Abstract: Magnetic stripe readers are disclosed that are configured to extract information from magnetic media and encrypt part of the extracted information. Embodiments of magnetic stripe readers include measures to resist tampering and inputs to receive unencrypted information from input devices. One embodiment includes a housing containing a magnetic reading head connected to a decoder circuit that is connected to an encryption engine. The magnetic reading head generates a signal indicative of a magnetic field. The decoder circuit is configured to extract data from the output of the magnetic reading head and the encryption engine is configured to encrypt a portion of the extracted data and the encryption engine is configured to pass a portion of the extracted data unencrypted.

Abstract: Magnetic stripe readers are disclosed that are configured to extract information from magnetic media and encrypt part of the extracted information. Embodiments of magnetic stripe readers include measures to resist tampering and inputs to receive unencrypted information from input devices. One embodiment includes a housing containing a magnetic reading head connected to a decoder circuit that is connected to an encryption engine. The magnetic reading head generates a signal indicative of a magnetic field. The decoder circuit is configured to extract data from the output of the magnetic reading head and the encryption engine is configured to encrypt a portion of the extracted data and the encryption engine is configured to pass a portion of the extracted data unencrypted.

Abstract: Magnetic stripe readers that are configured to extract information from magnetic media and encrypt part of the extracted information are provided. Embodiments of magnetic stripe readers include measures to resist tampering and inputs to receive unencrypted information from input devices. One embodiment includes a housing containing a magnetic reading head connected to a decoder circuit that is connected to an encryption engine. The magnetic reading head generates a signal indicative of a magnetic field. The decoder circuit is configured to extract data from the output of the magnetic reading head and the encryption engine is configured to encrypt a portion of the extracted data and the encryption engine is configured to pass a portion of the extracted data unencrypted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encrypting the output of a card reader in a card authentication system are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for reading a data card having an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card using a read head including a magnetic sensor having a housing, an analog to digital converter located within the housing and a processor located within the housing, the method including generating an analog signal indicative of the intrinsic magnetic characteristic and the recorded data of the data card, converting the analog signal into a digital signal, generating a magnetic fingerprint based on the intrinsic magnetic characteristic from the digital signal, extracting the recorded data from the digital signal, encrypting at least a portion of the recorded data, storing the magnetic fingerprint and the recorded data, and outputting the encrypted at least the portion of the recorded data.

Abstract: A card reader for use in web based transactions is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for establishing a secure connection between a card reader and a server, the method including receiving a first challenge request, generating a response to the first challenge request using a first encryption key, sending the response to the first challenge request, sending a second challenge request, receiving an encrypted response to the second challenge request, verifying the encrypted response to the second challenge request; and, if the encrypted response is verified, reading data card information from a data card, the data card information including an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card, generating a magnetic fingerprint based on the intrinsic magnetic characteristic, and sending the magnetic fingerprint to authenticate the data card.

Abstract: Systems and methods for encrypting the output of a card reader in a card authentication system are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for reading a data card having an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card using a read head including a magnetic sensor having a housing, an analog to digital converter located within the housing and a processor located within the housing, the method including generating an analog signal indicative of the intrinsic magnetic characteristic and the recorded data of the data card, converting the analog signal into a digital signal, generating a magnetic fingerprint based on the intrinsic magnetic characteristic from the digital signal, extracting the recorded data from the digital signal, encrypting at least a portion of the recorded data, storing the magnetic fingerprint and the recorded data, and outputting the encrypted at least the portion of the recorded data.

Abstract: A card reader for use in web based transactions is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for establishing a secure connection between a card reader and a server, the method including receiving a first challenge request, generating a response to the first challenge request using a first encryption key, sending the response to the first challenge request, sending a second challenge request, receiving an encrypted response to the second challenge request, verifying the encrypted response to the second challenge request; and, if the encrypted response is verified, reading data card information from a data card, the data card information including an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card, generating a magnetic fingerprint based on the intrinsic magnetic characteristic, and sending the magnetic fingerprint to authenticate the data card.

Abstract: A card issuing and processing system embodied in a terminal to accomplish issuing and processing operations on cards bearing both human-readable and machine-readable data, e.g., cards bearing visual indicia, one or more magnetic stripes, and/or an integrated circuit ("chip") is provided, having an input hopper mechanism for storing and dispensing new cards, multiple transport mechanisms for transporting the cards, and various processing stations, including a cleaning station, an IC station, a magnetic-write station, a magnetic-read station, and a print station. The cleaning station cleans the surface of the card in preparation for a subsequent operation. The IC station accomplishes electronic data transfer with cards bearing a chip. The magnetic-write and read stations accomplish magnetic data transfer with cards bearing either high and/or low coercivity magnetic medium, and the print station accomplishes the application of visual data, including graphic images, text, background designs, or even bar codes.