1. A system comprising:
a control device connecting to a port of a computer, the control device including a wireless receiver capable of receiving wireless signals, the control device capable of enabling and disabling a security function of the computer based on a respective wireless signal received by the wireless receiver.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the security function comprises software instructions executed by the computer which prevents access to at least a portion of a storage device of the computer when the security function is enabled.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device further comprises:
a motion sensor to generate a motion signal indicating that the control device is being moved.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control device is capable of enabling and disabling an alarm function based on a wireless signal received by the wireless receiver.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the alarm function comprises software instructions executed by the computer which causes an audible alarm to be generated if a movement of the control device is detected while the alarm function is enabled.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein control device simultaneously enables both the alarm function and the security function when a first signal is received by the wireless receiver of the control device from a remote control unit; and
wherein the control device simultaneously disables both the alarm function and the security function when a second signal is received by the wireless receiver of the control device from the remote control unit.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to removably connect to an external port of the computer.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the external port comprises a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port of the computer.
9. The system of claim 4, further comprising:
a remote control unit including a transmitter to transmit wireless signals to the control device to enable and disable the security function and the alarm function, and a receiver to receive wireless signals from the control device.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control device further comprises a transmitter to transmit a signal to the remote control unit when a movement of the control device is detected while the alarm function is enabled.
11. The system of claim 4, wherein the control device further comprises a user interface to allow the user to enable and disable the alarm function and the security function, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a numeric keypad and a sensor configured to scan fingerprint of an authorized user.
12. A method comprising:
removably connecting a control device to an external port of a computer;
enabling and disabling a security function of the computer in response to a respective wireless signal received by the control device from a wireless remote control unit; and
preventing access to at least a portion of a storage device of the computer when the security function is enabled.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
enabling an alarm function of the computer in response to a wireless signal received by the control device from the remove control unit;
detecting movement of the control device; and
causing an audible sound to be generated by the computer based on a signal generated within the control device as a result of detection of movement by the control device.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the security function and the alarm function are enabled simultaneously when a first signal is received by a wireless receiver of the control device from the wireless remote control unit; and
the security function and the alarm function are disabled simultaneously when a first signal is received by the wireless receiver of the control device from the wireless remote control unit.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein connecting the control device to the computer comprises connecting to an external port of the computer.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
transmitting a signal from the control device to the remote control unit when movement of the control device is detected while the alarm function is enabled.
17. An apparatus comprising:
an enclosure;
a wireless receiver contained in the enclosure to receive wireless signals from a remote control unit;
a connector coupled to the enclosure to connect to an external port of a computer; and
a controller contained in the enclosure and coupled to the wireless receiver, wherein the controller is capable of enabling and disabling a security function of the computer based on a respective wireless signal received by the wireless receiver from the remote control unit.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the security function comprises software instructions executed by the computer which prevents access to at least a portion of a storage device of the computer when the security function is enabled.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller capable of enabling and disabling an alarm function of the computer based on a wireless signal received by the wireless receiver from the remote control unit.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein controller simultaneously enables both the alarm function and the security function when a first signal is received by the wireless receiver from the remote control unit; and
wherein the controller simultaneously disables both the alarm function and the security function when a second signal is received by the wireless receiver from the remote control unit.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:
a motion sensor contained in the enclosure to enable detection of movement of the enclosure, wherein the controller generates a motion signal indicating that the enclosure is being moved, wherein an audible alarm is generated by the computer based on the motion signal generated by the controller when the alarm function is enabled.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
a transmitter coupled to the controller to transmit a wireless signal to the remote control unit when movement is detected while the alarm function is enabled.
23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the connector is configured to removably connect to an external port of the computer.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the external port comprises a USB port of the computer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for carrying out a payment transaction using a handheld electronic device operated by a consumer, the method comprising:
receiving a consumer ID from a remotely located reader, the consumer ID corresponding to a unique code that is acquired by the reader from the handheld electronic device, wherein the unique code is not native to the handheld electronic device;
receiving payment transaction data from the reader;
validating a consumer payment account identified by the consumer ID; and
subject to validation of the consumer payment account, submitting the payment transaction data and an identity of the consumer payment account to a payment processing network for settlement.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment processing network comprises the ACH network.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving consumer authentication data from the reader, the consumer authentication data acquired by the reader from the consumer;
authenticating the consumer based on the consumer authentication data; and
wherein the step of submitting the payment transaction data is further subject to the authentication of the consumer.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a reader ID from the reader; and
validating a merchant account identified by the reader ID; and
wherein the step of transmitting comprises, subject to validation of the consumer payment account and the merchant account, transmitting the payment transaction data, the identity of the consumer payment account and an identity of the merchant account to the payment processing network for settlement between the consumer payment account and the merchant account.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before carrying out any of the other steps:
associating an existing consumer payment account with the handheld electronic device; and
provisioning the handheld electronic device with the unique code.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of provisioning the handheld electronic device comprises:
transferring digital code data corresponding to the unique code to the handheld electronic device for storage on the handheld electronic device, wherein the handheld electronic device presents the unique code to the reader for acquisition based on the stored digital code data.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the handheld electronic device is provisioned with the unique code by transferring the digital code data to the handheld electronic device and without altering software or hardware of the handheld electronic device.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a mobile phone handset and the mobile phone handset is provisioned with the unique code by downloading the digital code data over a wireless network connection to the mobile phone handset.
9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
upon request by the consumer via a handheld electronic device, web site or phone call, re-provisioning the handheld electronic device with the unique code.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving a consumer ID, payment transaction data and consumer authentication data from the reader occur over a secure communications channel.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code comprises an image and the reader optically reads the image displayed on the handheld electronic device.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code comprises a barcode and the reader optically reads the barcode displayed on the handheld electronic device.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code comprises an alphanumeric string and the reader optically reads the alphanumeric string displayed on the handheld electronic device.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code comprises an audible sound and the reader aurally acquires the audible sound generated by the handheld electronic device.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique code comprises a ringtone and the reader aurally acquires the ringtone generated by the handheld electronic device.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the reader comprises a point-of-sale device.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the reader comprises a kiosk.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a mobile phone handset.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a portable, wireless handheld data device.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment transaction data comprises a payment amount.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumer authentication data comprises a PIN (personal identification number) entered by the consumer, and the step of authenticating the consumer comprises authenticating the consumer based on the entered PIN.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment processing network comprises a debit card network.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment processing network comprises a credit card network.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving payment transaction data from the reader occurs after the payment transaction data is confirmed by the reader to the consumer.
25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
subject to successful settlement of the payment transaction data, transmitting a confirmation message to the reader; and
subject to unsuccessful settlement of the payment transaction data, transmitting a notification message to the reader.
26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving consumer authentication data from the reader, the consumer authentication data acquired by the reader from the consumer;
authenticating the consumer based on the consumer authentication data, wherein the step of submitting the payment transaction data is further subject to the authentication of the consumer; and
subject to successful authentication of the consumer, transmitting a confirmation message to the reader; and
subject to unsuccessful authentication of the consumer, transmitting a notification message to the reader.
27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
subject to successful settlement of the payment transaction data, transmitting a confirmation message to the handheld electronic device via a communications channel different from a communications channel used to communicate with the reader; and
subject to unsuccessful settlement of the payment transaction data, transmitting a notification message to the handheld electronic device via said different communications channel.
28. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a mobile phone handset, and the mobile phone handset is provisioned with the unique code by downloading digital code data corresponding to the unique code over a wireless network connection to the mobile phone handset without altering software or hardware of the mobile phone handset.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the unique code comprises a barcode, and the reader optically reads the barcode displayed on the handset.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the payment processing network comprises the ACH network, the payment transaction data comprises a payment amount, and the step of transmitting payment transaction data comprises submitting a debit transaction for the payment amount from the consumer payment account to the ACH network.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the consumer authentication data comprises a PIN entered by the consumer, and the step of authenticating the consumer comprises authenticating the consumer based on the entered PIN.
32. The method of claim 28, wherein the payment processing network comprises a debit card andor credit card network, the payment transaction data comprises a payment amount, and the step of transmitting payment transaction data comprises submitting a debit transaction for the payment amount from the consumer payment account to the debit card andor credit card network.
33. A method for providing content to a handheld electronic device operated by a user, the method comprising:
receiving a user ID from a remotely located reader, the user ID corresponding to a unique code that is acquired by the reader from the handheld electronic device, wherein the unique code is not native to the handheld electronic device;
receiving a reader ID from the reader;
determining content based on the user ID and the reader ID; and
transmitting the content to the handheld electronic device andor the reader.
34. The method of claim 33, further comprising, before carrying out any of the other steps:
transferring digital code data corresponding to the unique code to the handheld electronic device and without altering software or hardware of the handheld electronic device, the digital code data to be stored on the handheld electronic device, wherein the handheld electronic device presents the unique code to the reader for acquisition based on the stored digital code data.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a mobile phone handset and the mobile phone handset is provisioned with the unique code by downloading the digital code data over a wireless network connection to the mobile phone handset.
36. The method of claim 33, wherein the unique code comprises an image and the reader optically reads the image displayed on the handheld electronic device.
37. A method for providing relevant content to a handheld electronic device operated by a user, the method comprising:
receiving a user ID from a remotely located reader, the user ID corresponding to a unique code that is acquired by the reader from the handheld electronic device, wherein the unique code is not native to the handheld electronic device;
receiving a reader ID from the reader;
determining relevant content for a context based on the user ID and the reader ID; and
transmitting the relevant content to the handheld electronic device andor to the reader.
38. A system for carrying out payment transactions using handheld electronic devices, comprising:
an interface module for:
receiving a consumer ID from a remotely located reader, the consumer ID corresponding to a unique code that is acquired by the reader from the handheld electronic device, wherein the unique code is not native to the handheld electronic device; and
receiving payment transaction data from the reader;
a transaction module in communication with the interface module for validating a consumer payment account identified by the consumer ID; and
a payment module in communication with the transaction module for, subject to validation of the consumer payment account, transmitting the payment transaction data and an identity of the consumer payment account to a payment processing network for settlement.
39. The system of claim 38 wherein:
the interface module is further for receiving consumer authentication data from the reader, the consumer authentication data acquired by the reader from the consumer;
the transaction module is further for authenticating the consumer based on the consumer authentication data; and
the payment module transmits the payment transaction data and an identity of the consumer payment account to a payment processing network further subject to authentication of the consumer.
40. The system of claim 38, further comprising:
a registration module in communication with the interface module, for:
associating an existing consumer payment account with the handheld electronic device; and
causing the interface module to provision the handheld electronic device with the unique code.
41. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism including:
instructions for receiving a consumer ID from a remotely located reader, the consumer ID corresponding to a unique code that is acquired by the reader from the handheld electronic device, wherein the unique code is not native to the handheld electronic device;
instructions for receiving payment transaction data from the reader;
instructions for receiving consumer authentication data from the reader, the consumer authentication data acquired by the reader from the consumer;
instructions for validating a consumer payment account identified by the consumer ID;
instructions for authenticating the consumer based on the consumer authentication data; and
instructions for, subject to validation of the consumer payment account and authentication of the consumer, transmitting the payment transaction data and an identity of the consumer payment account to a payment processing network for settlement.