Systems and methods for managing an account

• US 9,355,398 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Martinez de Velasco Cortina, Francisco, Mullis, Joe, Rietzler, Manfred, Nyalamadugu, Sheshi, Monsalvo, Rodolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Claude J
• Application Number:
  US14/459,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20150048159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 235/470
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07794 the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

An account is managed using information read from a dual frequency transponder. Information stored on the dual frequency transponder can be read by a NFC-enabled device and by a UHF RFID reader. The information links, corresponds, or otherwise provides access to account information stored at a remote server. For example, a NFC-enabled device can read the information from the dual frequency transponder and use that information to enable instant and on-the-spot recharging of a toll account. In addition, a UHF RFID toll reader can scan information from the dual frequency transponder and use that information to debit toll charges from the correct toll account. The dual frequency transponder can be embedded in a license plate and read using a reader placed in the road. Additionally, the transponder can be configured to function at the correct frequency only when a valid vehicle registration sticker is applied to the license plate.

Claims

1. A system for managing an account, comprising:

a multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tag configured to operate using a first frequency band and a second frequency band;

a first device comprising a first RFID reader operating at the first frequency band and configured to;

read, using the first RFID reader, at least a portion of information stored on the multi-frequency RFID tag;

access the account based at least in part on the information read from the multi-frequency RFID tag; and

modify a balance associated with the account; and

a second device comprising a second RFID reader operating at the second frequency band and configured to;

read, using the second RFID reader, at least a portion of the information stored on the multi-frequency RFID tag; and

perform an action related to the account based on the information read using the second RFID reader.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device is configured to access the account at a remote server based at least in part on the information read from the multi-frequency RFID tag using the first device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein modifying the balance associated with the account includes causing an update to corresponding account information stored at the remote server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein modifying the balance associated with the account includes retrieving and displaying at least a portion of the account information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein modifying the balance associated with the account includes making a payment to recharge the balance associated with the account.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first device is configured to make the payment to recharge the balance associated with the account using a virtual wallet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the account comprises a prepaid toll account.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first devices and the second device are associated with an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the action associated with the account performed by the second device comprises debiting from the balance associated with the account comprises applying a charge to the account.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band comprises a high frequency (HF) band, and the second frequency band comprises an ultra-high frequency (UHF) band.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-frequency RFID tag is embedded in a license plate.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first RFID reader and the second RFID reader is configured to read the information stored on the multi-frequency RFID tag using near field communication (NFC).

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first devices and the second device are configured to retrieve and display information associated with the account.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the information associated with the account includes one or more of a current balance associated with the account and a current status associated with the account.

15. A method of managing an account, comprising:

reading, using a first RFID reader operating at a first frequency, at least a portion of information stored on a multi-frequency RFID tag configured to operate using the first frequency band and a second frequency band;

accessing, by a first device comprising the first RFID reader, the account based at least in part on the information read from the multi-frequency RFID tag;

reading, using a second RFID reader operating at the second frequency, at least a portion of the information stored on the multi-frequency RFID tag;

an

performing, by the second device, an action with respect to the account based on the information read by the second device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first device is configured to access the account at a remote server based at least in part on the information read from the multi-frequency RFID tag.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the action includes debiting from the balance associated with the account.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein debiting from the balance associated with the account comprises applying a charge to the account.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the balance associated with the account includes making a payment to recharge the balance associated with the account.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first device is configured to make the payment to recharge the balance associated with the account using a virtual wallet.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein modifying the balance associated with the account includes causing an update to corresponding account information stored at the remote server.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the account comprises a prepaid toll account.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of the first devices and the second device are associated with an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the first frequency band comprises a high frequency (HF) band, and the second frequency band comprises an ultra-high frequency (UHF) band.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the multi-frequency RFID tag is embedded in a license plate.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the first RFID reader and the second reader is configured to read the information stored on the multi-frequency RFID tag using near field communication (NFC).

27. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first devices and the second device are configured to retrieve and display information associated with the account.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the information associated with the account includes one or more of a current balance associated with the account and a current status associated with the account.