Abstract:
A system and method for providing personalized information to a consumer includes a contactless device containing electronic consumer data, a contactless device reader, a service platform connected to the contactless device reader for processing the consumer data and creating customized information from the consumer data, and an output device including a display for outputting the customized information to the consumer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to systems for providing instant personalized information to a consumer based on the specific content of an individual consumer&#39;s stored personal data. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Information is often presented to a consumer to encourage the consumer to, for example, purchase an item. However, such information is typically provided in the same manner to all consumers. For example, a displayed sign in a retail environment may advertise an item that is for sale. However, the sign might not display a different sale item in which a particular consumer would be interested. Accordingly, because the consumer might not be aware of the item for sale, no transaction would occur. 
         [0003]    In addition, individuals that travel abroad often cannot comprehend the principal language of the country in which they are traveling. As such, travelers are often unaware of what particular merchants offer for sale, how much such items cost and the like. Many travelers would prefer to have the ability to determine what the merchant is offering in their native language and/or native currency. However, such information is not available using conventional means. 
         [0004]    Moreover, many event attendees would prefer to receive information specific to them regarding the event that they are attending. For example, an event attendee might desire to know the location of a seat assigned to him for the event, information regarding a performer and the like. Such information would preferably be displayed in a manner most amenable to each particular event attendee as well. 
         [0005]    What are needed are methods and systems for providing personalized information to a consumer in a purchasing environment. 
         [0006]    A further need exists for methods and systems for providing personalized information to a consumer based on one or more preferences specified by or for a user. 
         [0007]    The present disclosure is directed to solving one or more of the above-listed problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Before the present methods are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular, methodologies or protocols described, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, which will be limited only by the appended claims. 
         [0009]    It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “transaction” is a reference to one or more transactions and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the invention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, a method for providing personalized information may include receiving personalized information for an individual from a token, using the information to selecting one or more items to display to the user and/or one or more formats in which to display the one or more items, and displaying at least one selected item to the user. In an embodiment, the at least one selected item may be displayed in a selected format. In an embodiment, the information may be transmitted wirelessly from the token to a reader. In an embodiment, the at least one selected item may be displayed on the token. In an embodiment, the at least one selected item may be displayed on a display in communication with the reader. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Aspects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a flow diagram for an exemplary method of providing personalized information to a consumer according to an embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary system-level diagram of a smart billboard system according to an embodiment in which the contactless device reader is embedded in the display device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternate exemplary system-level diagram of a smart billboard system according to an embodiment in which the contactless device reader is separate from the display device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    A smart billboard system may include a traditional display screen in communication with, for example, a contactless reader and/or a processor. In an embodiment, the processor may reside within a laptop computer, a personal computer or a server computer system. Software, hardware or a combination thereof may be used to operate the smart billboard. If used, software may reside in a storage medium in communication with the processor and hardware may be in communication with the processor. 
         [0016]    A contactless device, such as a contactless card, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a key fob and/or the like, may include, for example, a storage medium containing programming instructions for allowing the contactless device to engage in a contactless payment method. The storage medium may further contain one or more fields personalized for a consumer using the contactless device. Such fields may include information customized for the consumer, such as a home currency, a preferred language, a favorite type of food and/or other preference based information. When such a contactless device is proximate to a contactless reader, the reader may request, receive and process the information in at least one field in order to display personalized information for the consumer. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, a traditional magnetic stripe/smart card and contact-based card reader may also be used within the scope of the present disclosure as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. In such an embodiment, the card may be brought into contact with the card reader to initiate the process of displaying personalized information. For simplicity, the remainder of this disclosure merely refers to a contactless device and contactless card reader. Modifications, if any, required to be made to the disclosed embodiments to enable contact-based systems and methods will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts a flow diagram for an exemplary method of providing personalized information to a consumer according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a consumer having a contactless device that stores personalized information may enter into an area proximate to a smart billboard system and present  105  the contactless device to a contactless reader. In an embodiment, the interaction between the contactless device and the contactless reader may be performed using wireless technology, such as a contactless transaction based on the ISO 14443 standard, Near Field communication, Bluetooth and/or any other wireless or contactless protocol. 
         [0019]    The reader may request and receive  110  consumer data from the contactless device. Upon receipt of the consumer data, the reader may optionally provide  115  an acknowledgement to the consumer. For example, the reader may provide an audible signal and/or a visual signal to the consumer. 
         [0020]    In an embodiment, the data received from the contactless device may be in a “raw” format according to common data standards, such as EMV or ISO. As such, the raw data may be parsed  120  to organize and structure the data into a format that may be used by the smart billboard system. For example, the raw data may be reformatted into an XML structure and/or a flash programming language. 
         [0021]    The smart billboard system may use one or more of basic consumer data, such as the cardholder&#39;s first name, last name and the like, and enhanced consumer data, Such as a cardholder&#39;s Country of residence, preferred language, preferred currency and the like, to convert  125  the basic and/or static information into value-added and/or customized information for the consumer. The value-added and/or customized information may then be delivered  130  to the consumer via a display device, such as a television, a computer monitor, a printer, speakers, a display on the contactless device, or through other means for the consumer to receive such information visually or aurally. In an embodiment, sound may also be provided  130  to the consumer. The smart billboard system may also write  135  the value-added and/or customized information to the contactless device. 
         [0022]    For example, a consumer fluent only in English that is using a contactless device according to an embodiment and traveling in China may enter a restaurant. The contactless device may include preference-based information listing English as the primary language for the consumer. If the consumer is proximate to a smart billboard system that typically displays a menu in Chinese, a contactless reader associated with the smart billboard system may detect the preference-based information on the consumer&#39;s contactless device and translate the menu into English. If a preferred currency for the consumer is also stored on the contactless device, the smart billboard system may calculate the prices for the menu items in the preferred currency based on, for example, real-time exchange rates. Other operations may additionally or alternately be performed within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0023]    In another example, an event ticket may be purchased by a consumer using a contactless device according to an embodiment. A record of the purchase may be transmitted to the contactless device at the time of purchase. When the consumer enters a ticket gate in which a contactless reader is installed, the ticket may be redeemed from the contactless device and a display attached to the reader or otherwise visible to the consumer may, for example, welcome the consumer and provide directions to the consumer&#39;s seat. Other operations may additionally or alternately be performed within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0024]    In yet another example, a merchant may personalize a contactless device with personal preferences for a consumer. When the contactless device is detected by a smart billboard system, information and/or offers related to the consumer&#39;s preferences for the merchant&#39;s products may be displayed. For example, a music provider may assign preference information detailing favored artists, favored music styles and/or the like for the consumer to a contactless device. When the consumer enters a music store, new releases and/or sales on offerings from a favored artist and/or related artists may be displayed on a display in proximity to the user. Other operations may additionally or alternately be performed within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary system-level diagram of a smart billboard system according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the smart billboard system may include a contactless device  205 , a contactless reader  210 , a computer system  215  including software for operating the smart billboard, and an output device  220 . The contactless device  205  may be accessed by the contactless reader  210  to provide personalized information to the reader. The reader  210  may transmit the personalized information to the computer system  215 , which may include, for example, a laptop computer having a storage medium. The computer system  215  may process the data and output a personalized message to, for example, an output device  220 . In an embodiment, the computer system  215  may further transmit data to the reader  210 . The reader  210  may likewise forward at least a portion of the information to the contactless device  205 . For example, the contactless reader  210  may upload new data, such as a coupon and/or updated loyalty points, to the contactless device  205  as part of a transaction. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, one or more of the contactless reader  210 , computer system  215  and output device  220  may be combined into a combined system (See  FIG. 2 ). For example, the contactless reader  210  may be embedded into the output device  220 . An output device  220  may include, for example and without limitation, a display, a printer and/or a speaker. To allow for additional interaction between the user and the smart billboard system, a touch screen may be incorporated into the output device  220  (e.g., display) to allow users to provide additional information during the interaction. In an alternate embodiment, multiple device readers  210  and multiple output devices  220  may be added to a single system as needed in order to simultaneously deliver different customized information to multiple consumers, who each have a contactless device  205 , and are located at various locations within the same facility. The single computer system  215  would be connected to each of the multiple device readers  210  and output devices  220  and would be able to determine which consumer is proximate to each of the multiple device readers  210  and output devices  220 . The computer system  215  would then deliver the customized information of each individual consumer to the appropriate output device  220  proximate to each of the multiple consumers. 
         [0027]    In yet another embodiment, the computer system  215  may obtain and analyze data from, and generate data for, a plurality of sources. For example, as described above, the computer system  215  may obtain data from the contactless device  205  via the contactless reader  210 . In addition, the computer system  215  may access static data, dynamic data and/or real-time data. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment, the computer system  215  where the smart billboard application resides may be a laptop computer. The smart billboard application may access static data that resides locally in the laptop or use a Remote Network Connection (e.g., over the Internet)  230  to access static or dynamic data contained on a Remote Server  225 . Alternatively, the smart billboard application can go through a local area network (LAN) connection  232  to retrieve static or dynamic data that resides elsewhere, for example an internal company database  222 . 
         [0029]    In an embodiment, dynamic data may include data that is associated with a user and that is updated periodically and/or the latest data available from a source external to computer system  215 , such as an internal company database  222 , or a remote server  225 . In an embodiment, dynamic data may include, without limitation, loyalty points for the consumer, a credit balance remaining for an account associated with the contactless device and/or the like. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment, real-time data is data that is not necessarily associated with any single user, but data which changes over time. Real-time data may be obtained from an external database or alternate sources accessible, for example, via the Internet. This external database need not be maintained by the same party who maintains remote server  225 . In an embodiment, real-time data may include, without limitation, a real-time currency conversion rate, a stock quote and/or the like. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  depicts an alternate exemplary system-level diagram of a smart billboard system according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the contactless reader  210  and the output device  220  may be located at a particular location accessible by a consumer having a contactless device  205 . When the consumer&#39;s contactless device  205  is proximate to the contactless reader  210 , the reader may request and receive information from the contactless device  205 . The reader may transmit the information to a remote computer system  305  via a communication network  310 , such as the Internet and/or an intranet. The remote computer system  305  may receive and analyze the information provided by the contactless reader  210  and transmit personalized information to the output device  220  via the communication network  310 . Such an embodiment may reduce the cost of implementing a smart billboard system since the remote computer system  305  may control data displayed on a plurality of output devices, such as  220 , at a plurality of locations. 
         [0032]    It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may he subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.