Smart Payment Card with Transaction Info Locked to Payment Method
This patent describes a smart payment card that can use various payment methods like magnetic stripes or NFC, and generates unique, single-use payment information specific to the chosen interface for each transaction.
Original patent title: “Multi-function electronic payment card and device system”
This patent describes a smart payment card that can use various payment methods like magnetic stripes or NFC, and generates unique, single-use payment information specific to the chosen interface for each transaction. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This payment card device is shaped like a standard card and includes a memory, a processor, and multiple ways to connect to a payment reader. These connection options, or 'interfaces,' can include a smart card chip reader, a magnetic stripe, a radio frequency (RF) interface like NFC, or even information visible on the card's surface. For each transaction, the card generates special 'limited-use payment information.' This information is designed to work only through the specific interface chosen for that payment. For example, if you tap the card using NFC, the payment information generated will only be valid for an NFC transaction and cannot be used if someone tries to replay it through a magnetic stripe reader.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover payment cards where the same payment information can be used across multiple different interfaces (e.g., magnetic stripe data also working for NFC).
- Does not cover payment cards that do not generate limited-use payment information for transactions.
- Does not cover payment cards that only support a single payment interface, such as a traditional magnetic stripe-only card.
- Does not cover systems where the limited-use payment information is not specifically tied to the interface used for the transaction.
- Does not cover payment cards that do not contain a processor and memory to manage the limited-use information.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is generating payment information that is not only temporary but also specifically locked to the exact communication method (like NFC or magnetic stripe) used for that single transaction, making it useless if intercepted and replayed on a different interface.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Advanced smart credit cards
Digital payment tokens
Secure contactless payment systems
Multi-interface payment cards
Why it matters
The bigger picture
If implemented, this technology could significantly enhance the security of payment card transactions by making intercepted payment data useless for unauthorized purchases on different systems. It offers a flexible solution, allowing a single card to adapt securely to various types of payment terminals, from older magnetic stripe readers to modern contactless systems. This approach could help reduce financial fraud and improve consumer confidence in digital payments.
Filed
August 6, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, along with financial institutions and smart card manufacturers, are continuously developing enhanced security features for payment cards. This patent describes capabilities that align with their ongoing efforts to combat fraud and improve transaction security.
Market impact
As a future-dated patent, its market impact is yet to be seen. However, if widely adopted, this technology could significantly reduce payment fraud by making intercepted transaction data useless for subsequent unauthorized purchases. It could also streamline the payment ecosystem by allowing a single card to securely interact with diverse payment terminals, from traditional magnetic stripe readers to modern NFC systems.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This payment card device is shaped like a standard card and includes a memory, a processor, and multiple ways to connect to a payment reader. These connection options, or 'interfaces,' can include a smart card chip reader, a magnetic stripe, a radio frequency (RF) interface like NFC, or even information visible on the card's surface. For each transaction, the card generates special 'limited-use payment information.' This information is designed to work only through the specific interface chosen for that payment. For example, if you tap the card using NFC, the payment information generated will only be valid for an NFC transaction and cannot be used if someone tries to replay it through a magnetic stripe reader.
The clever bit
The clever part is generating payment information that is not only temporary but also specifically locked to the exact communication method (like NFC or magnetic stripe) used for that single transaction, making it useless if intercepted and replayed on a different interface.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover payment cards where the same payment information can be used across multiple different interfaces (e.g., magnetic stripe data also working for NFC).
- Does not cover payment cards that do not generate limited-use payment information for transactions.
- Does not cover payment cards that only support a single payment interface, such as a traditional magnetic stripe-only card.
- Does not cover systems where the limited-use payment information is not specifically tied to the interface used for the transaction.
- Does not cover payment cards that do not contain a processor and memory to manage the limited-use information.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$19K – $61K
Midpoint $38K · 17.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Smart Payment Card with Transaction Info Locked to Payment Method (U.S. Patent No. 12,737,748). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12737748/multi-function-electronic-payment-card-and-device-system
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Smart Payment Card with Transaction Info Locked to Payment Method cover?
This patent describes a smart payment card that can use various payment methods like magnetic stripes or NFC, and generates unique, single-use payment information specific to the chosen interface for each transaction.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
If implemented, this technology could significantly enhance the security of payment card transactions by making intercepted payment data useless for unauthorized purchases on different systems. It offers a flexible solution, allowing a single card to adapt securely to various types of payment terminals, from older magnetic stripe readers to modern contactless systems. This approach could help reduce financial fraud and improve consumer confidence in digital payments.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover payment cards where the same payment information can be used across multiple different interfaces (e.g., magnetic stripe data also working for NFC).
Patent monitoring