Abstract: A secure card adapter provides for writing of highly secure, single transaction information on a machine-readable medium of a card structure in accordance with a format that may be downloaded from an external data source. The card structure may be, for example, an existing access authorization card or an existing credit card containing account-specific information which can be read and stored in memory of the secure card adapter. Once such account-specific information is read from an existing access authorization or credit card, secure transaction information can be written, together with the account specific information in accordance with the downloaded format information on another card structure to provide a universal access authorization and/or credit card. Thus the secure card adapter provides an enhanced degree of security through an existing or transitional communication infrastructure.

Abstract: A secure card adapter provides for writing of highly secure, single transaction information on a machine-readable medium of a card structure in accordance with a format that may be downloaded from an external data source. The card structure may be, for example, an existing access authorization card or an existing credit card containing account-specific information which can be read and stored in memory of the secure card adapter. Once such account-specific information is read from an existing access authorization or credit card, secure transaction information can be written, together with the account specific information in accordance with the downloaded format information on another card structure to provide a universal access authorization and/or credit card. Thus the secure card adapter provides an enhanced degree of security through an existing or transitional communication infrastructure.