Patent ID: 6170745
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: G06K,G06Q,G07F,H04M,H04W

Abstract:
A wireless debit card system comprising:at least one radio unit, each radio unit including:a reader for reading a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card;a transceiver and associated antenna for receiving communications directed to selected access numbers, including a fixed radio unit access number unique to said radio unit and for communicating, using radio waves, a credit signal;a controller for generating the credit signal from the credit amount and the personal access number and for activating the personal access number as an additional selected access code in response to a first control signal; anda writer for changing the credit amount of a debit card in response to a second control signal; andat least one base station having a transceiver and associated controller for receiving credit signals and for transmitting first and second control signals to a radio unit from which a credit signal is received and for relaying signals including said first and second control signals and said credit signal to an end station;said end station having a communication switch for generating said first control signal which verifies the credit amount of the debit card to said radio unit and enables activation of the additional selected access number of the radio unit corresponding to the personal access number of the debit card and for generating said second control signal which enables changing the credit amount of the debit card by said writer.