Abstract:
A wallet consolidator to process a transaction and related methods, are provided. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can include a controller to control operation of the wallet consolidator, and an input device connected to the controller and positioned to receive a copy of information. The input device, for example, can include a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, or a keypad, among others, to input user selections and commands. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can also include a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, and an output device connected to the controller and positioned to communicate at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a computer device, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database, located at a point-of-sale, to process a transaction. The output device can include a wireline communications interface, a wireless communications interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, or an infrared (IR) interface, among others.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/923,617, filed Aug. 6, 2001, titled “Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/618,407, filed Jul. 18, 2000, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,462, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/087,193, filed May 29, 1998, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,811, each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    1. Field of The Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains in general to the use of electronic smart cards for the storage of information pertaining to electronic commerce and consumer identification, and in particular, but not by way of limitation, to a method and apparatus for the warehousing and retrieval of information pertaining to credit cards, debit cards, identification cards and other selected data. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In today&#39;s electronic commerce there has been a proliferation in the use of various types of credit, debit, identification and other types of authorization cards. For example, an average individual is likely to carry a driver&#39;s license, several credit and/or debit cards, an identification card for access to a health club, an identification card to gain access to a place of employment and an access card to gain entry into a parking garage, among others. Furthermore, with advances in electronic commerce, smart cards are likely to replace paper and coin money resulting in an additional card for consumers to carry. Each of these cards typically incorporates a magnetic stripe or bar code to facilitate easy recognition of the card and to store various types of data. Although the use of these cards allow for easy and efficient electronic commerce, the number of such cards quickly becomes cumbersome and many individuals find carrying the large number of cards inconvenient. 
         [0006]    Attempts have been made to use a single smart card to hold the various information contained on several cards. These attempts, however, involve the downloading of information from the smart card provider and do not allow a smart card user to control the contents of the device by adding additional information from newly issued cards or removing information from discontinued cards. 
         [0007]    It would be advantageous, therefore, to devise a method and apparatus for consolidating the various cards, and other types of information, which individuals typically carry in a wallet or purse. It would further be advantageous if such a method and apparatus stored the information in a central location and facilitated the use of a single multi-purpose card. It would still further be advantageous if such a method and apparatus allowed the user of the method and apparatus the ability to control the stored information. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a wireless device or apparatus, also known as a wallet consolidator, capable of warehousing digitized information stored on the cards including identification information, some or all of which to be delivered to a computer device and possibly a portion to the device operator located with the computer device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wallet consolidator can include, for example, a controller to control operation of the wallet consolidator, at least one input device connected to the controller of the wallet consolidator to receive a copy of identification information stored on at least one card, memory connected to the controller to store the information received by the input device, and an output device connected to the controller and positioned to transmit at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to computer device, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database, located at a point-of-sale, which is positioned to process a point-of-sale transaction effectuated pursuant to the at least a portion of the information. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the wallet consolidator, in its most generalized configuration, the input device can include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: a magnetic stripe card reader, a bar code reader, a keypad, a touch screen, a smart card reader, a kiosk, a memory card, a telephony interface, a wireless interface, a wireline communications interface, a wireless communications interface, an infrared (IR) interface, and a radio frequency (RF) interface. The memory device can include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: semiconductor memory, a smart card (contact, contactless, or hybrid), a memory card (portable flash memory), random access memory (RAM), magnetic memory, or a hard disk magnetic tape, an optical memory device, and an optical disc. The output device can include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: a data interface, a telephony interface, a wireless interface, a wireline communications interface, a wireless communications interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, an infrared (IR) interface, and a display configured for displaying scanable bar codes. 
         [0010]    To store information in the wallet consolidator, for example, or alternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator, information can be read from magnetic stripes on various types of cards such as, but not limited to, credit, debit and identification cards. A bar code scanner allows a bar code to be scanned from a card and stored in memory. Additionally, images of the cards including, but not limited to, signatures, portraits can be downloaded, and with sufficient memory, stored for future use. A user can retrieve information using the input device for use in an, e.g., point-of-sale transaction. The stored images can be retrieved and displayed on a display screen including a bar code which can be scanned by a bar code scanner. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the wallet consolidator can include an input device positioned to receive information stored on at least one card, a memory device connected to the input device to store the information received by the input device, and an output device connected to the memory device and positioned to transmit at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale. The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to process a transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information. The information can include, for example, account identification information pertaining to at least one of the following: one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp accounts. Accordingly, the at least one card can include one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or more identification cards, one or more electronic coupons, or one or more food stamp identification cards. The information can also include driver&#39;s license data taken from, for example, a driver&#39;s license card. Further, the information can include a digitized image of the at least one card, to thereby provide further functionality. Advantageously, the output device can include a wireless output device such as, for example, a wireless interface, a wireless communications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface, to thereby enhance personal mobility. 
         [0012]    Another embodiment of the present invention can include a wallet consolidator including a controller positioned to control operation of the wallet consolidator, an input device in communication with the controller and positioned to receive a copy of identification information stored on at least one card, a memory device in communication with the controller and positioned to store the identification information received by the input device, and an output device in communication with the controller and positioned to transmit at least a portion of the identification information stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale. The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to process a point-of-sale transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the identification information. According to an embodiment of the wallet consolidator, the information can include personal identification information contained on the at least one card, and the output device can include a wireless output device such as, for example, a wireless interface, a wireless communications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface, to thereby enhance personal mobility. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the wallet consolidator can include an input device positioned to receive information stored on at least one card, a memory device connected to the input device to store the information received by the input device, and a wireless output device connected to the memory device and positioned to transmit at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale. The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to process a transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information. 
         [0014]    According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the wallet consolidator can include an input device positioned to receive information stored on at least one card, a memory device connected to the input device to store the information received by the input device, and an output device connected to the memory device and positioned to effectuate communication of at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale when the point-of-sale terminal is positioned to receive the at least a portion of the information from the wallet consolidator for use in a point-of-sale transaction. The output device can include a wireless output device such as, for example, a wireless interface, a wireless communications interface, or a radio frequency (RF) interface. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the wallet consolidator can include a controller position to control operation of the wallet consolidator, an input device in communication with the controller and positioned to receive information contained on at least one card, a memory device in communication with the controller and positioned to store the information received by the input device, and a wireless output device in communication with the controller and positioned to interface with a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale to provide at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to the point-of-sale terminal. The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to enable a transaction responsive to receiving the at least a portion of the information. 
         [0016]    According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the wallet consolidator can include a controller positioned to control operation of the wallet consolidator, an input device in communication with the controller and positioned to receive information contained on at least one card, a memory device in communication with the controller and positioned to store the information received by the input device, and a wireless output device in communication with the controller. The wireless output device is adapted to be positioned to interface or to effectuate communication with a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-sale to provide at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to the point-of-sale terminal when the wallet consolidator is positioned adjacent the point-of-sale terminal to thereby enable a transaction responsive to receiving the at least a portion of the information. 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention also include a method for processing a transaction using a wallet consolidator. For example, such a method can include the steps of receiving information stored on at least one of a plurality of cards, storing the received information in a memory device, and transmitting at least a portion of the stored information to a point-of-sale terminal positioned at a point-of-sale and positioned to process a respective point-of-sale transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information. 
         [0018]    According to another embodiment of a method for processing a transaction using a wallet consolidator, the method can include receiving information stored on at least one of a plurality of cards, storing the received information in a memory device, positioning a wallet consolidator adjacent a point of sale terminal positioned at a point of sale, and communicating at least a portion of the stored information to the point-of-sale terminal for use in a point-of-sale transaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention&#39;s scope as it may include other effective embodiments as well. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of the wallet consolidator; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a preferred method for consolidating card information using the wallet consolidator described in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a wallet consolidator consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, the prime notation, if used, indicates similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a functional block diagram of a wallet consolidator shown generally at  100 . The functional components of the wallet consolidator  100  include a controller  110 , a memory  120 , a user input cluster  130 , a data interface  140 , a keypad  150 , a telephone interface  160 , a smart card interface  170 , a bar code scanner  180 , an infrared (IR) transceiver  190 , a display screen  200 , a radio frequency (RF) transceiver  210  and a magnetic stripe reader/writer  220 . 
         [0025]    The controller  110 , controls the overall operation of the wallet consolidator  100  including the coordination of the various functional blocks. The magnetic stripe reader/writer  220  is used to read and write information from and to magnetic stripes used on credit cards, debit cards and identification cards among others. Information read from the magnetic stripes by the magnetic stripe reader/writer  220  is stored in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the information is stored in a memory located within a smart card which is commonly known in the industry. In situations where the information from the magnetic stripe is stored in the memory of the smart card, the information is written into the memory of the smart card using the smart card interface  170 . The smart card interface  170  effectuates reading and writing from and to the smart card. 
         [0026]    A keypad  150  can be used as a user input for inputting information or indicating selections and actions to the wallet consolidator  100 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the keypad  150  is a numeric keypad, however; in an alternative embodiment the keypad  150  is an alphanumeric keypad. The user input cluster  130  provides an additional user input for communicating selections and actions to the wallet consolidator  100 . While it is understood that the user input cluster  130  can have any number of input buttons, a preferred configuration includes an up and a down button for moving through options provided to the user on the display screen  200 , a delete button for removing items from the display screen, and an activate button for making a selection and/or enabling an action by the wallet consolidator  100 . 
         [0027]    The bar code scanner  180  allows a user to scan a bar code on the face of identification, credit, debit and other types of cards and to store the bar code in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator, or alternatively, in the memory of the smart card. In either event, the user can select the bar code for display on the display screen  200  such that the bar code, as displayed on the display screen  200 , is readable by a bar code scanner. 
         [0028]    In addition to displaying items stored in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100 , or alternatively the memory of the smart card, the display screen  200  is used for programming and/or otherwise controlling operation of the wallet consolidator  100 . For example, the display screen  200 , in conjunction with the keypad  150  and/or the user input cluster  130 , can be used by the user to input a passcode to gain access to the wallet consolidator  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the keypad  150  is effectuated using a touch sensitive display screen  200 . 
         [0029]    After gaining access to the wallet consolidator  100 , the controller  110  displays a menu of functions on the display screen  200  and the user makes a selection by either using the user input cluster  130  to scroll through and select an option or directly selecting an option using the keypad  150 . The types of options include, but are not limited to, selecting a card to add or delete, duplicating information, transferring data, moving cash or accessing various types of information such as electronic coupons, identification information or medical records among others. Based on the selected option, the wallet consolidator  100 , via the display screen  200  traverses an action tree which instructs the user on the use of the wallet consolidator  100 . 
         [0030]    The data interface  140  and telephone interface  160  can effectuate communication between the wallet consolidator  100  and various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals and databases. The data interface  140  uses a serial data port, a parallel data port or any other data communication technique. In a similar fashion, the telephone interface  160  allows communication via a wireline or wireless telecommunication network. Furthermore, the infrared transceiver  190  and the radio frequency transceiver  210  can effectuate wireless communication between the wallet consolidator  100  and various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals and databases, collectively point-of-service or point-of-transaction terminals, which are equipped with a similar infrared transceiver or radio frequency transceiver. 
         [0031]    The wallet consolidator  100  allows an individual to swipe their credit, debit, identification or other type cards through the magnet stripe reader/writer  220  and store the information contained in the magnetic stripe in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100 , or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. The wallet consolidator  100  also allows an individual to scan a bar code on a card using the bar code scanner  180  and store the bar code in the wallet consolidator  100 , or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. Furthermore, the individual can download the image of the cards, or other cards which do not have a magnetic stripe and, with sufficient memory, store a digitized image in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100 , or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. Additionally, other types of information can be stored in either the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100  or the memory of the smart card. Among other types of information, items such as electronic coupons or food stamp balances can be stored and then redeemed during a point-of-sale transaction. Communication with various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals and databases, can be effectuated using the telephone interface  160 , the radio frequency transceiver  210 , the infrared transceiver  190  or the display screen  200 . 
         [0032]    Referring additionally now to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a flow diagram of a preferred method for consolidating card information using the wallet consolidator  100  described in  FIG. 1 . Information stored on magnetic stripes is entered into the wallet consolidator  100  by swiping the subject identification, credit, debit or other type of card through the magnetic stripe reader/writer  220  to read the information from the magnetic stripe of the subject card (step  300 ). Alternatively, the information can be entered into the wallet consolidator  100  via the data interface  140 , the keypad  150 , the telephone interface  160 , the infrared transceiver  190  or the radio frequency transceiver  210 . The entered information is stored in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100 , or alternatively in the memory of the smart card (step  310 ). 
         [0033]    Similarly, bar codes from the cards are scanned (step  320 ) and the bar codes are stored in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100 , or alternatively, in the memory of the smart card (step  330 ). Alternatively, the information can be entered into the wallet consolidator  100  via the data interface  140 , the keypad  150 , the telephone interface  160 , the infrared transceiver  190  or the radio frequency transceiver  210 . 
         [0034]    Still further, other information such as electronic coupons or images such as portraits and signatures, are downloaded into the wallet consolidator  100  (step  332 ) and stored in the memory  120  of the wallet consolidator  100 , or alternatively, in the memory of the smart card (step  334 ). The information can be downloaded into the wallet consolidator  100  via the data interface  140 , the keypad  150 , the telephone interface  160 , the infrared transceiver  190  or the radio frequency transceiver  210 . 
         [0035]    To retrieve magnetic stripe information from the wallet consolidator  100 , the user selects the desired information using either the user input cluster  130  or the keypad  150  (step  340 ). Once the information has been selected, the information can be written onto a magnetic strip of the smart card or other multi-use card (step  350 ). Alternatively, the information which was selected can be communicated to various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals and databases via the data interface  140 , the telephone interface  160 , the infrared transceiver  190  or the radio frequency transceiver  210 . 
         [0036]    Similarly, the user selects a desired bar code using either the user input cluster  130  or the keypad  150  (step  360 ) and the selected image is displayed on the display screen  200  (step  370 ). Alternatively, the information which was selected can be communicated to various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals, and databases, etc., via the data interface  140 , the telephone interface  160 , the infrared transceiver  190  or the radio frequency transceiver  210 . 
         [0037]    Still further, the user can select stored information, including downloaded information (step  380 ), and display the selected information (step  390 ) or download the selected information (step  400 ) to various computing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals and databases via the data interface  140 , the telephone interface  160 , the infrared transceiver  190  or the radio frequency transceiver  210 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a perspective view of a wallet consolidator  100 . The wallet consolidator, shown generally at  100 , includes the controller  110  which is located internally and not shown, the memory  120  also located internally and not shown, the user input cluster  130 , the data interface  140 , the keypad  150 , the telephone interface  160 , the smart card interface  170 , the bar code scanner  180 , the infrared transceiver  190 , the display screen  200 , the radio frequency transceiver  210 , and the magnetic stripe reader/writer  220 . 
         [0039]    This application is related to to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, titled “Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/923,617, filed Aug. 6, 2001, titled “Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/618,407, filed Jul. 18, 2000, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,462; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/087,193, filed May 29, 1998, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,811, each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
         [0040]    In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typical preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerable detail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the foregoing specification and as defined in the appended claims.