Activation number generation and association

• US 20070063021A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Blasius, Brian, Chakiris, Phil, Smith, Chandilyn
• Granted Patent: US 8,925,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to methods of manufacturing data card assemblies. These methods generally comprise manufacturing or purchasing a data card comprising a special number, wherein the special number is associated with a particular data card account; packaging the data cards in a package such that the special number is visible; generating activation information; reading the special number on the data card; recording the activation information on the package; and associating the special number with the particular activation information recorded on the package. Some embodiments of the present invention may further comprise conveying the association between the activation information and the special number to an intermediary managing the data card accounts. Some embodiments of the present invention may further comprise generating a special number associated with a particular data card account; and generating activation information associated with a particular special number.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a data card assembly, comprising:

manufacturing or purchasing a data card comprising a special number, wherein the special number is associated with a particular data card account;

packaging the data cards in a package such that the special number is visible;

generating activation information;

reading the special number on the data card;

recording the activation information on the package; and

associating the special number with the particular activation information recorded on the package.

2. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the special number may comprise a series of numbers, letters, symbols, or any unique identification code.

3. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the special number is in an optically, magnetically, or electrically readable form.

4. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the data card is packaged such that the special number is visible through an aperture in the package.

5. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the data card is packaged in that the data card is adhered to a carrier, such that one surface of the data card is visible.

6. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the data card is packaged in that the data card is formed integrally with a carrier.

7. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the activation information recorded on the package comprises a magnetic strip, a bar code, a smart-chip, or a radio frequency identification tag.

8. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 7, wherein the step of reading the special number on the data card comprises magnetic, optical, electric or wireless reading.

9. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

conveying the association between the activation information and the special number to an intermediary managing the data card accounts.

10. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 9, wherein the step of conveying the association between the activation information and the special number is accomplished through a network.

11. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 9, wherein the step of conveying the association between the activation information and the special number is accomplished by the physical transfer of a data storage device.

12. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a special number associated with a particular data card account;

recording the special number on the data card.

13. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the activation information is generated sequentially.

14. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 1, wherein the activation information is pre-associated with a particular special number.

15. A method of manufacturing a data card assembly, comprising:

manufacturing or purchasing a data card associated with a particular data card account;

generating a special number associated with a particular data card account;

recording the special number on the data card;

packaging the data cards in a package such that the special number is visible;

generating activation information;

reading the special number on the data card;

recording the activation information on the package;

associating the special number with the particular activation information recorded on the package; and

conveying the association between the activation information and the special number to an intermediary managing the data card accounts.

16. A method of manufacturing a data card assembly, comprising:

manufacturing or purchasing a data card associated with a particular data card account;

generating a special number associated with a particular data card account;

generating activation information associated with a particular special number;

recording the special number on the data card;

packaging the data cards in a package such that the special number is visible;

reading the special number on the data card; and

recording the activation information associated with the special number on the package.

17. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 16, wherein the step of manufacturing or purchasing a data card and the step of recording the activation information on the package are performed by different entities.

18. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 16, wherein the step of manufacturing or purchasing a data card and the step of generating activation information are performed by the same entity.

19. The method of manufacturing a data card assembly of claim 16, wherein the step of manufacturing or purchasing a data card and the step of recording the activation information on the package are performed by the same entity.