Systems and methods for a mobile electronic wallet

Abstract

Physical cards may be presented to a mobile device to establish a contactless communication channel between the physical card and the mobile device. Information communicated by the physical card may be received, stored, and used by the mobile device to generate a mobile wallet of virtual cards. Each virtual card in a mobile wallet may, for example, look just like its physical counterpart card and may provide equivalent functionality as its physical counterpart card when selected for use by the mobile device. Virtual cards may be sorted within the mobile wallet based on card category (e.g., payment, identification, or gift card category), card attributes (associations with other virtual cards), card variables (e.g., credit limit or credit available), and user attributes and variables (e.g., the user's current location). Information related to a virtual card (e.g., receipts) may be viewed from a display of the mobile device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a mobile device operable to
 receive information from one or more physical payment cards via a contactless communication channel, 
 create a mobile wallet of virtual cards within a memory of the mobile device from the received information, and
 select one of the virtual cards to complete a purchase transaction. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is a laptop. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is a PDA. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is a phone. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is an MP3 device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is a GPS device. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the physical card is a non-powered card. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the physical card is a powered card. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the contactless communication channel is an RFID communication channel. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is operable to receive the information within a proximity distance of up to two inches from the physical card. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said mobile device includes a display, and
 the mobile device is operable to receive a series of simulated touches from the physical card to establish at least a portion of the contactless communication channel.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is operable to communicate an optical data stream to the physical card to establish at least a portion of the contactless communication channel. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is operable to establish the contactless communication channel upon receiving a PIN associated with the physical card to authorize the received information. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the received information is manual input received by the physical card. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the received information includes payment information associated with a first payment account selected by pressing a first button of the physical card. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the virtual cards include gift cards. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device includes a display operable to display a graphical user interface usable to modify a visual appearance of the virtual cards. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is operable to use the communicated information to create a visual appearance of the virtual cards as displayed by the mobile device. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device includes a display, and
 the mobile device is operable to sort the virtual cards onto the display based on manual input selection received by a graphical user interface of the mobile device.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is operable to establish a second contactless communication channel between the mobile device and a merchant terminal, and communicate payment information associated with the selected virtual card to the merchant terminal via the second contactless communication channel to complete the purchase transaction.