Abstract:
Apparatus comprising an electronic device in a handbag configured to communicate with a mobile device in order to update and display a portfolio value on a display device; the mobile device including a software application configured to automatically update the portfolio value by connecting to an online database.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0002]    The subject disclosure relates to a handbag with a built-in display which shows, for example, the value of an investment portfolio that is linked to the handbag. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Handbags per se of many designs are known in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to an illustrative embodiment the apparatus comprises of a handbag made of leather or other material that incorporates an electronic device which has an LCD or other technology display. In one embodiment, the device links with a paired mobile phone via Bluetooth. In one embodiment, the handbag links to an investment portfolio and comes with an accompanying investment portfolio certificate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a handbag with a built-in electronic device and display with a display cover in an open position; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a handbag with a built-in electronic device and display with a display cover in a closed position; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a system block diagram of the electronics of an illustrative embodiment; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are flowcharts illustrating functioning of the processors of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    According to one illustrative embodiment, a handbag with a specific serial number is linked to an investment portfolio. In one embodiment, the handbag is equipped with an electronic device with an LCD E-ink or other display, and may have an activation button that allows the device to pair with a mobile telephone, as well as a battery pack with replaceable disposable batteries. 
         [0011]    According to an illustrative business method, a handbag is offered for sale equipped as described, along with a linked investment portfolio. The buyer takes ownership of the handbag and is sent a Certified Investment Portfolio Certificate and Insurance Certificate, for example, within ten days of the purchase date. 
         [0012]    According to one embodiment, two investment options are provided to the buyer: The first option is a guaranteed value increase option. In this case, the owner decides to have the portfolio invested in Bonds or CD/Fixed Deposits or a similar investment instrument or a combination of these. When returning the handbag along with the Investment Certificate, which, in one embodiment, can be done at any time, the full current value is refunded minus a fee of, for example, $2,000.00 which covers the cost of the handbag and a management fee. The second investment option is to have all the investments in stocks or Mutual Funds or a combination of these. In this case, the bag can only be returned after a minimum time period of, for example, one year, and the fee, which covers the cost of the handbag and a management fee may be, for example, 25% of any value added to the value of the investment. According to one embodiment, all Financial Transactions related to the Investments may be CPA and Attorney Certified. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the company that sells the handbag will be taking out an insurance policy for each buyer that guarantees payout of the current value of the investments in case of insolvency of the company. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, for the owner to able to convert the investment into cash again, the owner must surrender the handbag together with the accompanying Certified Investment Portfolio Certificate. There can be no payout on only the handbag, or on only the Certified Investment Portfolio Certificate. 
         [0015]    The electronic technology used to implement an illustrative embodiment may comprise a Software application that is running on a mobile telephone or similar piece of equipment that enables Bluetooth pairing with the electronic device inside the handbag. The Software application monitors the value of the investments for the owner. When the button on the electronic device in the handbag is activated, the device pairs to the mobile telephone, retrieves the current value of the investments, and displays that value on the display device, after which the Bluetooth connection is terminated until it is again initiated by the owner. Of course, the display device may be controlled so as to display a succession of included values and/or other information in other embodiments. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, there may be four levels or categories for these Investment handbags: Silver at a price of $25,000.00, Gold at a price of $50,000.00, Platinum costing $100,000.00 and Diamond at $250,000.00. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an illustrative handbag  11 , with a display  13  beneath which is positioned an activation button  15 . In one embodiment, a cover  17  may be flipped open to reveal the display  13  or to cover the display  13 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the display  13  may be driven by a communication device and activated to provide a display upon depression or other activation of the button  15  or by touching touch screen display. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the display  13  is connected to a processor  21 , which may be, for example, a microprocessor, microcontroller, custom integrated circuit, or computing device. The processor  21  is connected to interface with a Bluetooth or other transceiver  23 , for the purpose of transmitting and receiving RF communications, for example, from a handheld device  25 , which may be, for example, a cell phone or smart phone. In other embodiments, the device  25  need not be handheld. The device  25  also includes a Bluetooth transceiver  26 , as well as a software application  27  stored, for example, in a memory  29 . 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the transceiver  26  is controlled by a microprocessor or other control device  29  which executes the instructions of the software application to perform a sequence of operations as hereafter described. In particular, in one embodiment, the control device  29  is operative to respond to a signal from the Bluetooth transceiver  23  initiated by depression of the control button  15  to access and retrieve the value of investments selected by the owner of the handbag  11 , which value may be stored in a database  30 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the database  30  is maintained by the company selling the handbag  11 . In one embodiment, the database  30  can be updated by various means, for example, by an automatic sync operation with a brokerage computer system where the handbag owner&#39;s portfolio resides. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows an illustrative structure  100  of a smartphone application  27 . In step  102 , the system checks to see if the handbag on-line account has been configured within the smart phone application. If not, steps  104  and  105  are executed to allow the user to enter a user log-in I.D. and password and to then save these in the smart phone application. 
         [0022]    If at test  102 , it is determined that the handbag account has already been configured, test  103  is performed to determine whether the account value information has been updated within a selected interval, such as, for example, 60 minutes. If not, the phone  25  connects to the database  30  and retrieves and saves the current portfolio value as reflected by steps  106 ,  107 . At test  108 , the application checks for a Bluetooth signal from the handbag  11 . If such a signal is detected, the Bluetooth transceiver  26  of the phone  25  pairs up with the Bluetooth transceiver  23  of the handbag  11  and transmits the investment portfolio value to the handbag  11 , steps  109 ,  110 , and then drops or terminates the Bluetooth connection, step  111 . If a Bluetooth signal is not detected at test  108 , the process continues, step  101 . 
         [0023]    The operation of the handbag processor  21  is further illustrated in  FIG. 5 . According to the module process structure  200 , the processor  21  runs a test  202  to detect depression of the activation button  15 . If depression is detected, step  203  is performed to establish a Bluetooth link-up with the phone  25 , and to then receive, save, and display the investment portfolio value, steps  204 ,  205 ,  206 . After step  206 , the process continues, step  201 . 
         [0024]    In various embodiments, more than one investment value may be displayed, as well as other information. In one embodiment, GPS capability could further be provided by the electronic device of the handbag  11  to assist in recovery of a lost or stolen handbag. The method and apparatus disclosed herein may also be used with wallets and briefcases. In other words, handbag  11  could be replaced in other embodiments by a wallet or briefcase equipped with an electronic device  15  and display  13 . 
         [0025]    In various embodiments, software for implementing the disclosed processes, procedures and functionality described above may be stored on various forms of computer readable medium or media or computer readable storage medium or media. For the purposes of this disclosure, a computer readable medium stores computer data, which data can and typically does include computer program code that is executable by a computer, in machine readable form. In one embodiment, such software and/or program code comprises non-transitory software and/or non-transitory program code. 
         [0026]    By way of example, and not limitation, a computer readable medium may comprise computer readable storage media, for tangible or fixed storage of data, or communication media for transient interpretation of code-containing signals. Computer readable storage media, as used herein, refers to physical or tangible storage (as opposed to signals) and includes without limitation volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable storage media implemented in any method or technology for the tangible storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other physical or material medium which can be used to tangibly store the desire information or data or instructions and which can be accessed by a computer or processor. In various embodiments, when suitable computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a specially configured apparatus. 
         [0027]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described illustrative embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.