Wireless transaction and information system

A system for a user to obtain information and perform transactions on a network, comprising:

• a plurality of user terminals each having a smart card interface device for communicating with a smart card, each of the plurality of user terminals having an input device associated with the user terminal and in combination with the smart card interface device for receiving identification information and data from the user, wherein the identification information is encrypted by a smart card in communication with the smart card interface device and the smart card having a first encryption algorithm, the plurality of user terminals including at least one of a personal computer, a mobile terminal, a battery-powered mobile terminal, an automated teller machine, and a building access terminal;
• a plurality of networks including at least one of a standard switch network, a direct wireless service network, the Internet, a financial network, a commercial network, a private network, a wide area network, a local area network, an ATM network and a spread spectrum network;
• a mobile server terminal compatible for communication with all of the plurality of user terminals through any of the plurality of networks, the mobile server terminal further comprising a first wireless device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data;
• a host computer system having an associated second wireless device and at least a second encryption algorithm corresponding to the first encryption algorithm, wherein the second wireless device receives the encrypted identification information and wherein the second encryption algorithm decrypts the encrypted identification information, wherein the host system maintains records of user account information including identification information and compares the identification information encrypted by the smart card to the user account information to verify the identification information, and wherein the host system wirelessly transmits authorization information through the second wireless device to the mobile server terminal to allow the user access to the host computer system;
• and
• a transaction application for providing the user with transactions to be performed through the server terminal if the identification information is validated by the user account information, the transaction application including financial transaction functions and an entry into a secure physical location function.

A method for performing transactions, comprising:

• receiving a smart card in a smart card reader in communication with a user terminal, wherein the smart card comprises at least a first encryption algorithm and validation information, wherein the user terminal comprises at least one terminal selected from a plurality of user terminals consisting of a personal computer, a mobile terminal, a battery-powered mobile terminal, an automated teller machine, and a building access terminal;
• receiving at least an encrypted portion of the validation information at the user terminal, the encrypted portion encrypted using the first encryption algorithm of the smart card;
• wirelessly transmitting the encrypted portion of the validation information via a mobile server terminal having a first transmitter/receiver in communication with the user terminal through a network, wherein the network is at least one network selected from a plurality of networks consisting of a standard switch network, a direct wireless service network, the Internet, a financial network, a commercial network, a private network, a wide area network, a local area network, an ATM network and a spread spectrum network, wherein the mobile server terminal is compatible with any of the plurality of user terminals and a corresponding one of the plurality of networks;
• wirelessly receiving the encrypted portion of the validation information at a second transmitter/receiver and transmitting the encrypted portion of the validation information to a host system, wherein the host system comprises user account information including reference validation information, a second encryption algorithm and financial transaction capabilities, wherein the user account information corresponds to the validation information on the smart card, and wherein the second encryption algorithm corresponds to the first encryption algorithm on the smart card such that data encrypted by the first encryption algorithm is decryptable by the second encryption algorithm and vice versa;
• decrypting the encrypted portion of the validation information and comparing the validation information to the user account information to determine an authorization code for further accessing the host system;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the authorization code via the second transmitter/receiver;
• and
• if the authorization code represents verification between the validation information and the user account information, providing the user with access to the host system to perform transactions including at least one financial function and an access to a secure physical location function, wherein communications between the host system and the user terminal are encrypted by the host system and the smart card, respectively.

A system for performing transactions, comprising:

• a plurality of smart card readers capable of communication with a smart card having at least a first encryption algorithm and a plurality of stored data, wherein the plurality of stored data includes validation information;
• a plurality of user terminals each corresponding to and in communication with one of the plurality of smart card readers, wherein each of the plurality of terminals have a first input device for generating user input data, the plurality of user terminals consisting of at least one of a personal computer, a mobile terminal, a battery-powered mobile terminal, an automated teller machine, and a building access terminal;
• a server terminal compatible for communication with each of the plurality of user terminals, wherein the server terminal comprises a second input device, a first wireless transmit/receive device and a display, wherein the second input device includes a keypad for generating user input data and the display is adapted for displaying images to the user, wherein the first wireless transmit/receive device receives and transmits a first encrypted message comprising validation information and user input data, wherein the first encrypted message is encrypted by the encryption algorithm of the smart card;
• a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of the plurality of networks connects at least one of the plurality of user terminals to the server terminal, the plurality of networks consisting of at least one of a standard switch network, a direct wireless service network, the Internet, a financial network, a commercial network, a private network, a wide area network, a local area network, an ATM network and a spread spectrum network;
• a host financial system in communication with the server terminal, wherein the host system comprises user account information, an authentication program, a plurality of transaction applications, and at least a second encryption algorithm, wherein the second encryption algorithm corresponds to the first encryption algorithm on the smart card such that data encrypted by the first encryption algorithm is decryptable by the second encryption algorithm and vice versa, wherein the authentication program compares the validation information to the user account information to verify the authenticity of the validation information and thereby to determine user access to the host system, the plurality of transaction applications including at least a financial transaction function and an entry to a secure physical location function, and wherein the host system provides a second encrypted message comprising data relating to at least one of the plurality of transaction applications if the authentication program authenticates the validation information and;
• a second transmit/receive device associated with the host system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving the first and second encrypted messages, wherein the second transmit/receive device is in communication with the first transmit/receive device and the host system.

A system for performing transactions, comprising:

• a plurality of smart card readers capable of communication with a smart card having at least a first encryption algorithm and a plurality of stored data, wherein the plurality of stored data includes validation information;
• a plurality of user terminals each corresponding to and in communication with one of the plurality of smart card readers, wherein each of the plurality of terminals have a first input device for generating user input data, the plurality of user terminals consisting of at least one of a personal computer, a mobile terminal, a battery-powered mobile terminal, an automated teller machine, and a building access terminal;
• a server terminal compatible for communication with each of the plurality of user terminals, wherein the server terminal is a mobile server terminal that comprises a second input device, a first wireless transmit/receive device and a display, wherein the second input device includes a keypad for generating user input data and the display is adapted for displaying images to the user, wherein the first wireless transmit/receive device receives and transmits a first encrypted message comprising validation information and user input data, wherein the first encrypted message is encrypted by the encryption algorithm of the smart card, and where the mobile server terminal comprises a cellular phone or an automatic teller machine;
• a plurality of networks, wherein at least one of the plurality of networks connects at least one of the plurality of user terminals to the server terminal, the plurality of networks consisting of at least one of a standard switch network, a direct wireless service network, the Internet, a financial network, a commercial network, a private network, a wide area network, a local area network, an ATM network and a spread spectrum network;
• a host financial system in communication with the server terminal, wherein the host system comprises user account information, an authentication program, a plurality of transaction applications, and at least a second encryption algorithm, wherein the second encryption algorithm corresponds to the first encryption algorithm on the smart card such that data encrypted by the first encryption algorithm is decryptable by the second encryption algorithm and vice versa, wherein the authentication program compares the validation information to the user account information to verify the authenticity of the validation information and thereby to determine user access to the host system, the plurality of transaction applications including at least a financial transaction function and an entry to a secure physical location function, and wherein the host system provides a second encrypted message comprising data relating to at least one of the plurality of transaction applications if the authentication program authenticates the validation information;
• and
• a second transmit/receive device associated with the host system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving the first and second encrypted messages, wherein the second transmit/receive device is in communication with the first transmit/receive device and the host system.