System and Method for Embossing Media Used for Secure Transactions

Abstract

A system and method for embossing a media substrate used for secure transactions. The system includes, but is not limited to, a printer, having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code for: storing a first plurality of security features, wherein the first plurality of security features comprise embossment features; printing a first embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a first predetermined interval; printing a second embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a second predetermined interval; and printing the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature on the media substrate of the first plurality of security features upon a third predetermined interval.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,111, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,121, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,135, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,143, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,152, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,160, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,174, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,197, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,206, filed on Mar. 3, 2014; and U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/947,214, filed on Mar. 3, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to printers capable of printing security features on a media substrate and, more particularly, to a system and method for embossing a media substrate used for secure transactions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Security printing relates to the practice of manufacturing a media substrate with certain security indicia/features to prevent forgery and counterfeiting of items such as passports, checks, bank notes, and prescription pads. As should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, security printing can include, for example, the inclusion of non-embossment security features such as watermarks, UV coatings, security fibers, microprinting, holograms, phosphorescent inks, and pantographs (e.g., “void”) etc. in the manufacture of the media substrate. Security documents (documents with security features/patterns) are used across a diverse marketplace to deter fraud, counterfeiting and theft. In most cases, the security features are pre-printed on media. The pre-printed media must be stored in a secure location so that counterfeiters and thieves are not able to obtain the secure media which would allow them to freely print fraudulent documents.

There are some printers that can print these secure patterns on demand on standard media. The advantage of these “security printers” is that standard media does not have to be secured from theft as the secure documents can be created on demand.

As counterfeiters become more sophisticated, there is an increasing need to for additional, unique, and varied security features to protect items such as passports, checks, bank notes, and prescription pads from being successfully counterfeited.

Description of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific patents/publications/products are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section or elsewhere in this Application, these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussed patents/publications/products are prior art for patent law purposes. For example, some or all of the discussed patents/publications/products may not be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enabling so as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. To the extent that specific patents/publications/products are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section and/or throughout the application, the descriptions/disclosures of which are all hereby incorporated by reference into this document in their respective entirety(ies).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention recognizes that there are potential problems and/or disadvantages with certain conventional security indicia/features formed on security documents. For example, some conventional security features can be duplicated by simply scanning/photocopying a security document. To a counterfeiter, a security document that contains security features that can simply be copied by a scanner or by a copy machine is considered currency. Various embodiments described herein may be advantageous in that they may solve or reduce one or more of the potential problems and/or disadvantages discussed above.

Various embodiments described herein may exhibit one or more of the following objects, features and/or advantages:

It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a printer configured, programmed or structured to print unique embossment designs/features on a media substrate (alone or in combination with other non-embossment security features) to create security documents which are less likely to be counterfeited than conventional security documents. The unique embossment features can include, but are not limited to, any word, number, alpha numeric combination, abstract design (e.g., random shapes, dots, and/or lines) or non-abstract design (e.g., house design, nature scene, sporting equipment) (as should be appreciated by those of skill in the art in conjunction with a review of this disclosure). The printer can include an embossing stamp or print head to emboss the embossment designs on a media substrate, which can be embossed and changed on demand (per a particular interval such as a command or a time period or other event, which is described in further detail below).

According to an embodiment, one or more embossment designs can separately be incorporated into the media on any portion of the media, and in any direction on the media, and can be a mirror image of any actual embossment design.

According to an embodiment, one or more different embossment features can be printed at predetermined intervals, including, but not limited to, a predetermined period of time. For example, one or more different embossment features can be printed every month (i.e., for a month period of time and change), day, hour, hour, half-hour, or every five minutes of printer functioning time (including actual printing and/or other functioning of the printer) non-functioning time (e.g., off, stand-by mode), or an event (e.g., holiday, first Thursday of the month, election day, first full moon of the year). In this embodiment, the time interval may be selected by the user, or may be selected by a host computer (randomly or otherwise by programming) and transmitted to the printer or selected by the printer (randomly or otherwise by programming). In order to determine passage of a time interval, the printer may have an internal clock, or counter. Alternatively, the printer may access an external clock or timer, such as over the internet. The interval that the one or more different embossment features can be printed may not be periodic, but may vary. For example, one or more different embossment features can be printed after a ten minute interval, then at a five minute interval, then at a thirteen minute interval etc. Even where a one or more different embossment features can be printed is set to print at varying intervals, it may be capped beneath a certain time limit. For example, the one or more different embossment features can be printed at varying times, each time shorter than thirty minutes.

Alternatively, in an embodiment, the predetermined interval may be determined by one or more of a user, programming of the printer, or programming of a host computer connected (wired or wirelessly) to the printer. The predetermined interval may also be determined, in part, by the type of variable data (variable data (such as receipt data, check data, financial data, identification data (birth certificate, pallet, container), contract data, ownership data (deeds, titles), legal data (trusts etc.), government data, prescription data, medical/healthcare data, public safety data (e.g., elevator inspections, health inspections), permit data (hunting licenses), ticket data, or label data (part identification)), for example, that is to be printed. A combination of the above referenced intervals may also be used to determine which one or more embossment features may be applied.

In accordance with an embodiment, a host or server computer can be connected (wired or wirelessly) to the printer and be programmed, configured, connected, and/or structured to provide in a data stream or more of the plurality of embossment features, plurality of predetermined intervals, variable data, and/or non-embossment security features (and instructions regarding the same) to the printer, which can be stored in the printer's memory. The printer of an embodiment of the present invention can be programmed, configured, structured, and/or connected to merge and print embossment features with variable data and/or one or more non-embossment security features (such as pantographs, watermarks, microprinting, verification grids, validation marks, color, uv marks, IR marks, barcodes, serial numbers, anti-copying marks, holograms, phosphorescent inks, and any combination thereof), and do so in real time.

In accordance with an embodiment, the printer can contain firmware, which can contain a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code for performing the functionality described herein. The firmware can be updated by a host computer or server computer that is in wired or wireless communication with the firmware within the computer.

In accordance with an embodiment, the host computer can contain an application, which can contain a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code for performing the functionality described herein (which can be updated by a user, by the printer, or by another computer such as a server computer).

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for carrying out the functionalities of the system described herein is provided, which can include the implementation of the firmware stored on the printer and implementation of the application stored on the host computer or server computer, and one or more algorithms that can be programmed into the firmware or applications.

An advantage of a system with a printer including an embosser over standard digital printers is that the added embossment feature is very difficult for a counterfeiter or thief to copy. In many instances of copy fraud, a scanner can be used to copy the digital image and reproductions can be made with a standard laser printer. On a document with an embossment, a scanner will not be able to reproduce the raised embossment security feature. The counterfeiter would be forced to try to copy the embossment with some secondary operation on the paper. This additional operation and added difficulty, in addition to the embodiment directed to changing the embossment security features (embossment features) on demand based on a number of potentially different variables, will likely discourage most counterfeiters.

Indeed, the aspect of embodiment related to the changing of the embossment features on demand makes it even more difficult for counterfeiters to duplicate an authentic copy of a security document. For example, when a secure document is presented for authentication, the raised embossment feature on the media substrate can be felt by a validator checking the document (a person visually or tacitly observing, or a mobile device with an application specifically programmed to identify and validate the security document and the raised embossment feature thereon). If it is a specific embossment feature that is supposed to be on the specific media substrate, the illegal copy can be quickly detected. Stated differently, using an impact print head, for example, as the embosser can provide additional levels of security on a security document (by itself or in addition to non-embossment security features) as the embossment feature can be changed on demand. For example, the producer of the secure document can send a different embossment feature/pattern to each document if desired, or the embossment feature can be changed at certain predetermined intervals (as discussed herein). By changing the embossment often at certain predetermined time intervals, for example, the producer of the secure document can make it more difficult for the counterfeiter to be successful at reproducing the original.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a specialized improved computer system is created—here the devices and/or systems that are specifically structured, configured, connected, and/or programmed to store a plurality of security features including embossment features in a printer, and to print one or more different embossment features at certain predetermined intervals (e.g., print a first embossment feature on a media substrate upon a first predetermined interval; print a second embossment feature on the media substrate upon a second predetermined interval; and print the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature on the media substrate upon a third predetermined interval).

The data transmission, communication, and any control signals between the at least one host computer or server computer and the printer are sent and received pursuant to wired or wireless communication. The wireless communication/transmission can be over a network, which can be any suitable wired or wireless network capable of transmitting communication, including but not limited to a telephone network, Internet, Intranet, local area network, Ethernet, online communication, offline communications, wireless communications and/or similar communications means. The wireless transmission can be accomplished through any wireless protocol/technology, including, but not limited to, ZigBee standards-based protocol, Bluetooth technology, and/or Wi-Fi technology. Further, this data can be encrypted as needed based on the sensitivity of the data or the location the printer, for example. The devices can be located in the same room, in a different room in the same building, and/or in a completely different building and location from each other. A user using a host computer (or a different computer) can send data transmission, control or communication signals to the printer perform any of the functionalities described herein. A user using the host computer (or a different computer) can instruct the printer to perform the functionalities described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a printer that is structured, configured, and/or programmed to print embossment security features on a media substrate.

FIG. 2 is a system architecture diagram of a thermal printer that is structured, configured, and/or programmed to print security features on a thermal media substrate with various communication links to a computer, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed system architecture diagram of the thermal printer and computer shown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of a thermal media substrate without variable data that was produced by the thermal printer of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a photocopy of the photograph shown in FIG. 4, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart of a method of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a flowchart of a method of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components.

Turning to FIG. 1, a perspective schematic view of a printer 104 (preferably a thermal printer) that is structured, configured, and/or programmed to print embossment security features (embossment features) 25 on a media substrate 23 (preferably a thermal media substrate), is provided. The printer 104 can include, but is not limited to, thermal paper roll 13, a thermal mechanism 15 (as should be appreciated by those of skill in the art in conjunction with a review of this disclosure), a platen 17 made of sufficiently compliant material (as should be appreciated by those of skill in the art in conjunction with a review of this disclosure), a traversing embossing head 19, feed rollers 21, media substrate or thermal paper 23, and an embossment feature/design 25.

In FIG. 1, a thermal printer 104 is shown with thermal paper roll 13, which can be coated with a chemical that changes color when exposed to heat. In use, the thermal printer 104 can be programmed to print variable data and/or non-embossment security features on the thermal paper 13 as the thermal paper 13 passes through the thermal mechanism 15. The paper 13 can then pass through the impact mechanism (including the platen 17 and traversing embossing head 19), where (per programming of the thermal printer) wires in the traversing embossing head 19 strike the thermal paper against the platen 17. The impact of the wires on the paper against the platen 17 can cause a permanent deflection in the paper, which can be verified by visually, by touch, and/or by a mobile or other computing device with an application programmed to verify such an embossment feature. As shown in FIG. 1, the permanent deflection (or embossment feature) 25 shown is a non-abstract word design—Cognitive TPG—incorporated on the now security document 23.

Turning to FIG. 2, a system architecture diagram of a printer 104 (preferably a thermal printer) that is structured, configured, and/or programmed to print embossment features, and non-embossment security features on a thermal media substrate 13, and can have various communication links to a host computer 102 (or other computer such as a server computer), according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Communication connections between the computer 102 and the thermal printer 104, including a wired connection 106 and a wireless connection 108, are shown. A network 116 is also shown. A user 112 using the computer 102 (or a different computer) can instruct the thermal printer 104 to print a particular pre-stored embossment or non-embossment security feature (e.g., a particular pantograph loaded in memory of the thermal printer) on a thermal media substrate 13, to do so in accordance with a particular predetermined interval, and to merge the particular security feature(s) with variable data.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed system architecture diagram of the thermal printer 104 and computer 102 shown in FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The thermal printer 104 can include a (1) memory 112 that can store at least one security feature and preferably, a plurality of security features such as embossment and non-embossment security features, and (2) firmware 110 that can be programmed to perform all of the functionalities of the printer described herein including to print the at least one security feature, and preferably, the plurality of security features that are stored in the memory on demand and per particular predetermined intervals, and to merge the embossment and/or non-embossment security feature(s) with variable data (such as receipt, check, or prescription data, for example, as should be understood by those of skill in the art) preferably in real time depending on the particular application. The firmware 110 and memory 112 can have wired 106/wireless 108 communication connections to the computer 102. In an alternative embodiment, the security features can be stored, updated, etc. on and by the computer 102.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of a non-embossment security feature. Fig, 4 is a photograph of a thermal media substrate that was produced by the thermal printer of an embodiment of the present invention. This substrate was printed without any variable data. However, this substrate can also be printed with variable data, as described herein, The receipt shown in FIG. 5 was printed with a “void pantograph,” which is not shown in the original thermal media substrate shown in FIG. 4. However, the “void pantograph” is shown in FIG. 5, which is a photocopy of the photograph shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the “void pantograph” manufactured into the thermal media substrate of FIG. 3 prevents the ability to make counterfeits of the thermal media substrate of FIG. 3 through the process of photocopying.

Additional detail regarding the computer 102, the printer 104, and any other computers can include the following. The computer 102 can include a personal computer, desktop, laptop, and tablet, as well as any other fixed or mobile computerized device comprising a processor and a network connection and capable of communicating with the other components (e.g., printer 104 and other computers such as a server computer(s)). The computer 102, therefore, can be any processor-based device that is capable of facilitating a user's 112 access and interaction with the printer 104 and any other computer(s). Each of the printer 104, computer 102, and other computer(s) can include a processor that can comprise or are in communication with a non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored computer-executable program instructions (software, or firmware 110 in the case of a printer 104) that are executed by the processor to cause the processor to perform one or more of the functionalities and/or method step described herein. In an alternative embodiment, a processor that works with a particular component can be located remotely instead of locally, and can be in wired or wireless communication with the component. Each of the printer 104, computer 102, and any other computer(s) can include a local memory (112 and 103, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3), and can also include or otherwise be associated with a dedicated or shared database (e.g., in the cloud, not shown).

The printer 104 and the computer 102 can each contain a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code (firmware 110) for performing one or more of the following non-limiting steps of example methods shown in FIGS. 6A-B, in accordance with an embodiment. These methods are non-limiting, and other embodiments of methods are contemplated in accordance with the present disclosure.

At step 601, the printer firmware can have program code for storing a first plurality of security features (which can also be stored in memory 112 and retrieved by the firmware 110), wherein the first plurality of security features comprise embossment features at step 601; and for printing a first embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on a media substrate upon a first predetermined interval; printing a second embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a second predetermined interval; and printing the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a third predetermined interval at step 603. An embodiment contemplates any combination of printing of embossment features upon the receipt or occurrence of a particular predetermined interval. Details of potential embossment features and the predetermined intervals are described in the Summary of the Invention section above, and are incorporated herein in its entirety.

At step 605, the embossment features and/or the predetermined intervals can be provided (transmitted) to the printer 104 by the host computer 102 (which can be programmed to carry out such functionality), which can be connected to the printer 104. This transmission can be within a data stream (per wired 106/wireless 108 communication connections) provided to the printer 104. Alternatively, the embossment features and/or the predetermined intervals can be pre-stored on the printer 104. The printer's 104 firmware 110 can be programmed to, for example, receive in the data stream at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval transmitted by the host computer at step 607; analyze the data stream for the at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval at step 609; and identify the at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval in the data stream at step 611.

The printer's 104 firmware 110 can also be programmed to receive and/or print at least one non-embossment feature on the media substrate 23 with the first embossment feature upon the first predetermined interval; second embossment feature upon the second predetermined interval; and first embossment feature and the second embossment feature upon the third predetermined interval. The printer's 104 firmware 110 can further be programmed to merge at least one of the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature with variable data, and to print the merged at least one of the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature with variable data on the media substrate (and can also merge the variable data with a non-embossment security feature).

Another aspect of the present invention is the thermal media. The thermal media can be made of various layers and coatings. The substrate layer contains the base paper and can contain security features such as security fibers and security marks. The substrate layer should preferably be extremely smooth so that all of the thermal elements in the thermal print head come in good contact the substrate to aid in the development of square dots for security printing. The thermal sensitive layer of the media should preferably also be extremely smooth and free of voids. The thermal sensitivity of this layer should preferably be high so that once the dot energy is applied the dot is formed very quickly. The media should preferably have protective coatings to resist fading do to exposure to UV, moisture, oils, or grease. Also, the media can have security coatings which can contain phosphorescent, IR or UV inks.

Embodiments of a thermal transfer printer, examples of which can be used as the printer in conjunction with embodiments of the methods and systems described herein and shown in the referenced Figures, exist and are possible. The thermal transfer printer can be connected, configured, programmed and/or structured to perform the functions (e.g., printing security features and various embossments on standard media substrate) described herein.

In accordance with an embodiment, a thermal print head element can have a dot resolution of 300 dots per inch (DPI) or higher to print security features at an acceptable dot resolution as set forth herein.

Even though thermal printers and thermal transfer printers are specifically referenced and described in certain embodiments herein, other digital printers and corresponding appropriate media substrates are contemplated to be part of the systems and methods described herein.

A “module,” as may be used herein, can include, among other things, the identification of specific functionality represented by specific computer software code of a software program. A software program may contain code representing one or more modules, and the code representing a particular module can be represented by consecutive or non-consecutive lines of code.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied/implemented as a computer system, method or computer program product. The computer program product can have a computer processor or neural network, for example, that carries out the instructions of a computer program. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, and entirely firmware embodiment, or an embodiment combining software/firmware and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” “system,” or an “engine.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction performance system, apparatus, or device.

The program code may perform entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, completely or partly on the thermal printer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

The flowcharts/block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts/block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be performed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be performed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

While several embodiments of the invention have been discussed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible. Such modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for embossing a media substrate used for secure transactions, comprising:

a printer, having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code for: storing a first plurality of security features, wherein the first plurality of security features comprise embossment features; printing a first embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a first predetermined interval; printing a second embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a second predetermined interval; and printing the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a third predetermined interval.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a host computer, having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code for: transmitting a data stream to the printer, wherein the data stream includes at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the printer further comprises program code for:

receiving in the data stream at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval transmitted by the host computer,

analyzing the data stream for the at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval; and

identifying the at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval in the data stream.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval is the passage of a period of time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval is reception of a command.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the printer further comprises program code for storing a second plurality of security features, wherein the second plurality of security features comprise non-embossment features.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the non-embossment features comprise a non-embossment feature selected from the group consisting of pantographs, watermarks, microprinting, verification grids, validation marks, color, uv marks, IR marks, barcodes, serial numbers, anti-copying marks, and any combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the printer further comprises program code for printing at least one of the non-embossment features on the media substrate with the:

first embossment feature upon the first predetermined interval;

second embossment feature upon the second predetermined interval; and

first embossment feature and the second embossment feature upon the third predetermined interval.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the printer is selected from the group consisting of a thermal printer and a thermal transfer printer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the printer further comprises program code for merging at least one of the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature with variable data, and for printing the merged at least one of the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature with variable data on the media substrate.

11. The thermal printer of claim 2, wherein the variable data comprises variable data selected from the group consisting of receipt data, check data, financial data, identification data, contract data, ownership data, legal data, government data, prescription data, medical/healthcare data, public safety data, permit data, ticket data, and label data.

12. A method embossing a media substrate used for secure transactions, comprising the steps of:

storing a first plurality of security features in a printer, wherein the first plurality of security features comprise embossment features;

printing a first embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a first predetermined interval;

printing a second embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a second predetermined interval; and

printing the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature of the first plurality of security features on the media substrate upon a third predetermined interval.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of transmitting a data stream to the printer, wherein the data stream includes at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of receiving at the printer the data stream including at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval transmitted by the host computer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the data stream for the at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval; and

identifying the at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval in the data stream.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval is the passage of a period of time.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first predetermined interval, the second predetermined interval, and the third predetermined interval is reception of a command.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of storing a second plurality of security features in a printer, wherein the second plurality of security features comprise non-embossment features.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of printing at least one of the non-embossment features on the media substrate with the:

first embossment feature upon the first predetermined interval;

second embossment feature upon the second predetermined interval; and

first embossment feature and the second embossment feature upon the third predetermined interval.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

merging at least one of the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature with variable data, and

printing the merged at least one of the first embossment feature and the second embossment feature with variable data on the media substrate.