A physical currency card (in some cases without any on-board source of power or computing capabilities) is configured to maintain access information for digital bearer assets. Public access information, like a cryptographic hash address operable to receive digital bearer assets or a public key operable to derive a cryptographic hash address operable to receive digital bearer access, may be visible upon inspection of the card such digital bearer assets may be transferred to the card in one or more transactions on a decentralized computing platform, like a blockchain-based decentralized computing platform. Private access information, like a secret, private key that corresponds to the public key (e.g., a public-private key-pair) or a representation of the private key (like a ciphertext thereof) and corresponding encryption key, is physically concealed with tamper-evident components such that a user can readily determine whether the private access information was divulged.

An automatic product dispensing machine (100) according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a product storage device (4), a control unit (30) for controlling product dispensing operation of the product storage device (4), a reading unit (12) for reading information including at least a dispensing permission indication of a product from a product claim card (recording medium) (C) that records the information, and a collecting part (20) for collecting and containing product claim cards (C). In accordance with the information read by the reading unit (12), the control unit (30) outputs a dispensing permission command to the product storage device (4) for permitting dispensing of the product.

An automatic product dispensing machine (100) according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a product storage device (4), a control unit (30) for controlling product dispensing operation of the product storage device (4), a reading unit (12) for reading information including at least a dispensing permission indication of a product from a product claim card (recording medium) (C) that records the information, and a collecting part (20) for collecting and containing product claim cards (C). In accordance with the information read by the reading unit (12), the control unit (30) outputs a dispensing permission command to the product storage device (4) for permitting dispensing of the product.

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for providing user participatory design as a process to generate unique patterns on transaction cards are disclosed. For example, a system for providing an interactive design environment for designing a transaction card is disclosed. Accordingly, the system may provide for deeper customization of transaction cards through generative patterns curated by designers and informed by end-users. As a result, the patterns on transaction cards may be unique to every user, and these unique patterns may provide additional security functions to cardholders.

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for providing user participatory design as a process to generate unique patterns on transaction cards are disclosed. For example, a system for providing an interactive design environment for designing a transaction card is disclosed. Accordingly, the system may provide for deeper customization of transaction cards through generative patterns curated by designers and informed by end-users. As a result, the patterns on transaction cards may be unique to every user, and these unique patterns may provide additional security functions to cardholders.

Aspects described herein may allow for prompting a user to access an on-line tool to create an identification element to be added to an exterior surface of a personal card. A server device may prompt the user to select a location for the identification element from a plurality of pre-selected locations on the personal card, each of the plurality of pre-selected locations being proximate edges of the personal card and outward of any of magnetic strips, chips, text, photos, and images on the personal card. The server device may modify an exterior surface of the personal card to include the identification element at the selected location, and deliver the personal card to the user.

In certain embodiments, indication-related detectable changes on a transaction token may be facilitated. In some embodiments, a transaction card may determine a state of the transaction card (e.g., during an interaction with a transaction terminal). The transaction card may generate a signal related to a color based on the state of the transaction card and cause the signal to be transmitted to a change element of the transaction card. The change element may be configured such that the change element causes one or more edges or other portions of the transaction card to be (i) a first color in response to the signal being a first signal and (ii) a second color in response to the signal being a second signal. As an example, the portions of the transaction card may turn red when the signal is a first voltage and green when the signal is a second voltage.

Secure custody transfers of items among entities including secure lockable compartments are disclosed, wherein users may securely transfer custody of items to and from secure lockable compartments. Records of custody transfers and the custody transfers recorded therein may be associated to a chain of custody. A chain of custody may have an originating entity, one or more intermediary entities, which may include secure lockable compartments, and an end recipient entity. Custody transfers to a secure lockable compartment may include a release authority specifying a subsequent custody transfer, wherein a specified receiving user may access the secure lockable compartment using a portable wireless device and/or using a keypad to enter a provided access token. Custody transfer records may be secured using record certificates useable to authenticate data comprised therein. Record certificates may be written to and retrieved from a ledger, which may be a secure ledger such as a blockchain ledger.

Secure custody transfers of items among entities including secure lockable compartments are disclosed, wherein users may securely transfer custody of items to and from secure lockable compartments. Records of custody transfers and the custody transfers recorded therein may be associated to a chain of custody. A chain of custody may have an originating entity, one or more intermediary entities, which may include secure lockable compartments, and an end recipient entity. Custody transfers to a secure lockable compartment may include a release authority specifying a subsequent custody transfer, wherein a specified receiving user may access the secure lockable compartment using a portable wireless device and/or using a keypad to enter a provided access token. Custody transfer records may be secured using record certificates useable to authenticate data comprised therein. Record certificates may be written to and retrieved from a ledger, which may be a secure ledger such as a blockchain ledger.

A physical card (in some cases without any on-board source of power or computing capabilities) is configured to maintain access information for digital bearer assets. The physical card may include disposed thereon a single address operable to receive digital bearer assets in one or more transactions on a decentralized computing platform, like a blockchain-based decentralized computing platform. Other decentralized computing platforms utilize different address generation protocols, thus preventing use of a single address on those other platforms. A set of addresses is generated, each address corresponding to a given decentralized computing platform. Each address is based on a same underlying key-pair, and a primary address is selected from the set for a given card. The remaining addresses in the set are stored, without storage of the public key or private key, and returned in a response to a request for additional addresses of the currency card.