CardDB

September 15, 2008 - TokenWorks introduces IDVisor Z22 MSR, a low-cost, ruggedized ID Scanner for magnetic stripe IDs.

We've taken our popular IDVisor Z22 reader and modified it for CardDB, our university/corporate ID verification solution.

This new hardware provides the following improvements.

1. Ruggedized design - you can drop it and computer is protected because its mounted inside ABS protective case.
2. Flash Based Memory - you can let the battery go dead and card database will be there when you recharge the battery.
3. Color LCD screen - Easier to read in low light to office lighting conditions - but a bit harder to read in direct sunlight compared to B&W LCD display.
4. Remote MSR head - For an additional $100, the magnetic card reader can be mounted approximately four (4) feet from the base unit.  This is ideal for card holder activated swipe venues.
5. Additionally, we've modified CardDB software so loading a card ID database is no longer required if you just want to log IDs at an event.

Pictured above is the new IDVisor Z22 MSR.  Click on the image to enlarge.  Note the screen shot is for the age verification software - CardVisor but the screen shots below are still displayed in CardDB.

We are offering an introductory upgrade discount to existing customers.  Readers of CR80 news should be on the look out for program details.

CardDB - Card Status Checker Solution

Imagine having the current status of all the cards in the system at a remote site. Simply swipe an ID card and CardDB™ reports its status. No more thick computer printouts and yellow highlighter pens. Check IDs at sporting events, entertainment venues, building entrances, or monitor transportation services. Finally a low cost convenient solution for remotely verifying IDs.  For a list of University customers, click on a recent CardDB Advertisement. 

Until now, this capability costs thousands of dollars in hardware and custom software. Using the expansion capabilities of the Handspring Visor PDA, TokenWorks is able to provide a portable magnetic card processing platform at a fraction of the price available just a few years ago. The low cost and easy to use features make it attractive to college ID offices, athletic departments, student unions, security personal in enterprise, and staff in clubs.

The CardDB database application to provide a simple low cost solution to the problem of remotely checking card status. No wires, wireless infrastructure, or custom software development costs. Just create a Comma Separated Value (CVS) file, convert, and download to the device. Whenever a card is swiped, its record is date & time stamped.

In CardDB version 3, an optional exception logging feature creates a log of cards which have not been found in the database or have been 'passed back' (if Anti-Passback is enabled),  

The Anti-Passback feature detects when a card is 're-swiped' or passed back to a friend in the line.  There are four time threshold at 15 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours or 168 hours (1 week).  If a card in the database is reswiped within the time threshold, an alarm will display/sound.  If the 'Log Error IDs' or 'Log All Swipes"  option is enabled, the event will be recorded in the MemoPad application. 

The transaction record format is starts with the first field, the error/transaction type, followed by a field separator character (^), the date (MM/DD format), field separator (^), the Time (HH:MM 24 hour format),  field separator (^), the parsed ID number, field separator (^), and the entire track of magnetic data.

Manual ID Number input

Manual ID card number entry with default pre-fill string allows users to rapidly enter an ID number via a keypad on the touch screen.  A default string 'pre-fills' the ID field with up to 12 characters.  This is helpful if for example the first 6 characters are common on every ID.

Log All Swipes

Logging of all swipe data, not just the exception IDs to the MemoPad application.  This allows detailed reporting of all transactions, not just the last swipe's date/time.  Several organizations who ran transportation services requested this feature. 

Log Decode Errors

Logging Decode Errors was included in version 3.40.    It allows system operators to gauge how well the reader is functioning and make corrections such as cleaning the magnetic heads, training operators/users or repositioning a fixed location reader to accommodate natural user swipe actions. 

Multiple Databases and User Configurable Parsing

Multiple versions of the CardDB database can now be accessed and the magnetic stripe parsing parameters can be changed by the user.  No different ID card formats can be validated by simply switching to a different database and reconfiguring the parsing parameters.

Cardholder Classifications

In addition to the standard Good/Bad card status, CardDB now allows the class of the card to be displayed.  Currently a dozen or so classifications have been defined.  There are 62 possible so let us know what classifications would be important for your organization.

Cardholder Classifications Codes as of Version 3.22

Each ID number is assigned one of the following codes.  Many schools just assign a '1' to all cards in the database but others use the entire range.  If a school would like to have new codes assigned AND we believe other schools would benefit, please let us know and we will include in the next release.

CardDB Upgrade Information

To upgrade to the latest version of CardDB, click here

CardDB features

• 100,000 ID Card record database
• Fast lookup —less than 1 second
• Fast Upload/Download — 1 minute per 10,000 cards
• Audible Alarm on bad card status
• Date/Time Stamps each card ID swipe
• Optional Anti Card Passback
• Optional ID Exception logging for cards passed back, not found in database, or with wrong ISO BIN number (when ISO BIN is used)
• Import/Export with virtually any database application using comma value separated (CVS) files
• Installed in CardTool® reader’s memory for plug and play installation.
• ver 3.2 – All Card Swipe Logging – for detailed reporting
• ver 3.2 – Manual ID Number input via Touch Screen – for ID cards with unreadable magnetic stripes with configurable default pre-fill string.
• ver 3.2  – ID number Classification.  In addition to Accepted and Denied, there are 62 classifications possible such as; student, faculty, Retired, International etc.
• ver 3.2 - Multiple ID card databases which user configurable magnetic stripe parsing parameters.
• ver 3.22 Private Memos to protect transaction data
• ver 3.30 Append Event code, 0->9 to each transaction record.
• ver 3.4 - Auto Clear Main display 3 seconds after swipe & record decode errors to MemoPad.
   

Requirements

• CardTool Magnetic Card reader
• CardDB software installed in CardTool reader
• Microsoft Excel 2000
• Personal Computer with a USB port or serial port
• Windows 98, 2000, or XP for USB
• Windows 95, NT for serial port
• Handspring Visor (several models available) with appropriate Hotsync Cradle (USB or Serial) Note: Handspring Visor included in DBDeluxe package described below.
• CardDB documentation and database applications

CardDB Documentation

CardDB Brochure  (version 3.0, version 3.2 pending)    (500Kb Adobe Acrobat)

CardDB Advertisement - lists a number of CardDB University Users

CardDB User Manual version 3.40 (pending) - Please use version 3.22 until new version posted.  Only new item is changes to configuration screen for Appending an Event Code, Auto Clear display 3 seconds after swipe, and Log Decode errors to MemoPad.  New record format in MemoPad (with Event Code)  both shown below.

CardDB User Manual  Version 3.22 4/26/04    New Status Codes added and Private Memos (5000Kb High Res. Adobe Acrobat )

CardDB User Manual Version 3.2 (preliminary)   (5000Kb High Res. Adobe Acrobat )
CardDB database Tools (links to the download page)

CardDB Upgrade Information

To upgrade to the latest version of CardDB, click here

Version 3.40 of CardDB Updater
Released November 12 2004
New features are;

• NEW - Auto Clear Display after swipe option.  This feature was added to make viewing of fixed location readers easier at a distance, e.g. bus drivers. 
• New - Log Decode Errors to MemoPad option.  This feature was added to help system operators determine how frequently a decode error occurred.   This will help identify readers which may need cleaning, fixture adjustments or operator/user training.

Version 3.31 of CardDB Updater
Released September 16 2004
New features are;

• NEW - CardScribe now appends date in MM/DD/YY format and time in 24hr format.  No changes to CardDB software in this updater release.  This format is similar to formatting used in CardDB which has MM/DD and 24:00 format.

Version 3.30 of CardDB
Released August 2004
New features are;

• NEW – 'Event Code' between 0 -> 9 appended to each transaction record stored in Memos.  Can be used to indicate which handheld and thus which location the transaction came from or whether transaction was entry or exit from venue.
• NEW - Special version of CardScribe (includes event code) included.  Run either CardDB or CardScribe from the same CardTool reader.

Note the new 'Check to add Event Code' item on the configuration screen and the resulting Event Code ('3') appended to the transaction record stored in the MemoPad application

Version 3.22 of CardDB
Released April 2004
New features are;

• NEW – Transaction data stored in Memos now marked 'Private' which means if Security Password is enabled, then Memos can be hidden.  Feature added for Universities which use SSN in student ID number.
• NEW - Status Codes added -  "Std. Waiver”, "Std. No Waiver", "Emp. Waiver", "Emp. No Waiver", "Graduate Std.", "Undergraduate", "Employee", "Intramurals", "Event 1", "Event 2", "Event 3", "Event 4", and "Event 5"

Update - Version 3.2 of CardDB
Released February 2004
New features are;

• NEW – All Card Swipe Logging – for detailed reporting - great for transportation applications
• NEW – Manual ID Number input via Touch Screen – great for unreadable magnetic stripes or unavailable ID cards.  Also has configurable default pre-fill string to speed entry.
• NEW – ID number Classification.  Goes beyond 'Accepted' and 'Denied' with 62 classifications possible such as; student, faculty, Retired, International, all meals, lunch only, etc.
• NEW - Multiple ID card databases with user configurable magnetic stripe parsing parameters.  Switch to different ID card population by changing database and parsing parameters.

	IDVisor z22 MSR CardDB Package - $595.00
IDVisor Z22 MSR CardDB Includes: IDVisor Z22 MSR, CardDB Software, CardDB Docs, USB Hotsync cable, Palm Desktop Software, HandStrap Kit, and Wall Charger. IDVisor Z22 MSR CardDB Qty: Price: $595

	CardDB Package - $495.00
CardDB-Deluxe Includes: CardTool Reader, CardDB Software, CardDB Docs, Handspring Visor PDA (Neo, Platinum or Deluxe) (possible colors red, black, smoke, blue), USB Hotsync cradle, Handspring CD-ROM, Handspring Docs, Handspring Stylus, 2- AAA batteries. Click here for additional details.  CardDB Package Qty: Price: $495

	CardDB Solo - $389.00
CardDB-Solo Includes: 1 CardTool Reader, Card DB Software, CardDB Docs Note: This is for customers who already own a Handspring Visor. Click here for additional details.   CardDB Solo Qty: Price: $389