US 2006/0213971 A1Published application

Secure credit card adapter

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsEdward Kelley, Franco Motika, Kim Ruffing

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A secure card adapter provides for writing of highly secure, single transaction information on a machine-readable medium of a card structure in accordance with a format that may be downloaded from an external data source. The card structure may be, for example, an existing access authorization card or an existing credit card containing account-specific information which can be read and stored in memory of the secure card adapter. Once such account-specific information is read from an existing access authorization or credit card, secure transaction information can be written, together with the account specific information in accordance with the downloaded format information on another card structure to provide a universal access authorization and/or credit card. Thus the secure card adapter provides an enhanced degree of security through an existing or transitional communication infrastructure.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A secure card adapter comprising:

a card body which incorporates a microprocessor device, a read only memory device and a secure linear feedback shift register, the microprocessor device being interfaced to the read only memory device containing a pre-initialized personality configuration, said pre-initialized personality configuration being comprised of both a unique card identification and a customized secure linear feedback shift register initial configuration;
a reference linear feedback shift register incorporated in said card body and synchronized to the secure linear feedback shift register;
a security code generator incorporated in said card body and producing a security code utilizing said secure linear feedback shift register, said secure linear feedback shift register being driven by a common free-running clock oscillator and providing outputs which, when combined with the card identification, produce a security code uniquely based upon said pre-initialized personality configuration, said security code being accessible by the microprocessor;
a communication interface incorporated in said card body and connected to said microprocessor device, said communication device providing an input/output message function of the secured information between the microprocessor and an agent outside said secure card body;
and
means for writing unique transaction information on a machine-readable medium on a card structure.

3 more elements

A method of writing secure information to a machine-readable medium of a card, said method comprising steps of

authenticating a user to a secure card adapter, said secure card adapter comprising
a card body which incorporates a microprocessor device, a read only memory device and a secure linear feedback shift register, the microprocessor device being interfaced to the read only memory device containing a pre-initialized personality configuration, said pre-initialized personality configuration being comprised of both a unique card identification and a customized secure linear feedback shift register initial configuration;
a reference linear feedback shift register incorporated in said card body and synchronized to the secure linear feedback shift register;
a security code generator incorporated in said card body and producing a security code utilizing said secure linear feedback shift register, said secure linear feedback shift register being driven by a common free-running clock oscillator and providing outputs which, when combined with the card identification, produce a security code uniquely based upon said pre-initialized personality configuration, said security code being accessible by the microprocessor;
a communication interface incorporated in said card body and connected to said microprocessor device, said communication device providing an input/output message function of the secured information between the microprocessor and an agent outside said secure card body;
and
means for writing unique transaction information on a machine-readable medium on a card structure,
reading account-specific information from memory of said secure card adapter or from a machine readable medium on a card inserted into said secure card adapter,
generating secure transaction information, and
writing at least said secure transaction information on a machine readable medium of a card.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/907,207Filed 24 Mar 2005
Published: 28 Sep 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G07F 7/1008
Together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric…
G06Q 20/341
Using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards: active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including…
G06Q 20/382
Payment protocols; Details thereof: insuring higher security of transaction
G07F 7/0886
The card reader being part of the point of sale [POS] terminal or electronic cash register [ECR] itself: the card reader being portable for…