초록 ▼

A system for transferring funds in lieu of cash or other data comprises portable funds transfer modules issued by a bank or other financial institution and carried by each member who may be a vendee or vendor. A first type module (20) comprises a housing (22) containing a keyboard (24) for entering

A system for transferring funds in lieu of cash or other data comprises portable funds transfer modules issued by a bank or other financial institution and carried by each member who may be a vendee or vendor. A first type module (20) comprises a housing (22) containing a keyboard (24) for entering data, a display (26) and a switch (30) for identifying data type. Within the housing (22) is signal processing and storage circuitry, and an optical transceiver (32, 34), coupled to the circuitry, is exposed through the housing. A second type module (42) has a housing (44) that is smaller than the housing of the first type module and includes only the internal circuitry and exposed optical transceiver (48, 50); there is no display or keyboard. The housings of the first and second type modules are provided with alignment members (36, 38, 40, 52, 54) to (a) orient pairs of the first type module with corresponding optical transceivers in alignment with each other for data transfer or (b) orient first and second type modules with each other for data transfer. In the second case, data stored in the second type module (42) is displayed in the display of the first type module (20). An optional alignment pad (56) may be used to properly position modules for data transfer. A second type of mounting pad (90) may be retrofitted to external equipment, such as an automatic teller machine (ATM), to provide funds transfer directly with a member institution.

대표청구항 ▼

In a funds transfer system, a portable device for transferring transaction data among members, wherein each member is authorized to transact with other members within preestablished credit limits, the device comprising: a housing; data processing and storage circuitry inside said housing; a keyboard

In a funds transfer system, a portable device for transferring transaction data among members, wherein each member is authorized to transact with other members within preestablished credit limits, the device comprising: a housing; data processing and storage circuitry inside said housing; a keyboard on the housing for providing transaction data and other data entered via said keyboard by a member to said data processing and storage circuitry; an optical transceiver means exposed through the housing for providing bidirectional transaction data to said data processing and storage circuitry; and alignment means for positioning said housing relative to a housing of a second similar portable device such that said optical transceiver means is in alignment with an optical transceiver means of said second portable device.