Multi-account access card

• US 7,594,611 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Arrington, Curtis Howell III
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savusdiphol; Paultep
• Application Number:
  US11/321,972
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 235/449, 235/493, 235/487, 235/492, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/487
• 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 20/3415 Cards acting autonomously as pay-media
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0806 Details of the card record carriers per se G06K
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/088 the card reader being part of the point of sale [POS] terminal or electronic cash register [ECR] itself
• 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 described embodiments contemplate a system, method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for accessing multiple accounts. The apparatus may be an interactive access card and/or portable electronic device that includes a memory component for storing data associated with multiple accounts, an input component for selecting an account, and a processing component for retrieving data associated with the selected account. The apparatus also may be an access card that includes a rectangular shaped substrate and an interface component for storing data associated with multiple accounts. The apparatus also may be an electronic reader that includes an interface component for reading an access card, a software component for identifying the accounts stored on the access card, an input component for selecting an account, and a processing component for accessing a database associated with the selected account, transmitting data associated with the selected account, and completing a transaction.

Claims

1. An access card for storing a plurality of accounts, the access card comprising:

a substrate comprising a first side and a second side; and

a magnetic stripe disposed on the first side of the substrate,

wherein the magnetic stripe is configured to simultaneously store data corresponding to the plurality of accounts, the data being a first series of characters that map, when uncompressed, to a plurality of series of characters corresponding to the plurality of accounts, and

wherein the magnetic stripe is configured to interface with an electronic reader to enable the electronic reader to access the data stored on the magnetic stripe.

2. The access card of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of accounts stored on the magnetic stripe is selectable via the electronic reader.

3. The access card of claim 1, wherein the electronic reader comprises software instructions for deciphering the plurality of accounts stored on the magnetic stripe.

4. The access card of claim 1, wherein the data comprises numbers identifying each of the plurality of accounts.

5. The access card of claim 4, wherein the numbers correspond to account numbers associated with the plurality of accounts.

6. The access card of claim 1, wherein the characters comprise at least one of a number, a letter, or a symbol.

7. A method for storing a plurality of accounts, the method comprising:

creating an access card comprising a substrate that includes a first side and a second side;

disposing a magnetic stripe on the first side of the substrate; and

simultaneously storing data corresponding to the plurality of accounts on the magnetic stripe,

wherein the data comprises a first series of characters that map, when uncompressed, to a plurality of series of characters corresponding to the plurality of accounts,

wherein the magnetic stripe is configured to interface with an electronic reader to enable the electronic reader to access the data stored on the magnetic stripe.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of accounts stored on the magnetic stripe is selectable via the electronic reader.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic reader comprises software instructions for deciphering the plurality of accounts stored on the magnetic stripe.

10. The method of claim of 7, wherein the data comprises numbers identifying each of the plurality of accounts.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the numbers correspond to account numbers associated with the plurality of accounts.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the characters comprise at least one of a number, a letter, or a symbol.

13. A system for accessing a plurality of accounts, wherein the system comprises at least one subsystem that:

interfaces an access card, wherein the access card comprises a magnetic stripe for simultaneously storing data corresponding to the plurality of accounts, wherein the data is a first series of characters that map, when uncompressed, to a plurality of series of characters corresponding to the plurality of accounts, and wherein the magnetic stripe is configured to interface with an electronic reader to enable the electronic reader to access the data stored on the magnetic stripe;

selects one of the plurality of accounts stored on the magnetic stripe; and

completes a transaction with the selected account.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of accounts stored on the magnetic stripe is selectable via the electronic reader.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic reader comprises software instructions for deciphering the plurality of accounts stored on the magnetic stripe.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the data comprises numbers identifying each of the plurality of accounts, and wherein the numbers correspond to account numbers associated with the plurality of accounts.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the characters comprise at least one of a number, a letter, or a symbol.

18. An access card for storing a plurality of accounts, the access card comprising:

a substrate comprising a first side and a second side; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip disposed on the substrate,

wherein the RFID chip is configured to simultaneously store data corresponding to the plurality of accounts, wherein the data is a first series of characters that map, when uncompressed, to a plurality of series of characters corresponding to the plurality of accounts, and

wherein the RFID chip is configured to interface with an electronic reader to enable the electronic reader to access the data stored on the RFID chip.

19. The access card of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of accounts stored on the RFID chip is selectable via the electronic reader.

20. The access card of claim 18, wherein the electronic reader comprises software instructions for deciphering the plurality of accounts stored on the RFID chip.

21. The access card of claim 18, wherein the data comprises numbers identifying each of the plurality of accounts.

22. The access card of claim 18, wherein the characters correspond to account numbers associated with the plurality of accounts.

23. The access card of claim 18, wherein the characters comprise at least one of a number, a letter, or a symbol.