U.S. patent application number 12/009660 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-22 for financial transaction and/or wireless communication device authorization, notification and/or security apparatus and method..
Invention is credited to Robert Richard Bock, Raymond Anthony Joao.
Application Number | 20080120190 12/009660 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27105328 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080120190 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Joao; Raymond Anthony ; et
al. |
May 22, 2008 |
Financial transaction and/or wireless communication device
authorization, notification and/or security apparatus and
method.
Abstract
A transaction authorization, notification and/or security
apparatus, which comprises a device for issuing an authorization
request for a transaction, a device for processing the
authorization request and for transmitting a first one of a signal,
data and information in response to the authorization request and a
communication device for receiving said first one of a signal, data
and information transmitted by said processing device.
Inventors: |
Joao; Raymond Anthony;
(Yonkers, NY) ; Bock; Robert Richard; (Yonkers,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RAYMOND A. JOAO, ESQ.
122 BELLEVUE PLACE
YONKERS
NY
10703
US
|
Family ID: |
27105328 |
Appl. No.: |
12/009660 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11091200 |
Mar 28, 2005 |
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12009660 |
Jan 22, 2008 |
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09949694 |
Sep 10, 2001 |
7096003 |
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11091200 |
Mar 28, 2005 |
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|
09169053 |
Oct 9, 1998 |
6529725 |
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09949694 |
Sep 10, 2001 |
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|
08873945 |
Jun 12, 1997 |
5878337 |
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09169053 |
Oct 9, 1998 |
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08694199 |
Aug 8, 1996 |
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08873945 |
Jun 12, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/16 ;
705/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 40/00 20130101;
G06Q 20/20 20130101; G06Q 20/40 20130101; G06Q 40/02 20130101; G06Q
20/403 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 20/1085 20130101; G06Q
20/10 20130101; G06Q 20/108 20130101; G06Q 20/3227 20130101; G06Q
20/425 20130101; G06Q 20/04 20130101; G06Q 20/32 20130101; G06Q
20/325 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/016 ;
705/044 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 40/00 20060101
G06Q040/00; G06Q 20/00 20060101 G06Q020/00 |
Claims
1. A transaction authorization, notification and/or security
apparatus, which comprises: a device for issuing an authorization
request for a transaction; a device for processing the
authorization request and for transmitting a first one of a signal,
data and information in response to the authorization request; and
a communication device for receiving said first one of a signal,
data and information transmitted by said processing device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said authorization request
issuing device is at least one of a point-of-sale authorization
device, a credit card authorization device, a charge card
authorization device, a debit card authorization device, a currency
card or "smart" card authorization device, a banking transaction
terminal, a financial transaction computer, an automated teller
machine authorization device, a cellular telephone, a cellular
communication device and a cellular communication processing
computer.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication device is
one of a telephone signal receiving device, a beeper, a pager, a
telephone, a two-way pager, a reply pager, a home computer, a
personal computer, a personal communication device, a personal
communication services device, a digital communications device, a
television, an interactive television, a digital television, a
personal digital assistant, a display telephone, a video telephone,
an electronically equipped watch, a cellular telephone, a display
cellular telephone and a facsimile machine.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing device further
comprises: a device for transmitting a second one of a signal, data
and information to said authorization request issuing device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said authorization issuing
device further comprises: a device for receiving said second one of
a signal, data and information.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communication device
further comprises: a device for transmitting one of a response
signal, response data and response information in response to said
first one of a signal, data and information.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said processing device further
comprises: a device for receiving said one of a response signal,
response data and response information.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing device
transmits said first one of a signal, data and information to at
least one of a facsimile machine, a personal computer, a telephone,
a telephone answering machine, an alternate telephone, an alternate
telephone answering machine and a network computer, at least one of
simultaneously and sequentially.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
authorization request issuing device, said processing device and
said communication device is programmable.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus provides
transaction authorization for at least one of a credit card
transaction, a charge card transaction, a debit card transaction, a
currency or "smart" card transaction, a savings account
transaction, a checking account transaction, an automated teller
machine account transaction, a cellular telephone transaction and
an cellular communication device transaction.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus operates one
of in real-time and with a time delay.
12. A transaction authorization, notification and/or security
apparatus, which comprises: a device for issuing an authorization
request for a transaction; a device for processing the
authorization request in conjunction with one of pre-defined
criteria and pre-specified criteria and for transmitting a first
one of a signal, data and information in response to the
authorization request; and a communication device for receiving
said first one of a signal, data and information transmitted by
said processing device, wherein said processing device transmits an
authorization request reply one of signal, data and information to
said authorization request issuing device.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said authorization request
issuing device is at one of a point-of-sale authorization device, a
credit card authorization device, a charge card authorization
device, a debit card authorization device, a currency card or
"smart" card authorization device, a banking transaction terminal,
a financial transaction computer, an automated teller machine
authorization device, a cellular telephone, a cellular
communication device and a cellular communication processing
computer.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said communication device is
one of a telephone signal receiving device, a beeper, a pager, a
telephone, a two-way pager, a reply pager, a home computer, a
personal computer, a personal communication device, a personal
communication services device, a digital communications device, a
television, an interactive television, a digital television, a
personal digital assistant, a display telephone, a video telephone,
an electronically equipped watch, a cellular telephone, a display
cellular telephone and a facsimile machine.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said processing device
further comprises: a device for transmitting a second one of a
signal, data and information to said authorization request issuing
device.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said one of pre-defined
criteria and pre-specified criteria comprises at least one of
credit limits, one of lost, stolen and unauthorized use status of
one of a credit, charge, debit, currency or "smart" card and
account number corresponding thereto, authorized transaction type,
authorized transaction limit, authorized one of vendor, seller and
service provider, authorized geographic one of area and location,
authorized one of goods and services, daily spending limits,
financial transaction limit, authorized individual(s), authorized
banks and/or financial institutions, authorized transaction times,
limits of one of charge-back, returned item amount withdrawal,
maintenance charge withdrawal and fee withdrawal, authorized access
code, authorized phone numbers which may be called, authorized
phone numbers from which calls may be received, authorized one of
geographical area and location which may be called and/or accessed
or from which calls may be received and authorized times of usage
and authorized time limits of usage.
17. A method for transaction authorization, notification and/or
security, which comprises the steps of: issuing an authorization
request for a transaction; processing the authorization request;
and notifying an authorized individual of the authorization
request.
18. The method of claim 17, which further comprises the step of:
processing one of a reply and a response of the authorized
individual.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of: issuing
a response to the authorization request.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein said processing step further
comprises the step of: processing the authorization request in
conjunction with at least one of pre-defined criteria and
pre-specified criteria.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/091,200, filed Mar. 28, 2005, which,
in turn, is a continuation application of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/949,694, filed Sep. 10, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.
7,096,003, which, in turn, is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/169,053, filed Oct. 9, 1998, now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,725, which, in turn, is a continuation
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/873,945, filed
Jun. 12, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,337, which, in turn, is a
continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/694,199, filed Aug. 8, 1996, abandoned, the subject matter and
teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to a financial transaction
and/or wireless communication device authorization, notification
and/or security apparatus and method, and, in particular to a
financial transaction and/or wireless communication device
authorization, notification and/or security apparatus and method
for use in providing authorization, notification and/or security in
conjunction with credit card, charge card and/or debit card use,
savings and/or checking account activity and/or cellular telephone
use.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0003] Millions of individuals enjoy the convenience of utilizing
credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart"
cards as a convenient way in which to purchase goods and/or
services. By utilizing credit cards, charge cards, debit cards,
and/or currency or "smart" cards, an individual may enter into a
transaction without having to have cash or currency in hand or
otherwise. In the case of credit cards, charge cards and debit
cards, the individual, in effect obtains an instant loan of the
funds needed to make a purchase and/or enter into a transaction. In
the case of currency or "smart" cards, the individual may "store"
an amount of money on the card(s) and, thereafter, utilize the
card(s), instead of cash or currency, in order to make purchases
and/or enter into transactions.
[0004] Millions of individuals also enjoy the benefits of having
savings accounts, checking accounts and/or automated teller machine
accounts which allow then to enjoy the security of saving their
money in accounts which are usually insured and which allow them
to, in some instances, earn interest on their money. In the case of
checking accounts, individuals enjoy the convenience of writing
checks and/or other transaction instruments which allow them to
draw against their money without having to undergo the
inconvenience of going to the bank or financial institution to
withdraw their money, in currency form, and traveling to, in some
cases, a distant location to either make a purchase, payment and/or
to otherwise settle an account. In this regard, the ability to
write checks, drafts and/or other instruments against an account is
a very convenient manner in which to conduct transactions of any
kind.
[0005] In the case of automated teller machines, individuals may
conveniently withdraw and/or deposit money into a bank of other
financial account.
[0006] Many individuals also enjoy the convenience of owning and/or
using wireless, mobile or cellular telephones or devices as a means
by which to make telephone calls when a conventional line or
permanent telephone is not within reach and/or when the individual
is "on the go", such as in an automobile, on foot, and/or in any
other type of environment, such as away from home, when a
conventional line or permanently fixed telephone is not
available.
[0007] Unfortunately, with the convenience of each of the above
credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart"
cards, savings accounts, checking accounts, automated teller
machine accounts, and cellular telephones or cellular
communications devices, comes many disadvantages and the
opportunity for theft and/or fraud. In the case of credit cards,
charge cards and/or debit cards, hundreds of millions, if not
billions, of dollars a year are lost as a result of the theft of,
and/or the fraudulent use of, credit cards, charge cards and/or
debit cards, or the account numbers which correspond thereto.
[0008] A lost or stolen card may be utilized by an unauthorized
individual to spend upwards of thousands of dollars before the
unauthorized use is detected and/or before the cardholder can
ascertain, and/or be notified, either by the card issuer or
servicing institution or when the cardholder detects the
unauthorized transaction on his or her monthly account statement,
that the card is lost or stolen. Similarly, even in the absence of
the physical card, an unauthorized individual may utilize the
account number which corresponds to the card in order to make
certain transactions.
[0009] While card holders are usually protected by various
coverages which shield them from the liabilities associated with
the fraudulent use of a card or the corresponding account number,
the card issuers, credit, charge and/or debit card issuing
companies and/or institutions, and/or their insurance companies,
end up paying for the above described thefts and/or fraudulent
and/or unauthorized uses. Ultimately, the consumer also shoulders
the burden of the costs associated with these thefts and/or
fraudulent and/or unauthorized uses in the form of increased
prices.
[0010] While authorization terminals and/or devices are utilized at
a point-of-sale and/or at the vendor's, the seller's, or the
service provider's, location, these authorization terminals and/or
devices typically are utilized to obtain an authorization from the
card issuer or account servicing institution which, usually entails
a screening of whether the card has been lost, stolen, cancelled,
de-activated and/or whether the cardholder has exceeded and/or will
exceed his or her credit limit. This current authorization practice
fails to prevent the use of a lost or stolen card, or the
unauthorized use of either the card or the account number
corresponding thereof, if the card has not been reported, and/or
discovered, to be lost, stolen or used without authorization and/or
if the account credit limit has not yet been reached.
[0011] Current practices do not entail and/or do not include the
provision for obtaining an authorization, and/or for providing
notice to the cardholder before, during and/or shortly after a
transaction, which cardholder authorization and/or notification
procedure would be helpful and prove to be essential in preventing
the fraudulent use and/or unauthorized use of a card and/or the
account number corresponding thereto in a unauthorized transaction
and/or shortly thereafter an unauthorized transaction has occurred,
thereby minimizing the fraudulent and/or unauthorized use of the
card and/or the account number corresponding thereto.
[0012] In the case of currency or "smart" cards, which typically
may serve as bearer instruments, the monetary credit on these cards
may be completely depleted before the card owner even discovers
same to be lost or stolen.
[0013] In the case of savings accounts, checking accounts, and/or
automated teller machine accounts, these accounts may be accessed,
and funds be withdrawn, without the account owner's notification
and/or knowledge. In the case of savings accounts and checking
accounts, these accounts may be accessed, and/or funds may be
withdrawn therefrom, when checks drawn on insufficient funds are
returned, and/or when the account number is inadvertently and/or
fraudulently utilized in an endorsement, or otherwise, by an
individual attempting to cash or perform a transaction with a
fraudulent instrument, a forged instrument and/or an otherwise
"bad" check. In these instances, the accounts and/or funds involved
are usually accessed, invaded, and/or withdrawn from the account
involved without the account owner being notified and/or having a
say in the matter.
[0014] The account owner is typically notified of the
above-described activity involving his or her account days later
when he or she either receives a mailed notice and/or when they
receive and review their monthly or periodic statement, which
notice may be received at a time when it may be too late for the
account owner to stop or reverse the transaction and/or, in the
case of a check or draft returned for insufficient funds, at a time
which is too late for the account owner to attempt to collect the
funds. In the case of automated teller machine accounts, these
accounts may be accessed, such as with a lost, stolen, or
counterfeit card and/or with a card account number(s) and/or
associated personal identification number(s), by a thief or by any
other unauthorized person who could then make an unauthorized
withdrawal(s) therefrom.
[0015] Once again, the account owner would not receive notification
and/or have knowledge of the unauthorized transaction until they
are notified by the bank or financial institution either via a
monthly and/or periodic statement, and/or when they attempt a
transaction at the automated teller machine and, at that time,
discover that funds are missing and/or have been withdrawn. In the
case of savings accounts, checking accounts and/or automated teller
machine accounts, there is no present apparatus or method by which
to provide notification to an account owner at the time of the
unauthorized transaction and/or account activity and/or shortly
thereafter same.
[0016] In the case of cellular telephones, recent practices
involving "cloning" cellular telephones, which entails intercepting
telephone transmissions from a cellular telephone, which
transmissions contain the phone number of the transmitting phone
and/or the associated personal identification number (PIN), and
utilizing the intercepted information to program a different
cellular phone which by then be utilized in conjunction with the
account of the "cloned" cellular telephone, has also resulted in
widespread theft and fraudulent use of cellular telephones and/or
cellular communications devices The "cloned" telephones are
typically sold on the "black" market. In these instances, the
cellular telephone owner has no way of knowing whether, or when,
his or her cellular transmissions are being intercepted and/or if
and when a "cloned" cellular phone is created and/or is utilized
on, or over, his or her cellular telephone account.
[0017] Typically, the cellular telephone owner first becomes aware
of the unauthorized usage of his or her cellular telephone account
when he or she receives their telephone account statement. Once
again, in the time between the "cloning" of the cellular telephone
and the discovery of same, hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars
worth of cellular telephone calls may have been made before the
unauthorized use is detected. At present, there is no apparatus or
method for providing notification to the cellular telephone owner
as to when his or her cellular telephone and/or cellular telephone
number is, or has been, utilized in an unauthorized manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for
providing financial transaction authorization, notification and/or
security, and, in particular, provides an apparatus and a method
for providing financial transaction authorization, notification
and/or security in conjunction with credit card, charge card, debit
card, and/or currency or "smart" card use, savings and/or checking
account activity and use and/or cellular telephone use, which
overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.
[0019] The apparatus and method of the present invention, which is
utilized in conjunction with a credit card, a charge card, a debit
card and/or a currency or "smart" card authorization process
comprises a point-of-sale authorization terminal which terminals
are found in various establishments and which are utilized in
conjunction with the sale of goods and/or services and/or in other
types of financial transactions. The point-of-sale terminal may be
utilized at the location of the seller and/or service provider,
such as at a retail store or office, and/or the point-of-sale
terminal may be located at the site of the goods or service
provider or vendor, such as in cases when the sale is a telephone
order, mail order and/or other type of transaction, including
transactions made on, or over, the INTERNET and/or other on-line
services or communication networks or mediums.
[0020] The apparatus also comprises a central processing computer
for processing the credit, charge, debit and/or currency or "smart"
card and/or other transaction requests, and data and/or information
pertaining thereto, and/or the authorization pertaining thereto.
The central processing computer may service any predefined group of
card holders and/or any pre-defined group(s) and/or type(s) of
cards. The central processing computer may also process accounts
for any of the various banks and/or financial institutions which
issue and/or manage credit cards, charge cards, debit cards and/or
currency or "smart" cards and/or process or manage these
accounts.
[0021] The point-of-sale terminal is linked and/or connected to the
central processing computer via a communications system, link
and/or medium, such as, for example, a telephone network or line.
The communications system which is utilized may be any
communications system and may include telecommunication systems,
satellite communications systems, radio communication systems,
digital satellite communications systems, personal communications
services communication systems as well as any other appropriate
communications system.
[0022] The point-of-sale terminal transmits signals and/or data to
the central processing computer as well as receives signals and/or
data from the central processing computer.
[0023] The apparatus also comprises a cardholder communication
device which may receive signals and/or data from either or both of
the point-of-sale terminal and/or the central processing computer.
The communication device may also be equipped with a transmitter
for transmitting signals and/or data to the central processing
computer. In this regard, the central processing computer transmits
signals and/or data to the communication device as well as receives
signals and/or data from the communication device. The
communication device may also transmit signals and/or data directly
to the point-of-sale terminal and receive signals and/or data
directly from the point-of-sale terminal.
[0024] The point-of-sale terminal may transmit signals and/or data
to the central processing computer and to the communication device
and may receive signals and/or data from the central processing
computer and from the communication device.
[0025] The communication device may be a wireless device. In this
regard, the communication device may be a telephone signal
receiving device which may be a beeper or pager or other device
which may be carried by the cardholder and/or be kept on and/or
close to the cardholder's person so that the central processing
computer may transmit signals and/or data to the communication
device so as to communication with the cardholder at any time and
at any location.
[0026] The apparatus may also comprise a facsimile (fax) machine, a
personal computer, a telephone, a telephone answering machine, an
alternate telephone, an alternate telephone answering machine, a
network computer and/or an alternate beeper or pager. The central
processing computer may be linked with the above fax machine,
personal computer, telephone, associated answering machine,
alternate telephone and associated answering machine, network
computer, and/or alternate beeper or pager via any suitable
communication system. The telecommunications link or telephone line
or link, which may or may not be a wireless link depending on the
device and/or the circumstances, is utilized in order to link the
central processing computer with each of the fax machine, the
personal computer, the telephone, the associated answering machine,
the alternate telephone, alternate telephone answering machine, the
network computer and/or the alternate beeper or pager.
[0027] The apparatus and method of the present invention may be
utilized in order to provide cardholder authorization, notification
and/or security measures in financial transactions involving credit
cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart" cards
and may be utilized in order to obtain cardholder authorization in
a card-related transaction.
[0028] The apparatus and method of the present invention may
commence operation when the card, which is to be utilized in a
credit card, charge card, debit card, and/or currency or "smart"
card, or number corresponding thereto, transaction, is offered at
the point-of-sale or other appropriate location whereupon the
attendant or point-of-sale terminal operator will activate the
apparatus in any typical manner, such as by obtaining a phone line
and entering card information into the point-of-sale terminal. Data
entry may typically be performed by swiping the magnetic strip of
the card through a card reader of the point-of-sale terminal. The
information and/or data pertinent to the transaction and the card
is then transmitted to the central processing computer.
[0029] The central processing computer will then process the
information and/or data pertinent to the transaction and to the
particular card account and may request, if needed, that the
point-of-sale operator enter the transaction amount. The central
processing computer will process the information and/or data
pertinent to the transaction in conjunction with the card account
information in order to determine if the card has been lost, stolen
and/or cancelled and/or de-activated. Further, the central
processing computer may perform a test in order to determine if the
maximum credit, charge or debit account limit has been exceeded
and/or if the card has been depleted of its currency value.
[0030] Once all of the information and/or data processing has been
completed, the central processing computer will determine if the
card has been lost, stolen, and/or cancelled and/or de-activated
and/or if the credit, charge or debit account limit of the card has
been reached and/or exceeded and/or if the currency value of the
card has been depleted.
[0031] The central processing computer may also perform a test in
order to determine if the predetermined maximum number of
unauthorized transactions have occurred on the account. If any of
the above listed conditions are found to exist (i.e. card is lost,
stolen, cancelled and/or de-activated, or credit, charge or debit
account limit has been reached or exceeded, currency value
depleted, or unauthorized transaction limit reached or exceeded),
the central processing computer may transmit a signal to the
point-of-sale terminal indicating that the transaction is not
approved and/or is not authorized. The point-of-sale terminal
operator may then cancel the transaction. The point-of-sale
terminal operator may then confiscate the card and/or alert the
authorities.
[0032] If, however, the central processing computer should
determine that the card is not lost, stolen, cancelled or
de-activated, or that the credit, charge or debit account limit of
the card has not been reached or exceeded, or that the of
unauthorized transactions count has not reached a predefined limit,
the central processing computer may transmit a signal and/or data
to the communication device which is located with the cardholder.
The central processing computer may then also transmit respective
signals and/or data to any one or more of the cardholder's
designated fax machine, personal computer, telephone, telephone
answering machine, alternate telephone, alternate telephone
answering machine, network computer, and/or alternate beeper or
pager, either sequentially and/or simultaneously.
[0033] The information and/or data transmitted to the communication
device includes information and/or data identifying the transaction
and may include the name of the store or the service provider and
the amount of the transaction. The information and/or data may also
provide the time of the transaction, the location (i.e. city, town,
village, state, country, etc.) of the transaction. The information
and/or data may also include the phone number of the central
processing office and/or computer servicing the account so that the
cardholder may telephone same in order to authorize or cancel the
transaction. The information and/or data may also be supplemented
to include the type of goods and/or services involved in the
transaction, if such information can be entered at the
point-of-sale terminal.
[0034] The information and/or data which is transmitted from the
central processing computer, and received at the communication
device, may be displayed to the cardholder on a display device of
the communication device. The information displayed on the display
device may include the name of the store or the service provider,
the amount of the transaction, the time of the transaction and the
location of the transaction. The information and/or data may also
be supplemented to include the type of goods and/or services
involved in the transaction, if such information can be entered at
the point-of-sale terminal.
[0035] The apparatus, or the central processing computer, may then
wait for the cardholder to respond to the transmission. During this
time, the cardholder may either utilize the reply or two-way pager
feature on the communication device in order to either approve, or
authorize, the transaction or to disapprove, or void the
transaction. The apparatus may then determine if the cardholder has
made a reply or response within a pre-defined time limit. The
cardholder may also transmit a signal via an appropriate key or
button suspending use of the card such as when he or she may first
be apprised of the fact that the card has been lost or stolen. If
the cardholder has replied or responded to the notice, the response
may then be transmitted to, and received by, the central processing
computer. The cardholder may also simply telephone the central
processing office or processing center, servicing the card, so as
to personally notify the office or center of his or her response to
the central processing computer transmission regarding the
transaction.
[0036] If the cardholder does not reply to the central processing
computer within a pre-specified time, the central processing
computer may transmit a signal and/or data to the point-of-sale
terminal indicating that, with the exception of receiving the
authorization of the cardholder, the transaction is otherwise
approved. The central processing computer may also simply transmit
a signal indicating that the transaction is not authorized and,
therefore, should be cancelled of voided. The point-of-sale
terminal operator may then either proceed to complete the
transaction, try to obtain additional information from the
purchaser, or cancel the transaction.
[0037] The action taken by the point-of-sale terminal operator may
be dictated by the specific agreement in effect between the sales
or service establishment and the bank or financial institution
administering the card accounts. Thereafter, the operation of the
apparatus will cease. If the cardholder should reply or respond to
the transaction notice at a later period, this information may then
be utilized in order to approve, or to disapprove, and/or to
dispute the transaction.
[0038] The central processing computer, after receiving the reply
or response from the cardholder, may then identify the cardholder
response. The apparatus, or the central processing computer, may
then determine if the cardholder has replied or responded so as to
authorize the transaction. If the cardholder's response is to
cancel, to disapprove or not authorize, the transaction, the
central processing computer may transmit a signal and/or data to
the point-of-sale terminal which will notify and/or instruct the
point-of-sale terminal operator that the transaction is not
authorized and, therefore, should be cancelled or voided. The
point-of-sale terminal operator may then cancel the transaction.
The point-of-sale terminal operator may then confiscate the card
and/or alert the authorities. Thereafter, the apparatus will cease
operation.
[0039] If, however, the central processing computer identifies the
cardholder reply or response as being one to authorize the
transaction, the central processing computer may then transmit a
signal and/or data to the point-of-sale terminal which may notify
and/or instruct the point-of-sale terminal operator that the
transaction is authorized and/or approved. The point-of-sale
terminal operator may then complete the transaction. Thereafter,
operation of the apparatus will cease.
[0040] In cases when the cardholder is the party to the
transaction, he or she, having the communication device with, or
on, his or her person, may authorize the transaction at the
point-of-sale location or from his or her remote location. The
cardholder may also program and/or set the communication device to
automatically authorize or disapprove or disallow transactions.
[0041] In this regard, the communication device may be programmable
so as to receive and/or to analyze the transaction information
and/or data and reply or respond to same automatically and/or with
preset or programmed replies and/or responses. The communication
device may also be programmable so as to limit and/or restrict the
amounts and/or types of transactions, and/or the goods and/or
services which may be purchased with the card, the stores or
service providers which may be authorized to accept the card,
limits on the dollar amounts of transactions pertaining to each
authorized vendor, seller and/or service provider, daily spending
limits, and/or the geographical area or location to which
authorized use may be limited, and/or authorized times for card
usage (i.e. specific days, dates, time of day, time of month, year,
etc.), and/or any other limitation and/or restriction regarding
amount of the transaction, the parties involved, the geographical
area limitations, and/or the times of allowed usage. In this
regard, the cardholder may provide for temporary transaction and/or
purchasing amounts.
[0042] The communication device may also be provided with a memory
device for storing any number of transactions so that the
cardholder may review his account activity and/or transactions
which have occurred involving his or her card. In this manner, the
cardholder may "scroll" through and/or in other ways review account
activity at any time and for any time period and/or interval. The
communication device may also be equipped to service more than one
card. For example, a plurality of cards may be serviced with or by
a single communication device.
[0043] The apparatus and method of the present invention provides
for the real-time authorization, notification and/or security of
financial transactions involving credit cards, charge cards, debit
cards, and/or currency or "smart" cards, which enables a cardholder
to monitor, in real-time, all activity involving his or her card(s)
and the corresponding account numbers. The apparatus and method of
the present invention also provides a means and a mechanism by
which to inform a cardholder that his or her card(s) are lost,
stolen and/or are or have been fraudulently used, and/or when his
or her card number(s) are or have been fraudulently used, and
provides an indication to the cardholder of where his or her
card(s) are being or have been utilized in transactions. The
cardholder may then report the card lost or stolen and/or cancel
and/or de-activate the card.
[0044] The present invention also provides a means and a mechanism
by which to monitor the number of transactions which are
unauthorized by the cardholder and determine whether or not to
authorize transactions and/or to cancel or to de-activate the
card(s). In the above manner, the present invention provides an
apparatus and a method to prevent and/or to drastically limit
fraudulent and/or unauthorized use of credit cards, charge cards,
debit cards, and/or currency or "smart" cards, and/or the account
numbers corresponding thereto.
[0045] The present invention, in an alternate embodiment, may be
utilized so as to provide authorization, notification and/or
security in banking and related financial transactions involving
checking accounts, savings accounts and/or automated teller machine
(ATM) transactions and/or other transactions wherein an account
holder can be notified of a transaction and/or attempted
transaction. In such an alternate embodiment, the apparatus
comprises a banking transaction terminal, which terminals are found
in banks and financial institutions, and which may be a teller
terminal, a processing computer terminal and/or an ATM terminal.
The apparatus also comprises a central processing computer and a
communication device. The banking transaction terminal transmits an
authorization request which may include the data pertaining to the
particular account which is accessed and/or involved in the
transaction and the type and the amount of the transaction, over a
communications medium, to the central processing computer for
processing the transaction request and/or the authorization
pertaining thereto.
[0046] The central processing computer may transmit signals and/or
data pertaining to the transaction to the communication device. The
apparatus may then operate and/or be utilized in a manner similar
to, or analogous to, the apparatus utilized in conjunction with
credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart"
cards, and/or the account numbers corresponding thereto, as
described above.
[0047] In this manner, the apparatus and method of the present
invention may provide for the real-time notification of banking
and/or financial transactions involving various bank and/or
financial accounts and enable an account owner to monitor, in
real-time, all activity involving his or her bank and/or financial
accounts. The apparatus and method of the present invention also
provides a means and a mechanism by which to inform an account
owner that his or her account is overdrawn, has been charged
against and/or that his or her ATM card(s) are lost, stolen,
cancelled or de-activated and/or provides an indication to the
account owner of when and/or where his or her accounts are being
accessed in transactions and/or are being otherwise compromised.
The account owner may then report the unauthorized activity, or the
discovery of a lost or stolen ATM card, and/or cancel and/or
de-activate the respective account(s) and/or ATM card(s).
[0048] In another alternate embodiment, the apparatus and method of
the present invention may also be utilized so as to provide
authorization, notification and/or security for, and in conjunction
with, cellular and/or mobile telephones and/or communication
systems wherein a cellular or mobile telephone owner and/or account
holder can be notified of a transmission and/or an attempted
transmission and/or telephone call made with his or her cellular or
mobile telephone and/or with the telephone number and/or account
information, which information may include, but not be limited to,
transmission codes and/or associated signatures and/or data which
corresponds to his or her cellular or mobile telephone.
[0049] The apparatus utilized in conjunction with a cellular
telephone comprises a cellular telephone which serves as the
transaction terminal, a central processing computer and a
communication device. The cellular telephone transmits signals
and/or data which are received by the central processing computer.
The central processing computer may then transmit signals and/or
data which are received by the communication device. The apparatus
may then operate and/or be utilized in a manner similar to, or
analogous to, the apparatus utilized in conjunction with credit
cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart" cards,
savings accounts, checking accounts and/or automated teller machine
accounts, and/or the account numbers corresponding thereto, as
described above.
[0050] The apparatus and method of the present invention provides
for the real-time notification of cellular or mobile telephone
usage which enables a cellular telephone owner and/or account
holder to monitor, in real-time, all activity involving his or her
cellular telephone. The apparatus and method of the present
invention also provides a means and a mechanism by which to inform
a cellular telephone owner and/or account holder that his or her
cellular telephone is lost, stolen and/or is being fraudulently
used, and/or that the telephone number is being used in an
unauthorized manner, and provides an indication to the cellular
telephone owner and/or account holder of how, when and where his or
her cellular telephone, or the account number which corresponds
thereto, is being utilized in cellular communication transactions.
The cellular telephone owner and/or account holder may then report
the cellular telephone lost or stolen and/or cancel and/or
de-activate the cellular telephone and/or the corresponding account
and/or the account number.
[0051] The present invention also provides an apparatus and a
method by which to monitor the number of cellular or mobile
telephone transactions which are unauthorized by the cellular or
mobile telephone owner and to determine whether or not a central
processing computer should cancel or de-activate the cellular
telephone and/or the account. In the above manner, the present
invention provides an apparatus and a method for preventing and/or
for drastically limiting fraudulent use and/or unauthorized use of
cellular or mobile telephones and/or cellular or mobile telephone
numbers. The present invention also provides an apparatus and a
method for combating cellular telephone "cloning."
[0052] The apparatus and method of the present invention may also
be utilized in connection with an on-line service and/or on, or
over, the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, so as to provide for
a means by which the authorized user or operator may utilize the
apparatus in conjunction with a home and/or a personal computer
and/or a commercial or industrial computer system (i.e., an
internet server computer) and/or any other appropriate device,
including a personal communication and/or computing device, in a
network environment, and which may be utilized over any suitable
and/or appropriate communications network or medium.
[0053] The communications system utilized in conjunction with the
present invention may operate anywhere in the electromagnetic
and/or the radio spectrum. Personal communication service (PCS)
systems and devices, including stationary, portable and/or
hand-held devices, and digital signal communications devices and
systems, may also be utilized. The communication system or medium
should provide for the transmission and for the reception of a
multitude of remote electrical, electronic, electromagnetic, and/or
other suitable signals, over long distances and/or in a mobile
and/or a wireless communications environment.
[0054] The apparatus and method of the present invention may be
utilized in conjunction any appropriate communications device which
may be utilized with any appropriate communications system and/or
medium.
[0055] The present invention may also be equipped with, and be
utilized with, hardware and software necessary for providing
self-monitoring functions, automatic control and/or responses to
occurrences, automatic notice of an occurrence and/or a situation,
to an owner, user and/or authorized individual. In this regard, any
and all of the embodiments described above may comprise a
monitoring device, a triggering device and/or any other suitable
device for detecting an occurrence and/or identifying a situation
which may warrant providing notice to a card holder, account owner,
cellular telephone owner and/or an authorized individual.
[0056] In this regard, the apparatus and method may provide a
transmission of any appropriate signal from a transmitter and, if
desired, from a voice synthesizer to the card holder, account owner
and/or cellular telephone owner. The signal utilized could be in
the form of a communication transmission, depending upon the
communication medium utilized, a telephone call, a voice message, a
beeper and/or a pager message, an electronic mail message, a fax
transmission, and/or any other mode of communication which may be
utilized with any of the apparatuses, devices and/or components
described herein.
[0057] In this regard, the apparatus may be designed or programmed
to telephone the cardholder, account owner and/or cellular
telephone owner, and/or other authorized individual, at a primary
phone number, at an alternate or forwarding phone number, and/or at
a business phone number, send a beeper or pager message to the
individual, and/or send a fax message, an electronic mail (e-mail)
message, a voice mail message and/or an answering service message
to, or for, the card holder, account owner and/or cellular
telephone owner or authorized individual. In this manner, the
apparatus may communicate with the desired individual by utilizing
multiple notification and/or reporting avenues and/or devices so as
to provide and to ensure that best efforts are to be made to
communicate with the desired individual as soon as possible.
[0058] The apparatus and method of the present invention may also
be programmable for programmed and/or automatic activation,
self-activation, programmed and/or automatic operation and/or
self-operation. The apparatus and method of the present invention
may provide for an immediate, as well as for a deferred,
authorization, notification and/or security in any of the
above-described financial transactions and/or wireless
communication transactions.
[0059] The present invention may also be utilized in such a manner
that a communication device may receive and/or transmit signals,
data and/or information which pertains to multiple accounts and/or
multiple types of accounts in order to provide authorization,
notification and/or security for a plurality of any of the accounts
described herein.
[0060] The present invention, in any of the embodiments described
herein, may also be designed to be user-friendly. In this regard,
the present invention may be menu-driven, and/or its operation may
be menu-selected, from audio menus, visual menus, or both audio and
visual menus.
[0061] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus and a method for providing authorization,
notification and/or security in financial transactions involving
credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart
cards, savings accounts, checking accounts and/or automated teller
machine accounts and for providing authorization, notification
and/or security in wireless communications transactions involving
cellular telephones and/or other cellular communications
devices.
[0062] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus and a method for providing authorization, notification
and/or security in financial transactions involving credit cards,
charge cards, debit cards, wherein the cardholder may authorize or
disapprove of a transaction, in real time.
[0063] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus and a method for providing authorization, notification
and/or security in financial transactions involving savings
account, checking accounts and/or automated teller machine
accounts, wherein the account owner may authorize or disapprove of
a transaction, in real time.
[0064] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus and a method for providing authorization, notification
and/or security in wireless communications transactions involving
cellular telephones and/or other cellular communications devices,
wherein the cellular telephone or cellular communication device
owner may authorize or disapprove of a transaction, in real
time.
[0065] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus and a method for providing authorization, notification
and/or security in financial transactions and/or in wireless
communication transactions, which may be utilized on, over, or in
conjunction with, an on-line service and/or the Internet, the World
Wide Web, and/or any other suitable communication network or
medium.
[0066] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus and a method for providing authorization,
notification and/or security in financial transactions and/or in
wireless communications transactions, which is programmable and/or
which may provide for pre-programmed and/or pre-specified
transaction authorization and/or transaction disapproval.
[0067] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus and a method for providing authorization,
notification and/or security in financial transactions and/or in
wireless communications transactions, which may be utilized over
any suitable communications network or medium.
[0068] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus and a method for providing authorization,
notification and/or security in financial transactions and/or in
wireless communication transactions, wherein the respective
cardholder, account owner or cellular telephone owner may increase
or decrease the respective account credit limits, account activity,
funds available, calling areas and/or usage limits at any time
and/or from any location.
[0069] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus and a method for providing authorization,
notification and/or security in financial transactions and/or in
wireless communications transactions, which is programmable with
respect to authorized times of usage (i.e. specific days, dates,
time of day, time of month, year, etc.), and/or any other
limitations regarding amount of transaction limitations, parties
involved, and/or geographical area and/or location of allowed
usage.
[0070] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus and a method for providing authorization, notification
and/or security in financial transactions, and/or in wireless
communication transactions, for a plurality of accounts and types
of accounts.
[0071] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the
Description of the Preferred Embodiment taken in conjunction with
the Drawings which follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the Drawings:
[0072] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the apparatus of the
present invention which is utilized in conjunction with a credit
card, a charge card, a debit card, and/or a currency or "smart"
card authorization process;
[0073] FIG. 2 illustrates the various components of the apparatus
of FIG. 1;
[0074] FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1
in flow diagram form;
[0075] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an alternate
embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is
utilized in conjunction with a checking account, a savings account
and/or an automated teller machine transaction;
[0076] FIG. 5 illustrates the various components of the apparatus
of FIG. 4;
[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 4
in flow diagram form;
[0078] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an alternate
embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is
utilized in conjunction with a cellular and/or a mobile
telephone;
[0079] FIG. 8 illustrates the various components of the apparatus
of FIG. 7;
[0080] FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 7
in flow diagram form;
[0081] FIG. 10 illustrates yet another alternate embodiment of the
present invention wherein the apparatus of the present invention is
utilized on, or over, an on-line service, the INTERNET and/or the
World Wide Web or other suitable communication network or medium;
and
[0082] FIG. 11 illustrates yet another alternate embodiment of the
present invention which is also utilized in conjunction with an
on-line service and/or on, or over, the INTERNET and/or the World
Wide Web or the suitable communication network or medium.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0083] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a preferred embodiment
of the apparatus of the present invention, which is utilized in
conjunction with a credit card, a charge card and/or a debit card
authorization process. The apparatus of FIG. 1 is denoted generally
by the reference numeral 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus
consists of a point-of-sale authorization terminal 2 which
terminals are found in various establishments and utilized in
conjunction with the sale of goods and/or services and in other
financial transactions.
[0084] The point-of-sale authorization terminal 2 (hereinafter
referred to as "point-of-sale terminal") may be any of the widely
used and well known terminals or devices for providing
point-of-sale authorization for transactions involving credit
cards, charge cards, debit cards and/or other currency or "smart"
cards. The point-of-sale terminal 2 may be utilized at the location
of the goods and/or service provider, such as the retail store or
office, and/or the point-of-sale terminal 2 may be located at the
site of the goods or service provider or vendor, such as in cases
when the sale is a telephone order, mail order and/or other type of
transaction, including transactions made over the INTERNET and/or
other on-line mediums.
[0085] Typically, the terminals and devices for providing
point-of-sale authorization comprise and utilize a magnetic card
reader and/or magnetic strip card reader, for reading data from the
magnetic strip located on credit cards, charge cards, debit cards
and/or the currency or "smart" cards. The point-of-sale terminal 2
transmits an authorization request which may include the data
pertaining to the particular card utilized in the transaction and
the amount of the transaction, over a communications medium, to a
central processing computer for processing the credit, charge,
debit and/or other transaction request and/or the authorization
request pertaining thereto.
[0086] The point-of-sale terminal 2 also receives the authorization
and/or authorization data and/or information from the central
processing computer. A printed transaction receipt may also be
provided at and/or obtained via the point-of-sale terminal 2, or
peripheral device associated therewith, for printing a transaction
receipt which is usually or typically signed by the card holder in
completing the transaction. The point-of-sale terminal 2 may be
designed to read other data besides and/or in addition to magnetic
card data. The point-of-sale terminal 2 may also comprise, or have
associated therewith, a keypad for the manual entry of transaction
information and/or data, such as the amount of the transaction. The
point-of-sale terminal 2 may also be an integral component of a
cash register or other transaction terminal or device which may
provide for the automatic entry of transaction information and/or
data.
[0087] The apparatus 1 also comprises a central processing computer
3 which services any predefined group of cardholders. For example,
the central processing computer 3 may handle all MASTERCARD
transactions for a given financial and/or credit institution. The
central processing computer 3, for example, may process credit
cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart" cards
and/or combinations of same, such as, for example, VISA.RTM.,
MASTERCARD.RTM., and/or AMERICAN EXPRESS.RTM. cards and process
and/or mange account information pertaining thereto. The central
processing computer 3 may also process accounts for any of the
various banks and/or financial institutions which issue and/or
manage credit cards, charge cards, debit cards and/or currency or
"smart" cards (hereinafter referred to as "card" or "cards") and/or
process or manage these accounts.
[0088] The central processing computer 3 may be a mainframe
computer, a mini-computer, a micro-computer, a server computer,
such as those utilized in conjunction with on-line services and/or
in a network environment, and/or any other suitable computer or
computer system.
[0089] In the preferred embodiment, the point-of-sale terminal 2 is
linked and/or connected to the central processing computer 3 via a
telecommunications system, link and/or medium (hereinafter referred
to as "communications system") such as, for example, a telephone
network or line. It is important to note that the communications
system which is utilized may be any communications system and may
include telecommunication systems, satellite communications
systems, radio communication systems, digital communications
systems, digital satellite communications systems, personal
communications services communication systems as well as any other
appropriate communications system. The point-of-sale terminal 2
transmits signals and/or data to the central processing computer 3
as well as receives signals and/or data from the central processing
computer 3.
[0090] The apparatus 1 also comprises a cardholder communication
device 4 which may receive signals and/or data from either or both
of the point-of-sale terminal 2 and/or the central processing
computer 3. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the
communication device 4 receives signals and data from the central
processing computer 3 with said signals being transmitted via a
suitable communication system. In the preferred embodiment, the
communications system utilized for transmitting signals and/or data
to the communication device 4 is a wireless telephone line and the
communication device 4 is a telephone signal receiving device such
as a telephone beeper or pager. The communication device 4 or pager
receives the wireless telephone signals and/or data from the
central processing computer 3 during the authorization procedure as
will be described in more detail below.
[0091] In the preferred embodiment, the communication device 4 is
also equipped with a transmitter for transmitting signals and/or
data to the central processing computer 3. In this regard, the
central processing computer 3 transmits signals and/or data to the
communication device 4 as well as receives signals and/or data from
the communication device 4. The communication device 4 may also
transmit signals and/or data directly to the point-of-sale terminal
2 and receive signals and/or data directly from the point-of-sale
terminal 2. In the preferred embodiment, the point-of-sale terminal
2 transmits signals and/or data to the central processing computer
3 and receives signals and/or data from the central processing
computer 3. Further, in the preferred embodiment, the communication
device 4 receives signals and/or data from the central processing
computer 3 and transmits signals and/or data to the central
processing computer 3.
[0092] As noted above, the communication device 4 is a wireless
device. In this regard, the communication device 4 or pager may be
carried by the cardholder and/or be kept on and/or close to the
cardholder's person so that the central processing computer 3 may
transmit signals and/or data to the communication device 4 so as to
communicate with the cardholder at any time. The communication
device 4 may also comprise any one or more of a facsimile (fax)
machine, a personal computer, a telephone, a telephone answering
machine, an alternate telephone, an alternate telephone answering
machine, a network computer, and/or an alternate beeper or pager.
The central processing computer 3 may be linked with each of the
above devices via any suitable communication system.
[0093] In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 also comprises
a facsimile (fax) machine 5, a personal computer 6, a telephone 7,
a telephone answering machine 8, an alternate telephone 9, an
alternate telephone answering machine 10, a network computer 11, an
alternate beeper 12 and an alternate pager 13. The central
processing computer 3 may be linked with the above fax machine 5,
personal computer 6, telephone 7, associated answering machine 8,
alternate telephone 9, alternate telephone answering machine 10,
network computer 11, and/or alternate beeper 12 or pager 13, via
any suitable communication system. In the preferred embodiment, a
telecommunications link or telephone network, line or link, which
may or may not be a wireless link depending on the device and/or
the circumstances, is utilized in order to link the central
processing computer 3 with each of the fax machine 5, the personal
computer 6, the telephone 7, the associated answering machine 8,
the alternate telephone 9, alternate telephone answering machine
10, the network computer 11, and/or the alternate beeper 12 and the
alternate pager 13.
[0094] FIG. 2 illustrates the various components of the apparatus 1
of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, the point-of-sale terminal 2, in the
preferred embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU
2A, a magnetic card reader 2B, which is connected to the CPU 2A,
associated random access memory 2C (RAM) and read only memory 2D
(ROM) devices, which are also connected to the CPU 2A, a user input
device 2E, which is typically a keypad or other suitable input
device for inputting data into the terminal 2 and which is also
connected to the CPU 2A, and a display device 2F for displaying
information and/or data to a user.
[0095] The point-of-sale terminal 2 also comprises a transmitter 2G
for transmitting signals and/or data to the central processing
computer 3, and/or to the communication device 4 and/or to any
other device associated with the cardholder and/or the apparatus,
if desired. The transmitter 2G is also connected to the CPU 2A. The
point-of-sale terminal 2 also comprises a receiver 2H for receiving
signals and/or data from the central processing computer 3, and
from the communication device 4 and/or any other associated device
which may be utilized, if desired. The receiver 2H is also
connected to the CPU 2A. The point-of-sale terminal 2 also
comprises a printer 2I or other appropriate output device for
outputting data to the user. The printer 2I is also connected to
the CPU 2A. In the preferred embodiment, the printer 2I prints
receipts corresponding to the transaction.
[0096] In FIG. 2, the central processing computer 3, in the
preferred embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU
3A, associated random access memory 3B (RAM) and read only memory
3C (ROM) devices, which are connected to the CPU 3A, a user input
device 3D, which is a keypad and/or any other suitable input device
for inputting data into the central processing computer 3 and which
is also connected to the CPU 3A and a display device 3E for
displaying information and/or data to a user or operator.
[0097] The central processing computer 3 also comprises a
transmitter(s) 3F for transmitting signals and/or data to the
point-of-sale terminal 2 and to the communication device 4 and/or
to any one or more of the fax machine 5, personal computer 6,
telephone 7, telephone answering machine 8, alternate telephone 9,
alternate telephone answering machine 10, network computer 11
and/or alternate beeper 12 or alternate pager 13. The
transmitter(s) 3F is also connected to the CPU 3A. The central
processing computer 3 also comprises a receiver(s) 3G for receiving
signals and/or data from the point-of-sale terminal 2 and from the
communication device 4 and/or from any other suitable device which
may be utilized in conjunction with the apparatus 1. The
receiver(s) 3G is also connected to the CPU 3A. The central
processing computer 3, in any and/or all of the embodiments
described herein, may utilize a fax/modem and/or any other suitable
computer communication device.
[0098] The central processing computer also comprises a database(s)
3H which contains account information and data pertaining to the
cardholders and/or to the cardholder accounts. The database 3H
contains information about the cardholder, the cardholders account
number, credit and/or account limits, previous purchases, number of
unauthorized purchases made to the account and other information
and/or data necessary to manage and/or process an account
transaction as described herein.
[0099] The database 3H may also comprise data and/or information
regarding specific limitations and/or restrictions which may be
placed on a particular account, which may be pre-selected and/or
programmed by the cardholder and which may include limitations
and/or restrictions on the usage of the card. The limitations
and/or restrictions may include the types of transactions which are
allowed and/or authorized, the goods and/or services which may be
purchased with the card, the vendors, stores and/or service
provider which may be authorized to accept the card, limits on the
dollar amounts of transactions pertaining to each authorized
vendor, seller and/or service provider, daily spending limits,
and/or the geographical area or location wherein authorized card
use may be limited, and/or authorized times for card usage (i.e.
specific days, dates, time of day, time of month, year, etc.),
and/or any other limitation and/or restriction regarding amount of
transaction, parties involved, geographical area, and/or times of
allowed usage. The database 3H is also connected to the CPU 3A. The
central processing computer 3 also comprises a printer 3I or other
appropriate output device for outputting information and/or data to
a user or operator.
[0100] In FIG. 2, the communication device 4, in the preferred
embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU 4A,
associated random access memory 4B (RAM) and read only memory 4C
(ROM) devices, which are connected to the CPU 4A, a user input
device 4D, which is a keypad or a plurality of keys and/or switches
for inputting data into the communication device 4 and which is
also connected to the CPU 4A, and a display device 4E, for
displaying information and/or data to the cardholder, and a
database 4F, which are also connected to the CPU 4A. The
communication device 4 also comprises a receiver 4G for receiving
signals and/or data from the central processing computer 3 and
which is also connected to the CPU 4A, a transmitter 4H for
transmitting signals and/or data to the central processing computer
3 and which is also connected to the CPU 4A.
[0101] In the preferred embodiment, the communication device 4
which is utilized is a pager with a reply feature and/or device. A
two-way pager and/or pager systems may also be utilized for
implementing the respective component system(s) in the
communication device 4/central processing computer 3 combination
and/or link.
[0102] The apparatus 1 of the present invention, in the preferred
embodiment, may be utilized in order to facilitate cardholder
authorization, notification and/or security measures in financial
transactions involving credit cards, charge cards, debit cards,
and/or currency or "smart" cards, in the manner described below and
with reference to FIG. 3. In this manner, the apparatus 1 of the
present invention may be utilized to obtain cardholder
authorization in a card-related transaction.
[0103] FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of the apparatus 1 in flow
diagram form. With reference to FIG. 3, the operation of the
apparatus 1 commences at step 30 when the card, which is to be
utilized in a credit card, charge card, debit card, and/or currency
or "smart" card transaction, is presented in the transaction. At
step 31, the sales or service attendant or point-of-sale terminal
operator (hereinafter "point-of-sale terminal operator") will
activate the apparatus 1 in any typical manner, such as by
obtaining a phone line and entering card information into the
point-of-sale terminal 2. This data entry is typically performed by
swiping the magnetic strip of the card through the card reader 2B.
The information and/or data pertinent to the transaction, and/or
the card, is then transmitted, at step 32, to the central
processing computer 3.
[0104] The central processing computer 3 will, at step 33, process
the information and/or data pertinent to the transaction and/or to
the particular card account and may request, if needed, that the
point-of-sale operator enter the transaction amount. The central
processing computer 3 will then process the information and/or data
pertinent to the transaction in conjunction with the card account
information in order to determine if the card has been lost, stolen
and/or cancelled and/or de-activated. Further, the central
processing computer 3 will perform a test to determine if the card
has reached and/or exceeded the maximum credit, charge or debit
limit and/or if the card has been depleted of its currency
value.
[0105] The central processing computer 3 may utilize any of the
widely known data processing and/or software routines, which are
known to those skilled in that art, in order to process transaction
requests and/or authorizations involving the use of the respective
card(s). Once the information and/or data processing has been
completed at step 33, the central processing computer 3, at step
34, will determine if the card has been lost, stolen, and/or
cancelled and/or de-activated, or if the credit, charge or debit
limit of the card has been reached and/or exceeded, or if the
currency value of the card has been depleted.
[0106] The central processing computer 3 will, at step 34, also
perform a test in order to determine if the predetermined maximum
number of unauthorized transactions have occurred on the account.
The unauthorized transactions count refers to transactions which
are not authorized by the cardholder as will be described herein.
The authorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) is a variable which is
pre-set to zero (0) at the time the card account is issued. Each
time an unauthorized transaction occurs, the unauthorized
transaction count is incremented by one (1). Once the unauthorized
transaction count reaches a pre-defined limit of, for example,
three (3), the central processing computer 3 will cancel the
transaction and de-activate the card. The central processing
computer 3 will then notify the cardholder. In this manner, the
apparatus 1 will enable the central processing computer 3 of an
issuing and/or card servicing institution to cancel and/or
de-activate the card, either permanently and/or temporarily, in
cases when the cardholder may have failed to respond or to reply to
transaction notices, which may be the case when the cardholder is
not aware that the card has been lost or stolen, or when the card
or account number has been duplicated, "cloned", or in other ways
utilized without the cardholder's authorization, and/or when the
cardholder is unable to respond or reply to the transaction notices
for some other reason(s). This feature of the present invention
serves to put a usage limit on the use of the card(s). The central
processing computer 3, at step 34, will also perform a test(s) to
determine if any additional limitations and/or restrictions have
been met and/or satisfied.
[0107] If any of the above listed conditions exist (i.e. card is
lost, stolen, cancelled and/or de-activated, or credit, charge or
debit limit is reached and/or exceeded, currency value depleted,
unauthorized transaction limit reached or exceeded limitations
and/or restrictions violated, etc.), the central processing
computer 3 will, at step 35, transmit a signal to the point-of-sale
terminal 2 indicating that the transaction is not approved and/or
is not authorized. The point-of-sale terminal operator may then
cancel the transaction, at step 36. The point-of-sale terminal
operator may then confiscate the card and/or alert the authorities.
Upon the completion of step 36, the apparatus will cease operation
at step 55.
[0108] If, at step 34, the central processing computer 3 determines
that the card is not lost, stolen, cancelled or de-activated, or
that the credit, charge or debit limit of the card has not been
reached or exceeded, or that the of unauthorized transactions count
(UNAUTHCT) has not reached a pre-defined limit, or whether any
other pre-defined, pre-selected and/or programmed limitation(s)
and/or restriction(s) have been met, have been satisfied and/or
have been reconciled, the central processing computer 3 will, at
step 37, transmit a signal and/or data to the communication device
4 which is located at the cardholder.
[0109] At step 37, the central processing computer 3 will then also
transmit respective signals and/or data to any one or more of the
cardholder's designated fax machine 5, personal computer 6,
telephone 7, telephone answering machine 8, alternate telephone 9,
alternate telephone answering machine 10, network computer 11,
and/or alternate beeper 12 or alternate pager 13.
[0110] The information and/or data which is transmitted to the
communication device 4 includes information and/or data identifying
the transaction and may include the name of the store or the
service provider and the amount of the transaction. The information
and/or data may also provide the time of the transaction, the
location (i.e. city, town, village, state, country etc.) of the
transaction. The information and/or data may also include the phone
number of the central processing office and/or computer servicing
the account so that the cardholder may telephone same in order to
authorize or cancel the transaction. The information and/or data
may also be supplemented to include the type of goods and/or
services involved in the transaction, if such information can be
entered at the point-of-sale terminal 2.
[0111] At step 38, the information and/or data which is transmitted
from the central processing computer 3 and received at the
communication device 4 is displayed to the cardholder on the
display device 4E of the communication device 4. The information
displayed on the display device 4E includes the name of the store
or the service provider, the amount of the transaction, the time of
the transaction and the location of the transaction. The
information and/or data may also be supplemented to include the
type of goods and/or services involved in the transaction, if such
information can be entered at the point-of-sale terminal 2.
[0112] The apparatus 1 will then, at step 39, wait for the
cardholder to respond to the transmission. During this time, the
cardholder may either utilize the reply or two-way pager feature on
the communication device 4 in order to either approve or authorize
the transaction or disapprove of or void the transaction. At step
39, the central processing computer 3 will also receive the
response if one is sent. At step 40, the apparatus 1 will determine
if the cardholder has made a reply or response within the
pre-defined time limit which is chosen, in the preferred
embodiment, to be one (1) minute. The cardholder may also transmit
a signal via an appropriate key or button suspending use of the
card such as when he or she may first be apprised of the fact that
the card has been lost or stolen. In instances when the
communication device 4 does not have a reply or two-way pager
feature, the cardholder may simply telephone the central processing
office or a processing center for the card in order to personally
appraise the center or office of his or her response to the central
processing computer transmission regarding the transaction.
[0113] If the cardholder does not respond or reply to the central
processing office within the pre-specified time, chosen, in the
preferred embodiment, to be one (1) minute, the central office
computer will, at step 41, increment the unauthorized transaction
count (UNAUTHCT) by one (1) and will, at step 42, transmit a signal
and/or data to the point-of-sale terminal 2 indicating that, with
the exception of receiving the authorization of the cardholder, the
transaction is otherwise approved. The point-of-sale terminal
operator may then, at step 43, either proceed to consummate the
transaction, try to obtain additional information from the
purchaser, or cancel the transaction. The action taken by the
point-of-sale terminal operator may be dictated by the specific
agreement in effect between the sales and/or service provider
establishment and the bank or financial institution administering
the card account. Upon the completion of step 43, the operation of
the apparatus 1 will cease at step 44. If the cardholder should
reply or respond to the transaction notice at a later period, the
response or reply information may then be utilized in order to
approve of, or to disapprove and/or to dispute, the
transaction.
[0114] If, at step 40, the response or reply is determined to be
timely, the central processing computer 3 will, at step 45, process
and identify the cardholder response. At step 46, the central
processing computer 3 will determine if the cardholder has replied
or responded so as to authorize the transaction. If the
cardholder's response is to cancel, disapprove or, or not to
authorize, the transaction, the central processing computer 3 will,
at step 47, increment an unauthorized transaction count by 1. At
this juncture, it is important to note that the unauthorized count
(UNAUTHCT) is set to zero at the time of the issuance of the card.
After the unauthorized transaction count has been incremented, the
central processing computer 3 will, at step 48, transmit a signal
and/or data to the point-of-sale terminal 2 which will notify
and/or instruct the point-of-sale terminal operator that the
transaction is not authorized and should, therefore, be cancelled
or voided. The point-of-sale terminal operator may then cancel the
transaction at step 49. The point-of-sale terminal operator may
then confiscate the card and/or alert the authorities. Upon the
completion of step 49, the apparatus will cease operation at step
50.
[0115] If, at step 46, the central processing computer 3 identifies
the cardholder reply or response as being one to authorize the
transaction, the central processing computer 3, at step 51, will
reset the unauthorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) to 0. An
unauthorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) of 0 will signify that
any string of unauthorized transactions has now been broken by the
cardholder, and further, that the present transaction is approved
by the cardholder. The central processing computer 3 will then, at
step 52, transmit a signal and/or data to the point-of-sale
terminal 2 which will notify and/or instruct the point-of-sale
terminal operator that the transaction is authorized and/or
approved.
[0116] The point-of-sale terminal operator may then complete the
transaction, at step 53. After the transaction has been completed
at step 53, the operation of the apparatus 1 will cease at step
54.
[0117] In instances when the cardholder is a party to the
transaction, he or she, having the communication device 4 on his or
her person, may authorize the transaction at the point-of-sale
location. If the transaction is a telephone and/or other remotely
made transaction, the cardholder may authorize the transaction from
his or her remote location. The cardholder may also program and/or
set the communication device 4 to automatically authorize or
disapprove or disallow transactions. In this regard, the
communication device 4 may be programmable so as to receive and
analyze the transaction information and/or data and reply and/or
respond to same automatically and/or with preset and/or programmed
relies and/or responses. The communication device 4 may also be
programmable so as to limit the amounts of transactions. In this
regard, the cardholder may provide for temporary transaction and/or
purchasing amounts.
[0118] The communication device 4, in the preferred embodiment, is
provided with a memory device for storing any number of
transactions so that the cardholder may review his or her card
and/or account activity and/or transactions which have occurred
involving his or her card. In this manner, the cardholder may
"scroll" through and/or in other ways review card and/or account
activity. The communication device 4 may also be equipped to
service more than one card. For example, a cardholder's
MASTERCARD.RTM., VISA.RTM., and/or AMERICAN EXPRESS.RTM. card or
cards and the accounts corresponding thereto may all be serviced
with or by a single communication device 4.
[0119] The apparatus and method of the present invention provides
for the real-time notification of financial transactions involving
credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart"
cards, which enables a cardholder to monitor, in real-time,
activity involving his or her card(s) and the corresponding
accounts. The apparatus and method of the present invention also
provides a means and a mechanism by which to inform a cardholder
that his or her card(s) are lost or stolen, and/or that his or her
card(s), and/or the account numbers corresponding thereto, are
utilized without his or her authorization and also provides an
indication to the cardholder of where his or her card(s) or
corresponding account number(s) is being utilized in transactions.
The cardholder may then report the card lost or stolen and/or
cancel and/or de-activate the card and/or the account.
[0120] The present invention also provides a means and a mechanism
by which to monitor the number of transactions which are
unauthorized by the cardholder and to determine whether or not to
authorize transactions and/or cancel or de-activate the card(s)
and/or the account. In the above manner, the apparatus and method
of the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for
preventing and/or for drastically limiting fraudulent and/or
unauthorized use of credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or
currency or "smart" cards and/or the account numbers corresponding
thereto.
[0121] The present invention, in an alternate embodiment, may be
utilized so as to provide authorization, notification and/or
security in banking and related financial transactions involving
checking accounts, savings accounts and/or automated teller machine
(ATM) accounts and transactions and other transactions wherein an
account owner may be notified of a transaction and/or an attempted
transaction.
[0122] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an alternate
embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is
utilized in conjunction with a checking account, savings account
and/or ATM account and/or transaction (hereinafter referred to as a
"banking transaction") and/or the authorization process involved
therewith. The apparatus of FIG. 4 is denoted generally by the
reference numeral 100. In FIG. 4, the apparatus 100 consists of a
banking transaction terminal which terminals are found in banks and
financial establishments. In the preferred embodiment, the banking
transaction terminal 102 is a teller terminal, a processing
computer terminal and/or an ATM terminal. Any other terminal or
similar device may also be utilized as the banking transaction
terminal 102 depending upon the application and/or the
transaction.
[0123] The banking transaction terminal 102 (hereinafter referred
to as "banking terminal") may be any of the widely used and well
known terminals or devices for providing banking transactions
over-the-counter, ATM transactions and/or in any other type of
financial transactions, including clearing transactions, check
clearing and/or account charging and/or charge-back transactions,
which transactions banks and financial institutions perform and/or
engage in.
[0124] Typically, the banking terminals and/or devices comprise a
computer terminal having an input device such as a keyboard and/or
various reader and/or scanning device for reading and/or scanning,
respectively, information and/or data necessary in order to perform
the transaction. The banking terminal transmits an authorization
request which may include the data pertaining to the particular
account which is accessed and/or involved in the transaction and
the type and the amount of the transaction, over a communications
medium, to a central processing computer for processing the
transaction, the transaction request and/or the authorization
request pertaining thereto. The banking terminal may transmit the
transaction authorization request and/or notice to a central
processing computer via a central bank computer (not shown) which
may be a central computer at the particular bank or financial
institution. The central processing computer may also be a central
computer system which is not located at the bank or financial
institution, but rather, services the particular bank or financial
institution or a group of banks or financial institutions.
[0125] The banking terminal 102 also receives the transaction
and/or authorization data and/or information from the central
processing computer. If a central bank computer is utilized, the
data transmitted from the central processing computer would be
transmitted to the banking terminal 102 via the central bank
computer. A printed transaction receipt may also be provided at
and/or obtained via the banking terminal 102, or peripheral device
associated therewith, for printing a transaction receipt which is
usually provided to the account holder at the time and/or location
of the transaction.
[0126] The banking terminal 102 may also comprise, and/or have
associated therewith, a keypad for the manual entry of transaction
information and/or data, such as the amount of the transaction,
account number, etc. The banking terminal 102 may also be an
integral component of a teller and/or cashier work station and/or
other transaction terminals and/or devices, including those which
may provide for the automatic entry of transaction information
and/or data.
[0127] The apparatus 100 also comprises a central processing
computer 103 which services any bank and/or financial institution
and/or any pre-defined group of banks and/or financial institutions
and/or any number of accounts associated therewith. For example,
the central processing computer 103 may handle all checking
accounts, savings accounts and/or other accounts for a given bank
or banks. The central processing computer 103, for example, may
process and maintain records of deposits, withdrawals, checks
cashed, drafts, ATM deposits, ATM withdrawals, charges made against
an account, credits made to an account, etc., and/or any
combinations of same. The central processing computer 103 may
process accounts for any of the various banks and/or financial
institutions.
[0128] In the preferred embodiment, the banking terminal 102 is
linked and/or connected to the central processing computer 103 via
a telecommunications system, link and/or medium (hereinafter
referred to as "communications system") such as, for example, a
telephone network or line. As noted above, the banking terminal 102
may or may not be linked to the central processing computer 103 via
a central bank computer. It is important to note that the
communications system which is utilized may be any communications
system and may include telecommunication systems, satellite
communications systems, radio communication systems, digital
communications systems, digital satellite communications systems,
personal communications services communication systems as well as
any other appropriate communications system. The banking terminal
102 transmits signals and/or data to the central processing
computer 103 as well as receives signals and/or data from the
central processing computer 103.
[0129] The central processing computer 103 may be a mainframe
computer, a mini-computer, a micro-computer, a server computer,
such as those utilized in conjunction with on-line services and/or
in a network environment, and/or any other suitable computer or
computer system.
[0130] The apparatus 100 also comprises an account owner
communication device 104 which may receive signals and/or data from
either or both of the banking transaction terminal 102 and/or the
central processing computer 103. In the preferred embodiment of
FIG. 4, the communication device 104 receives signals and/or data
from the central processing computer 103 with said signals being
transmitted via a suitable communication system. In the preferred
embodiment, the communications system utilized for transmitting
signals and/or data to the communication device 104 is a wireless
telephone line and the communication device 104 is a wireless
telephone signal receiving device such as a telephone beeper or
pager. The communication device 104, which may be a pager, receives
the wireless telephone signals and/or data from the central
processing computer 103 during the authorization procedure as will
be described in more detail below.
[0131] In the preferred embodiment, the communication device 104 is
also equipped with a transmitter for transmitting signals and/or
data to the central processing computer 103. In this regard, the
central processing computer 103 transmits signals and/or data to
the communication device 104 as well as receives signals and/or
data from the communication device 104. The communication device
104 may also transmit signals and/or data directly to the banking
terminal 102 and receive signals and/or data directly from the
banking terminal 102. In the preferred embodiment, the banking
terminal 102 transmits signals and/or data to the central
processing computer 103 and receives signals and/or data from the
central processing computer 103. Further, in the preferred
embodiment, the communication device 104 receives signals and/or
data from the central processing computer 3 and transmits signals
and/or data to the central processing computer 103.
[0132] As noted above, the communication device 104 is a wireless
device. In this regard, the communication device 104 or pager may
be carried by the account owner and/or be kept on and/or close to
the account owner's person so that the central processing computer
103 may transmit signals and/or data to the communication device
104 so as to communication with the account owner at any time.
[0133] In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 100 also
comprises a facsimile (fax) machine 105, a personal computer 106, a
telephone 107, a telephone answering machine 108, an alternate
telephone 109, an alternate telephone answering machine 110, a
network computer 111, and/or an alternate beeper 112 or alternate
pager 113. The central processing computer 103 may be linked with
the above fax machine 105, personal computer 106, telephone 107,
associated answering machine 108, alternate telephone 109,
alternate telephone answering machine 110, network computer 111
alternate beeper 112 and alternate pager 113, via any suitable
communication system. In the preferred embodiment, a
telecommunications link or telephone line or link, which may or may
not be a wireless link, depending on the device and/or the
circumstances, is utilized in order to link the central processing
computer 103 with each of the fax machine 105, the personal
computer 106, the telephone 107, the associated answering machine
108, the alternate telephone 109, the alternate telephone answering
machine 110, the network computer 111, the alternate beeper 112 and
the alternate pager 113.
[0134] FIG. 5 illustrates the various components of the apparatus
100 of FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, the banking terminal 102, in the
preferred embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU
102A, a scanner or reader 102B, which is connected to the CPU 102A,
associated random access memory 102C (RAM) and read only memory
102D (ROM) devices, which are also connected to the CPU 102A, a
user input device 102E, which is typically a keypad or other
suitable input device for inputting data into the banking terminal
102 and which is also connected to the CPU 102A, and a display
device 102F for displaying information and/or data to a user or
operator, which display device 102F is also connected to the CPU
102A.
[0135] The banking terminal 102 also comprises a transmitter 102G
for transmitting signals and/or data to the central processing
computer 103, and/or to the communication device 104 and/or to any
other device associated with the account owner and/or the
apparatus, if desired. The transmitter 102G is also connected to
the CPU 102A. The banking terminal 102 also comprises a receiver
102H for receiving signals and/or data from the central processing
computer 103, and from the communication device 104 and/or from any
other associated device which may be utilized, if desired. The
receiver 102H is also connected to the CPU 102A. The banking
terminal 102 also comprises a printer 1021 or other appropriate
output device for outputting data to the operator. The printer 102I
is also connected to the CPU 102A. In the preferred embodiment, the
printer 1021 prints receipts corresponding to the transaction.
[0136] In FIG. 5, the central processing computer 103, in the
preferred embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU
103A, associated random access memory 103B (RAM) and read only
memory 103C (ROM) devices, which are connected to the CPU 103A, a
user input device 103D, which is a keypad or any other suitable
input device, for inputting data into the central processing
computer 103 and which is also connected to the CPU 103A, and a
display device 103E for displaying information and/or data to a
user or operator.
[0137] The central processing computer 103 also comprises a
transmitter(s) 103F for transmitting signals and/or data to the
banking terminal 102 and to the communication device 104 and/or to
any one or more of the fax machine 105, the personal computer 106,
the telephone 107, the telephone answering machine 108, the
alternate telephone 109, the alternate telephone answering machine
110, the network computer 111, the alternate beeper 112, and/or the
alternate pager 113. The transmitter(s) 103F is also connected to
the CPU 103A. The central processing computer 103 also comprises a
receiver(s) 103G for receiving signals and/or data from the banking
transaction terminal 102 and from the communication device 104
and/or from any other suitable device which may be utilized in
conjunction with the apparatus 100. The receiver(s) 103G is also
connected to the CPU 103A.
[0138] The central processing computer 103 also comprises a
database(s) 103H which contains account information and data
pertaining to the account owner's account(s). The database 103H
contains information about the account owner, the account number,
etc., and any other information and/or data necessary to the manage
and/or process an account and/or account transaction as described
herein. The database 103H is also connected to the CPU 103A. The
central processing computer 103 also comprises a printer 103I or
other appropriate output device for outputting information and/or
data to a user or operator, which printer 1031 or other output
device is also connected to the CPU 103A.
[0139] In FIG. 5, the communication device 104, in the preferred
embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU 104A,
associated random access memory 104B (RAM) and read only memory
104C (ROM) devices, which are also connected to the CPU 104A, a
user input device 104D, which is a keypad or a plurality of keys
and/or switches for inputting data into the communication device
104 and which is also connected to the CPU 104A, and a display
device 104E, for displaying information and/or data to the account
owner, and a database 104F. This display device 104E and the
database 104F are also connected to the CPU 104A. The communication
device 104 also comprises a receiver 104G for receiving signals
and/or data from the central processing computer 103 and which is
also connected to the CPU 104A, and a transmitter 104H for
transmitting signals and/or data to the central processing computer
103 and which is also connected to the CPU 104A.
[0140] In the preferred embodiment, the communication device 104,
which is utilized, is a pager with a reply feature and/or device. A
two-way pager and/or pager system(s) may also be utilized for
implementing the respective component systems in the communication
device 104/central processing computer 103 combination and/or
link.
[0141] The apparatus 100 of the present invention, in the preferred
embodiment, may be utilized in order to facilitate account owner
authorization, notification and/or security, in financial
transactions involving checking accounts, savings accounts and ATM
accounts, and/or any transactions involving same in the manner
described below and with reference to FIG. 6. In this manner, the
apparatus and method of the present invention may be utilized to
obtain account owner authorization in a banking and/or financial
transaction.
[0142] FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of the apparatus 100 in
flow diagram form. With reference to FIG. 6, the operation of the
apparatus 100 commences at step 130 when the financial transaction
and/or instrument or ATM card is presented to the bank or financial
institution employee, representative and/or placed in a card
reader, respectively. At step 131, the employee or representative
of the bank or financial institution will activate the apparatus,
via the banking transaction terminal 102, in any typical manner,
such as by entering account and/or card information, into the
banking transaction terminal 102. This data entry is typically
performed by manual data entry and/or via a card reader, depending
upon the transaction. For example, if a person offers a check for
cashing and provides a savings account or a checking account
number, as the means by which to endorse the check, the employee or
representative will enter the savings account or checking account
number into the banking terminal 102 for processing. Similarly, if
one desires to withdraw money from an ATM account, the card reader
will read and enter the account number and/or information for
processing. The information and/or data pertinent to the
transaction and the card is then transmitted, at step 132, to the
central processing computer 103.
[0143] The central processing computer 103 will then, at step 133,
process the information and/or data pertinent to the transaction
and to the particular account. The central processing computer 103
may utilize any of the widely known data processing and/or software
routines, which are known to those skilled in that art, in order to
process transaction requests and/or authorizations involving the
use of the respective account(s) and/or related card(s).
[0144] The central processing computer 103 will process the
information and/or data pertinent to the transaction in conjunction
with the account information in order to determine the status of
the account (i.e. whether any holds have been placed on the
account, such as those prohibiting withdrawals). Further, the
central processing computer 103 will then perform a test, at step
134, in order to determine if the transaction amount has reached
and/or exceeded the amount available in the account and/or if the
ATM card has been reported lost, stolen, cancelled and/or
de-activated, and/or determine whether any other pre-defined,
pre-selected and/or programmed limitation(s) and/or restriction(s)
have been met, satisfied and/or reconciled. The central processing
computer 103 will also perform a test in order to determine if the
predetermined maximum number count of unauthorized transactions,
pre-defined in the preferred embodiment to be one (1), has occurred
on the account.
[0145] The unauthorized transaction count refers to a count of the
transactions which are not authorized by the account owner as will
be described herein. The authorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) is
a variable which is pre-set to zero (0) at the time the account is
opened. Each time an unauthorized transaction occurs, the
unauthorized transaction count is incremented by one. Once the
unauthorized transaction count reaches a pre-defined limit of, for
example, one (1), although it may be pre-defined to be zero (0),
the central processing computer 103 will cancel the transaction and
de-activate the account and/or the ATM card. The central processing
computer 103 will then notify the account owner. In this manner,
the apparatus 100 will enable the central processing computer 103
of a banking and/or financial institution to cancel and/or
de-activate the account and/or the ATM card, either permanently or
temporarily, in cases when the account owner may have failed to
respond or to reply to transaction notices, which may be the case
when the account owner is not aware that the account has been
charged, overdrawn, and/or that the ATM card has been lost or
stolen, cancelled or de-activated, duplicated, "cloned", or in
other ways utilized without the account owner's knowledge or
authorization, or when the account owner is unable to respond or
reply to the transaction notices for some other reason(s). This
feature of the present invention serves to place a transaction stop
limit on the account and/or on the use of the ATM card.
[0146] If any of the above listed conditions exist (i.e. account
overdrawn and/or ATM card is lost, stolen, cancelled and/or
de-activated), the central processing computer 103 will, at step
135, transmit a signal to the banking transaction terminal 102
indicating that the transaction is not approved and/or is not
authorized. The banking terminal operator, or employee, or
representative, may then cancel the transaction at step 136. The
employee or representative may then alert the authorities and/or
confiscate the ATM card. In the case when an ATM machine is
utilized as the banking terminal 102, the ATM machine may
confiscate the ATM card automatically. Upon the completion of step
136, the apparatus will cease operation at step 137.
[0147] If, at step 134, the central processing computer 103
determines that the account is not overdrawn or that the ATM card
is not lost, stolen, cancelled or de-activated, or that the of
unauthorized transactions count (UNAUTHCT) has not reached a
predefined limit, and/or that pre-defined or pre-specified
limitations and/or restrictions have been met, the central
processing computer 103 will, at step 138, transmit a signal and/or
data to the communication device 104 which is located at the
account owner.
[0148] At step 138, the central processing computer 103 will then
also transmit respective signals and/or data to any one or more of
the cardholder's designated fax machine 105, personal computer 106,
telephone 107, telephone answering machine 108, alternate telephone
109, alternate telephone answering machine 110, network computer
111, and/or alternate beeper 112 or alternate pager 113.
[0149] The information and/or data transmitted to the communication
device 104 includes information and data identifying the
transaction and may include the name of the bank or financial
institution where the transaction is taking place, the account
number and/or description, the amount of the transaction, the time
of the transaction and the location (i.e. city, town, village,
state, country etc.) of the transaction. The information and/or
data may also include the phone number of the central processing
office and/or computer servicing, and/or the banking and/or
financial institution handling, the account so that the account
owner may telephone same in order to authorize or cancel the
transaction. The information and/or data may also be supplemented
to include a description of the person seeking to make the
transaction and the type of transaction sought (i.e. cash
withdrawal, cashing of check, etc.).
[0150] At step 139, the information and/or data which is
transmitted from the central processing computer 103, and received
at the communication device 104, is displayed to the account owner
on the display device 104E of the communication device 104. The
information displayed on the display device 104 includes the name
of the banking and/or financial institution, the amount of the
transaction, the time of the transaction and the location of the
transaction. The information and/or data may also include the type
of transaction and a description of the person seeking to make the
transaction, etc.
[0151] The apparatus 100, at step 140, will then wait for the
account owner to respond to the transmission. During this time, the
account owner may either utilize the reply or two-way pager feature
on the communication device 104 in order to either approve or
authorize the transaction or disapprove of, or void, the
transaction. At step 140, the apparatus 100 will receive the reply
or response from the account owner. At step 141, the central
processing computer 103 will determine if the account owner has
made a reply or response within the pre-defined time limit which is
chosen, in the preferred embodiment, to be one (1) minute. The
account owner may also transmit a signal via an appropriate key or
button suspending use of the account or ATM card, such as when he
or she may first be apprised of the fact that the account is being
unlawfully accessed, or the use thereof is unauthorized, or that
the ATM card has been lost or stolen.
[0152] In instances when the communication device 104 does not have
a reply or two-way pager feature, the account owner may simply
telephone the central processing office or processing center and/or
the banking or financial institution so as to personally reply or
respond to the authorization request.
[0153] If, at step 141, it is determined that the account owner's
reply or response was not made within the pre-specified time,
chosen in the preferred embodiment to be one (1) minute, the
central processing computer 103 will, at step 142, increment the
unauthorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) by one (1) and will, at
step 143, transmit a signal and/or data to the banking transaction
terminal 102 indicating that the transaction is not authorized by
the account owner. The banking terminal operator may then, at step
144, either cancel the transaction, proceed to consummate the
transaction, and/or attempt to obtain additional information or
identification from the customer and/or obtain an alternate account
number from which to draw against.
[0154] The action taken by the banking transaction terminal
operator may be dictated by the specific agreement in effect
between the account owner and the bank or financial institution
administering the accounts. Upon the completion of step 144, the
operation of the apparatus will cease at step 145. If the account
owner should reply or respond to the transaction notice at a later
period, this information may then be utilized to approve of or to
disapprove and/or to dispute the transaction.
[0155] If, at step 141, it is determined that the reply or response
was timely, the central processing computer 103 will, at step 146,
process and identify the account owner response. At step 147, the
central processing computer 103 will determine if the account owner
has authorized the transaction. If the account owner's response is
to cancel, to disapprove, or to not authorize, the transaction, the
central processing computer 103 will, at step 148, increment the
unauthorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) by 1. At this juncture,
it is important to note that the unauthorized count (UNAUTHCT) is
set to zero at the time of the opening of the account.
[0156] After the unauthorized transaction count has been
incremented, the central processing computer 103 will, at step 149,
transmit a signal and/or data to the banking terminal 102 which
will notify and/or instruct the banking terminal operator that the
transaction is not authorized and should, therefore, be cancelled
or voided. The banking terminal operator may then cancel the
transaction at step 150. The banking transaction terminal operator
or the ATM machine may then confiscate the ATM card and/or alert
the authorities. Upon the completion of step 150, the apparatus
will cease operation at step 151.
[0157] If, at step 147, the central processing computer 103
identifies the account owner's reply or response as being one to
authorize the transaction, the central processing computer 103
will, at step 151, reset the unauthorized transaction count
(UNAUTHCT) to zero (0). The central processing computer 103 will
then, at step 153, transmit a signal and/or data to the banking
terminal 102 which will notify and/or instruct the banking terminal
operator, and/or the ATM machine, that the transaction is
authorized and/or approved. The banking terminal operator, and/or
the ATM machine, may then complete the transaction, at step 154.
After the transaction has been completed at step 154, the operation
of the apparatus 100 will cease at step 155.
[0158] In instances when the account owner is a party to the
transaction, which should typically be the case in banking and/or
financial transactions, the account owner, having the communication
device 104 on his or her person, may authorize the transaction at
the point of the transaction. If the transaction is an overnight or
other remotely made transaction, such as in clearing and/or account
settling transactions, the account owner may authorize the
transaction from his or her remote location.
[0159] The account owner may also program and/or set the
communication device 104 so as to automatically authorize or
disapprove or disallow transactions. In this regard, the
communication device 104 may be programmable so as to receive and
analyze the transaction information and/or data and reply or
respond to same automatically and/or with preset or programmed
replies and/or responses. The communication device 104 may also be
programmable so as to limit the amounts of transactions. In this
regard, the account owner may provide for temporary transaction
types and/or amounts.
[0160] The communication device 104, in the preferred embodiment,
is provided with a memory device for storing any number of
transactions so that the account owner may review his or her
account activity and/or transactions which have occurred involving
his or her accounts and/or ATM card. In this manner, the account
owner may "scroll" through and/or in other ways review account
activity. The communication device 104 may also be equipped to
service more than one bank and/or financial account and/or ATM
card. For example, any number and/or types of accounts may be
serviced with or by a single communication device 104.
[0161] The apparatus and method of the present invention provides
for the real-time notification of banking and/or financial
transactions involving various bank and/or financial accounts and
enables an account owner to monitor, in real-time, activity
involving his or her bank and/or financial accounts and/or ATM
card(s).
[0162] The apparatus and method of the present invention also
provides a means and a mechanism by which to inform an account
owner that his or her account is overdrawn, has been charged
against and/or that his or her ATM card(s) are lost, stolen,
cancelled or de-activated and/or provides an indication to the
account owner of when and/or where his or her accounts are being
accessed in transactions. The account owner may then report the
unauthorized activity, and/or the discovery of a lost or stolen ATM
card, and/or cancel and/or de-activate the respective account(s)
and/or ATM card(s).
[0163] The present invention, in an alternate embodiment, may also
be utilized so as to provide authorization, notification and/or
security for, and in conjunction with, cellular and/or mobile
telephone and/or communication systems wherein a cellular or mobile
telephone owner and/or account owner may be notified of a
transmission and/or an attempted transmission and/or telephone call
made with his or her cellular or mobile telephone and/or with the
telephone number and or transmission codes and/or associated
signatures and/or data which corresponds to his or her cellular or
mobile telephone.
[0164] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an alternate
embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention which is
utilized in conjunction with a cellular or mobile telephone
(hereinafter referred to as "cellular telephone") and/or
corresponding cellular telephone account number and/or information
related thereto. The apparatus of FIG. 7 is denoted generally by
the reference numeral 200. In FIG. 7, the apparatus 200 consists of
a cellular telephone 202 which may be any typical cellular and/or
mobile telephone. Any other cellular and/or mobile communication
device may also be utilized.
[0165] The cellular telephone 202 may be any of the widely used and
well known cellular telephones and/or mobile communication
device(s). In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the cellular telephone 202
serves as the transaction terminal which is described above in
conjunction with the previous embodiments. As is the case with
cellular telephones, the cellular telephone may transmit the
authorization request and/or notice to a central processing
computer. The cellular telephone 202 may, but need not, receive
authorization data and/or information from the central processing
computer. The cellular telephone 202 may also comprise, or have
associated therewith, a keypad for the manual entry of transaction
information and/or data, such as the telephone number and various
command codes utilized in making or placing a telephone call.
[0166] The apparatus 200 also comprises a central processing
computer 203 which services any predefined group of cellular
telephones or cellular communication devices. For example, the
central processing computer 203 may handle all cellular telephone
accounts for a given telecommunications company and/or area. The
central processing computer 203, for example, may process and
maintain records of cellular telephone calls, including billing
information, for any number of cellular telephones, cellular
telephone accounts, and/or cellular telephone owners which or who
are serviced by a particular communications company or central
processing office or computer.
[0167] The central processing computer 203 may be a mainframe
computer, a mini-computer, a micro-computer, a server computer,
such as those utilized in conjunction with on-line services and/or
in a network environment, and/or any other suitable computer or
computer system.
[0168] The central processing computer 203 may also process
accounts for any of the various cellular and/or mobile
communications accounts and/or devices. In the preferred
embodiment, the cellular telephone 202 is linked and/or connected
to the central processing computer 203 via a telecommunications
system, link and/or medium (hereinafter referred to as
"communications system") such as, for example, a telephone network
or line. It is important to note that the communications system
which is utilized may be any communications system and may include
telecommunication systems, satellite communications systems, radio
communication systems, digital communications systems, digital
satellite communications systems, personal communications services
communication systems as well as any other appropriate
communications system. The cellular telephone 202 transmits signals
and/or data to the central processing computer 203 as well as
receives signals and/or data from the central processing computer
203.
[0169] The apparatus 200 also comprises a cellular telephone owner
communication device 204 which may receive signals and/or data from
either or both of the cellular telephone 202 and/or the central
processing computer 203. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the
communication device 204 receives signals and data from the central
processing computer 203 with said signals being transmitted via a
suitable communication system. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the
communications system utilized for transmitting signals and/or data
to the communication device 204 is a wireless telephone network or
line and the communication device 204 is a wireless telephone
signal receiving device such as a telephone beeper or pager. The
communication device 204 or pager receives the wireless telephone
signals and/or data from the central processing computer 203 during
the authorization procedure as will be described in more detail
below.
[0170] In the preferred embodiment, the communication device 204 is
also equipped with a transmitter for transmitting signals and/or
data to the central processing computer 203. In this regard, the
central processing computer 203 transmits signals and/or data to
the communication device 204 as well as receives signals and/or
data from the communication device 204. The communication device
204 may also transmit signals and/or data directly to the cellular
telephone 202 and receive signals and/or data directly from the
cellular telephone 202.
[0171] In the preferred embodiment, signals and/or data which are
transmitted by the cellular telephone 202 are received at the
central processing computer 203. The cellular telephone 202 also
receives signals and/or data from the central processing computer
203. Further, in the alternate embodiment of FIG. 7, the
communication device 204 receives signals and/or data from the
central processing computer 203 and transmits signals and/or data
to the central processing computer 203.
[0172] As noted above, the communication device 204 is a wireless
device. In this regard, the communication device 204 or pager may
be carried by the cellular telephone owner and/or be kept on and/or
close to the cellular telephone owner's person so that the central
processing computer 203 may transmit signals and/or data to the
communication device 204 so as to communicate with the cellular
telephone owner at any time.
[0173] In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 7, the apparatus 200
also comprises a facsimile (fax) machine 205, a personal computer
201, a telephone 202, a telephone answering machine 208, an
alternate telephone 209, an alternate telephone answering machine
210, a network computer 211, an alternate beeper 212, and an
alternate pager 213.
[0174] The central processing computer 203 may be linked with the
above fax machine 205, personal computer 206, telephone 207 and
associated answering machine 208, alternate telephone 209 and
associated answering machine 210, network computer 211, alternate
beeper 212 and/or alternate pager 213, via any suitable
communication system. In the preferred embodiment, a
telecommunications link or telephone line or link, which may or may
not be a wireless link depending on the device and/or the
circumstances, is utilized in order to link the central processing
computer 203 with each of the fax machine 205, the personal
computer 206, the telephone 207 and associated answering machine
208, the alternate telephone 209 and associated answering machine
210, the network computer 211, the alternate beeper 212, and/or the
alternate pager 213.
[0175] FIG. 8 illustrates the various components of the apparatus
200 of FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, the cellular telephone 202, in the
preferred embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU
202A, associated random access memory 202B (RAM) and read only
memory 202C (ROM) devices, which are also connected to the CPU
202A, a user input device 202D, which is a typically a keypad or
other suitable input device for inputting data into the cellular
telephone 202 and which is also connected to the CPU 202A, and a
display device 202E for displaying information and/or data to a
user or operator.
[0176] The cellular telephone 202 also comprises a transmitter 202F
for transmitting signals during normal telephone operation and/or
for transmitting signals and/or data to the central processing
computer 203, and/or to the communication device 204 and/or to any
other device associated with the account owner or apparatus 200 if
desired. The transmitter 202F is also connected to the CPU 202A.
The cellular telephone 202 also comprises a receiver 202G for
receiving signals during normal telephone operation and/or for
receiving signals and/or data from the central processing computer
203, and from the communication device 204 and/or from any other
associated device which may be utilized, if desired.
[0177] The receiver 202G is also connected to the CPU 202A. The
cellular telephone 202 may also comprise a printer 202H or other
appropriate output device for outputting data to the user. The
printer 202H, if utilized, is also connected to the CPU 202A. In
the preferred embodiment, the printer 202H prints receipts
corresponding to the transaction and/or information transmitted
during the telephone call or transaction.
[0178] In FIG. 8, the central processing computer 203, in the
preferred embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU
203A, associated random access memory 203B (RAM) and read only
memory 203C (ROM) devices, which are connected to the CPU 203A, a
user input device 203D, which is a keypad or any other suitable
input device for inputting data into the central processing
computer 203 and which is also connected to the CPU 203A and a
display device 203E for displaying information and/or data to a
user or operator.
[0179] The central processing computer 203 also comprises a
transmitter(s) 203F for transmitting signals and/or data to the
cellular telephone 202 and to the communication device 204 and/or
to any other device which may be utilized and/or to any one or more
of the fax machine 205, personal computer 206, telephone 207 and
associated answering machine 208, alternate telephone 209 and
associated answering machine 210, network computer 211, alternate
beeper 212, and/or alternate pager 213. The transmitter(s) 203F is
also connected to the CPU 203A. The central processing computer 203
also comprises a receiver(s) 203G for receiving signals and/or data
from the cellular telephone 202 and from the communication device
204 and/or from any other suitable device which may be utilized in
conjunction with the apparatus 200. The receiver(s) 203G is also
connected to the CPU 203A.
[0180] The central processing computer 203 also comprises a
database(s) 203H which contains account information and data
pertaining to the cellular telephone owner(s) and/or account(s).
The database 203H contains information about the cellular telephone
owner, the telephone number, etc., and any other information and/or
data necessary to the manage and/or process an account and/or
account transaction as described herein. The database 203H may also
contain information regarding any limitations and/or restrictions
placed on the cellular telephone and/or the use thereof. The
database 203H is also connected to the CPU 203A. The central
processing computer 203 also comprises a printer 2031 or other
appropriate output device for outputting information and/or data to
a user or operator.
[0181] In FIG. 8, the communication device 204, in the preferred
embodiment, comprises a central processing unit or CPU 204A,
associated random access memory 204B (RAM) and read only memory
204C (ROM) devices, which also connected to the CPU 204A, a user
input device 204D, which is a keypad or a plurality of keys and/or
switches for inputting data into the communication device 204 and
which is also connected to the CPU 204A, and a display device 204E,
for displaying information and/or data to the cellular telephone
owner, and a database 204F, which are also connected to the CPU
204A.
[0182] The communication device 204 also comprises a receiver 204G
for receiving signals and/or data from the central processing
computer 203 and which is also connected to the CPU 204A, a
transmitter 204H for transmitting signals and/or data to the
central processing computer 203 and which is also connected to the
CPU 204A. In the preferred embodiment, the communication device 204
utilized is a pager with a reply feature and/or device. A two-way
pager and/or pager systems may also be utilized for implementing
the respective components, and/or systems in the communication
device 204/central processing computer 203 combination and/or
link.
[0183] The apparatus 200 of the present invention, in the preferred
embodiment, may be utilized in order provide cellular telephone
owner and/or account owner authorization, notification and/or
security measures in transactions involving cellular telephones
and/or cellular telephone numbers, and any transactions involving
same in the manner described below and with reference to FIG. 9. In
this manner, the apparatus and method of the present invention may
be utilized to obtain cellular telephone owner and/or account owner
authorization in a transaction involving cellular telephones and/or
cellular telephone numbers.
[0184] FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the apparatus 200 of
FIG. 7 in flow diagram form. It is important to note, with regards
to the apparatus 200 of FIG. 7, that the cellular telephone
replaces the transaction terminal of the previously described
embodiments. With reference to FIG. 9, the operation of the
apparatus 200 commences at step 230 when the cellular telephone 202
is utilized to make a cellular telephone call and/or
transaction.
[0185] The cellular telephone 202 will activate the apparatus 200,
at step 231, with the initiation of the cellular telephone call,
and/or in any other typical manner, such as when a cellular
telephone is utilized to gain access to the telephone network so
that the calling connection may be established via the cellular
communications network and/or the cell site. Upon the making of the
cellular telephone call, at step 231, the cellular telephone 202
will transmit data and/or information, which identifies the calling
telephone, to the central processing computer which services the
particular cellular telephone or cellular telephone network, so
that appropriate billing and/or accounting of telephone usage may
be noted and/or processed. In the preferred embodiment, the central
processing computer for the particular cellular telephone and/or
cellular telephone network is the central processing computer 203.
At step 232, the central processing computer will receive and store
the data and/or information which is transmitted by the cellular
telephone 202. At step 233, the central processing computer 203
will process the data and/or information which is received from the
cellular telephone 202.
[0186] The central processing computer 203 may utilize any of the
widely known data processing and/or software routines, which are
known to those skilled in that art, in order to process transaction
requests and/or authorizations involving the use of the respective
cellular telephone(s) and/or cellular communication device, and/or
cellular telephone number. At step 234, the central processing
computer 203 will perform a test in order to determine if the
cellular telephone is lost, stolen, cancelled or de-activated. If
the cellular telephone is determined to be lost, stolen, cancelled
or de-activated, the central processing computer 203 will, at step
235, block the telephone call or terminate the call if it has
already been connected. The central processing computer 203 will
then, at step 236, cancel and/or de-activate the cellular telephone
number or account. The central processing computer 203 will then,
at step 237, notify the cellular telephone owner that his or her
cellular telephone has been cancelled and/or de-activated. The
operation of the apparatus will then cease at step 238.
[0187] If, at step 234, the central processing computer 203
determines that the cellular telephone is not lost, stolen,
cancelled or de-activated, the central processing computer 203
will, at step 239, transmit a signal and/or data to the
communication device 204 which is located at the cellular telephone
owner. At step 240, the communication device 204 will receive and
display the data and/or information which is transmitted from the
central processing computer 203. The displayed information, in the
preferred embodiment, will include the number called, the time of
the call, and the duration of the call, in real-time. The
information will remain displayed during the duration of the call
so that the cellular telephone owner will be notified continuously
throughout the duration of the call.
[0188] At step 241, the central processing computer 203 will await
the cellular telephone owner's reply or response. If the cellular
telephone owner replies or responds, the reply or response data
will also be transmitted to, and received by, the central
processing computer 203 at step 241. At step 242, the central
processing computer 203 will then determine if the cellular
telephone owner's response was made within a pre-defined time
period, which is chosen, in the preferred embodiment, to be one (1)
minute. If at step 242, it is determined that the cellular
telephone owner did not reply or respond within the pre-defined
time limit, the central processing computer will, at step 243,
increment the unauthorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) by one
(1).
[0189] The central processing computer 203 will then, depending
upon pre-defined instructions of the cellular telephone owner, at
step 244, either allow the telephone call to continue, such as for
a pre-defined duration of one (1) minute, so as to allow for cases
wherein an emergency condition exists, or terminate the telephone
call immediately. The decision to either allow the telephone call
to continue or to terminate the telephone call can be made by the
cellular telephone owner and/or by the cellular telephone service
provider. Upon the completion of step 244, the central processing
computer 203 will then, at step 245, cancel and/or de-activate the
cellular telephone. Thereafter, the central processing computer 203
will, at step 246, notify the cellular telephone owner that the
cellular telephone number or account has been cancelled and/or
de-activated. Upon completion of step 246, the apparatus will cease
operation at step 247.
[0190] If, at step 242, the cellular telephone owner did respond in
time, the central processing computer 203 will process the reply or
response data and/or information, at step 248. The central
processing computer 203 will then determine, at step 249, if the
cellular telephone call is authorized by the cellular telephone
owner. If, at step 249, the cellular telephone call is
unauthorized, the central processing computer will, at step 250,
increment the unauthorized transaction count (UNAUTHCT) by one (1).
The central processing computer 203 will then, at step 251,
terminate the telephone call immediately. Upon the completion of
step 251, the central processing computer 203 will then, at step
252, cancel and/or de-activate the cellular telephone. Thereafter,
the central processing computer 203 will, at step 253, notify the
cellular telephone owner that the cellular telephone has been
cancelled and/or de-activated. Upon completion of step 253, the
apparatus will cease operation at step 254.
[0191] If, at step 249, the central processing computer 203
identifies the cardholder reply or response as being one to
authorize the cellular telephone call, the central processing
computer 203 will, at step 255, reset the unauthorized transaction
count (UNAUTHCT) to zero (0). An unauthorized transaction count
(UNAUTHCT) of 0 will signify that any string of unauthorized
transactions has now been broken by the cellular telephone owner.
The central processing computer 203 will then, at step 256, allow
the cellular telephone call to continue uninterrupted. Upon the
completion of the cellular telephone call, at step 256, the
apparatus 200 will cease operation at step 257.
[0192] In instances when the cellular telephone owner is a party to
the cellular telephone call and/or transaction, he or she, having
the communication device 204 on his or her person, may authorize
the call and/or transaction at his or her present location. If the
cellular telephone owner has lent out the cellular telephone, he or
she may authorize the cellular telephone call and/or transaction
from his or her remote location. The cellular telephone owner may
also program and/or set the communication device 204 to
automatically authorize or disapprove or disallow cellular
telephone calls and/or transactions with said selective
authorizations being made as to time of day, calling areas, numbers
called, and/or call and/or transaction duration. In this regard,
the communication device 204 may be programmable so as to receive
and analyze the cellular telephone call information and/or data and
reply or respond to same automatically and/or with preset or
programmed replies and/or responses. The communication device 204
may also be programmable so as to limit the number of cellular
telephone calls made from the cellular telephone and/or with the
cellular telephone number.
[0193] The communication device 204, in the preferred embodiment,
is provided with a memory device for storing any number of cellular
telephone calls and/or transactions so that the cellular telephone
owner may review his or her account activity and/or cellular calls
and/or transactions made and/or which have occurred involving his
or her cellular telephone. In this manner, the cellular telephone
owner may "scroll" through and/or in other ways review account
activity. The communication device 204 may also be equipped to
service more than one cellular telephone and/or mobile
communication device(s).
[0194] The apparatus and method of the present invention provides
for the real-time notification of cellular and/or mobile telephone
usage which enables a cellular telephone owner and/or account owner
to monitor, in real-time, activity involving his or her cellular
telephone and/or cellular telephone number. The apparatus and
method of the present invention also provides a means and a
mechanism by which to inform a cellular telephone owner that the
cellular telephone is lost or stolen, and/or to provide
notification to the cellular telephone owner that his or her
cellular telephone number is being utilized in calls and/or
transactions, such as when a cellular telephone has been illegally
"cloned". The cellular telephone owner may then report the cellular
telephone lost or stolen and/or cancel and/or de-activate the
cellular telephone number and/or account.
[0195] The present invention also provides a means and a mechanism
by which to monitor the number of cellular or mobile telephone
calls and/or transactions which are unauthorized by the cellular
telephone owner and to determine whether or not to de-activate the
cellular telephone and/or the cellular telephone number and/or
account. In the above manner, the apparatus and method of the
present invention provides an apparatus and a method to prevent
and/or to drastically limit fraudulent and/or unauthorized use of,
and/or the "cloning" of, cellular telephones and/or the
unauthorized use of cellular telephone numbers.
[0196] The apparatus and method of the present invention may also
be utilized in connection with an on-line service and/or on, or
over, the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, so as to provide for
a means by which the respective cardholder, account owner, and/or
cellular telephone owner, may utilize the apparatus and method in
conjunction with a home and/or a personal computer, a personal
communications device, and/or a commercial or industrial computer
system (i.e., an internet server computer), and/or any other
appropriate device, in any appropriate network, system or
medium.
[0197] FIG. 10 illustrates yet another alternate embodiment of the
present invention wherein the apparatus and method of any of the
embodiments described herein may be utilized on, or over, an
on-line service, the Internet, and/or the World Wide Web, and/or
any other suitable communication network or medium. In FIG. 10, the
apparatus, which is denoted generally by the reference numeral 300,
comprises a transaction terminal 302, which may be a transaction
terminal or a cellular telephone or communication device, depending
upon the application, a server computer 350, which is a central
processing computer for processing data and/or information in an
on-line, and/or Internet, and/or World Wide Web, communication
environment, network, or medium.
[0198] The server computer 350 may be a mainframe computer, a
mini-computer, a micro-computer, a server computer, such as those
utilized in conjunction with on-line services and/or in a network
environment, and/or any other suitable computer or computer system.
The server computer 350, in the preferred embodiment, should have
associated therewith a suitable receiver(s) or transmitter(s) which
may be a fax/modem and/or any other device(s) which are well known
to those skilled in the art for providing communications and/or a
link with a server computer in such a network environment.
[0199] The apparatus of FIG. 10 also comprises a communications
device 304 which may comprise a home and/or a personal computer, a
laptop or a notebook computer and any one or more of the
herein-described personal communications devices so that the
individual may access the apparatus 300, and in particular, the
server computer 350, at any time and from any location. Basically,
the embodiment of FIG. 10 serves to replace the central processing
computer of the previously described embodiments with a server
computer for utilization on, or over, an on-line service, the
Internet, the World Wide Web, and/or any other suitable
communications network or medium. The apparatus of FIG. 10 operates
and is utilized in the same, in similar and/or an analogous, manner
as described herein in conjunction with the previously described
embodiments.
[0200] FIG. 11 illustrates yet another alternate embodiment of the
present invention, wherein the present invention is also utilized
in conjunction with an on-line service and/or on, or over, the
Internet and/or the World Wide Web, and/or any other suitable
communication network or medium. In FIG. 11, the apparatus, which
is denoted generally by the reference numeral 400, comprises a
transaction terminal 402, which may be a transaction terminal
and/or a cellular telephone and/or cellular communications device,
depending upon the application.
[0201] The apparatus of FIG. 11 also comprises a central processing
computer 403 which provides processing and/or control over the
apparatus 400 in the manner described above in conjunction with the
previously described embodiments. The central processing computer
403 and/or the server computer 450 may be a mainframe computer, a
mini-computer, a micro-computer, a server computer, such as those
utilized in conjunction with on-line services and/or in a network
environment, and/or any other suitable computer or computer
system.
[0202] The apparatus 400 of FIG. 11 also comprises a communications
device(s) 404 such as those described herein and in conjunction
with the apparatus 300 of FIG. 10. The apparatus also comprises a
server computer 450 which may either perform parallel operations
and/or processing of the data and/or information which is performed
and/or processed by the central processing computer 403 and/or may
simply receive the data and/or information processed by the central
processing computer 403. In any event, the server computer 450
provides the means by which the data and/or information, which is
provided by the apparatus, can be accessed and or utilized via an
on-line service and/or on, or over, the Internet, and/or the World
Wide Web, and/or any other communications network or medium.
[0203] The server computer 450 should have associated therewith a
suitable receiver(s) or transmitter(s) which may be a fax/modem
and/or any other device(s) which are well known to those skilled in
the art for providing communications and/or a link with a server
computer in such a network environment. The apparatus of FIG. 11
also comprises a communications device 404 which may comprise a
home and/or a personal computer, a laptop or a notebook computer,
and/or any one or more of the herein described personal
communications devices so that the individual may access the
apparatus, and in particular, the server computer 450, at any time
and from any location. The apparatus of FIG. 11 is utilized and/or
operates in the same, a similar and/or an analogous, manner as any
of the embodiments described herein.
[0204] Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein all of the
methods and/or techniques for providing information and/or data
over on-line service and/or on, or over, the Internet, and/or the
World Wide Web, and/or any other suitable communication network or
medium, along with client/server and/or Web Site technology and
methods and/or techniques utilized in conjunction therewith, which
are known as of the filing date of this application.
[0205] In any and/or all of the embodiments described herein, each
and every one the components of the apparatus, which include, but
which are not limited to, the described transaction terminals,
cellular telephones and/or other cellular communications devices,
central processing computers, server computers, if utilized, and
any of the various communications devices, may transmit and/or
receive signals and/or data, and/or be capable or transmitting
and/or receiving signals and/or data, to and from any and all of
the other apparatus components which may be utilized in conjunction
therewith, in and for a given embodiment. In this regard, it is
important to note, with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and
11, and any of the other embodiments described herein, that each
and every component involved in the transmission and/or reception
of signals, data and/or information may include an associated
transmitter, receiver and/or suitable communication device.
[0206] The communication system or medium should provide for the
transmission and/or for the reception of a multitude of remote
electrical, electronic, electromagnetic, and/or other suitable
signals, over long distances and/or in a mobile and/or a wireless
communications environment. Telephone signals and telephone
communication devices can be utilized in the present invention as
well as personal computers and associated peripheral devices which
may be utilized with telecommunications and/or other suitable
communication systems and/or mediums.
[0207] The apparatus and method of the present invention may
operate over any appropriate communications system, network and/or
medium and/or other suitable communications systems, including
radio signal, optical, satellite, digital, digital satellite,
and/or other communications systems. The communications system
utilized may operate anywhere in the electromagnetic and/or radio
frequency spectrum. As noted above, the present invention may also
be utilized in conjunction with a satellite communications system,
in which case, the receivers and transmitters which are utilized in
conjunction with the apparatus should be satellite communication
receivers and transmitters, respectively. For example, the
associated receiver(s) may be a satellite dish receiver(s).
[0208] In this regard, the cardholder, account owner or cellular
telephone owner may utilize the apparatus and method of the present
invention to its fullest capabilities over an on-line service
and/or on, or over, the Internet, and/or the World Wide Web, and/or
any other suitable communication network or medium. In this manner,
the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 may allow the cardholder, account
owner or cellular telephone owner to utilize the apparatus and/or
to monitor the operation of the apparatus over the on-line service
and/or on, or over, the Internet, and/or the World Wide Web, and/or
any other communication network or medium, from any suitable
computer or device, and/or from any location.
[0209] The system receiver(s) may also be utilized in conjunction
with a home and/or a personal computer and/or other personal
communications device(s) and/or apparatuses which may be utilized
with an associated receiver or equivalent peripheral device(s). The
apparatus may also be utilized in conjunction with a computer
network such as an on-line service and/or on, or over, the
Internet, and/or the World Wide Web, by employing any appropriate
server computer and/or an associated Web Site and/or Web Site
technology in conjunction with an appropriate communication medium
and communication equipment.
[0210] In any of the above described embodiments, the present
invention may be utilized in conjunction with any suitable
communication device(s) and/or communication system(s). In this
manner, the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with a
telephone, a line-connected and/or a permanent telephone, a
touch-tone telephone, a cordless telephone and/or a cellular or
mobile telephone, a home and/or a personal computer having
associated telecommunication devices or other suitable peripheral
device(s), such as a modem and/or a fax/modem, and/or other
suitable personal communication devices which can operate over an
appropriate communications system, and/or other suitable
communications systems and/or mediums, including radio signal,
optical, satellite, digital, and/or other communications systems
and/or mediums.
[0211] Any suitable communication system and/or medium may be
utilized. Personal communication service (PCS) systems and devices,
including stationary, portable and/or hand-held devices, may also
be utilized. Digital signal communications devices and systems may
also be utilized. Televisions, interactive and/or digital
televisions, personal communication devices, personal communication
services (PCS) devices, personal digital assistants, cellular
telephones, display telephones, video telephones, display cellular
telephones and electronically equipped watches and/or other devices
and/or effects and/or accessories, may also be utilized for
performing user interactive control, monitoring, authorization,
notification and/or security functions in conjunction with the
present invention.
[0212] It should be noted that the telephone/telephone beeper or
pager system, including two-way pager systems, may be replaced with
any other type of transmitter/receiver combination, electronic or
otherwise, which provides for the transmission and reception of a
multitude of remote electrical, electronic, electromagnetic, and/or
other suitable signals, over long distances and/or in a mobile
and/or a wireless communications environment. As noted above, a
personal computer system which may be adapted to such operation, or
a personal communication device(s) or personal communication
services (PCS) device(s) may also be utilized for, or in, any of
the transmitter/receiver system combinations described herein.
Two-way pagers and reply pagers may also be utilized for any, or in
any, of the transmitter/receiver system combinations described
herein.
[0213] The communication device(s) utilized in the present
invention, as well as the associated transaction terminal and/or
cellular communications device(s) and/or associated central
processing computer may be personal communication services (PCS)
devices and/or other suitable communications devices. A television,
appropriately equipped to receive and/or to transmit signals may
also be utilized. It is also envisioned that digital televisions,
interactive televisions, personal communications devices, personal
communications services (PCS) devices, personal digital assistants,
display telephones, electronically equipped watches, cellular
telephones and/or display cellular telephones may also be utilized
in conjunction with the present invention.
[0214] It is also important to note that the communication
device(s), in any of the embodiments described herein may be a home
and/or a personal computer having associated therewith an
appropriate receiver(s) and transmitter(s) such as, for example, a
fax/modem.
[0215] It is important to note that the telephone/telephone beeper
system, described above, may be replaced with any remote
transmitter/receiver system, such as by a remote transmitter, i.e.,
a television-type remote control unit, which control unit would
require a user interface feature and which has the capability to
remotely transmit a multitude of signals over long distances to an
associated receiver. A two-way pager, a reply pager, or any other
appropriate two-way communication device may also be utilized. A
home and/or a personal computer, with requisite peripheral devices,
a personal communication device and/or a personal communication
services (PCS) device may also be utilized. Digital communications
devices, interactive televisions and/or digital televisions may
also be utilized. It is also envisioned that digital televisions,
interactive televisions, personal communications devices, personal
communications services (PCS) devices, personal digital assistants,
display telephones, video telephones, electronically equipped
watches and/or other effects or accessories, cellular telephones,
display cellular telephones, may also be utilized.
[0216] The apparatus of the present invention may be designed or
programmed to telephone an owner, user, operator, occupant, or
other authorized central office individual or other authorized
individual, at a primary phone number, at an alternate or
forwarding phone number and/or at a business phone number, send a
beeper or pager message to the individual or central office and/or
send a facsimile message, an electronic mail message, a voice mail
message and/or an answering service message to, or for, the
individual or central office. In this manner, the apparatus may
report a theft and/or a malfunction situation to the interested
individual(s) by utilizing multiple notification and/or reporting
avenues and/or schemes so as to provide and ensure that the
interested individual(s) are in fact notified as soon as possible.
The multiple notification transmissions may be sequentially and/or
simultaneously performed.
[0217] The apparatus and method of the present invention may also
be programmable for programmed and/or automatic activation,
self-activation, programmed and/or automatic operation and/or
self-operation. The apparatus and method of the present invention
may provide for an immediate, as well as for a deferred, control,
monitoring and/or security function, and/or response thereto, so as
to provide for the immediate and/or the deferred control,
activation, de-activation, programming, monitoring and/or security,
etc., of any one or more the herein described credit cards, charge
cards, debit cards, currency or "smart" cards, banking and/or
financial accounts and associated transaction cards, and/or
cellular telephones and/or cellular or mobile communications
devices, and/or any other suitable application in and for which the
present invention may be utilized.
[0218] In any of the herein-described embodiments, the
communications devices and associated transaction terminals and/or
cellular communications devices and associated central processing
computers, may be devices for receiving, and transmitting,
respectively, radio signals, satellite communication signals,
telecommunications signals, optical communication signals and/or
other signals and/or those signals, including digital signals,
which are utilized in conjunction with personal communication
devices and/or personal communication services (PCS) devices. The
devices utilized should, however, be of the same type and/or
operate compatibly with the corresponding transmitters and
receivers of the apparatus of the present invention.
[0219] The present invention may also be equipped with, and be
utilized in conjunction with, hardware and software necessary for
providing self-monitoring functions, automatic control and/or
responses to occurrences, providing automatic notice of an
occurrence and/or a situation to an owner, user and/or authorized
individual. In this regard, any and all of the embodiments
described above may comprise a monitoring device, a triggering
device and/or any other suitable device for detecting an occurrence
and/or a transaction which may warrant providing notice to the
respective cardholder, account owner and/or cellular telephone
owner. In this regard, the apparatus may provide for an appropriate
signal, data and/or information transmission to the central
processing computer, and/or server computer, if utilized. The
signal, data and/or information may be conveyed in the form of a
communication transmission, depending upon the communication medium
utilized, a telephone call, a voice message, a beeper and/or a
pager message, an electronic mail message, a fax transmission,
and/or any other mode of communication which may be utilized in
conjunction with any of the embodiments described herein.
[0220] The present invention, in any of the embodiments described
herein, may be designed to be user-friendly. In this regard, the
present invention may be menu-driven, and/or its operation may be
menu-selected, from audio menus, visual menus, or both audio and
visual menus.
[0221] While the present invention has been illustrated and
described as being utilized in conjunction with providing notice
and for obtaining authorizations with regard to transactions
involving credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency
or "smart" cards, banking and/or financial accounts, and/or in
conjunction with cellular and/or mobile telephones, it is also
envisioned that the present invention may be utilized in any
similar type of transactional activity, such as purchasing and/or
sale activity over an on-line service, the Internet, and/or the
World Wide Web and/or in any other type of transaction wherein
frequent notice and/or account holder authorization may be utilized
to guard against theft and/or fraud and/or unauthorized
transactions.
[0222] The apparatus of the present invention may be accessed at
any time by the respective cardholder, account owner and/or
cellular telephone owner and/or cellular communications device
owner so as to obtain information regarding activity on his or her
respective account. The respective cardholder, account owner and/or
cellular telephone owner and/or cellular communications device
owner may access the apparatus and, in particular, the central
processing computer, and/or the server computer, if utilized, so as
to obtain transaction records regarding any transaction, group or
string of transactions, transactions by goods and/or service type,
transactions by dollar amount, etc.
[0223] The respective cardholder, account owner, and/or cellular
telephone owner and/or cellular communications device owner may
also obtain, via the central processing computer, and/or the server
computer, if utilized, periodic transaction records showing all
transactions for a given week, which may by provided weekly,
bi-weekly, monthly, yearly, and/or for any given and/or desired
time period and/or interval. The apparatus and, in particular, the
central processing computer, and/or the server computer, if
utilized, may be designed and/or programmed so as to automatically
and/or periodically provide and/or transmit any of the
above-described account and/or transaction information to the
respective cardholder, account owner and/or cellular telephone
owner and/or cellular communications device owner, by transmitting
same to the respective communications device, which may be any of
the devices described herein which are utilized as the
communications device.
[0224] The apparatus and, in particular, the central processing
computer, and/or the server computer, if utilized, may also be
designed and or programmed to transmit any of the above-described
account information and/or transaction information to any one or
all of the respective cardholder's, account owner's, and/or
cellular telephone owner's and/or cellular communications device
owner's facsimile (fax) machine, personal computer, telephone,
telephone answering machine, alternate telephone, alternate
telephone answering machine, network computer, and/or alternate
beeper or pager. Such multiple notification transmissions, if
utilized, may be performed sequentially and/or simultaneously.
[0225] The central processing computer may be linked with a fax
machine, personal computer, telephone, associated answering
machine, alternate telephone and associated answering machine,
network computer, and/or alternate beeper or pager via any suitable
communication system. The telecommunications link or telephone line
or link, which may or may not be a wireless link, depending on the
device and/or the circumstances, is utilized in order to link the
central processing computer with each of the fax machine, the
personal computer, the telephone, the associated answering machine,
the alternate telephone, the alternate telephone answering machine,
the network computer, and/or the alternate beeper or pager.
[0226] In any of the herein-described and/or envisioned
embodiments, the respective central processing computer which is
utilized may comprise a plurality of computers and/or computer
systems. Further, the respective central processing computer may be
the processing computer for processing account information, and/or
for servicing, and/or monitoring, the respective account(s)
activity, and/or the central processing computer may be a separate
and/or distinct computer or computer system which is associated
with and/or linked with the processing computer.
[0227] In any of the herein-described and/or envisioned
embodiments, the respective communication device which may be
utilized may operate independently of, and/or in conjunction with,
a central service and/or a communications service. For example, a
beeper or pager may be utilized in conjunction with a corresponding
beeper or pager communications service, which communications
service may serve to relay signals, data and/or information, to,
and from, the beeper or pager, whichever the case may be. The
communication device which may be utilized may also be capable of
transmitting signals, data and/or information, directly to, and
receiving signals, data and/or information, directly from, a
component(s) of the apparatus, without the need for a central
service and/or a communications service and/or a relay system.
[0228] It is also envisioned that the apparatus and method of the
present invention may provide for transmitting signals, data and/or
information to the cardholder, account owner and/or cellular
telephone owner via transmissions made to, and received at a
television, radio, car radio, computer and/or other communication
device which receives signals transmitted via any suitable
communication system. In this manner, for example, a cardholder,
account owner and/or cellular telephone owner may be notified by
having signals, data and/or information transmitted to their
television, radio, car radio, computer, etc., in such a manner so
as to interrupt the normal operation of same, so as to convey the
information and/or message to the cardholder, account owner and/or
cellular telephone owner, in real-time and/or upon the occurrence
of the event triggering or giving rise to same.
[0229] In any and/or all of the above described embodiments, the
apparatus may be programmed and/or be programmable by the
respective cardholder, account owner and/or cellular telephone
owner or cellular device owner, for his or her account. In
conjunction with the use of credit cards, charge cards, debit
cards, the cardholder may program the central processing computer,
and/or the server computer, if utilized, so as to change the credit
limits on his or her account, periodically and/or at any desired
time. For example, a cardholder having a credit card with a
$10,000.00 dollar credit limit, but who very seldom utilizes his or
her card for much more than $500.00 dollars during a monthly
billing period, may program the apparatus and, in particular, the
central processing computer, or server computer, if utilized, so as
to temporarily reduce his or her credit limit.
[0230] If the cardholder should then desire to make a major
purchase with his or her credit card of, for example, a purchase in
the amount of $8500.00, the cardholder may, prior to the
transaction, reprogram the central processing computer and/or
server computer, if utilized, so as to temporarily increase his or
her temporary credit limit. The apparatus may then be programmed so
that, after the major purchase has been made, the apparatus may
revert operation back to the reduced credit limit.
[0231] The cardholder may program the central processing computer,
and/or the server computer, if utilized, via the communication
device, which may be any one or more of the devices described
herein. The cardholder may also perform the above-described
programming via a touch-tone telephone. In the same manner, the
cardholder may program the apparatus so as to limit the types of
transactions involving, and/or the goods and/or services which may
be purchased with, his or her card, and/or the stores and/or
service providers which may be authorized to accept the card,
limits on the dollar amounts of transactions pertaining to each
authorized vendor, seller and/or service provider, daily spending
limits, the vendors, sellers, and/or service providers with which
the card may be utilized, the geographical area or location within
which the card may be utilized, and/or authorized times for card
usage (i.e. specific days, dates, times of day, times of month,
year, etc.), and/or any other limitations and/or restrictions
regarding amount of transaction, parties involved, geographical
area, and or times of allowed usage. In a similar manner, the
cardholder may similarly program the apparatus as described above
in conjunction with use of any of the herein-described cards.
[0232] In a similar manner, a cardholder of a currency and/or
"smart" card may program the apparatus so as to limit the types of
transactions involving, and/or the goods and/or services which may
be purchased with, his or her card, and/or the stores or service
providers which may be authorized to accept the card, limits on the
dollar amounts of transactions pertaining to each authorized
vendor, seller and/or service provider, daily spending limits, the
vendors, sellers, and/or service providers with which the card may
be utilized, the geographical area or location within which the
card may be utilized, and/or authorized times for card usage (i.e.
specific days, dates, times of day, times of month, year, etc.),
and/or any other limitations and/or restrictions regarding amount
of transaction, parties involved, geographical area, and or times
of allowed usage.
[0233] In the case of savings accounts, checking accounts, and/or
automated teller machine accounts, the account owner may program
the apparatus and, in particular, the central processing computer,
and/or the server computer, if utilized, so as to limit the amount
of any one transaction or transactions, individuals who may make
the transactions, proof of identity of which the types of proof may
be specified, specific banks and/or financial institutions
authorized to accept and/or perform transactions for the account,
geographical areas and/or location within which banks and/or
financial institutions may be authorized to accept and/or perform
transactions with the account, specific times of day, specific
days, dates and/or time of the month in, or on, which transactions
may be authorized, limits of charge-backs, returned item amount
withdrawals, maintenance and/or other fee charge withdrawals, etc.
and/or authorized times for account usage (i.e. specific days,
dates, times of day, times of month, year, etc.), and/or any other
limitations and/or restrictions regarding amount of transaction,
parties involved, geographical area, and or times of allowed
usage.
[0234] With regards to automated teller machine accounts, it is
also possible to specify and programmably change personal
identification numbers and/or any other access code(s) and provide
for various personal identification numbers and/or access codes for
different locations, different automated teller machines, different
days, different times and/or different transaction amounts.
[0235] In the cases of cellular telephones and/or cellular
communications devices, the cellular telephone owner and/or
cellular communication device owner may program the apparatus and,
in particular, the central processing computer, and/or the server
computer, if utilized, so as to limit the phone numbers which may
be called, and/or the numbers from which incoming calls may be
accepted and/or received, the geographical areas and/or locations
which may be called and/or accessed or from which calls may be
received, the times of day, specific days, dates, times of month or
year, during which the cellular telephone and/or cellular
communication device may be utilized, specific phone numbers which
may be called, specific time durations for a phone call and/or any
authorized times for cellular telephone and/or cellular
communication device usage (i.e. specific days, dates, times of
day, times of month, year, etc.), and/or any other limitations
and/or restrictions, regarding amount of transaction, parties
involved, geographical area, and or times of allowed usage.
[0236] The present invention may also be utilized so as to provide
financial transaction and/or wireless communication device
authorization, notification and/or security for any number and/or
types of accounts, including credit card accounts, charge card
accounts, debit card accounts, currency or "smart" card accounts,
and/or other transaction card accounts, savings accounts, checking
accounts, automated teller machine accounts, cellular telephone
accounts and/or cellular communication device accounts. In this
manner, the apparatus may comprise a communication device or
communications devices which may receive and/or transmit signals,
data and/or information, for any number and/or types of the above
accounts, and/or for each of the respective accounts utilized, from
and to the respective central processing computer and/or central
processing computers for the respective accounts. In this manner,
an individual may utilize a single communication device so as to
monitor all of his or her accounts and/or types of accounts.
[0237] The apparatus and method of the present invention provides
for the real-time notification of financial transactions involving
credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and/or currency or "smart"
cards, which enables a cardholder to monitor, in real-time,
activity involving his or her card(s) and the corresponding
accounts. The apparatus and method of the present invention also
provides a means and a mechanism by which to inform a cardholder
that his or her card(s) are lost, stolen, or is being utilized in
an unauthorized manner and provides an indication to the cardholder
of when and where his or her card(s) is being utilized in
transactions. The cardholder may then report the card lost or
stolen and/or cancel and/or de-activate the card. The apparatus and
method of the present invention provides the same, and/or
analogous, features and/or functions for banking and/or financial
accounts and/or for cellular telephone accounts.
[0238] While the communications device(s) described above are
described, in each of the respective embodiments, as being utilized
for specific uses (i.e. credit and other cards transactions,
banking and/or financial transactions, and/or cellular telephone
transactions, the communication device(s) may also be adapted
and/or programmed for use in all of these aforementioned
transactions so that an individual may utilize a single
communication device for all of the above described and/or
envisioned transaction types.
[0239] It is envisioned that the apparatus and method of the
present invention may be utilized in conjunction with other
apparatuses and methods in the prior art, and that the present
invention may be incorporated with these known apparatuses and
methods so as to improve upon them and so as to find additional
applications for the present invention.
[0240] Applicant hereby incorporates by reference herein the
following United States Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,594 which
teaches a system for printing personalized charge-card service
receipts at remote locations; U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,510 which teaches
an automated data card payment verification method; U.S. Pat. No.
5,473,667 which teaches a paging system with third party
authorization; U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,655 which teaches a credit
authorization terminal; U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,510 which teaches a
secure credit/debit card authorization; U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,619
which teaches a universal authentication device for use over
telephone lines; U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,616 which teaches financial
transaction systems and methods utilizing a multi-reader
transaction terminal; U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,250 which teaches
telephone based credit card protection; U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,300
which teaches a loss control system; U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,714 which
teaches a point-of-sale mechanism; U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,027 which
teaches a system for identifying authorized use of credit cards;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,563 which teaches a data card terminal for
receiving authorizations from remote locations; U.S. Pat. No.
5,444,763 which teaches a translation and connection device for
radio frequency point of sale transaction system; U.S. Pat. No.
5,243,645 which teaches an automatic system for forwarding of
calls; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,090 which teaches a terminal
apparatus.
[0241] While the present invention has been described and
illustrated in various preferred and alternate embodiments, such
descriptions are merely illustrative of the present invention and
are not to be construed to be limitations thereof. In this regard,
the present invention encompasses any and all modifications,
variations and/or alternate embodiments with the scope of the
present invention being limited only by the claims which
follow.
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