Automated card customization machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A card vending machine comprising:
- card storage to store memory cards, the card storage comprising;
a first storage compartment storing a first memory card that is associated with a first issuer;
a second storage compartment storing a second memory card that is associated with a second issuer that is distinct from the first issuer;
wherein the first issuer is permitted to access the first storage compartment and the first issuer is excluded from access to the second storage compartment; and
wherein the second issuer is permitted to access the second storage compartment and the second issuer is excluded from access to the first storage compartment;
an interface that is operable toreceive at least one of a user-selected value of a first parameter and a user-selected value of a second parameter; and
a controller operative to manage customization of at least one of the first memory card and the second memory card;
an authentication mechanism to authenticate a user and to grant permission to the user to customize one of the first memory card and the second memory card in response to authenticating the user; and
a card programming unit operative to;
receive the first memory card from the card storage and store first data in the first memory card to produce a customized first memory card when the user is granted permission to customize the first memory card and in response to receipt at the interface of the user-selected value of the first parameter; and
receive the second memory card from the card storage and store second data in the second memory card to produce a customized second memory card when the user is granted permission to customize the second memory card and in response to receipt at the interface of the user-selected value of the second parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A card vending machine includes a storage area, wherein each of a plurality of memory cards to be issued by a respective one of at least two different issuers are stored. A security mechanism conditions access of each issuer to only a respective portion of the storage area upon authorization of this issuer. An interface mechanism is operated by a user to define a purchasing transaction and a controller is operative, in accordance with the interface mechanism, to customize a memory card at least in part according to the purchasing transaction.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A card vending machine comprising:
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card storage to store memory cards, the card storage comprising; a first storage compartment storing a first memory card that is associated with a first issuer; a second storage compartment storing a second memory card that is associated with a second issuer that is distinct from the first issuer; wherein the first issuer is permitted to access the first storage compartment and the first issuer is excluded from access to the second storage compartment; and wherein the second issuer is permitted to access the second storage compartment and the second issuer is excluded from access to the first storage compartment; an interface that is operable to receive at least one of a user-selected value of a first parameter and a user-selected value of a second parameter; and a controller operative to manage customization of at least one of the first memory card and the second memory card; an authentication mechanism to authenticate a user and to grant permission to the user to customize one of the first memory card and the second memory card in response to authenticating the user; and a card programming unit operative to; receive the first memory card from the card storage and store first data in the first memory card to produce a customized first memory card when the user is granted permission to customize the first memory card and in response to receipt at the interface of the user-selected value of the first parameter; and receive the second memory card from the card storage and store second data in the second memory card to produce a customized second memory card when the user is granted permission to customize the second memory card and in response to receipt at the interface of the user-selected value of the second parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. The card vending machine 28, wherein the apparatus is further operative to update a purchasing transaction database upon application of the purchasing transaction.
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30. A method of vending, the method comprising:
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storing a first memory card associated with a first issuer in a first secure compartment of a vending apparatus and storing a second memory card associated with a second issuer in a second secure compartment of the vending apparatus, wherein the first issuer is excluded from accessing the second secure compartment and the second issuer is excluded from accessing the first secure compartment; receiving one of a user-selected value of a first parameter from a user and a user-selected value of a second parameter from the user; granting access to at least one of the first memory card and the second memory card in response to authentication of the user; storing first data associated with the user-selected value of the first parameter in the first memory card via a card programming unit to form a customized first memory card when the user is granted access to the first memory card and in response to receipt of the user-selected value of the first parameter; storing second data associated with the user-selected value of the second parameter in the second memory card via the card programming unit to form a customized second memory card when the user is granted access to the second memory card and in response to receipt of the user-selected value of the second parameter; and providing one of the customized first memory card and the customized second memory card to the user. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. An apparatus comprising:
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card storage comprising; a first storage compartment storing a first digital memory card that is associated with a first issuer; a second storage compartment storing a second digital memory card that is associated with a second issuer, wherein the second issuer is distinct from the first issuer; wherein the first issuer is permitted to access the first storage compartment and the first issuer is excluded from access to the second storage compartment, and wherein the second issuer is permitted to access the second storage compartment and the second issuer is excluded from access to the first storage compartment; and wherein the first digital memory card is provided to a card programming unit in response to a first authentication of a user and the second digital memory card is provided to the card programming unit in response to a second authentication of the user; a user interface operative to receive at least one of a user-selected value of a first parameter and a user-selected value of a second parameter, wherein the user-selected value of the first parameter identifies first data and the user-selected value of the second parameter identifies second data; and the card programming unit, wherein the card programming unit is operative to; store the first data in the first digital memory card to produce a customized first digital memory card when the first data is identified and when the first memory card is provided by the first storage compartment; and store the second data in the second digital memory card to produce a customized second digital memory card when the second data is identified and when the second memory card is provided by the second storage compartment. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification