Payment cards and devices operable to receive point-of-sale actions before point-of-sale and forward actions at point-of-sale

Abstract

A payment card or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. A user can utilize buttons located on the card to perform activities that would otherwise be performed at an ATM, payment card reader, or by a waitress. A user can provide instructions on a card to accelerate a transaction. The information a user enters can be communicated to a point-of-sale device. For example, a user can enter into his / her card that the user desires $100 withdrawal from a checking account. The user can also enter his / her PIN into the card. The user can swipe his / her card into an ATM and instantly be provided with the desired $100.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61 / 016,491 filed on Dec. 24, 2007 (Docket No. JDM / 019 PROV), 61 / 026,846 filed on Feb. 7, 2008 (Docket No. JDM / 019PROV2), 61 / 027,807 filed on Feb. 11, 2008 (Docket. No. JDM / 020 PROV), 61 / 081,003 filed on Jul. 15, 2008 (Docket No. D / 005 PROV), 61 / 086,239 filed on Aug. 5, 2008 (Docket No. D / 006 PROV), 61 / 090,423 filed on Aug. 20, 2008 (Docket No. D / 007 PROV), 61 / 097,401 filed Sep. 16, 2008 (Docket No. D / 008 PROV), 61 / 112,766 filed on Nov. 9, 2008 (Docket No. D / 009 PROV), 61 / 117,186 filed on Nov. 23, 2008 (D / 010 PROV), 61 / 119,366 filed on Dec. 2, 2008 (Docket No. D / 011 PROV), and 61 / 120,813 filed on Dec. 8, 2008 (Docket No. D / 012 PROV), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to magnetic cards and payment systems.[0003]Payment card transactions are slow. A user may need to w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]A material may be sandwiched between the two layers to assist in reducing the affect of the electromagnetic fields from one set of coil segments on the side of the material opposite that set of coil segments. Such an interior material may be insulated such that the material does not short the coil segments. Additionally, such an interior material may be chosen, for example, such that the material does not saturate when the coil is conducting current. The coil and material may run, for example, along the location of a track of magnetic data for a payment card. Accordingly, a coil may be fabricated so that the coil wraps around an interior material.

[0018]A user may command a card to communicate particular information to obtain a variety of functionalities. For example, a user may be required to perform a variety of actions at a point-of-sale (POS) magnetic stripe reader. Such actions may require that user to spend a particular amount of time. Accordingly, such a user may perform these activities before reaching the POS device. The user's decisions may be communicated through a POS reader output device such as a magnetic emulator / encoder, RFID antenna, and / or IC chip. Accordingly, in doing so, a user may decrease the time the user spends at a POS device. Accordingly, the time it takes to complete a transaction at a POS device can be significantly reduced.

[0019]User interfaces, such as capacitive or mechanical buttons, may be included on a card. One or more buttons may be associated with one or more tip amounts. Accordingly, for example, a user may press a particular button and a corresponding percentage may be communicated to a POS reader. Accordingly, a remote server may complete a transaction for the full-amount of the purchase (e.g., total cost, tax, and tip). The remote server may also pre-authorize the transaction for this full-amount such that a user can, for example, easily change the tip if desired. In determining the amount of the tip on the payment card, a user may increase the speed of a transaction as the user may not have to perform any math himself / herself. The user may instead be presented with a receipt that notes the desired tip as well as the total amount that includes the tip. Such a total operation may be performed in numerous locations. For example, a POS reader may recognize the inclusion of tip information in an card output signal (e.g., an RFID, IC chip, and / or magnetic stripe signal).

[0026]A card with pre-ATM functionality is provided in order to expedite the ATM process when a user is provided with the ability to physically interact with the ATM machine. Accordingly, a user may perform ATM activities on his / her card so that when the user physically interacts with an ATM machine, the time of the interaction is reduced. A card is provided with a button that allows a user to designate that the user desires to withdrawal a particular amount of cash from an ATM. Accordingly, for example, the user may enter in his / her PIN onto a card while waiting in a line to use a particular ATM. The user can also utilize the user interfaces of the card to denote that the user desires a particular amount (e.g., $100) of cash from a particular account of the user's (e.g., checking). Accordingly, a card may communicate this information to an ATM when a user swipes or inserts his / her card into the ATM. Accordingly, a user may be prompted with a confirmation screen to confirm the user's pre-ATM card actions. In doing so, a user may decrease the amount of time he / she spends at an ATM machine.

[0030]A card is provided that includes a user interface associated with determining whether a user desires a receipt for a particular transaction. In doing so, for example, the information associated with the user's decision on whether the user desires a receipt can be communicated through a payment card reader. In doing so, a cashier may, for example, not need to ask a user whether the user desires a receipt—thus decreasing the time of interaction between the user and the cashier.

Problems solved by technology

Payment card transactions are slow.

Such traditional systems are deficient as a user may spend a large amount of time at a payment card reader interacting with the payment card reader.

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