A user having an account with a payment provider receives an unregistered payment card that is associated with the payment provider, and that includes a magnetic strip encoded with a number unique to the card and a machine readable code such as a QR/barcode embossed thereon. The user may then open an application on the user's mobile device to capture the number associated with the card by, for example, scanning the QR/barcode, capturing an image of the number, speaking the number into the device, or manually entering the number into the user's device. The user may also authenticate with the payment provider by entering login credentials. The user may then confirm a request to link the number of the card with the user's payment provider account, which activates and links the card to the user account so that the user can immediately use the card for purchases.

A card with power management circuitry is provided. A card may have circuitry contained therein (e.g., a processor) that may have a maximum operating voltage. The card may include a power source (e.g., a battery) that provides power ranging in voltage from a maximum power source voltage to a minimum power source voltage. The maximum power source voltage is greater than the maximum operating voltage. Power management circuitry is provided to manage the power received from the power source such that the voltage provided to the circuitry (e.g., processor) does not exceed the maximum operating voltage.

A method and a system of capturing an image of a card having a magnetic stripe is provided. The method includes obtaining a first image by an imaging device of the card, obtaining a plurality of images of the card via color delta analysis, and obtaining a third image of the card by comparing the first and the plurality of images.

An automated online payment system may be used to process purchase payments between a buyer and a seller. When a payment is requested, the payment system may determine whether the corresponding purchase satisfies a purchase criterion, and if so, may defer certain aspects of settling the payment. For example, the payment service may determine the risk of deferred settlement and the likelihood that the buyer will make a subsequent purchase from the seller within a relatively short time period. If there is a low risk and high likelihood of a future purchase, the payment service may authorize the payment, but may defer capture of the payment until the buyer makes the subsequent purchase.

An electronic device for supporting power sharing and data communication with an external electronic device, and a method therefor are provided. The electronic device includes a power management circuit, an antenna including a first coil and a second coil, a transceiver circuit configured to transmit a power signal received from the power management circuit to the antenna and to transmit a power signal received from the antenna to the power management circuit, the transceiver circuit including a first transceiver terminal and a second transceiver terminal, a first switch, and a control circuit electrically connected to the first switch and the transceiver circuit. A first end of the second coil may be connected to the first transceiver terminal. A second end of the second coil may be connected to the second transceiver terminal. A first end of the first coil may be connected to the first transceiver terminal through the first switch. A second end of the first coil may be connected to the second transceiver terminal. The control circuit may be configured to control the first switch based on identification information of an external electronic device received from the antenna through the transceiver circuit.

A method for generating and providing a two-dimensional code is provided. The two-dimensional code encodes data for loading a client side of a decentralized application in a web browser of a client device. The two-dimensional code also encodes a private key of a blockchain account that has been funded with a predetermined amount of crypto-currency. The method can also include creating the blockchain account. The method can further include funding the blockchain account with the predetermined amount of crypto-currency and refreshing one or more of the two-dimensional code and the blockchain account. Related systems, computer-readable mediums, and articles are also described.

Embodiments include multi-function electronic payment card and device systems capable of generating a programmed magnetic field of alternating polarity based on a speed of a card swipe, and methods for constructing the device for the purpose of emulating a standard credit card. An apparatus is described to allow the device to emulate behavior of a credit card when used in electronic credit card readers. Additionally methods are described to allow user control of the device for the purpose of authorizing or controlling use of the device in the application of credit, debit and cash transactions, including cryptocurrency and card-to-card transactions. Methods are also described for generating a limited-duration credit card number when performing a transaction for the purpose of creating a limited-use credit card number, which is limited in scope of use to a predetermined number of authorized transactions. Furthermore the device may interact with other similar devices in proximity for the purpose of funds or credit/debit transfers.

An improved control system for a fuel dispenser is disclosed that enables fuel dispensers to process prepaid gas cards based upon a discounted wholesale cost or a non-discounted price that is locked in at the time of the purchase without taking delivery. The control system has access to a snap shot of the regional wholesale gasoline costs across an entire region, such as the US, at the time of purchase of the prepaid gas card. This enables the prepaid gas card to provide a discount on the wholesale cost component of a gallon of gas at any location across the entire region. Since the discount only applies to one component of the retail gas price per gallon; namely, the wholesale gas cost per gallon, the control system automatically calculates a discounted retail gas price at the time and location of delivery based upon the discounted or locked in wholesale cost at the time of purchase of the prepaid gas card. The prepaid gas discount card is received in a magnetic card reader at the fuel dispenser in the same manner as conventional credit cards and provides a wholesaler the ability to create an elastic demand for the gas and regain customer loyalty for gas credit cards.

A method for performing a financial transaction may include obtaining a unique digital code that identifies the financial transaction, communicating the unique digital code from a POS system to a mobile device, transmitting transaction data associated with information regarding the financial transaction, the unique digital code, and information associated with the POS system via a first digital network path, transmitting the unique digital code and account information associated with a user of the mobile device via a second digital network path, receiving an indication as to whether the unique digital code transmitted via the first digital network path matches the unique digital code transmitted via the second digital network path, and offering clearance of the financial transaction by the POS system when the indication indicates that the unique digital code transmitted from the POS system matches the unique digital code transmitted from the mobile device.

Pre-authorized communication services and/or transactions are provided via a plurality of networks in response to a request received from a user to provide at least one of a communication service, a transaction and user account information via a plurality of networks of different types. Prior to processing the request, there is verification of the user's authorization to receive the at least one of the communication service, the transaction, and the user account information, and that an account associated with the user has a sufficient amount currently available for payment of the at least one of the communication service and the transaction. After verification, an authorized account associated with the user is charged in real time as the at least one of the communication service and the transaction is provided.