Method, apparatus, and computer program product for allowing payment cards issued for only limited duration use to be reused multiple times to reduce the overall cost of issuance

• US 8,775,310 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tanner, Colin, Ekselius, Lukas
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Kito R
• Application Number:
  US12/826,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 705/41, 705/35, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data

Abstract

A recyclable contactless payment device is issued to a first patron of a venue. Use of the contactless payment device at the venue by the first patron is facilitated, as is return of the contactless payment device by the first patron for recycling. The contactless payment device is deactivated and stored. The issuing and facilitation of use are repeated for at least a second patron of the venue, with the same recyclable contactless payment device.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

issuing a recyclable contactless payment device to a first patron of a venue;

facilitating said first patron using said contactless payment device at said venue;

facilitating said first patron returning said contactless payment device for recycling;

deactivating and storing said contactless payment device;

in association with said issuing, collecting user preference information from said first patron;

in association with said deactivating, disposing of a remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device in accordance with said preference information;

providing a system, said system in turn comprising distinct software modules stored in a non-transitory manner on at least one tangible computer readable recordable storage medium, said modules comprising a return detection module, a refund module, a balance and preference database module, and a deactivation module, wherein, in said step of collecting said user preference information, said user preference information is stored in said balance and preference database module, at least a portion of said balance and preference database module executing on at least one hardware processor;

detecting, with said return detection module executing on said at least one hardware processor, that said first patron has returned said recyclable contactless payment device for recycling and that said recyclable contactless payment device returned for recycling by said first patron is genuine;

detecting, with said refund module executing on said at least one hardware processor and interfacing with said balance and preference database module, that said remaining balance exists and is to be disposed of in accordance with said user preference information;

wherein;

said step of deactivating said recyclable contactless payment device is carried out using said deactivation module executing on said at least one hardware processor; and

said step of disposing of said remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device in accordance with said preference information is carried out using said refund module executing on said at least one hardware processor; and

repeating said issuing and facilitating using steps for at least a second patron of said venue, with said recyclable contactless payment device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing further comprises removing a first account number and a first expiry date from said recyclable contactless payment device, and wherein said repeated issuing step comprises associating a second expiry date and a second account number with said recyclable contactless payment device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising offering said recyclable contactless payment device to said first patron in connection with marketing an event at said venue.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said recyclable contactless payment device further comprises a ticket to said event.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising affording said first patron an opportunity for periodic planned loads of value associated with said recyclable contactless payment device prior to said event.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising offering said second patron an opportunity to convert said recyclable contactless payment device to a permanent, personalized payment card.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising said venue charging a fee to an issuer of said permanent, personalized payment card.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising an issuer of said permanent, personalized payment card charging said second patron a fee for said conversion.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising applying at least a portion of a deposit paid by said second patron in association with said recyclable contactless payment device against said fee for said conversion.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising, in association with said repeated issuing, collecting user preference information from said second patron, said user preference information comprising at least an indication of a desire for said conversion.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming said recyclable contactless payment device as a souvenir of at least one of said venue and an event at said venue.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in association with said repeated issuing, collecting user preference information from said second patron, said user preference information comprising at least an indication of a desire to retain and use said recyclable contactless payment device upon leaving said venue.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in association with said deactivating step, advising said first patron of a remaining balance associated with said recyclable contactless payment device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of, in association with said deactivating, disposing of a remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device to at least two funding accounts.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of, in association with said deactivating, disposing of a remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device by providing a reference number to a third party provider.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of affording said first patron an opportunity to top up a balance of said recyclable contactless payment device within said venue.

17. A non-transitory apparatus comprising:

means for issuing a recyclable contactless payment device to a first patron of a venue;

means for, in association with said issuing, collecting user preference information from said first patron;

means for storing said user preference information and a remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device, wherein said means for storing excludes said recyclable contactless payment device;

means for facilitating said first patron using said contactless payment device at said venue;

means for facilitating said first patron returning said contactless payment device for recycling;

means for deactivating and storing said contactless payment device;

means for, in association with said deactivating, refunding said remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device in accordance with stored said user preference information; and

means for repeating said issuing, facilitating using, and facilitating returning steps for at least a second patron of said venue, with said recyclable contactless payment device;

wherein said apparatus excludes a transmission medium and disembodied signal.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a network interface;

at least one processor, coupled to said memory and said network interface; and

a plurality of distinct software modules stored in a non-transitory manner on at least one tangible computer readable recordable storage medium, said modules comprising a return detection module, a refund module, a balance and preference database module, and a deactivation module;

wherein said distinct software modules, when loaded into said memory, cause said at least one processor to be operative to;

store first user preference information in said balance and preference database module, said first user preference information being associated with a recyclable contactless payment device issued to a first patron of a venue;

after said first patron has used said contactless payment device at said venue, detect, by executing said return detection module and communication over said network interface, that said first patron has returned said recyclable contactless payment device for recycling and that said recyclable contactless payment device returned for recycling by said first patron is genuine;

detect, by executing said refund module interfacing with said balance and preference database module, that a remaining balance exists and is to be disposed of in accordance with said first user preference information;

deactivate said recyclable contactless payment device by executing said deactivation module;

dispose of said remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device in accordance with said preference information by executing said refund module; and

store second user preference information in said balance and preference database module, said second user preference information being associated with said recyclable contactless payment device in connection with issue of said recyclable contactless payment device to a second patron of said venue.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said distinct software modules, when loaded into said memory, further cause said at least one processor to be operative to:

remove a first account number and a first expiry date from said recyclable contactless payment device by executing said deactivation module; and

associate a second expiry date and a second account number with said recyclable contactless payment device in connection with said issue of said recyclable contactless payment device to said second patron of said venue.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second user preference information indicates that said second patron wishes to convert said recyclable contactless payment device to a permanent, personalized payment card.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said second user preference information indicates that said second patron wishes to retain and use said recyclable contactless payment device upon leaving said venue.

22. A computer program product comprising a tangible computer readable recordable storage medium, said tangible computer readable recordable storage medium embodying computer usable program code stored thereon in a non-transitory manner and configured such that, when executed by at least one hardware processor, said computer usable program code causes said at least one hardware processor to:

store first user preference information in a balance and preference database, said first user preference information being associated with a recyclable contactless payment device issued to a first patron of a venue;

after said first patron has used said contactless payment device at said venue, detect that said first patron has returned said recyclable contactless payment device for recycling and that said recyclable contactless payment device returned for recycling by said first patron is genuine;

detect that a remaining balance exists and is to be disposed of in accordance with said first user preference information;

deactivate said recyclable contactless payment device;

dispose of said remaining balance of said recyclable contactless payment device in accordance with said preference information; and

store second user preference information in said balance and preference database, said second user preference information being associated with said recyclable contactless payment device in connection with issue of said recyclable contactless payment device to a second patron of said venue.