Smart wallet

• US 9,224,015 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iWallet Corp.
• Original Assignee: iWallet Corp.
• Inventors: Cabouli, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Mohammad L
• Application Number:
  US14/246,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 1/06 Wallets devices for the prevention of theft or loss of wallets A45C13/185; for holding keys A45C11/32; Notecases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/185 of purses, money-bags or wallets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/86 Secure or tamper-resistant housings
• 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 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• 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: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A smart wallet that can only be exclusively opened by an authorized individual through biometric authentication is disclosed. The smart wallet also has a security system associated therewith to prevent the smart wallet from being lost or stolen. The system comprises a fob key configured to send periodic wireless transmissions to the smart wallet device having the ability for approximate range detection. Various embodiments include audible, visual and vibrational indications for authentication, battery power and range detection.

Claims

1. A tracking system comprising:

a first device comprising;

a first radio frequency (RF) unit disposed within the outer body operating according to a predetermined wireless standard supporting communications by other than direct mutual induction; and

a processor for determining and performing a first action relating to the first device in dependence upon a first predetermined aspect of communications other than loss of signal between the first device and a second device comprising a second RF unit operating according to the predetermined wireless standard; and

the second device comprising;

the second RF unit operating according to the predetermined wireless standard; and

a second processor for determining and performing a second action relating to the second device in dependence upon a second predetermined aspect of communications other than loss of signal between the first device and a second device, wherein at least one of the first predetermined aspect and the second predetermined aspect of communication between the first device and the second device relates to at least one of a determination of the distance between the first device and the second device and a received signal strength of communication other than loss of signal satisfying a threshold between the first device and second device.

2. The tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises an outer body and a lock for locking the outer body to secure the first device.

3. The tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the first action comprises locking the first device.

4. The tracking system according to claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises:

an outer body having an open position and a closed position;

a lock for locking the outer body in the closed position to secure the first device; and

a biometric, reader providing biometric authentication allowing the first device to transition from the closed position to the open position based upon a valid biometric authentication.

5. The tracking system according to claim 1, further comprising;

a first transducer disposed within the first device to provide at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a mechanical action upon determination of the first action.

6. The tracking system according to claim 1, further comprising;

a second transducer disposed within the second device to provide at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a mechanical action upon determination of the second action.

7. The tracking system according to claim 1, wherein, at least one of the first action and the second action is determining and providing an indication of a direction of relative motion of the first device relative to the second device.

8. A tracking system comprising:

a first device comprising;

a first radio frequency (RF) unit disposed within the outer body operating according to a predetermined wireless standard supporting communications by other than direct mutual induction; and

a processor for determining and performing a first action relating to the first device in dependence upon a first predetermined aspect of communications other than loss of signal between the first device and a second device comprising a second RF unit operating according to the predetermined wireless standard;

wherein the first predetermined aspect of communication between the first device and the second device relates to at least one of a determination of the distance between the first device and the second device and a received signal strength of communication other than loss of signal satisfying a threshold between the first device and second device.

9. The tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the second device comprises:

the second RF unit operating according to the predetermined wireless standard;

a second processor for determining and performing a second action relating to the second device in dependence upon a second predetermined aspect of communications other than loss of signal between the first device and a second device; and

the second predetermined aspect of communication between the first device and the second device relates to at least one of a determination of the distance between the first device and second device and a received signal strength of communication other than loss of signal satisfying a threshold between the first device and second device.

10. The tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the first device comprises an outer body and a lock for locking the outer body to secure the first device.

11. The tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the first action comprises locking the first device.

12. The tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the first device further comprises:

an outer body having an open position and a closed position;

a lock for locking the outer body in the closed position to secure the first device; and

a biometric reader providing biometric authentication allowing the first device to transition from the closed position to the open position based upon a valid biometric authentication.

13. The tracking system according to claim 8, further comprising a first transducer disposed within the first device to provide at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a mechanical action upon determination of the first action.

14. The tracking system according to claim 8, wherein the second device is a cellular telephone and generates at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a mechanical action upon determination of the second action.

15. A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium encoding a computer program, the computer program for execution by a processor, the computer program comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data relating to a first radio frequency (RF) unit disposed within the outer body of a first device comprising the microprocessor, the first RF unit operating according to a predetermined wireless standard supporting communications by other than direct mutual induction;

(b) determining whether to perform a first action relating to the first device in dependence upon a first predetermined aspect of communications established in dependence upon the received data between the first device and a second device, the second device comprising a second RF unit operating according to the predetermined wireless standard;

wherein the first predetermined aspect of communications between the first device and the second device relates to at least one of a determination of the distance between and a received signal strength other than loss of signal of the communications between the device and the second device.

16. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium encoding a computer program according to claim 15, further comprising:

(c) performing the first action relating to the first device, wherein the first action comprises generating with a first transducer disposed within the first device at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a mechanical action upon determination of the first action.

17. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium encoding a computer program according to claim 15, further comprising:

(c) performing the first action relating, to the first device, wherein the first action comprises controlling a lock forming part of the first device to secure the first device.

18. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium encoding a computer program according to claim 15, further comprising:

(c) performing the first action relating to the first device, wherein the first action comprises controlling a lock forming part of the first device to secure the first device.

19. The non-transitory tangible computer readable medium encoding a computer program according to claim 15, further comprising:

(c) determining whether data received from a biometric reader forming part of the first device provides a valid biometric authentication allowing a lock forming part of the first device to transition from a closed position to an open position.