Selectable Multi-Purpose Card

• US 20060131396A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: First USA Bank National Association
• Inventors: Blossom, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0719 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for application selection, e.g. an acceleration sensor or a set of radio buttons application selection on smart cards using pure software control, see G07F7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/072 the record carrier comprising a plurality of integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• 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 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• 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 selectable, multi-purpose card comprising a plurality of features stored in memory means operatively mounted on the card and selection means for allowing a user to select a feature in a few simple steps, preferably in a single step. In one embodiment the card includes a plurality of magnetic strips positioned on the card in a manner to allow swiping each magnetic strip separately using conventional reading devices. Each magnetic strip activates a different feature of the card. In another embodiment the card includes a programmable magnetic strip, a plurality of features stored in memory means mounted on the card, a plurality of buttons or contacts, and means for programming the magnetic strip with a different card feature. The card may also include a thin, flexible display.

Claims

1. A system for conducting an electronic transactions using a transaction card, comprising:

a multiply-readable transaction card having a plurality of different reading mechanisms for account information to be read from the card;

the transaction card having stored account information including first stored account information readable using a first reading mechanism and second stored account information using a second reading mechanism; and

the transaction card being readable using multiple reading mechanisms by a card reader device;

wherein the card reader terminal device is adapted to read said first stored account information using the first mechanism and said second stored account information using the second mechanism, wherein data from the account information accessed by the card reader is used to effectuate a financial transaction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is magnetic stripe reading and the second mechanism is a smart card reader contact interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is magnetic stripe reading and the second mechanism is emulated magnetic stripe data produced by the card.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is magnetic stripe reading and the second mechanism is RFID reading.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is a first magnetic stripe and the second mechanism is a second, different magnetic stripe, both magnetic stripes being disposed on the same card.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is magnetic stripe reading and the second mechanism is other than magnetic stripe reading.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is RFID reading and the second mechanism is other than RFID reading.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stored account information comprises an account number.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stored account information comprises a security code.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stored account information corresponds to a first financial account different from a second financial account corresponding to the second stored account information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a financial transaction can be effectuated by reading account information from a single reading mechanism without accessing another reading mechanism on the transaction card.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stored account information readable using a first reading mechanism has data for the same financial account as for the second stored account information readable using the second reading mechanism.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stored account information readable using the first reading mechanism is used to generate a security code.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stored account information corresponds to a first financial account that is the same as a second financial account corresponding to the second stored account information, thereby providing a transaction card wherein the same financial account can be accessed using two different reading mechanisms

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first reading mechanism is magnetic stripe reading and the second mechanism is RFID reading.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the card reader terminal device has a selector for selecting to read the first stored account information or the second stored account information.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction card has a selector for selecting which stored account information can be read.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction card has the form function of a credit card, and further wherein:

the transaction card has a flexible display for displaying information to the cardholder.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the data is processed over a payment network.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction card stores a plurality of portions of the first stored account information that are accessed using a plurality of different access mechanisms.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of portions of the first stored account information comprises an account number, a cardholder identity, and a feature.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the feature permits a selection between a debit transaction and a credit transaction for the account number.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction card provides for the card to function according to at least two features from the list comprising a debit card, credit card, stored value card, ATM card, security card, and a identification card.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the transaction card includes a processor for generating data for an account transaction for reading using a conventional magnetic stripe reader.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor-generated data is temporarily stored on a magnetic stripe on the transaction card.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor causes the issue of a signal to remove the processor-generated data for the account transaction from the card.

27. A system for conducting an electronic transactions using a transaction card, comprising:

a multiply-readable transaction card having a plurality of different reading mechanisms for account information to be read from the card;

the transaction card having stored account information including first stored account information readable using a first reading mechanism and second stored account information using a second reading mechanism; and

the transaction card being readable using multiple reading mechanisms by a card reader device;

wherein the card reader terminal device is adapted to read said first stored account information using the first mechanism and said second stored account information using the second mechanism, wherein data from the account information accessed by the card reader is used to effectuate a financial transaction;

wherein the first reading mechanism is magnetic stripe reading and the second mechanism is RFID reading; and

wherein a financial transaction can be effectuated by reading account information from a single reading mechanism without accessing another reading mechanism on the transaction card.