Method and system providing in-line pre-production data preparation and personalization solutions for smart cards

• US 6,588,673 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mist Incorporated USA
• Original Assignee: Mist Incorporated USA
• Inventors: Chan, Victor, Ho, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/500,239
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/379, 235/380, 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• 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 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

An integrated card personalization system is provided using an “in-line” approach for seamless card personalization directly from cardholder data files to avoid duplication of hardware and eliminate the need for an overnight batch process to prepare cardholder data for card personalization. Such integrated card personalization system allows for the personalization of transaction cards such as smart cards on more flexible, low cost, low maintenance and smaller personalization systems so as to save the personalization bureau time and money, particularly on small volume production runs, and eliminate the need to hire and maintain internal software development staff with high attendant cost.

Claims

1. A host card personalization system, comprising:

an operating system; and

a smart card issuance application module executed by said operating system to enable the host card personalization system to receive a data file of cardholder data, to perform a pre-production data preparation process of said cardholder data for generating personalization data, and to perform card personalization of a transaction card using said personalization data for issuing a personalized card.

2. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a security card installed therein for providing cryptographic functions needed to implement data security on the system.

3. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pre-production data preparation process is performed by:

generating application security keys;

generating Issuer Certificates using secret and public key pairs via a remote Certification Authority; and

preparing said data file of cardholder data as said personalization data in a format ready for card personalization.

4. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a personalization equipment arranged to perform said card personalization by:

printing or embossing data on a surface of the transaction card;

encoding a magnetic strip on the transaction card; and

programming cardholder data into a micro-controller chip of the transaction card.

5. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via an on-line connection such as a general switched telephone network, a packet-switched network, a dedicated line, or a cable/satellite a television signal.

6. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via computer media, such as magnetic tape, floppy disk, or compact disk read-only-memory (CD ROM).

7. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cardholder data contains information about each individual cardholder, such as name, account number, card expiration date, and applicable services.

8. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said smart card issuance application module contains smart card issuance application programs which are dynamic link libraries (DLLs) including executable control files compiled to perform in-line pre-production data preparation (P3) and card personalization.

9. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said smart card issuance application module includes a smart card application programming interface (API) which provide API commands to a personalization equipment for card personalization, via a smart card coupler installed therein.

10. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said personalization equipment corresponds to any system which performs printing and embossing functions on the transaction card.

11. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said personalization equipment corresponds to any one add-on smart card interface devices installed on existing non-smart card personalization equipments for performing printing and embossing functions.

12. The host card personalization system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said personalization equipment corresponds to one of devices such as large volume card printer/embossers, small volume card printer/embossers, automatic teller machines (ATMs), point of sale terminals, unattended kiosks, personal computers, network computers, and on-line telecommunication devices.

13. A method for providing in-line pre-production data preparation and personalization in a card production system comprising:

obtaining a data file of cardholder data from a card issuer;

performing a pre-production data preparation process of said cardholder data to obtain personalization data; and

performing a card personalization process of a transaction card using said personalization data obtained directly from the pre-production data preparation process to issue a personalized card.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said pre-production data preparation process comprises:

generating application security keys;

generating Issuer Certificates using secret and public key pairs via a remote Certification Authority; and

preparing said data file of cardholder data as said personalization data in a format ready for card personalization.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said card personalization process comprises:

printing or embossing data on a surface of the transaction card;

encoding a magnetic strip on the transaction card; and

programming cardholder data into a micro-controller chip of the transaction card.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via an on-line connection such as a general switched telephone network, a packet-switched network, a dedicated line, or a cable/satellite television signal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via computer media, such as magnetic tape, floppy disk, or compact disk read-only-memory (CD ROM).

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cardholder data contains information about each individual cardholder, such as name, account number, card expiration date, and applicable services.

19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer system, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

obtaining a data file of cardholder data;

performing a pre-production data preparation process of said cardholder data to produce a personalization file of said cardholder data; and

enabling card personalization of a transaction card using said personalization file to issue a personalized card.

20. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein said pre-production data preparation process comprises:

generating application security keys;

generating Issuer Certificates using secret and public key pairs via a remote Certification Authority; and

preparing said data file of cardholder data as a personalization file in a format ready for card personalization.

21. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein said card personalization comprises:

printing or embossing data on a surface of the transaction card;

encoding a magnetic strip on the transaction card; and

programming cardholder data into a micro-controller chip of the transaction card.

22. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via an on-line connection such as a general switched telephone network, a packet-switched network, a dedicated line, or a cable/satellite television signal.

23. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via computer media, such as magnetic tape, floppy disk, or compact disk read-only-memory (CD ROM).

24. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein said cardholder data contains information about each individual cardholder, such as name, account number, card expiration date, and applicable services.

25. A computer system, comprising:

a host processor; and

a computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the host processor, cause the host processor to;

obtain a data file of cardholder data;

prepare the data file of said cardholder data in accordance with a pre-production data preparation process to produce personalization data; and

prepare card personalization of a transaction card using said personalization data to produce a personalized card.

26. The computer system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pre-production data preparation process comprises:

generating application security keys;

generating Issuer Certificates using secret and public key pairs via a remote Certification Authority; and

preparing said data file of cardholder data as personalization data in a format ready for card personalization.

27. The computer system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the host processor performs the card personalization by:

printing or embossing data on the surface of the transaction card;

encoding a magnetic strip on the transaction card; and

programming cardholder data into a micro-controller chip of the transaction card.

28. The computer system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via an on-line connection such as a general switched telephone network, a packet-switched network, a dedicated line, or a cable/satellite television signal.

29. The computer system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said data file of cardholder data is obtained from a card issuer via the computer readable medium.

30. The computer system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said cardholder data contains information about each individual cardholder, such as name, account number, card expiration date, and applicable services.