System for activation of multiple cards

• US 20050091115A1
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Arthur, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for activating a plurality of cards. A first card number and a total number of cards can be provided to an activation system to process the activation of the plurality of cards.

Claims

1. A method of activating a plurality of gift cards at a POS device, said method comprising:

providing a first card number corresponding to a first card in a series of cards;

providing a total number of n cards to be activated;

activating the card corresponding to said first card number;

activating the next successive n-1 cards corresponding to the next successive n-1 card numbers.

2. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

providing a last card number corresponding to a last card in said series of cards.

3. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

sending an activation request from a POS device to an activation computer, wherein said activation request comprises said first card number and said total number of n cards to be activated.

4. The method as described in claim 3 and further comprising:

sending a response to said activation request from said activation computer to said POS device, wherein said response comprises an indicator indicative of whether said series of cards have been approved for activation.

5. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

sending a void request from said POS device so as to void activation of said series of cards.

6. A method of activating a plurality of gift cards at a POS device, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of cards at a POS device;

entering a first indicator indicative of a first card in said plurality of cards;

entering a total number of cards in said plurality of cards;

communicating said first indicator and said total number of cards to an activation computer;

receiving confirmation that said plurality of cards have been approved for activation.

7. The method as described in claim 6 wherein said receiving confirmation comprises:

receiving a batch number.

8. The method as described in claim 7 and further comprising:

utilizing said batch number to void said activation of said plurality of cards.

9. The method as described in claim 6 and further comprising:

entering a second indicator indicative of a last card in said plurality of cards.

10. The method as described in claim 9 and further comprising:

calculating a total number of cards with said first indicator and said second indicator so as to confirm said entered number of cards was correct.

11. A method of validating activation of a plurality of gift cards, said method comprising:

receiving from a POS device an indicator indicative of a first card in a plurality of cards;

receiving an indicator indicative of a total number of cards in said plurality of cards;

determining whether said plurality of cards can be activated;

communicating a validation signal so as to indicate at said POS device whether said plurality of cards can be activated.

12. The method as described in claim 11 and further comprising:

initiating a batch process to activate each of said plurality of cards.

13. The method as described in claim 11 wherein said validating that said plurality of cards can be activated comprises:

determining for said first card a card type and an activation amount;

determining for each remaining card in said plurality of cards whether each remaining card is of the same card type and the same activation amount.

14. The method as described in claim 13 wherein said communicating a signal so as to indicate at said POS device whether said plurality of cards can be activated comprises:

communicating a negative signal indicating that said plurality of cards cannot be activated if all of said plurality of cards do not match said activation amount and said card type.

15. The method as described in claim 13 wherein said communicating a signal so as to indicate at said POS device whether said plurality of cards can be activated comprises:

communicating a positive signal indicating that said plurality of cards can be activated if all of said plurality of cards do match said activation amount and said card type.

16. A method of activating a plurality of gift cards with a POS device, said method comprising:

receiving from a purchaser a plurality of cards for purchase;

entering a first card number into said POS device;

entering a total number of cards making up said plurality of cards into said POS device;

receiving payment for said plurality of cards at said POS device from said purchaser;

communicating said first card number to a card activation computer;

communicating said total number of cards making up said plurality of cards to said card activation computer;

activating the card corresponding to said first card number;

activating the next n-1 successive cards corresponding to the next n-1 card numbers after the first card.

17. The method as described in claim 16 and further comprising:

validating that said plurality of cards can be activated.

18. The method as described in claim 17 wherein said validating that said plurality of cards can be activated comprises:

determining for said first card a card type and an activation amount;

determining for each remaining card in said plurality of cards whether each remaining card is of the same card type and the same activation amount.

19. The method as described in claim 18 and further comprising:

communicating a negative signal to said POS device indicating that said plurality of cards cannot be activated if all of said plurality of cards do not match said activation amount and said card type.

20. The method as described in claim 18 and further comprising:

communicating a positive signal indicating that said plurality of cards can be activated if all of said plurality of cards do match said activation amount and said card type.

21. A method of selling gift cards, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of cards having sequential card numbers;

packaging said plurality of cards in a common package;

configuring at least one card number for detection by a bar code scanner;

labeling said package with a total number of cards in said package;

22. A method of packaging gift cards, said method comprising:

providing as a package a plurality of cards, each of said cards having a different respective card number and wherein said card numbers form a sequential order;

providing a package identifier on said package;

wherein said package identifier comprises;

an indicator indicating one of said plurality of cards; and

an indicator indicating a total number of cards in said package for activation.