Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding encrypted monetary values onto transfer vehicles include one or more payment, encoder, and encrypter devices, and, associated with each designated receiving device such as a wireless telephone, a reader, decoder, and decrypter device for deciphering the data from the transfer vehicles, and, under appropriate conditions, for transferring the monetary values encoded and encrypted on the transfer vehicle into memory associated with the designated receiving device. Once such monetary values are transferred to the receiving device, the transfer vehicle cannot be used to transfer the same monetary value again even though the transfer vehicle is not modified during the transfer process.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding time-varying, two-frequency, coherent-phase data, such as data from the stripe on a magnetic stripe-bearing medium, includes detecting flux intervals at the beginning of a bit cell of such data; timing with a clock or counter the length of such a bit cell; digitally determining the average length of at least the two bit cells immediately preceding the cell being measured; and digitally determining whether or not another flux reversal lies at or near the midpoint of the bit cell being decoded.

Abstract: Magnetic stripe media reader/encoders include reader/encoder body modules made of two complementary body elements that provide a track or path for guiding a magnetic stripe-carrying medium over a magnetic reader head, and magnetic head-carrying devices for magnetic stripe medium reader/encoder magnetic heads including a magnetic head-holding frame linked to a gimbaling frame-and-shaft combination linked, in turn, to a springy mounting mechanism.