IP Library Granted Patent US 12,597,009
Granted Patent B2
US 12,597,009 · App. 18/957,361 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Systems and methods for performing transactions

Inventors: Afshin Rezayee (Richmond Hill, CA); Emad Bidari (Toronto, CA); Thomas Templeton (Piedmont, CA); Michael Lamfalusi (Cupertino, CA); Matthew H. Maibach (San Francisco, CA); Jesse L. Dorogusker (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Block, Inc.
G06Q20/321G06K7/10148G06K7/10297G06K19/0709G06K19/0712G06K19/0726G06K19/07762G06K19/07779G06Q20/401G06Q20/409H01Q1/273H04B5/26H04B5/45H04B5/70G06Q20/204G06Q20/3278
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,597,009
App. No.
18/957,361
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wearable device, such as a finger ring worn by a user, communicates information about a user to a reader that uses the information in order to perform a transaction. Such wearable device may be conveniently carried by and accessible to the user such that utilization of the device for the transaction is less burdensome for the user, thereby encouraging use of the device for particular transactions. Indeed, in some cases, such as when the device is implemented as a finger ring or other type of jewelry, the user may be encouraged to carry the device in an exposed manner such that it is readily available for the transaction without the user having to search in a wallet, pocket, or purse for the device.

Claims (41)

1 . A wearable device, comprising:

a ring configured to be worn on a body part of a user, the ring having an inner surface dimensioned to track the user;

at least one sensor configured to detect at least one type of physical motion associated with the user and generate motion data;

at least one antenna embedded within the wearable device; and

an electrical circuitry coupled to the at least one antenna, the electrical circuitry configured to wirelessly transmit, via the at least one antenna and to a reader, information associated with the user, wherein the information includes the motion data and is configured to initiate a specific action related to a transaction based at least on the motion data such that a first physical motion generates at least one input related to a transaction, and a second physical motion generates at least one output related to the transaction.

2 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

3 . The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an output device configured to communicate the at least one output related to the transaction.

4 . The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein

the second physical motion includes tapping the ring on the reader,

the output device is a haptic device, and

the at least one output causes the ring to vibrate to indicate one or more of the tapping, the transaction being requested, and the transaction being approved.

5 . The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein

the second physical motion includes tapping the ring on the reader,

the output device is an optical device, and

the at least one output is a visual indication of one or more of the tapping, the transaction being requested, and the transaction being approved.

6 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the first physical motion includes one or more of a vertical movement of the body part, a horizontal movement of the body part, a defined hand gesture, a removal of the ring from the body part, or motion indicative of orientation of the ring relative to the reader.

7 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input includes one or more of authenticating the transaction, selecting an account for processing the transaction, adding a tip to the transaction.

8 . The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a pulse of the user, the pulse being used for one or more of authenticating the user in relation to the transaction and detecting removal of the ring from the body part as a defined input in relation to the transaction.

9 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a wearable device having ring configured to be worn on a body part of a user, the ring having an inner surface dimensioned to track the user, cause the wearable device to:

utilize at least one sensor to detect at least one type of physical motion associated with the user and generate motion data;

wirelessly transmit, via at least one embedded antenna and to a reader, information associated with the user, wherein the information includes the motion data and is configured to initiate a specific action related to a transaction based at least on the motion data such that a first physical motion generates at least one input related to a transaction, and a second physical motion generates at least one output related to the transaction.

10 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor includes one or more of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

11 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein execution of the computer-readable instructions causes an output device of the wearable device to communicate the at least one output related to the transaction.

12 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein

the second physical motion includes tapping the ring on the reader,

the output device is a haptic device, and

the at least one output causes the ring to vibrate to indicate one or more of the tapping, the transaction being requested, and the transaction being approved.

13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein

the second physical motion includes tapping the ring on the reader,

the output device is an optical device, and

the at least one output is a visual indication of one or more of the tapping, the transaction being requested, and the transaction being approved.

14 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the first physical motion includes one or more of a vertical movement of the body part, a horizontal movement of the body part, a defined hand gesture, a removal of the ring from the body part, or motion indicative of orientation of the ring relative to the reader.

15 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the at least one input includes one or more of authenticating the transaction, selecting an account for processing the transaction, adding a tip to the transaction.

16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a pulse of the user, the pulse being used for one or more of authenticating the user in relation to the transaction and detecting removal of the ring from the body part as a defined input in relation to the transaction.

17 . A method to be performed by a wearable device having ring configured to be worn on a body part of a user, the ring having an inner surface dimensioned to track the user, the method comprising:

utilizing at least one sensor to detect at least one type of physical motion associated with the user and generate motion data;

wirelessly transmitting, via at least one embedded antenna and to a reader, information associated with the user, wherein the information includes the motion data and is configured to initiate a specific action related to a transaction based at least on the motion data such that a first physical motion generates at least one input related to a transaction, and a second physical motion generates at least one output related to the transaction.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first physical motion includes one or more of a vertical movement of the body part, a horizontal movement of the body part, a defined hand gesture, a removal of the ring from the body part, or motion indicative of orientation of the ring relative to the reader.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one input includes one or more of authenticating the transaction, selecting an account for processing the transaction, adding a tip to the transaction.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a pulse of the user, the pulse being used for one or more of authenticating the user in relation to the transaction and detecting removal of the ring from the body part as a defined input in relation to the transaction.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2024
From: REZAYEE, AFSHIN; BIDARI, EMAD; TEMPLETON, THOMAS; LAMFALUSI, MICHAEL; MAIBACH, MATTHEW H.; DOROGUSKER, JESSE L.
To: SQUARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 069378/0790 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 22, 2024
From: SQUARE, INC.
To: BLOCK, INC.
Reel/Frame 069438/0154 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 18238211 · Aug 25, 2023
Continuation 17714016 · Apr 5, 2022
Continuation 17219570 · Mar 31, 2021
Provisional Application 63052937 · Jul 16, 2020
Related Publication 20250165951A1 · May 22, 2025
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