U.S. patent application number 16/392684 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-15 for debit, credit, and other transactional cards.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. Invention is credited to Steven N. Tischer, Carol Elizabeth Wagner, Samuel N. Zellner.
Application Number | 20190251531 16/392684 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38875555 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190251531 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zellner; Samuel N. ; et
al. |
August 15, 2019 |
Debit, Credit, and other Transactional Cards
Abstract
Methods, systems, and products create credit cards, debit cards,
and other transactional cards. An image is received and provided on
a transactional card. Account information is retrieved and
associated with the transactional card. A machine-readable element
is also provided on the transactional card and includes the account
information.
Inventors: |
Zellner; Samuel N.;
(Dunwoody, GA) ; Wagner; Carol Elizabeth;
(Atlanta, GA) ; Tischer; Steven N.; (Atlanta,
GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AT&T Intellectual Property I,
L.P.
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
38875555 |
Appl. No.: |
16/392684 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15488582 |
Apr 17, 2017 |
10318939 |
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16392684 |
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15216730 |
Jul 22, 2016 |
9652540 |
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15488582 |
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13299406 |
Nov 18, 2011 |
9424605 |
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15216730 |
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12700427 |
Feb 4, 2010 |
8079513 |
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13299406 |
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12107207 |
Apr 22, 2008 |
7681789 |
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12700427 |
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11428378 |
Jun 30, 2006 |
7360692 |
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12107207 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 19/10 20130101;
G06Q 20/341 20130101; G07F 17/26 20130101; G06Q 20/355 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06K 5/00 20130101; G06F 16/951 20190101; G06Q
20/40 20130101; G06K 19/067 20130101; G06K 7/00 20130101; G06Q
20/20 20130101; G06Q 20/105 20130101; G07F 7/1008 20130101; G06Q
40/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/10 20060101
G06Q020/10; G06F 16/951 20060101 G06F016/951; G06K 5/00 20060101
G06K005/00; G06K 7/00 20060101 G06K007/00; G07F 17/26 20060101
G07F017/26; G07F 7/10 20060101 G07F007/10; G06Q 40/00 20060101
G06Q040/00; G06Q 20/20 20060101 G06Q020/20; G06Q 20/40 20060101
G06Q020/40; G06Q 20/34 20060101 G06Q020/34; G06K 19/10 20060101
G06K019/10; G06K 19/067 20060101 G06K019/067; G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a server, a request from a
device specifying an image selected for a transactional card;
identifying, by the server, an account number associated with the
transactional card; and sending, by the server, a response to the
device confirming the image selected for the transactional card
associated with the account number.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the account
number to the device.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving an image
file associated with the image selected for the transactional
card.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving an image
file associated with the account number.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an account
holder associated with the device.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an account
holder associated with the account number.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispensing the
transactional card.
8. A system, comprising: a hardware processor; and a memory device,
the memory device storing executable instructions, the executable
instructions when executed cause the hardware processor to perform
operations, the operations comprising: receiving a request from a
device specifying an image selected for a transactional card;
identifying an account number associated with the transactional
card; and sending a response to the device confirming the image
selected for the transactional card associated with the account
number.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise
sending the account number to the device.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise
retrieving an image file associated with the image selected for the
transactional card.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise
retrieving an image file associated with the account number.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise
determining an account holder associated with the device.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise
determining an account holder associated with the account
number.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise
further comprising dispensing the transactional card.
15. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable
instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor,
facilitate a performance of operations, the operations comprising:
receiving a request from a device specifying an image selected for
a transactional card; identifying an account number associated with
the transactional card; and sending a response to the device
confirming the image selected for the transactional card associated
with the account number.
16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the
operations further comprise sending the account number to the
device.
17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the
operations further comprise retrieving an image file associated
with the account number.
18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the
operations further comprise determining an account holder
associated with the device.
19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the
operations further comprise determining an account holder
associated with the account number.
20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the
operations further comprise further comprising dispensing the
transactional card.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/488,582 filed Apr. 17, 2017 and since
issued as U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is a continuation of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/216,730 filed Jul. 22, 2016 and
since issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,652,540, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/299,406 filed Nov. 18, 2011 and
since issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,424,605, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent applicaion Ser. No. 12/700,427 filed Feb. 4, 2010 and
since issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,513, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/107,207 filed Apr. 22, 2008 and
since issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,789, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/428,378 filed Jun. 30, 2006 and
since issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,692, with all applications
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention is related to transactional cards such
as credit cards and debit cards. More particularly, the present
invention is related to the creation of customized transactional
cards.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Transactional cards such as credit cards and debit cards are
carried by many individuals. Conventionally, such transactional
cards contain a machine-readable element such as a bar code or a
magnetic strip that has an account number encoded thereon. The
transactional cards typically include the account number in
visible, raised numerals and may also include the name of the card
holder. Other text may also be included such as the name of the
card issuer and the regulations for use.
[0004] Transactional cards have conventionally been very plain, and
the card holder has been given a standard card having only a
standard design used by the card issuer, if any. To address this,
some card issuers have offered a selection of standard designs to
choose from. However, the card holder has been given no opportunity
to create a truly custom design to apply to the transactional
card.
SUMMARY
[0005] Exemplary embodiments address these issues and others by
providing card holders with the ability to create custom designs
for transactional cards. For example, the card holder may be able
to use a computer program to create a custom design and then apply
the design to a transactional card such as by printing a label to
apply to a blank portion of the transaction card of by printing
directly onto the blank portion. As another example, the card
holder may utilize a web site to create a custom design, and the
card issuer may then manufacture the transactional card according
to the custom design.
[0006] One embodiment a method of creating a customized
transactional card that involves obtaining a transactional card
including account information, the transactional card being at
least partially blank. The method further involves accessing a
customized design created by a card holder for the at least
partially blank transactional card. Additionally, the method
involves placing the customized design onto the at least partially
blank transactional card to cover at least a portion of the
transactional card that is blank to create a customized
transactional card.
[0007] Another embodiment is a method of creating a customized
transactional card that involves receiving data files from a card
holder, the data files containing customized design features
selected by the card holder. The method further involves
constructing the transactional card in accordance with the selected
design features and providing a machine-readable element having
account information present on the transactional card.
[0008] Another embodiment is a transactional card that includes a
body having a first side and a second side. A machine-readable
element is affixed to the body and has an account number present
thereon. At least one design element is integrated onto the first
side of the body, wherein the at least one design element is
created by a card holder having an account to which the account
number is associated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a front side of one exemplary embodiment of a
customized transactional card.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a back side of one exemplary embodiment of a
customized transactional card.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a chart of illustrative examples for creating
customized transactional cards.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows various components used for various exemplary
embodiments of creating customized transactional cards.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows an example of a web page for receiving user
input to create a customized card.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Exemplary embodiments provide for customized transactional
cards. According to one or more embodiments, card holders can
choose from various design options including providing their own
images for inclusion within the card design. The various
embodiments provide for the card holder to produce the customized
card from a blank or submit design data to a card issuer where the
card is then produced in accordance with the design data.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a front side 102 of one embodiment of a
transactional card 100 while FIG. 2 shows the back side 118. This
embodiment includes a variety of customized design elements that
are discussed below. However, it should be appreciated that the
number of customized design elements that are present for various
embodiments may differ from that shown in FIG. 1, and the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-2 is shown only for purposes of
illustration.
[0016] The transactional card 100 may contain materials found in
conventional transactional cards using well known techniques and
using well known materials for producing transactional cards. For
example, the transactional card 100 may be constructed of plastic
or other inorganic or organic materials including recycled
materials and the like. According to one embodiment, the
transactional card 100 has a machine-readable element 120, such as
a strip located on the back side 118. The machine-readable element
120 may be one of various types, such as a magnetic strip, a bar
code. The machine-readable element 120 may be of other forms as
well, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or chip,
or as discussed below may be a graphical image such as photograph
that has information including the account number interspersed
within it. At some point during the creation of the customized
transactional card 100, an account number associated with the
transactional card 100 is encoded on the machine-readable element
120 so that the account number can be acquired when the
transactional card 100 is swiped or otherwise read at a card reader
device. The account number 112 may also be provided visually on the
front side 102 along with the name 114 of the card holder.
[0017] As shown, this particular embodiment includes various custom
design elements on the front 102, such as images and heat sensitive
color-changing coatings. In this example, the card holder has
chosen to include an image 104 of an automobile and an image 106 of
the family of the card holder. Images to be included may be chosen
from stock images available from a design application being used by
the card holder or the card holder may be given the option to
upload specific photographs or other images that the card holder
has available.
[0018] Furthermore, the customized design elements may include
encoded glyphs and/or other information bearing effects such as
that discussed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/022,531 entitled METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING PERSONALIZED, JUST-IN-TIME INFORMATION
SERVICES, which is incorporated herein by reference. In this
manner, the customization may include important and possibly
time-sensitive information regarding the card holder in addition to
merely ornamental effects. For example, medical or financial
information and/or forms of identification may be included to
increase the value of the transactional card to the user.
[0019] Additionally, according to one embodiment, a first heat
sensitive color-changing coating 110 is located beneath the image
104 while a second heat sensitive color-changing coating 108 is
located beneath the image 106. When the transactional card 100 is
grasped by the card holder at either the coating 108 or 110, the
coating 108 or 110 is heated and changes colors. Various different
coatings may be applied to provide for different colors on the same
transactional card. Such coatings may be provided for their
entertainment value to card holders. Such coatings may also be
provided for other purposes, such as to provide an alternative form
of identification or verification of use of the card. For example,
the merchant accepting the card may examine whether the color of
the card indicates nervousness of the card holder and may infer
that the card holder may not be an authorized user. Thus, the real
card holder may select such coatings as an additional form of
protection against unauthorized use of the card.
[0020] The front side 102 of this embodiment also includes a logo
116 of the card issuer. The logo 116 may be a custom design element
that may be selected by the card holder. As discussed below,
benefits may be provided to the card holder in exchange for
selecting certain logos to include on the transactional card 100.
Alternatively, the logo 116 of the card issuer may be mandatory
such that blank cards issued to a card holder to allow the card
holder to create the design may already have the logo in place. In
another alternative, the design application being used by the card
holder may require that the logo be included.
[0021] The back side 118 may also include custom design elements.
In this example, the back side 118 includes an image 122 of a pet
of the card holder, an image 124 of scenery chosen by the card
holder, and an image 126 of the home of the card holder. In
addition to images, the back side 118 of this example includes a
coating 128 that is scented. Such a coating 128 may be activated by
heat or other forms of agitation such that the scent is provided in
response to the card holder grasping or otherwise agitating the
coating 128. Examples of scents include flowers, food, and the
like.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a chart that includes several illustrative
embodiments of methods for creating a customized transactional
card. FIG. 4 shows an example of the components that are used in
the embodiments of FIG. 3 when creating the customized
transactional card.
[0023] In Example 1, the card holder obtains a transactional card
416 that is at least partially blank where the blank portion is
intended for receiving a custom design. In this example, the
transactional card is manufactured at a card issuer manufacturing
facility 414 and is sent to the card holder by the card issuer,
such as in response to the card holder requesting an account that
has an associated transactional card. Prior to sending the
transactional card to the card holder, the card issuer
manufacturing facility 414 has encoded the transactional card with
an account number that has been assigned by a card issuer account
administration facility 412 which has established the account
associated with the account number.
[0024] The account number may be present on the transactional card
such as by encoding the number within a machine-readable element on
the transactional card. For example, the account number may be
magnetically encoded on a magnetic strip, visually encoded within a
bar code, or encoded into an RFID tag or chip. Furthermore, the
account number and/or other information may be present within
graphical representations, such as embedded or interspersed within
the pixel rows and columns of images, e.g. within image 106, that
are present on the transactional card by default or by the
selection of the card holder. For the utmost in security, the user
may choose to have the account number not be present in the form of
visual characters so that the account number can only be obtained
from the machine-readable element. Accordingly, unauthorized
individuals cannot simply read the number from the card and then
use it to make an on-line or telephone purchase.
[0025] In this Example 1, upon the card holder receiving the
transactional card 416, the transactional card 416 is already ready
to be used but lacks the custom design. The card holder then
utilizes, for example, a computer application 404 on a personal
computer 402 to generate the design. For example, the computer
application 404 may be a local application being implemented by the
personal computer 402 or may be a web browser that has loaded a web
page that provides card design tools, as shown in FIG. 5 discussed
below. The card holder may be using the personal computer 402
directly, such as at the home of the card holder, or may be using
the personal computer 402 indirectly, such as by directing a
representative of the card issuer located at a kiosk or service
bureau who is using the personal computer 402.
[0026] The application 404 may provide the card holder with many
options for the customized design. For example there may be a
variety of stock images to be chosen. The size and location on the
transactional card for each image may be selected. The application
404 may allow the card holder to upload custom images, such as
personal photographs, graphical images, etc., to be included within
the design. Furthermore, the application may allow for additional
selections such as corporate logos to be included, coatings to be
applied to provide for heat sensitive color-change and/or scents.
Additionally, where the application 404 is a web browser accessing
a publicly available web site for designing transactional cards,
the web site may allow for the design to be saved or even published
for selection by other card holders. Additionally, the application
404 or web site may provide credits or other benefits to the card
holder where the card holder chooses certain logos to include in
the design and/or if the design that is published by the card
holder is chosen by other card holders.
[0027] Once the design has been completed within the application
404, the application 404 then sends the design to a card printer
406 or onto various media types including plastic and other organic
or inorganic materials including recycled materials and the like.
In the example shown, the card printer 406 may be a conventional
laser or jet printer capable of receiving plastic or other cards as
the input medium. Such a printer may be capable of printing gray
scale or color, and may also be capable of printing coatings
including heat sensitive coatings and scented coatings. Examples of
such printers are described at
http://www.plasticprinters.com/equipment, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0028] Additionally, three-dimensional lithographic printing may be
employed to build-up objects onto the card to further allow for
customization via raised objects, characters, and so forth. For
example, three-dimensional lithographic printing may be used to
build-up the account characters and name of the account holder.
[0029] Prior to sending the design to the card printer 406, the
blank card 416 has been fed to the printer 406. Once the design
information is sent to the printer 406, the blank card 416 is then
printed upon at least one side to apply the custom design and
thereby output custom card 416'. If there is a custom design for
both sides of the card 416 and the printer 406 is only capable of
printing one side at a time, then the card 416' may be fed back to
the printer but oriented in the opposite manner so that the design
for the opposite side can be applied. Once the printing is
finished, the custom transactional card is ready for use by the
card holder.
[0030] As an alternative, the transactional card 416 may be capable
of receiving a label that is placed over the blank portion, where
the label is sent through the printer rather than the complete card
so that virtually any printer is capable of creating the customized
design. Once the label has been fed to the printer 406, the
application 404 sends the design to the printer 406 to place the
design on the label. The label is then applied to the appropriate
side of the blank transactional card 416 to create the customized
transactional card 416'. The blank transactional card 416 may have
a specific area that is delineated so that the card holder can
easily determine where the label should be placed.
[0031] Furthermore, scented and/or heat sensitive labels may be
applied to the card. Examples and/or details for such scented
labels may be found at
[0032]
http://www.printmeprim.com/store/WsDefault.asp?Cat=ScentLabels,
[0033] http://www.aero.si/ps/prom_tix.htm,
[0034] http://www.paperspecs.com/resources/tips/200561516195.htm,
and
[0035] http://www.microscent.com,
each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Examples and/or
details for such heat sensitive labels may be found at
[0036] http://www.drypak.com/index.asp?cat-62759 and
[0037] http://www.futurehealth.org/stressma.htm,
each of which is incorporated by reference.
[0038] Additionally, custom stickers may be generated to place on
the card. Such stickers may be temporary in that they can be
removed and replaced as desired. In this manner, the user may
update the same card from time to time with a new sticker design.
Additionally, where time-sensitive information is to be included on
the card in accordance with the principles disclosed in U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/022,531, this time-sensitive information
may be included on a sticker so that the time-sensitive information
may be easily updated.
[0039] In Example 2, the card holder obtains a blank card 408 such
as from a third party supplier or at a kiosk of the card issuer. In
this example, no account number is yet assigned to the
transactional card 408. At some point prior to the card holder
first using the transactional card 408, the card holder sends the
transactional card 408 to the card issuer where an account number
is assigned to and encoded upon the transactional card and an
associated account is established. The transactional card 408 is
then returned to the card holder.
[0040] Either before or after sending the transactional card 408 to
the card issuer, the card holder may create a design using the
application 404 and then may place the design onto the
transactional card 408 by feeding the transactional card 408 or a
label to the printer 406 and initiating printing of the design from
the application 404 to produce the customized transactional card
408'. If the customized designed is applied first, then it is the
customized transactional card 408' that is ultimately sent to the
card issuer, where the manufacturing facility 414 then encodes the
account number onto the transactional card 408' based on the
account number provided form the account administration facility
412 prior to returning the transactional card 408' to the card
holder.
[0041] In Example 3, the card holder obtains a blank card 408 such
as from a third party supplier or at a kiosk of the card issuer. In
this example, no account number is yet assigned to the
transactional card 408. The card holder at some point submits a
request for an account to the card issuer. The card issuer account
administration facility 412 receives the request and then returns
an account number and establishes an account associated with the
account number.
[0042] The request for and return of the account number may be done
via secure communications through the network 410 by the card
issuer account administration facility 412 interacting with the
application 404. In that case, either before, during, or after
printing of the design that the card holder has created via the
application 404, the application 404 may also direct the printer
406 to print a machine-readable bar code that encodes the account
number. Alternatively, where the personal computer 402 is in
communication with a card strip writer 420, which is more likely in
the context of a card issuer kiosk or service bureau, the account
number may be encoded upon a magnetic strip of the blank
transactional card 408 or customized transactional card 408'.
Likewise, the account number may be encoded into an RFID chip or
tag.
[0043] In Example 4, the card holder does not obtain a blank card
but instead accesses an application, such as a web site within a
browser, that allows for customized design creation for
transactional cards. The card holder creates the design within the
application, which may allow the card holder to upload data files
including photographic and graphical images. The card holder may
upload this data, e.g., at a website. Alternatively, the card
holder may send the customized data via email, regular mail, etc.
Upon having received the customized design data, the card issuer
then proceeds to create the customized transactional card in
accordance with the design data at the manufacturing facility 414,
including providing an account number received from the account
administration facility 412 and encoding it upon the customized
transactional card 418. As an alternative, a third party entity may
receive the transactional card from the card issuer and apply the
customization indicated by the card holder. The customized
transactional card 418 is then sent to the card holder.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, a user may log on to a web page 500 of a
card issuer or card manufacturer. The user may enter the card
holder's name in a name field 501. The web page 500 may offer
various categories of options that the user may select from to mix
and match design elements as desired. For example, a "Scents"
option 502 provides various scents from which the user can choose.
A "Labels" option 504 provides various labels to add to the card,
such as heat sensitive and/or scented labels, and "Other" option
506 may provide for other options, such as options for more
sophisticated cards that have circuitry for storing sound effects,
lighting effects, and so forth. "Photographs/Images" option 508 may
provide for selection of stock photographs, images, corporate
logos, and the like while "Coatings" option 510 may provide for
selection of various coatings to be applied to the card.
[0045] In order for the user to further add customization, image
field 512 and text field 514 may be provided. The user may enter a
path to an image file via image field 512. For example, the user
may have one or more images stored locally and may wish to upload
those to the web page for inclusion on the card. The user may
directly type in text to add to the card via text field 514 and
then position that block of text in the desired location on side
516 or 518.
[0046] The card may be illustrated as the front side 516 and back
side 518 on the web page 500, and the user may drag and drop
options such as the scents to the chosen side and particular
location where the effect is to be located. The illustrations 516,
518 may provide a visual preview of the card as the user continues
to select options and review the result. The user may be given the
option to undo effects or to reposition effects such as by dragging
and dropping the effects visually represented on the sides 516,
518.
[0047] Thus, through the various exemplary embodiments discussed
herein, account holders are given the ability to create customized
transactional cards. An account holder may prefer to customize the
transactional card rather than using a standard design.
Accordingly, the account holder may be more likely to establish an
account such as a credit or pre-paid account with an account issuer
who allows customized transactional cards.
[0048] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to various exemplary embodiments thereof,
it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
other changes in the form and details may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *
References