Patent ID: 8127999

Claim:
A wireless mobile communications apparatus comprising: a card reader configured to removably receive a data bearing card into a card receiving position thereof; a display; an input device; wireless communications apparatus; memory for storing instructions and data; and a computing apparatus, when the card reader is in the receiving position thereof is configured to execute the instructions in the memory to: read, using the card reader, information encoded in memory of the data bearing card in the card receiving position thereof; derive, from the information encoded in the memory of the data bearing card, an identifier for an account issued by an issuer; and transmit, using the wireless communications apparatus, the identifier for the account; receive, using the wireless communications apparatus, in response to the transmission of the identifier for the account, a total currency amount of a transaction with a merchant being conducted on the account by use of the wireless mobile communications apparatus; render, using the display, a prompt requesting authorization of withdrawal of the total currency amount for the transaction from the account; receive, from the input device, in response to the rendered prompt, an indicator as to an approval of the requested authorization for the withdrawal of the total currency amount for the transaction from the account; transmit, using the wireless communications apparatus, information corresponding to the indicator; receive, using the wireless communications apparatus, in response to the transmission of the information corresponding to the indicator, a remaining currency balance in the account; and render, using the display, in response the receiving of the remaining currency balance in the account, the remaining currency balance in the account; encode, using the card reader, the received remaining currency balance in the account in the memory of the data bearing card; receive, from the input device, an indicator corresponding to a demand balance inquiry; read, in response to the receipt of the indicator corresponding to the demand balance inquiry, the encoded remaining currency balance in the account in the memory of the data bearing card; and render, on the display, in response to the reading of the encoded remaining currency balance in the account in the memory of the data bearing card, a display representing the remaining currency balance in the account as encoded in the memory of the data bearing card.