Modular signature and data-capture system and point of transaction payment and reward system

A system useable at a point of transaction to memorialize a transaction, to facilitate realtime completion of said transaction, and enable instant presentation of viewable media targeted to a user of said system based upon a profile of said user compiled from information including past transaction purchases made by said user with said system, the system comprising:

• a self-contained modular signature capture device, including:
• a writing/display unit including a pad responsive to writing thereon with a passive stylus, and including a liquid crystal display superimposed with said pad;
• a central processor unit (CPU) coupled to read-only-memory (ROM) storing at least one software executable by said CPU for operating said device, and further coupled to random access memory (RAM), and to said writing/display unit;
• an ISA-compatible bus coupled to said CPU;
• electronic circuitry, coupled to said bus and responsive to said writing so as to present on said display an image of said writing, in which said writing appears to a user to result in said image;
• interface circuitry, coupled to said bus, to permit operatively coupling at least one add-on accessory to said device;
• at least one said add-on accessory, coupled to said interface circuitry;
• a magnetic card sub-unit, coupled to said bus, to permit magnetically reading and writing data to a card carrying at least two stripes of magnetic media;
• communication interface circuitry, coupled to said bus, to permit coupling said device to a communications link for data transfer to an electronic host system, said device being operable without being coupled to said electronic host system;
• and
• an electronic host system, associated with said point of transaction, coupled to said device via said communication interface circuitry such that a point of sale transaction itemized by said device may be entered into said host system via said communication interface circuitry, said host system using data received from said device and received from said system during past transactions to generate and store for said user a user profile that is updatable with each succeeding purchase by said user using said system;
• wherein payment for said transaction is accomplished by a user inputting a user PIN into said device and writing a signature on said pad;
• said device comparing the user input PIN with a PIN stored in a card read by said device and if there is substantial identity between each said PIN said device permitting said transaction to further proceed;
• wherein during said transaction, transferred said data enables said host system to select from said user profile media for immediate presentation and display to said user.

A method to enhance security of user identification during a transaction, and optionally to reward said user for making said transaction including displaying advertising material relevant to a profile maintained for said user that is updated by a present purchase made by said user during said transaction, the method including the following steps:

• (a) providing at a point of said transaction a self-contained microprocessor-controlled modular signature capture device that includes a writing/display unit that includes a pad responsive to writing thereon with a stylus, and includes a display superimposed with said pad such that writing on said pad appears as an image on said display, said device including interface circuitry that permits operatively coupling with at least one add-on accessory, said further including communication interface circuitry enabling said device to be coupled to a communications link for data transfer to an electronic system;
• (b) coupling a host electronic system via said communications link to said device, said host electronic system maintaining a user profile for users making purchases with devices provided at step (a);
• (c) entering purchase data for said transaction into said host electronic system, whereupon an amount due is determined, and whereupon said user profile for said user is updated;
• (d) said user entering into said transaction introducing a PIN, previously stored within a user card readable by said device, into said device using said card;
• (e) said user in realtime now entering a user PIN into said device;
• (f) whereupon if said device confirms identity between said PIN introduced at step (d) and at step (e) said user is confirmed as owner of said card and said transaction may proceed further, but if said identity is not confirmed, said transaction is aborted;
• (g) said device reading from said card said user's account number and account location and communicating this information to said host electronic system;
• (h) coupling said host electronic system to a central clearinghouse for confirmation substantially in realtime that said user's said account number bears sufficient funds for said transaction;
• (i) if sufficient funds in said account number are present and if said transaction is not otherwise aborted, debiting said account number by an amount for said transaction, and transferring said amount to an account of a provider of goods or services represented by said transaction;
• and
• (j) said host electronic system selecting during said transaction, based upon said user profile for said user, media for immediate presentation to said user.