Adjacent Sub Interval
Variation |
This measurement refers to the size
of “1" bits in comparison to the size of the
adjacent previous bit. A comparison is made between
the size of the first half of the current “1" bit
compared to the previous bit divided by 2. This is
expressed as a percentage value.
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ANSI |
American National Standards Institute
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Bit-to-Bit Variation |
This measurement refers to the size
of the current bit in comparison to the previous bit.
This is expressed as a percentage value.
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Branch Encoder |
Is the name we typically use when referring
to the encoder that is used to encode encrypted customer
select PIN information to a card. There are many names
that are used for this type of encoder, including customer
select PINing device and card activation terminal.
Normally these are distributed throughout a branch
network, where they are easily accessible by card holder
clients. These can either be manual swipe (typically)
or motorised units.
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Bulk Encoder/Embosser |
This is the rather expensive piece
of automated machinery that encodes (writes) data to
the stripe, and embosses information in the plastic.
Some models can process many cards per hour. Blank
card stock is normally loaded into hoppers, which are
fed into the machine, one at a time.
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Clocking zeros |
These are a series of consecutive zero bits that
are found preceding the start sentinel and after the
end sentinel. They are used by many readers to synchronise
to the speed of which the card swiped.
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Encode |
This refers to the process where data
(typically) is written onto the stripe by specialised
equipment.
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End Sentinel |
This is an encoded ISO defined character
on the magnetic stripe which signals the end of the
card data. The encoding after the end sentinel consists
of clocking zeros, and sometimes a check digit.
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High Coercivity |
Also know as HiCo, this is a term primarily
given to a type of magnetic tape that displays high
resistance to being erased. Specialised equipment,
with higher current outputs, is required to encode
data to a HiCo stripe. This tape will resist erasure
from most commonly found magnets.
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ISO |
International Organisation for Standardisation.
They form the specialised system for worldwide standardisation.
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Jitter |
This primarily is a colloquial term
for bit to bit variation and adjacent sub interval
variation. That is, the size of the current bit in
question, when compared to the previous bit, expressed
as a percentage of the previous bit. For bit to bit
variation, the difference between the current bit and
previous bit is calculated, then this difference is
expressed as a percentage of the size of the previous
bit (size difference/size of previous bit x 100). Adjacent
sub interval variation only applies to one bits. Specifically
the first half transition peak to transition peak)
of the current one bit is compared to half the size
of the previous bit ((difference between the size of
first half of current one bit and the size of previous
bit)/(size of previous bit/2)x100). The "jitter" values
are important because this is how readers decode card
data (decide whether a bit is a one or zero), on a
bit compared to previous bit measurement (of course
as a time measurement). This especially helps swipe
readers, without accurate speed monitoring components,
to cope with the huge variation in swipe speeds and
accelerations.
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Low Coercivity |
Also know as LoCo, this primarily refers
to magnetic tape that is easily affected by contact
with magnets, i.e. it displays low resistance to being
erased. It requires a low level of current to encode
data to the stripe.
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Signal Amplitude |
This is a reference to strength of
the magnetic signal coming from the card once it is
encoded. It is measured as a voltage when the card
is passed over a read head. This voltage is expressed
as a percentage of a reference signal amplitude from
a master standard magnetic tape.
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Start Sentinel |
This is an encoded ISO defined character
on the magnetic stripe which signals the start of the
actual card data. The encoding preceding the start
sentinel consists of clocking zeros.
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