Kiosk and Method for Vending Stored Value Cards

• US 20070272743A1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Christie, Jonathan, Furgiuele, Mario, Gelb-O'Connor, Elizabeth, Sachdev, Amit
• Application Number:
  US11/752,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20070272743A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/204 Loading of a stored value token using an ATM
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A kiosk machine vends stored value cards (i.e., pre-paid and gift cards). The kiosk is self-service and will allow a user to select, purchase and pay for a stored value card without requiring the presence or assistance of a sales clerk. The kiosk can vend one or more cards in a single transaction. The kiosk is a computer-based vending machine having a touch-sensitive video screen and a card reader. The touch screen provides a user interface for a user to receive information and provide input selections. The card reader can be used to read a transaction card (e.g., an American Express card or credit card) to facilitate payment for the stored value card(s) being purchased. The vending method comprises: providing a kiosk having a user interface; receiving, via the user interface, a request to purchase a stored value card, receiving payment for the purchase; determining a card number associated with a selected card; activating the selected card to produce an activated stored value card in the card denomination; and dispensing the activated stored value card. A user purchasing a stored value card can select a type of stored value card, wherein the type is selected from the group consisting of an open card and a closed card. The closed card can be of the type usable only in a shopping center where the kiosk is physically located. The user can further select a card denomination. The method further allows a user to check a card balance for a stored value card.

Claims

1. A kiosk for vending stored value cards, comprising:

interface means for receiving a request to purchase a stored value card and an indication of a card denomination;

means for receiving payment for the purchase;

means for determining a card number associated with a selected card;

means for activating the selected card to produce an activated stored value card in the card denomination; and

means for dispensing the activated stored value card.

2. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the interface means comprises:

means for prompting a user to select a type of stored value card, wherein the type is selected from the group consisting of an open card and a closed card; and

means for prompting a user to select a card denomination.

3. The kiosk of claim 2, wherein the interface means further comprises means for surveying a user about the user'"'"'s experience in using the kiosk;

and communication means for uploading results of the survey to a remote server.

4. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the interface means for receiving a request to purchase a stored value card and an indication of a card denomination comprises:

means for presenting to the user a plurality of fixed denomination card options and receiving from the user an indication of a selected fixed denomination.

5. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the interface means for receiving a request to purchase a stored value card and an indication of a card denomination comprises:

means for presenting to the user a variable denomination card option and receiving from the user an indication of a desired variable denomination.

6. The kiosk of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of card hoppers, wherein each card hopper is configured to contain either a plurality of cards of a similar denomination or a plurality of cards for variable load.

7. A kiosk for vending a stored value card, comprising:

(a) an interface device;

(b) a card supply sub-system;

(c) a communication sub-system to provide communication with a network; and

(d) a digital processor to;

(i) control the interface device to receive from a user a request to purchase a stored value card, a requested denomination, and a payment vehicle,

(ii) determine a card number associated with a selected card,

(iii) communicate, via the communication sub-system, with a remote server on the network to activate the selected card to produce an activated stored value card in the card denomination; and

(iv) control the card supply sub-system to dispense the activated stored value card.

8. The kiosk of claim 7, wherein the interface device comprises a touch-sensitive display and a card reader.

9. The kiosk of claim 7, wherein the card supply sub-system includes a card, a plurality of card hoppers, and a card dispensing device.

10. The kiosk of claim 7, wherein the communication sub-system comprises at least one of a dial-up modem, a cable modem, a wireless modem, and an Ethernet card.

11. A method for automatically vending a stored value card, comprising:

providing a kiosk having a user interface;

receiving, via the user interface, a request to purchase a stored value card;

receiving payment for the purchase;

determining a card number associated with a selected card;

activating the selected card to produce an activated stored value card in a card denomination; and

dispensing the activated stored value card.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the request receiving step comprises:

receiving, via the user interface, a request to purchase a stored value card, wherein the request indicates a type of stored value card.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the request receiving step comprises:

receiving, via the user interface, a request to purchase a stored value card, wherein the request indicates a type of stored value card, and wherein the type is selected from the group consisting of an open card and a closed card.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the request receiving step further comprises:

receiving, via the user interface, an indication of a card denomination, wherein the card denomination is variable and is user selectable.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the request receiving step further comprises:

receiving, via the user interface, an indication of a card denomination, wherein the card denomination is fixed and is user selectable from a plurality of fixed denomination options.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the request receiving step further comprises:

receiving, via the user interface, an indication of a card denomination.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the request receiving step further comprises:

receiving, via the user interface, an indication of a card denomination, wherein the card denomination is variable and is user selectable.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step occurring prior to the payment receiving step of:

receiving, via the user interface, an acceptance of a service fee.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the payment receiving step comprises:

receiving payment card information; and

processing the payment card information to effect payment for the purchase.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the payment receiving step further comprises at least one of capturing a photographic image of a user providing the payment card information or receiving, via the user interface, identifying information from the user.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step comprises at least one of reading the selected card to determine the card number or retrieving the card number from a database.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the activating step comprises:

sending to a remote server a request to activate the selected card; and

receiving from the remote server an activation acknowledgement.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein the dispensing step comprises:

selecting a card from a selected card hopper of a plurality of card hoppers, wherein each card hopper is configured to contain either a card of a similar denomination or a card for variable load.

24. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

surveying, via the user interface, a user about the user'"'"'s experience in using the kiosk; and

uploading results of the survey to a remote server.

25. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reading a card number from a stored value card;

transmitting the card number to a remote server;

receiving from the remote server a card balance for the stored value card; and

reporting the card balance to a user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the reporting step comprises at least one of displaying the card balance on the user interface;

and printing the card balance on a receipt provided to the user.

27. The method of claim 11, wherein the payment receiving step further comprises:

performing a velocity check.