Abstract:
A distinctive recorded sound is generated when a credit card or other financial transaction card is used at a point of sale (POS) terminal. As is common, the POS terminal includes a card reader through which the card is swiped to read data that is encoded on a magnetic stripe affixed to the card. A recorded sound may be stored in the card or in the card reader. In either case, the sound is played back through the card reader when the card is swiped.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/213,475 filed Aug. 6, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to the field of financial transaction cards, such as credit cards. More particularly, the invention relates to a financial transaction card and/or card reader that plays a sound recording when the card is swiped through the reader.  
           [0004]    2. Background  
           [0005]    Financial transaction cards are widely used. Such cards include credit cards, debit cards, and the like. Financial transaction cards also include assigned value cards, such as gift cards.  
           [0006]    The wide range of choices available to consumers requires card issuers to differentiate their cards from those of other issuers so as to maintain or improve their market share. Transaction cards with new features and functions are being introduced to attract new customers and to establish brand identity. For example, this inventor has developed a credit card with a magnifying lens that has been successful in attracting and maintaining cardholder accounts.  
           [0007]    Card issuers also have an interest in combating fraud, including the use of counterfeit cards. Thus, features that are difficult to counterfeit, such as holographic designs, have become popular with card issuers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a system for generating a distinctive recorded sound when a credit card or other financial transaction card is used at a point of sale (POS) terminal. As is common, the POS terminal includes a card reader through which the card is swiped to read data that is encoded on a magnetic stripe affixed to the card. In one embodiment of the invention, a recorded sound is stored in the card and played back within the card when the card is swiped. In another embodiment, a recorded sound is stored in the card and is played back through the card reader when the card is swiped. In yet another embodiment, a recorded sound is stored in the card reader and is played back through the card reader when the card is swiped.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a financial transaction card and card reader in which the present invention may be embodied.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a financial transaction card in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates the layout of tracks on the magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card in accordance with industry standards.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a card reader in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a card reader in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates a financial transaction card  10  and a card reader  12  in which the present invention may be embodied. Card  10  and reader  12  are substantially similar to conventional cards and card readers that conform to standards 7810-7813 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In accordance with ISO 7811, card  10  includes a magnetic stripe  14 . In other embodiments, the invention may also be employed with cards that have other forms of machine readable information, such as smart cards, bar-coded cards, etc.  
         [0016]    As used herein, the term “financial transaction card” includes not only a conventional credit card, but also any other type of card carried by a consumer that includes a magnetic strip and is physically and/or functionally similar to a conventional credit card. Such cards include, for example, debit cards, electronic cash cards, gift cards and similar assigned value cards, pre-paid calling cards, internet access cards, health insurance cards, association membership cards, identification cards, etc.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a financial transaction card  10  according to one embodiment of the invention wherein a sound is stored within the card and is played back through the card itself. A sensor  2  detects when card  10  is used to initiate a financial transaction. Typically, this occurs when the data stored on magnetic stripe  14  is read by card reader  12 . Such an action is often referred to as “swiping” the card. Various types of sensors may be used. For example, sensor  2  may comprise a contact switch located on an edge of card  10  proximate to magnetic stripe  14  to detect when the card is passed through the slot of the card reader. Alternatively, sensor  2  may comprise an optical sensor to detect the decrease in light level as card  10  is passed through the card reader. In another alternative, sensor  2  may comprise a proximity sensor to detect when card  10  is placed in the slot of the card reader. In yet another alternative, sensor  2  may comprise a magnetic sensor to detect when magnetic stripe  14  is passed across the magnetic reading head of the card reader. In this regard, the magnetic stripe may be specially encoded so that the sensor  2  is triggered when the specially encoded portion passes the reading head.  
         [0018]    Whatever type of sensor is employed, sensor  2  is connected to audio generator  4 . When the reading operation is sensed, audio generator  4  is triggered to produce an audio output signal. The signal may comprise a sequence of musical notes, a pre-recorded spoken message or any other distinctive audible sound. The output of audio generator  4  is coupled to transducer  6  to convert the signal into a human perceptible sound. Optionally, card  10  may include a manually operated switch  8  connected to audio generator  4 . Switch  8  may be used by the card holder to produce a stored audio signal whenever desired. This signal may be the same as that triggered by sensor  2  or may be different.  
         [0019]    As another option, card  10  may include a microphone  9  with which the card holder may record a spoken message or other sound into audio generator  4 . This is particularly useful for a gift card in which the giver may record a personalized greeting to the recipient.  
         [0020]    It is intended that card  10  conform to all applicable ISO standards. These standards require card  10  to have a thickness of about 0.027 to 0.033 inch, which presents a challenge to incorporate the necessary electronic components in such a thin substrate. This challenge can be met using the manufacturing techniques disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 10/167,259 and co-filed application entitled “Method for Making a Financial Transaction Card with Embedded Electronic Circuitry”, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 illustrates the layout of magnetic stripe  14  for a financial transaction card as prescribed by ISO 7811. The magnetic stripe comprises three tracks referred to as track 1, track 2, and track 3. Each of the tracks is dedicated to a data format developed by industry associations. Track 1 contains alphanumeric information in a format developed by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA). Track 2 contains numeric information in a format developed by the American Bankers Association (ABA). Track 3 contains numeric information in a format developed by the thrift industry. Depending upon the intended function of card  10 , data may be encoded in only one of the tracks. For example, a conventional credit card will have data encoded only in track 2. Track 2 accommodates a maximum of forty numeric characters, which include the primary account number, start and end sentinels, field separators and optional data, such as expiration date.  
         [0022]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a sound, such as a spoken message, sequence of musical notes or other sound effect is recorded on magnetic stripe  14 . The recording may be in digital or analog format and may utilize one or more of the unused tracks. In the case of an otherwise conventional credit card with data encoded on track 2, track 1 and/or track 3 may be utilized for the recorded sound. In a somewhat different embodiment, magnetic stripe  14  may be physically wider to include an additional track above track 1 or below track 3 for the recorded sound. Also, a high density magnetic medium may be used to increase the storage capacity of the magnetic stripe.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a card reader  12  adapted to implement the present invention. Reader  12  includes heads  20 A,  20 B and  20 C for reading track 1, track 2, and track 3, respectively. For use with conventional credit cards, head  20 B is coupled to data decoder  22 . Heads  20 A and/or  20 B are coupled to sound decoder  24 . As mentioned above, the input signal(s) to sound decoder  24  may be in analog or digital format. In either case, sound decoder  24  provides an audio signal to audio driver  26 , which then drives a speaker  28 . Thus, as card  10  is swiped through reader  12 , the sound recorded on magnetic stripe  14  is played through speaker  28 .  
         [0024]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, magnetic stripe  14  may be simply encoded with a “sound trigger” utilizing an otherwise unused character location within the active data track. The recorded sound is stored within the card reader. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a card reader  12 ′ for use with this alternative embodiment of the invention. Data decoder  22  receives the output of head  20 B as in the previously described embodiment and, optionally, also the outputs of heads  20 A and  20 C. If present on magnetic stripe  14 , the sound trigger is delivered to a sound storage device  30 . An audio signal is then delivered to audio driver  26 , which then drives speaker  28  as in the previously described embodiment. Sound storage device  30  may have a plurality of stored sounds, with the particular sound selection determined by the value of the sound trigger encoded on magnetic stripe  14 . In this fashion, reader  12 ′ may be configured to play a variety of sounds corresponding to various card issuers. Sounds may be downloaded to card reader  12 ′ via the data connection that is ordinarily provided for communication with the card issuer(s) or third-party card authorization center.  
         [0025]    Since card issuers are generally identified by particular digits (usually the leading group) of the primary account number, the account number itself may serve as the sound trigger. Thus, for example, if the card swiped through reader  12 ′ is recognized as a Visa® card, a sound associated with Visa® cards would be played through speaker  28 .  
         [0026]    It will be recognized that the above-described invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.