Single access vehicle

• US 7,784,692 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Arrington, Curtis Howell III
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/321,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 235/451, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 235/449, 235/379, 235/380, 705/65, 705/41, 340/572.1, 340/5.6, 340/568.7
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/12 the marking being sensed by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The described embodiments contemplate a system, method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for accessing multiple accounts. The apparatus may be an interactive access card and/or portable electronic device that includes a memory component for storing data associated with multiple accounts, an input component for selecting an account, and a processing component for retrieving data associated with the selected account. The apparatus also may be an access card that includes a rectangular shaped substrate and an interface component for storing data associated with multiple accounts. The apparatus also may be an electronic reader that includes an interface component for reading an access card, a software component for identifying the accounts stored on the access card, an input component for selecting an account, and a processing component for accessing a database associated with the selected account, transmitting data associated with the selected account, and completing a transaction.

Claims

1. An electronic reader system for accessing a plurality of accounts from an access card, the system comprising:

An electronic card reader comprising a first electromagnetic interface component for reading a second electromagnetic interface component of the access card, the second electromagnetic interface component storing a first series of characters that map, when decompressed, to a plurality of series of characters corresponding to the plurality of accounts;

a software component of the electronic reader configured to decipher and decompress the first series of characters stored on the second electromagnetic interface component of the access card for determining the plurality of accounts;

an input component of the reader for selecting one of the plurality of accounts; and

a processing component of the reader for accessing a database associated with the selected account via a communication network;

transmitting a second data associated with the selected account; and

completing a transaction with the selected account.

2. The electronic reader system of claim 1, wherein the second interface component comprises at least one of a magnetic stripe or a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

3. The electronic reader system of claim 1, wherein the software component comprises an algorithm for deciphering the first series of characters stored on the second interface component of the access card, wherein the algorithm maps a first portion of the first series of characters to each of the plurality of series of characters, and wherein the algorithm maps at least a second portion of the series of characters to only one of the plurality of series of characters.

4. The electronic reader system of claim 1, further comprising an output component for displaying the first series of characters associated with the plurality of accounts.

5. The electronic reader system of claim 1, further comprising a security component for receiving and authenticating a personal identifier.

6. The electronic reader system of claim 5, wherein the personal identifier comprises at least one of a password, a personal identification number (PIN), a signature, or a biometric identifier.

7. The electronic reader system of claim 1, wherein the first series of characters associated with the plurality of accounts comprises at least one an account number, a bank number, a name of an account owner, an expiration date of the access card, or a personal identification number (PIN).

8. A method for accessing a plurality of accounts from an access card using an electronic reader, the method comprising:

reading first data associated with the plurality of accounts from an electromagnetic interface component of the access card using the reader, wherein the electromagnetic interface component stores a first series of characters that map, when uncompressed, to a plurality of series of characters corresponding to the plurality of accounts;

using the reader for deciphering and decompressing the first series of characters to determine the plurality of accounts stored on the interface component of the access card;

using the reader for selecting one of the plurality of accounts;

using the reader for accessing a database associated with the selected account via a communications network;

transmitting second data associated with the selected account through the reader; and

completing a transaction with the selected account.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the interface component comprises at least one of a magnetic stripe or a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the plurality of accounts stored on the interface component of the access card via an algorithm, wherein the algorithm maps a first portion of the first series of characters to each of the plurality of series of characters, and wherein the algorithm maps at least a second portion of the series of characters to only one of the plurality of series of characters.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the first series of characters associated with the plurality of accounts.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving and authenticating a personal identifier associated with an account owner.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving and authenticating at least one of a password, a personal identification number (PIN), a signature, or a biometric identifier.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the first series of characters comprises at least one of an account number, a bank number, a name of an account owner, an expiration date of the access card, or a personal identification number (PIN).

15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that when executed access a plurality of accounts from an access card via an electronic reader, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions, that when executed:

read first data associated with the plurality of accounts from an electromagnetic interface component of the access card, the first data including a series of characters that map, when uncompressed, to a plurality of series of character corresponding to the plurality of accounts;

decompress and decipher the first series of characters to determine the plurality of accounts stored on the electromagnetic interface component of the access card;

select one of the plurality of accounts;

access a database associated with the selected account via a communications network;

transmit second data associated with the selected account; and

complete a transaction with the selected account, wherein the instructions are executed by the electronic card reader.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the interface component comprises at least one of a magnetic stripe or a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising computer-readable instructions that:

determine the plurality of accounts stored on the interface component of the access card via an algorithm, wherein the algorithm maps a first portion of the first series of characters to each of the plurality of series of characters, and wherein the algorithm maps at least a second portion of the series of characters to only one of the plurality of series of characters.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising computer-readable instructions that:

display the first series of characters associated with the plurality of accounts via an output component.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising computer-readable instructions that:

receive and authenticate a personal identifier associated with an account owner.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer-readable instructions that:

receive and authenticate at least one of a password, a personal identification number (PIN), a signature, or a biometric identifier.