Method and system of contactless interfacing for smart card banking

• US 8,346,663 B2
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kawan, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): FELTEN, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/238,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20020062284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,087 Days
• Field of Search: 705/41, 235/379, 209/534, 341/176
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• 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 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• 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 7/1025 Identification of user by a PIN code

Abstract

A method and system of smart card banking utilizes a contactless communication interface, such as infrared or a wireless or radio frequency interface, including, for example, a proximity interface. A contactless communication is initiated for a smart card user between a smart card application and the on-line system of a financial institution, such as a bank, the system verifies authorization for the communication, the information is communicated for the user to the on-line system. The contactless communication is initiated, and the information is communicated, for example, between a contactless interface transceiver of a personal data assistant, into which the smart card is inserted, and the contactless interface transceiver of an on-line terminal. Alternatively, the contactless communication is initiated, and the information is communicated between a contactless interface transceiver of the smart card and the contactless interface transceiver of the terminal.

Claims

1. A method of contactless interfacing for a financial transaction smart card, comprising:

allowing a user to establish a physical contact bi-directional communication interface between a financial transaction smart card and a hand-held computing device for accessing a financial transaction smart card application on a microcomputer of the financial transaction smart card;

allowing the user to enter identifying information and transaction information on the hand-held computing device;

allowing the user to initiate a contactless bi-directional infrared communication interface via an infrared emitter and sensor of the hand-held computing device as a conduit between the financial transaction smart card application on the microcomputer of the financial transaction smart card and an infrared emitter and sensor of a self-service transaction terminal of an on-line system of a financial institution, wherein allowing the user to initiate the contactless bi-directional communication interface further comprises guiding the hand-held computing device into a position of substantial alignment of the infrared emitter and sensor of the hand -held computing device with the infrared emitter and sensor of the self-service financial transaction terminal by a structure provided on a face of the self-service transaction terminal;

verifying the financial transaction smart card by the on-line system based at least in part on the identifying information received by the on-line system via the contactless communication interface between the hand-held computing device and the self-service transaction terminal; and

communicating the transaction information entered by the user on the hand-held computing device to the self-service transaction terminal of the on-line system via the contactless communication interface, wherein the self-service transaction terminal is programmed to present a sequence of selection screens for a transaction related to the transaction information entered by the user on the hand-held computing device, wherein the hand-held computing device is programmed to skip the presentation of at least some of the selection screens of the sequence, and wherein communicating the transaction information further comprises skipping the presentation of said at least some of the selection screens of the sequence by the hand-held computing device according to said program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the financial institution further comprises a bank.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-service transaction terminal further comprises a telephone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the self-service transaction terminal further comprises a wireless telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying the financial transaction smart card further comprises verifying the financial transaction smart card by the on-line system based at least in part on the identifying information received by the on-line system via the contactless communication interface between the hand-held computing device comprising a personal data assistant and the self-service transaction terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying the financial transaction smart card further comprises verifying the authenticity of the financial transaction smart card.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying the financial transaction smart card further comprises checking security information for the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein checking security information further comprises receiving security information for the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving security information further comprises receiving a PIN number for the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving security information further comprises receiving biometric information for the user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving security information further comprises receiving the security information on an input/output device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the security information further comprises receiving the security information through an input/output device of the hand-held computing device comprising a personal data assistant.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the personal data assistant comprises an electronic purse or wallet.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the security information further comprises receiving the information through the input/output device of a terminal.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to enter the transaction information further comprises receiving the information through an input/output device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the information further comprises receiving the information through the input/output device of the hand-held computing device comprising a personal data assistant.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the personal data assistant comprises an electronic purse or wallet.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the information further comprises receiving the information through the input/output device of a terminal.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing of the financial transaction smart card application comprises executing the financial transaction smart card application.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessing of the financial transaction smart card application comprises loading the financial transaction smart card application.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising iteratively performing:

the initiating of a contactless communication;

the verifying authorization; and

the communicating information.

19. A contactless interface system for a financial transaction smart card, comprising:

a self-service transaction terminal of an on-line system of a financial institution;

a hand-held computing device capable of establishing a physical contact bi-directional communication interface with the financial transaction smart card for accessing a financial transaction smart card application on a microcomputer of the financial transaction smart card;

wherein the hand-held computing device has an input device for receiving identifying information and transaction information entered by a user;

wherein the hand-held computing device is capable of initiating a contactless bi-directional communication interface as a conduit between the financial transaction smart card application on the microcomputer of the financial transaction smart card and the self-service transaction terminal of the on-line system via an infrared emitter and sensor of the hand-held computing device and an infrared emitter and sensor of the self-service transaction terminal, and wherein a structure is provided on a face of the self-service transaction terminal for guiding the hand-held computing device into a position of substantial alignment of the infrared emitter and sensor of the hand-held computing device with the infrared emitter and sensor of the self-service transaction terminal;

wherein the on-line system is capable of verifying the financial transaction smart card via identification information received by the on-line system via the contactless communication interface between the hand-held computing device and the self-service transaction terminal; and

wherein the hand-held computing device is capable of communicating the transaction information to the on-line system via the contactless communication interface between the hand-held computing device and the self-service transaction terminal, wherein the self-service transaction terminal is programmed to present a sequence of selection screens for a transaction related to the transaction information entered by the user on the hand-held computing device, and wherein the hand-held computing device is programmed to skip the presentation of at least some of the selection screens of the sequence.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the self-service transaction terminal comprises a telephone.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the on-line system comprises a bank host on-line system.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the hand-held computing device comprises a personal data assistant.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the personal data assistant comprises an electronic purse or wallet.