Secure card

• US 9,299,073 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• 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:
  US14/285,884
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 payment instrument, comprising:

a substrate having no visible personal identifying information; and

an activation number stored in a machine-readable manner on the substrate to activate a payment instrument,

wherein an account number is generated in response to activating the payment instrument,

wherein funds are transferred from a first account to a second account associated with the account number, and

wherein the account number is stored on the substrate in the machine-readable manner.

2. The payment instrument of claim 1, wherein the account number is geo-encrypted to a specified geographic area.

3. The payment instrument of claim 1, wherein the account number is generated based on the activation number at a time of activation.

4. The payment instrument of claim 1, wherein the payment instrument includes a magnetic data storage to store the activation number and the account number.

5. The payment instrument of claim 1, wherein the activation number is a first account number associated with the first account.

6. The payment instrument of claim 1, wherein a transaction is authorized after validating both the first account and the second account.

7. The payment instrument of claim 1, wherein the activation number stored on the substrate is erased when the account number is generated.

8. A computerized method, comprising:

receiving an activation number for a payment instrument, the payment instrument having no visible personal identifying information;

activating, by a computer system of a financial institution, the payment instrument using the activation number;

generating, by a processor associated with the computer system, an account number in response to activating the payment instrument;

transferring funds from a first account to a second account associated with the account number; and

storing, by the processor associated with the computer system, the account number on the payment instrument.

9. The computerized method of claim 8, further comprising geo-encrypting the account number of the payment instrument to a specified geographic area.

10. The computerized method of claim 8, wherein the account number is generated based on the activation number at a time of activation.

11. The computerized method of claim 8, wherein the payment instrument includes a magnetic data storage to store the activation number and the account number.

12. The computerized method of claim 8, wherein the activation number is a first account number associated with the first account.

13. The computerized method of claim 8, wherein the activation number is stored on the payment instrument, wherein the computerized method further comprises erasing the activation number from the payment instrument when the account number is generated.

14. The computerized method of claim 8, further comprising authorizing a transaction up to an amount of the funds stored in the second account.

15. The computerized method of claim 8, further comprising authorizing a transaction after validating both the first account and the second account.

16. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a machine to:

receive an activation number for a payment instrument, the payment instrument having no visible personal identifying information;

activate the payment instrument using the activation number;

generate an account number in response to activating the payment instrument;

transfer funds from a first account to a second account associated with the account number; and

store the account number on the payment instrument.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions further cause the machine to geo-encrypt the account number of the payment instrument to a specified geographic area.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the account number is generated based on the activation number at a time of activation.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the payment instrument includes a magnetic data storage to store the activation number and the account number, and wherein the activation number is a first account number associated with the first account.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the activation number is stored on the payment instrument, and wherein the set of instructions further cause the machine to erase the activation number from the payment instrument when the account number is generated.