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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern business practices have to a large extent made the handling of
actual cash with the inherent dangers of theft and loss unnecessary in
many sectors of our economy. These include banking, large retail stores,
and a large variety of other businesses where articles are charged to an
account, the individual billed, and the bill subsequently paid by check.
In such businesses the actual amounts of money owed and to be credited are
kept track of largely through the use of computers which record detailed
transaction data, including amounts and the identity of the sellers and
purchasers. Banks, credit granting organizations, and large retail stores
frequently use computers for the purpose of maintaining customer accounts,
debiting and crediting such accounts as the need arises.
However, the individual still must have fairly substantial amounts of cash
for making purchases from other individuals, food stores, gasoline
stations, and the like. It is believed that there is a long felt need in
this area to make the advantages of a "cashless society" available to
individuals for small transactions. Such a system, to be practical, would
of necessity have to be able to take care of both purchases and sales.
Further, in order for such a system to be practical and allow people to
have faith in the system, it would be helpful to provide means in such a
system to maintain sufficient records of identities of both purchasers and
buyers which information would be available in written or in printed form
on a regular statement period basis. A further valuable adjunct to such a
system would be to allow the use of devices with which everyone is
familiar such as, for example, a credit card or credit card-like device
for storing the record of the actual transfer of merchandise and credit.
Such cards having built-in storage registers and certain rudimentary logic
capabilities have been used in the past but are believed to have been
largely limited to use with a standard terminal such as a point of sale
terminal in a department store, cash issuing terminals, and the like.
In addition to the need for "cashless" transactions it would also be
advantageous if such a system could be extended to perform the function of
checks and a checking account. In other words, when the credit card-like
device was presented to a person in payment for merchandise or services
the recording of the transaction by both the seller and purchaser would
automatically result in a debit notice or memorandum being placed in the
purchasers card and a notice of receipt of the `promise to pay` placed in
the seller's account. At some point in the future when the seller presents
the electronically recorded account invoices to a central payee, or bank,
it is at this time that the purchaser's account would actually be debited.
As will be evident, such a transaction would differ from the above
mentioned cash transfer operation in that the actual time of debiting of
the purchaser's account would occur at some point in the future.
A further featuer which could be incorporated in such a system utilizing a
credit card-like device would be a normal credit card function which could
be utilized at a wide variety of different stores with all charges going
into a central clearing house for charging to a particular account. A
number of systems of this nature are currently in wide usage throughout
the country.
In addition, the normal large store type of credit account wherein the
store has its own credit plan, could also be accommodated within the
single credit card-like device.
All of the above desired features of such a system could optimally be
contained on a single credit card-like device wherein the customer would
indicate the type of account and procedure which he desires to utilize as
well as giving his appropriate account numbers or other identifying
information.
At this point, in order for such a system to be practical, it should be
noted that it would be very desirable to provide a device which would, in
effect, interface between the individual's credit card-like device and the
various terminal devices which would be present in stores and the like
such as, point of sale terminals, cash issuing terminals and the like
which would give the individual control over the type of transaction that
is ultimately entered into his card. Present business practices, including
the use of credit cards in stores, take the credit card out of the
individual's possession for a short time, and unauthorized access to
certain of the individual's financial data could readily be obtained by
such stores during this short time. By suitably designing an interface
device it is possible to limit access to the credit card-like device to
only a particular account or data designated by the individual. Optimally,
the design would also limit access to only certain specified information
regarding an account. Thus, such an interface device, if suitably designed
could provide the individual with control over his card and the data
therein, giving a much higher degree of financial protection to the
individual both from inadvertent mistakes and deliberate misuse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been found that a substantial need in the business and banking
community would be satisfied by the provision of individual personal
portable terminals which would serve to greatly enhance the concept of a
"cashless and checkless society." Individuals would be allowed to perform
most banking, financial, and assorted retail transactions by the use of a
personal data storage and transfer card (DSTC) which, with the aid of the
personal portable terminal, called a "transactor" and abbreviated "XATR,"
could be used to continually monitor and record an individual's financial
records both of a debit and credit nature. Use of the device would allow
individuals each having a separate DSTC to consummate a wide variety of
transactions. Provision of suitable key input and display capabilities in
the device allow transactions to be verified by both parties before the
transaction is entered on the DSTCs of the seller and purchaser and
similarly, not only the transaction, but also the account numbers of both
seller and purchaser may be recorded in each of the DSTCs for later
reading out, for example, by a bank data entry terminal at the end of a
specified period for audit, fund transfer, and statment printing purposes.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to produce a personal
portable terminal device for use with individual data storage and transfer
cards (DSTC) which substantially eliminates the need for cash, checks, or
credit cards for most financial transactions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device which is
portable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to use.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a device which is
capable of receiving both the purchaser's and seller's DSTCs and for
recording a credit in one DSTC and a debit in the other together with
appropriate account identification data.
It is yet another object to provide such a device having a keyboard for
entering data into the device which is to be recorded in the individual
DSTCs and a display for specifying the transaction data to allow
verification of entered data by the parties to the transaction prior to
actual entry on the DSTCs.
It is a still further object to provide such a personal portable terminal
device wherein the device is self contained, is provided with a resident
power source, and would be capable of providing both the data signals and
the required power to enter said data into the individual DSTCs via, for
example, air coupling.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a personal
portable terminal device adapted to itself be connected to other devices
to facilitate coupling data into and out of individual DSTCs.
It is a still further object to provide a personal portable terminal device
wherein any transaction to be entered into an individual's DSTC will be
placed upon the display prior to entry and the approval of the owner of
the DSTC obtained.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a personal
portable terminal device, for use with other external devices such as
point of sale terminals and cash issuing terminals, which affords the
owner of the DSTC and the device a high degree of protection, control, and
privacy.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent
from the following description of the invention as simplified in the
following description and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 comprises a functional block diagram of the circuitry contained in a
preferred embodiment of a XATR constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D comprise top, side, bottom, and front views
respectively of such a XATR.
FIG. 3 comprises a front view of such a XATR showing the location of
certain circuit elements mounted in the front surface thereof.
FIG. 4 comprises a bottom view, partly in cross section, illustrating the
placement of certain information transfer and power transfer components
within the bottom surface of a XATR.
FIG. 5 shows details of a typical DSTC suitable for use with the XATR of
the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a bottom view, partly in cross section, of a XATR showing two
DSTCs in place therein and in data transfer relationship therewith.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view, partly in cross section, of a XATR showing a
single DSTC in place therein and in data transfer relationship therewith.
FIG. 8 is a bottom view, partly in cross section, of a personal portable
terminal showing an individual DSTC in a second position such that
different operations are possible than when the DSTC is located as
illustrated in FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The objects of the present invention are accomplished, in general, by a
personal portable terminal device operative in conjunction with other
devices. The devices includes keyboard means for entering transaction
data, and memory means for temporarily storing transaction data, and other
selected financial data pertaining to said transaction. Logic means are
also contained in said device for performing arithmetic operations on data
stored in said memory means and data entered via said keyboard means.
Display means are provided for selectively displaying data including but
not limited to said transaction. Means are also provided for receiving one
or more DSTCs in the device and for entering transaction data from said
device into said DSTCs. Further means are included within said device for
selectively crediting the account balance stored in one DSTC and for
debiting the account balance stored in the other DSTC.
In addition to being adapted to receive one or more DSTCs the device is
further adapted to be connected to other external devices of the same type
and also larger more sophisticated devices such as a point of sale terminal
in a retail establishment or a data entry terminal whereby material stored
on a DSTC may be entered into a central computing system via the XATR.
Before proceeding with the detailed description of the disclosed preferred
embodiment some general description of the overall use and function of the
device will follow together with a general description of other possible
features which could be included in such a device but which are not
specifically disclosed or claimed herein.
The present personal portable terminal device or XATR would normally,
although not necessarily, be owned by the owner or holder of an individual
DSTC. In the following description it will be assumed that when the same
person owns a XATR and a DSTC that this DSTC is referred as the "native"
DSTC when placed in the XATR. A DSTC which is the property of another
person and which may be temporarily housed in someone else's XATR for
purposes of data transfer is hereafter referred to as "visiting" DSTC.
In addition to coupling with one or more DSTCs the XATR is configured to be
plugged into or otherwise placed in a cooperative data exchange
relationship with a number of other devices. Among these possibilities are
the ability to be connected with another similar XATR and its associated
native DSTC. It could, additionally, provide an interface between its own
native DSTC and a point of sale terminal, a point of collection terminal,
a data entry terminal, or various types of identity authentication
devices.
The XATR, its native DSTC, and all other devices disclosed or suggested
herein are intended primarily to facilitate the execution of financial
transactions in the absence of currency or checks. Secondarily, the XATR
and its native DSTC may provide other data entry, storage retrieval, and
computational or display functions which are useful to the owner.
In general, operation of a XATR involves a transfer of information such as
digital data bytes and/or control bytes between the XATR and one or more
devices in communication therewith in both directions. All such
information transfers are communicated through the same medium (air in the
disclosed embodiment) over distances which may range from a maximum of say
0.25 inches to a minimum of several thousands of an inch. As is well known
in the communications art, such communication may either be full duplex or
half duplex. Either mode could be employed in the information transfers
between a XATR and another devices. For purposes of the present
description full duplex operation is assumed.
It will, of course, also be apparent that the particular mode of
communication between a XATR and other devices could take on a number of
other forms, the most obvious of which would be direct electrical
contacts. However, it is to be noted that a system utilizing such contacts
would be subject to wear and a number of other obvious disadvantages. It is
accordingly assumed that capacitative air coupling would be utilized in
such a system.
In full duplex transmission through a common medium, separation of the two
signals which are propagating in opposite directions may be accomplished
by spatial division, frequency division, or with hybrid circuits (i.e.
directional couplers). Any of these modes could be employed in the
information transfer between a XATR and another device. For purposes of
the present description spatial division will be assumed.
In full duplex spatially divided transmission through a common medium,
coupling may be inductive, capacitive, modulated radio frequency, or some
combination thereof. Any of these coupling means could be employed in the
information transfers between a XATR and another device. For the purposes
of the present description, capacitive coupling of modulated radio
frequency signals will be assumed.
Further, for purposes of description, information transfers are assumed to
be serial by byte and serial by bit.
In general, operation of a XATR involves a transfer of power from the XATR
to one or two DSTCs. This power is necessary to allow the transfer of data
to and from the storage circuitry resident within such a DSTC. In addition,
operation of a XATR in conjunction with other devices could possibly
involve the transfer of power from such other devices to the XATR.
For all such power transfer operations, inductive coupling of an a.c.
signal is assumed. Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown a
functional block diagram of the electrical and electronic circuitry of a
preferred embodiment of a XATR constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention. In the figure, the bracket 210 implies
the interface to the owner or operator of the XATR. The bracket 220
indicates the interface between an individual XATR and some other device
such as, for example, another XATR, a point of sale terminal, point of
collection terminal, data entry terminal, or simply a charging station.
Bracket 230 indicates an interface between the XATR and one or more DSTCs.
The input and output means of the XATR available to the operator or owner
are the keyboard 211, the display 213 and the on/off switch 212. The
display 213 would conventionally be alphanumeric in character and would be
capable of indicating such items as the type of transaction, the amount of
the transaction, and other information pertinent to the transaction.
The following elements are located along the XATR to XATR (or other device)
interface 220. A transformer winding 221 is shown for supplying charging
power to the local battery when such charging is required. A magnetic
field sensor 222 is shown which detects the field of a magnet located in
another associated device. This sensor is preferably a magneto resistive
device, a permanent magnet actuated reed relay, or some other device for
indicating to the XATR that the XATR is in a data and/or power transfer
relationship with another external device and that certain predetermined
operational sequences are now possible. 223D and 224D are capacitor plates
for transmitting data from and to the XATR respectively, and would operate
in combination with similarly disposed plates on the matching devices to
which the XATR is adapted for coupling. As stated previously, it is
assumed that the actual data and control signals are transmitted via
modulated radio frequency signals between the devices.
As will be described subsequently, the native DSTC associated with a
particular XATR typically interfaces to the XATR when it is in a first
position, hereinafter referred to as position "B." In addition, when a
visiting DSTC is associated with a particular XATR, the native DSTC is
moved to a second position referred to herein as position "A." The
visiting DSTC occupies a position referred to herein as position "V."
Thus, three interface positions are indicated along interface bracket 230,
as positions "A," "B" and "V." It will be noted that each position
comprises two communication paths (capacitor plates) and a power link
(transformer windings).
233A, 233B, and 233V, are capacitor plates which in combination with
similar capacitor plates located in the individual DSTCs, provide
information transmission paths for modulated radio frequency signals from
the XATR to the DSTCs.
234A, 234B and 234V, are capacitor plates which in combination with similar
capacitor plates located in the individual DSTCs, provide information
transmission paths for modulated radio frequency signals from the DSTCs to
the XATR.
The transformer primary windings 235A, 235B, and 235V, cooperate with
similar secondary windings in the DSTCs to provide power transmission
paths from the XATR to the DSTCs to perform the necessary operations
referred to previously.
The device 231 is a magnetic field sensor like the device 222 described
previously which indicates to the XATR that its native DSTC is located in
position A.
D.C. power for the operation of the XATR is provided by those devices
located within the dotted block 240. The power devices include a rectifier
241 whose input is the secondary winding 221 and whose output is connected
to a rechargeable battery 242. Rectifier 241 could also contain circuitry
to prevent overcharging of the battery 242 and protective circuitry to
prevent damage to the elements within block 240 in the event of the
application of an improper excitation to the winding 221. The battery 242
is shown as having one output 243 which is connected to all circuits in
the XATR which must be continuously energized.
Block 244 contains various power control switches, which selectively and in
response to signals from the power control logic 253 apply power to various
circuits. Typically 244 has more than one output, as shown, wherein output
245 energizes the display 213 and output 246 energizes all other circuitry
within the XATR. Outputs 243, 245 and 246 are labeled in the disclosed
circuitry as appropriate.
The digital circuits of the XATR lie within the dotted block 250. In this
block the digital processor 251 is shown whose major functions are
control, message formatting, message routing, checking, addition,
subtraction, and input/output operations. Other than the read only stored
required for its own control routines and the routines which it executes
in the various modes of operation and the temporary data storage required
for the execution of such routines, the processor contains no storage.
Thus, in the presently disclosed embodiment, the processor contains no
storage for financial transaction data.
A digital real time clock 252 is provided which keeps time in seconds,
minutes, hours, days, months and the last two digits of the year. It also
contains counters for the implementation of the timing functions of the
XATR.
Power control logic block 253 operates in response to signals from the
on/off switch 212 and the magnetic sensors 222 and 231, to energize or
deenergize the appropriate circuits. It also deenergizes appropriate
circuits in response to time out signals from the digital clock 252. Line
254 is a signal path which indicates processor activity and resets the
time out counters in the digital clock. Line 255 is the signal path for
setting the digital clock. Line 256 denotes the signal paths over which
clock signals and real time information are delivered to the processor and
line 257 comprises the signal path over which time out signals are
delivered to power control logic 253.
The analog and hybrid circuits of the XATR lie within the dotted block 260.
Within the block 261 is a rudimentary receiver which converts received
modulated radio frequency input to digital output. Element 262 is a
rudimentary transmitter which converts a digital input to modulated radio
frequency output. Element 263 is an analog switch which routes radio
frequency signals from a selected input to the receiver. Element 264 is an
analog switch which routes radio frequency signals from the transmitter to
a selected output. Element 265 is an oscillator connected to the a.c.
power switch 266 which in turn routes a.c. power for delivery to the DSTCs
via selected transformer primaries 235A, 235B, or 235V. It should be noted
that the analog switches 263, 264, and 266 are controlled by a common
input 267. 233D, 234D, and 235i or 223i and 224i are all activated
simultaneously, where i equals A, B, or V. It will be remembered from the
above description that `A,` `B,` and `V` correspond to various positions
of one or two DSTCs located within the receiving slot of a XATR and that
position ` D` corresponds to a XATR connected to another external device
other than a DSTC as described above.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the overall geometry of a typical XATR is shown.
FIGS. 2A, B, C and D are top, side, bottom and front views respectively of
the XATR specifically shown and described in block form in FIG. 1. It
should be noted that the same reference numerals are utilized throughout
the present description and drawings to identify the same elements.
Referring to FIG. 2A the top surface of the XATR essentially corresponds
to the operator interface bracket 210 as shown in FIG. 1. On the top
surface are located the keyboard 211, ON/OFF switch 212, and the
alphanumeric display 213.
The front surface of the XATR is depicted in FIG. 2D and corresponds to the
bracket 220 in FIG. 1. The electrical components mounted along this surface
are shown in FIG. 1 and their function will be described later. However, in
addition to these components, a male aligning and fastening pin 225 is
shown, which, with modest force is designed to snap into or out of a
complementary female aligning and fastening hole or plug similar to 226 in
another XATR, point of sale terminal, data entry terminal, or the like.
Conversely, plug or hole 226 is a spring loaded female aligning and
fastening structure which with modest force snaps or unsnaps around a
complementary male aligning and fastening structure in another XATR, point
of sale terminal, data entry terminal, or the like. Thus, elements 225 and
226 are exemplary of any one of many possible complementary mechanical
mating structures. Their functions is to physically align and attach
devices and, as disclosed, do not form any part of the control or data
transfer function. The side view of the XATR shown in FIG. 2B shows the
configuration of the male member 225 and also of a simple retention bail
229 (also shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C) which may be provided to allow for the
physical attachment to the XATR into a wallet or some other form of
relatively high security holding device. Also shown in FIG. 2B at the
bottom are two dotted lines which define a slot formed by the overlying
tabs 228 for receiving the DSTCs.
The bottom surface of the XATR shown in FIG. 2C corresponds to the DSTC
interface bracket 230 of FIG. 1. The actual operation of the components
mounted along this surface will be described in further detail later. A
slot 227 is defined in the bottom of the XATR whose width is shown by the
dotted lines in FIG. 2C and its thickness is defined by the dotted lines
in FIG. 2B. The slot for retaining a DSTCs is formed preferably by two
overhanging tabs 228 which may preferably be made of metal or some other
suitable material which contains a continuous conducting screen or sheet.
The purpose for such a shield would be to prevent unauthorized
eavesdropping on transactions as will be understood. Also, as will be
described in detail later, the DSTC may be moved to the various positions
A, B, and V within the slot 227 by means of thumb or finger pressure
applied through the open space between the tabs 228. In FIG. 2C a DSTC is
illustrated in position B.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a front view of a XATR showing
previously identified components 225 and 226 and components described in
connection with above description of FIG. 1. These components may be
mounted flush with the surface, but, for protection and for appearance are
preferably mounted a short distance below the surface under an appropriate
covering material which will not interfere with data transfer or power
between devices. These surface components are a multi turn transformer
secondary winding 221 which may be fitted with a partial ferromagnetic
core, a magnetic sensor element 222, the input and output capacitor plates
224 and 223 and a permanent magnet 222M which activates a magnetic sensor,
such as 222 described above, for use when the XATR is mated with another
XATR or other external device having a sensing element similar to element
222.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a XATR along section line 4--4 of FIG. 2B
showing components described in connection with the DSTC interface 230 of
FIG. 1. These components may be mounted flush with the surface, but, for
protection and for appearance are preferably mounted a short distance
below the surface under a suitable protective material. These components
are the magnetic field sensor 231, the output capacitor plates 233A, 233B,
and 233V, the input capacitor plates 234A, 234B, and 234V, and the
transformer primary windings 235A, 235B, and 235V which may also be fitted
with partial ferromagnetic cores.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention there is a continuous
electrically conductive surface 236 which covers the entire bottom surface
of the XATR with the exception of regions or windows W around the
components 233i, 234i and 235i. The surface or film 236 is a ground
reference plane and also functions as a radio frequency shield for
security purposes. Further, as mentioned previously, the shield located
within the tabs 228 may be connected to the shield 236 to extend both
ground plane and the radio frequency shielding effect. members 237A, 237B
and 237V are flat spring members having semicircular locators which extend
into the DSTC slot 237 in the bottom of the XATR. These semicircular
positioning members engage corresponding notches in the sides of the
individual DSTCs to retain and properly position the DSTCs in the slot in
one of the three positions, A, B, or V.
Before describing the cooperative operation of a XATR and a DSTC it is
necessary to briefly set forth the components and operations of a typical
DSTC having a structure complementary to that of the herein disclosed
XATR. It is however, not intended that the DSTC be patentable per se and
the following brief description of FIG. 5 is intended merely to set forth
a suitable arrangement of components for coupling with the herein
disclosed and claimed XATR.
FIG. 5 is a center sectional view of a typical DSTC showing the components
associated with the operation of the DSTC in the course of a typical
financial transaction or other data retrieval/storage operation. Shown in
the figure is the permanent magnet insert 131 which cooperates with the
sensor 231 in the XATR to indicate that there is a DSTC present in the
slot 237. Element 132 depicts the electronic circuitry of the DSTC which
may include a rectifier connected to secondary winding 135, a receiver
connected to element 133, a transmitter connected to element 134, various
digital control circuits and digital storage elements. In response to
commands from a XATR the DSTC either stores data received from the XATR or
transmits data stored within the DSTC to the XATR. Element 133 is a
capacitor plate which, in combination with similar plates (i.e. 233i) in a
XATR, comprises an information receiving path for modulated radio frequency
signals from the XATR. Element 134 is a capacitor plate which, in
combination with similar capacitor plates (i.e. 234i) in the XATR,
comprises an information transmitting path for modulated radio frequency
signals from the DSTC. Element 135 is a transformer secondary winding
which, in combination with similar primary windings (i.e. 235i) in a XATR,
provides a power transmission path from the XATR to the DSTC. Elements 137
and 138 are conductors which are connected to the ground of the DSTC
circuitry and which are associated with elements 133 and 134 respectively.
Notches 147A, 147B and 147V are also shown in FIG. 5 and are for the
purposes of positioning a DSTCs in one of the three positions A, B, or V.
It will be noted that both the sides of the notches 147A and 147V are
rounded while only the right side of notch 147B is rounded. The function
of the notch contours will be described later.
It should be noted at this point that conventionally on such a DSTC various
types of identity or authentication information could be provided so that
the authenticity of the holder of a particular DSTC might be verified in
some manner, such as by comparing a stored number with a key entered
number with or without cryptographic complexity added to a translation and
comparison routine. Alternatively some relatively simple physical
descriptive material could be stored in the DSTC which would be
susceptible of display on a XATR. However, the details of the circuitry
for performing such identifying operations are not considered a part of
this invention and accordingly are not specifically disclosed herein.
There will now follow a description of various cooperative operations
between a XATR and one or more DSTCs. As stated above, identity
verification or user authorization routines are not considered part of
this invention and accordingly only financial transaction operation will
be described.
As set forth previously, the postioning of the DSTC in various locations,
i.e., positions A, B, or V, have been generally referred to especially
with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 6 shows a composite view of the XATR
with both a native and visiting DSTC in positions A and V, respectively. It
will be noted that the figure shows the two DSTCs as abutting at one end,
however, this would not be necessary. Referring to FIG. 6, it will be
noted that the visiting DSTC is mechanically located and held in position
by springs 237V and 237B and that its input/ouput interface elements 133,
134 and 135 are mechanically aligned with elements 233V, 234V, and 235V,
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