Programming protocols for powered cards and devices

• US 9,306,666 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Cloutier, Bruce S., Mostowy, L. Casimir Jr., Zhang, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Dobson, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/890,111
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 398/129
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission

Abstract

A programming device is provided that programs cards, such as payment cards, with data, such as personal data, using light transmitters and receivers. For example, an infrared transmitter may be provided to program personal data (e.g., a customer'"'"'s credit card number) into a card wirelessly. In doing so, the card may be, for example, completely laminated such that there are no exposed electronic components on the exterior surface of the card and be programmed via light. The programming device may shield the programming components to block ambient light from interacting with those programming components during programming. A conveyor may be utilized to align multiple cards with a programming device to allow assembly-line style programming of the cards.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of cards on a conveyor, each of said plurality of cards including a first infrared communication component; and

a programming device arranged in proximity to said conveyor, said programming device including a second infrared communication component,

wherein said conveyor is operable to align each of said plurality of cards within an infrared programming distance of said programming device, said conveyor operable to reduce velocity for programming of said plurality of cards.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first infrared communication component includes a transmitter and a receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first infrared communication component includes a transmitter operating at a first frequency and a receiver operating at a second frequency.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first infrared communication component includes a transmitter operating at a first frequency and a receiver operating at said first frequency, wherein said operation of said transmitter is at a different time with respect to said operation of said receiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first infrared communication component is disabled after programming is complete.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cards is in a low-power state prior to being programmed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cards is awakened from a low-power state based on an initialization signal received from said programming device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cards provides a response based on an initialization signal received from said programming device and said programming device adjusts communication timing based on said response.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cards receives personalization data from said programming device that is stored locally to said programming device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cards receives personalization data from said programming device that is stored remotely to said programming device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cards receives personalization data that is remote to said programming device, said personalization data being provided by a remote server over a network connection between said programming device and said remote server.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cards receives personalization data, said personalization data including at least one track of magnetic stripe data.

13. A method comprising:

loading a plurality of cards onto a transport mechanism;

moving said transport mechanism to align each of said plurality of cards with a programming device;

detecting an alignment of each of said plurality of cards with said programming device; and

transmitting light signals from said programming device to program each of said plurality of cards.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of cards are aligned within 5 mm of said programming device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of cards are aligned within 1 mm of said programming device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said transport mechanism is moved forward to align each of said plurality of cards with said programming device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said transport mechanism is moved backward to align each of said plurality of cards with said programming device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said light signals are representative of magnetic stripe data.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said light signals are representative of magnetic stripe data, said magnetic stripe data being downloaded into said programming device from a remote server.