초록 ▼

A transponder-initiated transaction system is electromagnetically coupled to an account transponder device at the point of sale. The account transponder device may be embedded within a watch, key chain or other personal article for convenience or affinity. The transponder device may communicate acco

A transponder-initiated transaction system is electromagnetically coupled to an account transponder device at the point of sale. The account transponder device may be embedded within a watch, key chain or other personal article for convenience or affinity. The transponder device may communicate account information to an RF-enabled point of sale device, enabling transactions to take place without resort to remote data processing facilities. In other embodiments partial or complete account information may be accessed or stored at co-located or remote sources. New account registrants may access a Web site to enter a transponder ID and activate a new account, which may be a credit account, debit account, cash account, special purpose vending account, or other types of accounts.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A system for authorizing transponder-enabled transactions, comprising: a transaction server; a communications link between the transaction server and a point of sale device, wherein the point of sale device is associated with a merchant, the point of sale device in communication

What is claimed: 1. A system for authorizing transponder-enabled transactions, comprising: a transaction server; a communications link between the transaction server and a point of sale device, wherein the point of sale device is associated with a merchant, the point of sale device in communication with a transponder identification information receiver, wherein at least some transponder identification information that is emitted from a transponder substantially upon presentation of both the transponder and a transaction for payment at the point of sale device is received by the transponder identification information receiver, communicated to the point of sale device via a connection between the transponder identification information receiver and the point of sale device, and then transmitted to the transaction server along with a payment amount for the transaction via the communication link between the point of sale device and the transaction server; an account table in communication with the transaction server; at least some financial account information representative of a financial account, wherein the financial account information is stored in the account table, the financial account information comprising at least one of financial account number information, financial account type information, financial account balance information, and financial account limit information, wherein at least some of the transponder identification information is linked to at least some of the financial account information; a payment authorization unit in communication with the transaction server and account table, wherein the payment authorization unit determines whether any of the payment amount is authorized to be applied to the financial account based on at least some of the financial account information and the payment amount, wherein the transaction server, account table and payment authorization unit are associated with at least one of an issuing bank or a credit network; and a registration unit in communication with the account table and at least one client workstation, wherein the registration unit receives the at least some financial account information and the at least some transponder identification information from the client workstation, wherein further the received financial account information is linked with at least some of the transponder identification information in the account table and the received financial account information is not previously linked to the transponder identification information. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein in the client workstation is accessed by a user. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial account comprises a credit account, a debit account, a cash account, or a special premises account. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transponder and the transponder identification information receiver communicate via a wireless interface. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless interface comprises a RF interface. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless interface comprises an infrared interface. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising multiple communications links between the transaction server and multiple point of sale devices. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the financial account type information comprises one or more of a credit card account, a debit card account, a cash account, a telephone card account, a special premises account for use by employees of an entity, a stored value account, or a rewards account. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the point of sale device comprises a cash register. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the point of sale device is located at one or more of a restaurant, a grocery store, or a retail store. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the transponder is embedded in a personal article. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the personal article comprises a key chain, a pager, a watch, an article of clothing, a key, or a transaction card.