Method for launching an electronic wallet

• US 8,126,806 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: DiMartino, Allison, Miller, Robert H., Roche, Elizabeth, Zhu, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Borlinghaus, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norman, Samica L
• Application Number:
  US11/949,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 705/41, 705/67, 705/76, 713/183, 455/550, 380/2, 340/5.7
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"

Abstract

A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device comprises a contactless communication transceiver configured to provide payment information to a point-of-sale terminal, a first input device configured to receive inputs, and a processor. The first input device is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a microphone, a camera, and a biometric sensor. The processor is configured to activate an electronic wallet based on inputs from at least one of the first input device and the contactless communication transceiver, to access the payment information in the electronic wallet, and to provide the payment information to the contactless communication transceiver.

Claims

1. A method of activating an application, comprising:

receiving inputs on a portable electronic device to configure an activation input to select activation of a hidden application of the portable electronic device;

receiving the activation input; and

activating the hidden application of the portable electronic device in response to receiving the activation input, wherein the hidden application of the portable electronic device is not accessible through any menu selection displayed on a visual display of the portable electronic device, wherein an electronic wallet is the hidden application, wherein the activation input further selects at least one of a credit card, a transit card, a debit card, a loyalty card, and a product coupon contained by the electronic wallet to be used to provide payment information, and wherein the activation input comprises a predetermined key selected concurrently with a distinctive movement cue or a distinctive camera image.

2. The method of claim 1, further including detecting a near field communication (NFC) signal of a point-of-sale terminal, and wherein the activating the hidden application is in response to detecting the NFC signal and to receiving the activation input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation input further selects one of a plurality of electronic wallets to activate.