Methods and Systems for Encoding a Magnetic Stripe
First Claim
1. A transaction card comprising:
- a first surface; and
a second surface, the second surface being arranged to substantially oppose the first surface, the second surface including a magnetic stripe, the magnetic stripe having a first representation of a first pattern encoded thereon, the magnetic stripe further having a second representation of the first pattern encoded thereon, the first representation being encoded beginning at approximately a first distance from a first edge of the second surface, the second representation being encoded to within approximately the first distance from a second edge of the second surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for encoding information on a magnetic stripe of a transaction card are disclosed. According to one aspect, a transaction card includes a first surface and a second surface that substantially opposes the first surface. The second surface has a magnetic stripe. A first representation of a first pattern and a second representation of the first pattern can be encoded on the magnetic stripe. In one embodiment, the first representation can be encoded beginning at approximately a first distance from a first edge of the second surface, and the second representation can be encoded to within approximately the first distance from a second edge of the second surface.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A transaction card comprising:
-
a first surface; and a second surface, the second surface being arranged to substantially oppose the first surface, the second surface including a magnetic stripe, the magnetic stripe having a first representation of a first pattern encoded thereon, the magnetic stripe further having a second representation of the first pattern encoded thereon, the first representation being encoded beginning at approximately a first distance from a first edge of the second surface, the second representation being encoded to within approximately the first distance from a second edge of the second surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A transaction card comprising:
-
a surface, the surface including a first edge and a second edge; and a magnetic stripe incorporated onto the surface, the magnetic stripe having a first sequence encoded thereon, the magnetic stripe further having a second sequence encoded thereon, the second sequence being a mirror image of the first sequence, wherein a beginning of the first sequence is encoded beginning at approximately a first location associated with a first distance from the first edge and an end of the second sequence is encoded at a second location associated with approximately the first distance from the second edge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for providing information on a magnetic stripe of a transaction card, the method comprising:
-
obtaining a first sequence that represents a pattern to be encoded onto the magnetic stripe, the first sequence including a starting sentinel and an ending sentinel, the starting sentinel being arranged to indicate a start of the first sequence, the ending sentinel being arranged to indicate an end of the first sequence; creating a second sequence that represents the pattern to be encoded onto the magnetic stripe, the second sequence including at least a first sentinel; encoding the first sequence on the magnetic stripe such that the starting sentinel is located at a first location that is approximately a first distance from a first edge of the magnetic stripe; and encoding the second sequence on the magnetic stripe such that the first sentinel is located at a second location that is approximately the first distance from a second edge of the magnetic stripe. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computer-readable medium suitable for providing information on a magnetic stripe of a transaction card, the computer-readable medium comprising:
-
code devices that cause a first sequence to be created that represents a pattern to be encoded onto the magnetic stripe, the first sequence including a starting sentinel and an ending sentinel, the starting sentinel being arranged to indicate a start of the first sequence, the ending sentinel being arranged to indicate an end of the first sequence; code devices that cause a second sequence to be created that represents the pattern to be encoded onto the magnetic stripe, the second sequence including at least a first sentinel; code devices that cause the first sequence to be encoded on the magnetic stripe such that the starting sentinel is located at a first location that is a first distance from a first edge of the magnetic stripe; and code devices that cause the second sequence to be encoded on the magnetic stripe such that the first sentinel is located at a second location that is the first distance from a second edge of the magnetic stripe.
-
-
19. An encoder arrangement comprising:
-
a pattern input configuration, the pattern input configuration being arranged to obtain data to be encoded onto a magnetic stripe of a transaction card; a pattern representation generator, the pattern representation generator being configured to generate a first representation of the data, the pattern representation generator further being configured to generate a second representation of the data, wherein the second representation is a mirror image of the first representation; and an encoding head, the encoding head being configured to encode the first representation and the second representation onto the magnetic stripe. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A pre-paid card, comprising:
-
a first side, said first side have first, second, third and fourth edges; a second side, said second side having the first, second, third and fourth edges, the second edge being opposite the first edge, and the fourth edge being opposite the third edge; and a magnetic stripe extending across at least the second side of said pre-paid card from the first edge to the second edge, wherein said magnetic stripe stores at least a unique identifier for said pre-paid card, and wherein said magnetic stripe stores at least the unique identifier on said magnetic stripe once with respect to the first edge and a second time with respect to the second edge. Wherein the storage of at least the unique identifier at the second edge stores the unique identifier in reverse order as compared to the storage of at least the unique identifier at the first edge. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
Specification