A transaction card construction and computer-implemented methods for a transaction card are described. The transaction card has vector formatted visible information lasered onto its surface. In some embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed for electronically verifying information on a transaction card. The systems and methods may receive a request to provide a verification status for the transaction card and first visible information comprising a signature of a customer written on a point-of-sale terminal. The systems and methods may also receive second visible information comprising a vector representation of a user signature on a transaction card. In addition, the systems and methods may determine the verification status based on a comparison of the first visible information to the second visible information and send the verification status.

Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card.

This application addressed a card comprising a memory operable to store a first card information and a second card information; a display operable to display user information; and a button operable to change a selected card from a first card to a second card and to change the user information from user information associated with the first card to user information associated with the second card.

A multiple application smart card uses hardware firewalls and an internal communications scheme to isolate applications from different service providers. A first application from a first service provider is stored within a first supplemental security domain of a memory device on the multiple application smart card. A second application from a second service provider is stored within a second SSD of the memory device. A hardware firewall is located between the first and second applications of the first and second SSDs. The hardware firewall prevents direct data access between the first and second applications of the first and second SSDs.

Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card.

Methods and apparatuses for tiered RFID communication are provided, inter alia, for privacy and security in at least certain embodiments. An RFID tag includes first and second memory locations respectively storing first and second identifiers. The tag is configured to respond to an identification query with the first identifier until receipt of a command code. After receipt of the command code, the tag is configured to respond to the identification query with the second identifier. The first identifier can be permanently disabled for privacy. In a one embodiment, the first identifier is an electronic product code, and the second identifier is a recycling identifier, hazardous waste information, or regulatory disposal requirement. In another embodiment, the first and second identifiers can identify the tag's associated item with differing levels of specificity for improved security.

A cellular terminal transmits a request that requires authentication procedure triggering to a cellular network and responsively receives from the cellular network an authentication request message with an indication of a selected cryptographic algorithm from a group of a plurality of cryptographic algorithms. The cellular terminal attempts to decode the authentication request message to a decoded authentication request according to the selected cryptographic algorithm and based on a shared secret known by the cellular terminal and a network operator of the cellular terminal. The cellular terminal produces a determination whether the attempt was successful and the cellular terminal supports the selected cryptographic algorithm in authenticating to the cellular network; and in case the determination is positive, based on the decoded authentication request, the shared secret and the selected cryptographic algorithm, produces and encrypts an authentication response message and transmits the authentication response message to the cellular network; and in case the determination is not positive, produces and sends to the cellular network a failure report.

An apparatus such as a mobile phone includes a contactless smart card or payment device, where the smart card is intended for use in both commerce transaction payment and transit fare payment (or other venue access) environments. The payment device may function as both an electronic wallet for commerce transactions and as a transit system card, for access to and fare payment of transit services. Implementation of both functions may be achieved by use of a dynamic memory management system that permits data for both the payment and transit applications to be stored on the card, with the transit data and storage locations isolated from those used to store data intended for use in paying for commerce transactions. The transit application specific data may include access control data (keys, passwords, identification data) or data required for fare calculations (rates, historical data on system use), for example.

Embodiments of the invention include a method of performing a payment transaction comprising receiving transaction data by a PIN pad terminal from a point-of-sale terminal, and receiving tender from a customer, by the PIN pad terminal. Tender data and the transaction data are sent to a service gateway, by the PIN pad terminal. The service gateway collects metadata from the tender data and the transaction data. The tender data is sent by the PIN pad terminal to the point-of-sale terminal, which sends the tender data and the transaction data to a merchant gateway for approval or denial of the tender data. The tender data sent to the POS may be encrypted. The service gateway may provide customer and merchant analytics based on the metadata, as well as perform security/fraud checks, BIN management, PIN pad management. Systems are also disclosed.