| abstract |
An enhanced card security system wherein an optically readable portion is incorporated into the magnetic machine readable stripe on the card. The optically readable portion can include a holographic representation of a bar code or other conventionally known optical digit generator. n The optical stripe has a partial string of an identification number and, the magnetic stripe has the remaining string of the identification number. A check digit derived by combining the two partial strings and preforming a check digit calculation on the complete string is also recorded on the magnetic stripe. Transactions are approved if during reading of the card the calculated check digit from combining the two strings matches the recorded check digit. |