Multi-account card with magnetic stripe data and electronic ink display being changeable to correspond to a selected account
View Patent ↗A multifunction card includes a programmable memory, a magnetic stripe, and an electronic ink display. The programmable memory is able to store corresponding account data and image data for a plurality of different accounts. The card holder is able to use a portable terminal to select one of the accounts stored in memory. The terminal is able to write account data corresponding to the selected account to the magnetic stripe of the card. The terminal is also able to electronically change the electronic ink display to the image corresponding to the selected account. Thus, a single multifunction card, with the ability to have both its magnetic stripe data and appearance changed in accordance with a selected account, can substitute for many different cards.
1. Apparatus comprising:
a financial transaction card,
wherein the card enables a user thereof to carry out a financial transaction therewith,
wherein the card includes memory,
wherein the memory includes account data respectively corresponding to each of a plurality of financial accounts that each have a respective account image corresponding thereto,
wherein the card includes a changeable magnetic stripe,
wherein the magnetic stripe is magnetically changeable to individually include any respective account data corresponding to any one of the plurality of financial accounts,
wherein magnetic stripe account data is magnetically readable by a magnetic stripe reader during a financial transaction,
wherein the card includes changeable electronic ink,
wherein the electronic ink is operative to individually display any respective account image corresponding to any one of the plurality of financial accounts,
wherein the card enables both an account image displayed with the electronic ink and account data included in the magnetic stripe to simultaneously correspond to a same financial account for each respective financial account.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electronic ink is operative to display different electronically overwritten account images in a same display area.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each account image comprises a respective account logo, wherein the electronic ink is operative to selectively electronically display each respective account logo.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2
wherein the memory includes data corresponding to a plurality of account images,
wherein the card includes a processor,
wherein the processor is in operative connection with the memory,
wherein the processor is operative to correlate an account image with account data for the same account.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electronic ink is operative to display the magnetic stripe.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the electronic ink includes magnetic properties, wherein the magnetic properties are adapted to represent account data corresponding to a financial account, wherein the account data is magnetically readable by a magnetic stripe reader device.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the electronic ink forms the magnetic stripe in both image and magnetic properties, wherein the magnetic properties include magnetically readable account data.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1
wherein the card includes a programmable memory,
wherein the programmable memory includes data corresponding to at least one account image.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the programmable memory includes data corresponding to each respective account image.
10. Apparatus comprising:
a financial transaction card,
wherein the card enables a user thereof to carry out a financial transaction therewith,
wherein the card includes a programmable memory,
wherein the memory includes data corresponding to a plurality of financial accounts, each account having respective account data and a respective account image corresponding thereto,
wherein the memory includes the account data corresponding to each respective account,
wherein the memory includes data corresponding to each respective account image,
wherein the card includes changeable electronic ink,
wherein the electronic ink is operative to selectively display each of the account images,
wherein the electronic ink is operative to selectively display an account image by overwriting a previously displayed account image,
wherein the card includes a changeable magnetic stripe,
wherein the magnetic stripe is adapted to include respective account data corresponding to each of the plurality of financial accounts,
wherein the account data is magnetically readable from the magnetic stripe by a magnetic stripe reader during a financial transaction,
wherein the card includes a processor,
wherein the processor is in operative connection with the memory,
wherein the processor is operative to correlate an account image with account data for the same account to enable a correlated account image to be displayed via the electronic ink while correlated account data is in the magnetic stripe,
wherein an account image correlated with account data for the same account is displayed via the electronic ink,
wherein account data correlated with the account image is in the magnetic stripe.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the magnetic stripe comprises electronic ink.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the electronic ink displays an image of a magnetic stripe.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the electronic ink includes magnetic properties, wherein the magnetic properties are adapted to represent account data corresponding to a financial account, wherein the account data is magnetically readable by a magnetic stripe reader device.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the magnetic properties are changeable, wherein the electronic ink is adapted to subsequently represent other account data corresponding to another financial account.
15. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each account image includes text and pictures.
16. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each account image is representative of an account logo.
17. Apparatus comprising:
a reusable financial transaction card,
wherein the card enables a user thereof to carry out a financial transaction therewith,
wherein the card includes changeable electronic ink,
wherein the electronic ink is operative to selectively form a magnetic stripe in both image and magnetic properties,
wherein the magnetic properties represent financial account data,
wherein financial account data is magnetically readable from the magnetic stripe by a magnetic stripe reader device during a financial transaction.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17
wherein the card comprises a financial transaction multi-account card,
wherein the card includes a programmable memory,
wherein the programmable memory includes data corresponding to a plurality of accounts,
wherein each of the plurality of accounts has at least one respective account image corresponding thereto,
wherein the electronic ink is operative to further display an account image corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of accounts,
wherein a displayed account image and a displayed magnetic stripe can simultaneously correspond to a same account.
19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the electronic ink is operative to display the magnetic stripe,
wherein the electronic ink is operative to selectively display a magnetic stripe including magnetically readable account data for each of a plurality of financial accounts.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19
wherein each account has an account image associated therewith, wherein the electronic ink is operative to further display an account image corresponding to account data in a displayed magnetic stripe for each of the plurality of financial accounts.