Financial and similar indentification cards and methods relating thereto

Abstract

Apparatuses forming portable identification cards and associated methods are described. A preferred apparatus includes an input device adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data, a memory for storing reference data, a processor configured to compare the authentication data entered by the consumer to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data, an indicator for informing a merchant when the processor has determined that the consumer has entered valid authentication data, and a power source adapted to supply power to the processor and the indicator. Other features are also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus forming a portable identification card which can be read using a magnetic card reader, comprising:
 a magnetic stripe on the identification card for storing information readable by the card reader;   at least one input device on the identification card adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data;   a memory for storing reference data mounted to the identification card;   a processor mounted to the identification card and configured to validate or invalidate the authentication data entered by the consumer relative to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid or invalid authentication data;   an indicator configured to inform a merchant when the processor has determined that the consumer has entered valid authentication data; and   a power source adapted to supply power to the processor and the indicator.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the indicator is a visual indicator. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to provide authentication data entered by the consumer. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the consumer. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus forming a portable identification card, comprising:
 at least one input device on said card for a user to enter authentication data;   a memory on said card for storing data including reference data;   a processor on said card configured to perform a validation analysis of the authentication data entered by the user relative to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the user is valid or invalid authentication data;   at least one indicator on said card configured to inform a merchant when the processor has determined that the user has entered valid authentication data; and   a power source adapted to supply power for the apparatus.   
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the indicator is a visual indicator. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus forming a portable identification card which can be read using a card reader, comprising:
 a coding piece on said card for storing information that can be read by said card reader;   at least one input device on said card adapted for a user to enter data including authentication data;   a memory on said card for storing reference data;   a processor on said card configured to perform a validity analysis of the authentication data entered by the user using the at least one input device to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data;   at least one indicator on said card configured to provide a security code when the processor determines that the user has entered valid authentication data;   a power source on the apparatus and adapted to supply power to the apparatus.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the indicator is a visual indicator. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the indicator is a digital display. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the indicator is a selectively visible code. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the indicator is a controllably lit static security code. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the user, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus forming a portable identification card, comprising:
 at least one input device adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data;   a memory for storing reference data;   a processor configured to perform a validity analysis of the authentication data entered by the consumer using at least the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data;   an indicator configured to provide a security code when the processor determines that the consumer has entered valid authentication data, wherein the security code may be viewed by a merchant; and   a power source on the apparatus adapted to supply power to the apparatus.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the indicator is a visual indicator. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the indicator is a digital display. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the indicator is a lighted code. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one key adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the consumer, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time to allow presentation to a merchant using the apparatus. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the at least one input device comprises a biometric sensor adapted to receive the authentication data entered by the consumer, and wherein the indicator is a visual indicator adapted to display the security code for a predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       22 . A method for processing a portable identification card, comprising:
 entering authentication data using at least one input integrated with the portable identification card and adapted to receive entry of authentication data by a consumer;   performing a validation analysis of the authentication data entered by the consumer to reference data stored in a memory integrated with the portable identification card to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data or invalid authentication data;   indicating whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data which authorizes use of the portable identification card on said at least one indicator integrated with the portable identification card; and   presenting the portable identification card to a merchant for allowing the merchant to determine from the indicating step whether the user input valid authentication data;   selectively accepting payment by the merchant using the identification card depending upon whether performing a validation analysis indicates valid authenticating data was input by the consumer.   
   
   
       23 . A method for processing a portable identification card which can be read using a magnetic swipe card reader, comprising:
 entering authentication data using at least one input integrated with the portable identification card and adapted to receive entry of authentication data by a user;   validating the authentication data entered by the consumer to reference data stored in a memory integrated with the portable identification card to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data;   indicating whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is valid authentication data which authorizes use of the portable identification card on an indicator integrated with the portable identification card; and   presenting the portable identification card to a merchant for use as a method of payment when desiring to make a purchase.   
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  and further comprising after said presenting step:
 receiving the portable identification card from the consumer who desires to make the purchase; and   checking the indicator by the merchant to be informed whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 23  and further comprising after said presenting step:
 receiving the portable identification card from the consumer who desires to make the purchase;   checking the indicator to be informed whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card; and   swiping the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator informs the merchant that the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 23  and further comprising after said presenting step:
 receiving the portable identification card from the consumer who desires to make the purchase;   checking the indicator to be informed whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card; and   refusing to swipe the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator informs the merchant that the authentication data entered by the consumer does not authorize use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       27 . A method for using a portable identification card, the method comprising:
 entering authentication data using an input integrated with the portable identification card and adapted to receive entry of authentication data by a consumer;   comparing the authentication data entered by the consumer to reference data stored in a memory integrated with the portable identification card to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is correct authentication data; and   indicating whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card by displaying a security code on an indicator integrated with the portable identification card when the correct authentication data has been entered.   
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  and further comprising after said indicating step:
 presenting the portable identification card to a merchant for use as a method of payment when desiring to make a purchase;   receiving by the merchant the portable identification card from the consumer who desires to make the purchase; and   checking the indicator for the security code to be informed whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is the correct authentication date which authorizes use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 27  and further comprising after said indicating step:
 providing the security code and other information from the portable identification card to a merchant for use as a method of payment when desiring to make a purchase.   
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 27  and further comprising after said indicating step:
 receiving by the merchant the security code and any other desired information from a consumer desiring to use the portable identification card as a method of payment for making a purchase.   
   
   
       31 . A method for using a portable identification card which can be read using a magnetic swipe card reader, the method comprising:
 entering authentication data using an input integrated with the portable identification card and adapted to receive entry of authentication data by a consumer;   comparing the authentication data entered by the consumer to reference data stored in a memory integrated with the portable identification card to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is correct authentication data; and   indicating whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card by displaying a security code on an indicator integrated with the portable identification card when the correct authentication data has been entered.   
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31  and further comprising after said indicating step:
 presenting the portable identification card to a merchant for use as a method of payment when desiring to make a purchase;   receiving the portable identification card from the consumer who desires to make the purchase; and   checking the indicator for the security code to be informed whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is the correct authentication data which authorizes use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 31  and further comprising after said checking step:
 swiping the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator provides the merchant with the security code.   
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 31  and further comprising after said checking step:
 refusing to swipe the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator does not provide the merchant with the security code.   
   
   
       35 . A method for processing a portable identification card, comprising:
 receiving the portable identification card from a consumer who desires to make a purchase, the portable identification card including an input adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data, and an indicator which indicates whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card; and   checking the indicator by the merchant to be informed whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 35  and further comprising after said checking step:
 swiping the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator informs the merchant that the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 35  and further comprising after said checking step:
 refusing to swipe the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator informs the merchant that the authentication data entered by the consumer does not authorize use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       38 . A method for processing a portable identification card, comprising:
 receiving the portable identification card from a consumer who desires to make a purchase, the portable identification card including an input adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data, and an indicator configured to provide a security code when the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card; and   checking the indicator for the security code to be informed whether the authentication data entered by the consumer authorizes use of the portable identification card.   
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 38  and further comprising after said checking step:
 swiping the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator provides the merchant with the security code.   
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 38  and further comprising after said checking step:
 refusing to swipe the portable identification card through a magnetic swipe card reader when the indicator does not provide the merchant with the security code.   
   
   
       41 . A method for manufacturing a portable identification card, comprising:
 providing a card body;   providing an input device integrated with the card body, wherein the input device is adapted for a consumer to enter authentication data;   providing a memory integrated with the card body, wherein the memory is adapted for storing reference data;   providing a processor integrated with the card body, wherein the processor is configured to compare the authentication data entered by the consumer to the reference data stored in the memory to determine whether the authentication data entered by the consumer is correct authentication data;   providing an indicator integrated with the card body, wherein the indicator is configured to inform a merchant when the processor has determined that the consumer has entered the correct authentication data; and   providing a power source integrated with the card body, wherein the power source is adapted to supply power to the identification card.   
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 41  and further comprising:
 providing a magnetic stripe on the card body configured to store information and which can be read using a magnetic swipe card reader.