US007967196B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Bierbaum et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,967,196 B1
`Jun. 28, 2011
`
`(54)
`
`ELECTRONICWALLET READY TO PAY
`TIMER
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Christopher J. Bierbaum, Overland
`Park, KS (US); Allison A. DiMartino,
`Overland Park, KS (US); Robert H.
`Miller, Leawood, KS (US); Elizabeth
`Roche, Prairie Village, KS (US); Jason
`Whitney, Lee's Summit, MO (US);
`Kevin Zhu, Overland Park, KS (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Sprint Communications Company
`L.P., Overland Park, KS (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 367 days.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 12/058,529
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 28, 2008
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`Int. C.
`(2006.01)
`G06K 5/00
`U.S. Cl. ......... 235/380: 235/375; 235/379; 235/492
`Field of Classification Search .................. 235/375,
`235/379,380, 492
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`160
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,590,038 A * 12/1996 Pitroda ........................... TO5/41
`6,076,075 A * 6/2000 Teicher ........................... TO5/41
`7,707,113 B1
`4/2010 DiMartino et al.
`2002/0025797 A1
`2/2002 Joao et al. ..................... 455,406
`2004/0072589 A1
`4/2004 Hamamura et al. ....... 455,550.1
`2004/0103063 A1* 5/2004 Takayama et al. .............. TO5/41
`2005/0177370 A1* 8/2005 Hwang et al. ...
`TO4,270
`2006/0189345 A1
`8/2006 Suzuki et al. .............. 455,550.1
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`DiMartino, Allison, "Method for Launching an Electronic Wallet.”
`filed Dec. 3, 2007, U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/949,759.
`DiMartino, Allison, "Method and System for Blocking Confidential
`Information at a Point-of-Sale Reader from Eavesdropping.” filed
`Sep. 27, 2007, U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/863,229.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — Daniel A Hess
`Assistant Examiner — Ali Sharifzada
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A mobile device having a time controlled electronic wallet is
`disclosed. The mobile device comprises a processor and an
`electronic wallet application that executes on the processor.
`The electronic wallet application enters a ready-to-pay mode,
`initiates a ready-to-pay timer when entering the ready-to-pay
`mode, transmits the confidential information when in the
`ready-to-pay mode based on receiving contactless communi
`cation, and leaves the ready-to-pay mode when the ready-to
`pay timer expires.
`13 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`Electronic wallet entering a ready-to-pay mode
`-164
`
`Start ready-to-pay timer
`
`1. -162
`
`1. t
`
`Reset
`ready-to-pay
`timer
`
`Yes
`
`66
`
`170
`
`Wallet
`leaving
`ready-to-pay
`mode?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Electronic wallet leaving ready-to-pay mode
`
`-174
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 28, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`100
`
`
`
`Payment
`Authorization
`
`Network
`Y-
`
`POS
`Terminal
`
`102
`
`138
`
`142
`
`Portable Electronic Device
`
`
`
`Ready-to
`pay Timer
`
`Contactless
`Communication
`Transceiver
`
`
`
`Debit
`Card
`
`Credit
`Card
`
`Transit
`Card
`
`120
`
`122
`
`124
`
`140
`
`110
`
`Gift
`Card
`
`130
`
`eWallet
`
`112
`
`114
`
`116
`
`F.G. 1
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 28, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 7.967,196 B1
`
`160
`
`Electronic wallet entering a ready-to-pay mode
`
`162
`
`Start ready-to-pay timer
`
`164
`
`168
`
`
`
`Reset
`ready-to-pay
`timer
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Wallet
`leaving
`ready-to-pay
`mode?
`
`Electronic wallet leaving ready-to-pay mode
`
`174
`
`FG, 2.
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 28, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`180
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`196
`
`Close electronic
`wallet
`
`Accumulate time2
`
`Reopen
`wallet
`
`
`
`Time2
`timeout
`
`197
`
`
`
`
`
`198
`
`Open electronic wallet
`
`Accumulate time1
`
`
`
`Payment
`Complete
`
`190
`
`No
`
`192
`
`Close
`electronic
`wallet
`
`FIG. 3
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 28, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 28, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`F.G. 5
`
`102
`N
`
`MICROPHONE
`512
`EARPIECE SPKR
`514
`56-58IOMETRIC SENSOR
`
`ANTENNA & FRONT END
`506
`RF TRANSCEIVER
`508
`
`SEBAN
`ANALOG BASEBAND
`PROCESSING
`
`510
`DSP
`
`504-5 MEMORY
`520
`VIBRATOR
`522-VIBRATOR
`524-NFRARED
`526- ACCELEROMETER
`528-s KEYPAD
`
`I/O
`FC
`
`502
`CAMERA
`TOUCH SCREEN/
`LCD CONTROLLER CONTROLLER 538
`532
`536
`TOUCHSCREEN LCD CCD CAMERA
`518 - 530
`534
`
`
`
`
`
`APPLICATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES
`OPERATING SYSTEM (DRIVERS)
`
`
`
`
`
`?
`1
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 28, 2011
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`380
`
`y
`
`390
`
`388
`
`
`
`384
`
`Secondary
`Storage
`
`382
`
`FG. 7
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 7 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`1.
`ELECTRONICWALLET READY TO PAY
`TIMER
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`None.
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY
`SPONSORED RESEARCH ORDEVELOPMENT
`
`Not applicable.
`
`REFERENCE TO AMICROFICHEAPPENDIX
`
`Not applicable.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`2
`ing the payment transaction messages, if the electronic wallet
`is in the ready-to-pay electronic wallet mode of operation.
`A method of reducing identity theft is provided. The
`method comprises opening an electronic wallet and transmit
`ting payment information from the electronic wallet to com
`plete an authorized purchase transaction. The method also
`comprises accumulating time based on opening the electronic
`wallet and closing the electronic wallet after the accumulating
`time exceeds a first limit.
`These and other features will be more clearly understood
`from the following detailed description taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings and claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a more complete understanding of the present disclo
`sure, reference is now made to the following brief description,
`taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and
`detailed description, wherein like reference numerals repre
`sent like parts.
`FIG. 1 is an illustration of an electronic payment system
`according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for using an electronic
`wallet ready-to-pay timer according to an embodiment of the
`disclosure.
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart of another method for using an
`electronic wallet ready-to-pay timer according to an embodi
`ment of the disclosure.
`FIG. 4 is an illustration of a portable electronic device
`according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
`FIG. 5 is an illustration of a block diagram of a portable
`electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclo
`SUC.
`FIG. 6 is an illustration of a block diagram of a software
`architecture of a portable electronic device according to an
`embodiment of the disclosure.
`FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary general purpose
`computer system suitable for implementing some aspects of
`the several embodiments of the disclosure.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`It should be understood at the outset that although illustra
`tive implementations of one or more embodiments are illus
`trated below, the disclosed systems and methods may be
`implemented using any number of techniques, whether cur
`rently known or in existence. The disclosure should in no way
`be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and
`techniques illustrated below, but may be modified within the
`Scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of
`equivalents.
`In an embodiment, various timer-based features for con
`trolling the access to confidential information stored in an
`electronic wallet are disclosed. When a user of an electronic
`wallet approaches a point-of-sale terminal, the user may pre
`pare the electronic wallet to make it ready for releasing pay
`ment information, so as to reduce their waiting time and the
`waiting time of others in line behind the user. In addition to
`payment information Such as credit card account numbers,
`personal identification numbers, transit card numbers, and
`others, the electronic wallet may store other sensitive infor
`mation Such as vehicle electronic access codes, building elec
`tronic access codes, and other electronic information. All of
`this sensitive information may be referred to generally as
`confidential information. When the electronic wallet is ready
`for releasing the payment information, the confidential infor
`mation contained by the electronic wallet may be more vul
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`A variety of alternatives to using cash may be used for
`paying for goods and services. Credit cards, debit cards, and
`Smart cards may be used to pay for grocery purchases, retail
`purchases, gasoline purchases, restaurant purchases, etc.
`Transit cards may be used to purchase a ride on a mass
`transportation vehicle Such as a bus or a Subway train. Toll
`payment devices, sometimes referred to as toll tags, may be
`used to pay tolls without stopping or slowing down at a toll
`booth, and/or pay for parking fees at airports. The ease with
`which these payment cards may be stolen and used for pur
`chases of goods and services by someone other than the card
`holder or authorized proxies of the card holder, which may
`also be referred to as identity theft, makes payment card
`security an important Subject.
`A portable electronic device may include an electronic
`wallet application, also referred to as an eWallet, that pro
`vides a variety of financial and payment capabilities. The
`electronic wallet application Supports paying for products or
`services with the portable electronic device in much the same
`way as presenting a credit card, a debit card, a Smart card, a
`transit card, or a toll tag for payment. The portable electronic
`device may communicate with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal
`using contactless communication means, for example near
`field communication (NFC) technology, to provide the appro
`priate financial information to complete a payment transac
`tion.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`A mobile device having a time controlled electronic wallet
`is provided. The mobile device comprises a processor and an
`electronic wallet application that executes on the processor.
`The electronic wallet application enters a ready-to-pay mode,
`initiates a ready-to-pay timer when entering the ready-to-pay
`mode, transmits the confidential information when in the
`ready-to-pay mode based on receiving contactless communi
`cation, and leaves the ready-to-pay mode when the ready-to
`pay timer expires.
`A method of completing a payment from an electronic
`wallet is provided. The method comprises the electronic wal
`let entering a ready-to-pay electronic wallet mode of opera
`tion and starting a ready-to-pay timer, based on entering the
`ready-to-pay electronic wallet mode of operation. The
`method also comprises the electronic wallet leaving the
`ready-to-pay electronic wallet mode of operation when the
`ready-to-pay timer expires. The method also comprises the
`electronic wallet receiving payment transaction messages
`and transmitting payment information in response to receiv
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 8 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`3
`nerable to identity theft. In an embodiment, a ready-to-pay
`timer is initialized when the electronic wallet is made ready
`for releasing the confidential information, for example when
`the electronic wallet is launched and opened for payment. The
`ready-to-pay timer tracks the passage of time, and after a
`short passage of time, if the electronic wallet has not yet been
`closed, the ready-to-pay timer causes the electronic wallet to
`close. This functionality may reduce the vulnerability of the
`electronic wallet to identity theft of the confidential informa
`tion when the user forgets to close the electronic wallet after
`completing a payment transaction. Robust security features
`Such as the time-out function may promote the more rapid
`adoption of the electronic wallet paradigm by the general
`public. In some embodiments the ready-to-pay timer is only
`responsible for tracking the passage of time and some other
`application or component is responsible for causing the elec
`tronic wallet to close, for example in response to a time-out
`message from the ready-to-pay timer.
`Several extensions of the basic electronic wallet time-out
`function are contemplated by the present disclosure. The time
`remaining until expiration of the ready-to-pay timer and the
`closing of the electronic wallet may be displayed on the
`portable electronic device containing the electronic wallet. A
`first soft key of the device containing the electronic wallet
`may be activated to reset the ready-to-pay timer, for example
`extending the time-out interval by an additional increment of
`time. This also may be referred to in some contexts as extend
`ing the ready-to-pay timer for a pre-determined time duration.
`In another embodiment, the ready-to-pay time may be
`extended for the pre-determined time duration by activating
`another input mechanism, for example by activating a physi
`cal key or button, or some other input mechanism provided by
`the mobile device. The device may alert the user to the
`approaching expiration of the ready-to-pay timer, for
`example with audible alerts, vibration alerts, and/or visible
`alerts. In some contexts, these alerts may be referred to as
`cues, for example, an audible cue, a vibration cue, and a
`visible cue. The frequency or duty cycle of alerts may change
`progressively as the expiration of the ready-to-pay timer gets
`closer and closer. As is known to one skilled in the art, a soft
`key may be a button or key located proximate a display that
`selects or triggers a function dependent on the text or other
`indication shown in the display at the time the soft key is
`activated. In some contexts herein, the concept of the soft key
`may be extended to also include a key having a programmable
`function, for example a key that may or may not be located
`proximate to the display and that has a function programmed
`by an application of a device. In some contexts herein, the
`function of soft keys may differ based on an operational mode
`of an application. All of these related concepts are contem
`plated herein when using the term Soft key.
`A second soft key of the device containing the electronic
`wallet may allow the user to circumvent the ready-to-pay
`timer and close the electronic wallet on activation of the
`second soft key. Similarly, the device may circumvent the
`ready-to-pay timer and close the electronic wallet in response
`to receiving a payment complete message from a point-of
`sale terminal. In an embodiment, a second timer may be
`activated when the electronic wallet is closed, for example
`automatically on completion of a payment or manually by
`selecting the second soft key. While the second timer has not
`expired, the user may re-launch and/or reopen the electronic
`wallet by activating a third soft key or other simple activation
`procedure. Re-launching and/or reopening the electronic
`wallet in this way may be referred to, in Some contexts, as
`reawakening the electronic wallet and the second timer, in
`Some contexts, may be referred to as the reawaken timer. This
`
`4
`feature may support the convenience of quickly reopening the
`electronic wallet for payment at a checkout line when the
`consumer has forgotten to check or scan a retail item, for
`example a case of soft drinks overlooked in the bottom rack of
`a shopping cart. This feature may promote rapid reopening of
`the electronic wallet, for example, by Scaling back customary
`authentication procedures by skipping one or more steps and/
`or by relying upon temporarily stored data from recent opera
`tions, for example data provided by a user of the electronic
`wallet and/or the point-of-sale terminal.
`The ready-to-pay timer and the reawaken timer may be
`user configurable. Alternatively these timers may adopt to the
`time of day, the contents of a shopping cart, the retail location,
`and other contextual cues. In an embodiment, the default
`ready-to-pay timer may expire after about two minutes, but in
`other embodiments other expiration durations may be
`employed.
`Turning now to FIG. 1, an electronic payment system 100
`for completing payment transactions according to an embodi
`ment of this disclosure is discussed. The system 100 com
`prises a portable electronic device 102, a point-of-sale (POS)
`terminal 104, a payment authorization center 106, and a net
`work 108. In some contexts, the portable electronic device
`102 may be referred to as a mobile device. A payment for a
`product or service may be made electronically by the portable
`electronic device 102 through contactless communication
`with the POS terminal 104, for example by communicating
`payment information Such as a credit card number or a transit
`card account number. In an embodiment, the portable elec
`tronic device 102 may comprise a contactless communication
`transceiver 138 that the portable electronic device 102 uses to
`communicate with the POS terminal 104 and/or with other
`external devices. The information communicated from the
`portable electronic device 102 to the POS terminal 104 may
`include a personal identification number (PIN) and/or other
`authentication information or tokens. The information com
`municated to the POS terminal 104 may also include coupon
`information and/or customer loyalty information. For pur
`poses of the present disclosure, contactless communication is
`intended to include a wide variety of communication means
`including near field communication (NEC) technology, infra
`red, ultra-Sonic, optical, radio frequency, wireless, Bluetooth,
`Wi-Fi, and other communication links that do not involve
`direct physical contact. In an embodiment, the POS terminal
`104 completes the payment transaction by handshaking with
`the payment authorization center 106, communicating with
`the payment authorization center 106 through the network
`108. In another embodiment, the POS terminal 104 completes
`the payment transaction without communicating with the
`payment authorization center 106, for example when the pay
`ment information for a debit card is provided by the portable
`electronic device 102. The completion of a payment transac
`tion by an authorized user of the portable electronic device
`102, for example in a process similar to that described above,
`may be referred to as an authorized payment transaction.
`The POS terminal 104 may be embodied as a general
`purpose computer system, to be discussed in greater detail
`hereinafter. The POS terminal 104 communicates via contact
`less communication with the portable electronic device 102.
`The POS terminal 104 may be connected to databases or
`networked to servers (not shown) which provide product and
`service pricing information, including any discounting asso
`ciated with a loyalty card and/or product coupons. In an
`embodiment, the POS terminal 104 may include a device for
`scanning a product, for example a bar code reader or radio
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 9 of 16
`
`

`

`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`5
`frequency identification (RFID) reader, to identify a product
`and to add the associated cost to an accumulating purchase
`total.
`The payment authorization center 106 may authenticate
`and authorize charges to a credit card Such as VISA card,
`AMERICANEXPRESS card, MASTERCARD card, DIS
`COVER card, gasoline company card, or other credit card.
`The authorization handshake may require transmission of
`account identification, for example an account number or a
`credit card number. Additionally, the authorization hand
`shake may require further authentication information Such as
`a personal identification number (PIN), a driver's license
`number, a security code associated with the credit card, or
`other authentication information. If the payment authoriza
`tion center 106 approves the transaction, the payment autho
`rization center 106 charges the appropriate account in the
`amount of the transaction and sends payment approval. The
`payment authorization center 106 may be implemented as a
`general purpose computer system.
`The network 108 may be any of a public switched tele
`phone network (PSTN), a public data network (PDN), or a
`combination thereof.
`The portable electronic device 102 may be any of a variety
`of devices including but not limited to a mobile phone, a
`personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet
`computer, or other portable electronic device. In an embodi
`ment, the portable electronic device 102 may have a screen
`size reduced to a maximum of about four inches by about six
`inches (a maximum of about ten centimeters by about fifteen
`centimeters). In some contexts herein, this may be referred to
`as a portable electronic device having a reduced screen size.
`An exemplary embodiment of a handset suitable to imple
`menting several embodiments of this disclosure, for example
`a mobile phone and a PDA, is discussed in detail hereinafter.
`The portable electronic device 102 includes one or more
`applications 116 that provide services and functionality to a
`user, such as a mobile phone subscriber or a PDA user. These
`applications 116 may include, but are not limited to, a mobile
`telephone service, an electronic wallet, an email service, an
`address book, a contacts list, a spreadsheet, a scheduler, a
`virtual private network (VPN) portal, a web browser, and
`other applications. In an embodiment, these applications 116
`may be launched or activated or started by a number of meth
`ods. When an application 116 is inactive or not yet launched,
`accessing the functionality of the application 116 may
`45
`involve first loading at least portions of the application 116
`into a memory area that is more accessible or more rapidly
`accessible to a processor 140 of the portable electronic device
`102. In an embodiment, this process of loading at least por
`tions of the application 116 into the memory area accessible
`to the processor 140 is what is referred to in the expression
`launching or activating the application 116.
`An electronic wallet application, also referred to as an
`eWallet, provides a variety of financial and payment capabili
`ties. The electronic wallet application Supports paying for
`products or services with the portable electronic device 102 in
`much the same way as presenting a credit card, a debit card,
`a transit card, a gift card, and/or a coupon for payment.
`Additionally, the electronic wallet application may promote
`paying from a payment account.
`In an embodiment the portable electronic device 102
`includes a plurality of electronic wallets, for example a first
`electronic wallet 110, a second electronic wallet 112, and a
`third electronic wallet 114. Each of the several electronic
`wallets 110, 112, and 114 may be associated with different
`members of a family, for example a father, a mother, and a
`child. Alternatively, each of the several electronic wallets
`
`55
`
`6
`110, 112, and 114 may be associated with different employ
`ees of a business firm. Alternatively, each of the electronic
`wallets 110, 112, 114 may be associated with different roles
`of an individual, for example a personal wallet, a business
`wallet, and a social organization wallet. The individual may
`use the personal wallet for buying a birthday gift for a spouse,
`use the business wallet to pay for business related expenses,
`and use the Social organization wallet to pay for food for a
`group campout. In an embodiment, the electronic wallet
`launching input sequence may select one of the electronic
`wallets 110, 112,114. In another embodiment, the electronic
`wallet launching sequence may trigger the display to show a
`selector, for example a dialog box or window, to select one of
`the electronic wallets 110, 112, 114.
`In an embodiment, the first electronic wallet 110 includes
`one or more debit cards 120, credit cards 122, transit cards
`124, loyalty cards 126, product coupons 128, and gift cards
`130. A loyalty card 126 may be used by a retail store, for
`example a grocery store, to link or associate a purchase ses
`sion with a customer, perhaps for the purposes of conducting
`marketing research, customer purchasing behavior research,
`etc. A gift card 130 may be a debit card issued by a specific
`store or business, for example a book store gift card or a
`restaurant gift card. In an embodiment, when the first elec
`tronic wallet 110 is launched all of the payment information
`contained by the electronic wallet, including the debit cards
`120, the credit cards 122, the transit cards 124, the loyalty
`cards 126, the product coupons 128, and the gift cards 130
`become immediately accessible. In another embodiment, at
`least some of the payment information is protected, for
`example requiring the designation of a PIN to make one of the
`credit cards 122 accessible. In an embodiment, accessibility
`of the debit cards 120, the credit cards 122, the transit cards
`124, the loyalty cards 126, the product coupons 128, and the
`gift cards 130 is configurable on the device 102 by a user.
`In an embodiment, the portable electronic device 102 has a
`ready-to-pay timer 142. The ready-to-pay timer 142 may be
`one of several hardware timers built into the portable elec
`tronic device 102 that may be used for various purposes by
`applications that execute on the portable electronic device
`102. Alternatively, the ready-to-pay timer 142 may be a soft
`ware component, for example a software component of the
`first electronic wallet 110, that may be implemented by stor
`ing an initial time referenced to a clock time or system time
`known to the portable electronic device 102 and determining
`a run time of the timer by comparing the system time to the
`stored initial time. One skilled in the art, in combination with
`the present disclosure, may readily implement the ready-to
`pay timer 142 in a variety of well known ways.
`For additional details about systems and methods of
`launching electronic wallets, providing an interface based on
`different levels of electronic wallet security, and protecting
`the disclosure of confidential information by an electronic
`wallet see pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 1 1/949,
`759 filed Dec. 3, 2007, titled “Method for Launching an
`Electronic Wallet” by DiMartino et al; U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 1 1/863,632 filed Sep. 28, 2007, titled “Method and
`System for Setting Levels of Electronic Wallet Security” by
`DiMartino et al; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 1 1/863,
`229 filed Sep. 27, 2007, titled “Method and System for Block
`ing Confidential Information at a Point-of-Sale Reader From
`Eavesdropping by DiMartino et al, all of which are incorpo
`rated by reference herein for all purposes.
`The ready-to-pay timer 142 may be used to implement a
`security feature to help protect the confidential information
`contained in the electronic wallets 110, 112, and 114 and/or
`the applications 116 from identity theft. For example, when
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`APPL-1010
`APPLE INC. / Page 10 of 16
`
`

`

`7
`the first wallet 110 has been opened and a payment card has
`been selected for payment, the ready-to-pay timer 142 can be
`used by the first electronic wallet 110 to automatically close
`after the ready-to-pay timer 142 marks the passage of a lim
`ited period of time. Another way of saying this is the first
`electronic wallet 110 may be configured or programmed to
`close after the ready-to-pay timer 142 exceeds a time thresh
`old, a time limit, or simply a limit. For example, the first
`electronic wallet 110 may close automatically after about 1
`minute of elapsed time, after 2 minutes of elapsed time, after
`about 4 minutes of elapsed time, or after some other period of
`time. This may be referred to as an open wallet time-out or a
`time-out feature. In an embodiment, all of the electronic
`wallets 110, 112, and 114 may be protected with the time-out
`function; in another embodiment, selected ones of the elec
`tronic wallets 110, 112, and 114 may be protected with the
`time-out functions while the other electronic wallets are not
`protected with the time-out function.
`In an embodiment, the portable electronic device 102 may
`promote a user configuring the open wallet time-out time
`interval, time threshold, or time limit. In an embodiment, the
`open wallet time-out time interval may be adaptable based on
`a context of wallet use. For example, the open wallet time-out
`time interval may adopt based on a time of day and a day of
`the week. For example, the open wallet time-out time interval
`may be less during mid-day on a Wednesday, based on the
`expectation that shopper flow through at the point-of-sale
`terminal 104 is normally smooth and consistent at mid-day.
`Alternatively, the open wallet time-out time interval may be
`longer at 3 PM on a Saturday based on the expectation that
`shopper flow through at the point-of-sale terminal 104 may be
`less smooth and consistent at that time, as shopper volumes
`increase and check-out anomalies increase. The open wallet
`time-out time interval may be adaptable based on identity of
`the retail location in which the point-of-sale terminal 104 is
`35
`located. The open wallet time-out time interval may be adapt
`able based on a Volume or number of products in a shopping
`cart associated with the portable electronic device 102. Still
`other context cues may be used to adopt the open wallet
`time-out interval of the portable electronic device 102.
`40
`In an embodiment, an indication of the passage of time of
`the ready-to-pay timer 142 is displayed on a display of the
`portable electronic device 102. For example, the remaining
`seconds to open wallet time-out may be displayed. Alterna
`tively, the accumulated time since the electronic wallet 110
`was opened may be displayed. Displaying accumulated time
`may have the disadvantage that the user must be aware of the
`time-out interval and mentally calculate remaining time to
`time-out. At the same time, displaying accumulated time may
`have the advantage of preventing an identity thief from antici
`pating when the first electronic wallet 110 may close based
`only on observing the display of accumulated time.
`In an embodiment, an alert of the approach of the expira
`tion of the open wallet time-out time interval may be provided
`by the portable electronic device 102. For example, when 15
`seconds remain before the expiration of the open wallet time
`out interval, the portable electronic device 102 may begin
`Sounding an audible alert every 2 seconds. Alternatively,
`when 15 seconds remain before the expiration of the open
`wallet time-out interval, the portable electronic device 102
`may sound a first audible alert for 5 seconds, a second audible
`alert for 5 seconds, and a third audible alert tone for the final
`5 seconds, each different audible alert associated with a
`higher concern level. In an embodiment, the audible alert may
`pulse on and off at a low frequency initially and increase the
`rate of on and off pulsing as the expiration of the open wallet
`time-out interval approaches more closely. In an embodi
`
`50
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 7,967,196 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`8
`ment, the portable electronic device 102 may alert the user of
`the approaching expiration of the open wallet time-out inter
`val by vibrating. As above, the device may alternate between
`vibrating and not vibrating at different cycle rates as the
`expiration of the open wallet time-out interval approaches
`more closely. Other alert mechanisms may be employed,
`including a visual alert and others. In some contexts, the
`audible alert, the vibration alert, the visual alert, and other
`alerts also may be referred to as cues, for example an audible
`cue, a vibration cue, and a visible cue. A variety of alert time
`periods are contemplated by this disclosure. In an embodi
`ment, the time thresholds of the alert function is configurable
`by the user.
`In an embodiment, a soft key or a dedicated function key of
`the device 102 may promote the user extending the open
`wallet time-out interval or resetting the initial time of the
`ready-to-pay timer 142. A Soft key may be a key whose
`function can change based on an operation mode of the por
`table electronic device 102. The current function of a soft key
`may be indicated on the key itself or in a portion of a display
`of the portable electronic device 102 proximate the soft key.
`As an example, the user may see that check-out of the cus
`tomer ahead of them in the check-out line is taking longer
`than a