Secure card

• US 8,733,640 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• 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 T
• Application Number:
  US13/767,766
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/375, 235/379, 235/487, 235/492, 235/493, 235/382, 705/39, 705/42, 705/26, 705/41, 705/44
• 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 secure financial card, comprising:

a substrate;

an activation number stored in a machine-readable manner on the substrate,

wherein the activation number is used to activate the secure financial card,

wherein the activation number is erased upon activation of the secure financial card; and

an account number stored in a machine-readable and non-visible manner on the substrate,

wherein the account number is generated and stored upon activation of the secure financial card.

2. The secure financial card of claim 1, wherein the substrate is free from personally identifiable data.

3. The secure financial card of claim 1, wherein the activation number is stored in a non-visible manner on the substrate.

4. The secure financial card of claim 1, wherein the account number is geo-encrypted to limit use of the secure financial card to a specified geographic area.

5. The secure financial card of claim 1, wherein the account number is generated based on the activation number at the time of activation.

6. The secure financial card of claim 1, wherein the substrate is free from embossment that is offset from a portion of a surface of the substrate.

7. The secure financial card of claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a magnetic data storage to store the activation number and the account number.

8. The secure financial card of claim 1, wherein the activation number is a first account number.

9. The secure financial card of claim 8, wherein upon activation, funds are transferred from a first account associated with the first account number to a second account associated with the account number.

10. A computerized method of generating a secure financial card, comprising:

storing, by a computer system of a financial institution, the computer system having a processor, an activation number in a machine-readable manner on a card;

wherein the activation number is used to activate the secure financial card,

wherein the activation number is erased upon activation of the secure financial card;

activating, by the computer system, the card, comprising;

generating, by the processor, an account number based on the activation number, and

storing, by the processor, the account number in a non-visible manner on the card; and

funding the card.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the card is free from personally identifiable data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the activation number is stored in a non-visible manner on the card.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the account number is geo-encrypted to limit use of the card to a specified geographic area.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the card is free from embossment that is offset from a portion of a surface of the substrate.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the card includes a magnetic data storage to store the activation number and the account number.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the activation number is a first account number.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transferring funds from a first account associated with the first account number to a second account associated with the account number upon activation of the card.

18. A system for generating a secure financial card, comprising:

means for storing an activation number in a machine-readable manner on a card;

wherein the activation number is used to activate the secure financial card,

wherein the activation number is erased upon activation of the secure financial card;

means for generating an account number based on the activation number;

means for storing the account number in a non-visible manner on the card; and

means for funding the card.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the card is free from personally identifiable data.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the activation number is stored in a non-visible manner on the card.