Abstract:
Electronic Credit Card (ECC) is an electronic device that enables transmission/reception of data and/or digital information to/from a host computer via a Terminal Station (TS). TS includes Teller Machines in supermarkets/shopping complex, Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), EFTPOS devices and proprietary transceiver devices developed by Creative On-Line Technologies Limited for PC interface. It provides latest financial information including balances on its display unit. Keypads ( 1 ) enable PIN (personal identification number) entries so that an ECC is operational. Information Display Unit ( 2 ) including an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen or other display screens provides visual information. ENTER key ( 3 ) confirms a transaction. It is also used to activate an ECC when a PIN is keyed. Audio Transducer ( 4 ) confirms entries made on keypads ( 1 ). Audio Transducer is also used to activate a financial transaction via a telephone. Data transmission/reception is via Infra red ( 5 ), Magnetic ( 6 ) and Radio Frequency ( 7 ) devices.

Description:
The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national phase application from, and claims priority to, international application PCT/AU01/00170, filed Feb. 16, 2001 (published under PCT Article 21(2) in English), which claims priority to Australian patent application Serial No. PQ5644, filed Feb. 16, 2000, which applications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an electronic credit card providing secure controlled and reliable transaction of funds. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present credit card environment and systems have the following shortfalls:
         When a credit card is reported lost or stolen by a holder he or she has to contact the company or organisation that issued the card to cancel the card in order to prevent illegal transactions. Cancellation may not occur immediately if the holder is unaware that his or her card is missing.   The present security measures undertaken by credit card companies and/or organisations through the use of “smart card” technology are inadequate to prevent fraud. Similarly the use of holographic images on credit cards does not eliminate fraud either.   Use of a signature as a validation control may be overlooked and can be forged.   The technology behind current credit cards is outdated and not suitable for a secure transaction via the Internet.   It does not prevent hackers who penetrate “secure websites” to make use of credit card details for fraud.   Giving a merchant credit card details is like giving him or her a “signed blank cheque”. Credit companies or organisations are not efficient when dealing with insincere merchants.   The customer must rely on trusting the merchant not to misuse the credit card details.       

   The present invention seeks to provide an electronic credit card that attempts to overcome the shortfalls of the present credit card system. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention there is provided an electronic credit card comprising at least:
         a user of verification means for verifying the identity of a user;   a means for generating a unique authorisation code when the user&#39;s identity is verified;   a storage means for storing the user&#39;s account details for use in an electronic funds transfer transaction; and   a communication means for communicating with a transaction station to provide the transaction station with account details of the user and the authorisation code to facilitate an electronic fund transfer transaction.       

   Preferably the electronic credit card includes a timer means for determining a period of time after which the verification of the user&#39;s identity ends. 
   Preferably the electronic credit card includes a disablement means for disabling use of the electronic credit card if a predetermined number of attempts verify the identity of the user fail. Preferably the disablement means is activatable remotely by an issuer of the electronic credit card or other authority. 
   Preferably, in one embodiment, the unique authorisation code is generated in synchronisation with the transaction station. 
   Preferably the storage means is arranged to store a financial limit for transactions that the electronic credit card may be used for. Preferably the financial limit is provided to the transaction station by the communication means. Alternatively the electronic credit card including a processor means for keeping track of the use of the electronic credit card and will not generate or provide the authorisation code if the financial limit is exceeded. Alternatively the financial limit may be retrieved via the transaction station from a financial institution. 
   Preferably the storage means is arranged to store more than one set of account details. 
   Preferably the storage means is arranged to store electronic cash and the communication means is arranged to facilitate the use of the electronic cash stored in the storage means if the user identification is verified. 
   In one embodiment the user identification means includes a keypad for entry of a personal identification number (PIN) and PIN verification means to authenticate the identity of the user. In another embodiment the user identification means includes a fingerprint reader for reading a fingerprint of the user and a fingerprint verifying means for verifying the identity of the user from the user&#39;s fingerprint. In yet another embodiment the user identification means includes a retina scanner for scanning a retina pattern and a retina pattern verifying means for verifying the identity of the user from the scanned retina pattern. 
   In one embodiment the communication means includes an infra red transfer means. In another embodiment the communication means includes a radio frequency transfer means. In yet another embodiment the communication means includes a magnetic induction transfer means. In yet a further embodiment the communication means includes a wire contact transfer means. 
   Preferably the storage means and communication means are partly in the form of a magnetic strip for storing account details and communication of the account details to the transaction station. 
   Preferably the communication means includes a telephone network interface. 
   Preferably the storage means stores transaction details and a processor means is provided to calculate the funds available. 
   Preferably the electronic credit card is incorporated into another device. 

   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to provide a better understanding, preferred embodiments will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of communication between an electronic credit card of  FIG. 1  with a personal computer and thus and in turn via computer network with a host computer; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic representation between electronic credit card of FIG.  1  and an ATM or EFTPOS terminal and a host computer; 
       FIG. 4  is an alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a further alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a further alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a further alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a further alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a rear view of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention having a magnetic strip communication device; 
       FIG. 10  is a further alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a further alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12  is a further alternative embodiment of an electronic credit card in accordance with the present invention; 
   

   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an electronic credit card including a user verification means; a means for generating a unique code (not shown); a storage means for storing the user&#39;s account details (not shown); and a communication means. In this embodiment the user verification means includes a keypad for entry of a personal identification number (PIN) and the communication means includes a infra red communication device  5 , a magnetic induction telecommunication device  6 , radio frequency telecommunication device in the form of an antenna  7 . The electronic credit card also includes a display  2 , an enter/confirmation button and an audio transducer  4  for providing an audible sound. 
   The electronic code also includes a processor means for receiving input from the keypad  1  and the button  3 . The processor means is also arranged to control output of the display  2  and output of the audio transducer  4 . The processor means is further arranged to control communication via the communication means  5 ,  6 ,  7 . 
   The keypad in combination with firmware control of the processor forms the user verification means. The processor under the control of firmware forms a means for generating the unique authorisation code. The infra red communication device, magnetic communication device, or radio frequency communication device under the control of firmware control of the processor forms the communication means. The firmware may be stored in the storage means and may be reprogrammed. 
   The electronic credit card operates by a user entering a PIN number into the keypad  1  whereby the user verification means verifies that the PIN number is correct and thus the identity of the user is verified. The means for generating unique authorisation code then generates the authorisation code which is provided along with the user&#39;s account details, to the communication means which communicates these to a transaction station to facilitate an electronic funds transfer transaction. 
   The transfer station must be configured to only continue with the electronic funds transfer transaction with the receipt of the unique authorisation code and account details. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , communication between the electronic credit card is shown with a transceiver device which talks with a personal computer. The transceiver device and personal computer act, in this example as the transaction station. The transaction station may then communicate via wire or wireless communications to computer networks, such as the Internet to a host computer in order for conducting electronic funds transfer transaction. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the electronic credit card communicates by it&#39;s communication means with an automatic teller machine (ATM) or an electronic funds transfer point of sale (EFTPOS) machine, which in turn communicates via standard methods to a host computer to perform electronic funds transfer, cash withdrawal or other transaction. 
     FIG. 4  shows a typical physical form of an electronic credit card with a keypad as the user verification means, and infra red receiver as part of the communication means. 
     FIG. 5  shows a version of the electronic credit cards with a keypad forming part of the user verification means and radio frequency antenna forming part of the communication means. 
     FIG. 6  shows a version of the electronic credit card with a keypad forming part of the user verification means and magnetic induction communication device  6  forming part of the communication means. 
     FIG. 7  shows a version of the electronic credit card with a keypad forming part of the user verification means and a wire contact communication device  8  forming part of the communication means. 
     FIG. 8  shows a version of the electronic credit card with a keypad acting as part of the user verification means and a magnetic strip  9  shown in  FIG. 9  providing coded information as part of the communication means. 
     FIG. 10  shows a version of the electronic credit card with a keypad  1  forming part of the user verification means, a combination of infra red transmitter receiver  5 , radio frequency antenna  7  and induction  6  forming part of the communication means. 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , a version of the electronic credit card with a fingerprint scanner  10  forming part of the user verification means and an infra red transmitter receiver  5 , radio frequency antenna  7  and indication means  6  forming part of the communication means. 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , an embodiment of the electronic credit card including an eyeball retina scanner pad  11  which forms part of the user verification means and an infra red transmitter  5 , radio frequency antenna  7  and a magnetic induction means  6  form part of the communication means. 
   Use of the electronic credit card will prevent merchants from using an unauthorised transaction as each transaction can only be generated by a unique transaction provided by the electronic credit card. A merchant cannot generate a unique transaction identifier without an electronic credit card. The electronic credit card verifies the identity of the user before it is activated. The electronic credit card will be disabled if a predetermined number of attempts to gain access to its operation fail and this will prevent fraud in the event that an electronic credit card is stolen. An authorising distributor or other authorised body could re-initialise the electronic credit card through a controlled management system used to issue the electronic credit card. 
   The electronic credit card can be disabled at a transaction station through a system control function by the issuing company or organisation. This will enable immediate termination of electronic credit card if required. Electronic credit card may download information to a computer system via one of its telecommunication modes. This will ensure data integrity at a time when power source replacement or re-charging. Furthermore it will also facilitate transactional history download. 
   The electronic credit card may generate its transaction number either in synchronisation with the transfer station link to a remote site system control function. The transaction station may be an Internet site with this capability. 
   The electronic credit card financial limit can be verified by the transaction station with a link to a remote site system. This will prevent the electronic credit card from generating further transactions once the financial limit is reached. The funds limiting function is optional and may be activated by either the financial institution issuing the electronic credit card or by the holder to cross-check and either alert him or her of his or her account balance. The electronic credit card may transact electronic cash which can be used as a currency exchange device. A traveller going abroad can choose to have a set amount for a specific currency of a particular country that he or she is visiting. The electronic credit card may be incorporated into another electronic device or piece of equipment, for example it may have been incorporated in a mobile phone. 
   An audio transducer is used to confirm a successful process of successful verification of the user may also be used to provide communication over a telephone network. 
   A self-contained timer deactivates the user verification after a predetermined lapsed amount of time. This feature eliminates a stolen electronic credit card from being used when the user identification has already been verified. 
   The electronic credit card keypads may be made from reflectable board membrane, rubber and/or plastics material to provide durability and in a slim size. The keypad may be designed with round, square or other shaped buttons. 
   The electronic credit card can store more than one credit card/debit card accounts. These can be cards distributed from different financial institutions, organisations or companies. The electronic credit card can retain amounts of transactions conducted by the user, with information regarding his or her financial balance in relation to the account limit. This may be available for one or more credit card accounts. 
   Modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the basic inventive concepts. The nature of such modifications and variations are to be determined within the scope of the present invention as defined by the foregoing description and appended claims.