Physical presence digital authentication system

Abstract

The interactive authentication system allows a consumer to interact with a base station, such as broadcast media (e.g., television and radio) or PC, to receive coupons, special sales offers, and other information with an electronic card. The electronic card can also be used to transmit a signal that can be received by the base station to perform a wide variety of tasks. These tasks can include launching an application, authenticating a user at a website, and completing a sales transaction at a website (e.g., by filling out a form automatically). The interaction between the base station and the electronic card is accomplished by using the conventional sound system in the base station so that a special reader hardware need not be installed to interact with the electronic card. The user is equipped with an electronic card that can receive and transmit data via sound waves. In the various embodiments, the sound waves can be audible or ultrasonic (which can be slightly audible to some groups of people).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing a secure on-line transaction comprising:
 transmitting selected payment data to a card issue server, said selected payment data including at least one payment type selected from a predetermined list of payment types and, for each selected payment type, a selected amount;   transmitting purchase data and the payment data to a merchant server by one of the card issue server and the user; and   processing the purchase data and the payment data by the merchant server,   wherein said transmitting selected payment data includes transmitting a request to pay a first part of a transaction price with a selected currency type and to pay a second part of the transaction price with points.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting purchase data and payment data includes transmitting at least one of the user name, shipping address, billing address, and credit card number. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said processing includes finalizing a sale by the merchant server. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , said method further comprising, after said processing, transmitting a confirmation of transaction completion by the merchant server to one of the card issue server and a user computer;
 wherein, if said transmitting a confirmation of transaction completion includes transmitting the confirmation of transaction completion to the card issue server, said method further comprises transmitting the confirmation to the user computer by the card issue server.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting selected payment data is performed by the user at a user computer located at a location accessible to at least a second user. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising off-line authenticating of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the location accessible to at least a second user is a point of sale location. 
     
     
         8 . A method for performing a secure on-line transaction comprising:
 transmitting selected payment data to a card issue server, said selected payment data including at least one payment type selected from a predetermined list of payment types and, for each selected payment type, a selected amount;   transmitting purchase data and the payment data to a merchant server by one of the card issue server and the user; and   processing the purchase data and the payment data by the merchant server,   said method further comprising, before said transmitting selected payment data:   transmitting a first signal indicating a user digital identification (ID) by an electronic card;   receiving the first signal by a user computer;   transmitting a second signal indicating the digital ID by the user computer to a card issue server, wherein the card issue server stores data associated with the user, said data including the user digital ID and user account information;   authenticating the digital ID by the card issue server; and   selecting payment data by the user;   said transmitting purchase data and payment data being performed after said authenticating and said selecting payment data;   said method further comprising transmitting a confirmation signal indicating completion of the transaction to one of the user computer and the card issue server by the merchant server.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the digital ID is encrypted, said method further including decrypting the digital ID by the card issue server. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising, after said transmitting the digital ID, transmitting the URL of the merchant server to the card issue server. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said transmitting the URL of the merchant server to the card issue server is performed one of simultaneous to and subsequent to said transmitting the digital ID to the card issue server. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the payment type is selected from currency, frequent flyer miles, points, and goods. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said selecting includes indicating, for each selected payment type, a corresponding percentage of the total payment data. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , said method further comprising, for each selected payment type and selected amount, transmitting the payment data to the card issue server;
 wherein the card issue server deducts the selected amount of each selected payment type from a user account; and   wherein said card issue server deducts the selected amount of each selected payment type one of subsequent to completion of the transaction and immediately subsequent to said selecting.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8 , said method further comprising, after said processing, transmitting a confirmation of transaction completion by the merchant server to one of the card issue server and a user computer;
 wherein, if said transmitting a confirmation of transaction completion includes transmitting the confirmation of transaction completion to the card issue server, said method further comprises transmitting the confirmation to the user computer by the card issue server.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said transmitting payment data is performed one of immediately subsequent to said selecting and immediately subsequent to said authenticating. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said selecting is performed after said transmitting a confirmation signal indicating completion of the transaction. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said transmitting selected payment data is performed by the user at a user computer located at a location accessible to at least a second user. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said transmitting selected payment data is performed by the user via a user computer. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said user computer is one of a base station, a personal computer, a PDA, and an electronic device. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising off-line authenticating of the user. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the location accessible to at least a second user is a point of sale location. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said transmitting purchase data and payment data includes transmitting at least one of the user name, shipping address, billing address, and credit card number. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said processing includes finalizing a sale by the merchant server.