Abstract: Security of a distribution facility is maintained. Authorization information is read from a security optical card or other technology card presented by a person attempting to engage in a restricted activity within the distribution facility or gain access to the facility. An identity of the person is verified as corresponding to an identity of a cardholder to whom the security optical card was issued. It is confirmed that engaging in the restricted activity or gaining access by the cardholder is permitted in accordance with the authorization information. The person is then permitted to engage in the restricted activity or is given access.

Abstract: An optical motor-vehicle card is provided as a laminated card having a pattern of burn holes that encode information according to a set of fields. One field is an identification field having optically encoded information identifying an authorized holder of the optical motor-vehicle card. Another field is a driving-status field having optically encoded information summarizing an authorized driving status of the authorized holder.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for reading optical cards. A housing has a slot for slidably receiving an optical card. The optical card has physical tracks with an arrangement of physical pits to define on optically encoded biometric. A light detector is fixed in position relative to the housing. An optical train is also fixed in position relative to the housing and is configured to provide optical paths between the light detector and the optical card as the optical card is slid along the slot. A biometric sensor is provided. A processor is coupled with the light detector and with the biometric sensor. The processor has programming instructions to compare a biometric measured by the biometric sensor with the optically encoded biometric read from the optical card with the light detector.

Abstract: Methods are provided for executing a banking transaction for a customer. Account information is read from an optical banking card for a banking account associated with the optical banking card. The account information includes a current balance for the banking account. A request is received from the customer to execute the banking transaction, which effects a change in the balance of the account. A movement of funds is coordinated in accordance with the request to execute the banking transaction. Updated account information is written to the optical banking card. The updated account information includes a new current balance for the banking account that accounts for the movement of funds.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for distributing drug interaction information for pharmacological compounds is disclosed. In one step, a request is received for a pharmacological compound for administration to a party. A list is received that includes a plurality of other pharmacological compounds associated with the party. A listing of possible drug interactions related to at least one of the pharmacological compound or the plurality of other pharmacological compounds is read from an optical card. It is determined if the pharmacological compound is contraindicated from the listing of possible drug interactions. A subset of the listing of possible drug interactions relevant to use of the pharmacological compound with the plurality of other pharmacological compounds is printed.

Abstract: A cryptographic-key management device is provided. A secure cryptographic module is provided with a first memory storing a private cryptographic key of multiple public/private key pairs. The secure cryptographic module is adapted to zeroize the first memory in response to physical disruption of the module. A secure microcontroller is provided in communication with and adapted to control operation of the secure cryptographic module. The secure microcontroller has a second memory storing the public keys of the public/private key pains and a self-destruct pin whose activation disables the microcontroller. A package encapsulates the secure cryptographic module and the secure microcontroller, and is linked with the self-destruct pin to activate the self-destruct pin in response to a breach of the package.

Abstract: A method is provided for writing a record to an optical card. A session key is generated randomly. The session key is encrypted using a private key of a public/private key pair associated with a particular cryptographic-key management device. The record is encrypted using the session key. A serial number for the particular cryptographic-key management device, the encrypted private key, and the encrypted record are optically written to the optical card.