Color-changing smart card

A method for varying a color of a smart card during a transaction process, the method being performed at the smart card itself, the method comprising:

• initiating a transaction at a point of sale (“POS”) device between the smart card and a merchant associated with the POS device, wherein the smart card includes a first layer encasing at least a front of the smart card, the first layer being transparent or translucent, wherein the smart card, at its thickest point, is not thicker than 8 millimeters (“mm”), and a width and height of the smart card is not less than 90% of a width of 86 mm and not less than 90% of a height of 54 mm;
• emitting, from the POS device to the smart card, ultrasonic waves for tracking an exact location of the smart card;
• determining the exact location of the smart card via ultrasonic waves reflected back to the POS device;
• generating, via the POS device, a unique ultrasonic wave ID for the smart card;
• processing the transaction at a back-end server associated with the POS device;
• following the processing, receiving, at the smart card, ultrasonic waves comprising a data packet, the data packet generated at a back-end server associated with the POS device, the data packet comprising a transaction status and the unique ultrasonic wave ID;
• and
• in response to the receiving, activating via a microprocessor on the front of the smart card, a microcapsules residing on a second layer of the smart card in combination with electrophoresis to change a color of the first layer of the smart card between a rest state and an active state, the color being based on the transaction status.

A color-changing smart card comprising:

• a first layer encasing at least a front of the smart card, the first layer being transparent or translucent;
• a smart chip on the front of the smart card comprising a microprocessor and a memory, the smart chip configured for transmitting and receiving electronic communications to and from a point of sale (“POS”) device, the smart chip configured to receive an electronic communication, from the POS, comprising a transaction status following an initiation of a transaction between the smart card and the POS;
• near-field communication (“NFC”) capabilities to enable the transmitting and receiving of the electronic communications between the smart chip and the POS;
• microcapsules residing on a second layer of the smart card, wherein:
• the microcapsules comprise a plurality of colored pigments;
• electrophoresis is used to toggle the microcapsules between a rest state, an active state and a waiting state;
• the first layer has a first color when the microcapsules are in the rest state, the first color being a default color;
• and
• the first layer has a second color when the microcapsules are in an active state;
• the first layer has a third color when the microcapsules are in a waiting state;
• the first color, the second color and the third color are changeable via a user's account associated with a user of the smart card, the user's account stored within a mobile application on a computing device, the mobile application in electronic communication with the smart card;
• the microcapsules are triggered in response to the smart chip receiving the electronic communication;
• a thickness wherein the smart card, at its thickest point, is not thicker than 0.8 millimeters (“mm”);
• and
• a width and height of the smart card is not less than 90% of a width of 86 mm and not less than 90% of a height of 54 mm.