Abstract:
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate on a wireless smart card are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes storing tag data on a wireless smart card that is inductively powered when brought into the proximity of an electromagnetic field and is unpowered when outside of the proximity of the field. Tag data is received from a wireless smart card at a wireless smart device reader during an electronic transaction, wherein the card is powered by an electromagnetic field generated by the device reader. The method also includes sending, from the wireless smart device reader, transaction data, which includes at least the tag data and a vendor identifier, to a back-end server. At the wireless smart device reader, an electronic certificate is received from the server, the electronic certificate being obtained by the server using the tag data and the vendor identifier.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The subject matter described herein relates to conducting various electronic transactions without using a near field communications (NFC) enabled handset. More particularly, the subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for storing and redeeming electronic certificates using a wireless smart card without using a near field communications (NFC) enabled handset. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, the primary means for acquiring, storing, and redeeming electronic coupons, promotions, tickets, and the like, involves the use of a near field communications (NFC) enabled mobile phone handset. Very few mobile phones presently in use, however, are actually configured to conduct NFC proximity payment transactions. Notably, this significant deficiency of deployed NFC enabled phones is hindering the widespread adoption of conducting NFC proximity payments. More specifically, although it is extremely likely that NFC payment transactions will become a common practice in the future, the fact that so few NFC enabled handsets are currently available is delaying the process. 
     Several reasons contribute to the lack of a large scale deployment of NFC enabled handsets. For example, many businesses and retailers have been slow to install NFC proximity payment readers in their stores due to, not surprisingly, the scarcity of customers utilizing NFC enabled handsets. Similarly, potential customers do not feel compelled to buy NFC enabled handsets, which may be considerably expensive, since there is a lack of businesses employing the technology. Thus, before NFC enabled handsets are used by a significant portion of the population, a critical mass needed to promote the proliferation of NFC transactions has to be established. 
     This dilemma may be addressed by the use of inexpensive contactless cards to conduct certain electronic transactions, such as redeeming electronic certificates (e.g., electronic coupons or tickets). Due to the fact that they may be cheaply obtained and can easily be configured to store coupon or ticket information, contactless cards may serve as an affordable vehicle to introduce potential customers to NFC proximity transactions. Similarly, the increasing number of customers using the cards will likely compel vendors to implement wireless smart device readers in their stores, thus eventually creating a critical mass needed to promote widespread acceptance of proximity payments. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for affordable and improved methods, systems, and computer readable media for storing and redeeming electronic certificates using a wireless smart card without the use of an NFC enabled mobile phone. 
     SUMMARY 
     Methods, systems, and computer readable media for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate on a wireless smart card are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes storing tag data on a wireless smart card that is inductively powered when brought into the proximity of an electromagnetic field and that is unpowered when outside of the proximity of the electromagnetic field. The tag data is received from a wireless smart card at a wireless smart device reader during an electronic transaction, wherein the wireless smart card is powered by an electromagnetic field generated by the wireless smart device reader. The method also includes sending, from the wireless smart device reader, transaction data, which includes at least the tag data and a vendor identifier, to a back-end server. At the wireless smart device reader, an electronic certificate is received from the back-end server, the electronic certificate being obtained by the back-end server using the tag data and the vendor identifier. 
     As used herein, the term “wireless smart card” refers to a device with a card or fob form factor that is unpowered when outside the proximity of an electromagnetic field and powered when within proximity of an electromagnetic field. The term “wireless smart card” is not intended to include a mobile telephone handset. 
     As used herein, the term “tag data” refers to information received from an RFID tag. Examples of tag data that may be received include coupons, tickets, or other promotional items. 
     The subject matter described herein for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate may be implemented using a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer perform steps of the aforementioned method (see above). Exemplary computer readable media suitable for implementing the subject matter described herein includes disk memory devices, programmable logic devices, and application specific integrated circuits. In one implementation, the computer readable medium may include a memory accessible by a processor. The memory may include instructions executable by the processor for implementing any of the methods for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate described herein. In addition, a computer readable medium that implements the subject matter described herein may be distributed across multiple physical devices and/or computing platforms. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter described herein will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system for storing and redeeming electronic certificates using a wireless smart card according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary database for storing electronic certificates according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an exemplary process for storing and redeeming electronic certificates using a wireless smart card according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system for storing and redeeming electronic certificates, such as coupons, promotions, vouchers, tickets, and the like, without depending on a powered near field communications (NFC) enabled handset according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. In  FIG. 1 , system  100  includes a smart poster  102 , a wireless smart card  104 , a wireless smart device reader  106 , and a back-end server  108 . Generally, a smart poster is embodied as a sign, billboard, or any other form of advertising that incorporates a passive NFC tag (e.g., an RFID tag) from which a user can extract tag data by interfacing an NFC enabled handset with the tag. The tag data acquired may be a free ringtone, a uniform resource locator (URL), a coupon, a ticket, a promotion, or any other type of data. In system  100 , however, smart poster  102  is equipped with a powered tag writer device  114 . Notably, tag writer device  114  may be configured to transmit information to wireless smart card  104  (which is typically an unpowered contactless card) when wireless smart card  104  is placed in close proximity to tag writer device  114 . For example, rather than using a powered NFC enabled device (e.g., an NFC enabled mobile phone) to acquire or “pull” data from a passive tag of a smart poster, the present subject matter involves the “pushing” of information from a powered tag writer device  114  to an initially unpowered wireless smart card  104 . This configuration is advantageous because an inexpensive contactless proximity card may be used in place of an expensive NFC enabled handset to acquire the tag data. In one embodiment, smart poster  102  may be embodied as a kiosk or other station that includes a tag writer device  114 . In addition, tag writer device  114  may be powered by a battery source in order to accommodate portable applications. 
     In one embodiment, tag writer device  114  is configured to write its data to a designated sector in wireless smart card  104 . The tag data to be written may include information such as a location identifier (i.e., which indicates the location of the smart poster) and a time stamp identifier. The time stamp identifier may include a simple tag that indicates the recorded date and time of when wireless smart card  104  interfaced with (i.e., obtains data from) smart poster  102 . In another embodiment, the tag data may include a certificate identifier (e.g., a unique numeric identifier that identifies a particular coupon, ticket, promotion, etc.). 
     In one embodiment, wireless smart card  104  is initially unpowered device, such as a proximity integrated circuit card (PICC) or any other contactless card (e.g., a MIFARE® card), with processing capabilities capable of communicating with another device, such a wireless smart device reader  106 , tag writer  114 , or some other like wireless terminal, via an electromagnetic field. Wireless smart card  104  may comprise a central processing unit (CPU)  120 , transceiver module  118 , programmable on-board memory  122 , and loop antenna  140 , which can be collectively utilized to execute applications and communicate with other devices, such as wireless smart device reader  106 . Examples of wireless smart cards may include key fobs and physical cards, such as a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contactless card. 
     In one embodiment, wireless smart card  104  may be embodied as a MIFARE® PVC card that includes four kilobyte electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), organized in 32 sectors with 4 blocks or organized in eight sectors with 16 blocks (i.e., one block consist of 16 bytes). The last block of each sector in the memory is called the “sector trailer,” which may contain one or more secret keys and programmable access conditions for each sector. A predetermined sector of this card may be configured to store read-only values, such as a unique identifying number associated with the card. 
     CPU  120  may include any type of processor, microcontroller, and like hardware component that executes various software programs to control the operations of wireless smart card  104 . In one embodiment, CPU  120  may instead be embodied as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). CPU  120  may also be configured to communicate with transceiver module  118  by providing instructions via load modulations on antenna  140  in order to transmit data to other devices, such as wireless smart device reader  106 . An exemplary communications process is described below. 
     Programmable on-board memory  122  may be an electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), or some other suitable type of memory for storing one or more applications for performing various functions. For example, wireless smart card  104  may include a MIFARE® application  142  located in memory  122  for performing MIFARE® transactions. As used herein, the term “MIFARE® application” refers to an application stored on a wireless smart card that complies with the MIFARE® standard. The MIFARE® wireless smart card standard is a proprietary technology based on the ISO 14443 Type A specification. 
     In one embodiment, MIFARE® application  142  may include a set of instructions for conducting MIFARE® transactions (per the MIFARE® standard). Although application  142  is shown to be a MIFARE® specific application, other applications (e.g., an ISO-14443 application) may be stored in memory  122  and used for executing various wireless transactions without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. 
     MIFARE® application  142  may be any suitable type of MIFARE® application. For example, MIFARE® application  142  may implement various electronic certificates such as coupons, customer loyalty cards, promotions, and access tickets. In one embodiment, MIFARE® application  124  may implement a simple coupon that entitles the customer to a discount on the purchase of a specific item. For example, the coupon can be used to reduce the amount owed by the user of wireless smart card  104  at the time of purchase. In one embodiment, a coupon for 35 cents off of a good is electronically presented to wireless smart device reader  106  (by a customer using device  104 ) in order to reduce the price of purchased good from $2.75 to $2.40. 
     In yet another example, MIFARE® application  142  may include a ticket that controls access to a location or event. For example, device  104  may store a value that may be incremented or decremented by reader  106 , which may function as an access control mechanism for online or offline validation. In one implementation, a user may purchase three movie tickets that provide the user with access to a movie. A value stored on the card may be decremented each time a ticket is used. In this scenario, no discount is necessarily received by the user and no goods are necessarily purchased. Rather, use of wireless smart card  104  may be viewed as a redemption, by the user, of a ticket obtained from tag writer  114  (e.g., tag writer  114  may provide a free promotion ticket). 
     In one embodiment, antenna  140  may be embodied as a loop antenna as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Antenna  140  may be used to transmit and receive signals from other devices via an electromagnetic field. Although  FIG. 1  depicts antenna  140  as a loop antenna, any other type of antenna that is appropriate for communicating via NFC may be used. Similarly, it is appreciated that other types or configurations of the components within wireless smart card  104  may be implemented without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. 
     In one embodiment, wireless smart card  104  may communicate wirelessly with wireless smart device reader  106  (e.g., a proximity coupling device (PCD)) to conduct an electronic transaction such as using a coupon, redeeming a ticket, or the like. Namely, wireless smart card  104  may communicate with a powered wireless smart device reader  106  using a wireless communications technology, such as near field communication (NFC). Specifically, NFC involves communication via magnetic field induction, where two loop antennas are located within each other&#39;s near field, which effectively forms an air-core transformer. For example, wireless smart card  104  may communicate with wireless smart device reader  106  via inductive coupling of the reader antenna  138  to the device antenna  140 . 
     In one embodiment, wireless smart device reader  106  modulates the loading on loop antenna  138  in order to amplitude-modulate a radio frequency (RF) field/electromagnetic field. The modulations in the field are received and detected by antenna  140  located on wireless smart card  104 , thereby communicating information. In order to communicate, transceiver module  124  may transmit a command signal to wireless smart card  104  via the electromagnetic field (or some other energy field) powered by reader  106 . For example, by oscillating the electromagnetic field on and off very quickly, transceiver module  124  is able to send a command as a string of data to wireless smart card  104 . Similarly, by drawing power from the electromagnetic field, wireless smart card  104  is able to send a response to wireless smart device reader  106  by creating a short circuit on its own antenna  140 . The short circuit produces a larger load on antenna  138 , which is promptly detected as a communication from wireless smart card  104 . An example of near-field wireless communications standard commonly used by wireless smart cards is ISO 14443. 
     In one embodiment, wireless smart device reader  106  may include a CPU  126 , a client manager  110 , a transceiver module  124 , and memory  130 . Memory  130  may include any type of storage means for storing software programs and other information used for performing wireless transactions with wireless smart card  104 . For example, memory  130  may include a MIFARE® transaction module  132 . MIFARE® transaction module  132  may include instructions for reading and/or writing data to MIFARE® memory, such as MIFARE application  142 . Module  132  may also include a proprietary command set and security algorithm for performing MIFARE® transactions as part of a transaction. 
     Wireless smart device reader  106  may comprise a CPU  126  for executing instructions stored in memory  130  and other various tasks. For example, central processing unit (CPU)  126  may communicate with module  132  in order to perform a MIFARE® transaction. Additionally, CPU  126  may communicate with transceiver control module  124  to transmit data to and receive data from wireless smart card  104 . For example, transceiver control module  124  may be configured by CPU  126  to modulate the amplitude of an electromagnetic field by adjusting the load on antenna  138 , thereby transmitting and receiving data with wireless smart card  104  in a manner similar as described above with respect to transceiver module  118 . 
     Wireless smart device reader  106  may also include a client manager  110 . In one embodiment, client manager  110  is a software application that serves as an interface between wireless smart device reader  106  and server  108 . For example, upon receiving tag data from wireless smart card  104 , wireless smart device reader  106  passes the tag data to client manager  110 . Client manager  110  may then transmit transaction data, which includes the received tag data and a vendor identifier (which identifies the merchant and/or merchant location of the wireless smart device reader  106 ), and sends the transaction data to server  108 . 
     Server  108  may include any type of computing device capable of maintaining and accessing databases in order to locate and acquire appropriate coupon, ticket, and promotional data. In one embodiment, server  108  includes a CPU  116  and certificate database  128 . CPU  116  may include any processor or controller that is capable of accessing database  128  for the purpose of obtaining coupons, tickets, promotions, and the like. For example, after receiving the transaction data (e.g., tag data and a vendor identifier) from client manager  110 , CPU  116  cross-references the data with the entries of certificate database  128 . 
     In one embodiment, database  128  is organized by mapping a multitude of electronic certificates (e.g., coupons, promotions, tickets, etc.) to corresponding location identifiers (i.e., which indicate the location of the tag writer providing the certificate), time periods of validity (i.e., which can be used to differentiate different coupons/tickets offered at a tag writer location at different times), and a merchant vendor identifier (i.e., which can be used to correlate the certificate being used and the vendor that the coupon is being presented to, as well as to reduce the number of entries searched in database  128 ). 
       FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary database  200  (e.g., an embodiment of database  128 ) for storing electronic certificates according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. Although database  200  shows a simple database with four entries and four columns, other databases that vary from the format shown in  FIG. 2  may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. In  FIG. 2 , database  200  includes a location column  202 , a time column  204 , a merchant column  206 , and a certificate column  208 . Database  200  also includes entries  212 - 218 . As mentioned above, CPU  116  in server  108  accesses database  200  (represented as database  128  in  FIG. 1 ) after receiving transaction data from reader  106 . In one embodiment, the transaction data may include tag data that comprises a location identifier (e.g., the mall) and a time stamp (e.g., Jan. 15, 2008). The transaction data may also include a merchant identifier (e.g., “Coffee World”) associated with reader  106 . CPU  116  may then execute a program that cross-references the transaction data with entries  212 - 218  of database  200 . If a match exists between the transaction data and the first three columns (e.g., columns  202 - 206 ), then the certificate found in column  208  may be identified and provided to reader  106 . If an appropriate match cannot be found among entries  212 - 218 , then a notification may be sent to reader  106 . In this scenario, because entry  212  corresponds to the above transaction data (e.g., the mall, Jan. 15, 2008, and Coffee World), a $1.00 coupon for coffee may be identified and provided to reader  106 . 
     After cross referencing the transaction data received from client manager  110  with entries of database  128 , CPU  116  may then determine whether a valid certificate associated with the current electronic transaction being conducted at reader  106  exists. If a valid certificate was located (i.e., identified after cross referencing the data with the database entries), server  108  may provide the certificate to client manager  110 . If a valid certificate was not located (e.g., if the coupon was determined to have expired, an error occurred, etc.), then server  108  may be configured to transmit a notification message to client manager  110 . 
     To better illustrate the interworking of the components  FIG. 1  to conduct an electronic transaction,  FIG. 3  is provided to describe the transaction process using a flow diagram. Specifically,  FIG. 3  is a flow chart of an exemplary method  300  for storing and redeeming electronic certificates without depending on an NFC enabled handset according to an embodiment of the subject matter described herein. 
     In block  302 , a wireless smart card is interfaced with a tag writer. In one embodiment, wireless smart card  104  is placed into proximity with tag writer  114  on smart poster  102 . At this time, tag writer  114  and wireless smart card  104  may perform a handshaking procedure to acknowledge the presence of the other device. Notably, the power from tag writer  114  may be use to activate wireless smart card  104  via the electromagnetic field established for communications. 
     In block  304 , pre-configured data is received from the tag writer and stored in a designated sector. In one embodiment, tag writer  114  utilizes near field communications to “push” data to wireless smart card  104 . For example, tag writer  114  may be configured to transmit an electronic certificate (e.g., an electronic coupon) to any wireless smart card  104  that enters its surrounding electromagnetic field. In one embodiment, the storing of the tag data in wireless smart card  104  is conducted in accordance to a proprietary format. Notably, the tag data is stored on a pre-designated sector on wireless smart card  104 . For example, if the tag data includes MIFARE data, wireless smart card  104  is configured to store the tag data in a designated MI FARE section in memory  112 . 
     In block  306 , the wireless smart card is interfaced with a wireless smart device reader at a redemption or point of sale site. In one embodiment, after obtaining coupon data from tag writer  114 , wireless smartcard  104  is ultimately interfaced with wireless smart device reader  106  at a point of sale location where the electronic coupon can be redeemed (i.e., a user decides to use/redeem a previously obtained electronic coupon). For example, wireless smart card  104  may be placed in close proximity to wireless smart device reader  106 , which may cause the two devices to conduct a handshaking procedure. Notably, power from the electromagnetic field provides the necessary operating power to wireless smart card  104 . 
     In block  308 , the wireless smart card sends data to the wireless smart device reader. In one embodiment, wireless smart card  104  transmits the tag data (over an electromagnetic field) to wireless smart device reader  106 . For example, CPU  120  instructs transceiver module  118  to transmit tag data (via NFC), which is received by transceiver  124 . In one embodiment, the transmitted tag data includes a location identifier that corresponds to tag writer  114  (or smart poster  102 ) (as well as a time stamp of when the electronic certificate (e.g., coupon) was obtained from tag writer  114 . 
     In block  310 , the data is forwarded to a client manager. In one embodiment, transceiver unit  124  forwards the recently acquired tag data to client manager  110 . 
     In block  312 , data is forwarded to a back-end server. In one embodiment, client manager  110  transmits transaction data to server  112 . In one embodiment, transaction data includes the tag data and reader-specific data, such as a vendor id that identifies either the wireless smart device reader  106  and/or the company/vendor utilizing wireless smart device reader  106 . The reader-specific data may also include a second time stamp which records the date and time of the transaction. 
     In block  314 , the received data is used to determine the appropriate electronic certificates that may be applied to the current transaction. In one embodiment, server  112  uses database  128  and the transaction data received from client manager  110  to determine if any applicable coupons, promotions, tickets, etc. can be redeemed or utilized at the point-of sale location. For example, server  112  may include CPU  116  that is used to analyze the transaction data to derive a coupon, ticket, or promotion. In one embodiment, CPU  116  is configured to cross-reference the transaction data with a multitude of entries stored in database  128 . For example, if a particular database entry corresponds with the location identifier and the time stamp, then the electronic certificate mapped to that entry may be accessed/identified. If no database entry corresponds with the location identifier and the time stamp, then an applicable electronic certificate does not exist. 
     In block  316 , the certificate is provided to wireless smart device reader  106 . In one embodiment, server  112  transmits the certificate data to wireless smart device reader  106  via client manager  110 . 
     In block  318 , an option to redeem coupons is provided. In one embodiment, wireless smart device reader  106  provides the user of wireless smart card  104  the option to redeem the certificate (e.g., a coupon) on the purchase transaction. In an alternate embodiment, the wireless smart device reader  106  automatically applies the certificate (e.g., a coupon or ticket) to the transaction. 
     It will be understood that various details of the subject matter described herein may be changed without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation.