Methods and systems for exchanging/transferring gift cards

• US 8,024,272 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardpool Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Kerry, Martin, Douglas A., Doran, Michael, Dean, Scott A., Jacobson, Jessaca, Hanson, Kim P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung; Mary
• Application Number:
  US12/758,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/35, 705 39- 41, 705/44, 705 64- 68, 705/75, 235/375, 235380-3825, 902/8, 902/22, 902 24- 26, 902 30- 32, 725/6
• 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 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/02 giving change coin-actuated mechanisms in general G07F
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/0087 Banknote changing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/204 Loading of a stored value token using an ATM
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/08 Counting total of coins inserted

Abstract

Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards, and the like. In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region, a coin sorting/counting apparatus, a card reader, and a communications facility configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link. A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select the desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging prepaid gift cards for value, the method comprising:

providing a consumer operated kiosk having a card reading device and a user interface;

receiving gift card information from a user via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface, wherein the gift card information is associated with a first gift card for making purchases at one or more retail establishments;

verifying a gift card balance based on the gift card information;

displaying first and second transaction options to the user, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for cash value and the second transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for a second gift card;

receiving a user selection corresponding to at least one of the first transaction option and the second transaction option;

when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option, dispensing the cash value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher; and

when the user selection corresponds to the second transaction option, dispensing the second gift card to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the first gift card from the user; and

debiting the gift card balance from the first gift card.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the first gift card from the user; and

retaining the gift card in the kiosk.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card for making purchases at a first retail establishment, and wherein the second gift card is a second prepaid gift card for making purchases at a second retail establishment, different from the first retail establishment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a gift card exchange value to the user, wherein the gift card exchange value is related to the gift card balance but is less than the gift card balance; and

when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option, dispensing the gift card exchange value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card for making purchases at a first retail establishment, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the method further comprises:

adding the balance of the first gift card to a database;

receiving a gift card selection from a second user;

dispensing a third gift card to the second user in response to receiving the gift card selection, wherein the third gift card is a prepaid gift card for making purchases up to a selected value at the first retail establishment; and

decrementing the selected value from the database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein dispensing the cash value to the user includes dispensing the cash value to the user in the form of at least one of cash, a redeemable voucher, and a transfer of funds into a user account at a financial institution.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from a credit card via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface; and

identifying the user with the information from the credit card.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the gift card balance is a first gift card balance, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving additional gift card information from the user via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface, wherein the additional gift card information is associated with a third gift card for making purchases at one or more preselected retail establishments;

verifying a second gift card balance based on the additional gift card information;

displaying a gift card exchange value to the user, wherein the gift card exchange value is related to the first gift card balance and the second gift card balance, but is less than a sum of the first gift card balance and the second gift card balance; and

when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option, dispensing the gift card exchange value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the card reading device includes a card scanner.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing and activating the second gift card when the user selection corresponds to the second transaction option.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the method further comprises:

adding the balance associated with the first gift card to inventory;

receiving a gift card selection from a second user; and

dispensing a third gift card having the balance associated with the first gift card to the second user in response to receiving the gift card selection.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the method further comprises:

adding the first gift card to inventory;

receiving a gift card selection from a second user; and

dispensing the first gift card to the second user in response to receiving the gift card selection.

14. A consumer operated kiosk system, comprising:

a card reading device and a user interface;

means for receiving gift card information from a user via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface, wherein the gift card information is associated with a first gift card for making purchases at one or more retail establishments;

means for verifying a gift card balance based on the gift card information;

means for displaying first and second transaction options to the user, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for cash value and the second transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for a second gift card;

means for receiving a user selection corresponding to at least one of the first transaction option and the second transaction option;

means for dispensing the cash value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher, when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option; and

means for dispensing the second gift card to the user, when the user selection corresponds to the second transaction option.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card for making purchases at a first retail establishment, and wherein the second gift card is a second prepaid gift card for making purchases at a second retail establishment, different from the first retail establishment.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card for making purchases at a first retail establishment, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the system further comprises:

means for adding the balance of the first gift card to a database;

means for receiving a gift card selection from a second user;

means for dispensing a third gift card to the second user in response to receiving the gift card selection, wherein the third gift card is a prepaid gift card for making purchases up to a selected value at the first retail establishment; and

means for decrementing the selected value from the database.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for printing and activating the second gift card when the user selection corresponds to the second transaction option.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the system further comprises:

means for adding the first gift card to an inventory;

means for receiving a gift card selection from a second user; and

means for dispensing the first gift card to the second user in response to receiving the gift card selection.

19. A computer readable medium for controlling a consumer operated kiosk having a card reading device and a user interface, the computer readable medium containing instructions for causing the consumer operated kiosk to perform a method comprising:

receiving gift card information from a user via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface, wherein the gift card information is associated with a first gift card for making purchases at one or more retail establishments;

verifying a gift card balance based on the gift card information;

displaying first and second transaction options to the user, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for cash value and the second transaction option corresponds to exchanging the first gift card for a second gift card;

receiving a user selection corresponding to at least one of the first transaction option and the second transaction option;

when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option, dispensing the cash value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher; and

when the user selection corresponds to the second transaction option, dispensing the second gift card to the user.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving information from a credit card via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface; and

identifying the user with the information from the credit card.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving additional gift card information from the user via at least one of the card reading device and the user interface, wherein the additional gift card information is associated with a third gift card for making purchases at one or more preselected retail establishments;

verifying a second gift card balance based on the additional gift card information;

displaying a gift card exchange value to the user, wherein the gift card exchange value is related to the first gift card balance and the second gift card balance, but is less than a sum of the first gift card balance and the second gift card balance; and

when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option, dispensing the gift card exchange value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the first gift card is a first prepaid gift card, wherein the user is a first user, and wherein the method further comprises:

adding the balance associated with the first gift card to inventory;

receiving a gift card selection from a second user; and

dispensing a third gift card having the balance associated with the first gift card to the second user in response to receiving the gift card selection.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving the first gift card from the user; and

debiting the gift card balance from the first gift card.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a gift card exchange value to the user, wherein the gift card exchange value is related to the gift card balance but is less than the gift card balance; and

dispensing the gift card exchange value to the user in the form of at least one of cash and a redeemable voucher, when the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option.