Methods and apparatus for processing smartcard transactions
OwnerJonathan L. Bredininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for processing smartcard transactions stores contracts for the associated smartcard. The contracts specify rules under which a user may purchase services or products. When the user requests a particular product or service, the system obtains a contract for satisfying the request and activates the contract. Upon acceptance of the contract by the user, the system performs processing to obtain payment for and provide access to the requested service or product. A user may perform functions associated with the contracts. Contracts may be created, edited, deleted, or sold to other smartcard owners.
Claims23
An apparatus for processing smartcard transactions, comprising:
- a receiving component configured to receive a request for a particular service or product from a user of a smartcard;
- a component configured to specify a contract, associated with the smartcard, identifying terms under which the user is permitted to access the service or product;
- and
- a component configured to activate the contract in response to the request to provide the user with access to the service or product.
An apparatus for processing smartcard transactions, comprising:
- a component configured to specify a plurality of contracts, associated with a particular smartcard, identifying terms under which the user is permitted to access a plurality of services or products;
- a receiving component configured to receive a request to view the plurality of contracts;
- and
- a component configured to display the plurality of contracts.
A system for processing smartcard transactions, comprising:
- an input/output device for reading information from and writing information to a smartcard;
- a storage device for specifying a contract, associated with the smartcard, identifying terms under which the user is permitted to access a particular service or product;
- and
- a processing device coupled to the receive device and the storage device, the processing device comprising:
- a receiving component configured to receive a request for the particular service or product from the user of the smartcard;
- and
- a component configured to activate the contract in response to the request to provide the user with access to the service or product.
A method of processing smartcard transactions, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request for a particular service or product from a user of a smartcard;
- specifying a contract, associated with the smartcard, identifying terms under which the user is permitted to access the service or product;
- and
- activating the contract in response to the request to provide the user with access to the service or product.
A data structure stored in a computer readable medium for use by a processor in processing smartcard transactions, comprising:
- an identification of an owner of a smartcard;
- a plurality of contracts, each of the contracts specifying terms under which the owner is permitted to access corresponding services or products;
- and
- an identification of an adjustable currency value for use in obtaining access to the services or products.
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for use in transmitting objects in a distributed system comprised of multiple machines, comprising:
- a receiving module configured to receive a request for a particular service or product from a user of a smartcard;
- a module configured to specify a contract, associated with the smartcard, identifying terms under which the user is permitted to access the service or product;
- and
- a module configured to activate the contract in response to the request to provide the user with access to the service or product.
A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to securely address a peripheral device at an absolute address by performing the steps of:
- receiving a request for a particular service or product from a user of a smartcard;
- specifying a contract, associated with the smartcard, identifying terms under which the user is permitted to access the service or product;
- and
- activating the contract in response to the request to provide the user with access to the service or product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.