System and method for coupling users to a retail computer system with low risk of eavesdropping

• US 7,352,996 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Alok
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A.
• Application Number:
  US10/112,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 412, 455/575.1, 455/6, 455 901- 903, 455/100, 379/55.1, 340/5.64, 340 51- 52, 340/10.34, 340/5.61, 340/64, 340 54- 542, 340 551- 552, 340 58- 585, 34082519-82529, 340 57- 574
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• 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: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A system reduces the risk of eavesdropping on data used to access an establishment'"'"'s computer network. In one embodiment, a system includes a personal area network (PAN) access device that couples a low power, low frequency modulated signal to a wearer, the PAN access device including a data storage unit for storing personal identification data including biometric data and a modulator for modulating a low power, low frequency signal with the personal identification data, a personal area network (PAN) receiver for receiving the modulated signal, a database for storing purchasing data for a plurality of customers, a memory including instructions which, when executed, associate the received personal identification data with the stored shopping data for one of the plurality of customers and a microprocessor for executing the stored instructions.

Claims

1. A system for providing user access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

a personal area network (PAN) access device that couples a low power, low frequency modulated signal to a wearer, the PAN access device including a data storage unit for storing personal identification data including biometric data and a modulator for modulating a low power, low frequency signal with the personal identification data;

a personal area network (PAN) receiver for receiving the modulated signal;

a database for storing purchasing data for a plurality of customers;

a memory including instructions which, when executed, associate the received personal identification data with the stored purchasing data for one of the plurality of customers; and

a microprocessor for executing the stored instructions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the PAN access device comprises a housing sized to be worn by a user, the data storage unit and modulator located within the housing.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the PAN access device is configured as a component of a piece of jewelry.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the PAN access device further comprises an electrode for capacitively coupling the modulated signal to a wearer'"'"'s body for transmission to the PAN receiver.

5. The system of claim 4, the PAN access device further comprising:

a receiver for receiving a low power, low frequency modulated signal; and

a demodulator for demodulating the received signal for obtaining user data to be stored in the data storage unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data storage unit contains financial data.

7. A method for providing access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

retrieving biometric data of a user from a data storage unit born by the user;

modulating a low power, low frequency signal with the biometric data;

transmitting the modulated signal by capacitively coupling with the user'"'"'s body;

receiving the transmitted modulated signal; and

retrieving prior purchasing activity data of the user from a memory remote from the user based upon the received signal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

retrieving financial data from the data storage unit;

modulating the low power, low frequency signal with the financial data; and

accessing the memory remote from the user based upon the received signal.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting a signal with an electrode born by the user;

demodulating the detected signal to obtain data; and

storing the data in the data storage unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the method further comprises positioning a body part of the user proximate to a personal area network (PAN) receiver; and

transmitting the modulated signal comprises transmitting the modulated signal through the body part.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating a promotional message based upon the retrieved prior purchasing activity; and

communicating the promotional message to the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a signal with an electrode born by the user;

demodulating the detected signal to obtain the promotional message; and

displaying the promotional message.

13. A method for providing access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

storing data associated with a customer in a database remote from the customer;

modulating a low power, low frequency signal with data identifying the customer;

capacitively coupling the modulated signal to the customer'"'"'s body for transmission to a network of the establishment;

receiving the transmitted modulated signal with a network receiver located proximate to the customer;

associating the received customer data with the stored data associated with the customer;

determining the dollar amount of purchases associated with the customer;

comparing the obtained dollar amount with a threshold dollar amount; and

determining a coupon to be offered based upon the comparison.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting a signal from a network transmitter with a receiver born by the customer;

obtaining data corresponding to the coupon from the detected signal; and

storing the data corresponding to the coupon to a memory device born by the customer.

15. A method for providing access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

storing data associated with a customer in a database remote from the customer;

modulating a low power, low frequency signal with data identifying the customer;

capacitively coupling the modulated signal to the customer'"'"'s body for transmission to a network of the establishment;

receiving the transmitted modulated signal with a network receiver located proximate to the customer;

associating the received customer data with the stored data associated with the customer;

locating the network receiver at a specific promotion site;

generating a promotional message based upon the associated stored data and the specific promotion site; and

providing the promotional message to the customer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating a promotional message comprises:

determining a dollar amount of purchases associated with the customer;

comparing the obtained dollar amount with a threshold dollar amount; and

determining the promotional message to be generated based upon the comparison.

17. A method for providing access to an establishment'"'"'s computer network comprising:

storing data associated with a customer in a database remote from the customer;

modulating a low power, low frequency signal with data identifying the customer;

capacitively coupling the modulated signal to the customer'"'"'s body for transmission to a network of the establishment;

receiving the transmitted modulated signal with a network receiver located proximate to the customer; and

associating the received customer data with the stored data associated with the customer,

wherein modulating a low power, low frequency signal comprises;

modulating a low power low frequency signal with customer biometric data.