AN ENABLING CARD AND METHOD AND SYSTEM USING THE ENABLING CARD IN A POS

Abstract

The invention relates to an enabling card as well as a system and method for completing a financial transaction in a P.O.S. terminal comprising: a processor carried by the enabling card for: establishing a connection with a mobile device; receiving secure information from a mobile device and generating a digital signal; a coil carried by the enabling card for generating a magnetic field in response to the digital signal to simulate the swipe of card in the P.O.S. terminal and complete the financial transaction.

Claims

1. An enabling card for completing a transaction in a reader comprising: a) a processor carried by the enabling card to: i) establish a connection with mobile device; and ii) receive secure information from the mobile device and generate a digital signal to a means carried by the enabling card; b) wherein said means carried by the enabling card receives said digital signal from said processor to generate a magnetic field to stimulate a swipe of a regular credit card in the reader and complete the transaction; c) and wherein said means for generating a magnetic field comprises Mu-metal.

2. The enabling card as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone and the processor establishes a wireless connection with the mobile phone.

3. The enabling card as claimed in claim 2 wherein the transaction comprises a financial transaction and the mobile phone includes an application for capturing secure information to complete the transaction.

4. The enabling card as claimed in claim 3 wherein the secure information comprises encrypted information or authorization that normally resides in a financial card or obtaining a one time encrypted authorization from a financial institution.

5. The enabling card as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for rating a magnetic field comprises a coil for generating a magnetic field when said coil receives said digital signature from said processor.

6. The enabling card as of claimed in claim 5 wherein there are two spaced coils and a Mu-metal strip therebetween.

7. The enabling card as claimed in claim 6 wherein the Mu-metal strip comprises 80% by weight Nickel, 5% by weight Molybdenum and the remainder iron and unavoidable impurities.

8. The enabling card as claimed in claim 7 including two spaced capacitive sensors at either end of the Mu-metal strip.

9. A system for completing a financial transaction through a P.O.S. terminal comprising: a) a mobile phone having an app for containing encrypted credit card authorization information; b) an enabling card comprising. CPU; a a communication module for establishing a connection with the mobile phone app; and two spaced coils and a Mu-metal strip there between so as to receive the encrypted credit card authorization information; c) wherein the CPU translates the encrypted credit card authorization information and generates a digital signal which digital signal is received by the coils to generate a magnetic field to simulate the, swipe of a regular credit card in the P.O.S terminal and complete the transaction.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the CPU translates the encrypted credit card authorization information into a standard track 2 ABA number.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10 the mobile phone app contains a plurality of encrypted credit card authorization information relating to a plurality of credit cards.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the enabling card comprises a USB serial interface to charge and program the enabling card.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 further including a micro-controller for EMV and NFC interfaces.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the CPU comprises a micro-controller/RAM for firmware storage and processing.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the enabling card include a programming port to download and update firmware to the financial transaction card.

16. A method of completing a financial transaction in a P.O.S. terminal comprising the steps of: a) inserting an enabling card into the P.O.S. terminal, the enabling card lacking authorization information; b) generating encrypted credit card authorization information by a financial institution received by a mobile phone application; c) establishing a wireless connection between the enabling card and the mobile phone application containing encrypted credit card authorization information; d) transferring the credit card authorization information from the mobile phone to the enabling card; e) generating a magnetic field in response to credit card authorization information transferred the enabling card; f) using Mu-metal when generating the magnetic field: so a to complete the transaction.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the enabling card loses the credit card authorization information after the transaction.

18. The method a claimed in claim 16 wherein the mobile phone application contains a plurality of encrypted credit card authorization information corresponding to a plurality of cards.

19. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] A detailed description of preferred embodiments is provided herein below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical financial card having a magnetic stripe.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a track on a magnetic swipe.

[0019] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the method of using the enabling card in a P.O.S. terminal to gather credit card information from a mobile device to complete the transaction.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the enabling card.

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart representing one embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 6 is another representative drawing of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention whereby the enabling card is within a phone case.

[0025] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the enabling card.

[0026] FIG. 10 is yet another embodiment of the invention whereby the enabling card is housed in a key chain design.

[0027] FIG. 11 is a top plan view of FIG. 10.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of FIG. 10.

[0029] FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a card 2 such as a credit card, debit card, gift card, hotel door card, security access card or the like. The financial card 2 has a magnetic strip 4 which is comprised of tracks 6. More specifically there can be a plurality of tracks 6a, 6b and/or 6c. As previously described, the tracks 6 contain information in a normal transaction to complete a sale in a P.O.S.

[0031] The magnetic strip 4 can by way of example contain the following sequence as shown in FIG. 2. The sequence shown in FIG. 2 starts with colon 8 and includes encrypted information 10 such as the identity of the card holder, credit limit and and/or vendor or financial institution identity 12. A credit card, gift card, hotel door card, or security card or the like also includes encrypted information on the magnetic strip 4 which can include the name of the holder of the card 2 as well as the financial institution, hotel, organization or office which has issued the card 2.

[0032] The invention to be described herein comprises in one embodiment moving the encrypted information or authorization 10 that normally resides in a card 2 to a mobile device 24 such as a mobile phone 24, or obtaining a one time encrypted authorization by the mobile phone 24 from a financial institution, vendor, hotel, organization, office or the like. In either case the enabling or authorization card 20 to be described herein gathers the: [0033] encrypted information; or [0034] one time encrypted authorization
from the mobile phone 24 to complete the transaction. The vital information 10, and 12 is resident in the mobile device 24, thus more secure that if the vital information 10 and 12 was resident on the card 2, or enabling card 20.

[0035] In the case where the enabling card 20 acts as a financial institution card 2, once the transaction is completed the enabling card 20 loses the encrypted information or one time encrypted authorization—but the encrypted information resides within the mobile phone 24. In other words there is separation of the encrypted information or one time encrypted authorization from the card 2 to the mobile device 24 which communicates with the enabling card 20.

[0036] In the case of a hotel door card, organization, or office security card or the like the encrypted information would reside in the mobile phone 24. In other words hotels or vendors could send the encrypted information (which could be time sensitive) ahead of time to the guest or on the spot; making it easier and more secure than heretofore. By time sensitive we mean that the hotel door security card does not work after the guest hotel stay expires.

[0037] Thus the invention described herein contemplates the use of one enabling card 20 that can be activated or deactivated by a financial institution, vendor, hotel, organization or office as the need arises; or the use of a plurality of enabling cards 20 that are activated or deactivated by a plurality of financial institutions, vendors, hotels, organizations, offices or the like as the need arises.

[0038] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the method of using the card 20 in the P.O.S. terminal to gather credit card information from a mobile device 24 such as a phone or the like to complete the transaction.

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the invention which comprises the enabling card 20 having a charger circuit 26. The card 20 also includes a CPU or micro controller 30. Generally speaking the micro controller 30 can communicate by Bluetooth technology, WiFi or the like. The enabling card 20 establishes a secure Bluetooth connection with the mobile device 24.

[0040] In one embodiment the CPU communicates by a Bluetooth technology which is generally more secure than WiFi. Generally speaking WiFi technology is easier to intercept than that of Bluetooth. The enabling card 20 also can include a rechargeable battery 32 which can comprise a Li-Po battery or a miniature solar panel which is part of the enabling card 20 that can be charged by the sun or the like.

[0041] The enabling card 20 also includes a programmable port 34 and includes a coil 36 which generates a magnetic field to simulate the swipe of a normal financial card. The coil 36 may also include sensor 38 that can used to sense when the enabling card 20 is ready to read.

[0042] In one embodiment the enabling card is an electronic device that communicates with a mobile device 24 as described.

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates an operable embodiment of the invention which comprises the steps of establishing a secure connection with the enabling card 20 and then receiving a request for payment for the enabling card 20 through the P.O.S. terminal 22. Thereafter a payment method can be selected based on GPS coordinates, default settings and user settings as shown. There can be a PIN request if the feature is enabled and thereafter encrypted data may be sent to the enabling card 20 by the mobile device 24. Thereafter an acknowledgement can be received from the enabling card 20.

[0044] FIG. 6 also shows the method of establishing a secure connection with the mobile device 24 by means of Bluetooth technology. The swipe action can be detected through on-board proximity sensors 38. A request is sent to the mobile device application 24 to retrieve a method of payment of use. Thereafter encrypted data is received from the mobile device 24 and sent to the enabling card 20. There is a verifying step to verify the integrity and then decrypt the received data. Thereafter an electric signal is generated that reflects the data received and it is sent to the coil 36. The coil 36 generates a magnetic field ready to be picked up by the P.O.S. terminal to complete the transaction.

[0045] The mobile device 24 has an app which stores the encrypted information or makes it possible to receive one time encrypted information for either a single enabling card or a plurality of credit card authorization information and the user can select the credit card that is desired for the transaction. Once selected the card information can be securely sent to the enabling card 20. The enabling card 20 is a dumb card or a blank card until it communicates with the mobile device 24.

[0046] The invention described herein has the following attributes: [0047] 1 Card security improvement. The card does not hold/carry any personal and/or financial information of its owner. A lost or stolen can be easily replaced without any security concern. [0048] 2 Total retro-compatibility. The card is compatible with any reading device such as a P.O.S. payment terminal already in use and does not require any software/hardware upgrade in order to work. [0049] 3 Update-able. The front of the card can be periodically updated by the financial institute/issuer of the card. This technology can be used to deliver notifications, bar-codes, QR-codes etc. Once modified, the front of the card will maintain its appearance until the next update will be processed, even if the battery is unplugged or totally discharged (power consumption is very minimal). [0050] 4 Enormous increment of transactional security. The validation by PIN, or other type of recognition can be processed on the mobile device 24. This new procedure/behaviour will minimize the possibility of PIN involuntary disclosure and be substantially immune to skimmer/‘man in the middle type of attacks; it will also shift the responsibility for ‘un-authorized transactions. [0051] 5 The already ‘armoured’ transaction security can also be further improved, by the delivery of unique and ‘one time only’ credit card numbers for each different transaction.

[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention where the enabling card 20 is within a phone case 50. More specifically the enabling card 20 is slideably within compartment 52. The method will be the same as previously described except that the enabling card 20 will slide out to one side and the user will swipe the phone as for example in an iphone, where the swiping will activate the app and the “PIN” will display on the user's phone.

[0053] Although the invention has been described in relation to credit cards it can also be used for NFC, EMV and barcode. Furthermore E-paper controller technology can be used to also periodically visually update the financial institution card with promotional options, logo updates, marketing tools, and notification deliveries.

[0054] FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the enabling card 20 which includes the components found in FIG. 4 (top portion not shown in FIG. 9) but whereby the coil 36 in FIG. 4 is being replaced with coils 37a and 37b as shown in FIG. 9. Furthermore the proximity sensors 38 shown in FIG. 4 can be replaced by capacitive sensors 39a and 39b. Two capacitive sensors 39a and 39b are used such that the enabling card 20 may be swiped in either direction in a POS device.

[0055] Furthermore FIG. 9 shows a strip of Mu-metal 41. The Mu-metal strip in one embodiment is disposed between the two coils 37a and 37b so as to enhance the lines of magnetic field 43 as shown in FIG. 9. More particularly the Mu-metal can in one embodiment comprise 80% nickel, 5% molybdenum with the remainder being iron Fe and unavoidable impurities. The addition of the Mu-metal enhances the generation of the magnetic field 43 such that the enabling card 20 may be used by proximity activation which means that the proximity card 20 may be placed close to the POS device and still work.

[0056] Furthermore two coils 37a and 37b have been shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9 to provide a more homogeneous magnetic field that tends to produce magnetic lines of flux 43 which are substantially parallel and easier to read. In some cases the enabling card 20 shown at FIG. 4 produces curved magnetic lines.

[0057] FIGS. 10-13 show another embodiment of the invention which basically uses the same concept as identified above but where the components are found within a different shape such as a key chain design 51. The key chain design 51 includes an upper housing 53 and lower housing 55 that includes an on button 57 and pay button 59. The key chain design 51 includes either the enabling card 20 shown in FIG. 4 or the enabling card 20 shown in FIG. 9.

[0058] FIG. 10 shows that buttons 57 and 59 are used instead of the capacitive sensors 39a and 39b. In use the device 51 is placed close to a POS device whereby button 57 is pressed so as to activate the swiping action and button 59 to activate payment.

[0059] Furthermore the device 51 includes a battery 60.