Method and apparatus for printing a gift card

• US 20060259189A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cruz Bay Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cruz Bay Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Gilbert, Jeremy, Perlow, David, Snow-Brine, Gary, Hout, David
• Application Number:
  US11/432,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259189A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• 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 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42

Abstract

The disclosure pertains to a self-service kiosk for customizing, printing and dispensing an activated gift card on location. The self-service kiosk may include at least one central processing unit, a display, at least one input device, a card printer, and program code for selecting and printing a gift card.

Claims

1. A gift card printing kiosk comprising:

a central processing unit for executing program code;

a display and at least one input device;

a card printer; and

executable computer code stored on computer readable memory, the code for selecting and printing a gift card, wherein said card printer, said display and said input device are in communication with said central processing unit.

2. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1 comprising a storage device for storing graphical images.

3. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1, wherein said input device is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a touch screen, a keyboard, and a tablet/stylus.

4. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1, wherein said card printer comprises a dye sublimation re-transfer printer.

5. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit can access a database containing gift card designs and/or digital graphic files.

6. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1 comprising voice recognition capability for receiving instructions from a user and/or for inputting custom text.

7. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1, wherein said kiosk further comprises an interface for accessing digital content from a user device.

8. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1, wherein said kiosk further comprises a scanner and/or a camera.

9. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 1 wherein said kiosk further comprises a network appliance for providing communication between said central processing unit and a remote server.

10. A method of personalizing a gift card comprising:

selecting a gift card type at a gift card kiosk;

activating the gift card at a gift card kiosk with a pre-assigned or user-assigned denomination value;

printing on the gift card at the kiosk; and

dispensing the gift card.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising printing a reverse image onto laminate transfer film and subsequently bonding the laminate transfer film to the face of the gift card.

12. The method of claim 10 comprising printing a photograph on the gift card.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the card is personalized by means of a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor such that the user can preview the card design on-screen prior to printing the card.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the card is printed with a retailer logo.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the card is printed with a current value and date.

16. The method of claim 10 comprising printing on both sides of the card.

17. The method of claim 10 comprising printing user-provided graphics to the gift card.

18. The method of claim 10 comprising printing on a gift card comprised of paper, PVC, PET, PET-G, ABS, polycarbonate and/or corn-based plastic substitute.

19. A gift card printing kiosk comprising:

computer processing means for executing program code;

printing means for printing graphics and/or text to a gift card;

output means for communicating with a user; and

network means for connecting to a computer network.

20. The gift card printing kiosk of claim 19 comprising data storage means for storing card designs for use in customizing a gift card and/or input means for customizing the gift card.