Deactivatable/reactivatable smart card recording apparatus
View Patent ↗An automated system with one or more memory-card interface devices, a custom-formatted end-user memory card keeps track of the user's results, and a reactivation memory card controls the provider's recharging of the end-user memory card after the end-user memory card expires. The contents of the reactivation memory card are updated in order to track its use by the provider of the readings.
1. An apparatus for authorizing, recording or tracking usage comprising:
a machine for automatically detecting parameters of usage of a service, resource or object;
means for recording parameters of the detected usage on a first transportable device adapted to receive and hold usage data;
means for limiting the duration, number of uses, or both on the first transportable device to a first period of time, wherein the first transportable device ceases to allow usage once a predetermined limit for the first period of time is exceeded;
means for reactivating the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time;
means for limiting the duration, number of uses made on the first transportable device, or combination thereof to a second period of time;
wherein reactivating the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time permits continued usage until a predetermined limit for the second period of time is reached.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for preventing access to or alteration of the parameters of usage.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for recording parameters of the detected usage further comprising a reading and writing device.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the reading and writing device is selected from the group consisting of a flash memory reading and writing device, an optical memory reading and writing device and a magneto-optical memory reading and writing device.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the reading and writing device is an electronic smart card reading and writing device.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for limiting the duration further comprises an expiration date and time stored on the first transportable device.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the machine for automatically detecting parameters of usage further comprises a source of current date and time information.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the machine for automatically detecting parameters of usage further comprises a software program for comparing the current date and time information with the expiration date and time.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the usage data comprises the time, date, and location of the usage.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the usage data comprises the number uses available on the first transportable device.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the usage data comprises results of the usage.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the service, resource, or object is selected from the list consisting of:
passage on a transit conveyance;
borrowing of media;
renting of an object;
downloading of media;
permitting access to an area;
starting of a machine; and
printing of media.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of the parameters of usage, further comprises a means for encryption of the recording parameters of the detected usage.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of the parameters of usage, further comprises a means for decryption of the recording parameters of the detected usage.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of the parameters of usage, further comprises a means for destroying the recording parameters of the detected usage.
16. An apparatus for authorizing usage comprising:
a transportable device adapted to hold usage data, the usage data comprising a first expiration date and a number of uses available on the transportable device;
a machine for detecting the usage data on the transportable device;
means for recording usage data to the transportable device;
means for deactivating the transportable device after either the first expiration date or the number of uses available has been exceeded;
means for reactivating the transportable device to store a second expiration date or additional number of uses available on the transportable device;
a software program for decrementing the number of uses available on the transportable device upon each authorized usage.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the machine for automatically detecting parameters of usage further comprises a source of current date information and a software program for comparing the current date information with the expiration date.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a means for preventing access to or alteration of the usage data.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the means for recording usage data to the transportable device further comprising a reading and writing device.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the usage data further comprises information about authorized usage.