Read head device with selected sampling rate

• US 20120095915A1
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Square Inc (Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.))
• Inventors: McKelvey, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction

Abstract

A read head is provided that is configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card. The slot is utilized for a financial transaction between a buyer and seller and reads data on the magnetic stripe. A signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe, An output jack of the read head is adapted to be inserted at least one of the audio input port or microphone input port of the mobile device. The output jack delivers the signal to the mobile device. A sampling rate of the signal at the audio input port or a line input port of the mobile device is at least 15 kHZ.

Claims

1. A read head configured to be coupled to mobile device, comprising:

a housing,

a read head positioned in the housing, the read head configured to be coupled to a mobile device, the read head having a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card, the slot being utilized for a financial transaction between a buyer and seller, the read head reading data on the magnetic stripe and producing a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe, the housing having a textured side and a textured front face, the textured side and textured front face enabling a user to swipe the card through slot without looking at the reader or card; and

an output jack adapted to be coupled and de-coupled to at least one of an audio input port or microphone input port of the mobile device and delivering the signal to the mobile device.

2. The read head of claim 1, wherein the sampling rate of the signal at the audio input port or the line input port of the mobile device is at least 20 kHz.

3. The read head of claim 1, wherein the sampling rate of the signal at the audio input port or the line input port of the mobile device is at least 30 kHz.

4. The read head of claim 1, wherein the sampling rate of the signal at the audio input port or the line input port of the mobile device is at least 40 kHz.

5. The read head of claim 1, wherein a confirmation of payment is made to the buyer in response to completion of the financial transaction.

6. The read head of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the buyer is present with the seller at the time of the financial transaction.

7. The read head of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction card is selected from at least one of, credit financial transaction card, debit financial transaction card, gift financial transaction card, fund transfer financial transaction card, and other types of payment authenticating piece capable of carrying out the financial transaction.

8. The read head of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a portable electronic device that includes at least one of, software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof, that is capable of at least receiving a signal, decoding the signal if required, exchange information with a third party financial institution or payment network to verify the buyer and/or seller'"'"'s account information and conduct the financial transaction.

10. The read head of claim 1, wherein the financial transaction is an electronic transaction conducted over the Internet or a financial transaction card present point-of-sale transaction where the buyer makes a purchase at a store front, other “

brick-and-mortar”

location, or in a presence of the seller.

11. The read head of claim 1, wherein the signal includes financial transaction data selected from at least one of, amount of the transaction, additional notes related to the transaction, authorization and/or signature of the buyer.

12. The read head of claim 1, wherein the signal includes financial transaction card information selected from at least one of, one or more of financial transaction card number, financial transaction card holder'"'"'s name, expiration date, and security code.

13. The read head of claim 1, wherein the slot is configured to reduce torque applied on a card reader when the financial transaction card is swiped through the slot in order to maintain accuracy and reliability of the data read by read head.

14. The read head of claim 1, wherein the signal produced is indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe with minimum error via a single swipe of the financial transaction card.

15. The read head of claim 1, further comprising:

passive ID circuitry in the housing of the read head to deliver a unique ID of the read head to the mobile device.

16. The read head of claim 1, wherein acceptance and initialization of incoming signals from a swipe of the financial transaction card are done until the signals reach a steady state, the financial transaction card swipe is detected once steady state is reached, and peaks in the incoming signals are identified when the financial transaction card swipe is detected.

17. The read head of claim 1, wherein the financial transactions is completed without sharing financial transaction card information with the seller.

35. The read head of claim 1, wherein the textured side of the reader matches a textured side of the card.

9. (canceled)

18. A method for conducting a financial transaction with a financial transaction card, comprising:

coupling a mobile device with an output jack of a card reader with a read head, the card reader having the housing with a textured side and a textured front face;

swiping the financial transaction card through a slot of the read head with the textured side and textured front face enabling a user to swipe the card through slot without looking at the reader or card;

producing a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe on the financial transaction card;

sending the signal to the mobile device with the output jack; and

sampling the signal at an audio input port or a line input port of the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sampling rate of the signal at the audio input port or the line input port of the mobile device is at least 20 kHz.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the sampling rate of the signal at the audio input port or the line input port of the mobile device is at least 30 kHz.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the sampling rate of the signal at the audio input port or the line input port of the mobile device is at least 40 kHz.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

communicating at least a portion of the data with a third party financial institution or payment network to authorize the transaction

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending confirmation of payment to a buyer in response to completion of the financial transaction.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

confirming that a buyer is authorized to use the financial transaction card.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining that the buyer is present with a seller at the time of the financial transaction.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

confirming that payment is made with a communication channel of a buyer'"'"'s choice.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

confirming payment with an electronic notification in the form selected from at least one of an, email, SMS message, tweet (message delivered via online social networking service), instant message or communication within a social network.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile device is a seller'"'"'s mobile device.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial transaction card is selected from at least one of, credit financial transaction card, debit financial transaction card, gift financial transaction card, fund transfer financial transaction card, and other types of payment authenticating piece capable of carrying out the financial transaction.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the mobile device is a portable electronic device that includes at least one of, software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof, that is capable of at least receiving a signal, decoding the signal if required, exchange information with a third party financial institution or payment network to verify a buyer and/or seller'"'"'s account information and conduct the transaction.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the financial transaction is an electronic transaction conducted over the Internet or a financial transaction card present point-of-sale transaction where a buyer makes a purchase at a store front, other “

brick-and-mortar”

location, or in a presence of a seller.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein financial transaction information includes data selected from at least one of, amount of the transaction, additional notes related to the transaction, authorization and/or signature of the buyer.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein the financial transaction card information includes one or more of financial transaction card number, financial transaction card holder'"'"'s name, expiration date, and security code.

31. (canceled)