Techniques for providing an electronic representation of a card

• US 20090156180A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Original Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Inventors: Smrzlic, Pero, Slavin, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,746,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Techniques for making electronic cards that can be displayed on a mobile phone. The techniques permit making an electronic card based on an arbitrary SMS message and making an electronic card (eCard) that corresponds to a pre-existing non-electronic privilege card such as a loyalty card. In the latter case, the system on which the card is being made obtains information about the user and the issuer and uses the information to determine whether to issue the eCard and also to make use validity information which is associated with the card and is used to determine the validity of the card as it is used.

Claims

1. A method of making an electronic version of a previously-issued privilege card for a user, the previously-issued privilege card having been issued by a card issuer and the method comprising the steps performed in a processor of:

receiving issue validation information for the electronic version including at least card identification information for the preexisting card from the user;

using the issue validation information and information of the card issuer to determine whether the electronic version should issue; and

on validation,

making the electronic version of the preexisting privilege card.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

associating use validation information provided by the card issuer with the electronic version.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

using display information for a device upon which the electronic version is to be displayed to make the electronic version.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein:

the electronic version includes a barcode; and

in the step of using the display information, the display information is used to generate the barcode.

5. A method of making an electronic card for a mobile telephone, the telephone having a display and the ability to send text messages and the method comprising the steps performed in a server to which the mobile telephone can send text messages of:

receiving a text message from the mobile telephone;

making an electronic card based on the text message, the electronic card being displayable on the mobile telephone; and

providing the electronic card to the mobile telephone.

6. A method of making an electronic card for a mobile telephone that has a display and the ability to send text messages,

the method comprising the steps performed in the mobile telephone of:

sending a text message to a server, the server responding to the text message by making an electronic card that is based on the text message and is displayable on the mobile telephone; and

receiving the electronic card from the server.