US 2003/0154414 A1 · Magnetic stripe reader for PDA attachment and method of making same

Abstract

A magnetic stripe card manual swipe reader (MSR) unit capable of attaching to and communicating with a conventional personal digital assistant (PDA) from various manufacturers, using only the electrical power available as supplied by the PDA device, and capable of effective electrical power management and conservation operations. Additionally, this PDA attachable MSR unit is capable of recognizing multiple magnetic encoding formats and data record formats and converting said formats to a standardized output format, includes the capability of updating and adding new formats while in field service, and is readily allows verifying card data and encoding sensitive material prior to transmission to the PDA. These custom formats can then be used to fulfill current needs in age verification, law enforcement, security, and numerous other applications.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A PDA attachable device comprising:

(a) magnetic stripe containing data reading and writing operational means;
(b) electrical power transfer means, whereby said PDA attachable device solely derives its electrical power for said magnetic stripe containing data reading and writing operational means from the cradle interface signals supplied by the PDA;
and
(c) power management means, whereby said PDA attachable device efficiently controls power consumption to conserve PDA supplied electrical power enabling greater operational times for said magnetic stripe containing data reading and writing operational means.

1 more element

A method for making a PDA attachable device, including the steps of:

(a) providing magnetic stripe containing data reading and writing operational means;
(b) providing electrical power transfer means, whereby said PDA attachable device solely derives its electrical power for said operational means from the cradle interface signals supplied by the PDA;
(c) providing power management means, whereby said PDA attachable device efficiently controls power consumption to conserve PDA supplied electrical power enabling greater operational times for said operational means;
(d) providing attachment means for the purpose of firmly securing said magnetic stripe containing data reading and writing operational means to the PDA;
and
(e) providing a hot sync connection cradle to enable electrical communication between said PDA attachable device and the PDA connected thereto.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic stripe reader for PDA attachment and method of making same

Life of this patent

Magnetic stripe reader for PDA attachment and method of making same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25