User wearable wireless enabled electronic apparatus

Abstract

User-wearable electronic apparatus configured to enable wireless communications. In one embodiment, the apparatus takes the form of a wrist-worn apparatus (such as wristwatch) which includes a short-range radio frequency interface disposed therein at time of manufacture of the apparatus. The interface can be selectively encoded, such as after purchase, with user-specific information enabling the user to perform desired transactions (such as payment for goods and services), without having to carry other forms of payment with them. In one variant, the user-specific information includes data relating to one or more payment (e.g., debit/credit) accounts, and the transactions are authenticated via user-supplied biometric data such as e.g., a fingerprint, voiceprint, or facial recognition data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A user-wearable mobile device enabled for wireless transmission and reception, comprising:
 a processor;   a storage device in data communication with the processor;   at least one application computer program stored at least partly on the storage device and configured to run on the processor; and   a short range radio frequency device disposed in the mobile device and configured to communicate with an external radio frequency-enabled apparatus, the short range radio frequency device being in data communication with the processor, and disposed within the mobile device at the time of manufacture of the mobile device;   wherein the mobile device is configured to be encoded with information specific to a user of the mobile device, the information specific to the user enabling performance of one or more transactions.   
     
     
         22 . The mobile device of  claim 21 , wherein the user-wearable mobile device comprises a wristwatch. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile device of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the information specific to the user can be transmitted by the short range radio frequency device of the mobile device to the external radio frequency-enabled apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile device of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the one or more transactions comprise one or more payment transactions; and   the information specific to the user is associated with a specific pre-existing financial account and enables the user to use the mobile device to pay for goods or services and obviate the user from having to carry other forms or sources of payment on their person.   
     
     
         25 . The mobile device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the one or more transactions comprise one or more payment transactions; and   the information specific to the user is associated with a specific pre-existing financial account and enables the user to use the mobile device to pay for goods or services and obviate the user from having to carry other forms or sources of payment on their person.   
     
     
         26 . The mobile device of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one application computer program comprises a theme, the theme relating to at least one of an electronic commerce transaction and/or a payment transaction, the at least one application computer program configured to utilize at least a portion of the information associated with the pre-existing financial account to effectuate purchase of a good or service using the mobile device and the short-range radio frequency device. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile device of  claim 25 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to utilize at least one biometric data as part of the one or more payment transactions in order to authenticate the user before the one or more payment transactions can be completed. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile device of  claim 22 , wherein the mobile device is further configured to utilize at least one biometric data as part of the one or more transactions conducted using at least the short range radio frequency device, the at least one biometric data enabling authentication of the user before the one or more transactions can be completed. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile device of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one biometric data comprises a representation of the user's fingerprint. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile device of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one biometric data comprises a representation of the user's retina. 
     
     
         31 . The mobile device of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one biometric data comprises a representation of the user's face. 
     
     
         32 . The mobile device of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one biometric data comprises a representation of the user's voice or speech. 
     
     
         33 . The mobile device of  claim 21 , further comprising a global positioning system (GPS)-based wireless receiver;
 wherein the mobile device is configured to utilize data generated by the GPS-based receiver in order to facilitate provision of a service to the user at their current location.   
     
     
         34 . The mobile device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the short-range radio frequency device comprises a device compliant with at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) standard; and   at least a portion of the information specific to the user can be transmitted by the short range radio frequency device of the mobile device to the external radio frequency-enabled apparatus, the external radio frequency-enabled apparatus also being compliant with the at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) standard.   
     
     
         35 . A user-wearable wristwatch enabled for wireless communication, the wristwatch comprising:
 timekeeping apparatus;   a processor;   a storage device in data communication with the processor;   at least one computer program stored at least partly on the storage device and configured to run on the processor; and   a short range radio frequency device disposed in the mobile device and configured to communicate with an external radio frequency-enabled apparatus, the short range radio frequency device being in data communication with the processor, and disposed within the wristwatch at the time of manufacture of the wristwatch, the short-range radio frequency device being compliant with at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) standard;   wherein the wristwatch is configured to be securely encoded after manufacture thereof with information specific to a user of the wristwatch using at least the at least one computer program, the information specific to the user relating to at least one pre-existing financial credit or debit account of the user, and both (i) facilitating performance of one or more payment or service transactions by the user for goods or services, and (ii) obviating the user from having to carry other forms or sources of payment on their person.   
     
     
         36 . The wristwatch of  claim 35 , wherein the performance of the one or more payment or service transactions comprises transmitting at least a portion of the information specific to the user relating to at least one pre-existing financial credit or debit account of the user via the short range radio frequency device. 
     
     
         37 . The wristwatch of  claim 35 , further configured to utilize at least one biometric data as part of the one or more payment or service transactions in order to authenticate the user before the one or more payment or service transactions can be completed. 
     
     
         38 . The wristwatch of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one biometric data comprises a representation of the user's fingerprint. 
     
     
         39 . The wristwatch of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one biometric data comprises a representation of the user's face. 
     
     
         40 . A wrist-worn electronic device enabled for wireless communication, the electronic device comprising:
 a processor;   a storage device in data communication with the processor;   at least one computer program stored at least partly on the storage device and configured to run on the processor; and   a short range radio frequency device disposed in the mobile device and configured to communicate with an external radio frequency-enabled apparatus, the short range radio frequency device being in data communication with the processor, and disposed within the electronic device at the time of manufacture thereof, the short-range radio frequency device being compliant with at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) standard;   wherein the electronic device is configured to be securely encoded after manufacture thereof with information specific to a user of the electronic device, the information specific to the user relating to at least one pre-existing financial credit or debit account of the user, and both (i) facilitating performance of one or more payment or service transactions by the user for goods or services, and (ii) obviating the user from having to carry other forms or sources of payment on their person; and   
       wherein the electronic device is further configured to utilize at least one biometric data as part of the one or more payment or service transactions in order to authenticate the user before the one or more payment or service transactions can be completed, the at least one biometric data being received using at least the at least one computer program.