Method and system for off-line loading of stored value cards using a batch-load terminal

• US 6,422,459 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kawan, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US09/170,900
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/492, 705/41, 705/44, 705/66, 705/67
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0826 Embedded security module
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• 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 and system for batch loading a stored value application of a microprocessor based stored value card includes a stored value card reader/writer connected to a local computer device and a batch-load application running on the same computer device which securely stores load key information and emulates the remote functions of an on-line load transaction. The computer also has a security module for storing load key information and an encryption device. Communication is initiated on the card reader at the local computer device between the stored value application and the batch-load application, and an off-line batch-load transaction is performed in which the load key information is validated and a funding source is also validated. An authorizing message is sent by the batch-load application to the stored value application with data representing a pre-selected monetary value.

Claims

1. A method of off-line batch loading value to a stored value card application, comprising:

initializing the stored value application of a stored value card with a load key at a centrally located remote location;

allowing the stored value card to be transported in bulk from the remote location to a local batch-load terminal;

allowing secret load key information to be supplied off-line to the local batch-load terminal;

storing the secret load key information in a security module on the local batch-load terminal;

initiating communication at the local batch-load terminal via a card reader device of the local batch-load terminal between the stored value card application and an off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal;

automatically transmitting a request for the stored value card application via the card reader device to the off-line batch-load application for a load transaction representing monetary value for the stored value card application using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module;

automatically sending a message authorizing the load transaction by the off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal to the stored value card application via the card reader device using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information securely stored in the security module at the local batch-load terminal, the authorizing message comprising data representing the monetary value;

automatically sending a message confirming completion of the load transaction for the stored value card application via the card reader device to the off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module; and

automatically storing the load transaction completion message by the off-line batch-load application at the local batch-load terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically feeding a stored value card embedded with the stored value application to the card reader device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value application comprises an application residing on a stored value card microprocessor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the local terminal comprises a computer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the computer comprises a financial institution computer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the financial institution computer comprises a bank personal computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the batch-load application comprises an encryption device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the batch-load application comprises a CD-ROM.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting further comprises pre-selecting the monetary value for the load transaction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises an encrypted message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the encrypted message comprises the load key information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein authorizing further comprises decrypting the encrypted message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein authorizing further comprises validating the load key information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing further comprises confirming a funding source.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the funding source comprises a financial institution.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorizing message further comprises data representing stored value card purchase code information.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorizing message further comprises data representing stored value card serial number information.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the load key comprises a reloadable load key.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the load key comprises a non-reloadable load key.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting the load transaction completion message by the batch-load application.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein reporting comprises collecting the load transaction completion message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein collecting comprises logging the load transaction completion message in a transaction log.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein collecting further comprises generating the transaction log to a stored value card load transaction file.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein collecting further comprises transmitting the load transaction file to a stored value card system provider.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein collecting further comprises transmitting the load transaction file to a stored value card funding source.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the funding source comprises a financial institution.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the financial institution comprises a bank.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored value card is dispensable by a card dispensing machine.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the card dispensing machine allows personalization of the dispensed stored value card.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the personalization of the dispensed stored value card includes imprinting the stored value card with a selected image.

31. A system for off-line batch loading value to a stored value card application, comprising:

means for initializing the stored value application of a stored value card with a load key at a centrally located remote location;

a batch-load terminal having a security module for securely storing load key information supplied off-line to the local batch-load terminal;

means for initiating communication at a local batch-load terminal via a card reader device of the local batch-load terminal between the stored value card application on the stored value card transported in bulk from the remote location to the local batch-load terminal and an off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal;

means associated with the local batch-load terminal for automatically transmitting a request for the stored value card application via the card reader device to the off-line batch-load application for a load transaction representing monetary value for the stored value card application to the off-line batch-load application using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module;

means associated with the off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal for automatically sending a message to the stored value card application via the card reader device authorizing the load transaction using the load key of the stored value card and the securely stored load key information;

means for automatically sending a message confirming completion of the load transaction for the stored value card application via the card reader device to the off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module; and

means for automatically storing the load transaction completion message by the off-line batch-load application at the local batch-load terminal.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising means associated with the card reader for automatically feeding a stored value card imbedded with the stored value application to the card reader.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the local terminal comprises a computer.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer comprises a financial institution computer.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the financial institution computer comprises a bank personal computer.

36. A method of off-line batch loading value to a stored value card application, comprising:

initializing the stored value application of a stored value card with a load key at a centrally located remote location;

allowing the stored value card to be transported in bulk from the remote location to a local batch-load terminal;

receiving secret load key information at the local batch-load terminal supplied off-line to the local batch-load terminal;

storing the secret load key information in a security module on the local batch-load terminal;

receiving a request from the stored value card application via a card reader device at the local batch-load terminal for a load transaction representing monetary value by an off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module;

automatically sending a message authorizing the load transaction by the batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal to the stored value card application via the card reader device using the load key of the stored value card and the load key information securely stored in the security module at the local batch-load terminal;

receiving a message by the off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal from the stored value card application via the card reader device confirming completion of the load transaction using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module; and

storing the load transaction completion message by the off-line batch-load application at the local batch-load terminal.

37. A system for off-line batch loading value to a stored value card application, comprising:

means for initializing the stored value application of a stored value card with a load key at a centrally located remote location;

a local batch-load terminal having a security module for securely storing load key information supplied off-line to the local batch-load terminal;

means for receiving a request from the stored value card application on the stored value card transported in bulk from the remote location to the local batch-load terminal via a card reader device at a local batch-load terminal for a load transaction representing monetary value by an off-line batch load-application residing on the local terminal using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module;

means for automatically sending a message authorizing the load transaction by the off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal to the stored value card application via the card reader device using the stored value card application and the securely stored load key information;

means for receiving a message by the off-line batch-load application residing on the local batch-load terminal from the stored value application via the card reader device confirming completion of the load transaction using the load key of the stored value card and the secret load key information stored in the security module; and

means for storing the load transaction completion message by the off-line batch-load application at the local batch-load terminal.