Method and apparatus for affinity card consolidation

• US 7,556,193 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick A. II, O'Connell, Brian M., Walker, Keith R., Amsterdam, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paik; Steven S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Tae W
• Application Number:
  US12/165,353
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• 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 7/0813 Specific details related to card security

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a universal affinity card for consolidating a plurality of other affinity cards into a single card and displays the appropriate card automatically as a function of, among others, the location of use. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for providing a universal affinity card. The method includes: providing an affinity card having a memory, a display and a user interface; storing a plurality of bar codes in the memory; associating each of the plurality of bar codes with a respective provider; identifying the provider; and displaying the bar code associated with the identified provider on the display; wherein the step of storing a plurality of bar codes in the memory includes wirelessly receiving information defining the plurality of bar codes from a remote computer.

Claims

1. A method for providing a universal affinity card, the method comprising:

providing an affinity card having a memory, a display, a magnetic stripe including at least customer personal information, and a user interface;

wirelessly receiving, from a computer remote to the affinity card, a plurality of barcodes;

storing the plurality of bar codes in the memory;

associating each of the plurality of bar codes with a respective provider;

upon entering a specified location, determining a current location of the affinity card via a transceiver of the card;

identifying the provider associated with the current location;

displaying the bar code associated with the identified provider on the display; and

scanning the barcode from the display.