Method and system for providing interactive cardholder rewards image replacement

• US 20050058427A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Berg, Glenda, Redford, Liane, Gordon, James G., Black, Marc, Nguyen, Loc, Salters, Michael, Mazour, James, Madore, Kim, Shimko, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/219
• 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 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification

Abstract

A system for facilitating image management for portable devices is disclosed. The system includes a host configured to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device and an interface device configured to communicate with the host and the first and second portable devices. The interface device includes control logic configured to: determine whether the first portable device is valid for image synchronization using information provided by the host; and if it is determined that the first portable device is valid for image synchronization, record an image of the first portable device, determine whether the second portable device is valid for image synchronization, and download an image of the first portable device to the second portable device if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image synchronization. The interface device further includes control logic configured to: determine whether the second portable device is valid for image replacement using information provided by the host, and if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image replacement, retrieve an image of the first portable device and download the retrieved image to the second portable device. The interface device also includes control logic configured to: determine whether the second portable device includes additional information that is not included in the image of the first portable device, and if it is determined that the second portable device includes the additional information, concatenate the additional information with the image of the first portable device, and download the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device onto the second portable device. The interface device concatenates the additional information and the image of the first portable device based on a set of conflict resolution rules.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating image management for portable devices, comprising:

a host configured to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device; and

an interface device configured to communicate with the host and the first and second portable devices, the interface device having control logic configured to;

determine whether the first portable device is valid for image synchronization using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the first portable device is valid for image synchronization, record an image of the first portable device, determine whether the second portable device is valid for image synchronization, and download an image of the first portable device to the second portable device if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image synchronization.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface device further includes control logic configured to:

determine whether the second portable device is valid for image replacement using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image replacement, retrieve an image of the first portable device and download the retrieved image to the second portable device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the image of the first portable device is retrieved from a database via the host.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the interface device further includes control logic configured to:

determine whether the second portable device includes additional information that is not included in the image of the first portable device; and

if it is determined that the second portable device includes the additional information, concatenate the additional information with the image of the first portable device, and download the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device onto the second portable device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the interface device concatenates the additional information and the image of the first portable device based on a set of conflict resolution rules.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the interface device further includes control logic configured to:

forward the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device downloaded onto the second portable device to the host.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that an authorized number of image replacements have been performed with respect to the first portable device.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that an authorized number of image synchronizations have already been performed with respect to the first portable device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second portable devices contain reward information relating to a loyalty program.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is implemented using software, hardware or a combination of both.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second portable devices include smartcards.

14. A system for providing image synchronization for portable devices, comprising:

a host configured to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device; and

an interface device configured to communicate with the host, a user, and the first and second portable devices, the interface device having control logic configured to;

receive a synchronization request from the user;

in response to the synchronization request, determine whether the first portable device is valid for image synchronization using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the first portable device is valid for image synchronization, record an image of the first portable device, determine whether the second portable device is valid for image synchronization, and download an image of the first portable device to the second portable device if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image synchronization.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the interface device further includes control logic configured to:

determine whether the second portable device includes additional information that is not included in the image of the first portable device; and

if it is determined that the second portable device includes the additional information, concatenate the additional information with the image of the first portable device, and download the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device onto the second portable device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the interface device concatenates the additional information and the image of the first portable device based on a set of conflict resolution rules.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the interface device further includes control logic configured to:

forward the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device downloaded onto the second portable device to the host.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the first portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that an authorized number of image synchronizations have already been performed with respect to the first portable device.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the first and second portable devices contain reward information relating to a loyalty program.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the system is implemented using software, hardware or a combination of both.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein the first and second portable devices include smartcards.

23. A system for providing image replacement for portable devices, comprising:

a host configured to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device; and

an interface device configured to communicate with the host, a user, and the first and second portable devices, the interface device having control logic configured to;

receive a replacement request from the user;

in response to the replacement request, determine whether the second portable device is valid for image replacement using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image replacement, retrieve an image of the first portable device and download the retrieved image to the second portable device.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the interface device further includes control logic configured to:

determine whether the second portable device includes additional information that is not included in the image of the first portable device; and

if it is determined that the second portable device includes the additional information, concatenate the additional information with the image of the first portable device, and download the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device onto the second portable device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the interface device concatenates the additional information and the image of the first portable device based on a set of conflict resolution rules.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the interface device further includes control logic configured to:

forward the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device downloaded onto the second portable device to the host.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the image of the first portable device is retrieved from a database via the host.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that an authorized number of image replacements have been performed with respect to the first portable device.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the first and second portable devices contain reward information relating to a loyalty program.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the system is implemented using software, hardware or a combination of both.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein the first and second portable devices include smartcards.

33. A method for facilitating image management for portable devices, comprising:

using a host to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device;

determining whether the first portable device is valid for image synchronization using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the first portable device is valid for image synchronization, recording an image of the first portable device, determining whether the second portable device is valid for image synchronization, and downloading an image of the first portable device to the second portable device if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image synchronization.

34. The method of claim 33 further includes comprising:

determining whether the second portable device is valid for image replacement using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image replacement, retrieving an image of the first portable device and downloading the retrieved image to the second portable device.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the image of the first portable device is retrieved from a database via the host.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

determining whether the second portable device includes additional information that is not included in the image of the first portable device; and

if it is determined that the second portable device includes the additional information, concatenating the additional information with the image of the first portable device, and downloading the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device onto the second portable device.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the additional information and the image of the first portable device are concatenated based on a set of conflict resolution rules.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

forwarding the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device downloaded onto the second portable device to the host.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that an authorized number of image replacements have been performed with respect to the first portable device.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein the first portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that an authorized number of image synchronizations have already been performed with respect to the first portable device.

42. The method of claim 33 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

43. The method of claim 33 wherein the first and second portable devices contain reward information relating to a loyalty program.

44. The method of claim 33 wherein the method is implemented using software, hardware or a combination of both.

45. The method of claim 33 wherein the first and second portable devices include smartcards.

46. A method for providing image synchronization for portable devices, comprising:

using a host to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device; and

receiving a synchronization request from a user;

in response to the synchronization request, determining whether the first portable device is valid for image synchronization using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the first portable device is valid for image synchronization, recording an image of the first portable device, determining whether the second portable device is valid for image synchronization, and downloading an image of the first portable device to the second portable device if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image synchronization.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising:

determining whether the second portable device includes additional information that is not included in the image of the first portable device; and

if it is determined that the second portable device includes the additional information, concatenating the additional information with the image of the first portable device, and downloading the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device onto the second portable device.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the additional information and the image of the first portable device are concatenated based on a set of conflict resolution rules.

49. The method of claim 47 further comprising:

forwarding the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device downloaded onto the second portable device to the host.

50. The method of claim 46 wherein the first portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that an authorized number of image synchronizations have already been performed with respect to the first portable device.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image synchronization if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

52. The method of claim 46 wherein the first and second portable devices contain reward information relating to a loyalty program.

53. The method of claim 46 wherein the method is implemented using software, hardware or a combination of both.

54. The method of claim 46 wherein the first and second portable devices include smartcards.

55. A method for providing image replacement for portable devices, comprising:

using a host to maintain information relating to a first portable device and a second portable device;

receiving a replacement request from a user;

in response to the replacement request, determining whether the determine whether the second portable device is valid for image replacement using information provided by the host; and

if it is determined that the second portable device is valid for image replacement, retrieving an image of the first portable device and downloading the retrieved image to the second portable device.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising:

determining whether the second portable device includes additional information that is not included in the image of the first portable device; and

if it is determined that the second portable device includes the additional information, concatenating the additional information with the image of the first portable device, and downloading the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device onto the second portable device.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the additional information and the image of the first portable device are concatenated based on a set of conflict resolution rules.

58. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

forwarding the concatenated additional information and image of the first portable device downloaded onto the second portable device to the host.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the image of the first portable device is retrieved from a database via the host.

60. The method of claim 55 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that an authorized number of image replacements have been performed with respect to the first portable device.

61. The method of claim 55 wherein the second portable device is not valid for image replacement if it is determined that the second portable device is not linked to the first portable device.

62. The method of claim 55 wherein the first and second portable devices contain reward information relating to a loyalty program.

63. The method of claim 55 wherein the method is implemented using software, hardware or a combination of both.

64. The method of claim 55 wherein the first and second portable devices include smartcards.