(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2009/0037326 A1
`Chitti et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Feb. 5, 2009
`
`US 20090037326A1
`
`(54) VIRTUAL CARD SELECTOR FORA
`PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
`
`(76) Inventors:
`
`Sriram Chitti, Gurnee, IL (US);
`Greg R. Black, Vernon Hills, IL
`(US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`PHILIP H. BURRUS, IV
`460 Grant Street
`Atlanta, GA 30312 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`12/040,709
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Feb. 29, 2008
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/952,660, filed on Jul.
`30, 2007.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3/048
`(2006.01)
`G06O 20/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................ 705/39; 715/839; 715/812
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A portable electronic device (100), such as a mobile tele
`phone, portable computer, personal digital assistant, or other
`similar device, is equipped with a virtual card application
`(101) configured to manage a plurality of virtual cards (106.
`107.108,109). Such virtual cards (106.107.108,109) are used
`in financial and other transactions by way of a wireless near
`field transceiver (114) and a near-field communication termi
`nal, such as a payment terminal (115). To provide a user with
`a seamless, less complex virtual card selection process, an
`arranger module (102) is configured to determine a priority
`associated with each of the virtual cards (106.107.108,109).
`The priority may be determined from location, schedule,
`calendar, user input, or other means. Once the priority is
`determined, the virtual card with the foremost priority is
`advanced as a top of the wallet card (111). The top of the
`wallet card (111), in one embodiment, is the default card for
`use in the transaction.
`
`106
`
`107
`
`108
`
`109
`
`Wirtua Card 1
`
`Virtual Card 2
`
`Virtual Card 3
`
`Wirtual Card 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`116
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`115
`
`
`
`101
`
`
`
`Virtual Card App
`...manage cards
`...permit Selection
`...track usage
`...record x-action
`
`12
`Presenter -1
`...present wallet
`...present cards on display
`
`Arranger Module
`...determine priority Y
`...examine location 102
`...last usage
`...external device
`
`Calendar App -
`...schedule events 113
`...record events
`
`117
`
`- Proximity Payment Module
`...execute financial transactions
`...execute other transactions
`...record financial data
`...record x-action data
`
`
`
`
`
`location Detection
`...read external objects
`...acceSS usage hStory
`
`APPL-1006
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 17
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 1 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`• • • •~~ ~ --- ___
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`9 l l
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`9 1 1
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`60 ?
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 2 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`200
`
`
`
`
`
`201
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`202
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`2O3
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`204
`
`FIG. 2
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 3 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`
`
`201
`
`Determine Location
`
`301
`
`Determine
`Transaction -
`Location Metric
`
`Select Most Likely
`Card For Use
`
`Assign Foremost
`Priority
`
`FIG. 3
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`APPL-1006
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 4 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`
`
`2O1
`S-
`
`Access Usage
`History
`
`Determine Which
`Used
`
`Assign Foremost
`Priority/Move to Top
`of Wallet
`
`APPL-1006
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 5 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`501
`
`503
`
`504
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`Access Scheduler
`
`Access Usage
`History
`
`Determine
`Probability of Usage
`
`ASSign
`Corresponding
`Priority
`
`
`
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`
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`FIG. 5
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`APPL-1006
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 6 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`ACCess Scheduler
`
`
`
`
`
`Determine Activity
`
`
`
`
`
`Determine
`ASSociated Card
`
`Assign Foremost
`Priority
`
`602
`
`603
`
`604
`
`FIG. 6
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`APPL-1006
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 7 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`201
`S-
`
`Detect External
`Object
`
`
`
`701
`
`702
`
`703
`
`704
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`Read Information
`
`Select Card
`
`
`
`
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`Assign Foremost
`Priority
`
`FIG. 7
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`APPL-1006
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 8 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`to
`
`
`
`Select Default
`
`801
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`Assign Top of Wallet
`Priority
`
`FIG. 8
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`APPL-1006
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 9 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`O
`O
`Vis
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`
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`s
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`APPL-1006
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Feb. 5, 2009 Sheet 10 of 10
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`0J (9 IAI
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`
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`pueO p??e?OOSS\/
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`000 ||
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`APPL-1006
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`US 2009/0037326 A1
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`Feb. 5, 2009
`
`VIRTUAL CARD SELECTOR FOR A
`PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIORAPPLICATIONS
`0001. This application claims priority and benefit under 35
`U.S.C. S 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No.
`60/952,660, filed Jul. 30, 2007.
`
`BACKGROUND
`0002 1. Technical Field
`0003. This invention relates generally to virtual cards
`stored in a portable electronic device, and more specifically to
`a method and apparatus for arranging or selecting virtual
`cards stored within an electronic wallet.
`0004 2. Background Art
`0005. Due to rapidly advancing technology, paying for
`goods and services is becoming faster and more effortless.
`Not long ago, when a person wanted to purchase goods or
`services, they had to physically hand cash or a hand-written
`check to a cashier. The advent of magnetic striped credit cards
`simplified this process, as a person was able to 'Swipe' a
`credit card having a magnetic strip through a payment termi
`nal in lieu of giving cash or a check to a cashier.
`0006. The advent of radio frequency “contactless’ com
`munication technology simplified the process even further.
`With contactless technology, rather than having to Swipe a
`plastic card having an easily damaged magnetic strip through
`a narrow slot, a person is able to simply wave a card or key fob
`equipped with a hidden embedded computer chip and radio
`frequency antennae within an inch or two of a reader. Infor
`mation, such as account number, expiration date, and account
`holder, is then transferred wirelessly to a reader to complete
`the financial transaction. When using Such technology, to
`make the process even simpler, many merchants require no
`signature or personal identification number for Small pur
`chases, such as those less than twenty-five dollars.
`0007 Even with contactless technology, making pur
`chases can be still somewhat cumbersome. For instance,
`when a user has multiple contactless-enabled cards in a wal
`let, the specific card to be used must be removed from the
`wallet and passed over the reader. Similarly, for the person
`who prefers key fobs, when that person carries multiple key
`fobs, the specific one used to make a purchase must be sepa
`rated from the collection and passed over the reader.
`0008. There is thus a need for an improved system and
`method of executing electronic transactions.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0009 FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a portable
`electronic device having a virtual wallet and virtual card
`Sorter in accordance with the invention.
`0010 FIG. 2 illustrates one method of sorting virtual cards
`in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
`0011
`FIG. 3 illustrates one method of determining a pri
`ority associated with virtual cards in accordance with
`embodiments of the invention.
`0012 FIG. 4 illustrates another method of determining a
`priority associated with virtual cards in accordance with
`embodiments of the invention.
`0013 FIG. 5 illustrates another method of determining a
`priority associated with virtual cards in accordance with
`embodiments of the invention.
`
`0014 FIG. 6 illustrates another method of determining a
`priority associated with virtual cards in accordance with
`embodiments of the invention.
`0015 FIG. 7 illustrates another method of determining a
`priority associated with virtual cards in accordance with
`embodiments of the invention.
`0016 FIG. 8 illustrates one method for assigning a priority
`value to virtual cards in accordance with embodiments of the
`invention.
`0017 FIG. 9 illustrates an electronic device in accordance
`with embodiments of the invention detecting and reading an
`external object by way of a wireless near-field transceiver.
`0018 FIG. 10 illustrates a scheduling assignment of a
`default virtual card corresponding to a predetermined or his
`torical schedule in accordance with embodiments of the
`invention.
`0019 Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the
`figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not
`necessarily been drawn to Scale. For example, the dimensions
`of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated
`relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of
`embodiments of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`0020. Before describing in detail embodiments that are in
`accordance with the present invention, it should be observed
`that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of
`method steps and apparatus components related to selecting a
`“top of the wallet' virtual card from a plurality of virtual
`cards. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method
`steps have been represented where appropriate by conven
`tional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific
`details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of
`the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with
`details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill
`in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
`0021. It will be appreciated that embodiments of the
`invention described herein may be comprised of one or more
`conventional processors and unique stored program instruc
`tions that control the one or more processors to implement, in
`conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most,
`or all of the functions of assigning priorities to, or arranging
`in accordance with priorities of virtual cards as described
`herein. The non-processor circuits may include, but are not
`limited to, a radio receiver, a near-field transceiver, a radio
`transmitter, signal drivers, clock circuits, power source cir
`cuits, and user input devices. As such, these functions may be
`interpreted as steps of a method to perform arrangement of
`virtual cards for display and use in a portable electronic
`device. Alternatively, some or all functions could be imple
`mented by a state machine that has no stored program instruc
`tions, or in one or more application specific integrated cir
`cuits, in which each function or some combinations of certain
`of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course,
`a combination of the two approaches could be used. Further,
`it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding pos
`sibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by,
`for example, available time, current technology, and eco
`nomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and prin
`ciples disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating
`Such software instructions and programs and circuits with
`minimal experimentation.
`0022. Embodiments of the invention are now described in
`detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like
`
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`Feb. 5, 2009
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`parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein
`and throughout the claims, the following terms take the mean
`ings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly
`dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an and “the
`includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in”
`and “on. Relational terms such as first and second, top and
`bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one
`entity or action from another entity or action without neces
`sarily requiring or implying any actual Such relationship or
`order between Such entities or actions. Also, reference desig
`nators shown herein in parenthesis indicate components
`shown in a figure other than the one in discussion. For
`example, talking about a device (10) while discussing figure
`A would refer to an element, 10, shown in figure other than
`figure A.
`0023. Some mobile device manufacturers have recently
`developed electronic, or “virtual.” cards. For example, Mas
`tercard(R), in conjunction with some mobile phone manufac
`turers, offers a virtual “PayPass' card that is stored within the
`memory of a mobile telephone. In some embodiments of a
`mobile device, this card is stored within a secure memory,
`secure region of memory, or within a memory associated with
`a secure processor. Storage in within a secure element in the
`mobile device helps guard against unauthorized use of the
`information. The virtual card is loaded, installed, and person
`alized with card specific information, such as account num
`ber, name, expiration date, and one or more secure keys. The
`mobile device then transmits the information wirelessly to
`payment terminals via a near-field transceiver. The payment
`terminal is thus able to access the information and bill the user
`for a purchase.
`0024. As one virtual card can be stored within a device, so
`can others. To select the proper card to use, a user must
`navigate through a series of menus to find the virtual card
`application. Once in the application, the user must scroll
`through the various virtual cards and select the proper one.
`For some cards, additional information must be entered,
`including personal identification numbers and security codes.
`Such a process is cumbersome.
`0025 Embodiments of the present invention streamline
`the process and offer the user a more seamless experience
`with virtual cards. In one embodiment, the invention includes
`a “virtual wallet’, which includes a virtual card software
`application, running within the device, that hosts different
`cards (credit, loyalty, membership, identity, etc.). The virtual
`card application manages the virtual cards and permits user
`selection of the cards as well. The virtual wallet may further
`facilitate displaying the cards on a display in a wallet-type
`image.
`0026. An arranger is configured to automatically deter
`mine a priority of the cards based upon certain criteria. These
`criteria may include events in a calendar, location of the
`device, usage history, and so forth. Once this priority has been
`determined, the arranger then advances the card with the
`foremost priority to the “top of the wallet.” In other words, the
`top of the wallet card becomes in essence a default card that is
`used when the virtual card program is accessed. As such,
`unless a user deliberately selects another card, the default
`card will be selected for making transactions via a wireless
`near-field transceiver configured for near-field communica
`tion with a transaction terminal.
`0027. With embodiments of the present invention, a user
`simply places the portable electronic device near a near-field
`communication reader. The “top of the wallet' card is then
`
`used to make a transaction, for example at a point of sale at a
`merchant location. Additionally, the user may alternatively
`select any of the virtual cards as the top of wallet card as well.
`0028. In one embodiment, the top of wallet card is selected
`in accordance with a schedule, which may be determined
`from either a calendar application or a usage history. By way
`of example, a user may take a metropolitan Subway to work
`every weekday at 8 AM. Once at work, perhaps at 9:30, the
`user may use his employee identification card to enter his
`office. Once in the office, the user may use a debit card to
`make purchases, such as lunch from the cafeteria or Snacks
`from a vending machine. In the evening, he may go to dinner
`at a restaurant and use a credit card to pay for the meal. He
`may also have a diner loyalty card that he uses upon arriving
`at the restaurant to earn customer loyalty rewards.
`0029. In one embodiment, either by analyzing prior usage
`or by interfacing with a calendar program, the arranger deter
`mines a priority and advances the foremost priority card to the
`top as the top of the wallet card. Continuing with the example
`in the preceding paragraph, the arranger may select a Subway
`transit virtual card as the top of the wallet card from 8 AM
`until, perhaps, 8:20 AM. From 8:30AM until 4:30PM, the top
`of the wallet card may be the employee identification virtual
`card, with the debit virtual card being advanced to the top of
`the wallet during lunch and Snack times. On one particular
`Tuesday, perhaps in response to a calendar event correspond
`ing to a restaurant reservation recorded in a calendar applica
`tion, the credit virtual card becomes the top of the wallet card
`from 7 PM until 9 PM. As such, the arranger saves the user
`valuable steps in selecting which virtual card to use from the
`virtual card application.
`0030. In other embodiments, the arranger uses criteria
`other than schedule to determine priority and to advance the
`top of the wallet card. For instance, in one embodiment,
`location is used in determining which card should be the top
`of the wallet card. In such an embodiment, the portable elec
`tronic device stores a transaction history. The transaction
`history stores the card used and location for each transaction,
`as location can be determined from near-field posters or near
`field communication readers. This location-transaction infor
`mation is then used to automatically select a top of the wallet
`card that is the same card that was used in the previous visit to
`that location.
`0031. Embodiments of the invention also include user
`prompts. For instance, in one embodiment the user is asked
`whether they want to move a particular card to the top of
`wallet whenever entering this location. In another embodi
`ment, the top of wallet selection may revert back to the
`default, which may be a calendar defined selection, after the
`transaction at the particular location occurs.
`0032 Turning now to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is one
`embodiment of a portable electronic device 100, such as a
`mobile telephone, having a virtual card application 101 and
`an arranger module 102 in accordance with the invention.
`While a mobile telephone will be used hereinas an illustrative
`embodiment for discussion purposes, it will be clear to those
`of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure
`that the invention is not so limited. The virtual card applica
`tion 101 and arranger module 102 may also be implemented
`in other portable electronic devices, including personal digi
`tal assistants, pagers, portable computers, and so forth.
`0033 Regarding hardware, the portable electronic device
`100 includes a display 103 upon which information regarding
`device applications and device statuses may be presented. A
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`controller 104, which in one embodiment is a microprocessor,
`is used to run applications stored in a memory 105. Note that
`while one microprocessor can be used as the controller 104, it
`will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art having the
`benefit of this disclosure that embodiments of the invention
`are not so limited. The controller 104 in some embodiments
`can comprise a combination of microprocessors, program
`mable logic devices, or application specific integrated circuit
`devices. By way of example, in one embodiment the portable
`electronic device 100 includes a central processor and a
`secure processor. The central processor can be responsible for
`virtual wallet 110 operation, and may also store partial infor
`mation associated with the virtual cards 106, 107,108,109 in
`its corresponding memory. For security purposes, other vir
`tual card information may be stored within a secure processor
`and its memory, the secure processor operating in conjunction
`with the central processor. Other configurations may also be
`employed.
`0034. In addition to storing software applications, the
`memory 105 is also used for storing data, including the Vari
`ous virtual cards 106,107.108,109. These virtual cards may
`include any of an identification virtual card, a membership
`card, a debit virtual card, a credit virtual card, a transit virtual
`card, a loyalty virtual card, or a gift virtual card. It will be
`clear to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of
`this disclosure that other virtual cards may be stored as well.
`0035. The controller 104 is configured to retrieve one or
`more of the plurality of virtual cards 106,107,108,109 and to
`then present them on the display 103. In one embodiment,
`these virtual cards 106,107,108,109 are presented on the dis
`play 103 as a virtual wallet 110. The virtual wallet 110, while
`optional, offers a familiar view of cards to the user. Further,
`where the display comprises a touch-sensitive display, a user
`may be able to make a manual selection from the virtual
`wallet 110 by simply touching the desired card.
`0036. The controller 104 is configured to present these
`cards on the display 103, in one embodiment, by software
`programs, operable with the controller 104 and stored within
`the memory 105. The controller 104 accesses the memory
`105 to retrieve and execute these applications. The applica
`tions include a virtual card application 101, which is operable
`with the controller 104. The virtual card application 101 is
`configured to manage the various virtual cards 106.107.108,
`109. Further, the virtual card application 101 is configured to
`permit the user to select any of the virtual cards 106.107.108,
`109 as the top of the wallet card 111.
`0037. An arranger module 102 is configured to automati
`cally select the top of the wallet card 111 based upon prede
`termined criteria. In one embodiment, the arranger module
`102 is configured to determine a priority of the virtual cards
`106,107.108,109. Once a priority is assigned to each of the
`virtual cards 106,107,108,109, the card with the foremost
`priority is advanced by the arranger module 102 to be the top
`of the wallet card 111. The controller 104 then presents at
`least some of the virtual cards, including the top of the wallet
`card 111, on the display 103. In one embodiment, a presenter
`module 112, which may be integrated with either the virtual
`card application 101 or the arranger module 102, is config
`ured to present the graphical representation of the virtual
`cards on the display 103.
`0038. The arranger module 102 may employ any of a wide
`variety of criteria to determine priority. In one embodiment, a
`user's Schedule is used as one criterion. The schedule, in one
`embodiment, is determined from a calendar application 113.
`
`The calendar application 113, which is operable with the
`arranger module 102, is used to schedule events and tasks
`entered into the portable electronic device 100 by the user.
`Where such events correspond to transactions, such as the
`restaurant reservation mentioned above, the arranger module
`102 may detect such events to alter the priorities and the top
`of the wallet card 111.
`0039 For instance, in one embodiment the arranger mod
`ule 102 is configured to determine the priority by detecting at
`least one event scheduled in the calendar application 113.
`When such an event is detected, the arranger module 102
`determines a probable usage of a particular virtual card. By
`way of example, where a detected event is a repeat of a prior
`event, and a particular card was used during the prior event,
`the probable usage would likely be high. As such, when the
`arranger module assigns the probable usage to the particular
`card, that particular card may be advanced to the top of the
`wallet card 111.
`0040. In another embodiment employing schedule as a
`criterion, the arranger module 102 consults a virtual card
`usage history, stored in memory 105, to determine the prior
`ity. Such a method would be appropriate for the scheduling
`example set forth above. Where the usage history indicates
`that a transit virtual card is used every morning between 8 AM
`and 8:20 AM, the arranger module may assign a usage prob
`ability to the transit virtual card sufficient to advance the
`transit virtual card to become the top of the wallet card 111
`during that time. Said another way, the arranger module 102
`is configured to advance the virtual card priorities in accor
`dance with the usage occurrences found in the usage history.
`0041. Once the top of the wallet card 111 is selected, be it
`by the arranger module 102 or the user, the top of the wallet
`card 111 may be used to make transactions by way of a
`wireless near-field transceiver 114. The wireless near-field
`transceiver 114, which in one embodiment is a form of radio
`frequency identification device, is configured to send and
`receive radio-frequency data to remote devices. In the
`example of a financial transaction, the wireless near-field
`transceiver 114, which is operable with the controller 104,
`may communicate with a payment terminal 115 having a
`near-field communication reader 116 disposed therein. Infor
`mation Such as account number, user, and the like may be
`transmitted to the payment terminal 115. Purchase price,
`purchase location, date stamp, and confirmation number may
`be transmitted—in the case of a financial transaction—from
`the payment terminal to the wireless near-field transceiver
`114.
`0042. In addition to detecting devices such as payment
`terminals 115, the wireless near-field transceiver 114 may
`detect other objects as well. For instance, a newly developing
`technology is that of 'Smart posters.” A Smart poster is a
`poster that includes a near-field communication tag capable
`of being read by the wireless near-field transceiver. A smart
`poster for a movie may include a near-field communication
`tag having information about show times, movie merchan
`dise, and the like. When a user passes an electronic device
`having a wireless near-field transceiver within a predeter
`mined distance of Such a poster, the device may read the
`information and present corresponding information on the
`display. (A Smartposter is illustrated and described in FIG.9.)
`0043. To accommodate such situations, in one embodi
`ment the wireless near-field transceiver 114 of the portable
`electronic device 100 is capable of reading such external
`objects. When the wireless near-field transceiver 114 detects
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`the presence of an external device. Such as a Smart poster, the
`arranger module 102 is configured to determine a probable
`usage of one or more of the virtual cards 106,107,108,109.
`Where the external object is a smart poster, for example, the
`arranger module 102 may assign a high probable usage to the
`credit virtual card, as the arranger module may anticipate that
`a movie ticket is about to be purchased. The arranger module
`102 therefore advances the credit virtual card in priority, and
`may make the credit virtual card the top of the wallet card 111.
`0044. In one embodiment, the arranger module 102 uses
`location information to determine priority and the corre
`sponding top of the wallet card 111. Such location informa
`tion may be retrieved from, for example, a payment terminal
`115 or another external device such as a smart poster. When
`the wireless near-field transceiver 114 detects such an exter
`nal object, the controller 104 is configured to determine loca
`tion based upon information read from the external object.
`Once the location is known, in one embodiment, the arranger
`module 102 is configured to determine a priority based upon
`the location information, and to rearrange the virtual cards
`106,107.108,109 accordingly.
`0045. A proximity payment module 117, which is oper
`able with the controller 104 and the wireless near-field trans
`ceiver 114, is configured to execute financial transactions
`using at least one of the virtual cards 106,107.108,109. Thus,
`the proximity payment module 117 may transmit, for
`example, the account information and then receive a record of
`the transaction to store in memory 105.
`0046 Turning now to FIG. 2, illustrates therein is one
`method 200 for presenting at least some of a plurality of
`virtual cards (106.107.108,109) on a portable electronic
`device (100) in accordance with embodiments of the inven
`tion. Such a method 200 is suitable, for example, of being
`implemented by the controller (104) through the execution of
`Software code, perhaps as stored within the virtual card appli
`cation (101).
`0047. At step 201, priority values associated with each of
`the virtual cards (106.107.108,109) are determined. As noted
`above, such values may stem from location information,
`usage history, Scheduling, calendar applications, other
`means, or combinations thereof. Once the priority values
`have been determined, the method (200) assigns each of the
`virtual cards (106.107.108,109) a corresponding priority
`value at step 202. The virtual cards (106.107.108,109) are
`then arranged, according to priority, at step 203. Another
`application, or perhaps a module within a single application,
`then presents at least some of the virtual cards (106.107.108,
`109) on a display (103) in accordance with their priority
`values. The top virtual card, which is the virtual card having
`the foremost priority, is known as the top of the wallet card
`(111) and serves as the default card when the portable elec
`tronic device (100) is used to make financial or other trans
`actions. In one embodiment, the virtual cards (106.107.108,
`109) are presented in a virtual wallet (110) on the display.
`0048 Turning now to FIG. 3, illustrated therein is one
`embodiment of determining priority 201 where the priority is
`based at least in part on location. At step 301, location is
`monitored and determined. This may be accomplished in a
`variety of ways. For instance, the portable electronic device
`(100) may be equipped with location circuitry such as a global
`positioning system receiver or an assisted global positioning
`system receiver. Alternatively, location may be obtained
`
`when a wireless near-field reader detects an external object
`Such as a Smart poster or payment terminal that includes
`location information.
`0049. Once the location is determined, the method 200
`determines a transaction-location metric at step 302. A trans
`action-location metric may be a probability of use of a par
`ticular virtual card, and may be based upon both location and
`usage history. Additionally, the transaction-location metric
`may additionally take into consideration information read
`from external objects. For instance, if the payment terminal
`(115) only accepts one type of virtual card, the transaction
`location metric for that card will be strong while the transac
`tion-location metric of the other cards will be weak.
`0050. After determining the transaction-location metric,
`the most likely virtual card for use is selected at step 303. This
`virtual card may be selected solely from the transaction
`location metric, although other factors may be used as well.
`For instance, if a user has selected to only use one particular
`card at a particular location, say for example only using a
`debit virtual card at the movies, this information may be taken
`into account as well.
`0051. Once the most likely virtual card for use has been
`selected, in one embodiment it is assigned the foremost pri
`ority at Step 304. This assignment causes this virtual card to
`move to the top of the wallet, and to become the default card
`so long as the portable electronic device (100) remains in that
`location.
`0.052 Turning now to FIG.4, illustrated therein is an alter
`nate method of determining priority 201. In the method of
`FIG.4, virtual card usage history is used to determine priority.
`In one embodiment, the frequency of use of each virtual card
`is considered. In another embodiment, virtual card use and
`location ofuse is considered. User defined preferences, either
`as they relate to frequency of use or location, may also be
`considered. For instance, if a user desires to only use a credit
`virtual card offering frequent flier bonus miles when purchas
`ing gasoline, that user preference is considered.
`0053 At step 401, the usage history of the portable elec
`tronic device (100) is considered. In one embodiment, the
`portable electronic device (100) stores a log of th