US 6,607,127 B2 · Magnetic stripe bridge

Abstract

A novel “bridge” device and accompanying methodology which link the world of the smart cards to that of the magnetic finance cards is described. This “bridge” device is called the “Magnetic Stripe Bridge” or MSB. The main function of the MSB is to interface an ordinary or “naked” smart card with just the smart chip embedded in it to a magnetic card reader for credit transaction without altering the existing card processing infrastructure. As such any smart card is effectively transformed via the use of the MSB into an ordinary magnetic finance card and admissible for use by any conventional magnetic card reader. Through the MSB and the accompanying methodology, the secure smart cards can now be deployed everywhere, both on and off the Internet, thus significantly reducing the current rampant magnetic finance card frauds and identity thefts.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of providing an improved level of security in a system for interfacing a smart card for credit/debit/financial transactions with a magnetic stripe card reading and processing capability, said smart card having electronic data stored therein for enabling a user to initiate and complete a transaction while itself remaining unaltered, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a magnetic stripe bridge having means for interfacing and communicating with said smart card, means for entering a user's PIN into said bridge for verification comparison with portions of said stored data, means for producing simulated magnetic stripe signals responsive in part to data derived from said stored data;
(b) upon successful verification of said PIN with portions of said stored data, said smart card may be removed from said bridge;
(c) producing simulated magnetic stripe signals only upon successful verification of said PIN with portions of said stored data;
and
(d) whereby said bridge alone may be used to initiate and complete a credit/debit/financial transaction by providing said simulated magnetic stripe signals in the absence of a removed smart card.

2 more elements

A method for interfacing a smart card for third part data access transactions with a magnetic stripe card reading and processing capability, said smart card having sensitive personal plus other data stored therein for enabling a user to securely provide said sensitive data while itself remaining unaltered, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a magnetic stripe bridge having means for interfacing and communicating with said smart card, means for entering a user's selected data access PIN into said bridge for verification comparison with portions of said other stored data, means for producing simulated magnetic stripe signals responsive in part to data derived from said other stored data;
(b) upon successful verification of said PIN with portions of said other stored data and transfer of selected portions of said sensitive personal data, said smart card may be removed from said bridge;
(c) producing simulated magnetic stripe signals only upon successful verification of said selected data access PIN with portions of said other stored data, said simulated magnetic stripe signals further containing selected portions of said sensitive personal data;
and
(d) whereby said bridge alone may be used to initiate and complete a secure third party data access transaction by providing said simulated magnetic stripe signals in the absence of a removed smart card.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic stripe bridge

Life of this patent

Magnetic stripe bridge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15