Patent Publication Number: US-7593875-B2

Title: Financial system for isolated economic environment

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/362,746, filed on Mar. 8, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a method and system for conducting financial transactions, and more specifically to a method and system for conducting financial transactions in isolated economic environments, such as ships at sea. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of methods and systems for conducting financial transactions exist in the prior art. 
     EP 1033688A1 (the “EP &#39;688 Application”) discloses a method and system for managing transactions, which provides distributed services for use of a transaction card, such as a smart card, on board a ship when shipboard communications with a centralized host system are not available. The data representing current transaction information for the transaction cards of the ship personnel is stored in the distributed card management system database, and at regular intervals, when ship-to-shore communication is available, the land-based and shipboard databases are synchronized. 
     U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,788 discloses a method of transferring funds from a first financial institution to a second financial institution using smart cards. The method includes linking a smart card to a first financial institution, debiting an account at the first financial institution and recording a corresponding credit value on the smart card. The credit can then be transferred to other smart cards, which in turn transfer their credit value to a second financial institution. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,008 discloses a system and architecture used to load a credit value on a smart card from a bank account, which can then be used to pay for goods and services purchased from merchants on-line using the Internet. The purchases are made using credit values stored on the smart card. The merchants receive payment from the bank account by way of information from a payment server. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,324 discloses a system for performing financial transactions using a smart card. The smart card has an electronic purse feature that is readable and modifiable as required by an external terminal. A preset value is stored on the smart card. As transactions occur, the stored value is reduced. Additionally, other functions can be authorized using the smart card such as stock transactions and find transfers between accounts. 
     A review of the prior art shows that none of the references disclose a system utilizing a unitary account structure that allows financial transactions to occur in isolated economic environments based on actual and anticipatory funding. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system and method for conducting financial transactions in an isolated economic environment, such as on a ship at sea. The system of the present invention includes a self-sufficient financial account system in the isolated economic environment. The account system has asynchronous connections to various financial networks by which it is able to conduct financial transactions even though it is out of contact with the financial networks for extended periods of time (e.g., several weeks). When in contact with the financial networks, the self-sufficient account environment synchronizes accounts on opposite sides of the asynchronous link. Significantly, the present system allows anticipatory funding of account holders&#39; accounts using provisional credits tied to known dates of direct deposits, requested but executed ACH transfers, and requests for credit card transfers. Using these mechanisms, the self-sufficient isolated account environment is able to provide the users access to funds which would otherwise be unavailable at the remote isolated location for extended periods. The present invention further includes a debit card that also includes a smart card chip. The debit feature of the card is accessed using a magnetic stripe embossed on the card. The smart card chip creates a secure customized “E-purse” which stores virtual cash. This virtual cash is accessed using smart card devices located in the isolated economic environment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purposes of illustrating the present invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown by the drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an overview of one embodiment of the system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an overview of one embodiment of the method according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a financial system in an isolated environment such as onboard a ship. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system utilizes a smart card that has both a magnetic strip and smart chip. The card functions as a normal ATM credit/debit card as well as stored value card. The magnetic stripe acts a traditional debit/credit card while the smart chip stores funds. The funds stored in the smart chip stores can be transferred to it from demand deposit accounts (DDAs), checks, and credits. Anticipated funding events such as an upcoming payroll check are used to fund the DDA that is then used to fund the smart chip. 
     The financial system has an open transaction platform that allows users to carry out secure transactions on any wired or wireless device, at any time and from anywhere. Transactions are initiated by the smartcard that provides user identification, authentication, authorization, multiple payment functionality, and the secure transmission of information. 
     Various functions can be performed using the smart card such as depositing funds to the chip from a check or cash, transferring funds from the chip to cash, transferring store credit to the chip, or transferring funds from the chip to store credits. Additionally funds are transferable between chips of different smart cards. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , there are two (2) databases, a first database  14  that is in the isolated environment  10 , and a second database  140  that is in a non-isolated environment  100 . The isolated environment  10  is for example a ship, or any other environment where financial transactions take place that may be out of communication with the non-isolated environment  100 . The non-isolated environment  100  is, in this example, a an account system in bank on the shore. 
     The isolated database  14  contains customer accounts, transaction records regarding the accounts, transmission information, and the like. The data in database  14  also includes information regarding each individual card and smart chip, such as information related to the amount of cash stored on a smart card in the isolated environment. Thus, if a card is lost or stolen the card can be replaced and the remaining balance of stored value can be transferred to the new card. In one embodiment of the invention, balances are maintained only in the non-isolated, shore based database  140 . Thus, if a card is lost or stolen the funds can only be replaced when database  140  is accessed. 
     Database  14  also stores data from network  20 . Network  20  contains such elements as an ATM  22 , vending machines  24 , stores  26 , PX  28 , terminal  30 , and the like. As a card is used at any of the locations connected to network  20 , whether it be a debit transaction, a credit transaction or a smart chip transaction, the transaction is recorded in database  14 . 
     Whenever possible, database  14  and database  140  are synchronized. That is to say, isolated database  14  and non-isolated database  140  are mirror images of each other to every extent possible. Database  140  is preferably part of a banking system that is not in an isolated environment. The two databases  14  and  140  are synchronized with updates using various communication means. The databases  14 ,  140  can be connected to each other via various electronic transmission means such as the internet, radio, satellite (e.g.,  101 ), modem, and the like. Additionally, if electronic transmission means are unavailable, synchronization takes place using updates on paper records, magnetic discs, magnetic tapes, CDs, or the like. The updates are the result of a batch process that summarizes transactions and provides a summary that is used to update and synchronize the accounts in databases  14 ,  140 . 
     The shore database  140  is understood to be the “home” of the account information, however, both databases  14  and  140  maintain records of the account information. The ship database  14  is synchronized with the data on the home database  140 . In a preferred embodiment the shore side data is pulled to the ship database  14 , not pushed from the shore database  140 . Further, the data from the shore database  140  is extracted on a regular basis when communication is possible. When a ship goes into blackout mode, i.e., is in an isolated economic environment, where no communications are permitted, the ship-side batch process creates at most one synchronization file for transmission to the shore database  140  and then continues to record the start and end times for synchronization files in the database  14 . Additionally, the ship side batch process continues to attempt communication with the shore-side database periodically until it can continue to attempt communication with the shore-side database periodically until it can continue transmitting and receiving files. In another embodiment, the ship side batch process continues to prepare new update files which are placed in a repository for the shore-side process to retrieve when communication is reestablished with the ship. 
     The process generates error logs in report form to notify an operator if transmission or database integrity errors prohibit the processing of an update. Alerts may be implemented using email or console type alerts. 
     An account/card holder, i.e., a user, is able to perform many tasks in the isolated environment using the terminals  30  or ATM&#39;s  22  connected to network  20 . A user is able to transfer funds from an account to the chip. The account is debited and the card chip is credited the transfer amount. A transaction table in database  14  maintains a record of completed transactions and a transaction log records the transaction. Thus, when the ship-side database  14  and land based database  140  are synchronized, the account from which funds were debited is updated. Alternately, the user can transfer funds from the chip to one or more of the user&#39;s accounts. Funds can also be transferred from the representation of the account, the ship account, to a DDA account or from a DDA account to the ship account. The transaction log has records of the complete transaction as well as the transaction table. 
     The system also allows chip-to-chip fund transfers. The first user&#39;s chip is debited the transfer amount and the second user&#39;s chip is credited the transfer amount. Transaction logs and tables record the transaction. To transfer funds the first user inserts the card into the ATM and enters a PIN number. The user then requests a chip-to-chip transfer. The ATM or terminal verifies the funds on the chip and withdraws those funds requested to be transferred from the chip. The funds are then deposited in an escrow account. The ATM prompts insertion of the second user&#39;s card into the ATM or terminal. User two then enters a PIN number and the system verifies the funds in the escrow account and transfers those funds to the second users chip. 
     In a similar manner, vending machines and store purchases can be made using the smart card. The user can choose whether the transaction is processed using the magnetic stripe as a credit/debit card, or from stored value maintained on the smart card chip. It should be noted that any transfer would, in a preferred mode, be processed through an escrow account. 
     The user can fund the stored value in a smart chip in a variety of ways. The user can perform funding at a smart card enabled ATM. The user inserts the smart card in a smart card enabled ATM or slides the smart card in a reader. The user is then prompted to enter a PIN number that is verified. The user is then prompted to select a transaction. When funding is selected, the user chooses the source for the funds to be transferred. The sources available depend on the user but are selected from DDAs, other deposit accounts, credit accounts, or other users. The user then enters an amount to be transferred to the smart card. The system transfers the funds if they are available. 
     The ship account and the shore account are the same account. Where communication is possible, both the ship account and the shore account are periodically synchronized. When the ship is out of communication, user&#39;s can add funds up to the balance of their accounts at the last synchronization. If the funds are no longer available when communications are restored, the account is overdrawn. 
     Funding of the user&#39;s account from anticipated events form a significant part of the present invention. Anticipated funding events are events such as upcoming payroll, requested but unexecuted transfers, requested but unexecuted reimbursements, and the like. The isolated system  10  is capable of crediting a user&#39;s account with an anticipated funding amount, e.g., their direct deposits payroll account, even while the ship is out of communication with the home account. In essence, the isolated system  10  is performing synchronization of the account representation in databases  14  and  140  even though the isolated system  10  is not in communication with the non-isolated “home” system  100 . On the date that the actual funds are deposited in the user&#39;s “home” account in database  140  in system  100 , the remote isolated system  10  credits the user&#39;s account in database  14 . The amount of the anticipated funding is equal to the most recent payroll amount in the most recent payroll cycle. This anticipatory funding allows a user to access funds that would normally be unavailable. When the ship communicates with the shore financial institution, the account is reconciled using the updates as previously described. 
     The isolated system  10  and the non-isolated system  100  are each complete financial systems. Thus, the systems  10  and  100  are able to track funds in the ship safe, i.e., maintain an accurate balance of all cash held on the ship, perform automated end month processing, and perform automated settlement of funds with merchants. Further, the system has the ability to report the cash position of the entire fleet, sub-fleet, individual ship, and individual type of ship. 
     The self-sufficient banking environment  10  is able to function in an environment where there are multi-week communication blackouts from a financial network. The self sufficient banking environment and  10  the non-isolated financial network  100  are capable of synchronizing each user&#39;s account upon establishment of a communication link between the two systems. The synchronization of the user&#39;s account includes reconciling actual transactions and anticipatory funding events. The anticipatory funding events are related to known dates of direct-deposit pay, requested ACH transfers that are unexecuted, credit card transfers, and funding with uncleared checks. 
     The ability to transfer funds to the chip eliminates the need to have large amounts of cash available. Thus, the risk of theft in closed environments is reduced. Further, the risk of loss is eliminated. If a user were to lose cash, assuming in a ship environment that the money is lost overboard, the cash cannot be replaced. However, in the present system, each transaction is recorded. Thus, if a smartcard is lost, the remaining cash value can be determined. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , initially, a user establishes an account in a non-isolated financial account system. ( 200 ). The non-isolated financial account system is, in one embodiment, shore based. A representation of the account is maintained in a self-sufficient financial account system in an isolated economic environment such as a ship. ( 210 ). The account and the representation of the account are synchronized using an asynchronous connection. ( 220 ). The representation of the account is funded in anticipation of a funding event in the non-isolated financial account system when the asynchronous connection is not available. ( 230 ). 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.