SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A RF TRANSACTION DEVICE OPERABLE TO STORE MULTIPLE DISTINCT ACCOUNTS

• US 20050004921A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Williamson, John R., Bonalle, David S., Bliman, Michal, Saunders, Peter D., Beenau, Blayn W., Montgomery, Joshua L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,268,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• 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 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/35765 Access rights to memory zones
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A RF transaction device is provided, which is operable to store multiple distinct data sets owned by unrelated data set owners, wherein the distinct data sets may include differing formats. The method includes the steps of: adding, by a read/write, a first data set to the RF transaction device, wherein the first data set is owned by a first owner; adding, by the read/write device, a second data set to the RF transaction device, wherein the second data set is owned by a second owner; and storing the first data set and the second data set on the RF transaction device in accordance with an owner defined format. The first and second data sets may each be stored as a Block of Binary. The first and second data sets are associated with first and second owners, respectively, and are configured to be stored independent of each other and in accordance with the particular data set storage protocol.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the adding of a plurality of data sets onto a RF transaction device, the RF transaction device comprising a database configured to store said plurality of data sets distinct one from the other, the method comprising the steps of:

facilitating adding to said transaction device database, by an interaction device, a first data set of a first format at the RF transaction device, wherein said first data set is owned by a first owner;

facilitating adding to said transaction device database, by an interaction device, a second data set of a second format at the RF transaction device, wherein said second data set is owned by a second owner, wherein said first owner is distinct from said second owner, and said first format is different from said second format; and

facilitating storing a first data set and a second data set on the RF transaction device, wherein said first data set is stored in accordance with said first format, and said second data set is stored in accordance with said second format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first data set is added before issuance of the RF transaction device by an issuer, and wherein said second data set is added after issuance of the RF transaction device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating the adding of a first condition header to one of said first and second data sets, said header added independent of said first or second format.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising facilitating the adding, by an interaction device, of a third data set of a third format to the RF transaction device, wherein said third data set is owned by said first owner.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said RF transaction device includes a transponder operable to communicate in an contactless environment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second data sets are each stored as a Block of Binary.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said adding of said first data set is accomplished without the involvement of an issuer of the RF transaction device and independent of any other data set owner.

4. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of facilitating the adding of at least one of said first and second data sets onto said transaction device database in accordance with said condition header.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of facilitating the adding of a third data set to the RF transaction device;

wherein said third data set is stored, at least partially, in at least a portion of the data storage space that was used to store said second data set.

10. A system for facilitating the adding of a plurality of data sets onto a RF transaction device comprising:

a transaction device including,

a data storage area configured to store a first data set in a first format and a second data storage area configured to store a second data set in a second format different from said first format,

said first data set associated with a first owner and said first data storage area configured to store said first data set in said first format independent of said data storage area and independent of said second data set, and,

said second data set associated with said second owner and said second data storage area configured to store said second data set in said second format independent of said first data set; and

an interaction device configured to read and write data to at least one of said first and second transaction device storage areas, said interaction device configured to receive said first and second data sets, and to provide said first and second data sets to said transaction device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of said first and second data sets is annotated with a condition header.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of said first and second data sets is added in accordance with said condition header.

13. The transaction device of claim 10, further comprising a first data storage area, wherein said first data storage area is configured to receive data of any format.

14. A data management system comprising:

a transaction device associated with a first data set of a first format and a second data set of a second format, wherein said first data set is owned by a first owner and said second data set is owned by a second owner different from the first, and wherein said transaction device is configured to facilitate at least one of a first data set owner and a user of said transaction device in adding said first data set without involvement of an issuer of said transaction device; and

an interaction device configured to communicate with said RF transaction device, said interaction device configured to receive said first and second data and to provide said first and second data to said transaction device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first and second data sets are added via at least one of:

self-service kiosk, and a personal computer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said interaction device is configured to add at least one of said first and second data sets.