Freeple & iPiv
	Workings and procedures, know-how hints

Why was Freeple conceived?

The solution which we are proposing to you was generated by the need to conceive a system to make Credit Cards, Cash Point cards, etc… totally usable.
The inventor, affected by Spastic Tetraparesis since birth, has always found serious difficulties to write signatures. In 1997 he had an idea which would free him from the need of signing Credit Card receipts and others.
This is why the first patent to protect the idea was taken out.
The “Variable Identities” were then introduced. These are the only solution applicable to obtain the required result without having to design new types of Credit Cards or threatening the investments existing at the time, and nowadays, for the natural evolution of this credit device.
The idea was “specifically” designed for Credit Cards and Cash Point Cards, but it can become the vade mecum to enable every user to identify him / herself in an ultra-safe way. This can be used, for example, to enter in one’s own home, to access company’s classified areas, or also to manage authentification processes for Things or Functions of which he/she is in charge, or finally for a primary reason: safeguard one’s own identity.
Freeple is a brand which wants to attract your attention on its primary application, but which should also be understood in connection with its mobile component, iPiv, which is the acronym for “interactive Personal Identity vade mecum”.
Freely Credit with iPiv represents for the Disabled the possibility to re-enter into a technological world which, whilst facilitating credit management, has purposely forgotten them since they are not considered as a suitable profitable “market”. But for everyone it could become a super safe system which would enable us to leave our Credit Cards unattended even, for example, on the beach.
Let’s consider a bit longer the Disabled and what they can represent as users of financial solutions for money withdrawals or transactions.
The most recent evaluations talks about 3,200,000 Disables in Italy. This value covers all types of situations: those who are temporarily disabled, even if for a long period, those who are disabled and are not fully compos mentis and those who, because of age, see their body no longer carrying out usual functions, and…
But let’s take into account the official I.N.P.S. (National Pension and Benefit Institute) figures. In 2003 pensions and mobility allowances for an amount of 15.399.303.599,00 euros was paid to 2.486.633 entitled people. The average resulting value was approximately 516,00 euros per month. This figure makes us think that their personal budget and purchasing power is higher.
Disabled people, due to their limited mobility, are the first users of new technologies such as for example E -Commerce and ...
Freeple also represents the possibility to “live more freely”, consolidating the idea of an Independent Life.


Freeple workings and procedures.

In order to better explain Freeple completed by iPiv we will explain the basic steps of this product, graphically outlined in order to highlight the connections among the different subjects, suppliers and users of the system.


Before explaining the above described and illustrated procedure, we would like to display the labels of the mentioned graphics.

	Page 3 graphics and figures labels
	Figure 1	Description
	EB 1	The Server Host of the Company that manages the “Variable Identities” service for the Transaction Managing Companies, e.g. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners and..., and/or banks or Companies which could use this product for other purposes.
	EB 2	Prototype of a portable electronic device to enable a Consuming Subject to use the Variable Identities; portable device named “iPiv – interactive Personal Identity Vade mecum”.
	Figure 2	Description
	EB 1	As in figure 1.
	EB 2	As in figure 1.
	Op. 1 – Op. End	Operation to Load and Synchronize the file containing the Variable Identities from EB 1 to EB 2.
	CS = Consuming Subject	Credit Card associated with iPiv use holder.
	Opt. 1 = POS Shop	The Consuming Subject chooses to purchase from a shop that accepts Credit Cards swiping them in the Stamping Machine and, if required, demanding the authorization from the Company operator.
	Opt. 2 = Shop Stamping Machine	The Consuming Subject chooses to purchase from a shop that accepts Credit Cards swiping them in the Stamping Machine and, if required, demanding the authorization from the Company operator.
	Opt. 3 = E-Commerce	The Consuming Subject chooses to purchase through Internet using an E-Commerce Web store – through automatized procedures which imply the use of iPiv without requiring specific hardware equipment in the computer.
	VS	Computer terminal from which the Consuming Subject shops On-Line.
	HD/DB SO	Hard Disk supporting the Data Base owned by the Shop keeper even if only as Server Hosting space.
	RS	“Real” shop or other body able to sell products and/or services accepting Credit Cards through the “Opt. 1” or “Opt. 2” method.
	CCC	Company managing Credit Cards and/or bank in charge of the task.
	FR e/o CNG	Response flow? and/or conclusion of Legal Negotiation
	OF = Optional Flow	Optional flow with identical function to ”FR and/or CNG”. The necessity of this flow depends on the technique used by the Web store to interface with the “CCC” host.
	Related Services	As explained later on, EB 1 can offer its services not only to “CCC” bodies, but also to many others.

Let’s now examine in detail the product and what could derive from its application, even if this analysis will be carried out more in detail in the following section.

Let’s start our analysis with the Basic Elementsillustrated in Figure 1.
The principle on which the product is based is the attribution of a variable identity connected to the Consuming Subject through the use of, for example, Credit Cards or Cash Point Cards.
Each person has his own identity produced by the union of the first name and family name. This Identity, which we regard as univocal, despite homonimies, becomes even more univocal when signed by its owner. In fact it has been proved that handwriting is a further element of distinction for all those who are able to sign.
Nevertheless the security linked to the uniqueness of one’s own handwriting is nearly always left to comparative visual recognition systems: the signature of a Credit Card receipt “is similar” to the signature on the corresponding Credit Card or on an Identity Document. But it is also well known and strongly highlighted by the Specific Bodies that the Shop Keeper hardly ever verifies the above mentioned correspondence and this is because of some basic reasons: it would look like he/she is suspicious of the Customer who could be annoyed; forgetfulness, need of being quick and…
In this situation (use of Credit Card or Cash Point Card) Freeple completed by iPiv – interactive Personal Identity Vade mecum – makes the signature obsolete as an instrument of identification and of expressing one’s own will.
What is hidden behind the declaration stated in these last few lines?
If the signature is no longer required, then will those who are not able to sign also be able to manage their credit through the mentioned instruments?
Yes! Freeple through the support of EB 1 and EB 2 is able to give the Subject an electronic identity which resides both in the Host of the Company which will administrate the service (EB1) and in the iPiv (EB 2), a small electronic device which the Subject will carry around just like the device used to activate the alarm or to open the gate of his home.
For every Subject there will be a File containing a suitable number of Variable Identities. The numeric or alphanumeric values will be made of a suitable number of “characters”, which will also be adaptable to specific needs.
The expression “suitable” is only connected to the type of hardware procedure chosen. This is not strictly connected to the product but rather to the choices carried out in order to limit the iPiv production and distribution costs.
EB1 and EB 2 Variable Identities are synchronized and kept synchronized by the corresponding internal Clocks.
Variable Identities are Univocal within the corresponding File, and the File is Univocal within the EB 1 Data Base.
Each Variable Identity is real, and consequently usable, for a limited amount of time, which we have set to 120 seconds. This is an amount of time long enough to “Use” the value of the Variable Identity in the different applications and short enough to avoid attempts of fraud. It must be highlighted that the Value becomes unusable in the same moment in which it is used thus activating an automatically anticipated obsolescence.
iPiv, when activated by pressing a key, displays the Variable Identity Value and the its remaining time. Illustrated example: ax12t7 -108, where 108 are the remaining seconds.
iPiv was also designed as a device able to transfer Values and Variable Identities, also through a serial method: infrared rays, metallic contact and other possible and useful methods (figure 1, EB 2, right side).
Concerning this, think about iPiv used in a Cash Point. The Cash Point Card is inserted, the amount to be withdrawn is defined, the iPiv key is pressed to be identified and so the criminal who is waiting to read your Pin on the keyboard is astonished.
There will be no need to replace Cash Point Machines, but only to apply a Serial Receiver.
There are still more advantages, for example: do you love to ski and a naughty pine tree cuts across your path and must you go around for 90 days in a wheelchair and does your usual Cash Point suddenly become to high? Thanks to the explained procedure it will be the serial transmission of your value which will “stand up” for you.
iPiv does not only bring security, but it also has its own security system which is illustrated by the following basic example. There is an electronic key (figure 1, EB 2 left side) which, if deactivated, makes the device unusable and this can be attached to an accessory you wear. This option allows us to be forgetful and for a Disabled who must depend on people that he/she does not necessarily know, it represents a further security. If the key is incorrectly deactivated, it activates an acoustic alarm useful for everyone, but mainly for blind people, to recognize a theft attempt.
iPiv is also a theoretically “eternal” hardware. As long as it is constantly powered by replacing its batteries and it is not altered, it will stay with its owner to the end of the service.
After this statement a justifiable question arises: how many Variable Identities must be stored in iPiv if it is likely to last for many years? Few are enough, but obviously few does not mean 10 and maybe not even 100, but in any case a limited number which will be made cyclical. Obviously the file cycle will never be the same, but it will be reset by the internal clocks of EB1 and EB2 on the basis of a value and a system which we can not explain because of security reasons. We have trust in your understanding.

Let’s now carry on with the analysis of the Relationships, of the connections and of the steps shown in Figure 2.
Let’s start the course by briefly repeating what has already been said and by immediately highlighting the essential point: the correlation between EB 1 and EB 2 through the Variable Identities File loading operation on iPiv (Op. 1 and the end of Op.1).
At this point we can imagine that Freeple is really integrated in the international protocols which manage the Credit Card and Cash Point Card transactions.
Our user (SC = Consuming Subject) will be equipped with a Credit Card and a correlating iPiv.
In the existing market situation, our Consuming Subject has three different options to spend his/her credit. These are:

	1)	A shop (NR) using a POS terminal to accept Credit Cards and Cash Point Cards (Opt. 1 = POS Shop)
	2)	A shop (NR) still using the old stamping machine to accept Credit Cards and / or Cash Point Cards (Opt. 2 = Stamping machine shop)
	3)	A virtual shop (NV) better known as Web store, positioned on the Internet, which accepts Credit Cards On-line

These three options bring us to different even if similar procedures to obtain the same result: shopping.
Let’s analyse them in detail:

	a.	After choosing the product, the Consuming Subject goes to the cash desk, the Shop Keeper swipes the Card in the POS machine and offers the keyboard to the Consuming Subject to digit the Variable Identity. This operation is subjected to the adjustment of the Credit Card and Cash Point Card acceptance process which, until nowadays, does not include the typing of a PIN. The adjustment is not complex at all since for Cash Point Cards the typing of a PIN is already required. If in the future the POS machines should have a Serial Receiver, the PIN value could be transmitted allowing even more autonomy to the Disabled which are not able to type values in. If we keep within what is available nowadays, a disabled, even a blind person, can easily have his/her Variable Identity typed by an assistant, the shop keeper or even an unknown person with the security so that none of them will be able to abuse his/her credit under normal circumstances like those described. If we want to imagine a technology “for everyone”, it is possible to offer Brail reading of iPiv values using existing technologies. The POS machine will close the Credit Card procedure validating or not its availability to be used. This process was started by the Consuming Subject, went through the Real Shop (NR), interrogated the Credit Card Administrating Company (CCC) and demanded confirmation of the Variable Identity to EB1 then gave the answer to the Real Shop (NR) using the POS machine. Question and answer were telematically managed.
	b.	The procedure is similar to the procedure described in point a. The only difference is the absence of the POS terminal. Consequently the shop authorization request must be carried out by interrogating a Company operator (CCC) that will process the data and check the Variable Identity PIN.
	c.	The Consuming Subject decides to purchase the required products or services through a Virtual Shop (NV), Web store. He/she has got all the articles in the shopping trolley and must only input his/her personal and Credit Card data. Let’s take it for granted that the Web store Manager has a convention with Freeple and that the Virtual Shop procedures have been adjusted. For the closure phase there are two possible cases:
		sub. 1 The Consuming Subject owns an iPiv After inputting all the required data, including Credit Card data, the subject will input his/her Variable Identity which will be inserted in a form that can be integrated in the Web store pages or even reside in the Host of the Bank (CCC) which carries out the collection service for the amounts relating to the purchases. Depending on the Web store managing software design, the inputted data Response flow might cause the Closure of the Legal Negotiation (FR and 7 or CNG) without any further steps preceding or following the Variable Identity inputting. If the Shop keeper has chosen to manage and store in his Host (HD/DB SO) also the transaction data, it is necessary to have an Optional Flow (FO = ) to interrogate the Bank or Credit Card Company (CCC). In any case it is necessary that CCC relies on EB 1 to compare and validate the Variable Identity. sub. 2 The Consuming Subject does not own an iPiv, but has reached an agreement with the service The procedure is totally identical with c. sub1. The only difference is that the subject does not handle the iPiv, but uses an iBanking service to carry out the required Variable Identity reading. The shop keeper and/or Bank (CCC) must only add a Link to open a new HTTPS address which will enable the access to a “Remote Virtual iPiv”. Obviously it will only be possible to reach the Variable Identity screen after completing the Identification Procedure set by the Bank and external to this product. The virtual iPiv behaviour is exactly identical to the behaviour of the iPiv which you could have in your pocket. To clarify further, please examine Figure 3.

You can see how the use of Freeple also within the Web introduces Security measures which are nowadays unimaginable. This is possible thanks to the Variable Identity with existence limited to 120 seconds and to the activation of its obsolescence in the same moment of its use.
The Credit Card numbers, their expiry dates and their titularity will be “rubbish” for the bad intentioned.


Whilst examining the different advantages we have highlighted many times the importance of EB 1 which carries out the role of “Administrator” of the different Variable Identities. The figure of EB 1 might be the same as the Credit Card Company (CCC), and there would be no counter indications but for the fact that Freeple is basically a Personal Identity and consequently it represents the possibility to be identified with more Credit Cards or Cash Point Cards entitled in our name. The cards which we carry in our pockets could belong to different Companies but it does not mean that we must be loaded with iPiv to facilitate the entrepreneurial autonomy of those who join the project.
Let’s take a quick and short look at the possible “extra bank” applications.

	Pay TV	It will always be possible to clone the different SIM, but it will not be possible to use them because the legitimate owner will have the option to activated them through his iPiv.
	Access to classified areas	Many companies need to limit access to classified areas for Security reasons. Personal iPiv associated to a magnetic pass would guarantee this operation.
	Access to one’s own home	The Credit Card, the Cash Point Card or the next Identity Card could become the “magnetic keys” of our Domotic house accessible with the iPiv.
	Electronic signature	There would be no need for other magnetic cards besides those already owned and activable with the iPiv.
	And ...	Possible applications are infinite and they would also considerably reduce the different gadgets which we have to carry more and more in our pockets or purses.

Until now we have examined Freeple (Freely Identity) associated with iPiv and we have illustrated all those procedures and connections which can be made “public”.
Now we will hint to what could be associated to the product as Plus value deriving from its functions and/or procedures.


Freeple Extra

An example that covers them all: iPiv Family.
Think about a family made of a Father, Mother and two kids, aged 12 and 15. The parents have their Credit Cards and Cash Point Cards which they would never give to their young children, not for lack of trust, but for Security reasons.
Quite often in our Society both parents work.
Our Mum needs to send her daughter to the Post Office to pay an urgent bill. Would you give your Gold Card to Eleonora?
Maybe not. She could be spotted by a criminal and run a risk herself, besides putting her parents’ credit in danger.
But criminals know very well the products on which they can act and those which are not “breakable”.
In order to know that Eleonora holds in her pocket a Gold Card with the relating iPiv, the criminal must have seen her in the Post Office whilst she was carrying out the payment. At this point the young girl is safe. The thief knows that parents would never put their iPiv in the hand of their children and he also knows that the Family iPiv limits the credit spending to the required amount, preset by the parent. In this example, the Gold Card credit, which is limited in any case, had been set to 330.00 euros.
But in practical terms, how can all this be done ?
Let’s analyse it according to the operational steps:

	1)	The parent phones the Company’s free number.
	2)	He tells the Operator his identity, the Credit Card number and the intention to limit it to 330.00 euros if spent using the Family iPiv.
	3)	The Operator inputs in the terminal the instructions and asks the Credit Card Owner the password. This is simply the variable identity of his personal iPiv.
	4)	The operation is concluded by carrying out a kind of Electronic Purse related to the Family iPiv, which leaves the credit that can be managed by Eleonora’s Mum unchanged.
	Note	The same operation can be carried out for iBanking.

At this point you must have guessed that the operation can be multiple depending on the number of the Family iPiv activated and that it can also be extended to other functions. The most useful one could be the activation of a Family Card based on the Parents’ credit or the activation of a pre-paid card which can thus be virtually recharged.
This could also be useful for the old people who are helped by a carer or …


The iPiv identity

Due to security reasons, the iPiv will not have a visible immatriculation number, but a virtual one made of the Credit Card number which will “deliver” it to its owner extended by the first Variable Identity used to synchronize the iPiv with the Host and/or with the service SKU (advisable).
This value will only be known by EB 1 who will have to use it to connect it to the other Cards or Correlated Services of the iPiv owner.
On the back of the iPiv, maybe also hidden by a cover, there will be a writable area where the owner will be able to write a graphic or alphabetic recognition sign.


The Alphanumeric format of the codes – Variable Identities

Until now we have made the example of an alphanumeric identity, which is made of numbers and letters. The first comment could be:”…but the POS machines, for example, only have a numeric keyboard!”.
This comment is correct. But we must take into account that EB 1 and the iPiv can automatically associate to an alphanumeric value with a numeric value if so required by the iPiv user. This, once the value has already been displayed, can obtain a value in a numeric format by pressing the key twice.
This can also be used as an example to prove the great flexibility of the system in relation to what already exists.


Considerations on the activation of the system in the existing world landscape

If we take into account the existing situation, the Freeple activation costs are infinitesimal in comparison with any other innovation already carried out or under study.
The times, like the costs, could be really reduced. The main task would be the designing and production of iPiv. This would require at least one week! The activation of the production system would require a bit longer.
iPiv would be a Hardware produced in millions of pieces and for this reason its cost would be extremely cheap, in the order of a few euros for the final consumer.
iPiv could also carry some international Brands such as Apple, Siemens, IBM and ... in the pockets of millions of people with the relating advantages ...


The freshness of knowledge is inversely proportional to the age ...

Freeple has been inspired by the necessity to improve the quality of life for Disabled people. Those strangers that we have learnt to know thanks to the evolution of the times and to the frequent election campaigns ...
Rivers of words are spent on architectural features which deny access to disable people, why don’t we start to talk abut simple barriers?
Who is the disable person who would like to make the staircase of Trinità dei Monti a slide?
Maybe noone...
How many Disabled would like to manage their own credit simply, autonomously and without depending on devices or solutions which they can not bring around with them?
Maybe many...
You are born a disabled, but you could also become one.
If we do not want to think about them, let’s carry out a more selfish project; let’s protect our future!



Freeple and iPiv are not “The Solution”.
The Solution is to activate all that is necessary to make our world usable by everybody. A utopia which we could start to “damage” from now!
Shall we do it together?