US20100038434A1 - Portable electronic device capable of alternate data conveyance operations responsive to an invariable activation command - Google Patents

Abstract

The portable electronic device comprises an electronic circuit, a control device operatively linked to the electronic circuit with an invariable activation command being issued when the control device is triggered, first and second data conveyance functions programmed in the electronic circuit, a cue receiver for receiving a selectively emitted activation cue from a source external to the portable electronic device and power means, for providing power to the portable electronic device. Upon the control device being selectively triggered to issue the invariable activation command, the electronic circuit will accomplish the first data conveyance function if an activation cue was received by the cue receiver and the second data conveyance function if no activation cue was received by the cue receiver.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE DATA
• This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/552,912 filed on Feb. 27, 2006, which is an entry into national phase of International PCT application No. PCT/IB2003/001523 filed on Apr. 14, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to a portable electronic device capable of alternate data conveyance operations responsive to an invariable activation command.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Conventional portable electronic or magnetic devices are used for many different applications. Such portable devices can be for example access devices such as keycards, identification devices, or credit or debit devices such as the so-called smart cards.
• Electronic identification devices are widely used by banks, credit companies, stores, to allow automated monetary transactions without the assistance of a bank teller.
• For conventional credit cards, a magnetic strip is encoded with a small amount of coded information identifying the cardholder, such as an identification code and a personal identification number (PIN). To access the information held by such cards after or during a transaction, a suitable transaction interface machine comprising an appropriate magnetic card reader is required. Transaction or other account-related information can be outputted on a display screen located on the transaction machine.
• Some prior art identification or transaction cards incorporate greater storage capacity and data processing means in the form of a microchip carried by the plastic main body of a smart card. These smart cards can store more data than standard magnetic cards. These cards, however, still require the use of a card reader interface machine to access the information comprised thereon, and a supplementary screen on the interface machine is required to view their content.
• Some prior art identification cards have been provided with an in-built display screen and an information decoder cooperating with each other to access, decode and visualize coded information comprised in a memory unit located on the card. These prior art devices, however, necessitate multiple controls thereon to accomplish different functions of the card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, comprising:
• • an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output;
  • a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit, with an invariable activation command being issued when said control device is triggered;
  • a user interface device operatively linked to said electronic circuit;
  • a data transceiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit;
  • a cue receiver for receiving a selectively emitted activation cue from a source external to said portable electronic device;
• a data conveyance switching element operatively linked to said electronic circuit, said switching element being in an activated state upon an activation cue having been received by said cue receiver, and being in an inactive state when no activation cue was received by said cue receiver; and
• power means for providing power to said portable electronic device;
• wherein upon said control device being selectively triggered to issue said invariable activation command:
• • if said switching element is in said activated state, a data exchange will be initiated through the instrumentality of said data transceiver for exchanging data between said electronic circuit and an external data exchange device;
  • if said switching element is in said inactive state, data will be conveyed from said electronic circuit to said user interface device for communicating information to the portable electronic device holder.
• In one embodiment, said user interface device is a display screen.
• In one embodiment, wherein said data transceiver comprises a data transmitter and a data receiver distinct from said data transmitter.
• In one embodiment, said cue receiver is said data receiver.
• In one embodiment, said control device is a biometric parameter detector, such as a fingerprint scanner capable of obtaining a fingerprint scan, whereby said control device is triggered when the fingerprint scan matches a fingerprint image pre-saved in said electronic circuit.
• In one embodiment, said control device is a button, and said control device is triggered when the button is pressed.
• In one embodiment, said electronic circuit comprises said switching element.
• In one embodiment, said electronic circuit comprises a microchip, and wherein said switching element is a series of instructions programmed onto said microchip.
• In one embodiment, said switching element comprises a decisional logical circuit.
• The invention also relates to a data exchange system comprising:
• • a data exchange device comprising a first electronic circuit, a first data transceiver and a cue emitter; and
  • a portable electronic device, comprising:
    • a second electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output;
    • a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit, with an invariable activation command being issued when said control device is triggered;
    • a user interface device operatively linked to said electronic circuit;
    • a second data transceiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit;
    • a data conveyance switching element operatively linked to said electronic circuit, said switching element being in an activated state upon an activation cue having been received by said cue receiver, and being in an inactive state when no activation cue was received by said cue receiver; and
      • power means for providing power to said portable electronic device;
        wherein upon said control device being selectively triggered to issue said invariable activation command:
  • if said switching element is in its activated state, a data exchange will occur between said first data transceiver and said second data transceiver, thereby exchanging data between said data exchange device and said portable electronic device;
  • if said switching element is in its inactive state, data is forwarded to said user interface device for communicating information to the portable electronic device holder.
• The invention further relates to a portable electronic device comprising:
• • an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output;
  • a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit, with an invariable activation command being issued when said control device is triggered;
  • first and second data conveyance functions programmed in said electronic circuit;
  • a cue receiver for receiving a selectively emitted activation cue from a source external to said portable electronic device; and
  • power means, for providing power to said portable electronic device;
    wherein upon said control device being selectively triggered to issue said invariable activation command, said electronic circuit will accomplish said first data conveyance function if an activation cue was received by said cue receiver and said second data conveyance function if no cue was received by said cue receiver.
• The invention also relates to a method for data exchange with a portable electronic device of the type comprising: an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output, a control device operatively linked to said circuit, a user interface device operatively linked to said circuit, communication ports operatively linked to said circuit, a switching element operatively linked to said electronic circuit and being in a default inactive state, and power means for providing power to said portable electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
• • awaiting for an activation cue to be received at a predetermined one of said communication ports;
  • if an activation cue is received at one of said communication ports, changing the state of said switching element from its default inactive state to an activated state; and
  • selectively triggering said control device to issue an invariable activation command,
  • whereby said method will further comprise one of the two following steps:
    • if said switching element is in its activated state, initiating a data exchange with an external data exchange device through at least one of said communication ports; and
    • if said switching element is in its inactive state, conveying data from said electronic circuit to said user interface device for communicating information to the portable electronic device holder.
• In one embodiment, said activation cue is received at one of said communication ports distinct from another one of said communication ports used for data exchange with the external data exchange device.
• In one embodiment, the additional following step occurs after selectively triggering said control device if said switching element is in said activated state:
• • conveying data from said electronic circuit to said user interface device for communicating information to the portable electronic device holder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• In the annexed drawings:
• FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a data exchange system, showing a portable electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention and a data exchange device, and further suggesting in dotted lines a communication link being established between the portable electronic device and the data exchange device;
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the portable electronic device ofFIG. 1, showing the electronic circuit thereof in greater detail; and
• FIG. 3 is a view similar toFIG. 1, but showing a portable electronic device according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention cooperating with an alternate corresponding data exchange device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
• FIG. 1 shows adata exchange system8 comprising a portableelectronic device10 according to the present invention and adata exchange device9. Portableelectronic device10 can be used for example for monetary transactions or identification purposes.
• Device10 comprises a rigid or semi-rigidmain body11 on which are operatively mounted: acontrol device12, anelectronic circuit14, adisplay screen16, atransceiver18 and power means20.Main body11 can be made from a plastic material for example.
• As illustrated inFIG. 2,electronic circuit14 comprises acentral unit40 cooperating with amemory unit42 and an Input/Output (I/O)controller44. I/O controller44 comprises I/O ports44aand a data forwarding switchingelement44b.I/O ports44ahandle the inputting and outputting of the data, and switchingelement44bdirects the data flow towards an appropriate destination, as detailed hereinafter.
• Central unit40 is operatively linked to I/O controller44.Central unit40 is able to process data electronically stored inmemory unit42, and is further capable of storing data thereon.Central unit40 collaborates with I/O controller44, and is capable of processing data incoming therefrom and of sending data thereto in order for this data to be appropriately outputted to components operatively connected to I/O controller44.
• Memory unit42 ofcircuit14 can comprise pre-stored data thereon. For example, this pre-stored data may comprise data related to the cardholder, such as the cardholder's name, address, his bank balance, his date of birth, or any other desired information. In one embodiment, the pre-stored data can further comprise validation data about the cardholder that will be used to authenticate the user, for example a personal identification number (PIN) or a fingerprint image. In another embodiment, the pre-stored data comprises electronic money usable to purchase goods and services according to known electronic wallet transaction methods.
• Electronic circuit14 comprises three essential functions: processing data, storing data, and inputting and outputting data to other components. The diagram ofFIG. 2 shows a specific layout of operational blocks comprised withinelectronic circuit14 and cooperating with each other to provide these three functions thereto. It is understood that alternate schematic circuit layouts could illustrate these three functions without departing from the scope of the present invention.
• Electronic circuit14 is operatively connected through the instrumentality of its I/O controller44 to controldevice12,screen16 andtransceiver18.
• In one embodiment,electronic circuit14 is a programmable microchip, as found on smart cards.
• Screen16 is capable of displaying information transferred thereto fromelectronic circuit14 through the instrumentality of I/O controller44.Display screen16 can be a LCD (liquid crystal display) screen embedded intomain body11 of the device. In one embodiment of the present invention,screen16 is replaced with another user interface device, for example a speaker with voice emission software which would transform information forwarded thereto to speech understandable by the portable electronic device holder.
• Control device12 can be any suitable device allowing the portable electronic device holder to selectively trigger a data conveyance operation as detailed hereinafter.Control device12 can be for example a single manually activated button provided on the portable electronic device main body11 (as schematically illustrated inFIGS. 1-3) which, when pressed, issues an activation command that triggers a particular data conveyance as described hereinbelow. Alternatively,control device12 can include validation means such as a biometric parameter detector, for example a fingerprint scanner capable of obtaining a fingerprint image, which can be compared bycentral unit40 to a fingerprint image pre-saved inmemory unit42. A fingerprint image match would validate that the user of portableelectronic device10 is authorized to use the latter, and then trigger the data conveyance operation. In another alternate embodiment,control device12 could include validation means in the form of a keypad allowing the portable electronic device holder to type in a personal identification number (PIN) which will be compared bycentral unit40 to a PIN pre-saved inmemory unit42, with a PIN match validating the portable electronic device user and triggering the data conveyance operation. In yet anotherembodiment control device12 is a validation button required to be pressed and on which a fingerprint scanner is provided: the card holder may thus concurrently apply his fingerprint on the scanner and press on the button to respectively validate and trigger the data conveyance operation. Any other suitable control device may be used.
• Generally,control device12 is considered to be triggered when the portable electronic device holder has successfully accomplished the necessary steps forcontrol device12 to issue an activation command, for example when the PIN or fingerprint scan was authenticated, or when the validation button was pressed, or when the button was pressed while the fingerprint scan was authenticated.
• In an alternate embodiment of the present invention,control device12 andLCD screen16 can be replaced with a single touch-screen display, whereby information can be outputted, and whereby validation information can be captured.
• As illustrated inFIG. 1, a communication link can be established between theelectronic device transceiver18 and thetransceiver9aofdata exchange device9.
• Data exchange device9 can be any sort of data exchange device comprising an electronic circuit (not shown) therein and adata transceiver9atherein able to cooperate withtransceiver18 ofdevice10. In one embodiment,data exchange device9 is another portableelectronic device10.Data exchange device10 can alternately be a computer, an interface machine such as an automatic teller machine, or any other suitable data exchange device.
• The communication link can be a contact or contactless link, for example an infrared or radio wave communication link. Thus, theelectronic device transceiver18 can be any suitable emitting and receiving device capable of communication with the dataexchange device transceiver9a.In an embodiment whereincircuit14 is a microchip similar to the ones found on smart cards,transceiver18 could include a series of electrical contacts located on the surface of the microchip destined to cooperate with a corresponding type of electronic device reader, as known in the art.
• Transceiver18 is also a cue receiver, whereby an activation cue can be received byelectronic device10 from dataexchange device transceiver9a.This activation cue is in the form of a data communication of a specific type which will be recognized byelectronic device10 as an activation cue, for example a predetermined bit sequence.
• Switchingelement44bcan be any type of device allowing data to be conveyed according to alternate data conveyance operations in response to an activation cue being received bytransceiver18 or not, as described hereinafter. According to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 and 2,electronic circuit14 comprises switchingelement44b.In an embodiment whereinelectronic circuit14 comprises a microchip, switchingelement44bcan be a series of instructions programmed onto the microchip whereby the data conveyance operation will be automatically executed according to whether or not an activation cue was received bytransceiver18. Alternately, switchingelement44bcan comprise a decisional logical circuit. Generally, switchingelement44bcan be a physical structure, a virtual program, or both.
• According to the invention, at any given time, switchingelement44bwill consequently be in either one of the two following states:
• • a) an activated state wherein an activation cue was received bytransceiver18; or
  • b) an inactive state wherein no activation cue was received bytransceiver18.
• By default, switchingelement44bis in its inactive state.
• Power means20 can be any type of power source suitable for providing power to the portable electronic device components that require power, or for receiving power from an external source to re-distribute it to the portable electronic device components that require power. For example, power means20 can be a battery, or a connector destined to be engaged by a corresponding external connector linked to a power source.
• In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-2, power means20 is illustrated as being connected to all the portable electronic device components; it will be obvious for those skilled in the art that power means20 could be connected only to one or a few components that require a power source to operate, depending on the exact nature of portableelectronic device10 and of each of its components.
• In use, uponcontrol device12 being selectively triggered by the portable electronic device holder, an activation command will be issued bycontrol device12 toelectronic circuit14, in reaction to which data will be conveyed within portableelectronic device10, and possibly additionally conveyed to and from portableelectronic device10, according to a pre-determined data conveyance operation. The exact nature of this data conveyance operation will depend on the state of switchingelement44b.
• More particularly, if no activation cue is received by portableelectronic device10, then switching element remains in its inactive state. Uponcontrol device12 being selectively triggered by the portable electronic device holder, data will be forwarded fromelectronic circuit14 touser interface device16, for communicating information to the portable electronic device holder.
• However, upon an activation cue being received by portableelectronic device10, switchingelement44bswitches to its activated state. Ifcontrol device12 is selectively triggered by the portable electronic device holder while switchingelement44bis in this activated state, a data exchange will be initiated between portableelectronic device10 and the externaldata exchange device9. This data exchange may be in the form of a data download fromelectronic device10 todata exchange device9, of a data upload toelectronic device10 fromdata exchange device9, or of a data download and a data upload—with this last alternative being the most likely in many applications.
• Thus, uponcontrol device12 being selectively triggered to issue an activation command by the portable electronic device holder, one of two alternate data conveyance operations will be initiated within portableelectronic device10. In the case where no activation cue was received by portableelectronic device10, data will be communicated to the portable electronic device holder by means ofuser interface device16. However, if an activation cue was previously received by portableelectronic device10, a data exchange will be initiated between portableelectronic device10 anddata exchange device9.
• It is noted that, according to the present invention, the activation command issued whencontrol device12 is triggered, is an invariable activation command. That is to say that the portable electronic device holder will not be able to select to issue different activation commands by means ofcontrol device12 depending on whether the user considers that a data exchange operation should be accomplished with an externaldata exchange device9, or whether the user wishes to display information onscreen16 on the basis of data stored inmemory42. The same invariable activation command will thus be issued uponcontrol device12 being triggered, and it is the state of switchingelement44b,resulting from the receipt or non-receipt of an activation cue by portableelectronic device10, that will be decisive as to the type of data conveyance that will occur.
• It is further noted that the above-mentioned triggering ofcontrol device12 may comprise a single step, such as pressing a single button, or more than one step, such as pressing a button and concurrently applying one's fingerprint on a fingerprint scanner provided over the button, or typing in a PIN on a keypad provided on the portable electronic device. However, this control device triggering operation is accomplished in a same maimer notwithstanding whether a data exchange between portableelectronic device10 and an externaldata exchange device9 is to be accomplished, or whether a data conveyance occurs exclusively within portableelectronic device10, betweenelectronic circuit14 andscreen16. Consequently, it can be said thatcontrol device12 will issue an invariable activation command when it is triggered, even ifcontrol device12 may include more than one button, biometric parameter detector, etc . . . that need to be concurrently or sequentially activated forcontrol device12 to issue a single, invariable activation command. Of course, this single invariable activation command will trigger alternate data conveyance operations responsively to the reception or non-reception of an activation cue, so ulterior alternate commands withinelectronic circuit14 will occur depending on the data conveyance operation type, but the initial activation command will not depend on the reception or non-reception of an activation cue.
• One example of a particular application of the present invention is the use of a portableelectronic device10 as a quick payment means, such as for paying public transportation fares. In such a case,data exchange device9 would represent the payment debit machine, and portableelectronic device10 would be a payment card with pre-stored electronic money thereon. When the cardholder would want to use the public transportation services, he would approach the area of access to public transportation where adebit machine9 would be provided.Debit machine9 would continuously, or at regular time intervals, or when prompted to do so, emit an activation cue in the form of a predetermined contactless data transmission. Upon the cardholder approaching his payment card within a range allowing it to receive the activation cue from the debit machine, he could then trigger hiscontrol device12 whereby a data exchange in the form of an electronic money transaction would occur between thepayment card10 and thedebit machine9. This data exchange could include any type of information required for electronic money transactions, as known in the art. For example, the following data exchange could occur, in addition to the reception of the activation cue:
• a message is sent from portableelectronic device10 todebit machine9 to inquire as to the fare for passage;
• the fare for passage is transferred fromdebit machine9 topayment card10;
• after verification by the cardelectronic circuit14 that thecard memory42 still stores a sufficient amount of electronic money,payment card10 then sends a right-of-passage message todata exchange device9; and
• debit machine9 sends a confirmation of right-of-passage topayment card10, the latter then debiting the passage fare from the total electronic money amount stored in thecard memory42.Debit machine9 also sends the required information to an exterior passage control device to allow passage of the cardholder to the public transportation services.
• If, on the other hand,control device12 is triggered at any time when switchingelement44bis in its inactive state, i.e. not within the activation cue emission range of a public transportationservice debit machine9, then data fromelectronic circuit14 will be sent to displayscreen16 to display the total amount of electronic money remaining incard memory42. No data exchange with an external debit machine would then be attempted bycard10.
• Thus, in the above example, upon triggeringcontrol device12, an invariable activation command would be issued that would result in two different possible data conveyance operations: if an activation cue has been previously received from anearby debit machine9, payment for right-of-passage would be made to allow the cardholder to use the public transportation services; on the other hand, if no activation cue has been previously received from adebit machine9, then verification of the electronic money amount stored on thecard memory42 would be made.
• Portableelectronic device10 could also have a plethora of other alternate purposes. For example,portable identification device10 could be used as an electronic passport. This passport, when its control device is triggered, could be used to transmit identification data of the electronic passport owner to adata exchange device9 if an activation cue has been received by the electronic passport, or to simply display this information on the display screen of the electronic passport if no activation cue has been received by the electronic passport.
• The present invention is thus particularly advantageous, in that the portable electronic device holder needs only triggercontrol device12 to issue an invariable activation command, for either the data exchange or the data display to occur. By means of the switchingelement44bandtransceiver18 acting as a cue receiver, both located on portableelectronic device10, the proper data conveyance within portable transaction device will occur automatically upon this invariable activation command being issued. Thus, no alternate controls need to be provided on the portableelectronic device10. However, in one embodiment, other controls could be provided on portableelectronic device10 for accomplishing additional actions with portableelectronic device10.
• It is noted that the data downloaded to an externaldata exchange device9 is during a data exchange therewith, and the data conveyed internally fromelectronic circuit14 to displayscreen16, may be the same data (as is the case in the above example of the electronic passport) or different data (as is the case in the above example of the payment card), depending on the purpose of portableelectronic device10.
• The state of switchingelement44bmay be reset to its default inactive state upon one or more pre-determined conditions being met. In the embodiment whereelectronic circuit14 is a microchip, these conditions may be programmed therein. For example,electronic circuit14 may send a reset command to switchingelement44bat regular time intervals, or a certain amount of time after switchingelement44bhas switched to its activated state.
• According to one embodiment, when switchingelement44bis in its activated state, upon selective triggering ofcontrol device12, in addition to a data exchange occurring with an external data exchange device, an internal data conveyance fromelectronic circuit14 to displayscreen16 would also occur. Thus, according to this embodiment, an internal data conveyance would not be exclusive to the inactive state of switchingelement44b,while a data exchange with an external data exchange device would be exclusive to the activated state of switchingelement44b.In the above example of the payment card, this alternative of the invention would have the remaining amount of electronic money in the payment card displayed concurrently when a passage fare is paid with the card.
• FIG. 3 shows an alternatedata exchange system8′ comprising an alternate embodiment of a portableelectronic device10′ and an alternatedata exchange device9′, wherein elements that are similar to those of the first embodiment have primed reference numerals. Portableelectronic device10′ includes a transceiver that comprises multiple communication ports, namely adata transmitter18a,adata receiver18b,and acue receiver19.
• Data transmitter18aanddata receiver18bcould use distinct communication modes. For example,transmitter18acould be a radio wave transmitter, andreceiver18bcould be an infrared wave receiver.
• Cue receiver19, which is distinct fromdata receiver18bin the embodiment ofFIG. 3, can be of any type suitable for receiving an activation cue fromdata exchange device9′.Data exchange device9′ is equipped with acorresponding cue emitter9b.For example,cue emitter9bcan be a data transmission device emitting data by means of a different medium than that used bydata receiver18b—forexample cue emitter9bcan emit radio waves while data transceiver9acould be capable of emitting and receiving infrared waves.Cue receiver19 could alternately comprise electrical contacts that would cooperate with correspondingelectrical contacts9b.In one embodiment,cue receiver19 could be a button to be engaged by an automated finger device (thecue emitter9b) in a slot of the data exchange device in which portableelectronic device10 is to be inserted. In any event,cue receiver19 represents any suitable structure capable of receiving an activation cue fromdata exchange device9′, for indicating a data exchange opportunity between portableelectronic device10′ anddata exchange device9′.
• Any further modification, which does not deviate from the scope of the present invention, is considered to be included therein.

Claims (2)

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output;

a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit, with an invariable activation command being issued when said control device is triggered;

first and second data conveyance functions programmed in said electronic circuit;

a cue receiver for receiving a selectively emitted activation cue from a source external to said portable electronic device; and

power means, for providing power to said portable electronic device;

wherein upon said control device being selectively triggered to issue said invariable activation command, said electronic circuit will accomplish said first data conveyance function if an activation cue was received by said cue receiver and said second data conveyance function if no activation cue was received by said cue receiver.

2. A portable electronic device as defined inclaim 1, further comprising a data conveyance switching element operatively linked to said electronic circuit and controlling whether said electronic circuit will accomplish said first or said second data conveyance function.

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