Patent ID: 7360688
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: G06K,G06Q

Abstract:
1. An electronic credit card, comprising: a credit card housing having a front surface showing a credit card number, and having electronic circuitry coupled to said housing, associated with a credit card account based on said credit card number; a communication device, also coupled with said housing, and coupled with said electronic circuitry in said housing, communicating information to and from said electronic circuitry using a short range RF protocol, wherein said electronic circuitry includes a memory storing an individual characteristic representative of an authorized user of the credit card; further comprising a display which displays said individual characteristic, and wherein said individual characteristic is a user's picture, and said display displays said user's picture when a transaction is requested; further comprising connections for an external source of power to drive said electronic circuitry and said communication device, wherein said connections for an external source of power include external electrodes intended to be coupled to a source of power, and wherein said electronic circuitry immediately begins operating upon detecting said external source of power.