Method and apparatus for advertisement

• US 6,766,302 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2003
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Bach
• Original Assignee: Joseph Bach
• Inventors: bach, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US10/384,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 500 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/38, 705/408, 283/904
• US Class Current: 705/14.67
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10

Abstract

The invention provides methods for promoting ones business. According to one implementation, a promotional message is imprinted on the face of a charge card. According to another implementation, the promotional message is imbedded in a coding device and is fetched and displayed by the cash register. According to yet another implementation, the message is stored in a telephone unit, and is sent to a called subscriber whenever a call is placed. A similar implementation is described with respect to e-mail systems.

Claims

1. A method for providing a personalized credit card and publicly displaying information decoded therein, comprising:

providing a user with an application for a credit card, said application including a slogan input field;

enabling a user to enter a user-slogan in said slogan input field;

accepting said application and producing a credit card comprising a substantially solid plastic body having a front and back faces;

providing a magnetic strip onto the back face of said credit card;

storing said user-slogan in said magnetic strip;

providing a user with a card reader having a display visible to third parties;

programming said card reader so that when said card reader reads said magnetic strip, said reader displays the user-slogan onto said display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a security code onto said magnetic strip.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising imprinting said user-slogan onto the front face of said credit card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a user with an application for a credit card comprises providing an application on a web site and allowing said user to access the application via the internet.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of enabling a user to enter a user-slogan in said slogan input field comprises programming said web site to prompt said user to type in a user-slogan.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising enabling the user to provide a path to an image residing on the user'"'"'s computer, and retrieving said image from the user'"'"'s computer.