Dynamic credit card with magnetic stripe and embedded encoder and methods for using the same to provide a copy-proof credit card

Abstract

A dynamic credit card is provided in which a secure credit card number (e.g., a secret/hidden credit card number) is encoded based on a timing signal (e.g., an internal counter) to provide a dynamic credit card number. This dynamic number may be displayed to a user via a display (e.g., so that online purchases can be made) or written onto a magnetic stripe such that the number may be processed by traditional credit card merchants (e.g., swiped). At a remote facility, the dynamic number may be decoded based on time (and/or a counter/key number/equation) or the facility may have the secure number and perform the same function as the dynamic credit card (e.g., encode using time data as a parameter to the encoding equation) and compare the resultant dynamic number to the dynamic number received. Thus, a dynamic credit card number may change continually or periodically (e.g., every sixty seconds) such that credit card numbers may not be copied by thieves and used at later times. A dynamic verification code may be utilized in addition to, or in lieu of, a dynamic credit card number.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A method comprising: 
 receiving first information indicative that a credit card is a dynamic credit card;    receiving second information indicative of a dynamic credit card number; and    decoding said dynamic credit card number as part of validating a credit card purchase.    
     
     
         18 . A method comprising: 
 providing a first sheet;    providing a plurality of electronics packages;    providing a second sheet;    fixing said first sheet to said second sheet to form a credit card sheet, wherein said plurality of electronics packages is provided between said first sheet and said second sheet;    cutting said credit card sheet into a plurality of credit cards; and    programming each one of said plurality of credit cards.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of credit cards are each programmed for a particular user.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each one of said plurality of credit cards comprises a display screen.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each one of said plurality of credit cards is operable to provide a plurality of dynamic credit card numbers.  
     
     
         22 . A method comprising: 
 receiving information indicative that a credit card is a dynamic credit card;    receiving dynamic information in the form of a dynamic expiration date, dynamic credit card number, and a dynamic verification code.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said dynamic verification code comprises three digits.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said dynamic verification code comprises four digits.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said dynamic expiration date comprises four digits.