Timepiece communication system

• US 4,800,543 A
• Filed: 12/03/1987
• Issued: 01/24/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Poulsen Transmitter LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ramtron International Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Black, Donald L., Lyndon-James, Ross, de Araujo, Carlos P., Gnadinger, Alfred P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/128,550
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/47, 368/155, 368/156, 368/185-187, 368/243, 364/569
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• 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 7/1025 Identification of user by a PIN code
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A wristwatch contains communication and memory circuitry and a transmitter. The memory circuit stores a personal identification number of a single user. The communication and memory circuitry is driven by the same battery which powers the timekeeping structure of the watch. A transmitter transmits data from the reader to the wristwatch, placed proximate thereto. The reader has a keypad by which the user can enter a personal identification number, and the watch compares the transmitted number to the user-entered number. If the numbers match, a transaction may occur.

Claims

1. A user operated multi-function timepiece system comprising:

a housing;

a time indication device mounted within or upon said housing;

timekeeping apparatus coupled to said time indication device;

a power source coupled to said timekeeping apparatus;

integrated circuitry including memory and a communication circuit coupled to said battery and located within said housing, said memory including unique data for each respective user;

a transmitter coupled to said integrated circuitry and located within said housing for transmitting data to a location outside said housing;

a reader device including a receiver arranged to receive signals transmitted by said transmitter;

a keypad coupled to said receiver; and

means for comparing information entered via

said keypad with data from said memory.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a receiver coupled to said integrated circuitry in said housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a wristwatch housing which is worn on a wristband.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said timekeeping apparatus comprises a programmed microprocessor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said integrated circuitry normally operates in conjunction with said timekeeping apparatus in a timekeeping operation, and further including means coupled to said timekeeping apparatus for causing said apparatus and circuitry to switch to a transaction operation.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said means for causing comprises a switch mounted to said housing for actuation by a user.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an enclosure housing said reader device and said keypad, and wherein said comparing means is coupled to said reader device and said keypad within said enclosure.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein said comparing means is located within said housing, and said reader device includes a transmitter to transmit information entered via said keyboard to said receiver coupled to said integrated circuitry.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said reader device is coupled to a point of sale terminal, and wherein said memory includes transaction data and said transmitter transmits transaction data from said integrated circuitry to said point of sale terminal to enable a user to complete a transaction.

12. A user-operated time piece communication system comprising:

a wristwatch housing;

a time indication device mounted to said housing;

a programmed central processing unit (CPU) in said housing coupled with said time indication device to indicate time thereon;

a memory circuit in said housing coupled to said CPU, said memory circuit storing unique data for each respective user;

a communications circuit in said housing coupled to said CPU and said memory circuit;

a transmitter in said housing coupled to said communication circuit for transmitting data to a location remote from said housing;

a receiving device in an enclosure remote from said housing arranged to receive signals transmitted by said transmitter;

a keypad coupled to said receiving device;

means mounted in said enclosure for indicating to a respective user to enter data on said keypad; and

means for comparing information entered via said keypad with data stored in said memory.

13. The system of claim 12 further including a receiver coupled to said communications circuitry in said housing.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said CPU normally performs a timekeeping operation, and further including means coupled to said CPU for causing said CPU to switch to a transaction operation.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for causing comprises a switch mounted to said housing for actuation by a user.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said transmitter comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for comparing is coupled to said receiving device and said keypad within said enclosure.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for comparing is located within said housing, and further comprising a transmitter in said enclosure coupled to said keypad to transmit information entered via said keypad to said receiver coupled to said communication circuitry.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein said receiving device is coupled to a point of sale terminal, and wherein said memory includes transaction data and said transmitter transmits transaction data from said memory circuitry to said point of sale terminal to enable a user to complete a transaction.

21. A method of performing a transaction comprising the steps of:

providing a wrist mounted timekeeping device including;

a memory storing unique data for each respective user,

a communications circuit coupled to said memory, and

a transmitter coupled to said communications circuitry for transmitting data from said memory;

providing a receiving device arranged to receive signals transmitted by said transmitter;

placing said timekeeping device in close proximity with said receiving device;

actuating a switch circuit coupled to said timekeeping device for indicating that a transaction is to be performed;

instructing a user to enter data using a keypad coupled to said receiving device; and

comparing information entered via said keypad with information stored in said memory for enabling the transaction to be completed.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of transmitting data stored in said memory to said receiving device.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of requesting a user to select a type of transaction to be performed.