Methods and apparatus for conducting financial transactions
First Claim
1. A method of conducting a financial transaction via radio frequency communications, the method comprising:
- causing the debiting of an account associated with a radio frequency communications device based at least in part on the determination of an identifier of the radio frequency communications device via operation of a host computer having an application program running thereon, the host computer configured to;
cause the transmission of a first wireless command from an interrogator to initiate identification of one of a population of radio frequency communications devices, the first wireless command including one or more first bits that are configured to elicit at least one response from the population of radio frequency communications devices;
cause, after receipt by the interrogator of a first reply from the radio frequency communications device in response to the first wireless command, the transmission of a second wireless command from the interrogator to initiate identification of one of a subpopulation of radio frequency communications devices, the second wireless command including second bits that are configured to elicit one or more responses from the subpopulation of radio frequency communications devices;
cause, after receipt by the interrogator of a second reply from the radio frequency communications device in response to the second wireless command, the determination of the identifier of the radio frequency communications device when there is no collision in response to at least the second wireless command; and
cause the transmission of a third wireless command to the radio frequency communications device using the identifier of the radio frequency communications device, the third wireless command causing the radio frequency communications device to transmit a subsequent reply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of establishing wireless communications between an interrogator and individual ones of multiple wireless identification devices, the method comprising combining tree search and Aloha methods to establish communications between the interrogator and individual ones of the multiple wireless identification devices without collision. A system comprising an interrogator, and a plurality of wireless identification devices configured to communicate with the interrogator In a wireless fashion, the respective wireless identification devices having a unique identification number, the interrogator being configured to employ tree search and Aloha techniques to determine the unique identification numbers of the different wireless identification devices so as to be able to establish communications between the interrogator identification and individual devices without ones of the multiple wireless collision by multiple wireless identification devices attempting to respond to the interrogator at the same time.
135 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a financial transaction via radio frequency communications, the method comprising:
causing the debiting of an account associated with a radio frequency communications device based at least in part on the determination of an identifier of the radio frequency communications device via operation of a host computer having an application program running thereon, the host computer configured to; cause the transmission of a first wireless command from an interrogator to initiate identification of one of a population of radio frequency communications devices, the first wireless command including one or more first bits that are configured to elicit at least one response from the population of radio frequency communications devices; cause, after receipt by the interrogator of a first reply from the radio frequency communications device in response to the first wireless command, the transmission of a second wireless command from the interrogator to initiate identification of one of a subpopulation of radio frequency communications devices, the second wireless command including second bits that are configured to elicit one or more responses from the subpopulation of radio frequency communications devices; cause, after receipt by the interrogator of a second reply from the radio frequency communications device in response to the second wireless command, the determination of the identifier of the radio frequency communications device when there is no collision in response to at least the second wireless command; and cause the transmission of a third wireless command to the radio frequency communications device using the identifier of the radio frequency communications device, the third wireless command causing the radio frequency communications device to transmit a subsequent reply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of conducting a financial transaction via radio frequency communications, the method comprising:
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causing the transmission of a first wireless command that is configured to elicit at least one response from one or more radio frequency communications devices within an operating field of an interrogator, the first wireless command configured to elicit responses from a full set of arbitration values associated with a plurality of radio frequency communications devices; causing the transmission of a second wireless command that is configured to elicit one or more responses from one or more radio frequency communications devices within the operating field of the interrogator, the second wireless command configured to elicit responses from a subset of arbitration values associated with the plurality of radio frequency communications devices, the subset being less than the full set; causing, based at least on the receipt of a reply from a radio frequency communications device in response to the first wireless command and/or the second wireless command, the identification of an identifier of the radio frequency communications device when there is no collision; and causing the transmission of a third wireless command to individually address the one radio frequency communications device using the identifier of the one radio frequency communications device, the third wireless command requesting the one radio frequency communications device to transmit a subsequent reply; and wherein funds are received for the payment of goods or services based at least on part on one or more replies from the radio frequency communications device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of conducting a financial transaction via radio frequency communications, comprising:
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causing the transmission of a first wireless command having one or more first bits that are indicative of a full set of arbitration values, the first wireless command configured to elicit responses from a full set of radio frequency communications devices which may be present within an operating field of an interrogator; causing the transmission of a second wireless command having second bits that are indicative of a subset of arbitration values, the second wireless command configured to elicit responses from a subset of the radio frequency communications devices, the subset being less than the full set; causing the receipt of a reply from a radio frequency communications device in response to the first wireless command and/or the second wireless command; causing a determination, from at least the reply, of an identifier of the radio frequency communications device when there is no collision; and causing the transmission of a third wireless command to individually address the radio frequency communications device using the identifier; and causing the debiting of an account associated with the radio frequency communications device, the debiting of the account enabled at least in part by the interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification