Did Google sidestep a lawsuit with an acquisition of patents involving electronic phone payments?
One initiative that Google has been hard at work on is making it easy for people to make payments electronically by phone. The Google Wallet has been available as an Android app on some phones, and it looks like it’s been moving beyond the need to use near field communications (NFC) to make payments.
Last year, on September 8, 2011, E-Micro Corporation filed a patent infringement lawsuit against a group of defendents, including: Google, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Samsung Telecommunications America, L.L.C., Sprint Nextel Corporation, Sprint Spectrum L.P., Nextel Operations, Inc., Sprint Solutions, Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Best Buy Co., Inc. and BBY Solutions, Inc.
The case was filed in Texas Eastern District Court, and the claim document (pdf) points at the Samsung Nexus S 4G using Google Wallet softward storing credit card, debit card and electronic coupons to use with point-of-sale terminals using near field communications (NFC)
A joint motion to dismiss, with prejudice, was filed and granted on September 5, 2012.It doesn’t state the reason why the suit is being dismissed, and we don’t kow the details of Google’s acquisition of the E-Micro Corporation patents. But the execution date of the patent acquisition is August 28, 2012, and the transaction was recorded at the USPTO on October 25, 2012.
It involves the following 13 patents and 1 pending patent application from E-Micro Corporation
Of course, on October 26th there came news of a new law suit against Google over electronic payments by NFC: Inventor sues Google Wallet over NFC loyalty patent
Here are the patent filings involved in the transaction:
Wallet consolidator
Wallet consolidator
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 6,131,811
Granted October 17, 2000
Filed: May 29, 1998
Wallet consolidator
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 6,293,462
Granted September 25, 2001
Filed: July 18, 2000
Abstract
A method and apparatus for warehousing information in a wallet consolidator. The wallet consolidator includes a controller for controlling operation of the wallet consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, a keypad for inputting user selections and commands, a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, a smart card interface for effectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screen further for displaying a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by a bar code reader.
To store information in the wallet consolidator, or alternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator, information is read from magnetic stripes on various types of cards such as, but not limited to, credit, debit and identification cards. Additionally, images of the cards including, but not limited to, signatures and portraits are downloaded and stored. A user retrieves the information from any of the stored magnetic stripes and writes the information to a single magnetic stripe for use in a point of sale transaction. Similarly, stored images are retrieved and displayed on a display screen including a bar code which can be scanned by a bar code scanner.
Wallet consolidator and related methods of processing a transaction using a wallet consolidator
Wallet consolidator and related methods of processing a transaction using a wallet consolidator
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 7,349,885
Granted March 25, 2008
Filed: August 6, 2001
Abstract
A wallet consolidator to process a transaction and related methods, are provided. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can include a controller to control operation of the wallet consolidator, and an input device connected to the controller and positioned to receive a copy of information. The input device, for example, can include a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, or a keypad, among others, to input user selections and commands.
An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can also include a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, and an output device connected to the controller and positioned to transmit at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to a computer device, e.g., point-of-sale terminal, dumb terminal, and/or database, located at a point-of-sale, to process a transaction. The output device can include a wireline communications interface, a wireless communications interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, or an infrared (IR) interface, among others.
Wallet consolidator and related methods of processing a transaction using a wallet consolidator
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 7,712,658
Granted May 11, 2010
Filed: October 31, 2007
Abstract
A wallet consolidator to facilitate a transaction is provided. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can include a housing, a data interface connected to the housing and positioned to effectuate communication between the wallet consolidator and one or more computing devices to thereby receive information associated with at least one card from one or more computing devices, and a memory positioned to store at least a portion of the information received by the data interface.
The wallet consolidator can also include an input cluster connected to the housing to facilitate selection of at least a portion of the information by a user, a display screen to display a menu of functions to a user, and a controller positioned within the housing in communication with and to control each of the data interface, the memory, the input cluster, and the display screen.
Method and apparatus for combining data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources
Method and apparatus for combining data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 6,402,029
Granted June 11, 2002
Filed: September 18, 2000
Abstract
A method of writing additional foreign data either to a blank magnetic card and/or to an existing magnetic striped card is used to consolidate information from possibly multiple credit type cards onto a single card. The additional data that may be from multiple cards or that may be generated or gathered from other sources can then be written to a single card for example to consolidate the information.
Method and apparatus for associating identification and personal data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 6,938,821
Granted September 6, 2005
Filed: January 17, 2002
Method and apparatus for associating identification and personal data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 7,083,087
Granted August 1, 2006
Filed: May 17, 2005
Abstract
A method and apparatus for warehousing information in a wallet consolidator, including personal identification data for facilitating a transaction. The wallet consolidator includes a controller for controlling operation of the wallet consolidator, a magnetic stripe reader/writer for reading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanning bar codes, a keypad for inputting user selections and commands, a memory for storing information provided to the wallet consolidator, a smart card interface for effectuating communication between the wallet consolidator and a smart card and a display screen for displaying text and graphics, the display screen further for displaying a bar code pattern capable of being scanned by a bar code reader. To store information in the wallet consolidator, or alternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator, information is read from magnetic stripes on various types of cards such as, but not limited to, credit, debit and identification cards.
Additionally, images of the cards including, but not limited to, signatures and portraits are downloaded and stored. A user retrieves the information from any of the stored magnetic stripes and writes the information to a single magnetic stripe for use in a point of sale transaction. Similarly, stored images are retrieved and displayed on a display screen including a bar code which can be scanned by a bar code scanner.
System for associating identification and personal data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources to facilitate a transaction and related methods
System for associating identification and personal data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources to facilitate a transaction and related methods
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
US Patent 7,357,312
Granted April 15, 2008
Filed: March 30, 2006
Abstract
A system to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction and related methods are provided. The system includes a server configured to store personal control IDs and sets of personal data and configured to store a data profile derived from a set of personal data associated with a personal control ID identifying a selected different person for use by a selected one of one or more providers identified by a provider ID.
The system also includes a data processor remote from and in communication with the server and a point of transaction terminal adapted to couple to an ID instrument to receive a personal control ID identifying a selected different person and to send the personal control ID to the data processor to transmit with a provider ID to the server. The server is further configured to retrieve a data profile derived from the set of personal data associated with the personal control ID and to transmit the data profile for use by the selected provider identified by the provider ID. The system can also include an output device to receive the data profile and to output the data profile to the selected provider to thereby verify the personal control ID as being associated with a user of the personal control ID at the point of transaction prior to proceeding with a transaction.
System for associating identification and personal data for multiple magnetic stripe cards or other sources to facilitate a transaction and related methods
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 7,516,886
Granted April 14, 2009
Filed: October 30, 2007
Abstract
A system to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction and related methods, are provided. The system can include a computer in communication with a database to store personal control IDs and sets of personal data associated with personal control IDs identifying a selected different person for use by a selected one of one or more providers identified by provider ID, and program product to perform the operations of receiving a set of personal data from a remotely positioned user, requesting and receiving a personal control ID from the user to associate with a set of personal data, storing the personal control ID and the set of personal data in the database, receiving a request for at least a portion of the set of personal data of the user, and providing customized information based on a data profile derived from the set of personal data of the user.
Retail point-of-transaction system, program products, and related methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction using electronic coupons
Retail point-of-transaction system, program products, and related methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction using electronic coupons
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
US Patent 8,225,995
Granted July 24, 2012
Filed: September 10, 2010
Retail point-of-transaction system, program products, and related methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a transaction using electronic coupons
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 7,828,208
Granted November 9, 2010
Filed: January 26, 2009
Abstract
Retail point-of-transaction systems, program products, and related computer implemented methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a retail sales point-of-sale transaction which includes the use of one or more electronic coupons is provided. The retail point-of-sale system can include a computer having memory and configured to facilitate one or more transactions each of which include the use of one or more electronic coupons through a retail point-of-transaction terminal positioned remote from, and adapted to be in communication with, the computer. The computer can also include a set of instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to redeem one or more electronic coupons for one or more retail transactions responsive to a customized set of identification data provided by the computer responsive to a data profile derived from a set of personal data of at least one of a plurality of remotely positioned users.
Wallet consolidator to facilitate a transaction
Wallet consolidator to facilitate a transaction
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 7,708,198
Granted May 4, 2010
Filed: October 31, 2007
Wallet consolidator to facilitate a transaction
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
US Patent Application 20100219242
Published September 2, 2010
Filed: March 11, 2010
Wallet consolidator to facilitate a transaction
Invented by Frank J. Gangi
Assigned to E-Micro Corporation
US Patent 8,261,978
Granted September 11, 2012
Filed: August 26, 2011
Abstract
A wallet consolidator to warehouse information pertaining to at least one card and to retrieve the warehoused information to facilitate a transaction is provided. An embodiment of a Wallet consolidator can include a housing, one or more input devices positioned to receive information, and a memory device positioned to store at least a portion of the information received by the one or more input devices.
The wallet consolidator can also include a radio frequency wireless communication interface associated with the housing and adapted to communicate with a point-of-sale terminal thereby to provide at least a portion of the Information stored in the memory device to the point-of-sale terminal, a display screen, and a controller positioned within the housing in communication with and to control each of the one or more input devices, the memory device, the radio frequency wireless communication interface, and the display screen.
ha ha. If you can’t beat them, BUY THEM!
Hi Robert,
I’m not sure whether or not we should take Google’s acquisition of the patents as a sign that Google might think that they would have lost the patent infringement case, but the patents involved are older ones on the topic, are somewhat broad, and could potentially keep Google from being sued by other companies that might think they are infringing on other patents. Seems like a good investment from that perspective. 🙂
Does this mean that we’ll see another patent war between Apple, and the carriers? I mean I’ve loved google wallet from day one, although not enough local stores actually have compatible terminals. But still, verizon in the USA blocked NFC from it’s phones because supposedly they were working on their own payment system.
All together, patents are something that is annoying. It is stopping innovation, as I’m sure many agree seeing how Apple v. Samsung went down. What say you?
You are probably right Bill but my version was funnier 🙂 Incidentally, I sent you a question via your “contact” form. Look forward to your reply.
Greetings,
Call me “old school” but I am not yet comfortable with the idea of an electronic wallet system. I am way to nervous about security or lack there of. I am still used to credit cards, debit cards, checks and cash. But I DO like the idea of doing away with pennies entirely because it costs more now to make a penny than a penny is worth.
Especially with launch of offline version of Google wallet, they are just trying to secure their next big investment.
How is their wallet product so different than others though?
Interesting read.. everything is becoming a patent war… perhaps this was part of the reason Google acquired Motorola – to strengthen their patent portfolio before going into mobile payments
That’s pretty interesting, I’m just waiting for apple’s response, or their action really.