Multi-card bulk package identifying activation systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method of activating a plurality of gift cards, said method comprising:
- providing a package of multiple presentation instruments, wherein each presentation instrument includes a unique presentation instrument identifier used to associate funds with the presentation instrument such that each presentation instrument has a separate independent account, yet is processed by a common processor, wherein each separate account may be activated for a predetermined activation amount, wherein at least some of the accounts have different values associated therewith, wherein the presentation instrument identifiers and associated account values are stored within a database of a host computer system prior to activation of any of the accounts, and wherein the package includes a package identifier, and each such presentation instrument identifier is associated with the package identifier;
reading the package identifier from the package and transmitting the package identifier over an electronic network to the host computer system;
generating a batch number contemporaneous with or subsequent to transmitting the package identifier to the host computer system;
associating the batch number with the package of presentation instruments at the host computer system;
evaluating the package identifier at the host computer system to determine whether the package identifier is valid; and
activating at the host computer system each of the presentation instruments in the package for the activation amount based on the package identifier that was read from the package.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of activating a plurality of gift cards utilizes a package of multiple presentation instruments. Each presentation instrument includes a unique presentation instrument identifier used to associate funds with the presentation instrument. Also, the package includes a package identifier. In one step, the package identifier is read from the package and is transmitted over an electronic network to a host computer system which evaluates the package identifier to determine whether the package identifier is valid. If so, each of the presentation instruments in the package is activated for a certain activation amount.
93 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of activating a plurality of gift cards, said method comprising:
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providing a package of multiple presentation instruments, wherein each presentation instrument includes a unique presentation instrument identifier used to associate funds with the presentation instrument such that each presentation instrument has a separate independent account, yet is processed by a common processor, wherein each separate account may be activated for a predetermined activation amount, wherein at least some of the accounts have different values associated therewith, wherein the presentation instrument identifiers and associated account values are stored within a database of a host computer system prior to activation of any of the accounts, and wherein the package includes a package identifier, and each such presentation instrument identifier is associated with the package identifier; reading the package identifier from the package and transmitting the package identifier over an electronic network to the host computer system; generating a batch number contemporaneous with or subsequent to transmitting the package identifier to the host computer system; associating the batch number with the package of presentation instruments at the host computer system; evaluating the package identifier at the host computer system to determine whether the package identifier is valid; and activating at the host computer system each of the presentation instruments in the package for the activation amount based on the package identifier that was read from the package. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for activating of a plurality of presentation instruments, the system comprising:
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a host computer system having a record of a group of account identifiers, activation amounts for each of the account identifiers and a group identifier that is associated with the group of account identifiers, wherein at least some of the account identifiers have different activation amounts associated therewith, wherein the account identifiers and associated activation amounts are stored within a database of the host computer system prior to activation of any of the accounts; and a package arrangement comprising a plurality of presentation instruments that each have a presentation instrument identifier stored thereon, packaging material used to secure the presentation instruments together, and a package identifier associated with the packaging material, wherein each presentation instrument has a separate independent account, yet is processed by a common processor, and wherein each separate account may be activated for a predetermined activation amount, wherein the packaging material comprises a plastic material that envelops and secures the presentation instruments together; wherein the host computer system is configured to receive the package identifier that is associated with the presentation instrument identifier from a point of sale device, to compare the package identifier with the group identifier and to activate each of the presentation instruments that are associated with the group identifier for the predetermined activation amount; and wherein the host computer system is further configured to associate a batch number with the package arrangement that was generated contemporaneous with or subsequent to transmitting the package identifier to the host computer system and to transmit to the point of sale device the batch number to initiate a void procedure to void the activation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of activating a plurality of gift cards, said method comprising:
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providing a package of multiple presentation instruments, wherein each presentation instrument includes a unique presentation instrument identifier used to associate funds with the presentation instrument such that each presentation instrument has a separate independent account, yet is processed by a common processor, wherein each separate account may be activated for a predetermined activation amount, wherein the presentation instrument identifiers and associated account values are stored within a database of a host computer system prior to activation of any of the accounts, and wherein the package includes a package identifier, and each such presentation instrument identifier is associated with the package identifier; reading the package identifier from the package and transmitting the package identifier over an electronic network to the host computer system; generating a batch number contemporaneous with or subsequent to transmitting the package identifier to the host computer system; associating the batch number with the package of presentation instruments at the host computer system; evaluating the package identifier at the host computer system to determine whether the package identifier is valid; and activating at the host computer system each of the presentation instruments in the package for the activation amount based on the package identifier that was read from the package.
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Specification