U.S. patent application number 13/184204 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-10 for memory card adapter.
This patent application is currently assigned to TYFONE, INC.. Invention is credited to Siva G. Narendra, Thomas N. Spitzer, Prabhakar Tadepalli.
Application Number | 20110272468 13/184204 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36911638 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110272468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Narendra; Siva G. ; et
al. |
November 10, 2011 |
MEMORY CARD ADAPTER
Abstract
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot
of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a
memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile
phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The
electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing
circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard
circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination
thereof.
Inventors: |
Narendra; Siva G.;
(Portland, OR) ; Spitzer; Thomas N.; (Portland,
OR) ; Tadepalli; Prabhakar; (Bangalore, IN) |
Assignee: |
TYFONE, INC.
Portland
OR
|
Family ID: |
36911638 |
Appl. No.: |
13/184204 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12960070 |
Dec 3, 2010 |
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13184204 |
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12941410 |
Nov 8, 2010 |
7954715 |
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12960070 |
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12539369 |
Aug 11, 2009 |
7828214 |
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12941410 |
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11063291 |
Feb 22, 2005 |
7581678 |
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12539369 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/492 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 7/0008 20130101;
G06K 19/073 20130101; G06K 19/0703 20130101; G06K 19/07762
20130101; G06K 19/0727 20130101; G06K 19/07 20130101; G06Q 20/204
20130101; G06K 19/07741 20130101; G06K 19/0723 20130101; G06K
19/06187 20130101; G06K 19/07758 20130101; G06K 19/06206 20130101;
G06Q 20/327 20130101; G06Q 20/341 20130101; G06Q 20/353 20130101;
H04M 1/72412 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/492 |
International
Class: |
G06K 19/07 20060101
G06K019/07 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a memory card that includes smartcard
circuitry; and an adapter to receive the memory card, the adapter
having dimensions larger than the memory card.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory card is compatible
with the Secure digital (SD) protocol.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adapter has a size
substantially equivalent to a credit card.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the memory card includes an
interface compatible with a memory card slot in a mobile phone.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adapter includes active
circuitry to support operation of the memory card.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adapter includes passive
circuitry to support operation of the memory card.
7. An apparatus comprising: a financial card to be used with a
reader at a point-of-sale, the financial card including a memory
card interface to allow the financial card to be inserted in a
memory card slot; and an adapter to receive the financial card,
wherein the adapter has dimensions larger than the financial
card.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the financial card includes
smartcard circuitry.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the financial card includes
memory accessible by a device with the memory card slot.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the financial card includes
software to be installed on a device with the memory card slot.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the adapter has a size
substantially equivalent to a credit card.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the adapter includes active
circuitry to support operation of the financial card.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the adapter includes passive
circuitry to support operation of the financial card.
14. An apparatus comprising a body portion with dimensions larger
than a memory card, wherein the body portion includes a memory card
compatible area to receive a memory card with smartcard
circuitry.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising at least one
electrical component coupled to the memory card compatible area
portion to interface to the memory card.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the memory card compatible
area comprises a recessed portion of at least one side of the
apparatus.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein memory card compatible area
comprises at least one metallic contact on a periphery of an
aperture in the apparatus.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a battery to
support operation of the memory card.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional
Application Ser. No. 12/960,070, by Narendra et al., filed Dec. 3,
2010, which is a Continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional application
Ser. No. 12/941,410, by Narendra et al., filed Nov. 8, 2010, now
U.S. Pat. No. 7,954,715, which is a Continuation of U.S.
Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 12/539,369, by Narendra et al.,
filed Aug. 11, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,828,214, which is a
Continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No.
11/063,291, by Narendra et al., filed Feb. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,581,678, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety for all purposes.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to electronic
devices, and more specifically to electronic devices that may
perform transactions.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Magnetic cards have many purposes. Examples include credit
cards, debit cards, stored value cards, identification cards,
access entry cards, and the like. Many of these cards have
information stored in a magnetic stripe in a static manner. For
example, a credit card may have a credit card number, a
cardholder's name, and an issuing bank's name statically encoded in
a magnetic strip. Likewise, an identification card or access entry
card may have statically encoded information that identifies an
individual or allows access to a controlled access area. When the
card is swiped through a magnetic card reader, the information is
transferred to the magnetic card reader to perform a transaction,
such as a financial transaction or identification transaction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B show intelligent electronic devices and
electronic transaction cards;
[0005] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an electronic transaction
card;
[0006] FIG. 4 shows an electronic transaction card in a magnetic
card reader;
[0007] FIG. 5 shows an intelligent electronic device and card in a
card reader;
[0008] FIGS. 6-8 show adapters for use with electronic transaction
cards;
[0009] FIGS. 9 and 10 show an electronic transaction card having a
smartcard interface;
[0010] FIG. 11 shows an adapter in combination with an electronic
transaction card;
[0011] FIG. 12 shows an adapter having an aperture to receive an
electronic transaction card;
[0012] FIG. 13 shows another adapter embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 14 shows an electronic transaction card;
[0014] FIG. 15 shows an electronic transaction card and adapter
combination;
[0015] FIG. 16 shows an example swallow-type card reader;
[0016] FIG. 17 shows a combination electronic transaction card and
adapter being swiped through a magnetic card reader;
[0017] FIG. 18 shows a financial transaction card;
[0018] FIG. 19 shows a memory card;
[0019] FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card
and electronic transaction card;
[0020] FIG. 21 shows a diagram of how a card may be utilized;
[0021] FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card
and electronic transaction card; and
[0022] FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of a phone and a card.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0023] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration,
various embodiments of an invention. These embodiments are
described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art
to practice the invention. It is to be understood that the various
embodiments of the invention, although different, are not
necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, a particular feature,
structure, or characteristic described in connection with one
embodiment may be implemented within other embodiments without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition,
it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of
individual elements within each disclosed embodiment may be
modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to
be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present
invention is defined only by the appended claims, appropriately
interpreted, along with the full range of equivalents to which the
claims are entitled. In the drawings, like numerals refer to the
same or similar functionality throughout the several views.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows an intelligent electronic device and an
electronic transaction card. Intelligent electronic device 102 is
shown as a mobile phone in FIG. 1, but this is not a limitation of
the present invention. For example, intelligent electronic device
102 may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a
mobile phone, a handheld computer, or any other device capable of
operating as described herein.
[0025] Intelligent electronic device 102 includes add-on slot 110.
Add-on slot 110 is a slot capable of accepting electronic
transaction card 104. For example, add-on slot 110 may have
physical dimensions compatible with electronic transaction card
104, and may have a communications interface that operates using a
protocol compatible with electronic transaction card 104. In some
embodiments, electronic transaction card 104 includes an
identification number that provides a relationship to intelligent
electronic device 102. For example, electronic transaction card 104
may include an ID number that provides a unique pairing
relationship or a non-unique pairing relationship between
electronic transaction card 104 and intelligent electronic device
102.
[0026] In some embodiments of the present invention, add-on slot
110 is a memory card slot designed to accept and communicate with
memory cards. As used herein, the term "memory card slot" refers to
any add-on slot capable of accepting a card having memory
accessible by an intelligent electronic device such as that shown
in FIG. 1. For example, a memory card slot may be a proprietary
card slot designed to accept memory cards that adhere to a
proprietary communications protocol. Also for example, a memory
card slot may be compatible with an industry standard
communications protocol, or may be compatible with a widely
accepted communications protocol that is not necessarily formally
documented as an industry standard. Examples include slots that are
compatible with the Multimedia Memory Card (MMC) protocol, Memory
Stick DUO protocol, secure digital (SD) protocol, and Smart Media
protocol. The foregoing list is meant to be exemplary, and not
exhaustive. Add-on slot 110 may be compatible with many memory card
slot protocols other than those explicitly listed above without
departing from the scope of the invention.
[0027] Electronic transaction card 104 includes electrical contacts
108 and stripe 106. Electrical contacts 108 are contacts that
provide a communications interface to communicate with add-on slot
110. For example, electrical contacts 108 may provide connectivity
compliant with a communications protocol for memory cards.
[0028] Stripe 106 represents an area on an external face of
electronic transaction card 104 at which one or more time-varying
magnetic fields emanate. For example, one or more time-varying
magnetic fields may emanate from the location of stripe 106 to
communicate with a magnetic card reader. In some embodiments, the
time-varying magnetic field may emulate the time-varying magnetic
field produced when a typical magnetic card is swiped through a
magnetic card reader. For example, a time-varying magnetic field
produced at stripe 106 may emulate the swipe of a credit card, a
debit card, or any other card having a magnetic stripe compatible
with a magnetic card reader.
[0029] In some embodiments of the present invention, stripe 106 may
be a visible stripe on electronic transaction card 104. When stripe
106 is visible, it may be used to indicate the location at which
the time-varying magnetic field will emanate. In other embodiments
of the present invention, stripe 106 may not be visible. For
example, circuitry may be included within electronic transaction
card 106 to produce the time-varying magnetic field and no visible
indication may be present on an external face of electronic
transaction card 104.
[0030] As used herein, the term "stripe" generally refers to a
location on an electronic transaction card, whether a visible
stripe exists or not. In this description, the term "stripe" may
also be used to refer to a visible marking on a face of an
electronic transaction card. Further, a "stripe" may include the
functionality provided by one or more time-varying magnetic fields
that emanate from the card. For example, the term "stripe" may
refer to multiple magnetic tracks, or multiple "stripes," or
emulation thereof.
[0031] Stripes, as described herein, may be compatible with one or
more standards. A stripe may be compatible with a standard by being
in compliance with the standard or by being partially in compliance
with the standard. For example, stripe 106 may be compatible with
an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) magnetic stripe
standard, or an International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) magnetic stripe standard. In addition, in some embodiments, a
stripe may emulate more than one magnetic track, and the emulated
tracks may or may not be offset from the location specified in a
standard. For example, one or more wires may be utilized to
generate time-varying magnetic fields compatible with a standard,
and the wires may be located at or near stripe 106 in a location
different than the magnetic track offset described in an associated
standard.
[0032] As used herein, the term "transaction" refers to any
beneficial use of an electronic transaction card. For example, any
time stripe 106 emits a time-varying magnetic field to be read by a
magnetic card reader or a hybrid smartcard reader, a transaction
may take place. Transactions may include financial transactions,
access control transactions, or any other type of transaction
involving any of the electronic transaction card embodiments
described herein. Further, as described in more detail below, in
some embodiments of the present invention, transactions may utilize
smartcard interfaces on electronic transaction cards in addition
to, or in lieu of, stripes that emit time-varying magnetic
fields.
[0033] In operation, intelligent electronic device 102 may program
electronic transaction card 104 for use in a transaction involving
stripe 106. For example, intelligent electronic device 102 may
program electronic transaction card 104 to operate as a credit
card, a debit card, or the like. Electronic transaction card 104
may then be used with a magnetic stripe or smartcard based merchant
point-of-sale terminal to effect a transaction. Also for example,
intelligent electronic device 102 may program electronic
transaction card 104 to operate in any other environment where
stripe 106 may be beneficially utilized with a magnetic card
reader.
[0034] FIG. 2A shows intelligent electronic device 202 and
electronic transaction card 220. Intelligent electronic device 202
includes add-on slot 210 to receive electronic transaction card
220. Intelligent electronic device 202 is shown having add-on slot
on one side, but this is not a limitation of the present invention.
For example, add-on slot 210 may be located on top, bottom, or any
other surface of intelligent electronic device 202. Also for
example, an add-on slot may be created by a clamshell design when
the shell is closed. In these embodiments, each side of the
clamshell may incorporate a portion of the add-on slot such that
the add-on slot is "open" when the clamshell is open.
[0035] Electronic transaction card 220 may have any form factor
compliant with add-on slot 210. Electronic transaction card 220 is
shown having a form factor with an aspect ratio different from that
of electronic transaction card 104 (FIG. 1). Electronic transaction
card 220 includes stripe 222 and may have electrical contacts to
interface with add-on slot 210. The electrical contacts may be on
the back side of electronic transaction card 220, recessed on an
edge of electronic transaction card 220, or on the front side of
electronic transaction card 220. In some embodiments, electronic
transaction card 220 includes a "contactless" interface to add-on
slot 210. For example, electronic transaction card 220 may include
an interface to add-on slot 210 that communicates using electric or
magnetic fields, infrared (IR) light, or any other suitable
communications mechanism.
[0036] Electronic transaction card 220 may have an area for
imprinting. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, electronic
transaction card 220 may have space for imprinting a brand (for a
bank or otherwise), and a cardholder's name. Further, electronic
transaction card 220 may include space for a cardholder's
signature. Electronic transaction card 220 may include any other
information, coded or unencoded, visible or nonvisible, without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0037] Intelligent electronic device 202 may include a mechanism to
allow intelligent electronic device 202 to communicate with a wired
or wireless network. For example, intelligent electronic device 202
may include circuitry to communicate with a cellular phone network.
Note that in these embodiments, intelligent electronic device 202
may or may not be a phone. For example, intelligent electronic
device 202 may be a cellular telephone with an add-on slot for use
with an electronic transaction card. Also for example, intelligent
electronic device may be a non-telephonic device that has cellular
network connectivity. Examples include personal digital assistants,
and handheld devices dedicated to the use of electronic transaction
cards. Further, intelligent electronic device 202 may be a
non-telephonic device having wired or wireless connectivity to a
network other than a cellular network, and in some embodiments,
intelligent electronic device 202 may be a device without network
connectivity. Examples include, but are not limited to: Blackberry
devices available from Research in Motion (RIM), music players such
as MP3 players, cameras, and the like.
[0038] In operation, intelligent electronic device 202 may program
electronic transaction card to perform a transaction. In some
embodiments, communications over a network may play a role in the
transaction. For example, intelligent electronic device 202 may
receive authorization for the transaction over a network. Also for
example, intelligent electronic device 202 may program electronic
transaction card 220 to perform a transaction, and then report the
transaction to an entity using the network.
[0039] Electronic transaction card 220 may be utilized in financial
transactions. For example, electronic transaction card 220 may be
programmed to operate as a credit card or a stored value card. In
these embodiments, electronic transaction card 220 may be
programmed to emit one or more time-varying magnetic fields to
emulate the swiping of a credit card or stored value card. In some
of these embodiments, electronic transaction card 220 may use one
number repeatedly, or may use a different number for each
transaction. For example, electronic transaction card 220 may be
programmed to have one number, similar to how a credit card uses
the same number repeatedly. Also for example, electronic
transaction card 220 may be programmed to use a different number
for each transaction. These numbers are referred to herein as
"single transaction account numbers" or "STANs."
[0040] Single transaction account numbers may be generated by the
card issuer or locally by either an intelligent electronic device
or an electronic transaction card. Generation of STANs may be
accomplished in any of several ways. For example, when an
electronic transaction card is issued, the cardholder may receive
several pre-assigned single-use transaction numbers. The numbers
may also have a pre-specified sequence. In some embodiments, this
sequence may be known only to the issuing bank and the cardholder's
intelligent electronic device and/or electronic transaction card. A
card issuing bank may authorize payments based on the expected
sequence of account numbers, and if out-of-sequence account numbers
are used, then the issuing bank may consider that transaction as a
potentially fraudulent transaction. The issuing bank may also use
this feature to track the merchant involved in the potentially
fraudulent transaction.
[0041] According to another example, a pre-assigned sequence of
STANs may be reset to the original starting number on the list
depending on user input or other triggers. In addition, the list of
numbers may be periodically downloaded via a cellular phone network
or other network connectivity.
[0042] FIG. 2B shows intelligent electronic device 230 and
electronic transaction card 240. Intelligent electronic device 230
is an example of a "wearable" device that is capable of
communicating with an electronic transaction card. For example,
intelligent electronic device 230 is shown having the form factor
of a wristwatch. Some embodiments of the present invention may have
other wearable form factors. For example, a wearable intelligent
electronic device may be worn in such a manner that it contacts
human skin, or it may be worn on clothing. Any wearable intelligent
electronic device may be employed without departing from the scope
of the present invention. Further, intelligent electronic device
230 may have any of the capabilities described herein.
[0043] Intelligent electronic device 230 may include an add-on slot
to accept electronic transaction card 230. The add-on slot may be
any of the add-on slot embodiments described herein. Electronic
transaction card 240 may be any electronic transaction card. For
example, electronic transaction card 240 may be any electronic
transaction card embodiment described herein.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an electronic transaction
card. Electronic transaction card 300 is an electronic transaction
card capable of communicating with an intelligent electronic
device, and capable of communicating with a magnetic card reader.
For example, electronic transaction card 300 may be electronic
transaction card 104 (FIG. 1) or electronic transaction card 220
(FIG. 2A).
[0045] Electronic transaction card 300 includes electrical contacts
302, intelligent electronic device (IED) interface 304, nonvolatile
memory 306, processing device 308, volatile memory 310, magnetic
field producing circuits 312, swipe sensor 314, and stripe 320.
[0046] Electrical contacts 302 correspond to electrical contacts
108 (FIG. 1). IED interface 304 is coupled to electrical contacts
302 to provide a communications interface between electronic
transaction card 300 and an intelligent electronic device. For
example, IED interface 304 may be an interface compatible with an
add-on slot such as add-on slot 110 (FIG. 1) or add-on slot 210
(FIG. 2A).
[0047] Magnetic field producing circuit 312 includes one or more
circuits to produce time-varying magnetic fields at or near the
location of stripe 320. For example, one or more current carrying
conductors may be excited to produce a magnetic field, and the
current may be varied in amplitude and reversed in polarity to
cause the magnetic field to be time-varying. In some embodiments,
the number of magnetic field producing circuits corresponds to the
number of tracks being emulated for stripe 320. For example, stripe
320 may emulate two, three, four, or more magnetic tracks on a
magnetic card such as a credit card. In these embodiments,
electronic transaction card 300 may include two, three, four, or
more magnetic field producing circuits 312. Magnetic field
producing circuits 312 may also include circuits to allow control
of the time-varying magnetic field. For example, magnetic field
producing circuits 312 may include voltage drivers, current
drivers, registers to hold digital data, sequential circuits to
translate the digital data to magnetic fields, and the like.
[0048] Swipe sensor 314 senses when electronic transaction card 300
has been swiped in a magnetic card reader, and provides a swipe
indication to processing device 308. The swipe sensor may be a
mechanical switch, an electronic switch, or any other type of
suitable switch. For example, a mechanical switch may get pressed
when electronic transaction card 300 is swiped. Also for example,
an electrical sensor may include two or more contacts (not shown)
that get shorted when swiped past a metal head within a card
reader. Further, a Hall effect sensor or light-based sensor may be
utilized. The present invention is not limited by the type of swipe
sensor utilized. In some embodiments, swipe sensor 314 is
omitted.
[0049] Processing device 308 represents a processor capable of
communicating with the other blocks shown in electronic transaction
card 300. For example, processing device 308 may be a
microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a
microcontroller, or the like. Further, processing device 308 may be
formed from state machines or other sequential logic. In operation,
processing device 308 may read instructions from volatile memory
310 and/or nonvolatile memory 306 and perform actions in response
thereto. For example, processing device 308 may execute program
instructions that influence communications between electronic
transaction card 300 and an intelligent electronic device, or
between electronic transaction card 300 and a magnetic card
reader.
[0050] Volatile memory 310 represents memory that may lose its
state when power is removed from electronic transaction card 300.
For example, volatile memory 310 may be static random access memory
(SRAM). Volatile memory 308 may be utilized by processing device
308 when executing programs. For example, a program may be copied
into volatile memory 308 prior to execution. Also for example,
processing device 308 may use volatile memory 308 to store data
during the execution of a program.
[0051] Nonvolatile memory 306 represents memory that does not lose
its state when power is removed from electronic transaction card
300. Nonvolatile memory 306 may be any suitable type of memory such
as Flash memory with floating gate transistor memory cells.
Examples include NOR Flash memory, NAND Flash memory, and
multibit/cell Flash memory.
[0052] Nonvolatile memory 306 may hold program instructions that
are executable by processing device 308. For example, prior to
being sold, a manufacturer or distributor may program nonvolatile
memory 306 with program information to influence the operation of
electronic transaction card 300. Also for example, an intelligent
electronic device may provide program information to electronic
transaction card 300 through IED interface 304.
[0053] Nonvolatile memory 306 may also hold program instructions
that are executable by a processing device other than processing
device 308. For example, a manufacturer, distributor, reseller, or
other participant in the chain of commerce may program nonvolatile
memory 306 with program information to be transferred to an
intelligent electronic device. Information to be transferred may
include device drivers, application software, or the like.
[0054] Electronic transaction card 300 may include one or more
power sources (not shown). For example, electronic transaction card
300 may include a battery or a capacitor such as a supercapacitor.
In some embodiments, a rechargeable battery may be included. The
rechargeable battery may accept a charge from an add-on slot in an
intelligent electronic device. In some embodiments, a capacitor may
accept a charge from an intelligent electronic device. The
capacitor may provide power to electronic transaction card 300 for
enough time to perform a transaction. Further, the capacitor may be
sized to ensure that a transaction may only be performed during a
limited time period after removing the electronic transaction card
from an add-on slot, thereby ensuring that a stolen card may not be
used repeatedly without the cardholder's consent. Also in some
embodiments, electronic transaction card 300 may be programmed to
go dormant if a transaction is not performed within a limited time
period after removing the card from an intelligent electronic
device.
[0055] Electronic transaction card 300 may include one or more
integrated circuits. For example, processing device 308 may be on
one integrated circuit die, and the memories may be on another
integrated circuit die. In some embodiments, all active devices are
included on a single integrated circuit die. In some embodiments,
various integrated circuit dice are mounted on a common substrate
to provide a high level of integration using separate dice. Any
amount of circuit integration may be practiced without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
[0056] Electronic transaction card 300 has dimensions "a" and "b."
In some embodiments of the present invention, stripe 320 has a
length that is substantially equal to a, and in some embodiments,
stripe 320 has a length less than a. Further, in some embodiments,
a is less than the stripe length of a standard credit card
(approximately three and three eighths inches), and in some
embodiments, a is much less than the stripe length of a standard
credit card. For example, in some embodiments, a is less than 75%
the length of a standard credit card stripe. Further, in some
embodiments, a is less than 50% the length of a standard credit
card stripe. In still further embodiments, a is less than 25% the
length of a standard credit card stripe.
[0057] In some embodiments, dimensions a and b are substantially
equal to the dimensions of a memory card. For example, dimensions a
and b may conform to the dimensions of an MMC memory card, a Memory
Stick PRO DUO memory card, or other memory card. Further, in some
embodiments, electronic transaction card 300 has a thickness
compatible with a magnetic card reader.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows an electronic transaction card and a card
reader. Electronic transaction card 410 is a card having a stripe
compatible with a magnetic card reader. For example, electronic
transaction card 410 may be electronic transaction card 104 (FIG.
1), electronic transaction card 220 (FIG. 2A), electronic
transaction card 300 (FIG. 3), or any other electronic transaction
card described herein. Magnetic card reader 420 is a card reader
compatible with magnetic cards. For example, magnetic card reader
420 may operate as part of a merchant point-of-sale terminal, an
access control device, or the like. When a magnetic card is swiped
through magnetic card reader 420, one or more time-varying magnetic
fields are produced relative to the location of a magnetic read
head (not shown) in magnetic card reader 420.
[0059] In the operation depicted in FIG. 4, electronic transaction
card 410 is swiped through magnetic card reader 420. During the
swiping operation, electronic transaction card 420 produces one or
more time-varying magnetic fields to emulate the swiping of a
magnetic card. For example, a swipe sensor within electronic
transaction card 410 may detect the swiping action depicted in FIG.
4, and a magnetic field producing circuit may generate one or more
time-varying magnetic fields as electronic transaction card 410
passes by a magnetic read head in magnetic card reader 420.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows an intelligent electronic device, an electronic
transaction card, and a magnetic card reader. Electronic
transaction card 510 is shown being swiped through magnetic card
reader 520 while attached to intelligent electronic device 500. The
operation depicted in FIG. 5 represents a transaction occurring
while electronic transaction card 510 is coupled to an add-on slot
of intelligent electronic device 500.
[0061] FIG. 6 shows an adapter for use with an electronic
transaction card. Adapter 600 includes a body portion having
dimensions "w" and "l", and a receiving portion shown at 610.
Adapter 600 is useful to receive an electronic transaction card at
receiving portion 610 to provide a larger card having the
functionality of an electronic transaction card. For example, in
some embodiments of the present invention, dimensions w and l are
compatible with swallow-type magnetic card readers, and a
combination of adapter 600 an electronic transaction card may be
compatible with such readers.
[0062] Receiving portion 610 may include an interface compatible
with a connector on an electronic transaction card. For example, an
electronic transaction card may have an interface that is
compatible with both an add-on slot of an electronic transaction
device and receiving portion 610 of adapter 600.
[0063] FIG. 7 shows adapter 600 having an electronic transaction
card 710 coupled thereto. Electronic transaction card 710 includes
a stripe capable of emitting one or more time-varying magnetic
fields as described above. The combination of electronic
transaction card 710 and adapter 600 allow the functionality of
electronic transaction card 710 to be useful in the larger form
factor of adapter 600.
[0064] In some embodiments, adapter 600 includes active or passive
circuitry in support of the operation of electronic transaction
card 710. For example, adapter 600 may include electrical contacts,
a battery, an integrated circuit, or other circuits. Also for
example, adapter 600 may include one or more swipe sensors to
provide a swiping indication to electronic transaction card
710.
[0065] FIG. 8 shows an adapter having a smartcard interface 810. In
embodiments represented by FIG. 8, an adapter may be utilized to
perform a transaction involving a smartcard reader while utilizing
an electronic transaction card. For example, an electronic
transaction card may be coupled to adapter 800 at receiving portion
820, and the electronic transaction card may provide data useful
for a smartcard transaction.
[0066] FIG. 9 shows an electronic transaction card having a
smartcard interface. Electronic transaction card 900 includes
electrical contacts 908 and 910. Electrical contacts 908 are
similar to electrical contacts 108 (FIG. 1). For example,
electrical contacts 908 may be compatible with an add-on slot of an
intelligent electronic device such as intelligent electronic device
102 (FIG. 1). Electrical contacts 910 are arranged to provide the
communications interface to a smartcard reader.
[0067] In some embodiments, electronic transaction card 900
includes a smartcard interface as well as a stripe to produce the
time-varying magnetic field. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the
backside of electronic transaction card 900 may include stripe
1010. The various electronic transaction cards described herein may
include a stripe, a smartcard interface, or a combination
thereof.
[0068] FIG. 11 shows an adapter in combination with an electronic
transaction card. Adapter 1100 is shown having electronic
transaction card 900 coupled in a recessed portion on a side having
dimension w. In some embodiments, this configuration places
electrical contacts 910 at a location expected by smartcard
readers.
[0069] FIG. 12 shows an adapter having an aperture to receive an
electronic transaction card. Adapter 1200 includes aperture 1210 to
receive an electronic transaction card. In some embodiments,
aperture 1210 passes completely through adapter 1200, and in other
embodiments, aperture 1210 is a recessed portion on the face of
adapter 1200. Adapter 1200 may receive electronic transaction cards
having a stripe, a smartcard interface, or a combination of the
two.
[0070] FIG. 13 shows and adapter having a body portion 1300, a
recessed portion 1310, and stripe 1320. Recessed portion 1310 may
receive an electronic transaction card as described above with
respect to FIGS. 6-7. Further, stripe 1320 may be utilized to
communicate with a magnetic card reader. For example, adapter 1300
may include a magnetic field producing circuit such as magnetic
field producing circuit 312 (FIG. 3) to produce a time-varying
magnetic field. In operation, an electronic transaction card may be
coupled to adapter 1300 at recessed portion 1310, and provide
transaction information to be used by stripe 1320 for a transaction
with a magnetic card reader. In some embodiments, an electronic
transaction card having neither a stripe nor a smartcard interface
may be coupled to adapter 1300 at recessed portion 1310 to effect a
transaction using stripe 1320.
[0071] The various adapters shown in the previous figures may have
recessed portions, apertures, or stripes anywhere on the adapter
without departing from the scope of the present invention. For
example, in some embodiments, a recessed portion may be on the side
of the adapter having a smaller dimension, and in other embodiments
a recessed portion may be on the side of the adapter having a
larger dimension. Also for example, in some embodiments, a stripe
may be on the side of the adapter having a smaller dimension, and
in other embodiments a stripe may be on the side of the adapter
having a larger dimension.
[0072] FIG. 14 shows an electronic transaction card. Electronic
transaction card 1400 includes stripe 1410 and add-on slot
compatible portion 1402. Add-on slot compatible portion 1402
includes electrical contacts 1408 to communicate with an add-on
slot in an intelligent electronic device. For example, add-on slot
compatible portion 1402 may be physically and electrically
compatible with add-on slot 110 (FIG. 1) or add-on slot 210 (FIG.
2A).
[0073] Electronic transaction card 1400 may include any of the
circuits, features, or functionality described herein. For example,
electronic transaction card 1400 may include magnetic field
producing circuits, swipe sensors, processing devices, volatile and
nonvolatile memory, various interfaces, and electrical
contacts.
[0074] Electronic transaction card 1400 is shown having stripe 1410
along an edge having dimension "l." In some embodiments, electronic
transaction card 1400 may have stripe 1410 along an edge other than
that shown in FIG. 14.
[0075] In operation, electronic transaction card 1400 may be left
coupled to an electronic transaction device when being swiped
through a magnetic card reader, similar to the operation shown in
FIG. 5. Further, electronic transaction card 1400 may be removed
from an intelligent electronic device prior to being swept through
a magnetic card reader, similar to the operation shown in FIG.
4.
[0076] FIG. 15 shows an electronic transaction card and an adapter
in combination. The combination of electronic transaction card 1400
and adapter 1500 form a card having dimensions "w" and "l" as
described above with reference to previous figures. The resulting
card may be suitable for swallow-type magnetic card readers.
[0077] FIG. 16 shows a combination electronic transaction card and
adapter 1610 being inserted into a swallow-type magnetic card
reader. As shown in FIG. 16, the swallow-type magnetic card reader
is part of an automated teller machine (ATM), but this is not a
limitation of the present invention. For example, the swallow-type
reader may be part of a point-of-sale device, an access entry
device, or any other type of device capable of incorporating a
swallow-type magnetic card reader.
[0078] FIG. 17 shows a combination electronic transaction card and
adapter being swiped through a magnetic card reader. Adapter 1710
and electronic transaction card 1720 are shown being swiped through
magnetic card reader 1730. Electronic transaction card 1720 maybe
any of the electronic transaction card embodiments described
herein. For example, electronic transaction card 1720 may include a
stripe, a smartcard interface, or a combination of the two.
Although adapter 1710 is shown as an adapter having a recessed
portion on one side, the combination adapter/card in FIG. 17
represents any of the adapter/card combinations described herein.
For example, adapter 1710 may be any of adapters 600 (FIGS. 6,7),
adapter 800 (FIG. 8), adapter 1100 (FIG. 11), adapter 1200 (FIG.
12), adapter 1300 (FIG. 13), or adapter 1500 (FIG. 15).
[0079] FIG. 18 shows a financial transaction card. Financial
transaction card 1800 includes stripe 1802, financial card circuits
1804, memory card emulation circuitry 1806, and memory card
compatible interface 1808. Financial transaction card 1800 is an
example of a financial card that might be issued by a bank or other
financial institution. For example, financial transaction card 1800
might be a debit card, a credit card, a stored value card, or other
card issued for the purposes of financial transactions.
[0080] Financial card circuits 1804 interact with stripe 1802 to
produce time-varying magnetic fields compatible with a magnetic
card reader. For example, financial card circuits 1804 and stripe
1802 may provide financial transaction data to a point-of-sale
terminal. Financial transaction card 1800 also includes memory card
emulation circuitry 1806 to emulate the operation of a memory card.
The combination of memory card emulation circuitry 1806 and memory
card compatible interface 1808 allow financial transaction card
1800 to perform as a memory card. For example, memory card
compatible interface 1808 may be compatible with a memory card
interface in an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic
device.
[0081] FIG. 19 shows a memory card. Memory card 1900 includes
memory card compatible interface 1930, memory card circuits 1920,
financial card emulation circuitry 1910, and stripe 1902. Memory
card 1900 is an example of a card that may be fabricated and sold
by a memory card manufacturer or a manufacturer that is in the
business of selling electronic peripheral devices. By including
financial card emulation circuitry 1910 and stripe 1902 in memory
card 1900, the manufacturer of memory card 1900 may add features
desired by consumers. For example, the combination of stripe 1902
and financial card emulation circuitry 1910 may emulate the
operation of a financial card such as a credit card, debit card,
stored value card, or the like.
[0082] FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card
and electronic transaction card. Card 2000 includes memory 2010,
processing element 2020, magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030, card
reader interface 2040, memory card circuitry 2050, and memory card
slot compatible interface 2060. Processing element 2020 may be any
processing element suitable to communicate with memory 2010 and the
other blocks shown in FIG. 20. Magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030
may include circuits to produce time-varying magnetic fields or
signals compatible with a smart card reader. Card reader interface
2040 may include a stripe as described above, or may include
electrical contacts compatible with a smartcard reader. Memory card
circuitry 2050 may be any type of memory circuitry accessible by an
intelligent electronic device. The intelligent electronic device
may access memory card circuitry 2050 through memory card slot
compatible interface 2060.
[0083] Memory 2010 is shown having card software 2012 and
application software 2014. In some embodiments, card 2000 is sold
or distributed having both card software 2012 and application
software 2014 in memory 2010. For example, memory 2010 may be
nonvolatile memory having card software 2012 for execution by
processing element 2020. Also for example, memory 2010 may have
application software 2014 meant to be installed on a device other
than card 2000. Application software 2014 may include drivers, user
interface software, single transaction account number (STAN)
generation software, or any other software that may be installed on
a device other than card 2000.
[0084] Application software 2014 may operate in any of multiple
languages on multiple operating systems. For example, application
software 2014 may provide a user interface in any regional
language. Also for example, application software 2014 may run on
any operating system (OS).
[0085] FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of how card 2000 (FIG. 20) may
be utilized. A card issuer 2110 may issue card 2000 to a cardholder
2130. As issued by card issuer 2110, card 2000 may include card
software and application software as shown in FIG. 21. Cardholder
2130 may couple card 2000 with intelligent electronic device 2140
and install application software on the intelligent electronic
device. For example, intelligent electronic device 2140 may be a
mobile phone capable of executing application software, and card
2000 may supply application software to be installed on the mobile
phone. Also for example, intelligent electronic device 2140 may be
a non-telephonic device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA),
or other dedicated hardware, capable of receiving card 2000 in an
add-on slot.
[0086] FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of a combination memory card
and electronic transaction card. Card 2200 includes processing
element 2020, magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030, card reader
interface 2040, memory card circuitry 2050, and memory card slot
compatible interface 2060, all of which are described above with
reference to FIG. 20. Card 2200 also includes nonvolatile memory
2210 and volatile memory 2220. As shown in FIG. 22, nonvolatile
memory 2210 includes card software 2212 to be executed by
processing element 2020. Also as shown in FIG. 22, card 2200
includes volatile memory 2220 having financial transaction data
2222 held therein. Financial transaction data 2222 may be
programmed into volatile memory 2220 by processing alignment 2020
in response to communications from an intelligent electronic device
coupled to memory card slot compatible interface 2060. For example,
a mobile phone executing single transaction account number
generation software may provide a single transaction account number
as financial transaction data that gets stored in volatile memory
2220 in preparation for a transaction. In other embodiments,
financial transaction data 2222 represents two, three, four, or
more time-varying magnetic fields to be generated by the
combination of magnetic/smartcard circuitry 2030 and card reader
interface 2040.
[0087] FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of a phone and a card. Phone
2310 may be a cellular telephone, and card 2350 may be any of the
electronic transaction card embodiments described herein. Phone
2310 includes display 2312, processor 2314, single transaction
account number (STAN) generation software 2316, and authentication
software 2318. Card 2350 includes processor 2352, card software
2354, financial transaction data 2356, and point-of-sale (POS)
interface 2358.
[0088] Single transaction account number generation software 2316
may be installed on the phone 2310 when card 2350 is inserted in a
memory slot. For example, referring now back to FIGS. 20 and 21,
STAN generation software 2316 may correspond to application
software 2014. Authentication software 2318 may only allow
authorized users access to phone 2310 and/or card 2350.
[0089] In operation, a user interacting with phone 2310 may gain
access to features by satisfying requirements of authentication
software 2318. Using STAN generation software 2316, a user may
generate financial transaction data 2356 which is held on card 2350
in preparation for a transaction. Card 2350 may then interact with
a card reader using point-of-sale interface 2358 to effect a
transaction. This transaction may be effected with card 2350
coupled to phone 2310 or decoupled from phone 2310. Further, the
transaction using card 2350 may be effected while card 2350 is
coupled to any of the adapter embodiments described herein.
[0090] The following paragraphs provide further disclosure of
various invention embodiments. Each embodiment is fully defined by
the recitation of the corresponding paragraph, and no other
elements are to be considered essential for that particular
embodiment. The embodiments include:
A. An apparatus comprising:
[0091] a stripe to communicate with a magnetic card reader; and
[0092] an interface to communicate with an intelligent electronic
device;
[0093] wherein the apparatus has dimensions smaller than a credit
card.
A1. The apparatus of A wherein the stripe includes circuitry to
produce at least one time-varying magnetic field. A2. The apparatus
of A wherein the interface is compatible with an add-on slot in the
intelligent electronic device. A3. The apparatus of A2 wherein the
interface comprises a memory card interface. A4. The apparatus of A
further comprising a processing element coupled to the interface
and to the stripe. A5. The apparatus of A4 further comprising a
memory element to hold programming information for the stripe. A6.
The apparatus of A4 further comprising an embedded swipe sensor to
sense when the stripe is swiped through a magnetic card reader. A7.
The apparatus of A further comprising nonvolatile memory accessible
by the intelligent electronic device. B. A financial card
comprising:
[0094] a point-of-sale compatible electronic transaction
stripe;
[0095] a memory card compatible interface; and
[0096] memory card emulation circuitry coupled to the memory card
compatible interface.
C. A memory card comprising:
[0097] a memory card compatible interface;
[0098] a point-of-sale compatible electronic transaction stripe;
and
[0099] financial card emulation circuitry coupled to the
point-of-sale compatible electronic transaction stripe.
D. A financial card apparatus comprising:
[0100] a point-of-sale compatible portion having a stripe to
communicate with a point-of-sale transaction device; and
[0101] a memory card compatible portion having at least one
electrical contact to communicate with a memory card slot in an
intelligent electronic device.
E. A memory card comprising:
[0102] a memory card interface operable to couple the memory card
to an intelligent electronic device;
[0103] a nonvolatile memory device accessible through the memory
card interface; and
[0104] a stripe operable to communicate with a magnetic card
reader.
F. A memory card comprising:
[0105] a memory card slot interface; and
[0106] circuitry for producing a time-varying magnetic field
compatible with a magnetic card reader.
F1. The memory card of F wherein the circuitry is configured to
produce a plurality of time-varying magnetic fields compatible with
a point-of-sale transaction device. G. An apparatus comprising:
[0107] means for communicating through a memory card slot in an
intelligent electronic device;
[0108] means for producing at least one time-varying magnetic field
to represent financial transaction data; and
[0109] means for storing the financial transaction data.
H. A card comprising:
[0110] a memory card compatible interface;
[0111] a smartcard compatible interface; and
[0112] a stripe to produce at least one time-varying magnetic field
compatible with a magnetic card reader.
I. A memory card compatible with a memory card slot in a mobile
phone, the memory card including nonvolatile memory accessible by
the mobile phone, a point-of-sale interface to communicate with a
point-of-sale terminal, and volatile memory to hold financial
transaction data. I1. The memory card of I wherein the
point-of-sale interface comprises circuitry to produce at least one
time-varying magnetic field. I2. The memory card of I1 further
including a processing device coupled to the nonvolatile memory,
volatile memory, and point-of-sale interface. J. An electronic
financial transaction device having a thickness compatible with a
point-of-sale card reader, a width less than a credit card width, a
length less than a credit card length, an electronically
programmable stripe situated along the length, and at least one
electrical contact to provide an interface to an intelligent
electronic device. J1. The electronic financial transaction device
of J wherein the at least one electrical contact comprises a memory
card interface compatible with a memory card slot in the
intelligent electronic device. J2. The electronic financial
transaction device of J wherein the electronically programmable
stripe includes a circuit to emulate a magnetic stripe in a credit
card. J3. The electronic financial transaction device of J2 further
comprising a swipe sensor to detect when the electronic financial
device is swiped through a point-of-sale terminal. K. A card
comprising:
[0113] means for storing financial transaction data;
[0114] means for communicating with a memory card slot in an
intelligent electronic device; and
[0115] means for creating a time-varying magnetic field that
represents the financial transaction data.
K1. The card of K wherein the means for storing financial
transaction data comprises volatile memory. K2. The card of K
wherein the financial transaction data comprises a single
transaction account number. K3. The card of K further comprising a
processing device coupled to read the financial transaction data
and influence the operation of the means for creating a
time-varying magnetic field. L. An adapter for use with any of A-K,
the adapter comprising:
[0116] a body portion having exterior dimensions larger than
dimensions of A-G; and
[0117] a receiving portion to receive any of A-G, wherein the
receiving portion is located on the body portion to expose any of
A-G for use in magnetic card reader transactions.
M. An apparatus comprising a body portion with dimensions
compatible with a swallow-type magnetic card reader, wherein the
body portion includes a memory card compatible area to receive a
memory card with magnetic stripe functionality. M1. The apparatus
of M further comprising a smartcard interface. M2. The apparatus of
M further comprising at least one electrical component coupled to
the memory card compatible area portion to interface to the memory
card. M3. The apparatus of M wherein the memory card compatible
area comprises a recessed portion of at least one side of the
apparatus. M4. The apparatus of M wherein memory card compatible
area comprises at least one metallic contact on a periphery of an
aperture in the apparatus. N. A financial card to be used with a
magnetic card reader at a point-of-sale, the financial card
including a memory card interface to allow the financial card to be
inserted in a memory card slot of a mobile phone, and including a
stripe compatible with the magnetic card reader, wherein the stripe
is shorter than a magnetic credit card stripe. O. A card compatible
with a magnetic card reader and compatible with a memory slot in an
intelligent electronic device, the card including software to be
installed on the intelligent electronic device. O1. The card of O
wherein the software includes a module for single transaction
account number generation. O2. The card of O1 wherein the software
is configured to run on a mobile phone. O3. The card of O wherein
the card comprises:
[0118] a memory slot compatible portion; and
[0119] a magnetic card reader compatible portion.
O4. The card of O3 wherein the magnetic card reader compatible
portion comprises circuitry to produce at least one time-varying
magnetic field for use in a financial transaction. P. A card
comprising:
[0120] a memory card interface mechanically compatible with a
memory card slot in an intelligent electronic device;
[0121] a processing device coupled to the memory card interface;
and
[0122] circuitry to produce a time-varying magnetic field
compatible with a point-of-sale device.
Q. A card comprising:
[0123] a memory card interface electrically compatible with a
memory card slot in an intelligent electronic device;
[0124] a processing device coupled to the memory card interface;
and
[0125] circuitry to produce a time-varying magnetic field
compatible with a point-of-sale device.
Q1. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising nonvolatile memory
exposed through the memory card interface. Q2. Any of the cards of
P-Q further comprising volatile memory to hold financial
transaction information. Q3. Any of the cards of P-Q further
comprising a software component that when executed by the
processing device causes the circuitry to produce at least one
time-varying magnetic field representing the financial transaction
information. Q4. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising a
visible stripe at which the at least one time-varying magnetic
field emanates. Q5. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising a
battery. Q6. Any of the cards of P-Q further comprising a capacitor
to provide power to the card. Q7. The card of Q wherein the card
has a size substantially equivalent to a credit card. R. A credit
card sized adapter to receive any of the cards of P-Q. R1. The
adapter of R wherein the credit card sized adapter includes a
smartcard interface. R2. The adapter of R wherein the adapter
includes a first edge having a width and a second edge having a
length, wherein the second edge includes a recessed portion to
accept the card. R3. The adapter of R wherein the credit card sized
adapter includes a first edge having a width and a second edge
having a length, wherein the first edge includes a recessed portion
to accept the card. S. A combination financial card and memory card
apparatus comprising:
[0126] electrical contacts to provide an interface to a mobile
phone;
[0127] a transaction stripe to produce at least one time-varying
magnetic field representing transaction information;
[0128] a processing device; and
[0129] a software component to receive the transaction information
from the mobile phone;
[0130] wherein the electrical contacts are provided on a physical
portion of the combination financial card and memory card apparatus
having dimensions compatible with a memory card slot.
S1. The combination financial card and memory card apparatus of S
further comprises an application software component to be installed
on the mobile phone. T. In combination:
[0131] a memory card having a transaction stripe compatible with a
magnetic card reader; and
[0132] a credit card sized adapter to receive the memory card and
to expose the transaction stripe for use in magnetic card reader
transactions.
U. In combination:
[0133] a memory card having an interface compatible with a memory
card slot in a mobile phone and a smartcard interface; and
[0134] a credit card sized adapter to receive the memory card and
to expose the smartcard interface for use in smartcard
transactions.
V. A financial transaction system comprising:
[0135] a mobile phone having a memory card slot;
[0136] a memory card compatible with the memory card slot, wherein
the memory card includes circuitry to transmit financial
transaction data to a point-of-sale device; and
[0137] a software component to produce single transaction account
numbers for use as financial transaction data.
W. A system comprising:
[0138] a wearable intelligent electronic device having a card slot;
and
[0139] a card comprising a card slot interface and circuitry for
producing a time-varying magnetic field compatible with a magnetic
card reader.
[0140] Although the present invention has been described in
conjunction with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that
modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the
art readily understand. Such modifications and variations are
considered to be within the scope of the invention and the appended
claims.
* * * * *