Secure commercial transactions system

• US 7,497,371 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John T. Sparks
• Original Assignee: John T. Sparks
• Inventors: Sparks, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US10/974,045
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 705/18
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 20/40145 Biometric identity checks

Abstract

A secure financial transactions system. The system generally includes a card that can be used a credit card, ATM card or debit card having a personal identification number (PIN) that can include a panic digit or panic PIN. The panic digit or panic PIN can be used to begin an emergency notification sequence including sending emergency signals and video transmissions from the commercial transactions machine. The card can include several biometric devices as well as financial transaction records. The card can include data to interact with data gathered from biometric devices on the ATM or POP devices. The card can then be interfaced with a personal computer. The card could also be made into other formats such as a ring, key chain, or other jewelry.

Claims

1. A commercial transactions system, comprising:

a commercial transaction machine;

a commercial transaction card adapted to interact with said machine, said commercial transaction card comprising a microprocessor, memory and transmitter;

an emergency contact system coupled to said commercial transaction machine and activated by a first specific instruction, wherein activation of said emergency contact system triggers said transmitter of said commercial transaction card to transmit a signal, wherein said signal is selected from the group consisting of an emergency notification message to authorities, an operational direction to a security camera that acquires images from the exterior of the machine, a traceable communication signal, or a global positioning locator signal; and

a process located on said commercial transaction card, said process having a plurality of specific instructions, to activate said emergency contact system upon said first specific instruction, and to perform a commercial transaction upon a second specific instruction.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said commercial transaction machine is an automatic teller machine.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said commercial transaction machine is a point of purchase machine.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first specific instruction to activate said emergency contact system includes instructions to process a personal identification number having N+M digits and wherein said second specific instruction to perform a commercial transaction includes instructions to process a personal identification number having N digits.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of instructions reside in said memory located on said commercial transaction card.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor on said commercial transaction card is adapted to process said plurality of instructions.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a biometric reader located on said commercial transaction card, wherein said plurality of specific instructions include instructions to process biometric input.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said biometric reader is a finger or thumb print reader.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first specific instruction to activate said emergency contact system includes instructions to process biometric input in the form of a first fingerprint, and wherein said second specific instruction to perform a commercial transaction includes instructions to process biometric input in the form of a second fingerprint, wherein said second fingerprint is predetermined and stored in said memory, and said first fingerprint is any other fingerprint, such that said first and second fingerprints are two different finger prints.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a temperature sensor adapted to evaluate vigor of said finger or thumb applied to said reader.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said biometric reader is a heartbeat sensor.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said biometric reader is a blood-oxygen sensor.

13. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said biometric reader of said commercial transaction card must be in continuous contact with a predetermined source of biometric input in order to function.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said memory of said commercial transaction card is non-modifiable, wherein said commercial transaction card has a smooth surface devoid of imprinting, and wherein card identification information is stored in said memory.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a high resolution camera connected to said commercial transaction machine.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a computer adapted to process video signals from said camera.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a process residing on said computer, said process including instructions for causing said video signals to be transmitted to a secure remote location.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter transmits a cellular signal.

19. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is short range.

20. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a global positioning unit located on said commercial transactions card.

21. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said process further includes instructions to record and process financial transactions involving said commercial transaction card, wherein said transaction records are stored in said memory on said commercial transaction card.

22. The system as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a remote computer adapted to interact with said commercial transactions card.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said remote computer includes a process to download said financial transactions records from said memory of commercial transaction card.

24. The system as claimed in claim 23 further comprising personal financial software located on said remote computer, said personal financial software being adapted to interact with said financial transaction records downloaded from said memory of said commercial transactions card.

25. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said process on said commercial transaction card includes instructions to send a communication to said remote computer each time a commercial transaction is performed by said commercial transaction card.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25 further comprising a data structure located on said remote computer having data related to each said transaction sent in said communication sent to said remote computer, wherein said remote computer includes a process to download said financial transactions records from said memory of commercial transaction card, and wherein said data structure data can be compared with said data downloaded from said memory of said commercial transaction card.

27. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said commercial transaction card is an article of jewelry and said adaptation to interact with said machine is wireless.

28. The system as claimed in claim 27 further comprising a process located on said remote computer, said process including instructions to make a notification signal if there are discrepancies between said data structure data and said data downloaded from said memory of said commercial transactions card.

29. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a biometric reader located on said commercial transaction machine, wherein said plurality of specific instructions include instructions to process biometric data.