Card-to-smartglasses payment systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for card-to-smartglasses payment systems are provided. A smartglasses device may scan a payment card using a camera. The smartglasses device may identify card data elements from the payment card. The smartglasses device may initiate a transaction. The transaction may include the following components: a payer, a payee and a transaction amount. The payment card may be associated with the payer component of the transaction. As such, the card data elements may be included as the payer component of the transaction. The smartglasses may receive data from a third-party relating to the payee component of the transaction. The transaction amount may be inputted into the smartglasses as user input. The generated transaction may be transmitted to an entity for processing. Upon processing completion, the entity may transmit a notification to the smartglasses, to a device associated with the payment card and to a device associated with the payee.

Claims

1. A method for card-to-smartglasses communications, said method comprising: scanning a plurality of payment cards at a smartglasses device; retrieving a plurality of card data elements for each payment card, included in the plurality of payment cards, at a card data identification component within the smartglasses device; retrieving a plurality of payee data elements at the smartglasses device; receiving a transaction amount and a PIN for each card, included in the plurality of payment cards, at the smartglasses device; for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, linking the transaction amount and the PIN to the plurality of card data elements; for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, transmitting, via a wireless connectivity enabled on the smartglasses device by a nano wireless network interface card internal to the smartglasses device, the transaction amount and the PIN to an external card entity associated with the card, the external card entity being identified in the plurality of card data elements; for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, validating, via the wireless connectivity enabled on the smartglasses device by the nano wireless network interface card internal to the smartglasses device, the transaction amount and the PIN with the external card entity; upon receipt of the validation for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, aggregating, into an aggregated transaction payload, the plurality of card data elements linked to the transaction amount and PIN for each of the plurality of payment cards and the plurality of payee data elements; initiating a transaction by transmitting, via the wireless connectivity enabled on the smartglasses device by the nano wireless network interface card internal to the smartglasses device, the aggregated transaction payload to an entity; processing the transaction at the entity; and transmitting a transaction confirmation from the entity to the smartglasses, said transaction confirmation comprising one or more details relating to the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payee data elements comprise an account associated with the smartglasses device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is identified within the plurality of card data elements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is identified within the plurality of payee data elements.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the transaction confirmation to a device identified within the plurality of card data elements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the payee data elements are retrieved from an internal smartglasses memory location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the payee data elements are retrieved from the financial institution in response to transmitting a payee telephone number to the financial institution.

8. A smartglasses device comprising: a plurality of hardware components; and a plurality of software components; the plurality of hardware components comprising: a microprocessor, the microprocessor configured to provide processing capabilities to the plurality of hardware components and the plurality of software components; a touch screen, the touch screen configured to: display a plurality of software displays as instructed by the microprocessor; and receive user input; a scanner, the scanner is configured to capture a plurality of card photographs, said plurality of card photographs relating to a plurality of payment cards; a nano wireless network interface card, the nano wireless network interface card configured to establish communication with a wireless network; a battery, the battery is configured to power the microprocessor, the touch screen, the scanner and the nano wireless network interface card; the plurality of software components comprising: a card data identification module, the card data identification module configured to identify a plurality of card data elements from each captured card photograph included in the plurality of cards photographs, each plurality of card data elements relating to a card included in the plurality of payment cards; an information controller module, the information controller module configured to capture a transaction amount and a personal identification number (“PIN”) for each of the plurality of payment cards via the touch screen; a card data aggregation and validation module, the card data aggregation and validation module configured to: for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, link the transaction amount and the PIN to the card data elements; for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, transmit the transaction amount and the PIN to an external card entity associated with the card, the external card entity being identified in the plurality of card data elements; for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, validate the transaction amount and the PIN with the external card entity; upon receipt of the validation for each card included in the plurality of payment cards, aggregate, into an aggregated transaction payload, the card data elements linked to the transaction amount and PIN for each of the plurality of payment cards; a payee data identification module, the payee data identification module configured to identify a plurality of payee data elements, wherein the payee data identification module is instantiated upon conclusion of the card data identification by the card data identification module; a network controller module, the network controller module is configured to interface between the nano wireless network interface card and an external Wi-Fi device to provide wireless connectivity to the smartglasses device; a payment interface, the payment interface is configured to: receive wireless connectivity via the network controller module; receive processing capabilities from the microprocessor; receive the aggregated transaction payload; receive the plurality of payee data elements from the payee data identification module; communicate the payee data elements to an external entity to request a payee account number; receive a payee account number from the external entity; transmit the aggregated transaction payload to the external entity; and receive a transaction confirmation from the external entity.

9. The smartglasses device of claim 8, wherein the touch screen is a light emitting diode (“LED”) touch screen.

10. The smartglasses device of claim 8, wherein the touch screen is an organic light emitting diode (“OLED”) touch screen.

11. The smartglasses device of claim 8, wherein the user input is hand-gesture based user input.

12. The smartglasses device of claim 8, wherein the user input is touch-based user input.

13. The smartglasses device of claim 8, wherein the scanner comprises one or more cameras.

14. The smartglasses device of claim 8, wherein the payee data elements comprise a payee telephone number.

15. The smartglasses device of claim 8, wherein the payee data elements comprise a payee e-mail address.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an illustrative diagram in accordance with principles of the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 shows another illustrative diagram in accordance with principles of the disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 shows yet another illustrative diagram in accordance with principles of the disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 shows still another illustrative diagram in accordance with principles of the disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 shows yet another illustrative diagram in accordance with principles of the disclosure; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows still yet another illustrative diagram in accordance with principles of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

(8) Apparatus and methods for card-to-smartglasses payment systems are provided.

(9) A smartglasses device may include a plurality of hardware components. The smartglasses device may also include a plurality of software components.

(10) The hardware components may include a glasses frame. The glasses frame may enable the smartglasses to rest on a wearer's face. The hardware components may also include glasses lenses. The glasses lenses may correct the vision of the wearer.

(11) The hardware components may include a processor. The processor may be a microprocessor. The microprocessor may provide processing capabilities to the plurality of hardware components and the plurality of software components within the smartglasses.

(12) The hardware components may also include a nano touch screen. The nano touch screen may display a plurality of software displays as instructed by the microprocessor. The nano touch screen may also receive user input.

(13) The hardware components may also include a scanner. The scanner may include one or more cameras. The scanner may capture one or more card photographs. The one or more card photographs may relate to a payment card. The payment card may be a debit card, automated teller machine (“ATM”) card, credit card or any other suitable card. The one or more card photographs may relate to a plurality of payment cards.

(14) The hardware components may also include a nano wireless network interface card (“NIC”). A nano wireless NIC may be a circuit board and/or a chip, installed within the smartglasses, that enables the smartglasses to establish communication with a wireless network. The nano wireless NIC may support input/output (“I/O”), interrupt, direct memory access, interfaces, data transmission, network traffic engineering and/or partitioning.

(15) The nano wireless NIC may provide the smartglasses with a dedicated, full-time connection to a wireless network. The nano wireless NIC may provide the connection by implementing the physical layer circuitry necessary for communicating with a data link layer standard, such as Wi-Fi.

(16) The nano wireless NIC may operate as an intermediary between the smartglasses and a wireless network. For example, the processor may transmit a request to the nano wireless NIC. The nano wireless NIC may convert the request into electrical impulses. The electrical impulses may be transmitted to a web server. The web server may respond to the nano wireless NIC with additional electrical signals. The nano wireless NIC receives the additional electrical signals. The nano wireless NIC translates the additional electrical signals into data that is consumable by the microprocessor.

(17) The hardware components may also include a battery. The battery may power the microprocessor, the nano touch screen, the scanner and/or the nano wireless NIC.

(18) The plurality of software components may include a card data identification module. The card data identification module may identify a plurality of card data elements from the one or more captured card photographs. The plurality of card data elements may relate to the payment card(s).

(19) The software components may also include a payee data identification module. The payee data identification module may identify a plurality of payee data elements. The payee data identification module may be instantiated upon conclusion of the card data identification.

(20) The software components may also include an information controller module. The information controller module may capture a transaction amount and a PIN via the nano touch screen.

(21) The software components may also include a network controller module. The network controller module may interface between the nano wireless NIC and an external Wi-Fi device to provide wireless connectivity to the smartglasses device.

(22) The software components may also include a payment interface. The payment interface may receive wireless connectivity via the network controller module. The payment interface may receive processing capabilities from the microprocessor. The payment interface may receive the plurality of card data elements from the card data identification module. The payment interface may receive the plurality of payee data elements from the payee data identification module. The payment interface may receive the transaction amount and PIN from the information controller module.

(23) In the event that the payee data elements do not include a payee account number, the payment interface may communicate the payee data elements to an external entity to request a payee account number. The payee data elements may include a payee telephone number, payee e-mail address or any other suitable payee data elements.

(24) The payment interface may receive a payee account number from the external entity. Upon receipt of the payee account number from the external entity, the payment interface may generate a transaction record. The transaction record may include the card data elements, the transaction amount, the PIN and the payee account number.

(25) The payment interface may transmit the transaction record to the external entity. The payment interface may receive a transaction confirmation from the external entity.

(26) In some embodiments, multiple cards may be scanned and utilized for a single transaction. In such embodiments, the information controller module may capture a transaction amount and PIN for each of the plurality of payment cards. Also, in such embodiments, the software components may include a card data aggregation and validation module. The card data aggregation and validation module may link the transaction amount and the PIN to the card data elements for each card included in the plurality of payment cards.

(27) The card data aggregation and validation module may, for each card, transmit the transaction amount and the PIN to an external card entity associated with the card. The external card entity may be identified within the plurality of card data elements. The external card entity may also validate each transaction amount and PIN with the external card entity for each card. As such, the card data aggregation and validation module may for each card, authorize the transaction amount and the PIN with the card's respective financial institution prior to generating a transaction payload.

(28) Each external entity may transmit a validation and/or authorization communication to the card data aggregation and validation module. Upon receipt of validation and/or authorization from each of the external card entities, the card data aggregation and validation module may aggregate each of the plurality of card data elements, linked to the transaction amount and PIN, into an aggregated transaction payload.

(29) In such embodiments, the payment interface may receive the aggregated transaction payload. The payment interface may transmit the aggregated transaction payload to an external entity for processing. The external entity may be associated with the payee. The external entity may process the transaction identified in the transaction payload. The external entity may transmit a transaction confirmation to the smartglasses. The external entity may also transmit a transaction confirmation to a device associated with each of the cards. The device may be the card itself. The device may be any other suitable device.

(30) Apparatus and methods described herein are illustrative. Apparatus and methods in accordance with this disclosure will now be described in connection with the figures, which form a part hereof. The figures show illustrative features of apparatus and method steps in accordance with the principles of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, functional and procedural modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

(31) The steps of methods may be performed in an order other than the order shown or described herein. Embodiments may omit steps shown or described in connection with illustrative methods. Embodiments may include steps that are neither shown nor described in connection with illustrative methods.

(32) Illustrative method steps may be combined. For example, an illustrative method may include steps shown in connection with another illustrative method.

(33) Apparatus may omit features shown or described in connection with illustrative apparatus. Embodiments may include features that are neither shown nor described in connection with the illustrative apparatus. Features of illustrative apparatus may be combined. For example, an illustrative embodiment may include features shown in connection with another illustrative embodiment.

(34) FIG. 1 shows an illustrative diagram. User 102 may be wearing smartglasses 104. Smartglasses 104 may include a display. The display may be a nano LED touch screen display. Smartglasses 104 may include a scanning device, such as camera. The camera may capture a photograph of a payment card. The camera may be actuated by receiving an instruction from user 102. The camera may capture a photograph of the face and/or the back of the payment card. The camera may capture a short video clip of the payment card.

(35) In order to initiate a transaction, user 102 may initiate the capture of a photograph of the payment card. As such, smartglasses 104 may operate as a card reader. The captured photograph may be displayed on the display included in the smartglasses, as shown at 106. The captured photograph may be visible to user 102. The captured photograph may not be visible to others in the vicinity.

(36) FIG. 2 shows another illustrative diagram. User 202 may be wearing smartglasses 204. Smartglasses 204 may include a display. The display may be a nano LED touch screen display. Smartglasses 204 may include a scanning device, such as camera. The camera may capture one or more photographs of multiple payment cards. The camera may be actuated by receiving an instruction from user 202. The camera may capture a photograph of the face and/or the back of the payment cards. The camera may capture a short video clip of the payment cards.

(37) In some embodiments, the smartglasses camera may photograph each individual card separately. The smartglasses may execute a software application to aggregate the individually captured photographs into a single displayable screen. The smartglasses may display the single displayable screen. In certain embodiments, the camera may capture one photograph of multiple payment cards.

(38) User 202 may capture the photograph of the payment cards in order to utilize the payment cards to generate a transaction. Such an embodiment enables multiple cards to be used for a single transaction. This may be useful in the event that multiple payment cards are aggregated to complete a single payment.

(39) As such, smartglasses 204 may operate as a card reader. The captured photographs may be displayed on the display included in the smartglasses, as shown at 206, 208 and 210. The captured photographs may be visible to user 102. The captured photograph may not be visible to others in the vicinity.

(40) FIG. 3 shows an illustrative diagram. The illustrative diagram shows a card-to-smartglasses transaction. The card-to-smartglasses transaction may include one card and one smartglasses device.

(41) Smartglasses 302 may include the following components: network controller 304, scanner/camera component 306, card data identification component 308, payee identification and initiation component 310 and card payment interface 312.

(42) Network controller 304 may be a software module that interfaces between external Wi-Fi network 322 and a nano wireless NIC (not shown). As such, network controller 304 may provide wireless connectivity to smartglasses 302.

(43) Scanner/camera component 306 may capture a photograph of payment card 324. Scanner/camera component 306 may transmit the captured photograph to card data identification component 308.

(44) Card data identification component 308 may identify card data elements from the photograph. Such data elements may include a card number, a card holder name, an expiration date, a CVV code and any other suitable data elements. These data elements may be utilized in a payment transaction.

(45) Once the card data elements are identified, payee identification and payment initiation module 310 may be triggered. Payee identification and payment initiation module 310 may identify a payee account for the transaction. The payee account identification may be executed by retrieving payee information from a smartglasses memory. The payee account identification may be executed by communicating a payee alias to a payee financial institution; and receiving payee account information in response to the payee alias communication. The payee account identification may also be executed by receiving payee account details from a payee entity. The payee account identification may be executed by any other suitable method.

(46) Upon payee account identification, card payment interface 312 may communicate with external payment gateway 314. The communication may include transaction details, such as card data elements, payee account information and a transaction amount. Payment gateway 314 may transmit the transaction details to payment processor 316. Payment processor 316 may process the payment and transmit and settle the payment with financial institution 318. Financial institution 318 may transmit the funds to merchant 320, which may be the payee of the transaction.

(47) FIG. 4 shows an illustrative diagram. The illustrative diagram shows a multiple-card-to-smartglasses transaction. The multiple-card-to-smartglasses transaction may include more than one card and one smartglasses device.

(48) Smartglasses 402 may include the following components: network controller 404, scanner/camera component 406, multiple card data identification component 408, payee identification component 410, multi-part payment aggregation and initiation component 412 and card payment interface 414.

(49) Network controller 404 may be a software module that interfaces between external Wi-Fi network 430 and a nano wireless NIC (not shown). As such, network controller 404 may provide wireless connectivity to smartglasses 402.

(50) Scanner/camera component 406 may capture a photograph of payment cards 424, 426 and 428. Scanner/camera component 406 may transmit the captured photograph to multiple card data identification component 408.

(51) Multiple card data identification component 408 may identify card data elements from each photograph. Such data elements may include a card number, a card holder name, an expiration date, a CVV code and any other suitable data elements. These data elements may be utilized in a payment transaction.

(52) Once the card data elements for each card are identified, payee identification component 410 may be triggered. Payee identification component 410 may identify a payee account for the transaction. The payee account identification may be executed by retrieving payee information from a smartglasses memory. The payee account identification may be executed by communicating a payee alias to a payee financial institution; and receiving payee account information in response to the communication. The payee account identification may also be executed by receiving payee account details from a payee entity. The payee account identification may be executed by any other suitable method.

(53) Upon payee account identification, multi-part payment aggregation and initiation component 412 may aggregate the card data and initiate the payment transaction.

(54) Card payment interface 414 may communicate with external payment gateway 416. The communication may include transaction details, such as card data elements, payee account information and a transaction amount. Payment gateway 416 may transmit the transaction details to payment processor 418. Payment processor 418 may process the payment and transmit and settle the payment with financial institution 420. Financial institution 420 may transmit the funds to merchant 422, which may be the payee of the transaction.

(55) FIG. 5 shows an illustrative diagram. The illustrative diagram shows a card-to-smartglasses transaction. The card-to-smartglasses transaction may include one card and one smartglasses device.

(56) The illustrative diagram shows three lanes. A first lane, shown at 502, may include internal smartglasses software/firmware. The internal smartglasses software/firmware may include card data identification module 510, payee data identification module 512, payment interface 514, information controller module 508 and network controller module 516.

(57) A second lane, shown at 504, may include internal smartglasses hardware. The internal smartglasses hardware may include microprocessor 518, battery 520, scanner/camera 522, nano wireless network interface card 524 and nano LED touch screen 526.

(58) A third lane, shown at 506, may include external devices that communicate with the smartglasses. The external devices may include payee financial institution 528 and Wi-Fi device 530.

(59) Within the smartglasses, battery 520 may power microprocessor 518. Battery 520 may also power scanner/camera 522, nano wireless network interface card 524 and nano LED touch screen 526.

(60) Microprocessor 518 may provide processor capabilities to scanner/camera 522, nano wireless network interface card 524, nano LED touch screen 526 and network controller module 516.

(61) Scanner/camera 522 may capture a photograph of the card. Scanner/camera 522 may transmit the photograph to card data identification module 510.

(62) Card data identification module 510 may identify card data elements from the photograph. Card data identification module 510 may transmit the card data elements to payment interface 514. Card data identification module 510 may trigger the initiation of payee data identification module 512.

(63) Payee data identification module 512 may identify a payee for a transaction. Payee data identification module 512 may transmit the payee data to payment interface 514.

(64) Nano LED touch screen 526 may capture transaction amount and PIN data from the smartglasses user. Nano LED touch screen 516 may transmit the transaction amount and PIN data to information controller module 508. Information controller module 508 may receive the captured transaction amount and PIN data. Information controller module 508 may reformat the transaction amount and PIN. Information controller 508 may transmit the transaction amount and PIN to payment interface 514.

(65) Network controller module 516 may interface between nano wireless network interface card 514 and Wi-Fi device 530 to provide wireless connectivity to the smartglasses. Network controller 516 may provide wireless connectivity to payment interface 514.

(66) Payment interface 514 may communicate with payee financial institution 528. There may be multiple communications between payment interface 514 and financial institution 528. A first communication may include transmission of a payee alias and a request for a payee account number. Upon receipt of the payee account number, payment interface 514 may aggregate the received data, including card data, payee account number, transaction amount and PIN into an aggregated transaction payload.

(67) A second communication between payment interface 514 and financial institution 518 may include a request for processing of a payment transaction identified in the transaction payload. Upon completion of payment processing, payee financial institution 528 may also transmit a processing completion notification to payment interface 514.

(68) FIG. 6 shows an illustrative diagram. The illustrative diagram shows a multiple-card-to-smartglasses transaction. The multiple-card-to-smartglasses transaction may include more than one card and one smartglasses device.

(69) The illustrative diagram shows three lanes. A first lane, shown at 602, may include internal smartglasses software/firmware. The internal smartglasses software/firmware may include card data identification module 610, card data aggregation and validation module 612, payee data identification module 614, payment interface 616, information controller module 608 and network controller module 618.

(70) A second lane, shown at 604, may include internal smartglasses hardware. The internal smartglasses hardware may include microprocessor 620, battery 622, scanner/camera 624, nano wireless network interface card 626 and nano LED touch screen 628.

(71) A third lane, shown at 606, may include external devices that communicate with the smartglasses. The external devices may include card C financial institution 630, card B financial institution 632, card A financial institution 634, payee financial institution 636 and Wi-Fi device 638.

(72) Battery 622 may power microprocessor 620. Battery 622 may also power scanner/camera 624, nano wireless network interface card 626 and nano LED touch screen 628.

(73) Microprocessor 620 may provide processing capabilities to scanner/camera 624, nano wireless network interface card 626, nano LED touch screen 628 and network controller module 618.

(74) Scanner/camera 624 may capture one or more photographs of a plurality of payment cards. The plurality of payment cards may include card A, card B and card C. Scanner/camera 624 may transmit the photographs of card A, card B and card C to card data identification module 610.

(75) Card data identification module 610 may identify card data elements from the photographs of card A, card B and card C. Card data identification module 610 may transmit the card data elements to payment interface card data aggregation and validation module 612.

(76) Nano LED touch screen 628 may capture transaction amount and PIN data from the smartglasses user for card A, card B and card C. Nano LED touch screen 628 may transmit the transaction amount and PIN data to information controller module 608. Information controller module 608 may receive the captured transaction amounts and PIN data. Information controller module 608 may reformat the transaction amounts and PIN data. Information controller 608 may transmit the transaction amounts and PIN data to card data aggregation and validation module 612.

(77) Card data aggregation and validation module 612 may link each transaction amount and PIN to the appropriate card data elements. Card data aggregation and validation module 612 may communicate with each financial institution associated with each card. The financial institution data associated each card may be identified by each card's respective card data elements.

(78) Card data aggregation and validation module 612 may communicate with each financial institution, such as card C financial institution 630, card B financial institution 632 and card A financial institution 634. The communications between card data aggregation and validation module 612 and card C financial institution 630 may validate the transaction amount and PIN for card C. The communications between card data aggregation and validation module 612 and card B financial institution 632 may validate the transaction amount and PIN for card B. The communications between card data aggregation and validation module 612 and card A financial institution 634 may validate the transaction amount and PIN for card A.

(79) Once each transaction amount and PIN is validated for each card, Card data aggregation and validation module 612 may aggregate the card data elements, linked to the transaction amount and PIN, into a single transaction payload.

(80) Upon completion of the card data aggregation, card data aggregation and validation module 612 may trigger the initiation of payee data identification module 614.

(81) Payee data identification module 614 may identify a payee for a transaction. Payee data identification module 614 may retrieve payee data, such as a payee alias, from a nearby merchant point-of-sale system. Payee data identification module 614 may transmit the retrieved payee data to payment interface 616.

(82) Network controller module 618 may interface between nano wireless network interface card 626 and Wi-Fi device 638 to provide wireless connectivity to the smartglasses. Network controller module 618 may provide wireless connectivity to payment interface 616.

(83) Payment interface 616 may communicate with payee financial institution 636. There may be multiple communications between payment interface 616 and financial institution 636. A first communication may include transmission of a payee alias and a request for a payee account number. Once the payee account number is received at payment interface 616, payment interface 616 may aggregate the payee account number to the transaction payload.

(84) A second communication between the payment interface 616 and payee financial 636 may include a request for processing of a payment transaction identified by the transaction payload. The request may include the transaction payload. Payee financial institution 636 may also transmit a processing completion notification to payment interface 616.

(85) Thus, card-to-smartglasses payment systems are provided. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation. The present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.