Combined smartcard and magnetic-stripe card and reader and associated method

• US 6,601,771 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smart Card Integrators, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Smart Card Integrators, Inc.
• Inventors: Charrin, Philippe A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/832,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/383, 235/381, 235/492, 235/441, 235/493, 235/486, 235/487, 235/380, 705/41, 705/40, 705/11, 705/67, 705/68, 273/435
• 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 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers

Abstract

A multi-functional portable data device (preferably a combined smart card and magnetic-stripe card) is used for exchanging money with a financial institution in a cashless (i.e., credit or debit) transaction, and to credit or debit an electronic purse (“e-purse”) resident on the portable data device. An integrated data reading device can be used to conduct the various monetary transactions electronically so as to transfer money between the financial institutions and the e-purse on the portable data device. The portable data device preferably can be presented to gaming devices in a cashless gaming environment to allow the customers to use the gaming devices.

Claims

1. A data device reader for reading portable data devices having a smart card portion and a readable static media portion, the smart card portion comprising an electronic purse, the data device reader comprising:

a smart card interface for communicating with the smart card portion of a portable data device;

a magnetic stripe reading head for reading the readable static media portion of the portable data device;

a processor configured to perform money transfers between an account indicated by the readable static media portion of the portable data device and the electronic purse of the portable data device;

a communication link to a financial institution computer system, said processor programmed to communicate with the financial institution computer system in order to conduct credit or debit transactions; and

a communication link to a gaming establishment computer system having an account associated with the electronic purse of the portable data device.

2. The data device reader of claim 1, wherein the portable data device is generally flat and rectangular in shape, and wherein the data device reader further comprises a housing with a slot for receiving the portable data device.

3. The data device reader of claim 1, further comprising means for receiving user input specifying an amount of a money transfer to be conducted by said data device reader with respect to the portable data device.

4. The data device reader of claim 1, wherein said processor is programmed to communicate with both the financial institution computer system and the gaming establishment computer system during a single transaction in which a money transfer is performed between the account indicated by the readable static media portion of the portable data device and the electronic purse of the portable data device.

5. The data device reader of claim 4, wherein said processor is programmed to receive approval from both the financial institution computer system and the gaming establishment computer system before allowing a particular transaction to be completed.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a data device reader adapted to receive portable data devices having a smart card portion and a readable static media portion, said smart card portion comprising an electronic purse;

a communication link to a financial institution transaction processor;

a processor configured to perform money transfers between a customer account managed by said financial institution transaction processor and the electronic purse of a portable data device presented to said data device reader;

a smart card interface for communicating with the smart card portion of the portable data device;

a magnetic stripe reading head for reading the readable static media portion of the portable data device; and

a communication link to a gaming establishment accounting system having an account associated with the electronic purse of the smart card portion of the portable data device.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein said portable data device comprises a card, wherein said smart card portion of the portable data device comprises a smart card processor, wherein said electronic purse comprises a non-volatile memory accessible to said smart card processor, and wherein said readable static media portion comprises a magnetic stripe affixed to said card.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein said portable data device is adapted to be received in electronic gaming machines, each of said electronic gaming machines comprising a smart card communication interface for communicating with the smart card portion of the portable data device and transferring monetary amounts between the electronic gaming machine and the electronic purse of the portable data device.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein said portable data device is adapted to be received in banking card reading devices, each of said banking card reading devices comprising a magnetic stripe reading head for reading the readable static media portion of the portable data device.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said banking card reading devices perform a debit transaction with respect to a customer financial institution account upon reading and processing data in the readable static media portion of the portable data device.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said banking card reading devices perform a credit transaction with respect to a customer financial institution account upon reading and processing data in the readable static media portion of the portable data device.

12. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein said processor is configured to communicate with both the financial institution transaction processor and the gaming establishment accounting system during a single transaction in which a money transfer is performed between the customer account and the electronic purse of the smart card portion of the portable data device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein said processor is configured to receive approval from both the financial institution transaction processor and the gaming establishment accounting system before allowing a particular transaction to be completed.

14. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving, in a data device reader, a portable data device having a smart card portion and a readable static media portion, said smart card portion comprising an electronic purse;

communicating between a smart card interface in the data device reader and the smart card portion of the portable data device;

reading the readable static media portion of the portable data device with a magnetic stripe reading head;

establishing a communication link from said data device reader to a financial institution computer system;

establishing a communication link from the data device reader to a gaming establishment accounting system having an account associated with the electronic purse of the smart card portion of the portable data device; and

performing a monetary transfer between a customer account managed by said financial institution computer system and the electronic purse of said portable data device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said portable data device comprises a card, wherein said smart card portion of the portable data device comprises a smart card processor, wherein said electronic purse comprises a non-volatile memory accessible to said smart card processor, and wherein said readable static media portion comprises a magnetic stripe affixed to said card.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said portable data device is adapted to be received in electronic gaming machines, each of said electronic gaming machines comprising a smart card communication interface for communicating with the smart card portion of the portable data device and transferring monetary amounts between the electronic gaming machine and the electronic purse of the portable data device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said portable data device is adapted to be received in banking card reading devices, each of said banking card reading devices comprising a magnetic stripe reading head for reading the readable static media portion of the portable data device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

reading data from the readable static media portion of the portable data device; and

performing a debit transaction at said banking card reading device with respect to a customer financial institution account identified by said data.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

reading data from the readable static media portion of the portable data device; and

performing a credit transaction at said banking card reading device with respect to a customer financial institution account identified by said data.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of receiving approval from both the financial institution computer system and the gaming establishment accounting system before allowing the monetary transfer to the electronic purse of said portable data device to be completed.

21. A system for conducting electronic monetary transfers to and from an electronic purse stored on a portable data device, said portable data device including a smart card portion comprising the electronic purse and a magnetic stripe portion, the system comprising:

at least one electronic gaming machine adapted to receive the portable data device and communicate with the smart card portion thereof, said electronic gaming machine transferring money to and from the electronic purse of the smart card portion of the portable data device via electronic commands; and

a data device reader adapted to receive the portable data device, said data device reader comprising

a smart card interface for communicating with the smart card portion of the portable data device;

a magnetic stripe reading head for reading the magnetic stripe portion of the portable data device;

a communication link to a financial institution transaction processor;

a communication link to a gaming establishment computer system having an account associated with the electronic purse; and

a processor configured to performing a monetary transfer between a customer account managed by said financial institution transaction processor and the electronic purse of said portable data device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the electronic purse of the portable data device stores a credit amount allowing the portable data device to be utilized in the electronic gaming machine.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein a portion of said credit amount is automatically read out by the electronic gaming machine upon presentation of said portable data device to the electronic gaming machine.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said electronic gaming machine comprises a data device reader, a gaming device processor, and a security module interposed between said data device reader and said gaming device processor, said security module comprising:

a data device reader interface for connection to said data device reader;

a gaming device interface for connection to said gaming device processor; and

a security module processor interposed between said data device reader interface and said gaming device interface, said security module processor configured to prevent communication between said data device reader and said gaming device processor unless said data device reader is first authenticated.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said security module processor allows communications to pass through unimpeded between said data device reader and said gaming device processor after authentication of said data device reader.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said security module processor is configured to perform periodic authentication of said data device reader after said data device reader is first authenticated, and to prevent communication between said data device reader and said gaming device processor if said data device reader fails said periodic authentication.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said data device reader is first authenticated when said security module processor generates a first random number, enciphers said first random number using a common key to generate a first enciphered random number, sends said first enciphered random number to said data device reader over said data device reader interface, receives a second enciphered random number from said data device reader over said data device reader interface, deciphers said second enciphered random number using said common key to generate a second random number, generates a session key from said first random number and said second random number, receives a third enciphered number from said data device reader over said data device reader interface, deciphers said third enciphered number using said session key to generate an authentication test value, and verifies that said authentication test value matches said second random number.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said electronic gaming machine authenticates the portable data device prior to allowing monetary transfers with the electronic purse of the portable data device.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein said data device reader is configured to communicate with both the financial institution transaction processor and the gaming establishment computer system during a single transaction in which a money transfer is performed between the customer account and the electronic purse of said portable data device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said data device reader is configured to receive approval from both the financial institution transaction processor and the gaming establishment computer system before allowing a particular transaction to be completed.

29. The system of 28, wherein said electronic gaming machine authenticates the portable data device by carrying out an authentication process with the smart card portion of the portable data device, said electronic gaming machine comprising a smart card communication interface, said authentication process being completed when a processor of said gaming machine generates a first random number, enciphers said first random number using a common key to generate a first enciphered random number, sends said first enciphered random number to said smart card portion of the portable data device over said smart card communication interface, receives a second enciphered random number from said smart card portion of the portable data device over said smart card communication interface, deciphers said second enciphered random number using said common key to generate a second random number, generates a session key from said first random number and said second random number, receives a third enciphered number from said smart card portion of the portable data device over said smart card communication interface, deciphers said third enciphered number using said session key to generate an authentication test value, and verifies that said authentication test value matches said second random number.

32. Apparatus for conducting electronic monetary transfers to and from an electronic purse stored on a portable data device, said portable data device including a smart card portion comprising the electronic purse and a magnetic stripe portion, the apparatus comprising:

a smart card interface for communicating with the smart card portion of the portable data device;

a magnetic stripe reading head for reading the magnetic stripe portion of the portable data device;

a processor configured to perform monetary transactions in two different domains, a first domain associated with the smart card portion of the portable data device, and a second domain associated with the magnetic stripe portion of the portable data device;

a communication link to a financial institution transaction processor associated with the second domain; and

a communication link to a gaming establishment accounting system associated with the first domain.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein at least one electronic gaming machine is adapted to receive the portable data device and communicate with the smart card portion thereof, said electronic gaming machine transferring money to and from the electronic purse of the smart card portion of the portable data device via electronic commands.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said processor is configured to communicate with both the financial institution transaction processor and the gaming establishment accounting system during a single transaction in which an electronic money transfer is performed between a customer account associated with the second domain and the electronic purse of said portable data device.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said processor is configured to receive approval from both the financial institution transaction processor and the gaming establishment accounting system before allowing a particular transaction to be completed.