Presentation instrument production systems and methods

• US 20040254833A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Algiene, Ken
• Application Number:
  US10/461,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/21 for multiple purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/40 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/44 using mechanical means, e.g. engraving
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for producing a customized presentation instrument comprises receiving at a production computer system production information needed to produce a customized presentation instrument. The production information may comprise customized design information from a purchaser of the presentation instrument, recipient information and a unique identifier. The design information is placed onto a piece of stock material to form the customized presentation instrument. The identifier is stored on the presentation instrument. Further, the completed presentation instrument is sent to the recipient.

Claims

1. A presentation instrument production system, comprising:

a presentation instrument production machine;

a production computer system coupled to the production machine, the computer system having presentation instrument production information that comprises customized design information from a purchaser of a presentation instrument that is unique to the presentation instrument and an identifier that is unique to the presentation instrument; and

at least one piece of stock material;

wherein the production machine is configured to apply the design information to the stock material and to record the unique identifier on the stock material to produce a customized presentation instrument having the customized design information and the unique identifier.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the computer system further includes mailing information for a recipient of the presentation instrument, and further comprising a printer that is configured to print an insert having the mailing information.

3. A system as in claim 2, further comprising an inserter machine that is configured to associate the presentation instrument with the insert and to place the presentation instrument and the insert within an envelope.

4. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a host computer system that is in communication with the production computer system, wherein the host computer system is configured to produce a presentation instrument record that includes the design information, the unique identifier, payment information and recipient information, and to transmit the design information, the identifier and the recipient information to the production computer system.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein the host computer system is configured to credit the presentation instrument record by at least a portion of a payment amount.

6. A system as in claim 4, wherein the host computer system is configured to receive and associate activation information with the presentation instrument record.

7. A method for producing a customized presentation instrument, the method comprising:

receiving at a host computer system presentation instrument information that comprises customized design information from a purchaser of the presentation instrument, recipient information and payment information;

creating a presentation instrument record having the presentation instrument information;

associating a unique identifier with the presentation instrument record;

crediting the presentation instrument record with a certain value based on the payment information;

generating production information needed to produce the presentation instrument, wherein the production information comprises the design information, the identifier and the recipient information;

transmitting the production information to a production facility computer system for production of the presentation instrument.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the presentation instrument information is received from a customer computer over a network.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the presentation instrument information is received from a customer service representative computer over a network.

10. A method as in claim 7, wherein the design information comprises a digital file of a graphic.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the digital file is in a JPEG file format.

12. A method as in claim 7, further comprising producing the design information and the unique identifier on the presentation instrument.

13. A method as in claim 7, wherein the design information comprises a photograph that is printed onto a stock material or information from a business card.

14. A method as in claim 7, further comprising storing the identifier on a magnetic stripe on the presentation instrument.

15. A method as in claim 7, further comprising storing the identifier in a bar code format on the presentation instrument.

16. A method as in claim 7, further comprising electronically storing the identifier on the presentation instrument.

17. A method as in claim 7, further comprising embossing the identifier on the presentation instrument.

18. A method as in claim 7, further comprising receiving and associating activation information with the presentation instrument record.

19. A method as in claim 7, further comprising printing an insert with the recipient information and placing the presentation instrument and the insert into an envelope.

20. A method as in claim 19, further comprising mailing the envelope to the recipient.

21. A method as in claim 18, further comprising providing the host computer system with the activation information to activate the presentation instrument.

22. A method as in claim 7, further comprising providing the presentation instrument in connection with the purchase of an item, and transmitting the identifier to the host computer system along with a payment amount, and debiting the presentation instrument record by the payment amount.

23. A method as in claim 22, further comprising reading the identifier from the presentation instrument using a point of sale device or a bar bode reader.

24. A method for producing a customized presentation instrument, the method comprising:

receiving at a production computer system production information needed to produce a customized presentation instrument, the production information comprising customized design information from a purchaser of the presentation instrument, recipient information and a unique identifier;

producing the design information onto a piece of stock material to form the customized presentation instrument;

storing the identifier on the presentation instrument; and

sending the presentation instrument to the recipient.

25. A method as in claim 24, wherein the design information is selected from a group consisting of photographs, clip art, and business cards that are printed onto the stock material.

26. A method as in claim 24, further comprising storing the identifier on a magnetic stripe on the presentation instrument or in bar code format.

27. A method as in claim 24, further comprising monitoring the design information for content.

28. A method as in claim 24, further comprising electronically storing the identifier on the presentation instrument.

29. A method as in claim 24, further comprising embossing the identifier on the presentation instrument.

30. A method as in claim 24, further comprising printing an insert with the recipient information and placing the presentation instrument and the insert into an envelope.

31. A method as in claim 30, further comprising mailing the envelope to the recipient.

32. A method as in claim 30, further comprising printing the design information on the insert or the envelope.