Device, system and methods of conducting paperless transactions

Abstract

A universal electronic transaction card (“UET card”) is capable of serving as a number of different credit cards, bank cards, identification cards, employee cards, medical cards and the like. The UET card includes storage elements, an input interface, a processor, a display, and a communications interface. In a preferred embodiment, the UET card stores transactional information to eliminate paper receipts and includes security features to prevent unauthorized use. The UET card may also be used to replace conventional currency and traveler's checks, and may be configured to store and display promotional information, such as advertising and incentives. A communications interface unit (“CIU”) may be provided to interface between the UET card and a personal computer, automatic banking terminal (commonly referred to as ATM machines) and / or an institutional mainframe computer. CIU devices may include electrical contact for recharging a UET card. A system of utilizing the UET card is also provided which includes UET cards and CIU devices which enable the transmission of information between point of sales (or point of transactions) computers and the UET cards. The system further includes point of sales computers configured to communicate with the UET card and with service institution computers. The invention also includes a health care management system utilizing UET cards. In the health care management system, all medical information for a patient may be stored in the UET card so that when a patient receives services from a health care provider, that health care provider connects the patient's UET card to the health care provider's computer system and can then obtain all pertinent medical information concerning the patient, including the patient's medical history, insurance information and the like. In addition, the treatment or services provided by the health care provider are stored in the patient's UET card. The invention also includes methods of issuing an account authorization to a UET card, a method of transferring transactional and account information between a UET card and a personal computer or a mainframe computer, a method of using the UET card as a remote terminal for a mainframe computer, and a method of conducting an electronic transaction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a universal electronic transaction card (“UET card”) for storing, transmitting and receiving personal, accounting and transactional information, to a UET card and communications systems, and to an electronic transaction system which utilizes UET cards. This invention also relates to a health care system utilizing UET cards. This invention also relates to methods of issuing an account authorization to a UET card, a method of transferring transactional and account information between a UET card and a personal computer or a mainframe computer, a method of using the UET card as a remote terminal for a mainframe computer, and a method of conducting an electronic transaction. The UET card of the present invention is capable of functioning as a number of different credit cards or other transaction or identification cards, which provides the user of the UET card with the capability of selecting one of many such cards for use in a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] There are several advantages to the present invention. With respect to credit card transactions, the UET card of the present invention may be used to store in memory each credit card or bank transaction for which it is used. Those transactions may be displayed on the display of the UET card. Alternatively, the contents of memory may be electronically transferred to a personal computer for use in any one of a number of commercially available personal accounting programs, such as the program commercially sold under the name “QUICKEN”. Alternatively, the information could be used with spreadsheet programs, such as LOTUS or EXCEL. Alternatively, the UET card may be provided with a disk containing a program that may be used on a personal computer to display and print the information. Or, for those card users who might not own a personal computer, a printer may be provided to interface with the card and to print the record of the desired transaction or transactions.

[0026] There are also several advantages that may be realized by the application of the present invention to the health care industry. A patient's insurance information, and key medical history information may be maintained in the memory of the UET card. Alternatively, or in addition, a patient's complete medical history may be maintained in a universal database, accessible over a health care data network similar to the network presently known as the INTERNET. Thus, every time a patient using a UET card would visit a doctor, or a hospital, or an out patient clinic, or a pharmacy, the patient's medical history would be available so that the health care provider or pharmacist would have instant access to information that might prevent the prescribing of drugs or other treatment which would not be tolerated by the patient, because of allergic reactions or other contraindications.

Problems solved by technology

The disadvantage of the foregoing system is that at least two written documents are generated for the credit card user, at a substantial cost to the credit card institution.

Carrying a substantial number of such cards is inconvenient.

Financial accounting associated with these cards related to paying bills, keeping track of accounts, budgeting, planning and the like, is manual, cumbersome, time consuming, and difficult to manage and maintain.

Thus, a substantial amount of plastic must be used to make the cards, paper must be used to mail the cards to users, and a substantial amount of paper and plastic is eventually thrown away, resulting in waste, degradation of the environment, and a loss of money.

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