Secure card

• US 8,109,436 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Hopkins, John Chandler III
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Thien
• Application Number:
  US11/740,797
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/379, 235/487, 705/1, 705/14.33, 705/39, 705/41, 705/35
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0047 using checkcodes, e.g. coded numbers derived from serial number and denomination

Abstract

Systems and methods for monetary cards are described. The cards are free from personally identifiable data, e.g., no name or embossment. In an example, the card includes a first number that activates the card and a second number written to the card at activation away from the card manufacturer. This helps prevent theft at the manufacturer. This second account is a bearer account where anyone who knows the account number can withdraw the funds from the account. The account may be funded with either the account number or the authentication number.

Claims

1. A financial transaction method using a secure card, comprising:

providing the secure card, the secure card having a viewable first account number associated with a first account and a non-viewable second account number associated with a second account;

receiving the first account number from the card into a point of sale computer;

reading the second account number from the card;

reading an expiration date from the card;

authorizing funds by the computer from the second account upon positive authentication of the first account number, the second account number, and the expiration date; and

blocking withdrawal by the computer of any funds from the first account upon receiving the first account number into the computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing includes authenticating both the first account number and the second account number as valid account numbers for a same electronic transaction type.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein both the first account number and the second account must be valid for a transaction to be authorized.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein reading the second account number includes reading the second account number that is not associated with any personal identifying information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing includes reading a biometric of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein authorizing includes authorizing a transaction only up to a limit of the second account.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein authorizing includes authorizing a transaction only up to the money amount currently stored in the second account.

8. A non-transitory machine readable medium having machine executable instructions stored thereon for executing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a first viewable account number from a secure card into a point of sale computer, the first account number being associated with a first account;

reading a second non-viewable account number from the card the second account number being associated with a second account;

reading an expiration date from the card;

authorizing funds by the computer from the second account upon positive authentication of the first account number, the second account number, and the expiration date; and

blocking withdrawal by the computer of any funds from the first account upon receiving the first account number into the computer.

9. The media of claim 8, wherein the instructions include authenticating both the first account number and the second account number as valid account numbers for a same electronic transaction type.

10. The media of claim 8, wherein the instructions include authorizing a transaction only if both the first account number and the second account number are valid.

11. The media of claim 8, wherein the instructions include reading the second account number that is not associated with any personal identifying information.

12. The media of claim 8, wherein the instructions include reading a biometric of the user.

13. The media of claim 8, wherein the instructions include authorizing a transaction only up to a limit of the second account.

14. The media of claim 13, wherein the instructions include authorizing a transaction only up to a limit of the second account.

15. A computerized financial transaction system using a secure card, comprising:

a reading module to read a first viewable account number from a card into the financial transaction system by a point of sale device, the first account number being associated with a first account, to read a second non-viewable account number from the card, the second account number being associated with a second account, and to read an expiration date from the card;

an authorizer for authorizing funds from the second account upon positive authentication of the first account number, the second account number, and the expiration date by the point of sale device, and

a blocking module to prevent withdrawal of any funds from the first account upon reading the first account number by the point of sale device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein authorizing includes authenticating both the first account number and the second account number as valid account numbers for a same electronic transaction type.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein both the first account number and the second account must be valid for a transaction to be authorized.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein authorizing includes authorizing a transaction only up to a limit of the second account.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein authorizing includes reading a biometric of the user.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein authorizing includes authorizing a transaction only up to a limit of the second account.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein authorizing includes authorizing a transaction only up to the money currently stored in the second account.