GEOGRAPHIC AREA MULTIPLE SERVICE CARD SYSTEM

• US 20040238620A1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Cohagan, Perry A., Freud, Aliza, Mayer, Birgitta, Wood-Kulko, Penelope, Menichilli, Julia, Nanton, Jason, Sharp, Ray, Vosburgh, Scott, Fitzmaurice, Mary Ann
• Granted Patent: US 7,163,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The invention provides consumers with the services of multiple cards or accounts while allowing consumers to carry a single card, transponder, code and/or other access device. Because the card may access combined services such as financial transaction services and transportation services, the system may facilitate charging the financial account for the transportation services. The system may allow the consumer to use loyalty points or geographic based loyalty points to pay for the transportation services. The system may also limit the use of certain loyalty points based upon the geographic area for certain transportation services in certain geographic areas.

Claims

1. A multiple service card configured to:

access financial services provided by a provider of financial services via a financial account, wherein said financial account is associated with a consumer; and

,

provide the same consumer access to a transportation vehicle provided by a service partner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said access to said transportation vehicle includes crediting an account of said service partner.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transportation vehicle includes at least one of a bus, subway and train.

4. A method for facilitating obtaining access to a transportation vehicle by using a multiple service card to charge fees related to said access to an account associated with a provider of credit services, said method including:

providing a multiple service card to a consumer, wherein said card provides access to a transportation vehicle and facilitates financial transactions;

maintaining, by said provider of credit services, a financial account corresponding to said multiple service card of said consumer;

receiving a request to charge an amount to obtain access to said transportation vehicle from said service partner;

determining if said requested service partner is affiliated with said provider of credit services;

adjusting said financial account based upon said request and said amount; and

,

crediting an account of said service partner.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said multiple-service card is further configured to adjust a financial account based upon said request in at least one of substantially real-time, batch mode, periodically, upon request, and based on an algorithm.

6. A method for facilitating obtaining service partner services by using a multiple service card to redeem loyalty points, said method including:

providing a multiple service card to a consumer, wherein said card provides access to service partner services and facilitates financial transactions;

maintaining, by a provider of credit services, a database for storing loyalty points in a loyalty account corresponding to said consumer;

receiving a request to redeem an amount of said loyalty points to obtain a service of said service partner;

determining if said requested service partner is affiliated with said provider of credit services;

adjusting said loyalty account based upon said amount of said loyalty points; and

,

crediting an account of said service partner.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said crediting said service partner includes at least one of crediting a service partner account with said loyalty points, and converting said loyalty points to a monetary value and crediting said monetary value to said service partner account.

8. A method for facilitating obtaining service partner services by redeeming loyalty points, wherein the loyalty points are associated with a geographic area, said method including:

maintaining, by a provider of credit services, a database for storing geographic area loyalty points in a loyalty account corresponding to a consumer;

receiving a request to redeem an amount of said geographic area loyalty points to obtain a service of said service partner in a geographic area;

determining if said requested service partner is within a redemption area associated with said geographic area loyalty points;

adjusting said loyalty account based upon said amount of geographic area loyalty points; and

,

crediting an account of said service partner.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said crediting said service partner includes at least one of crediting a service partner account with said loyalty points, and converting said loyalty points to a monetary value and crediting said monetary value to said service partner account.

10. A method for providing a multiple-service card, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an application for a multiple-service card from a consumer, said application comprising credit card application information and service partner information;

communicating said credit card information to a provider of credit services to determine, by considering said credit card information, whether it desires to extend credit to the consumer; and

causing a multiple-service card to be sent to the consumer, wherein said multiple-service card is configured for providing a primary party'"'"'s services and a service partner'"'"'s services.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said receiving an application includes receiving an application at, at least one of, a service partner establishment and a credit card establishment.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said multiple-service card is further configured to charge a financial account for service partner services.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said multiple-service card is further configured to charge a financial account for service partner services in at least one of substantially real-time, batch mode, periodically, upon request, and based on an algorithm.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said multiple-service card is further configured to utilize loyalty points when charging a financial account for service partner services.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said multiple-service card is further configured to utilize geographic area loyalty points when charging a financial account for service partner services related to the geographic area.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said multiple service card includes a pre-existing credit card account.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of communicating said credit card information to a provider of credit services to determine, by considering said credit card information, whether it desires to extend credit to the consumer, further includes considering anti-terrorism information.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising replacing a multiple-service card, wherein said replacing comprises:

a. requesting a card replacement administrator to create a replacement card;

b. in response to said request, said card replacement administrator communicating with a card service engine;

c. said card service engine communicating account information to a card generator;

d. said card generator communicating account information to the service partner; and

e. said service partner communicating account information to the card replacement administrator.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising canceling a service partner services, wherein said canceling comprises:

a. transmitting a file comprising indicia of an account to be canceled,

b. producing a cancellation report, and

c. producing a balancing report.

20. The method of claim 10 further comprising canceling a primary party account, wherein said canceling comprises:

a. transmitting a file comprising indicia of an account to be canceled,

b. producing a cancellation report, and

c. producing a balancing report.

21. The method of claim 10 further comprising transferring an account to a second service partner, wherein said transferring comprises:

a. transmitting a file comprising indicia of a service partner account,

b. producing a transferring account report, and

c. producing a balancing report.