Host and user transaction system

An intelligent device for performing a transaction with an interface device associated with a memory for storing data and a coupler via which communications may be effected with the intelligent device, the intelligent device comprising:

• a microcomputer having an input/output communication port, and store including nonvolatile memory and random access memory;
• wherein:
• (i) said store is arranged such that one part thereof has an operating system which can be run for performing basic functions of the intelligent device, said operating system being programmed in native code of said microcomputer;
• (ii) said random access memory is provided for use by said microcomputer when performing a function under the control of the operating system and for storing data received from or ready for transmission via said communication port;
• (iii) said store includes a program interpreter for interpreting and executing a program module transmitted thereto for performing a transaction;
• and
• (iv) said program module comprises one or more instructions forming part of a prescribed instruction set discrete from said native code.

A system for performing a transaction comprising:

• (i) an intelligent device including a microcomputer having a store;
• and
• (ii) an interface device remote of said intelligent device, associated with a memory for storing data and a coupler via which communications may be effected with said intelligent device;
• said store being arranged such that one part thereof has an operating system for said microcomputer to run for performing basic functions of the intelligent device, said operating system being programmed in the native code of said microcomputer;
• said interface device including one or more program modules stored within said memory, a said program module comprising one or more instructions forming part of a prescribed instruction set discrete from said native code;
• wherein said store includes a program interpreter for the microcomputer to run when executing a said program module from said interface device to perform a transaction;
• and
• wherein said microcomputer is controlled to interpret and execute said instruction(s) of said prescribed instruction set comprising said program module, only when said microcomputer is under the control of said program interpreter.

An intelligent device for performing a transaction with an interface device remote of the intelligent device, the interface being associated with a memory for storing data and a coupler via which communications may be effected with the intelligent device, the intelligent device comprising:

• a microcomputer having a store;
• wherein:
• (i) said store is arranged such that one part thereof has an operating system for said microcomputer to run for performing basic functions of the intelligent device, said operating system being programmed in native code of said microcomputer;
• (ii) said store including a program interpreter for the microcomputer to run when executing a program module from said interface device to perform a transaction;
• and
• (iii) said program module comprising one or more instructions forming part of a prescribed instruction set discrete from said native code;
• wherein said microcomputer is controlled to interpret and execute said instruction(s) of said prescribed instruction set comprising said program module, only when said microcomputer is under the control of said program interpreter.

A method for performing one or more transactional interchanges of data and information between a service user and one or more service providers, each service provider having service provider transaction interchange means, while maintaining secure storage of the data and information communicated from each of said service providers, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an intelligent device for facilitating the transactional interchanges of the service user, the intelligent device having:
• computer processing means,
• input/output communication means communicatably coupleable with the service provider transaction interchange means, and
• storage means storing an operating system programmed in native code, the operating system performing basic functions of the intelligent device, including communicating with the service provider transaction interchange means;
• and
• transmitting by the service provider transaction interchange means to the intelligent device in response to a command from the operating system one or more program modules, each program module having a prescribed instruction set discrete from said native code, and storing said one or more program modules in said storage means;
• and
• executing by the computer processing means under control of the operating system through a program interpreter of the operating system each said prescribed instruction set to perform a transaction between the intelligent device and the service provider transaction interchange means.

In a system for performing one or more transactional interchanges of data and information between a service user and one or more service providers, each of said service providers having a service provider transaction interchange means, an intelligent device for facilitating the transactional interchanges while maintaining secure storage of the data and information communicated to the intelligent device, the intelligent device comprising:

• storage means storing an operating system programmed in native code, the operating system performing basic functions of the intelligent device, including communicating with the service provider transaction interchange means;
• input/output communication means communicatably coupled to the service provider transaction interchange means for receiving one or more program modules, each program module having a prescribed instruction set discrete from said native code, transmitted by the service provider transaction interchange means to the intelligent device in response to a command from the operating system and for storing said one or more program modules in said storage means;
• and
• computer processing means for executing under control of the operating system through a program interpreter of the operating system each said prescribed instruction set to perform a transaction between the intelligent device and the service provider transaction interchange means.