Light-powered smart card for on-line transaction processing
View Patent ↗In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to a light-powered smart card and associated methods for automated information (static and dynamic) exchange pursuant to a commercial transaction. In a typical embodiment, the card (e.g., a credit card, a debit card and/or a smart card) comprises (among other things) an energy component for providing power to the card. Upon powering up via a light source, including light from the interfacing terminal's backlight, a terminal (e.g., a point of sale terminal) will scan/read card information shared between the card and the card company (e.g., upon swiping or placing of the card), and generate a corresponding source validation code (SVC). An optional imager/image array positioned on the back of the card will scan/read the SVC, and card validation code (CVC) logic on the card will generate a CVC based on the SVC (e.g., based on a validation result of the SVC).
1. A method for automated card information exchange, comprising:
accessing information from a card that has an energy component that provides power to the card, the information being associated with the card;
generating a source verification code (SVC) based on the information;
obtaining a user validation code (UVC) pertaining to a validation of a user, the UVC code being generated based on a biometric reading generated by the card; and
validating a transaction based on at least one of the SVC and the UVC.
2. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
activating the card by bringing the card into proximity with a light source.
3. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
displaying the SVC for an imager positioned on the card, where the information comprises at least one of a card number, an expiration date, a user name, a security code, and a usage history.
4. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
obtaining a card validation code (CVC) generated on the card using the SVC, where the CVC is invalid if the SVC is invalid.
5. The method of claim 4 , the method further comprising:
communicating the a least one of the SVC, the CVC, and the UVC to a transaction validator.
6. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
validating the transaction using a validation logic component stored on the card.
7. The method of claim 1 , the card being at least one of the following: a credit card, a debit card, or a smart card.
8. The method of claim 1 , an RFID component on the card being used in at least one of: accessing information associated with the card, obtaining the UVC, and validating the transaction.
9. A method for automated card information exchange, comprising:
accessing information from a card that has an energy component that is activated by alignment with a light source, the information being associated with the card;
generating a source verification code (SVC) based on the information;
obtaining a card validation code (CVC) generated on the card using the SVC; and
validating a transaction based on at least one of the SVC and the CVC.
10. The method of claim 9 , the method further comprising:
obtaining a user validation code (UVC) pertaining to a validation of a user, the UVC code being generated based on a biometric reading generated by the card.
11. The method of claim 9 , an RFID component on the card being used in at least one of: accessing information associated with the card, obtaining the CVC, and validating the transaction.
12. The method of claim 9 , the method further comprising:
displaying the SVC for an imager positioned on the card, where the information comprises at least one of a card number, an expiration date, a user name, a security code, and a usage history.
13. The method of claim 9 , the card being at least one of the following: a credit card, a debit card, or a smart card.
14. The method of claim 9 , where the validating takes place using at least one of: a validation logic component stored on the card and a server associated with the transaction.
15. A card for automated card information exchange, comprising:
an energy component configured to use light energy to power the card;
an imager configured to receive a source verification code (SVC) from a display associated with the commercial transaction, the SVC being generated based on card information; and
card validation code (CVC) logic configured to generate a CVC based on the SVC.
16. The card of claim 15 , the card further comprising:
an RFID transponder configured to communicate the card information.
17. The card of claim 15 , the card further comprising:
a validation logic configured to generate a validation result based on at least one of the SVC and the CVC.
18. The card of claim 15 , where at least one of the SVC and the CVC are sent to a transaction validator by a website to validate a transaction.
19. The card of claim 18 , the card further comprising:
a biometric reader configured to take a biometric reading of a user of the card; and
user validation code (UVC) logic configured to generate a UVC based on the biometric reading;
wherein the UVC is used in the validation.
20. The card of claim 15 , where the energy component comprises at least one of a solar panel cell and a photon-to-electric energy converter, and the card is at least one of: a credit card, a debit card, and a smart card.