Method for launching an electronic wallet

• US 8,468,095 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2012
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• 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., Zhu, Kevin, Roche, Elizabeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Samica L
• Application Number:
  US13/343,708
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 705/67, 705/66, 235/380, 713/183
• 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 portable electronic device, comprising:

a contactless communication transceiver configured to transmit payment information to a point-of-sale terminal;

a first input device selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer and a camera, wherein the first input device is configured to receive at least one input; and

a processor configured to;

activate an electronic wallet based on the at least one input from at least one of the first input device or the transceiver, wherein the at least one input comprises at least one of a distinctive movement cue of the portable electronic device or a distinctive camera image,

access the payment information in the electronic wallet,

select a payment card of a plurality of payment cards for payment transfer, wherein the plurality of payment cards are provided by the electronic wallet, and

transmit the payment information of the payment card to the contactless communication transceiver.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of payment cards comprise at least one of a credit card, a transit card, a debit card, a loyalty card, a product coupon, or a gift card.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to activate the electronic wallet when the contactless communication transceiver receives a signal from the point-of-sale terminal.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second input device selected from the group consisting of a keypad, a touchscreen, and a touch pad and wherein the processor is configured to activate the electronic wallet when a predetermined input is received from the second input device and when an activation input is received concurrently from the first input device, wherein the activation input is one of a voice cue, a movement cue, a drawing cue, a camera image cue, or a biometric cue.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein at least the first input device or the second input device is a biometric sensor and wherein the processor is further configured to compare an input from the biometric sensor to one or more biometric images, and to activate the electronic wallet when the biometric sensor input correlates with at least one of the biometric images.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the biometric image that compares to the input from at least a first biometric sensor or a second biometric sensor selects one of a plurality of electronic wallets to activate.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the predetermined input to the second input device is one of a speed-dial input, a distinctive movement cue, a voice activation cue, a distinctive camera image, a biometric signature, or a drawn cue.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the predetermined input to the second input device comprises a predetermined key selected concurrently with one of a distinctive movement cue, a voice activation cue, or a distinctive camera image.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the predetermined input to the second input device is a speed-dial input, and wherein the speed-dial input further selects at least one of a credit card, a transit card, a debit card, a loyalty card, or a product coupon contained by the electronic wallet to be used to provide payment information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic wallet is a hidden application.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input further comprises one of a speed-dial input, a voice activation cue, a biometric signature, or a drawn cue.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input further comprises a predetermined key input, and wherein the predetermined key input is selected concurrently with the at least one of the distinctive movement cue of the portable electronic device or the distinctive camera image.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input comprises a speed-dial input, and wherein the speed-dial input further selects at least one of a credit card, a transit card, a debit card, a loyalty card, or a product coupon contained by the electronic wallet to be used to provide payment information.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input comprises a speed-dial input and a password input, wherein the processor is further configured to process the password input to complete user authentication, whereby presentation of a password dialog window on the electronic device subsequent to activating the application is avoided.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a signal from the point-of-sale terminal comprising an identification of the point-of-sale terminal, and

selectively activate payment information from at least one of a credit card, a transit card, a debit card, a loyalty card, a product coupon or a gift card based on the identification of the point-of-sale terminal.

16. A method of completing a transaction, comprising:

receiving, by a portable electronic device, a first input;

launching an electronic wallet application on the portable electronic device in response to the first input, the electronic wallet application configured to provide access to a payment transfer information of a plurality of payment cards, wherein the electronic wallet application is a hidden application that is not accessible through any menu selection displayed on a visual display of the portable electronic device;

selecting one of the plurality of payment cards for payment transfer, wherein the plurality of payment cards are provided by the electronic wallet application; and

transmitting the payment transfer information to a point-of-sale terminal, wherein the transmitting is performed using contactless communication.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first input is one of a motion cue input, an audio input, an image input, a drawn input, a key selection input, or a biometric signature input.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first input comprises a scan of one of an image or a two dimensional bar code.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving the first input triggers the launching of the electronic wallet application.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a second input on the portable electronic device after receiving the first input on the portable electronic device to trigger the launching the electronic wallet, the second input provided by one of a biometric sensor, an accelerometer, a microphone, or a camera of the portable electronic device.