocery items, food, medical services, medical supplies, insurance, ticketing, event ticketing, sporting events, money transfers, ATM devices, self-service devices, secure facilities, or identification services.

21. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 20,

wherein the merchant or service provider is not a provider of components of data profiles;

and

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles is not a merchant or service provider.

22. A computer implemented method for providing a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction through a point-of-transaction terminal, comprising the steps of:

acquiring a personal control ID of a user via an ID instrument through a communication network;

submitting a request to a computer remote from the ID instrument and in communication with the communication network for at least a portion of a set of personal data of the user stored on the computer in digitized point-of-transaction ready form, the request also including both the personal control ID of the user and a provider ID, the personal control ID being associated with the set of personal data of the user and a provider ID being associated with one of, or both, a merchant or service provider or at least one provider of components of the set of personal data;

receiving a customized set of identification data by the point-of-transaction terminal for use by the provider identified by the provider ID to identify the user, the customized identification data based on a data profile derived from the set of personal data of the user; and

verifying via the computer that the personal control ID is associated with the user based upon the set of personal data and that the user is authorized to access a point-of-transaction terminal associated therewith and to thereafter facilitate a transaction through the point-of-transaction terminal upon authorization of the user.

23. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the set of personal data to be stored in the computer from the user via an ID instrument through the communication network, the communication network including one or more of the following, the Internet, wireless, wireline communication medium, or a local area network;

receiving the personal control ID from the user to associate with the set of personal data; and

deriving via the computer the data profile from the set of personal data of the user for use by the provider identified by the provider ID responsive to the personal control ID and the provider ID to thereby provide the customized set of identification data to the provider identified by the provider ID.

24. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

storing the personal control ID and the set of personal data in a database accessible by the computer and associated with the communication network; and

loading an ID instrument via the computer through the communication network with the personal control ID and the customized set of identification data.

25. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

processing via the computer changes, updates, and additions received through the communication network from providers of components of data profiles;

providing the changes, updates, and additions to the data profile responsive to the processing; and

updating via the communication network one or more ID instruments associated with the data profile to reflect changes, updates, and additions to the data profile.

26. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 22,

wherein the at least one provider of components of the set of personal data provides one or more of:

a personal name, a personal ID to be associated with a set of personal data, a personal pictorial image, personal fingerprint data, personal checking account data, personal driver'"'"'s license data, personal biometric data, a personal social security number, a personal ID password, a personal data password, a pin number, credit card data, debit card data, prepaid card data, frequent purchaser data, medical data, bank account data, investment data, coupon data, processed data points, data based on an existing set of personal data generated in response to a previous transaction, and a membership;

wherein the at least one provider of components of the set of personal data comprises one or more of;

a credit card issuer, a debit card issuer, an ID issuer, a financial institution, a public authority, a retail establishment management center, or an administrator or maintainer of the server; and

wherein the merchant or service provider comprises one or more of;

a gasoline vendor, a grocery store, a supermarket, or a provider of one or more of;

grocery items, food, medical services, medical supplies, insurance, ticketing, event ticketing, sporting events, money transfers, ATM devices, self-service devices, secure facilities, or identification services.

27. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 26,

wherein the merchant or service provider is not a provider of components of the set of personal data;

and

wherein the at least one provider of components of the set of personal data is not a merchant or service provider.

28. A computer implemented method for providing a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction, comprising the steps of:

receiving on at least one server via a remote ID instrument though a communications network a set of personal data of a user to perform a transaction through a point-of-transaction terminal;

adding the set of personal data to a database of sets of personal data of a plurality of members of a network of users accessible by the at least one server so that the user can be identified as a member of the network of users;

associating a personal control ID of the user with the set of personal data of the user in the database associated with the at least one server;

deriving via the at least one server a data profile from the set of personal data for use by a provider identified by a provider ID, a provider being one of, or both, a merchant or service provider or at least one provider of components of data profiles;

acquiring the personal control ID of the user from a remote ID instrument through a communication network by the at least one server;

identifying, via the at least one server and the associated database of sets of personal data, the personal control ID as that of the user responsive to acquiring of the personal control ID to thereby confirm that the user is a member of the user network;

providing through the communication network a customized set of identification data responsive to the identification, the customized set of identification data being based on the data profile associated with the provider; and

authorizing completion of a transaction through the point-of-transaction terminal responsive to the customized set of identification data.

29. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 28, wherein the set of personal data includes user credentials from a plurality of providers of components of data profiles, each of the plurality of providers being identified by a provider ID, and wherein the step of deriving the data profile from the set of personal data includes associating the user credentials from a plurality of providers of components of data profiles, including portions of the set of personal data, with user credentials provided by a single provider of components of data profiles to allow access of components of the data profile attributable to the plurality of providers of components of data profiles by use of a single ID instrument associated with one of the plurality of providers of components of data profiles.

30. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 29, wherein the customized set of identification data includes user identification information provided to allow authentication of the user using an ID instrument associated with a point-of-transaction terminal located at a merchant or service provider, and wherein the step of authorizing completion of a transaction includes the steps of confirming that the user is the user associated with the personal control ID, by the user identification information.

31. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 30, wherein the user credentials from the plurality of providers of components of data profiles accessible to the at least one of the plurality of providers of components of data profiles are not stored on an ID instrument to be used at a point-of-transaction terminal located at a merchant or service provider.

32. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 29, wherein the set of personal data includes a subscriber identity module ID number associated with an ID instrument associated with the user.

33. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 28,

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles provides one or more of:

a personal name, a personal ID to be associated with a set of personal data, a personal pictorial image, personal fingerprint data, personal checking account data, personal driver'"'"'s license data, personal biometric data, a personal social security number, a personal ID password, a personal data password, a pin number, credit card data, debit card data, prepaid card data, frequent purchaser data, medical data, bank account data, investment data, coupon data, processed data points, data based on an existing set of personal data generated in response to a previous transaction, and a membership;

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles comprises one or more of;

a credit card issuer, a debit card issuer, an ID issuer, a financial institution, a public authority, a retail establishment management center, or an administrator or maintainer of the server; and

wherein the merchant or service provider comprises one or more of;

a gasoline vendor, a grocery store, a supermarket, or a provider of one or more of;

grocery items, food, medical services, medical supplies, insurance, ticketing, event ticketing, sporting events, money transfers, ATM devices, self-service devices, secure facilities, or identification services.

34. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 28,

wherein the merchant or service provider is not a provider of components of data profiles;

and

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles is not a merchant or service provider.

35. A computer implemented method for providing a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction, the computer implemented method comprising the steps of:

receiving on a computer via a remote ID instrument through a communications network a set of personal data of a user including user credentials to perform a transaction through a point-of-transaction terminal;

adding a set of personal data of a user to a database of sets of personal data of a plurality of members of a network of users accessible by the computer so that the user can be identified as a member of the network of users;

associating a personal control ID of the user with the user credentials;

associating personal data provided by a plurality of other providers of components of data profiles with the user credentials provided by the first provider identified by a provider ID;

deriving a data profile from the user credentials and the associated personal data for use by a first provider identified by a provider ID to thereby provide a customized set of identification data to the first provider identified by a provider ID, a provider being one of, or both, a merchant or service provider or at least one provider of components of data profiles;

acquiring the personal control ID of the user from an ID instrument;

identifying the personal control ID as that of the user responsive to the personal control ID to thereby confirm that the user is a member of the network of users;

providing the customized set of identification data to a transaction site operator associated with the first provider identified by a provider ID responsive to the identification, the customized set of identification data being based on the data profile associated with the first provider identified by a provider ID and including user identification information provided to allow visual authentication of the user by the transaction site operator; and

authorizing completion of a transaction by the transaction site operator responsive to the customized set of identification data, the authorizing including the steps of confirming by the transaction site operator that the user is the user associated with the personal control ID by viewing the user identification information via a peripheral device associated with the point-of-transaction.

36. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of providing access through a communication network by the first provider identified by a provider ID to user credentials provided by each of the plurality of other providers of components of data profiles.

37. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 36, wherein the user credentials provided by the plurality of other providers of components of data profiles and accessible to the first provider identified by a provider ID are not stored on an ID instrument to be used at a point-of-transaction terminal located at a merchant or service provider.

38. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 35, further comprising the step of providing access by at least one of the plurality of other providers of components of data profiles to user credentials provided by each of the plurality of other providers of components of data profiles.

39. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 38, wherein the user credentials provided by the plurality of other providers of components of data profiles and accessible to the at least one of the plurality of other providers of components of data profiles are not stored on an ID instrument to be used at a point-of-transaction terminal located at a merchant or service provider.

40. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 35,

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles provides one or more of:

a personal name, a personal ID to be associated with a set of personal data, a personal pictorial image, personal fingerprint data, personal checking account data, personal driver'"'"'s license data, personal biometric data, a personal social security number, a personal ID password, a personal data password, a pin number, credit card data, debit card data, prepaid card data, frequent purchaser data, medical data, bank account data, investment data, coupon data, processed data points, data based on an existing set of personal data generated in response to a previous transaction, and a membership;

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles comprises one or more of;

a credit card issuer, a debit card issuer, an ID issuer, a financial institution, a public authority, a retail establishment management center, or an administrator or maintainer of the computer; and

wherein the merchant or service provider comprises one or more of;

a gasoline vendor, a grocery store, a supermarket, or a provider of one or more of;

grocery items, food, medical services, medical supplies, insurance, ticketing, event ticketing, sporting events, money transfers, ATM devices, self-service devices, secure facilities, or identification services.

41. A computer implemented method as defined in claim 40,

wherein the merchant or service provider is not a provider of components of data profiles;

and

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles is not a merchant or service provider.

42. A system to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction, the system comprising:

a computer having memory and configured to interface with a plurality of remotely positioned users and at least one remotely positioned provider of components of data profiles to facilitate one or more transactions through a point-of-transaction terminal;

a database accessible by the computer to store a plurality of personal control IDs and a plurality of sets of personal data, each set of personal data associated with a corresponding different one or more of the plurality of remotely positioned users; and

program product stored in the memory of the computer and including instructions that when executed cause the computer to perform the operations of;

receiving a set of personal data from each of the plurality of remotely positioned users,

receiving a personal control ID from each of the plurality of remotely positioned users to associate with the respective set of personal data,

storing the personal control ID and the respective set of personal data of each of the plurality of remotely positioned users in the database,

receiving a request for at least a portion of the set of personal data of at least one of the plurality of remotely positioned users from either the point-of-transaction terminal remote from and in communication with the computer or a data processor remote from and in communication with the computer, the request including both the personal control ID of the respective user and a provider ID, a provider ID being associated with one of, or both, a merchant or service provider or at least one provider of components of data profiles, and

providing a customized set of identification data responsive to a data profile derived from the set of personal data of the at least one of the plurality of remotely positioned users to facilitate one or more transactions through the point-of-transaction terminal.

43. A system as defined in claim 42,

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles provides one or more of:

a personal name, a personal ID to be associated with a set of personal data, a personal pictorial image, personal fingerprint data, personal checking account data, personal driver'"'"'s license data, personal biometric data, a personal social security number, a personal ID password, a personal data password, a pin number, credit card data, debit card data, prepaid card data, frequent purchaser data, medical data, bank account data, investment data, coupon data, processed data points, data based on an existing set of personal data generated in response to a previous transaction, and a membership;

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles comprises one or more of;

a credit card issuer, a debit card issuer, an ID issuer, a financial institution, a public authority, a retail establishment management center, or an administrator or maintainer of the computer; and

wherein the merchant or service provider comprises one or more of;

a gasoline vendor, a grocery store, a supermarket, or a provider of one or more of;

grocery items, food, medical services, medical supplies, insurance, ticketing, event ticketing, sporting events, money transfers, ATM devices, self-service devices, secure facilities, or identification services.

44. A system as defined in claim 42,

wherein the merchant or service provider is not a provider of components of data profiles;

and

wherein the at least one provider of components of data profiles is not a merchant or service provider.