PORTABLE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION CARD AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract: A hand-held portable electronic information card (10) containing information associated with a holder of the card, e.g., personal identification information, which unlike previous electronic information cards can be used without special machines for reading the card. The instant hand-held portable electronic information card (10) utilizes an acoustic coupler which via an output transducer couples an output signal generated by the transducer to a telephone handset (22) to enable transmission of the information over a telephone network (30) to a remote location (40). The acoustic coupler being disposed on the card (10) whereby a holder of the card, when prompted by a signal received over the telephone network (30), places the acoustic coupler into close proximity with the handset of the telephone thereby to transmit the information to the remote location (40).

Description: PORTABLE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION CARD AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to portable electronic information cards, and in particular, to a hand-held portable electronic information card having means for acoustically coupling into a telephone system for the transmission of, for example, personal information as identification data stored in the card to a remote central computer. The present invention further relates to a communications system using such a portable electronic information card for transmission of such information, e.g., personal identification information, to a remote location. One system which has become known for electronic information transfer has been referred to as the "Smart Card". The Smart Card is described in a publication by Sotelec, and comprises a hand-held plastic card having electronic circuitry therein for identifying the person holding the card. A number of U.S. patents relating to the Smart Card, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,971,916, 4,007,355, 4,092,524, 4,102,493 and 4,444,464 have been issued. As these references show, however, the Smart Card utilizes a plurality of contacts disposed on the card for allowing information contained in the card to be read by a special apparatus for reading the card. Accordingly, although the Smart Card may provide ' advantages in information transfer, e.g., the electronic identification of a person, it has disadvantages in that it cannot be used without a special machine for reading the card and it cannot easily be used with an ordinary telephone, for example, a touch-tone telephone. Other systems also have been described for conveying information into a telephone system using, for example, acoustic coupling devices. For example, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 10, No. 3, August 1967, pages 188-189, by M. F. Davis, Jr., et al., shows a wallet terminal keyboard having an acoustic coupler. However, this disclosure does not relate to electronic information cards wherein the information card can be placed near a telephone mouthpiece to couple acoustically data in the card into the telephone system. Additionally, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,976,840 and 4,442,318 show other communications terminals having acoustic coupling devices for coupling to a telephone. Again, however, these devices do not provide information cards which are easily portable for conveying information concerning the person holding the card into the telephone system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic information card which can be used in conjunction with a telephone communications system to SUBSTITUTE SHEET provide information, e.g., to identify uniquely the holder of the card, to a remote receiving device coupled to the telephone system, e.g., a remote central computer. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an electronic information card which requires no actual physical connection to a handset of a telephone in order to transfer the information in the card onto the telephone system. It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic information card which comprises electronic memory means for storing information concerning the holder of the card and furthermore which provides an acoustic coupling device mounted on the card so that a holder of the card need only place the card against the mouthpiece of a telephone handset in order to convey information contained in the card onto the telephone system. It is yet still a further object of the present invention to provide a system for communicating information, e.g., personal identification information, to a remote location using a hand-held card having the information stored therein. The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a hand-held card comprising electronic means comprising memory means having stored therein information associated with the holder of the card, acoustic coupling means including output transducer SUBSTITUTE SHEET means for acoustically coupling an output signal generated by the transducer means to a telephone handset to enable transmission of the information over a telephone network to a remote location, the acoustic coupling means being disposed on the card, whereby a holder of a card, when prompted by a signal received over the telephone network, places the acoustic coupling means into close proximity with the handset of the telephone thereby to transmit the information to the remote location. The above and other objects of the present invention are also achieved by a system for communicating information associated with a person to a remote location comprising a hand held card comprising electronic means including memory means having stored therein the information associated with a holder of the card, coupling means including output transducer means for acoustically coupling an output signal generated by the transducer means to a telephone handset to enable transmission of the information over a telephone network to a remote location, the acoustic coupling means being disposed on the card, whereby a holder of the card, when prompted by a signal received over the telephone network, places the acoustic coupling means into close proximity with the handset of the telephone thereby to transmit the information to the remote location, and means at the remote location for receiving and verifying the information. In a preferred embodiment, the information stored in the memory means comprises personal identification SUBSTITUTE SHEET information. A method for communicating information associated with a person to a remote location is also within the scope of 5 the invention. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be explained in greater detail in the following detailed description with reference to the 15 drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a communication system wherein a portable electronic information card according to the invention communicates information 20 contained in the card via a telephone to a remote central computer; FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a portable electronic information card according to the invention; 25 FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the circuitry for a portable electronic information card according to the invention; and 30 FIG. 4 shows a system flowchart whereby information contained within the portable electronic information card according to the invention can be received by a SUBSTITUTE SHE£f remote central computer via a telephone system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an overall block diagram of a communication system whereby a portable electronic information card according to the invention communicates data contained within the card to a remote central computer via a telephone system. The remote central computer may comprise a computerized communication system and digital speech announcer as described in copending patent application Serial No. 852,878 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on April 16, 1986 in the names of Michael B. Crane and Neil B. Sullivan. With reference to FIG. 1, the holder of a portable electronic information card 10 according to the invention places a telephone call using, for example, a touch-tone telephone 20. After placing the call with the telephone, as will be described later, the user, when prompted by messages received over the telephone, for example, places an acoustic coupling device of the electronic information card 10 against the mouthpiece of the telephone handset 22, thereby allowing the information contained in the card 10 to be transmitted over the telephone lines 30 to the remote central computer 40, which may be the central computer and digital speech announcer described above. The computer 40 has coupled thereto, for example, various peripheral devices, for example, video display terminals 50 and a printer 60, for performing various operations, to be SUBSTITUTE SHEET described later, once the information has been transmitted to the computer 40. The information in card 10 may comprise, for example, personal identification information concerning the holder of the card, e.g., credit card information. Alternatively, card 10 may also comprise telephone dialing information therein, so that once a dial tone is obtained, the holder of the card can depress a button thereon to transmit the dialing information to establish a connection with remote computer 40. The holder of the card 10 may use the card, for example, to place an order for merchandise over the telephone. The holder of the card places a telephone call using the touch-tone telephone, as described above. Once the caller has established the connection with the central computer 40 at the remote location, the caller is given a digital speech message pointing out instructions which are to be followed. This digital speech message is generated by the central computer's digital speech announcer, as described above. The digital speech announcer generates a series of sequential messages which instruct the holder of the card how to proceed with the transaction. According to the instructions received, the caller then places the portable electronic information card 10 to the mouthpiece of the telephone handset. The portable electronic information card includes microelectronic circuitry encapsulated therein, to be described later, which preferably includes a memory having stored therein prerecorded identification information concerning the holder of the card. In order SUBSTITUTE SHEET to transmit this information to the central computer 40, the card 10 has a tone generator and an acoustic coupling device which converts the stored information into audio tones, for example, frequency shift keyed (FSK) tones or dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) tones. The central computer at the remote location converts the audio tones into digital data which can be displayed on a terminal 50 or printed on a printer 60, and using this information, the central computer responds accordingly with the proper function, for example, confirming the authenticity of the user's credit card information so that a purchase can be made against the user's credit card. An advantage of the present invention is that the user does not have to risk the errors which often occur in transferring credit card information over the phone by voice, the risk of theft is minimized and in systems wherein the user is required to punch in information using a touch-tone keypad, the electronic information card 10 eliminates the problem of errors being made in transmission of the information because of the complicated codes required to be inputted through the touch-tone pad of the telephone. If the holder of the personal electronic information card 10 is calling the central computer to place an order, all pertinent information which is contained in the card 10 is received by the computer 40 to process the order once the card 10 holder downloads his personal file which is lodged in the card in the memory. This SUBSTITUTE SHEET data can then be used to process billing information and mailing labels. Once this security has been confirmed, the central computer under the direction of the digital speech announcer is in control and the personal information card 10 is no longer used as part of the caller's transaction. For example, in response to digital speech messages transmitted to the holder of the card, the holder of the card can then make the appropriate choices, for example, selecting the particular credit card with which he desires to make a purchase, by appropriate use of the touch-tone pad of the telephone 20. The portable electronic information card 10 preferably is preprogrammed by an outside source, thus allowing for proper quality control. The electronic information card 10 requires a small battery for powering the electronic circuitry in the card, which may comprise CMOS circuitry requiring low power for operation. The electronic information card 10 can also be reprogrammed by an outside source, for example, by providing a read/write memory in the electronic information card 10 by which the central computer 40 can return tone messages to the card 10 via the earpiece of the telephone handset 22, which information can then reprogram the card 10. Information which may be stored in the card 10 may include, for example, the name, security code, address, telephone number and credit card numbers of the holder of the card. Any amount of information can be stored if it does not exceed the memory capacity of the card 10. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Other applications of the present invention include accessing personal accounts, for example, retail accounts, and receiving information back from the remote location concerning the balance in the account. The balance could be indicated on a display located on the card 10. Another application includes the accessing of medical information concerning the holder of the card, e.g., health information in the event of an emergency. For example, if the holder of the card is involved in a medical emergency, a medical technician could use the holder's card to access remote data banks to obtain a medical profile of the card holder, thus aiding in treatment of the card holder. Also, the medical information could be stored in the card in addition to the holder's personal identification data and the technician could be equipped with a device for reading the information stored in the card. Furthermore, the information in the card could be downloaded to a remote location in a hospital emergency room so that medical personnel will be prepared to receive the patient in advance. Other applications are possible. Thus, the information card of the present invention can be used to provide access to a large number of information sources. The security code information transmitted is verified by the central computer 10, and if valid, allows the caller to proceed. If not valid, the central computer acknowledges by calling up a speech message to notify the holder of the card that the information contained in the card is not current and cannot be processed. The SUBSTITUTE SHEET speech message may further indicate a special service number to call for assistance. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the portable electronic information card 10 according to the invention. FIG. 2(a) shows a front view of the portable electronic information card 10 according to the invention while FIGS. 2(b) and 2{c) show side and rear views. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the . information card 10 may comprise a keypad 11 for the inputting of information, although this is not necessary in a simplest embodiment of the invention, where only an on/off switch 12 may be required. In one embodiment of the invention, the information card may include send and receive buttons 13 and 14, but in other embodiments, the card 10 responds to signals transmitted over the telephone line by the central computer 40 automatically. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2(a), after on/off button 12 has been activated, once the holder of the card receives a signal requiring the holder of the card to send information, the card holder places the acoustic coupling device 14, which may be located on the rear of the card, against the mouthpiece of the telephone handset, and then presses the send button 13 to allow the information contained in the card to be transmitted to the central computer over the telephone line. In another embodiment, the holder of the card may be required to press a receive button, e.g., 14, in order to receive information back from the central computer 40, for example, information for reprogramming the card 10. The card 10 can also be designed automatically to send the stored information upon receipt of a signal from the SUBSTITUTE SHEET central computer 40. As also shown in FIG. 2(a), the card 10 may also comprise a display device 16, for displaying transmitted and received information. As is also shown in FIG. 2(c), the card 10 may also include a display device 17 for indicating if the self-contained battery is low. FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of circuitry contained within the portable electronic information card 10. As shown, the electronic information card 10 comprises a central processing unit 100 having an address and data bus 110, 130, (in the illustrated embodiment - 11 bits) an I/O port 120 and further functional lines 132. CPU 100 includes necessary circuits for providing a clock frequency signal 140, power-on reset 150 and start-send signal 160. Clock frequency signal source 140 may generate, e.g., a 3.58 MHz signal. When a user desires to activate the illustrated card, switch 12 is turned on and the start button 13 is depressed to transmit data. The address/data bus 110 of the CPU 100 is coupled to a decoder circuit 170, which decodes address information contained on the address/data bus 110 and supplies it to the address inputs of a memory 180. Memory 180 may comprise, for example, a read only memory (ROM) in one embodiment of the invention. The information to be transmitted, e.g., personal identification information concerning the holder of the card, is stored in memory 180. Data from memory 180 is supplied to the address/data bus 110 of microprocessor 100 via data bus 182. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Input/output port 120 of microprocessor 100 is coupled to inputs of a tone generator 190. The tone generator 190 may be a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) generator or a frequency shift key (FSK) tone generator. The output of tone generator 190 is applied to a transducer 192 which includes an acoustic coupling device for allowing the signals generated by the transducer 192 to be coupled to the mouthpiece of the telephone handset. Tone generator 190 has coupled thereto a clock frequency source 194. The clock frequency source 194 may also comprise a 3.58 MHz crystal. An AND gate 195 connects two lines from microprocessor 100, PSEN and RD. The output of AND gate 195 is supplied to input OE of memory 180 and enables a read operation to be performed when either of lines PSEN and RD are low. PSEN is low when a data memory access is to be performed (e.g., the information to be transmitted is accessed) and RD is low when a program memory access is to be performed. Examples of components of the portable electronic information card shown in FIG. 3 are the following: CPU 100-8032 Decoder 170 - 74173 Memory 180 - 2716 Tone generator 190 - 5088 Gate 195 - 7408 ow power equivalent CMOS circuits can be substituted or the TTL circuits identified above. SUBSTITUTE SHEET FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of one embodiment of the system shown in FIG. 1. In order to initiate a transaction, the caller calls the system to establish connection as shown at 200. This is accomplished by dialing the telephone number of the central computer 40. The digital speech announcer of the central computer 40 then transmits instructions to the holder of the card on how to proceed to accomplish the transaction as shown at 210. In response to these instructions, the caller holds the acoustic coupling device of the card to the mouthpiece of the telephone and transmits the data contained within the memory of the card to the central computer 40 as shown at 220. The central computer then determines if the information contained in the transmitted data is valid, as shown at 230. If the information is valid, as shown at 240, the central computer processes the data and asks for additional data if required. This is shown at 250. For example, the central computer may, via the digital speech announcer, request that the holder of the card select the particular credit card by which the user wishes to make payment. This can be performed by appropriate depression of keys of the touch-tone telephone 20. Once all information is obtained, the call is ended, as indicated at 260 and the system is ready to receive the next call. If the information is found invalid at 240, then the digital speech announcer of computer 40 sends a message to the card holder indicating that the information is not correct or invalid. This is indicated at 270. The central computer 40 will check to see if the information transmitted is valid at least three times. This is SUBSTITUTE SHEET shown at 280. If the information is incorrect on the third pass, central computer 40 will automatically disconnect, as shown at 290. In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawing are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A hand-held card comprising: electronic means comprising memory means having stored therein information associated with the holder of the card; coupling means including output transducer means for acoustically coupling an output signal generated by said transducer means to a telephone handset to enable transmission of said information over a telephone network to a remote location, said acoustic coupling means being disposed on said card, whereby a holder of said card, when prompted by a signal received over said telephone network, places said acoustic coupling means into close proximity with the handset of said telephone thereby to transmit said information to said remote location. 2. The hand-held card recited in claim 1 wherein said information stored in said memory means comprises personal identification information associated with the holder of the card. 3. The hand-held card recited in claim 1, further comprising switch means for starting transmission of said information. 4. The hand-held card recited in claim 1, further comprising keyboard means for entering data into said memory means of said card. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 5. The hand-held card recited in claim 4, further comprising display means contained on said card. 6. The hand-held card recited in claim 1 wherein said memory means comprises a read/write memory and said coupling means comprises input/output transducer means for both transmitting information in audio form onto said telephone network and for receiving information from said remote location in audio form from said network for programming said memory means. 7. The hand-held card recited in claim 1 wherein said memory means comprises read only memory means. 8. The hand-held card recited in claim 1, wherein said remote location comprises a remote central computer means for validating the information transmitted over said telephone network and for transmitting further information to the holder of said card thereby to lead the holder through a series of predetermined operations. 9. A system for communicating information associated with a person to a remote location comprising: a hand held card comprising electronic means including memory means having stored therein the information associated with a holder of the card, coupling means including output transducer means for acoustically coupling an output signal generated by said transducer means to a telephone handset to enable transmission of said information SUBSTITUTE SHEET over a telephone network to a remote location, said acoustic coupling means being disposed on said card, whereby a holder of said card, when prompted by a signal received over said telephone network, places said acoustic coupling means into close proximity with the handset of said telephone thereby to transmit said information to said remote location; and means at said remote location for receiving and verifying said information. 10. The system recited in claim 9, wherein said information stored in said memory means comprises personal identification information associated with the holder of the card. 11. The system recited in claim 9, further comprising keyboard means for entering data into said memory means of said card. 12. The system recited in claim 9, further comprising switch means for starting transmission of said information. 13. The system recited in claim 11, further comprising display means contained on said card. 14. The system recited in claim 9 wherein said memory means comprises a read/write memory and said coupling means comprises input/output transducer means for both transmitting information in audio form onto said telephone network and for receiving SUBSTITUTE SHEET information from said remote location in audio form from said network for programming said memory means. 15. The system recited in claim 9 wherein said memory means comprises read only memory means. 16. The system recited in claim 9, wherein said receiving means at said remote location comprises a remote central computer means for validating the information transmitted over said telephone network and for transmitting further information to the holder of said card thereby to lead the holder through a series of predetermined operations. 17. A method for communicating information associated with a person to a remote location comprising: storing in electronic memory means disposed in a hand-held card the information associated with a holder of the card; acoustically coupling an output signal generated by a transducer means disposed on said card to a telephone handset to enable transmission of said information over a telephone network to a remote location, said step of acoustically coupling comprising placing said transducer means into close proximity with the handset of said telephone thereby to transmit said information to said remote location when the holder of the card receives a signal over said telephone network from said remote location. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein said step of storing comprises storing personal identification information associated with the holder of the card. 19. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising entering data into said memory means of said card via keyboard means disposed on the card. 20. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of activating switch means to start transmission of said information. 21. The method recited in claim 19, further comprising activating display means contained on said card to display information. 22. The system recited in claim 17 further comprising transmitting information in audio form onto said telephone network and receiving information from said remote location in audio form from said network for programming said memory means. 23. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising validating the information transmitted over said telephone network at said remote location and transmitting further information to the holder of said card thereby to lead the holder through a series of predetermined operations. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: ENGLER DAVID M, RAU DAVID M III, SULLIVAN NEIL W, ENGLER, DAVID, M., RAU, DAVID, M., III, SULLIVAN, NEIL, W.
Applicants: CALL IT CO, CALL-IT CO.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G06K19
IPC codes: B42D15, G06K19, G07F7, H04M11