Magnetic stripe card with dynamic numbers

• US 20060192006A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qsecure Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Kerry Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06196 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/082 Features insuring the integrity of the data on or in the card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A magnetic stripe card includes a magnetic stripe, a plurality of magnetic write heads, and data circuitry. The magnetic stripe stores magnetic fields indicative of a dynamic number. The plurality of magnetic write heads located under the magnetic stripe generates the magnetic fields to write bits of the dynamic number onto the magnetic stripe. The data circuitry generates the dynamic number and sequentially provides the bits of the dynamic number to the plurality of the magnetic write heads.

Claims

1. A card comprising:

a magnetic stripe configured to store magnetic fields indicative of a dynamic number;

a plurality of magnetic write heads located under the magnetic stripe and configured to generate the magnetic fields to write bits of the dynamic number onto the magnetic stripe; and

data circuitry configured to generate the dynamic number and provide a portion of the bits of the dynamic number to the plurality of the magnetic write heads.

2. The card of claim 1 wherein the magnetic write heads comprise a core and coils wrapped around the core and the magnetic write heads are configured to generate the magnetic fields to write bits of the dynamic number onto the magnetic stripe by providing current through the coils.

3. The card of claim 1 wherein the magnetic stripe is configured to demagnetize to remove the magnetic fields indicative of the dynamic number.

4. The card of claim 1 wherein the data circuitry performs cryptography to generate the dynamic number.

5. The card of claim 1 wherein the data circuitry comprises a data receptor configured to receive data to generate the dynamic number.

6. The card of claim 1 further comprising a detector configured to detect a swipe of the card.

7. The card of claim 1 wherein the dynamic number comprises an incrementing usage number.

8. The card of claim 1 wherein a portion of the magnetic stripe is configured to store a fixed number.

9. The card of claim 1 wherein the magnetic stripe, the magnetic write heads, and the data circuitry are placed in plastic to form the card.

10. A method of operating a card, the method comprising:

storing magnetic fields indicative of a dynamic number in a magnetic stripe;

in a plurality of magnetic write heads located under the magnetic stripe, generating the magnetic fields to write bits of the dynamic number onto the magnetic stripe; and

generating the dynamic number using the data circuitry; and

providing a portion of the bits of the dynamic number to the plurality of the magnetic write heads using the data circuitry.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein generating the magnetic fields to write the bits of the dynamic number onto the magnetic stripe comprises providing current through the coils wrapped around the core in the magnetic write heads.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising demagnetizing the magnetic stripe to remove the magnetic fields indicative of the dynamic number.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein generating the dynamic number comprises performing cryptography

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data in to a data receptor to generate the dynamic number.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising detecting a swipe of the card using a detector.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the dynamic number comprises an incrementing usage number.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing a fixed number in a portion of the magnetic stripe.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the magnetic stripe, the magnetic write heads, and the data circuitry are placed in plastic to form the card.

19. A card comprising:

means for storing magnetic fields indicative of a dynamic number;

means for generating the magnetic fields to write bits of the dynamic number onto the means for storing located under the means for storing; and

means for generating the dynamic number; and

means for providing a portion of the bits of the dynamic number to the means for generating the magnetic fields.