PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS INITIATED VIA A USER'S SHOE

• US 20090272802A1
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Phillips, Simon
• Application Number:
  US12/113,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272802A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys

Abstract

A method includes wearing a shoe on a user'"'"'s foot. The shoe incorporates a proximity payment device. The method also includes bringing the shoe into proximity with a proximity reader to make or evidence a payment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

wearing a shoe on a user'"'"'s foot, the shoe incorporating a proximity payment device; and

bringing the shoe into proximity with a proximity reader to make or evidence a payment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shoe is brought into proximity with the proximity reader in connection with entering a transit system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the proximity reader is embedded in a floor at an entrance to the transit system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity payment device stores a payment account number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the proximity payment device transmits the payment account number to the proximity reader.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the proximity payment device transmits the payment account number to the proximity reader in encrypted form.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity payment device stores a payment token identifier.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the proximity payment device transmits the payment token identifier to the proximity reader.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the proximity payment device transmits the payment token identifier to the proximity reader in encrypted form.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

bringing a personalization device into proximity with the shoe to load data from the personalization device into the proximity payment device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the loaded data includes a payment account number.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the loaded data includes a payment token identifier.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

bringing the shoe into proximity with the proximity reader includes tapping a side of the shoe against a housing for the proximity reader.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the tapping is performed in a substantially horizontal direction.

15. A method comprising:

defining an entrance to a transit system;

defining a path to said entrance; and

installing at least one proximity reader beneath said path, said at least one proximity reader for reading data from proximity payment devices worn by transit users.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the proximity payment devices are worn in or on the user'"'"'s shoes.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one proximity reader includes a plurality of proximity readers.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

opening the entrance in response to reading the data from the proximity payment devices.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a floor;

a housing adjacent the floor and presenting a vertical surface joined to the floor and extending upwardly from the floor; and

a proximity reader mounted in the housing behind the vertical surface and adjacent a level of the floor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the proximity reader is not more than 12 inches above the level of the floor.