Customer activated multi-value (CAM) card

• US 6,032,136 A
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: First USA Bank N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Jennifer, Brake, Francis B. Jr., Schwartz, Deborah
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H.
• Application Number:
  US09/193,712
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 379/115, 379/144, 379/91.01, 379/121, 379/201, 379/88.21, 379/88.25, 380/23-25, 235/379-380, 705/14, 705/35, 705/41, 705/44, 705/42
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• 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 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• 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 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The Customer Activated Multi-Value (CAM) card provides a customer with a primary use as a transaction card which can be further activated to have a secondary use as a credit card. The CAM card can be activated as a transaction card or as a transaction card with a credit card feature. Activation of the CAM card as a transaction card allows the customer to purchase goods and services from one specific vendor and to establish a relationship with that vendor for the goods or services rendered (for example, telephone calling card or gasoline product purchasing card) while enjoying reward benefits based on those purchases. Activation of the credit feature of the card allows the customer to interact with any merchant that accepts traditional credit cards such as VISA®, MASTERCARD®, AMERICAN EXPRESS®, or DISCOVER®. The combination of features allows a customer to purchase various goods and services from several different merchants. If the customer chooses to activate the CAM card as both a transaction card and a credit card, the customer is given the benefit of using the card in both manners described above.

Claims

1. A method of using a computer system for a real-time customer activation of a multi-feature card having a primary feature and at least one secondary feature, the primary feature functioning as a stored value card feature and the at least one secondary feature functioning as a credit card feature, wherein the system automatically processes a customer'"'"'s activation of the card, said system including a data entry processing center, a workstation, a graphical user interface, and a data storing means;

comprising the steps of;

a) offering to the customer a first activation of the multi-feature card as a primary transaction card having the primary feature;

b) receiving the customer'"'"'s request into said system to activate the primary feature of the primary transaction card;

c) employing at least one safety feature during the first activation request to determine whether the customer is the person whose name is printed on the primary transaction card; and

d) offering the customer an option of activating the primary transaction card by;

1) confirming the customer'"'"'s desire to activate the primary feature;

2) activating the primary feature, if the consumer confirms the first activation;

3) terminating the first activation request;

4) allowing the consumer to use the multi-feature card as a primary transaction card having only the primary feature;

e) offering to the customer a subsequent activation of the multi-feature card that determines the customer'"'"'s election to add the at least one secondary feature onto the primary transaction card; and

f) determining the customer'"'"'s request to activate any additional use features.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary feature and the at least one secondary feature perform different types of card functions and the use of the primary feature and the at least one secondary feature enables the customer to establish different relationships with different types of businesses and industries.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional use features has a rewards feature.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the rewards feature can be redeemed or spent at a specific vendor.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the rewards feature can be redeemed or spent at several different vendors.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the rewards feature can be redeemed or spent at any vendor or merchant who accepts the logo printed on the transaction card.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the rewards feature is used as a credit against the at least one secondary feature to reduce the balance of the secondary feature.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the customer must agree to establish a credit account with a payment amount source in order to activate the primary feature.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the payment amount source is a check.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the payment amount source is a credit card.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the payment amount source is a debit card.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the payment amount source is at least one of a check, a credit card account and debit card account.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the customer may automatically recharge the primary feature amount source when the payment source is depleted.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the customer may recharge the primary feature amount source when the payment source is depleted.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the payment amount source is the at least one secondary feature.

16. A method of using a computer system for a real-time customer activation of a multi-feature card having a primary feature and at least one secondary feature, the primary feature functioning as a stored value card feature and the at least one secondary feature functioning as a credit card feature, wherein the system automatically processes a customer'"'"'s activation of the card, said system including a data entry processing center, a workstation, a graphical user interface, and a data storing means;

comprising the steps of;

a) offering to the customer a first activation of the multi-feature card as a primary transaction card having the primary feature;

b) receiving the customer'"'"'s request into said system to activate the primary feature of the primary transaction card;

c) employing at least one safety feature during the activation request to determine whether the customer is the person whose name is printed on the primary transaction card; and

d) offering the customer the options of activating the primary transaction card by;

1) confirming the customer'"'"'s desire to activate the primary feature;

2) activating the primary feature, if the consumer confirms the first activation;

3) terminating the first activation request;

4) allowing the consumer to use the multi-feature card as a primary transaction card having only the primary feature; and

e) offering to the customer a subsequent activation of the multi-feature card that determines the customer'"'"'s election to add the at least one secondary feature onto the primary transaction card.