Systems and methods for dual reader emulation

Abstract

Systems and methods for emulating credentials are disclosed. In some cases, the systems include an access credential reader and an access credential writer. The access credential reader is communicably coupled to the access credential writer. The access credential reader is operable to receive information from an access credential, and to transfer at least a portion of the information to the access credential writer. The access credential writer is operable to transfer at least the portion of the information to an emulation access credential.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for credential emulation with a transaction device capable of writing credentials, the method comprising:
 receiving information from a first credential at the transaction device, the information from the first credential incapable of actuating the transaction device;   within a predetermined time period, receiving information from a second credential at the transaction device, the information from the second credential capable of actuating the transaction device;   writing at least a portion of the information from the second credential to the first credential, wherein the first credential becomes operable to emulate an ability of the second credential upon receiving the portion of the access information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the information from a first credential is done at a first carrier frequency, and wherein writing at least a portion of the information from the second credential is done at a second carrier frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction device is a point of sale device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction device is an access control device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first credential is selected from a group consisting of a smart card, a magnetic stripe card, a cell phone and a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second credential is selected from a group consisting of a smart card, a magnetic stripe card, a cell phone and a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first credential is communicably coupled to the transaction device via an interface selected from the group consisting of: a magnetic stripe interface, a radio frequency interface, an optical interface, and a wired interface. 
     
     
         8 . A dual reader system for emulating access credentials, the system comprising:
 a first access credential reader, wherein the first access credential reader is operable to receive information from a first access credential; and   a second access credential reader in communication with the first access credential reader, wherein the second access credential reader is operable to receive and store at least a portion of the access information received by the first access credential reader and further wherein the second access credential reader is operable to provide at least a portion of the access information to a second access credential;   wherein the second access credential is operable to receive the portion of the access information from the second access credential reader, and wherein the second access credential becomes operable to emulate at least a portion of the first access credential's access ability.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first access credential reader is configured to provide a wiegand output to the second access credential reader. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first access credential reader is configured to provide a serial output to the second access credential reader. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second access credential is selected from a group consisting of a cell phone and a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first access credential is a smart card. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first access credential is communicably coupled to the first access credential reader via an interface selected from the group consisting of a magnetic stripe interface, a radio frequency interface, an optical interface, and a wired interface. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second access credential is communicably coupled to the second access credential reader via an interface selected from the group consisting of a magnetic stripe interface, a radio frequency interface, an optical interface, and a wired interface. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the information from the first access credential is received at a first carrier frequency, and wherein the access information is provided to the second access credential at a second carrier frequency. 
     
     
         16 . A method for credential emulation with a dual reader system, the method comprising:
 receiving information from a first access credential at a first access credential reader;   receiving at least a portion of the information at a second access credential reader;   storing the at least a portion of the information at the second access credential reader;   providing the at least a portion of the information to a second access credential, wherein the second access credential becomes operable to emulate at least a portion of the first access credential's access ability.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving at least a portion of the information at a second access credential reader includes receiving the at least a portion of the information through a wiegand output. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving at least a portion of the information at a second access credential reader includes receiving the at least a portion of the information through a serial output. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving information from a first access credential is done at a first carrier frequency, and wherein providing the at least a portion of the information to a second access credential is done at a second carrier frequency. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first access credential is selected from a group consisting of a smart card, a magnetic stripe card, a cell phone and a personal digital assistant.