Transaction apparatus and method
US6315195A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F7/0886
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A transaction apparatus (10) includes a multifunction card (12) and a portable terminal (14). The multifunction card includes a programmable memory (18) and a magnetic stripe (16) thereon. The programmable memory on the card is used to store indicia corresponding to account data which is input to the memory by reading with the terminal magnetic stripe data from a plurality of conventional magnetic stripe cards. The programmable memory further includes data representative of cash value as well as instructions, prompt messages and icons presented in conducting transactions. A user is enabled to operate the apparatus to select one of the accounts stored in memory, and to write account data corresponding to the selected account to the magnetic stripe of the card. The user is also enabled to use the apparatus to enter visible indicia such as bar codes and to selectively reproduce the bar codes on the display of the apparatus. The apparatus is also selectively operative to transfer funds between accounts of the user and data representative of cash value stored on the card.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.