Personalised card and method for conducting a financial transaction with the card

Abstract

The invention relates to a personalised card (1) for triggering an authorisation, a financial transaction or the like, comprising a wireless communication unit (2) and an energy supply unit (8) which is operatively connected to the communication unit (2). The card according to the invention is characterised in that: two or more wireless communication units (2,..., 5) are arranged; a control unit (7) is provided which is operatively connected to the wireless communication units (2,..., 5); sensor units (9,..., 12) are provided in accordance with the number of communication units (2,..., 5), said sensor units being operatively connected to the control unit (7); each of the wireless communication units (2,..., 5) is uniquely assigned to one of the sensor units (9,..., 12); and the communication units (2,..., 5) can each be activated by the sensor unit (9,..., 12) assigned to a respective communication unit (2,..., 5).

Description

[0001] PERSONALIZED CARD AND PROCEDURE FOR CARRYING OUT A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION WITH THE CARD

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates to a personalized card, in particular a credit card or a payment card (debit card), according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a method for carrying out a financial transaction or the like with the personalized card.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] Credit cards are used to pay for goods and services and can usually be used worldwide and online. The term originated in the 20th century.

[0006] Century translation from English «credit card», because the classic credit card grants the cardholder a loan.

[0007] Nowadays, credit card users usually have several credit cards on hand. Often, different terms and conditions are associated with each credit card, or different bonus systems are offered along with a credit card. Accordingly, users often have a variety of credit cards on hand and must keep them ready for transactions. The disadvantage is that users have to carry the numerous credit cards in their wallets, which many users find cumbersome.

[0008] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a personalized card, in particular a credit card or payment card (debit card), which does not have the disadvantage mentioned above.

[0010] This object is achieved by the personalized card having the features listed in the characterizing part of claim 1. Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention are defined by the features of further claims. Furthermore, a method according to the invention for carrying out financial transactions or authorizations using the personalized card according to the invention is specified.

[0011] The personalized card according to the invention for triggering an authorization, a financial transaction or the like comprises:

[0012] - a wireless communication unit and

[0013] - a power supply unit that is operatively connected to the communication unit.

[0014] The card according to the invention is characterized by

[0015] - that two or more wireless communication units are arranged, - that a control unit is provided which is operatively connected to the wireless communication units,

[0016] - that sensor units are provided corresponding to the number of communication units, which are operatively connected to the control unit,

[0017] - that each of the wireless communication units is uniquely assigned to one of the sensor units and

[0018] - that the communication units can be activated by the sensor unit assigned to the communication unit.

[0019] Thus, a single personalized card according to the invention can contain the information from several physical cards, thus reducing the number of cards in the wallet without limiting card availability.

[0020] Furthermore, it is a great advantage that both several sensor units and several communication units are present on one card according to the invention. This ensures that if one component—a sensor unit or a communication unit—fails, the card according to the invention can continue to be used over the remaining components.

[0021] One embodiment of the personalized card according to the invention consists in the sensor units each comprising a biometric recognition unit. This can prevent unauthorized use of the card according to the invention.

[0022] Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention consist in that the biometric recognition unit is a fingerprint unit for recognizing an individual fingerprint.

[0023] Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention consist in the presence of four wireless communication units and four sensor units.

[0024] Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention consist in that the mutually associated wireless communication unit and sensor units are arranged in opposite card corners.

[0025] This makes handling of the card according to the invention particularly easy for the user.

[0026] Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention include the power supply unit consisting of a coil that is operatively connected to the control unit, wherein the coil is arranged next to the wireless communication unit. Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention include the wireless communication units being of the NFC (Near Field Communication) type.

[0027] Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention consist in that an EMV chip is arranged at a defined location on the card, wherein the EMV chip is operatively connected to the control unit.

[0028] Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention consist in that one of the wireless communication units is predefined as a master, which is always activated when none of the sensor units is active.

[0029] Further embodiments of the personalized card according to the invention consist in the fact that the external dimensions of the card correspond to a standardized credit card.

[0030] Finally, a method for carrying out a financial transaction or authorization using a personalized card is provided. The method according to the invention consists in

[0031] - that when a sensor unit is activated, a wireless communication unit associated with it is activated, whereby the other wireless communication units are blocked, - that a read / write operation is carried out between a terminal and the activated wireless communication unit to execute the financial transaction or the authorization, and

[0032] - that when the card is removed from the terminal the control unit is reset.

[0033] One embodiment of the method according to the invention consists in that upon activation of a transmitting unit for activating a wireless communication unit associated with it, biometric recognition of a user is included.

[0034] Further embodiments of the method according to the invention consist in the use of individual recognition of a fingerprint for biometric recognition of the user.

[0035] Further embodiments of the method according to the invention consist in that a magnetic field generated by the terminal is used to supply energy to the control unit by means of induction.

[0036] The aforementioned embodiments of the personalized card and the method can be combined in any way. Only those combinations are excluded which would lead to a contradiction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0037] Examples of embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to figures. These are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted in a restrictive manner.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows part of a first embodiment of a personalized card according to the invention with two communication units and

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a personalized card according to the invention in a simplified representation with four communication units.

[0040] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Fig. 1 shows part of a first embodiment of a card 1 according to the invention with a known EMV chip 17, via which encrypted information can be read from the card 1 by a terminal or written to the card 1. This is a method for payment processing that requires physical contact between the credit card and the terminal. Even though contactless payment processing, which uses the so-called NFC (Near Field Communication) method, is currently being increasingly used, an EMV chip is still frequently present.

[0042] However, it is also conceivable that the card 1 according to the invention does not have an EMV chip, meaning that the card according to the invention is only equipped with wireless communication units—such as NFC chips. Since the EMV chip or the long-established magnetic stripe is primarily used in ATMs, a card according to the invention equipped only with wireless communication units cannot, for the time being, be used in these ATMs.

[0043] The card 1 according to the invention has a control unit 7 and at least two modules, each consisting of a sensor unit 9 or 10, a coil 13 or 14, and a contactless communication unit 2 or 3, each of which is operatively connected to the control unit 7. The connection to the control unit 7 can be established, for example, via a conductor track. The use of a bus system, via which the individual units communicate with each other, is also advantageous.

[0044] The coil 13, 14 acts as an energy supply unit and provides the necessary energy which the sensor unit 9, 10, the communication unit 2, 3 and, if applicable, the control unit 7 require for operation.

[0045] The sensor unit 9, 10 is, for example, a capacitive sensor chip, with the help of which a touch by a user's finger can be detected. When a touch of a sensor unit 9, 10 is detected, the communication unit 2, 3 assigned to this sensor unit 9, 10 is activated or unlocked. In addition, all communication units 2, 3 not assigned to the corresponding sensor unit 9, 10 are locked. This means that only the unlocked communication unit 2, 3 can perform a desired process, for example a financial transaction. The other communication units are locked.

[0046] According to the present invention, information is stored in the individual communication units 2, 3 on the card, which information, after being activated by a sensor unit, is transmitted wirelessly by the communication unit 2, 3 assigned to this sensor unit 9, 10 to a terminal (not shown in Fig. 1). In one embodiment of the present invention, in which individual credit card information is transmitted by the communication unit 2, 3 after it has been activated by the assigned sensor units 9, 10, desired financial transactions (payment processes) can be initiated. According to the invention, a number of payment services can be stored selectably on one card. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, this information can be from two different credit cards or payment services.

[0047] To ensure easy handling by the card user when initiating a transaction, the associated sensor units 9, 10 and communication units 2, 3 are arranged at a distance from each other on the card 1. For example, the

[0048] The sensor unit 9 arranged in the card corner 19 is assigned to the communication unit 3 arranged in the card corner 20, which is located in the opposite card corner 20 with respect to the sensor unit 9. The user can therefore hold his thumb or index finger on the sensor unit 9 (in the card corner 19) and the assigned - and thus activated - communication unit 3 (in the card corner 20) on the recipient symbol of a terminal. Conversely, with such an embodiment variant, the user can hold his thumb or index finger on the sensor unit 10 and the communication unit 2 on the recipient symbol of the terminal in order to select a different transaction or a different banking relationship for a financial transaction to be carried out.

[0049] By providing multiple sensor units 9 to 12 and multiple associated communication units 2 to 5, it is always ensured that good reading quality is achieved at a payment terminal (POS terminal). This is achieved in a simple manner by the user adjusting the position of the inventive card 1 relative to the payment terminal.

[0050] Furthermore, the multiple design of the card according to the invention with several sensor units 9 to 12 and several associated communication units 2 to 5 ensures that in the event of a failure of one or possibly also several sensor units 9 to 12 or communication units 2 to 5, the card 1 according to the invention can continue to be used via the functioning components.

[0051] If the personalized card according to the invention is to be used with today's standardized credit cards, the external dimensions of this standardized credit card must also be maintained for the card according to the invention. The decisive factor here is how the card according to the invention is intended to be used: For a pure NFC card, the width and length correspond to those of the standardized card. The thickness of this pure NFC card can be greater, allowing the use of thicker components, which are usually also less expensive.

[0052] In a further embodiment of a personalized card 1 according to the invention, the sensor units 2 to 5 each comprise a biometric recognition unit (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2). This prevents unauthorized use of the card 1 according to the invention, because only a recognition unit preprogrammed with biometric data of a specific user can recognize or identify the respective user in order to enable the communication unit 2 to 5 connected to the respective sensor unit 9 to 12 for data transmission.

[0053] In a more specific embodiment of the personalized card 1 according to the invention with the recognition unit, this consists of a fingerprint unit for recognizing the individual

[0054] Fingerprint of the respective user.

[0055] Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a personalized card 1 according to the invention with four wireless communication units 2 to 5, four energy supply units consisting of the coils 13 to 16, and four sensor units 2 to 5. Fig. 2 shows a simplified representation of the card 1 according to the invention, in which the sensor unit, coil and communication unit, each arranged in a card corner 19 to 22, are represented by a single block. Accordingly, the operative connections to the control unit 7 are indicated by a line, wherein both a bus system or individual connections are conceivable for implementing the operative connection - as already explained in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

[0056] As with the embodiment according to Fig. 1, a sensor unit is assigned, for example, to a communication unit located at a distance, in particular in diagonally opposite card corners. For example, the sensor unit 9 arranged in the card corner 19 is assigned to the communication unit 4 arranged in the diagonally opposite card corner 21. When a contact is detected, the sensor unit 9 thus activates the communication unit 4, whereby the communication units 2, 3 and 5 are blocked. The commands and switching operations required for this are carried out by the control unit 7. It is expressly pointed out that the type of signal transmission and the signals themselves correspond to the known specifications for existing credit cards. Accordingly, no changes to existing terminals are required for financial transactions via credit cards or bank cards.In particular, by using the known NFC (Near Field Communication) for the wireless communication units, existing systems, in particular terminals, can also be used without further ado with the card 1 according to the invention.

[0057] When using the card 1 according to the invention, the following process steps are carried out:

[0058] 1 . a magnetic field of the terminal provides the required energy for the sensor unit and the control unit through induction in the coil;

[0059] 2 . the activated sensor unit blocks all communication units that have not been selected by touch;

[0060] 3 . the communication unit assigned to the activated sensor unit becomes active by carrying out a read / write operation (payment process);

[0061] 4 . The card according to the invention is then removed from the terminal (point of sale, PoS terminal), whereby the power supply is interrupted and the system is returned to its initial state. If the personalized card 1 according to the invention is equipped with a biometric recognition unit (not shown in Figs. 1 and 2), a check is carried out before method step 2 - but after method step 1 - as to whether the recognition unit pre-programmed with biometric data of a specific user can recognize or recognise the respective user. Only if this is the case is the communication unit 2 to 5 connected to the respective sensor unit 9 to 12 released for data transmission.

[0062] To ensure that the user of card 1 selects the correct bank or credit card details, the logos of the banks / credit card institutes are located in the card corners of the respective sensor unit.

[0063] In one embodiment of the card according to the invention, one of the communication units is defined as the master, which is always active when no contact is detected by one of the sensor units. This ensures that the card, for example, inserted into an ATM, functions perfectly when withdrawing banknotes. This also applies to the magnetic stripe, which is still present. The master communication unit becomes inactive as soon as another communication unit is activated by touching the corresponding sensor unit. REFERENCE SYMBOL

[0064] 1 personalized card, in particular credit card or bank card

[0065] 2 to 5 communication units

[0066] 5 Control unit

[0067] 9 to 12 sensor units

[0068] 13 to 16 coils as power supply units 17 EMC chip

[0069] 18 Terminal

[0070] 19 to 22 card corners

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Personalized card (1) for initiating an authorization, a financial transaction or the like, comprising: - a wireless communication unit (2) , - a power supply unit (8) which is operatively connected to the communication unit (2), characterized in that - that two or more wireless communication units (2, ..., 5) are arranged, - that a control unit (7) is provided which is operatively connected to the wireless communication units (2, ..., 5), - that sensor units (9, ..., 12) are provided corresponding to the number of communication units (2, ..., 5) which are operatively connected to the control unit (7), - that each of the wireless communication units (2, ..., 5) is uniquely assigned to one of the sensor units (9, ..., 12), and - that the communication units (2, ..., 5) can be activated by the sensor unit (9, ..., 12) assigned to the communication unit (2, ..., 5).

2. Personalized card (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor units (9, ... 12) each comprise a biometric recognition unit.

3. Personalized card (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the biometric recognition unit is a fingerprint unit for recognizing an individual fingerprint.

4. Personalized card (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that four wireless communication units (2, ..., 5) and four sensor units (9, ..., 12) are present.

5. Personalized card (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mutually associated wireless communication unit (2, ..., 5) and sensor units (9, ..., 12) are arranged in opposite card corners (19, ..., 22).

6. Personalized card (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy supply unit (8) consists of a coil (13, ..., 16) which is operatively connected to the control unit (7), wherein the coil (13, ..., 16) is arranged next to the wireless communication unit (2, ..., 5).

7. Personalized card (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wireless communication units (2, ..., 5) are of the NFC (Near Field Communication) type.

8. Personalized card (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an EMV chip (17) is arranged at a defined location on the card, wherein the EMV chip is operatively connected to the control unit (7).

9. Personalized card (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the wireless communication units (2, ..., 5) is predefined as a master, which is always activated when none of the sensor units (9, ..., 12) is active.

10. Personalized card (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that external dimensions of the card (1) correspond to a standardized credit card.

11. A method for carrying out a financial transaction or an authorization by means of a personalized card (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the method consists in that upon activation of a sensor unit (9, ..., 12) a wireless signal associated therewith communication unit (2, ..., 5) is activated, wherein the remaining wireless communication units (2, ..., 5) be blocked, - that a read / write operation is carried out between a terminal (18) and the activated wireless communication unit (2, ..., 5) to carry out the financial transaction or the authorization, and - that when the card is removed from the terminal (18), the control unit (7) is reset.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that upon activation of a transmitting unit (9, ..., 12) for activating a wireless communication unit (2, ..., 5) associated with it, biometric recognition of a user is carried out.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that an individual recognition of a fingerprint is used for the biometric recognition of the user.

14. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a magnetic field generated by the terminal (18) for supplying energy to the control unit (7) is used by induction.

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