Kiosk gift card system and method

• US 10,460,311 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arch Holdings, LP
• Original Assignee: Arch Holdings, LP
• Inventors: Curtis, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niquette, Robert R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Liz P
• Application Number:
  US14/596,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20160203473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 705 41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/348 Single-use cards, i.e. without possibility of recharging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42

Abstract

A gift card system and method for purchasing gift cards at a kiosk is disclosed. The system/method includes a gift card distribution kiosk located at a retail establishment that provides a user with access to a multitude of different forms of gift cards that may be purchased and printed onto a customizable card with a personalized message. The kiosk includes a kiosk processor interface, a gift card dispenser, a card reader and gift card management server connected to a network. The gift card management server, through the kiosk processor interface, provides vendor options to users to select and pay via the card reader. In another embodiment, the kiosk is used to redeem unused user gift cards for a reduced value user selected gift card, reduced cash value, full value store card, rewards points, bank debit, and/or electronic code user towards online purchases.

Claims

1. A kiosk gift card manufacturing system communicating with a gift card management server (GMS) by means of a computer communications network (CCN), said kiosk gift card manufacturing system comprising:

(a) a kiosk processor interface (KPI);

(b) a kiosk card reader (KCR);

(c) a gift card dispenser (GCD);

(d) a gift card collector (GCC); and

(e) a gift card printer (GCP);

wherein;

said KPI is configured to electronically communicate with said GMS through said CCN;

said KPI is configured to enable users to interact with said GMS through said CCN;

said GMS is configured to provide said users with options to purchase user-selected gift cards;

said GMS is configured to provide said users with options to redeem value within or consolidate monetary value from within one or more pre-existing gift cards;

said GCP is configured to print said user-selected gift cards upon receiving a payment from said user;

said user-selected gift cards are associated with a gift card value;

said GCS is configured to provide blank cards for said user-selected gift card printing to said GCP;

said KPI is configured to communicate with a second kiosk gift card manufacturing system via said CCN to affect printing of said user-selected gift cards on said second kiosk gift card manufacturing system.

2. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein said GMS is further configured to communicate to said KPI via said CCN using:

(a) a vendor management system (VMS);

(b) a payment server;

(c) a vendor database; and

(d) an advertising server;

wherein

said VMS is configured to communicate with a plurality of vendors to submit user requests for gift cards;

said plurality of vendors are configured to respond to said user requests via said CCN;

said vendor database is configured to store and maintain data related to said plurality of vendors;

said payment server is configured to accept payments for said gift cards; and

said advertising server is configured to display advertisements on said KPI.

3. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein said gift card value is associated with a discounted value of said pre-existing gift card.

4. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 further comprises a means to dispense cash associated with a discounted value of said pre-existing gift card.

5. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein said KPI is configured to redeem one or more of said pre-existing gift cards and consolidate them monetary value of said pre-existing gift cards in a bank account specified by said user.

6. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein said kiosk processor interface is a touch interface.

7. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein said kiosk processor interface is a graphical interface.

8. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein said CCN is wired.

9. The kiosk gift card manufacturing system of claim 1 wherein said CCN is wireless.