Method and system for managing token image replacement

• US 20040153715A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gordon, James G., Black, Marc, Salters, Michael, Spaeth, Paul, Mazour, James, Madore, Kim, Shimko, Bryan, Jones, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• 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 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/082 Features insuring the integrity of the data on or in the card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system for managing token image replacement is provided. The system includes a remote server, a personal computer (PC) connected to the remote server, a smartcard that can be read by the PC, and a card image server. Using application logic and rules, the remote server is able to read the card image on the smartcard and determine if the card image on the smartcard needs to be updated. If an indicator on the smartcard is set to “update”, the remote server then retrieves a backup card image that corresponds to the card from the card image server. The remote server forwards the backup card image to the PC which, in turn, writes the backup card image including transaction information to the smartcard. Once the backup card image is written onto the smartcard, the indicator in the smartcard is then reset to ensure that subsequent interactions with the system would not initiate an update.

Claims

1. A system for managing token image replacement in a token, comprising:

a token acceptance device configured to receive the token, the token having a token image; and

a server configured to communicate with the token via the token acceptance device;

wherein upon receiving an indication that the token image on the token is to be updated, the server retrieves a backup token image for the token and uploads the backup token image to the token via the token acceptance device to replace the current token image on the token.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a token image server configured to store a plurality of backup token images;

wherein the retrieved backup token image is selected from the plurality of backup token images based on one or more predetermined criteria.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the backup token image includes transaction and/or loyalty information relating to the token.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein upon replacing the current token image with the backup token image on the token, an indicator in the token is set to ensure that no further update is to be performed.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the token is one of a smartcard, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the token acceptance device is one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

7. A system for managing token image replacement, comprising:

a token having a token image and an indicator used to indicate whether the token image is to be updated;

a token acceptance device configured to communicate with the token;

a processing server configured to communicate with the token via the token acceptance device; and

a token image server configured to store a plurality of backup token images;

wherein the processing server examines the indicator to determine the token image in the token is to be updated; and

wherein if it is determined that the token image is to be updated, the processing server retrieves a backup token image for the token from the token image server and uploads the backup token image to the token via the token acceptance device to replace the current token image on the token.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the retrieved backup token image is selected from the plurality of backup token images based on one or more predetermined criteria.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the backup token image includes transaction and/or loyalty information relating to the token.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein upon replacing the current token image with the backup token image on the token, the indicator in the token is set to ensure that no further update is to be performed.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the token is one of a smartcard, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the token acceptance device is one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

13. A method for managing token image replacement, comprising:

examining a token to determine whether a token image on the token is to be updated;

if it is determined that the token image on the token is to be updated, retrieving a backup token image and uploading the backup token image to the token to replace the current token image on the token.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

storing a plurality of backup token images;

selecting the backup token image from the plurality of backup token images based on one or more predetermined criteria.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

upon replacing the current token image with the backup token image on the token, setting an indicator in the token to ensure that no further update is to be updated.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the backup token image includes transaction and/or loyalty information relating to the token.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the token is one of a smartcard, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.

18. A token acceptance device utilizing the method as recited in claim 13.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the token acceptance device is one of a point-of-sale device, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a handheld specialized reader, a set-top box, an electronic cash register, a virtual cash register, a kiosk, a security system, and an access system.

20. A method for managing token image replacement, comprising:

maintaining a plurality of backup token images at a token image server;

examining an indicator in a token to determine whether a token image in the token is to be updated;

upon determining that the token is to be updated, retrieving a backup token image from the token image server; and

uploading the backup token image to the token to replace the current token image in the token.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

selecting the backup token image from the plurality of backup token images based on one or more predetermined criteria.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

upon replacing the current token image with the backup token image on the token, setting the indicator in the token to ensure that no further update is to be updated.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the backup token image includes transaction and/or loyalty information relating to the token.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the token is one of a smartcard, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a payment card, a security card, an access card, smart media and a transponder.