Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator

• US 20080059374A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E-Micro Corporation
• Inventors: Gangi, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• 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 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• 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 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 : the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 : the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• 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: G07F 7/12 : Card verification

Abstract

A wallet consolidator to process a transaction and related methods, are provided. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can include a controller to control operation of the wallet consolidator, and an input device connected to the controller and positioned to receive a copy of information. The input device, for example, can include a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, or a keypad, among others, to input user selections and commands. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can also include a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, and an output device connected to the controller and positioned to communicate at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a computer device, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database, located at a point-of-sale, to process a transaction. The output device can include a wireline communications interface, a wireless communications interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, or an infrared (IR) interface, among others.

Claims

1. A wallet consolidator, comprising:

an input device positioned to receive information stored on at least one card;

a memory device connected to the input device to store the information received by the input device; and

an output device connected to the memory device and positioned to effectuate communication of at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale when the point-of-sale terminal is positioned to receive the at least a portion of the information from the wallet consolidator for use in a point-of-sale transaction.

2. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 1, wherein the information comprises account identification information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts.

3. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one card includes a driver'"'"'s license card.

4. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 1, wherein the received information includes a digitized image of the at least one card.

5. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 1, wherein the received information includes a digitized image.

6. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 1, wherein the output device comprises at least one of the following:

a wireless interface, a wireless communications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface.

7. A wallet consolidator, comprising:

an input device positioned to receive information stored on at least one card;

a memory device connected to the input device to store the information received by the input device; and

a wireless output device connected to the memory device and positioned to effectuate communication of at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale when the point-of-sale terminal is positioned to receive the at least a portion of the information from the wallet consolidator for use in a point-of-sale transaction.

8. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 7, wherein the information comprises account identification information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts.

9. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one card includes a driver'"'"'s license card.

10. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 7, wherein the received information includes a digitized image of the at least one card.

11. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 7, wherein the received information includes a digitized image.

12. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 7, wherein the output device comprises at least one of the following:

a wireless interface, a wireless communications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface.

13. A wallet consolidator, comprising:

a controller positioned to control operation of the wallet consolidator;

an input device in communication with the controller and positioned to receive information contained on at least one card;

a memory device in communication with the controller and positioned to store the information received by the input device; and

a wireless output device in communication with the controller and adapted to be positioned to interface with a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale to provide at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to the point-of-sale terminal when the wallet consolidator is positioned adjacent the point-of-sale terminal to enable a transaction responsive to receiving the at least a portion of the information.

14. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 13, wherein the information comprises personal identification information.

15. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 13,

wherein the information comprises account identification information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the wireless output device is a wireless radio frequency (RF) communication device.

16. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 13,

wherein the information comprises personal identification information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the wireless output device is a wireless radio frequency (RF) communication device.

17. A wallet consolidator, comprising:

an input device positioned to receive information stored on at least one card;

a memory device connected to the input device to store the information received by the input device; and

an output device connected to the memory device and positioned to transmit at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale, the point-of-sale terminal positioned to process a transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information.

18. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 17, wherein the at least one card is a smart card, and wherein the smart card is adapted to receive a portion of the information stored in the memory device.

19. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 17,

wherein the information comprises account identification information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the output device is a wireless radio frequency (RF) communication device.

20. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 17,

wherein the information comprises personal identification information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the output device is a wireless radio frequency (RE) communication device.

21. A method for processing a transaction using a wallet consolidator, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving information stored on at least one of a plurality of cards;

storing the received information in a memory device;

positioning a wallet consolidator adjacent a point of sale terminal positioned at a point of sale; and

communicating at least a portion of the stored information to the point-of-sale terminal for use in a point-of-sale transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information.

22. A method as defined in claim 21,

wherein the information comprises information pertaining to at least one of the following:

one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more personal identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of providing a user an option to select a card to add or delete, duplicate information, transfer data, move cash, or access or amend information including at least one of the following;

an electronic coupon, personal identification information, or a medical record.

23. A method as defined in claim 21,

wherein the step of receiving is performed via an input device comprising at least one of the following:

a touch screen, a smart card reader, a kiosk, a memory card, or a radio frequency (RE) interface; and

wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving a passcode from a user prior to allowing the user to gain access to the wallet consolidator.

24. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the step of communicating is performed via an output device comprising at least one of the following:

a wireless communications interface or a radio frequency IRF) interface.

25. A method as defined in claim 21,

wherein the step of communicating comprises transmitting at least a portion of the stored information to a computing device selected from the group of:

a dumb terminal and a database; and

wherein the received information includes a digitized image.