System and method for data card emulation

• US 8,141,780 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Mark D., Fullerton, Larry W., Miller, Marla, Lawson, Lance P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US12/380,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.42, 235/462.43, 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/472.01, 235/472.03, 235/454, 235/462.02, 235/462.03, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06187 with magnetically detectable marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06206 the magnetic marking being emulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/083 inductive G06K7/10336 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10712 Fixed beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10762 Relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An improved system and method for data card emulation is provided that enables a single data card to emulate any one of multiple data cards. The data card includes an improved system and method for conveying data involving pulsed light that can read a barcode and can emulate a barcode. The improved system and method for conveying data may also include at least one of a magnetic stripe reader or a magnetic stripe emulator. The data card uses the improved system and method for conveying data to interface with conventional barcode and/or magnetic stripe readers, to interface with other such data cards or other devices having similar circuitry, and to interface with a data management system used to manage barcode and/or magnetic stripe information stored in a memory on the data card.

Claims

1. A system for conveying data, comprising:

a first light conduit having a first opening at a first end, a second opening at a second end opposite said first end, and a side opening between said first opening and said second opening;

a first light source, said first light source outputting a first light that initially enters said first light conduit through said side opening, reflects off said first light conduit, and exits said first light conduit through said first opening;

a first detector for detecting a second light exiting said second opening; and

a first processor interfaced with said first detector, said first processor conveying data based on at least one of said first light or said second light.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein after exiting said first opening said first light encounters a barcode having black lines and white lines, said first light being absorbed by said black lines and reflected by said white lines thereby producing said second light, said data corresponding to barcode information in accordance with said barcode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said barcode is being passed by said first opening.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said first opening is being passed by said barcode.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said barcode is on a data card.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said barcode distinguishes one of a plurality of entities associated with a data card.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first light source comprises one of a light emitting diode (LED) or an ambient light source.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is incorporated with at least one of a data card, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a watch, a keychain, a kiosk, a point-of-sale device, or a data management device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a first memory, a first battery, a first switch, a first light waveguide, a first status indicator, or a first display.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said second light enters said first light conduit through said first opening and exits said second opening.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second light reflects off said first light conduit after entering said first opening and before exiting said second opening.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said first light source is interfaced with said first processor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said first light source outputs said first light in accordance with a barcode pattern.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said first light source and said first detector function as a first transmitter and a first receiver of a first pulsed light transceiver.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first pulsed light transceiver uses On-Off-Keying (OOK).

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second light source, said second light source outputting said second light, said second light initially entering said first light conduit through said first opening and exiting said first light conduit through said second opening;

a second detector for detecting said first light having exited said first light conduit through said first opening; and

a second processor interfaced with said second light source and said second detector, said second processor conveying data based on at least one of said first light or said second light.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a second light conduit, said first light reflecting through said first light conduit and then reflecting through said second conduit prior to being detected by said second detector and said second light reflecting through said second light conduit and then reflecting through said first conduit prior to being detected by said first detector.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said second light source outputs said second light that initially enters said second light conduit through a side opening in said second light conduit.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one of a second memory, a second battery, a second switch, a second light waveguide, a second status indicator, or a second display.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a magnetic stripe detector or a magnetic stripe emulator.