Modular architecture for fare collection systems

A method for manufacturing a portable fare device having modular architecture, the method comprising:

• coupling a display module configured to control inputs and outputs of a display of the portable fare collection device to a common communications interface of a carrier board of a portable fare device;
• coupling a fare media reader module configured to send and receive data from a fare media and to process fare transactions conducted using the fare media as payment to the common communications interface;
• coupling an external communications module configured for communication of external data with one or more remote devices to the common communications interface;
• and
• coupling at least one controller to the common communications interface such that the at least one controller controls operation of at least one of a plurality of modules;
• wherein the common communications interface comprises a single communications protocol;
• wherein the portable fare device comprises a plurality of translation elements coupled between each of the plurality of modules and the at least one controller such that information communicated from each of the plurality of modules to the at least one controller via the common communications interface passes through at least one of the one or more translation elements, wherein the one or more translation elements are configured to translate a native communications protocol of a corresponding module to a single communications protocol such that exchanging a first component for a second component of a single module only requires reprogramming one of the plurality of translation elements without the need to reprogram the remaining translation elements corresponding to other modules that were not exchanged.