CARDS AND DEVICES WITH MULTIFUNCTION MAGNETIC EMULATORS AND METHODS FOR USING SAME
A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable of communicating information to a magnetic stripe reader. Information used in validating a financial transaction is encrypted based on time such that a validating server requires receipt of the appropriate encrypted information for a period of time to validate a transaction for that period of time. Such dynamic information may be communicated using such an emulator such that a card may be swiped through a magnetic stripe reader—yet communicate different information based on time. An emulator may receive information as well as communicate information to a variety of receivers (e.g., an RFID receiver).
1 - 5 . (canceled)
6 . A device comprising:
a circuit operable to emit an electromagnetic field and to electrically couple to, and transmit data to, a read-head located on a magnetic stripe reader; and
a processor for controlling the circuit,
wherein the circuit is operable to communicate the data to the read-head while located outside of the magnetic stripe reader at a distance of at least a quarter of an inch from the read-head.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the device is thicker than a credit card.
8 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the device is a wireless communication device.
9 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the device is a portable telephonic device.
10 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the device is a portable media player.
11 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising a display operable to display a virtual card.
12 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising a touch-sensitive display operable to display a virtual card.
13 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the circuit is operable to emit a second electromagnetic field.
14 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the circuit is operable to emit a second electromagnetic field in parallel with the electromagnetic field.
15 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the circuit is operable to serially transmit the data.
16 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the circuit is operable to transmit the data in a parallel operation.