Customer activated multi-value (CAM) card

• US 6,865,547 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bank One Delaware NA (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Jennifer, Brake, Francis B. Jr., Schwartz, Deborah
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US09/505,189
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: G06/F01.7/60, 705 41- 42, 705/14, 705/35, 705/39, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• 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 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• 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 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The Customer Activated Multi-Value (CAM) card provides a customer with a primary use as a transaction card which can be further activated to have a secondary use as a credit card. The CAM card can be activated as a transaction card or as a transaction card with a credit card feature. Activation of the CAM card as a transaction card allows the customer to purchase goods and services from one specific vendor and to establish a relationship with that vendor for the goods or services rendered (for example, telephone calling card or gasoline product purchasing card) while enjoying reward benefits based on those purchases. Activation of the credit feature of the card allows the customer to interact with any merchant that accepts traditional credit cards such as VISA®, MASTERCARD®, AMERICAN EXPRESS®, or DISCOVER®. The combination of features allows a customer to purchase various goods and services from several different merchants. If the customer chooses to activate the CAM card as both a transaction card and a credit card, the customer is given the benefit of using the card in both manners described above.

Claims

1. A computerized method for a real-time customer activation of a multi-feature card comprising:

a) offering to the customer a first activation of the multi-feature card;

b) receiving the customer'"'"'s request into said system to activate at least one primary feature of the multi feature card;

c) employing at least one safety feature during the first activation request to determine whether the customer is the person whose name is printed on the multi-feature card;

d) offering the customer an option of activating said at least one primary feature of the multi-feature card by;

1) confirming the customer'"'"'s desire to activate said at least one primary feature;

2) activating said at least one primary feature, if the customer confirms the first activation;

3) terminating the first activation request;

4) allowing the customer to use the multi-feature card as a card having only said at least one primary feature;

e) offering to the customer a subsequent activation of the multi-feature card that determines the customer'"'"'s election to add at least one secondary feature; and

f) determining the customer'"'"'s request to activate any additional features,

wherein, prior to activation, the multi-feature card contains or is associated with information related to the features.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein said features enable the customer to establish direct relationships with different companies.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein at least one feature offered for activation is a transaction card enabling the customer to establish a direct relationship with an individual company.

4. The computerized method claim 3, wherein said transaction card feature includes a rewards feature.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein at least one feature offered for activation is a credit card feature.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein at least one feature is a rewards feature.

7. The computerized method of claim 6, wherein said rewards are based on a percentage of the total amount spent during each transaction.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the rewards can be redeemed or spent at a specific vendor.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the rewards can be redeemed or spent at several different vendors.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein The rewards can be redeemed at any vendor or merchant who accepts the logo printed on the card.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the rewards are credited against least one of the other features of the card.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising a transaction card and credit feats and wherein the rewards are credited against either of these features.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the customer must establish a credit account with a payment source before activating the primary feature.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the payment source is selected from the group consisting of checks, credit cards and debit cards.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer may recharge the payment source.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the payment source is one of the features of the card.

17. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising sending the customer a card imprinted with the customer'"'"'s name in a direct mail marketing piece.

18. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein said primary feature is a transaction card feature and said secondary feature is a credit card feature.