INCENTIVE IMAGING METHODS AND DEVICES

• US 20080103905A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karen Nixon-Lane
• Original Assignee: Karen Nixon-Lane
• Inventors: Nixon-Lane, Karen
• Granted Patent: US 9,245,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method of providing incentives to customers which involves providing customers with cards having changeable display areas. During a transaction, the cards are received from the customers and an incentive image is displayed on the display areas of the cards when they are returned to the customers. The incentive images can be coupons, discount certificates, or other marketing or promotional offerings, prize notifications, loyalty rewards, etc. The cards can be credit cards, including gift cards, debit cards, ATM cards, shoppers'"'"' cards, merchants'"'"' cards, phone cards, casino cards, or any other similar cards. A transaction card that displays updated value balances on the card and a system for performing the value updates is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers which comprises;

providing a customer with a card having a changeable display area;

receiving the card from the customer during the purchase of a product or service;

causing an image to be displayed on the display area of the card which image comprises an incentive to the customer; and

returning the card to the customer with the image displayed thereon.

2. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers according to claim 1, wherein the image comprises an image of a coupon or discount certificate for a subsequent purchase.

3. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers according to claim 1, wherein the image comprises a marketing or promotional offering.

4. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers according to claim 1, wherein the card comprises one of a credit card, gift card, debit card, ATM card, shopper'"'"'s club card, merchant'"'"'s card, and phone card.

5. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers according to claim 1, wherein the display area comprises an electronic paper display.

6. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers according to claim 1, wherein the card contains information about the customer which information is processed to determine an appropriate image to be displayed on the card.

7. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers according to claim 1, the image displayed on the card is changed during a subsequent point-of-sale transaction.

8. A method of providing point-of-sale incentives to customers according to claim 1, wherein the image comprises a notification of a prize that has been won.

9. A method of providing incentives to customers which comprises;

providing a customer with a card having a changeable display area;

receiving the card from the customer during a transaction;

causing an image to be displayed on the display area of the card which image comprises an incentive to the customer; and

returning the card to the customer with the image displayed thereon.

10. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 9, wherein the image comprises an image of a coupon or discount certificate for a subsequent purchase.

11. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 9, wherein the image comprises a marketing or promotional offering.

12. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 9, wherein the card comprises one of a credit card, gift card, debit card, ATM card, shopper'"'"'s club card, merchant'"'"'s card, phone card, and a casino card.

13. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 9, wherein the display area comprises an electronic paper display.

14. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 9, wherein the card contains information about the customer which information is processed to determine an appropriate image to be displayed on the card.

15. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 9, the image displayed on the card is changed during a subsequent transaction.

16. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 9, wherein the image comprises a notification of a prize that has been won.

17. A method of providing incentives to customers according to claim 12, wherein the card is a casino card which comprises a slot card, comp card, or players'"'"' card.

18. A transaction card that displays an updated display of the remaining value of the card which comprises:

a transaction card;

a display area visible on a surface of the transaction card;

a bi-directional data communications package provided in the transaction card; and

a microprocessor for storing a current value of the transaction card and updating and displaying an updated value of the transaction card in response to data that is transmitted and received from the bi-directional data communications package.

19. A transaction card that displays an updated display of the remaining value of the card according to claim 18, wherein the transaction card comprises a gift card, a credit card that has a spending limit, a re-loadable merchant card, a casino card or a fare card.

20. A transaction card that displays an updated display of the remaining value of the card according to claim 18, in combination with an external host system that performs a transaction that changes the value of the transaction card.