Process and device for dispensing individual chip cards

• US 5,984,181 A
• Filed: 11/18/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Angewandte Digital Elektronik GmbH
• Original Assignee: Angewandte Digital Electronik GmbH
• Inventors: Kreft, Hans-Diedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Application Number:
  US08/952,706
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/492, 235/487, 902/26
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• 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 process for dispensing individual chip cards to a plurality of individual chip card users employs a chip card dispensing station (1) with at least one storage container (2). Chip cards are stored in the chip card dispensing station (1). The chip cards are capable for use in external read-write stations and contain electronic components requested by a card user for implementing chip card applications. A remotely located verification or monitoring station (5) is linked to the chip card dispensing station (1) via a cable-linked and/or radio-linked active data connection (4) for entering personal data into the chip card dispensing station via a user menu (3). A loaded chip card is issued to the card user operating the user menu. The loaded chip card is selected from the chip cards stored the chip card dispensing station (1).

Claims

1. A process for dispensing individual chip cards to a plurality of individual chip card users comprising following steps:

employing a chip card dispensing station with at least one storage container;

storing chip cards in the chip card dispensing station wherein the chip cards are capable for use in external read-write stations and contain electronic components requested by a card user for implementing chip card applications;

employing a remotely located verification or monitoring station;

connecting the chip card dispensing station via a cable-linked and/or radio-linked active data connection to the remotely located verification or monitoring station;

entering personal data into the chin card dispensing station via a user menu;

transmitting the personal data to the remotely located verification or monitoring station whereby programs and/or data of the chip card dispensing station can be changed by back-transmitted data and/or programs from the remotely located verification or monitoring station;

loading at least one of the chip cards with programs and/or data as a function of programs and/or data coming from the remotely located verification or monitoring station;

issuing a loaded chip card to the card user operating the user menu and selected from the chip card dispensing station.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein

a first-time functional activation of the loaded chip card is determined inside the chip card dispensing station by programs and/or data from the remotely located verification or monitoring station.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein

in order to personalize the loaded chip card, the loaded chip card is loaded for the first time with programs and/or data, which are uniquely associated with the card user and which identify the card user as an entitled user of the loaded chip card.

4. The process according to claim 3, wherein

in order to personalize the loaded chip card, a PIN number is entered via the user menu into the chip card dispensing station as a secret number and stored in the loaded chip card.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station has a read/write station for chip cards and the user menu asks the card user to insert the loaded chip card into the read/write station for purposes of checking the functions of the loaded chip card.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein

the loaded chip card inserted into the read/write station is checked by the remotely located verification or monitoring station, whereby further utilization of the loaded chip card is contingent upon the back-transmitted data from the remote verification or monitoring station.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station has several magazines, separated from each other, whereby different cards are present in each magazine, depending on technical card configuration and on different card issuers, and the chip card dispensing station automatically establishes a connection with various remotely located stations, depending on selection of a specific card from a selected magazine.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip cards of the chip card dispensing station contain specific pre-initializations in a form of data, which entails special advantages with certain service providers for the card user when the card user uses the loaded chip card.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station contains a printer that generates a confirmation slip on transactions made by the card user, whereby data stored in the chip card dispensing station as well as data of the loaded chip card and stored contents are printed out.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station has a long-term memory and all of actions and data are available for a later review.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station has a magnetic strip read/write device for dispensing chip cards with magnetic strips.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein

via the user menu, an account at a bank or other organization is opened for the card user via the remotely located verification or monitoring station.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station contains a device for automatically reading in biometric features of the card user.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station requires an entry of a code in a form of a number and/or of a word and/or reading in of a chip card and/or of a mechanical/electronic code carrier, whereby a read-in code is compared to a code in the chip card dispensing station and, only after two codes match, functions of the chip card dispensing station are activated.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station has a distinct code stored in it that is transferred into a memory of the loaded chip card, as a result of which the loaded chip card containing the code can be clearly identified as belonging to a specific chip card dispensing station.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein

the chip card dispensing station is equipped with an optical/electronic recording unit for photographing images and/or persons and/or documents, whereby recorded pictures are transmitted to the remotely located verification or monitoring station and the chip card dispensing station stores optically/electronically recorded data in the loaded chip card.

17. A device for dispensing individual chip cards to a plurality of individual chip card users comprising

a chip card dispensing station having at least one storage container for storing chip cards wherein the chip cards contain electronic components with functions requested by card users for implementing chip card applications and wherein the chip cards are capable for use in external read/write stations;

a remotely located verification or monitoring station;

a cable-linked and/or radio-linked active data connection linking the chin card dispensing station and the remotely located verification or monitoring station for purposes of loading the chip cards with data via a user menu by a card user able to enter individual, person-specific or person-related particulars into the chip card dispensing station; and

a card printing station having an optical/electronic recording unit, whereby pictures taken by the optical/electronic recording unit can be applied onto a card surface by means of the card printing station.

18. The device, according to claim 17, wherein

the chip card dispensing station is connected to an operator via a phone connection, and personal communication between the card user and the operator is possible.