METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ACTIVATING A CONTACTLESS TRANSACTION CARD

• US 20120166314A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated), MasterCard International InCorporation (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kimberg, Deborah M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method and system for issuing and activating a contactless transaction card is provided. The method uses a server system coupled to a database. The method includes providing a promotional transaction card including a proof of purchase identifier to a consumer, receiving a request message for ordering a contactless transaction card for the consumer wherein the request message includes the proof of purchase identifier and consumer registration data, validating the request message, issuing an inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer including a product identifier and an activation number, storing the product identifier and the activation number in the database, receiving the product identifier and the activation number from a client computer system, and activating the inactive contactless transaction card after the server system verifies that the received product identifier and activation number match the stored product identifier and activation number.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for issuing and activating a contactless transaction card using a server system coupled to a database, the server system in communication with a client computer system, said method comprising:

providing a promotional transaction card to a consumer, the promotional card including a proof of purchase identifier;

receiving, at the server system, a request message from the client computer system for ordering a contactless transaction card for the consumer, the request message including the proof of purchase identifier and consumer registration data;

validating the request message;

issuing an inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer including a product identifier and an activation number associated with the contactless transaction card;

storing the product identifier and the activation number in the database;

receiving, at the server system, the product identifier and the activation number from the client computer system for the inactive contactless transaction card; and

activating the inactive contactless transaction card after the server system verifies that the received product identifier and activation number match the stored product identifier and activation number.

2. A computer-based method according to claim 1 wherein providing a promotional transaction card further comprises transmitting from the server system to the client computer system at least one of an email, an electronic file, or a link on a web page directing the consumer to a card ordering website for ordering the contactless transaction card.

3. A computer-based method according to claim 2 wherein the card ordering website prompts the consumer to input registration data, wherein registration data includes at least one of an account number, an expiration date, a CVC2 code, a name, an address, a phone number, an email address, for an existing transaction card account assigned to the consumer.

4. A computer-based method according to claim 1 wherein validating the request message further comprises:

storing in the database the proof of purchase identifier provided to the consumer on the promotional card;

comparing the received proof of purchase identifier to the stored proof or purchase identifier, the comparison performed by the server system; and

validating the request message when the received proof of purchase identifier matches the stored proof or purchase identifier.

5. A computer-based method according to claim 4 wherein validating the request message further comprises:

determining, at least in part using the registration data, that an existing transaction card account assigned to the consumer is eligible for a contactless transaction card.

6. A computer-based method according to claim 1 wherein validating the request message further comprises:

automatically charging an issue fee to an existing transaction card account assigned to the consumer after confirming the consumer is approved for receiving the contactless transaction card account.

7. A computer-based method according to claim 1 wherein issuing an inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer further comprises:

providing the inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer, the inactive contactless transaction card is pre-programmed by a vendor engaged for providing inactive contactless transaction cards to consumers; and

providing the activation number associated with the inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer, the activation number is provided by the server system, the activation number being unknown to the vendor.

8. A computer-based method according to claim 1 wherein issuing an inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer further comprises:

electronically transmitting an activation message from the server system to the client computer system, the activation message including the activation number for activating the inactive contactless transaction card, and instructions directing the consumer on how to activate the inactive contactless transaction card.

9. A computer system for issuing and activating a contactless transaction card, the computer system comprising:

a database for storing data; and

a computer device comprising a processor in communication with the database, the computer device programmed to;

transmit a promotional transaction card to a consumer via a consumer computer, the promotional card including a proof of purchase identifier;

receive a request message from the consumer computer for ordering a contactless transaction card for the consumer, the request message including the proof of purchase identifier and consumer registration data;

validate the request message, wherein an inactive contactless transaction card including a product identifier is provided to the consumer after the request message is validated;

transmit an activation number associated with the inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer computer;

store the product identifier and the activation number in the database;

receive the product identifier and the activation number from the consumer computer; and

activate the inactive contactless transaction card after verifying that the received product identifier and activation number match the stored product identifier and activation number.

10. A computer system according to claim 9, wherein said computer device is programmed to:

transmit a promotional transaction card to the consumer computer, wherein the promotional transaction card includes at least one of an email, an electronic file, or a link on a web page directing the consumer to a card ordering website for ordering the contactless transaction card.

11. A computer system according to claim 10, wherein said card ordering website prompts the consumer to input consumer registration data for inclusion with the request message, wherein the consumer registration data includes at least one of an account number, an expiration date, a CVC2 code, a name, an address, a phone number, an email address, for an existing transaction card account assigned to the consumer.

12. A computer system according to claim 9, wherein said computer device is programmed to:

store in the database the proof of purchase identifier provided to the consumer on the promotional card;

compare the received proof of purchase identifier to the stored proof of purchase identifier; and

validate the request message when the received proof of purchase identifier matches the stored proof of purchase identifier.

13. A computer system according to claim 12, wherein said computer device is programmed to determine, at least in part using the registration data, that an existing transaction card account assigned to the consumer is eligible for a contactless transaction card.

14. A computer system according to claim 9, wherein said computer device is programmed to:

automatically charge an issue fee to an existing transaction card account assigned to the consumer after confirming the consumer is approved for receiving the contactless transaction card.

15. A computer system according to claim 9, wherein said computer device is programmed to:

electronically transmit an activation message to the consumer computer, the activation message including the activation number for activating the inactive contactless transaction card, and instructions directing the consumer on how to activate the inactive contactless transaction card.

16. A computer system for issuing and activating a contactless transaction card, the computer system comprising:

a database for storing data; and

a computer device comprising a processor in communication with the database, the computer device programmed to;

receive a request message from a consumer computer for ordering a contactless transaction card, the request message including a proof of purchase identifier and consumer registration data;

validate the request message, wherein an inactive contactless transaction card including a product identifier is provided to the consumer upon validation;

transmit an activation number associated with the inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer computer;

store the product identifier and the activation number in the database;

receive the product identifier and the activation number from the consumer computer; and

activate the inactive contactless transaction card after verifying that the received product identifier and activation number match the stored product identifier and activation number.

17. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by a computer device, the computer-executable instructions cause the computer device to:

transmit a promotional transaction card to a consumer via a consumer computer, the promotional card including a proof of purchase identifier;

receive a request message from the consumer computer for ordering a contactless transaction card for the consumer, the request message including the proof of purchase identifier and consumer registration data;

validate the request message, wherein an inactive contactless transaction card including a product identifier is provided to the consumer after the request message is validated;

transmit an activation number associated with the inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer;

store the product identifier and the activation number in a memory device;

receive the product identifier and the activation number from the consumer computer; and

activate the inactive contactless transaction card after verifying that the received product identifier and activation number match the stored product identifier and activation number.

18. One or more computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein when executed by the computer device, the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer device to transmit a promotional transaction card to the consumer computer, wherein the promotional transaction card includes at least one of an email, an electronic file, and a link on a web page directing the consumer to a card ordering website for ordering the contactless transaction card.

19. One or more computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein when executed by the computer device, the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer device to:

store in the memory device the proof of purchase identifier provided to the consumer on the promotional card;

compare the received proof of purchase identifier to the stored proof of purchase identifier; and

validate the request message when the received proof of purchase identifier matches the stored proof of purchase identifier.

20. One or more computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein when executed by the computer device, the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer device to:

automatically charge an issue fee to an existing transaction card account assigned to the consumer after confirming the consumer is approved for receiving the contactless transaction card; and

electronically transmit an activation message to the consumer computer, the activation message including the activation number for activating the inactive contactless transaction card, and instructions directing the consumer on how to activate the inactive contactless transaction card.