Transaction security apparatus and method

Abstract

A transaction security apparatus and method, including a receiver which receives a limitation or restriction on an account usage, wherein the limitation or restriction on an account usage is received in real-time from a communication device associated with an individual account holder, a memory device for storing the limitation or restriction on an account usage, and a processing device for processing a transaction on an account or an authorization request in conjunction with the limitation or restriction on an account usage. The processing device generates a signal, wherein the signal contains information for authorizing or disallowing the transaction.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A transaction security apparatus, comprising: 
 a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a limitation or restriction on an account usage, wherein the limitation or restriction on an account usage is received in real-time from a communication device associated with an individual account holder;    a memory device for storing the limitation or restriction on an account usage; and    a processing device for processing a transaction on an account or an authorization request in conjunction with the limitation or restriction on an account usage,    wherein the processing device generates a first signal, wherein the first signal contains information for authorizing or disallowing the transaction.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the account is at least one of a credit card account, a charge card account, a debit card account, a currency card account, and a “smart” card account.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the account is at least one of a bank account, a savings account, a checking account, and an automated teller machine account.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the account is at least one of a cellular telephone account and a cellular communication device account.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the communication device is a wireless device.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver receives a transaction authorization request.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a transmitter for transmitting a notification signal to the communication device or to a second communication device associated with the account holder in response to the transaction on an account or an authorization request.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the communication device is a home computer or personal computer.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the communication device is an interactive television.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the communication device or the second communication device is at least one of a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a mobile telephone, and a personal digital assistant.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the communication device or the second communication device is a home computer or personal computer.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the communication device or the second communication device is an interactive television.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said authorization request is input via or transmitted from at least one of a point-of-sale device, a transaction device, a cellular telephone, and a cellular communication device.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the limitation or restriction is transmitted to the receiver on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the processing device counts a number of unauthorized transactions which occur on an account.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the notification signal contains information regarding at least one of a transaction type, a transaction amount, a location of transaction, a time of transaction, and at least one of good and a service involved in the transaction.  
     
     
         37 . A transaction security apparatus, comprising: 
 a processing device, wherein the processing device processes information regarding a transaction involving at least one of a credit card, a charge card, a bank account, a checking account, a savings account transaction, and a automated teller machine account, wherein the processing device is capable of allowing or disallowing the transaction, and further wherein the processing device generates a signal containing information regarding the transaction; and    a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the signal to a communication device associated with an individual account holder, wherein the signal is transmitted to the communication device in real-time, and further wherein the signal is transmitted on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web.    
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the communication device is at least one of a beeper, a pager, a telephone, a two-way pager, a reply pager, a home computer, a personal computer, a personal communication device, a personal communication services device, a television, an interactive television, a digital television, a personal digital assistant, a display telephone, a video telephone, a watch, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a mobile telephone, a display cellular telephone, and a facsimile machine.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a second signal from the communication device, wherein the second signal contains information for allowing or disallowing the transaction.    
     
     
         40 . A transaction security method, comprising: 
 receiving a limitation or restriction on an account usage, wherein the limitation or restriction is received in real-time from a communication device associated with an individual account holder, wherein the limitation or restriction is transmitted on or over at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web;    storing the limitation or restriction on an account usage;    processing at least one of a transaction on an account and an authorization request in conjunction with the limitation or restriction on an account usage, wherein the transaction on the account or the authorization request is processed with a processing device; and    generating a signal containing information for authorizing or disallowing the transaction.