MXPA00011711A - Wallet consolidator - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for warehousing information in a wallet consolidator. The wallet consolidator includes a controller for controlling operation of the wallet consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader/writer (220) for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner (180) for scanning bar codes, a keypad (150) for inputting user selections and commands, a memory (120) for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, a smart card interface (170) for effectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screen (200) further for displaying a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by a bar code reader. To store information in the wallet consolidator, or alternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator, information is read from magnetic stripes on various types of cards such as, but not limited to, credit, debit and identification cards. Additionally, images of the cards including, but not limited to, signatures and portraits are downloaded and stored. A user retrieves the information from any of the stored magnetic stripes and writes the information to a single magnetic stripe for use in a point of sale transaction. Similarly, stored images are retrieved and displayed on a display screen including a bar code which can be scanned by a bar code scanner.

Description

PORTFOLIO CONSOLIDATOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to the use of electronic smart cards for the storage of information related to electronic commerce and the identification of customers, and particularly, but not limited to, a method and apparatus. to store and retrieve information in relation to credit cards, debit cards, identification cards and other selected data. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In today's electronic commerce there has been a proliferation in the use of various types of credit, debit, identification cards and other types of authorization cards. For example, an ordinary person probably carries a driver's license, several credit and / or debit cards, an ID card for access to a club, an ID card for access to a workplace and an access card to enter in a parking lot, among other cards. In addition, with advances in electronic commerce, smart cards are likely to replace money in paper and coins, and as a consequence consumers should carry an additional card. Each of these cards typically incorporates a magnetic stripe or barcode to facilitate easy recognition of the card and to store various types of data. Even when the use of these cards allows an electronic commerce or easy and efficient, the number of these cards quickly becomes a problem and many people find it uncomfortable to carry a large number of cards. Attempts have been made to employ a unique smart card to store all the information contained in several cards. These attempts, however, include downloading information from the smart card provider and do not allow a smart card user to control the content of the device by adding additional information from newly issued cards or removing information from the card. cards discontinued. It would be helpful therefore to devise a method and apparatus to consolidate the various cards and other types of information that people typically carry in a portfolio or purse. It would also be helpful if said method and apparatus would store the information in a central location and facilitate the use of a single card for multiple purposes. It would also be advantageous if said method and apparatus allowed the user of the method and apparatus to have the ability to control the stored information. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for storing information in a portfolio consolidator. The portfolio consolidator includes a controller to control the operation of the portfolio consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader / writer for reading and writing magnetic strips, a barcode scanner to scan bar codes, a keyboard for entering selections and commands for user, a memory for storing information provided to the portfolio consolidator, a smart card interface to effect communication between the portfolio consolidator and a smart card and a display screen for viewing texts and graphs, the display screen is also for displaying a Barcode pattern layers to be scanned by a barcode scanner. To store information in the portfolio consolidator, or alternatively in a smart card communicated to the portfolio consolidator, the information is read from magnetic strips that are found in various types of card such as credit cards, debit cards and credit cards. ID cards, without being limited to these types of cards. A barcode scanner allows the scanning of a bar code from a card and its storage in memory. In addition, images of the cards that include signatures, portraits, without limiting themselves to these characteristics, can be downloaded, and with a sufficient memory, stored for future use. A user retrieves the information from any of the stored magnetic strips and writes the information in a unique magnetic strip for use at a point of sale transaction. Similarly, stored images are retrieved and displayed on a display screen that includes a bar code that can be scanned by a barcode scanner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the present invention can be obtained with reference to the following Detailed Description and with reference to the appended claims, in combination with the Annex Drawings in which: Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of the portfolio consolidator; Figure 2 is a flow chart of a preferred method for consolidating card information using the portfolio consolidator described in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portfolio consolidator consistent with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a functional block diagram of a portfolio consolidator generally shown at 100. The functional components of the portfolio consolidator 100 include a controller 110, a memory 120, a grouping of user input devices 130, a data interface 140, a keyboard 150, a telephone interface 160, a smart card interface 170, a bar code scanner 180, an infrared transceiver 190, a display 200, a radio frequency transceiver 210 and magnetic stripe reader / writer 220. Controller 110 controls the overall operation of portfolio consolidator 100 including coordination of the various functional blocks. The reader / writer of magnetic strips 220 is used to read information from the magnetic strips used in credit cards, debit cards and identification cards, among others and to write information in said magnetic strips used in credit cards, cards of debit cards and identification cards, among others. The information read from the magnetic strips by the reader / writer of magnetic strips 220 is stored in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100. In an alternative mode, the information is stored in a memory located inside a smart card which It is commonly known in the industry. In situations in which the information from the magnetic stripe is stored in the memory of the smart card, the information is written into the memory of the smart card using the smart card interface 170. The smart card interface 170 performs the reading from the smart card and the writing on the smart card. A keyboard 160 is used as a user input to enter information or to indicate selections and actions to the portfolio consolidator 100. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the keyboard 160 is a numeric keypad, however, in an alternative embodiment, the 160 keyboard is an alphanumeric keyboard. The grouping of user devices 130 offers an additional user input to communicate selections and actions to the portfolio consolidator 100. While it is understood that the grouping of user input devices 130 may have any number of input buttons, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an up and down scroll button to scroll between options offered to the user on the display screen 200, a delete button to remove items from the display screen and an activation button to make a selection and / or to allow an action by the portfolio consolidator 100. The bar code keyboard 180 allows a user to scan a bar code on the front of an identification card, credit card, debit card or other types. of cards and to store the barcode in the memory 120 of the portfolio consolidator, or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. In any case, the user can select the bar code for display on the display 200 such that the bar code, as displayed on the display 200, can be read by a bar code scanner. In addition to displaying items stored in the memory 120 of the portfolio consolidator 100, or alternatively in the memory of the smart card, the display 200 is used to program and / or otherwise control the operation of the portfolio consolidator 100. For example, the display screen 200, in combination with the keyboard 150 and / or the grouping of user input devices 130 is used by the user to enter a key to access the portfolio consolidator 100. In an alternative mode, the keyboard 150 is in the form of a touch-sensitive display screen 200. After accessing the portfolio consolidator 100, the controller 110 displays a menu of functions on the display 200 and the user makes a selection either by using the grouping of entry devices by user 130 to scroll and select an option or to directly select an option using the 150 keypad. Types of options include, but are not limited to, the selection of a card to add, remove or duplicate information, transfer of data, transfer of cash or access to various types of information such as electronic vouchers information, identification information or medical records, among others. Based on the selected option, the portfolio consolidator 100, through the display screen 200, traverses a tree of actions that instruct the user regarding the use of the portfolio consolidator 100. The data interface 140 and the interface Telephone 160 performs communications between the portfolio consolidator 100 and various computing devices such as point of sale terminals, non-intelligent terminals and database, but not limited to these devices. The data interface 140 employs a serial data port, a parallel data port or any other data communication technique. Similarly, the telephone interface 160 allows communication through a wired or wireless telecommunication network. In addition, the infrared transceiver 190 and the radio frequency transceiver 210 perform wireless communication between the portfolio consolidator 100 and various computing devices such as point of sale terminals, non-intelligent terminals, and database, but not limited to these devices , equipped with an infrared transceiver or similar radio frequency transceiver. Portfolio consolidator 100 allows an individual to pass his credit, debit, identification or other types of cards through a reader / writer of magnetic strips 220 and store the information contained in the magnetic stripe in memory 120 of the portfolio consolidator. 100, or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. The portfolio consolidator 100 also allows a person to scan a bar code on a card using the bar code scanner 180 and store the barcode in the portfolio consolidator 100, or alternatively in the memory of the smart card. In addition, a person can download the image of the cards, or of other cards that do not have a magnetic stripe and, with sufficient memory, store a digitized image in the memory 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, or alternatively in the memory of the smart card In addition, other types of information may be stored in either the memory 120 of the portfolio consolidator 100 or the memory of the smart card. Among other types of information, items such as electronic vouchers or remnants of food stamps can be stored and then recovered during a transaction at a point of sale. The communication with various computing devices such as point of sale terminals, non-intelligent terminals and database, without being limited to these devices, can be carried out using the telephone interface 160, the radio frequency transceiver 210, the infrared transceiver 190 or the display screen 200. Referring again now to Figure 2, there is illustrated a flow chart of a preferred method for consolidating the card information using the portfolio consolidator 100 described in Figure 1. The information stored in magnetic strips is entered into the portfolio consolidator 100 by passing the identification, credit, debit or credit card. is another type of card through a magnetic stripe reader / writer 220 for reading the information from the magnetic stripe on the card in question (step 300). Alternatively, the information can be entered into the portfolio consolidator 100 through the data interface 140, the keyboard 150, the telephone interface 1 60, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequency transceiver 210. The information entered is stored in the memory 120 of the portfolio consolidator 100, or alternatively in the memory of the smart card (step 310).

- In a similar way, bar codes are scanned from the cards (step 320) and the bar codes are stored in the memory 120 of the portfolio consolidator 100, or, alternatively, in the memory of the smart card ( step 330). Alternatively, the information may be entered into the portfolio consolidator 100 through the data interface 140, the keypad 150, the telephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequency transceiver 210. In addition, other information is downloaded as for example electronic vouchers or images such as portraits and signatures in the portfolio consolidator 100 (step 332) and such information is stored in the memory 120 of the portfolio consolidator 100, or alternatively, in the memory of the smart card (step 334). The information can be downloaded into the portfolio consolidator 100 through the data interface 140, the keyboard 150, the telephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequency transceiver 210. To recover magnetic stripe information from of the portfolio consolidator 100, the user selects the desired information using either the grouping of user input devices 130 or the keyboard 150 (step 340). Once the information has been selected, the information can be written on a magnetic strip of the smart card or another multi-use card (step 350). Alternatively, the information that was selected can be communicated to various computing devices such as point of sale terminals, non-intelligent terminals, and databases, without being limited to these devices, through the data interface 140, the interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequency transceiver 210. Similarly, the user selects a desired bar code using either the grouping of user input devices 130 or the keyboard 150 (step 360) and the The selected image is displayed on the display 200 (step 370). Alternatively, the information that was selected can be communicated to various computing devices such as point of sale terminals, non-intelligent terminals, and database, without being limited to these devices, through the data interface 140, the interface of telephone 160, infrared transceiver 190 or radio frequency transceiver 210. In addition, the user may select stored information, including downloaded information (step 380) and display selected information (step 390) or download the selected information (step 400) to several computing devices such as point-of-sale terminals, non-intelligent terminals, and databases, without being limited to these devices, through the data interface 140, the telephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190 or the radio frequency transceiver 210. Referring now to Figure 3, a perspective view of a portfolio consolidator 100 is illustrated. The consol portfolio giver, generally illustrated at 100, includes controller 110 which is internally located and not illustrated, memory 120 which is also internally positioned and not shown, grouping of user input device 130, data interface 140 , the keyboard 150, the telephone interface 160, the smart card interface 170, the bar code scanner 180, the infrared transceiver 190, the display 200, the radio frequency transceiver 210 and the magnetic stripe reader / writer 220. Although the preferred embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention have been illustrated in the Annex Drawings and described in the above Detailed Description, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed modalities, but that numerous rearrangements can be made. , modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention presented and defined in the appended claims. ace,.

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS A portfolio consolidator comprising: a controller to control the operation of the portfolio consolidator; a reader / writer of magnetic stripe to read magnetic strips and write in magnetic strips, said reader / writer is located within said consolidator; a device to enter selections and user commands; a memory for storing information provided to the portfolio consolidator from several smart cards; and an intelligent card interface to effect communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card in such a way that a part of the information stored in said memory can be written on a smart card.
2. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 1, wherein the means for entering selections and user commands is a grouping of user devices.
3. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 1, wherein the device for entering selections and user commands is a keyboard.
4. 4. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 1, further comprising a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screen is further to display a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by a bar code reader.
5. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 4, wherein the display screen is a touch-sensitive display screen for further input to the portfolio consolidator.
6. 6. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 1, further comprising a telephone interface to effect communication between the portfolio consolidator and computing devices through a telephone network.
7. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 1, further comprising a data interface for effecting communication between the portfolio consolidator and computing devices.
8. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 7, wherein the data interface is effected using a serial data line.
9. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 7, wherein the data interface is performed using a data line in parallel.
10. 10. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 1, further comprising a barcode scanner for scanning bar codes.
11. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication interface.
12. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 11, wherein the wireless communication interface is effected using a radio frequency transceiver.
13. 13. The portfolio consolidator according to claim 11, wherein the wireless communication interface is effected using an infrared transceiver.
14. 14. A portfolio consolidator comprising: a controller to control the operation of the portfolio consolidator; a magnetic stripe reader / writer to read magnetic strips and write in magnetic strips; a keyboard to enter selections and user commands; a memory for storing information provided to the portfolio consolidator from several smart cards; an intelligent card interface for effecting communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card in such a way that a part of the information stored in said memory can be written on a smart card; and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screen is also for displaying a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by a bar code reader. A method for storing information in a portfolio consolidator, comprising the steps of: reading information from magnetic strips from several smart cards; store the information obtained from several smart cards in a memory; select information, between the stored information, to write it in a magnetic strip; and write the selected information on a magnetic stripe. The method, according to claim 15, wherein the step of storing the memory information comprises the step of storing the information in a smart card, and further the step of writing the selected information in the magnetic stripe further comprises the step of recover the information from the smart card. The method, according to claim 15, further comprising the step of entering a key information. The method, according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: scanning a bar code from a card; store the scanned barcode; select a stored barcode; and display the selected bar code on a display screen for scanning by a barcode scanner. The method, according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of: downloading the information; store the information downloaded; select the stored information; and download the selected information. A portfolio consolidator comprising: a magnetic stripe reader / writer for reading at least one magnetic stripe and writing on at least one magnetic stripe in at least one smart card having both an integrated circuit there and at least one magnetic stripe; a memory within said wallet consolidator for storing information read from said at least one magnetic stripe on said at least one credit card having an integrated circuit there; an intelligent card interface for communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card that has an integrated circuit there; and a device for writing at least a part of said information read from said at least one magnetic stripe of said at least one smart card back into said smart card having an integrated circuit therein in a memory within said smart card that has an integrated circuit there. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method and an apparatus for storing information in a portfolio consolidator is presented. The portfolio consolidator includes a controller to control the operation of the portfolio consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader / writer (220) for reading and writing in magnetic strips, a barcode scanner (180) for scanning bar codes, a keyboard (150) for entering selections and user commands, a memory (120) for storing information provided to the portfolio consolidator, a smart card interface (170) for effecting communication between the portfolio consolidator and a smart card and a credit card screen. display to display text and graphics, the display screen (200) is also to display a bar code pattern that can be scanned by a bar code reader. To store information in the portfolio consolidator, or alternatively in a smart card in communication with the portfolio consolidator, the information is read from the magnetic strips on various types of cards such as, for example, credit cards, cards debit cards and ID cards, without being limited to these cards. In addition, images of the cards that include signatures and portraits are downloaded and stored, without being limited to these characteristics. A user retrieves the information from any of the stored magnetic strips and writes the information in a single magnetic stripe for use in a transaction at a point of sale. Similarly, stored images are retrieved and displayed on a display screen that includes a bar code that can be scanned by a barcode scanner.