Customer activated multi-value (CAM) card

• US 7,072,864 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bank One Delaware National Association (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:
  US10/370,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 705 41- 44, 705/35, 705/39, 705/26, 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 multi-feature card, comprising:

at least one primary feature; and

at least one secondary feature;

wherein a holder of the card activates each primary and secondary feature, wherein further at least one primary or secondary feature comprises a transaction feature enabling the card holder to purchase goods or services from at least one merchant, wherein further at least one primary feature comprises a stored value feature, wherein the process of activation comprises;

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

b) receiving the holder'"'"'s request to activate at least one primary feature of the multi-feature card;

c) employing at least one safety feature during the first activation request;

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

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

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

3) terminating the first activation request; and

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

e) offering to the holder a subsequent activation of the multi-feature card that determines the holder'"'"'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 each primary and secondary feature further information related to each primary and secondary feature is stored on the card in a machine-readable format prior to issuance of the card to the holder.

2. The multi-feature card of claim 1, wherein the stored value feature comprises a stored value account.

3. The multi-feature card of claim 2, wherein the stored value account is funded from a payment amount source.

4. The multi-feature card of claim 3, wherein the payment amount source comprises a credit card, a debit card, a check, or any other funding mechanism.

5. The multi-feature card of claim 3, wherein the payment amount source comprises at least one secondary feature.

6. The multi-feature card of claim 2, wherein the stored value account must be maintained at a predetermined minimum balance.

7. The multi-feature card of claim 6, wherein the stored value account is rechargeable based on predetermined conditions.

8. The multi-feature card of claim 6, wherein the predetermined conditions comprise a request by the card holder, a request by a card issuer, single or collective charges to a primary or secondary feature that exceed the balance of the stored value account, single or collective charges to a primary or secondary feature that cause the stored value account to fall below a predetermined amount, changes in the credit history of the card-holder, or any combination of a request by the card-holder, a request by a card issuer, single or collective charges to a primary or secondary feature that exceed the balance of the stored value account, single or collective charges to a primary or secondary feature that cause the stored value account to fall below a predetermined amount, or changes in the credit history of the card holder.

9. The multi-feature card of claim 1, wherein a payment source for charges for the purchase of goods or services made to a primary feature or a secondary feature comprises the stored value feature.

10. The multi-feature card of claim 9, wherein the payment source for charges for the purchase of goods or services made to a secondary feature comprises the stored value feature.

11. The multi-feature card of claim 1, wherein at least one secondary feature comprises a credit, debit, transaction, identification or rewards feature, or any combination thereof.

12. The multi-feature card of claim 11, wherein at least one secondary feature comprises a credit feature.

13. The multi-feature card of claim 11, wherein at least one secondary feature comprises a rewards feature.

14. The multi-feature card of claim 13, wherein the rewards feature can be redeemed or spent at a specific merchant.

15. The multi-feature card of claim 13, wherein the rewards feature can be redeemed or spent at several different merchants.

16. The multi-feature card of claim 13, wherein the rewards feature can be redeemed or spent at any merchant who accepts a logo associated with the multi-feature card.

17. The multi-feature card of claim 13, wherein the rewards feature can be used as a credit against a primary feature or a secondary feature to reduce any balance for charges to purchase goods or services associated with the multi-feature card.

18. The multi-feature card of claim 13, wherein the rewards feature can be redeemed by the card holder.

19. The multi-feature card of claim 11, wherein the identification feature comprises a PIN, a digital signature, or any other security indicator that is unique to the card holder and can be used to authenticate the card holder.

20. The multi-feature card of claim 1, wherein information related to each primary and secondary feature is stored on the card in a machine-readable format, wherein the machine-readable format comprises a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing, RFID or any combination of a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing and RFID.

21. A multi-feature card comprising:

at least one primary feature; and

at least one secondary feature,

wherein a holder of the card activates each primary and secondary feature, wherein further a primary feature comprises a credit feature enabling the card holder to purchase goods or services from multiple merchants and a secondary feature comprises a debit feature, wherein the process of activation comprises;

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

b) receiving the holder'"'"'s request to activate at least one primary feature of the multi-feature card;

c) employing at least one safety feature during the first activation request;

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

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

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

3) terminating the first activation request; and

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

e) offering to the holder a subsequent activation of the multi-feature card that determines the holder'"'"'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 each primary and secondary feature, wherein further information related to each primary and secondary feature is stored on the card in a machine-readable format, wherein further the machine-readable format comprises a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing, RFID or any combination of a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing and RFID.

22. The multi-feature card of claim 21, wherein a secondary feature comprises a rewards feature.

23. A multi-feature card comprising:

at least one primary feature; and

at least one secondary feature,

wherein a holder of the card activates each primary and secondary feature, wherein further a primary feature comprises a debit feature and a secondary feature comprises a stored value feature, wherein the process of activation comprises;

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

b) receiving the holder'"'"'s request to activate at least one primary feature of the multi-feature card;

c) employing at least one safety feature during the first activation request;

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

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

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

3) terminating the first activation request; and

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

e) offering to the holder a subsequent activation of the multi-feature card that determines the holder'"'"'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 each primary and secondary feature, wherein further information related to each primary and secondary feature is stored on the card in a machine-readable format, wherein further the machine-readable format comprises a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing, RFID or any combination of a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing and RFID.

24. The multi-feature card of claim 23, wherein a secondary feature comprises a rewards feature.

25. A multi-feature card comprising:

at least one primary feature; and

at least one secondary feature;

wherein a holder of the card activates each primary and secondary feature, wherein further at least one primary or secondary feature comprises a transaction feature enabling the card holder to purchase goods or services from at least one merchant, wherein further at least one primary feature comprises a stored value feature, wherein the process of activation comprises;

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

b) receiving the holder'"'"'s request to activate at least one primary feature of the multi-feature card;

c) employing at least one safety feature during the first activation request;

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

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

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

3) terminating the first activation request; and

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

e) offering to the holder a subsequent activation of the multi-feature card that determines the holder'"'"'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 each primary and secondary feature, wherein further information related to each primary and secondary feature is stored on the card in a machine-readable format, wherein further the machine-readable format comprises a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing, RFID or any combination of a magnetic strip, an embossment, visible printing and RFID, wherein further the multi-feature card contains or is associated with the information relating to each primary and secondary feature prior to soliciting the holder with the multi-feature card.