Mobile device having a transit card application

• US 7,562,818 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zhu, Kevin, Bierbaum, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien Minh
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/752,028
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/384, 235/492, 705/13
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00

Abstract

A system is provided for using a transit card application for providing access to a fare gate. The system includes a server and a mobile device. The mobile device determines whether a balance on the transit card application is below a threshold, and requests an approval for a balance increase from the server in response to determining that the balance on the transit card application is below the threshold. The server determines whether a predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase in response to the request for the approval from the mobile device, and approves the request in response to determining that the predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase. The mobile device promotes increasing the balance on the transit card application in response to the approval by the server.

Claims

1. A system for using a transit card application for providing access to a fare gate, comprising:

a server; and

a mobile device to determine whether a balance on the transit card application is below a threshold and to request an approval for a balance increase from the server in response to determining that the balance on the transit card application is below the threshold,

wherein the server is operable to determine whether a first predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase in response to the request for the approval from the mobile device and to approve the request in response to determining that the first predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase, and

wherein the mobile device promotes increasing the balance on the transit card application in response to the approval by the server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is further operable to decline the request in response to determining that the first predetermined payment source does not have sufficient value for the balance increase, and the mobile device is further operable to use a user interface to enable switching from the first predetermined payment source to a second predetermined payment source in response to the server declining the request.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined payment source is at least one of a loyalty card, an identification card, a credit card, a security card, a debit card, a bank account, a mobile device service provider bill, a cash card, and another mobile device that has an electronic wallet.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface to display at least one of an account number, an account limit, an account balance, and a transaction history for the transit card application.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface to display at least one of a transit schedule and a fare list.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device promotes communication with the fare gate via one of a contact communication and a contact-less communication for the transaction.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the communication is further defined as one of a radio frequency communication, optical communication, and infra-red communication.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is further operable to determine whether the balance on the transit card application is below the threshold in response to one of a gate event, a period of time passed, and a request by a user of the mobile device to access information for the transit card application.

9. A method for using a transit card application comprising:

presenting the mobile device at a first fare gate;

determining whether a balance on the transit card application on the mobile device is below a threshold and enabling access for the mobile device at the first fare gate;

requesting an approval for a balance increase in response to determining that the balance on the transit card application is below the threshold;

in response to the request for the approval, determining whether a first predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase prior to presenting the mobile device at a second fare gate;

if the first predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase;

approving the request, and

promoting increasing the balance on the transit card application in response to the approval;

if the first predetermined payment source does not have sufficient value for the balance increase;

declining the request, and

enabling switching from the first predetermined payment source to a second predetermined payment source in response to declining the request, or denying entry at the second fare gate.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising writing a secure command to the transit card application.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining whether the secure command is written to the transit card application and increasing the balance in response determining that the secure command is written to the transit card application.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying a message on a user interface to determine if a user of the mobile device wants the balance increased for the transit card application.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising informing a user of the mobile device that the balance is below the threshold.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising enabling a user of the mobile device to set the threshold.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising enabling a user of the mobile device to set a value for the balance increase.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the transit card application is a smart card application emulating the transit card application.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising disabling the transit card application in response to a user of the mobile device reporting a loss of the mobile device.

18. A method for using a transit card application, comprising:

executing a location fix technology for a mobile device to determine a location fix;

calculating a threshold from an anticipated fare expense based on the location fix;

determining whether a balance on a transit card application is below the threshold;

requesting an approval for a balance increase in response to determining that the balance on the transit card application is below the threshold,

determining whether a first predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase in response to the request for the approval from the mobile device;

approving the request in response to determining that the first predetermined payment source has sufficient value for the balance increase;

increasing the balance on the selected transit card application in response to the approval;

displaying a warning message in response to determining that the first predetermined payment source does not have sufficient value for the balance increase.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the warning message is one of a suggestion to exit at an upcoming fare gate and a suggestion to switch from the first predetermined payment source to a second predetermined payment source.

20. The method of claim 18 the location fix technology comprises one of advanced forward link trilateration, global positioning system, and a hybrid location fix technology.