Multi-purpose credit card reader apparatus

Abstract

A credit card reader shields a credit card, stores data from one or more credit cards simultaneously and then selectively broadcasts data associated with one of the cards. A slim, electromagnetically shielding housing has a cavity and a card reader for reading data from a credit card received in the cavity. A processor connects the card reader to a memory component, and connects both to an RFID device, where the credit card data can be broadcast to an RFID reader. A control interface allows a user to initiate reading credit card data, to select a card data set to store in memory, or to broadcast a dataset. A display shows transaction information and stored card data. A retractable input/output plug can engage a socket on another device to transmit and receive data. A memory card device can selectively store credit card data and transaction data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A credit card reader apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a magnetic credit card reader located within a cavity in said housing;   a processor connected to the magnetic credit card reader;   a read/write memory component connected to the processor, said processor receiving credit card data from the magnetic credit card reader and writing the credit card data to a storage location in said read/write memory component;   a radio frequency identification (RFID) device connected to the processor, said processor reading said credit card data from said storage location and providing said credit card data to said RFID device;   a control interface connected to the processor, said processor and said control interface selectively controlling reading data from said credit card, selectively storing said credit card data in said read/write memory component and selectively controlling broadcast of said credit card data through said RFID device;   an input/output device connected to said processor, said input/output device communicating with a mobile electronic device and to transmit data to and receive data from the mobile electronic device; and   a memory card reader device connected to said processor, said processor selectively writing and reading credit card data and credit transaction data to and from said memory card reader device.   
     
     
         2 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said RFID device is a passive device. 
     
     
         3 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said RFID device is a semi-passive device. 
     
     
         4 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said RFID device is an active device. 
     
     
         5 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the read/write memory component is capable of simultaneously storing data for a plurality of credit cards. 
     
     
         6 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the read/write memory component is capable of simultaneously storing data for a plurality of credit cards. 
     
     
         7 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the read/write memory component is capable of simultaneously storing data for a plurality of credit cards. 
     
     
         8 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the read/write memory component is capable of simultaneously storing data for a plurality of credit cards. 
     
     
         9 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing is fabricated from an electromagnetic shielding material and said housing provides electromagnetic shielding to a credit card received within said cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said input/output device comprises a physical pin connector which engages with a complementary port on said mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said input/output device comprises a physical pin connector which engages with a complementary port on said mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The credit card reader apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said input/output device comprises a physical pin connector which engages with a complementary port on said mobile electronic device.