Magnetic stripe attachment and application for mobile electronic devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- opening an application on a mobile phone to display one or more payment card options on the mobile phone;
selecting payment card data from a database within the mobile phone including data relating to one or more payment cards, the selection of the payment card data causing the selected payment card data to be programmed onto a magnetic stripe located on a tab;
moving the tab from a storage position on the mobile phone to a use position;
swiping the tab through a magnetic card reader, causing the magnetic stripe to be read; and
returning the tab to the storage position on the mobile phone, the returning causing a clearing of the payment card data programmed onto the magnetic stripe,wherein the step of clearing the payment card data programmed onto the magnetic stripe is caused by a combination of returning the tab to the storage position and one of an exit from the application on the mobile phone and determining a time out.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile electronic device such as a mobile phone includes wallet application software for receiving, storing, encrypting, and transmitting selected payment card data. A tab including a programmable magnetic stripe is associated with a controller for receiving transmitted payment card data and programming the stripe with selected data. The tab is mounted directly to the electronic device or to an attachment device removably coupled to the electronic device. The attachment device may comprise a case for the mobile electronic device that allows access to a user interface and display of the mobile electronic device.
40 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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opening an application on a mobile phone to display one or more payment card options on the mobile phone; selecting payment card data from a database within the mobile phone including data relating to one or more payment cards, the selection of the payment card data causing the selected payment card data to be programmed onto a magnetic stripe located on a tab; moving the tab from a storage position on the mobile phone to a use position; swiping the tab through a magnetic card reader, causing the magnetic stripe to be read; and returning the tab to the storage position on the mobile phone, the returning causing a clearing of the payment card data programmed onto the magnetic stripe, wherein the step of clearing the payment card data programmed onto the magnetic stripe is caused by a combination of returning the tab to the storage position and one of an exit from the application on the mobile phone and determining a time out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device comprising:
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a first housing portion comprising a receptacle for removable attachment to a mobile electronic device; a tab including a programmable magnetic stripe coupled, in a fixed position and orientation, to the first housing portion; a second housing portion, connected to the first hosing portion and resiliently disposed in a first position, and movable towards the first hosing portion and the mobile electronic device to a second position exposing at least a portion of the programmable magnetic stripe; a controller within the housing for programming the programmable magnetic stripe with payment card data; and a communication device configured to electrically communicate information from a mobile electronic device to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A case comprising:
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a housing including an enclosure for containing a hand-held electronic device and at least one opening for providing access to the enclosure; a tab comprising a knob exposed outside of the housing, the tab movably attached to the housing within a slot between a retracted position, wherein a programmable magnetic stripe portion of the tab is concealed, to an exposed position exposing the programmable magnetic stripe portion of the tab outside of the housing; a controller within the housing for programming the magnetic stripe with payment card data; a communication device on the housing configured to electrically communicate information from a mobile electronic device to the controller; and a magnetic stripe encoder disposed within the housing and along the slot, wherein a movement of the tab from the retracted position to the exposed position moves the tab including the programmable magnetic stripe portion along a slot and past the magnetic stripe encoder in a first direction and subsequently external to the housing by moving the tab including the programmable magnetic stripe portion along the slot in a second direction different than the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An assembly comprising:
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a mobile phone including a housing, an operating system, wallet application software operatively associated with the operating system, a display, an antenna, and a user interface operatively associated with the wallet application software, the wallet application software configured for entering payment card data, storing the payment card data in a database, checking validity of the payment card data, encrypting the payment card data, and transmitting the payment card data; a tab including a programmable magnetic stripe; and a controller, receiving the payment card data from the wallet application software, the controller operatively associated with the tab and configured to program the programmable magnetic stripe with the payment card data, wherein the controller is further configured to clear the programmable magnetic stripe of the payment card data in response to detecting a combined condition including a retraction of the tab, an exit from the wallet application and a time-out driven by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method comprising:
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downloading a wallet application to a hand-held electronic device, said hand-held electronic device comprising a processor and a memory coupled to said processor, said memory having at least one non-wallet application stored therein; opening said wallet application on said hand-held electronic device to display one or more payment card options on said hand-held electronic device; selecting payment card data from a database within said hand-held electronic device including data relating to one or more payment cards; causing the selected payment card data to be programmed onto a magnetic stripe located on a tab; moving the tab from a storage position on said hand-held electronic device to a use position; swiping the tab through a magnetic card reader, causing the magnetic stripe to be read; and returning the tab to the storage position on said hand-held electronic device, said returning causing a clearing of the payment card data programmed onto the magnetic stripe, wherein the step of clearing the payment card data programmed onto the magnetic stripe is cause by a combination of returning the tab to the storage position and one of an exit from the wallet application on the hand-held electronic device and determining a time out. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification