Stored value digital picture frame
AssigneeBby Solutions, Inc.
InventorRobin Ronayne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a stored value digital picture (or digital image) frame, and a method for sensing a stored value digital picture frame. It integrates the functionality of a stored value card, or a gift card, into a digital picture frame. The stored value digital picture frame may include an attachment device for attaching the frame to a keychain or keyring. The method includes sensing an account identifier from an account identifying device included in the frame, associating the identifier with an account, and taking some action involving the account. The action might be reading the account balance, initializing the balance with an amount, increasing the balance, or decreasing the balance.
Claims17
A method, comprising:
- a) during a transaction, sensing electronically an account identifier from an account identifier device included in a stored value digital frame;
- b) using a computer system, associating the account identifier with information, stored in tangible electronic storage, regarding an account;
- and
- c) (i) reading a stored value balance of the account, or (ii) in an amount corresponding to the transaction, initializing, raising, or lowering the stored value balance;
- wherein the stored value digital frame includes:
- (i) an electronic digital picture frame, including a screen,
- (ii) an account identifying device, included in the frame, that associates the frame with a stored value account,
- (iii) tangible digital image storage within the stored value digital frame, of size sufficient to store a plurality of digital images, and
- (iv) logic, embodied in some combination of hardware, and software instructions stored in software storage, that upon a receipt of a previously specified signal, will cause a digital image, which is stored in the image storage, to be displayed on the screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.