Universal credit card apparatus and method

• US 8,490,875 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Technology Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, J. Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US12/877,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/449, 235/492, 235/493, 235/436, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 235/436
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• 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 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• 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 apparatus and method described herein provides for creating multiple spatial patterns, such as magnetic patterns on credit cards. The invention includes storage of information from which patterns may be created, a pattern creation device for creating the spatial patterns, and control whereby the information which is stored is selectively utilized to cause the pattern creation. This allows multiple desired patterns to be simulated, allowing convenient replacement of a number of separate pattern carrying devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

in a telephone;

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator; and

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to transmit a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive data from an external device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information is an account identifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information is a form of data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of the information is stored in the memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is further configured to display a message.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is an optical display configured to simulate a pattern.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensitive component configured to receive an input.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input/output interface coupled to the emitter and the control circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one credit card account comprises two or more credit card accounts.

12. An apparatus comprising:

In a telephone;

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one identification card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator; and

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coli, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED.

13. A telephone and credit card system comprising:

in a telephone;

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator;

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to emit a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED; and

a console configured to communicate with the control circuit and receive data to provide access to at least one of an account, a service, and a feature.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory;

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information upon selection of the designator; and

an emitter coupled to the control circuit and configured to communicate a signal relating to the information, the emitter comprising at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, the display, and an infrared LED.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a calculator, a personal reminder, a clock, and a television.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a receiver configured to receive data from an external device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information is an account identifier.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the information is a form of data.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a plurality of sets of the information is stored in the memory.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display is further configured to display a message.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display is an optical display configured to simulate a pattern.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a touch sensitive component configured to receive an input.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an input/output interface coupled to the emitter and the control circuit.

25. A method comprising:

using a memory device in a telephone to store information related to at least one credit card account;

selecting the information from the memory device;

displaying at least part of the information upon selection of a designator; and

using at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, a display, and an infrared LED to send a signal relating to the information.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising using a receiver configured to receive data from an external device.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the information is an account identifier.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the information is a form of data.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein a plurality of sets of the information is stored in the memory.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein said displaying is on a display device, the display device being further configured to display a message.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the display is an optical display configured to simulate a pattern.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising using a touch sensitive component configured to receive an input.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising using an input/output interface coupled to a control circuit.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein the memory device and the at least one of an antenna, coil, a transducer, a display and an infrared LED is contained in a device that is selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a calculator, a personal reminder, a clock, and a television.

36. An apparatus comprising:

in a telephone;

a control circuit;

a memory coupled to the control circuit, the memory configured to store information related to at least one credit card account;

a designator for selecting the information from the memory; and

a display coupled to the control circuit and configured to display at least part of the information as an optical pattern upon selection of the designator.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the optical pattern is selected from the group consisting of a programmable optical pattern, a photographic pattern, a programmable key pattern and a pattern utilized for security applications.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of a LCD, a LED, a CRT, an incandescent display, a florescent display, a flip dot display, an electromechanical display, and a holographic display.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a power source.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the power source is one of an electric generator and a piezoelectric generator.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the optical pattern is a bar code.