Abstract:
A self-service gift card terminal for the purchase or activation of a gift card, the gift card terminal including a housing having a computer processor disposed in the housing. A user interface coupled to the computer processor provides for self-service interaction between a customer and the gift card terminal. A modem coupled to the computer processor and connectable to a network transmits data to and from the gift card terminal. The gift card terminal also includes means for accepting payment for a gift card purchase. The computer processor is configured to activate a gift card in accordance with a customer request for and purchase of a gift card. A receipt for the transaction is then printed. The self-service gift card terminal provides a convenient terminal from which a customer can purchase and activate a gift card from a plurality of retailers or service providers.

Description:
[0001]     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0002]     This application claims priority to provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/473,801 filed on May 28, 2003 entitled “Automated self service gift card dispensing and authorizing terminal”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for purchasing gift cards and more particularly to a self-service gift card terminal and method of use.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A gift card is a card that is purchased at a retailer or service provider for a certain dollar amount for the purpose of giving credit in the amount equal to the purchase price of the gift card to another person that is redeemable at through the retailer or service provider. The recipient can then redeem the gift card through the retailer or service provider from which it was purchased, for goods and services of his/her choice up to the amount of the gift card. Once a gift card is purchased, additional value can usually be added to the balance of the gift card in a subsequent purchase.  
         [0005]     Currently gift cards are becoming a popular choice for a personal gift for acquaintances, friends or family members. However, one problem associated with purchasing a gift card, is that the purchaser is usually required to travel to a store location of a selected retailer or service provider to make the purchase. Thus, if a person wants to purchase two gift cards, each from a different retailer, the person would need to visit a store location for each of the retailers to complete the purchases.  
         [0006]     Mall cards, which are often available in shopping malls, are gift cards which can be purchased at a shopping mall and which are redeemable at any of a number of stores associated with the particular mall at which the mall card was purchased. As such, mall cards have limited usefulness, as the purchaser of a mall card must travel to a particular shopping mall to purchase the mall card, and a recipient of the mall card must visit the same mall to redeem the card.  
         [0007]     Based on the foregoing, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a self-service gift card terminal and method of use that overcomes the above-described problems and drawbacks present in the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is directed to a self-service gift card terminal for the purchase and activation of a gift card in accordance with a customer request. The gift card terminal includes a housing having a computer processor disposed therein. A user interface is coupled to the computer processor for providing self-service interaction between a customer and the gift card terminal. A modem and/or network interface card connects the computer processor to a network for transmitting data to and from the gift card terminal. The gift card terminal includes means for accepting a payment from the customer for the purchase of a gift card. The computer processor is configured to activate a gift card in accordance with the purchase thereof. The activation process is discussed further hereinbelow.  
         [0009]     The user interface includes a display for displaying information to the user as well as an alphanumeric keypad for inputting data to the computer processor. In a preferred embodiment, the display includes a touch screen wherein a customer can input information to the computer processor via the touch screen. A card reader or card scanner can also be coupled to the computer processor for receiving data from a credit card or a gift card.  
         [0010]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the gift card terminal is a stand alone apparatus that is configured for the purchase and activation of gift cards from multiple retailers or service providers. For example, a gift card terminal according to the present invention can be located in an airport or train station whereby a person can purchase from a self-service terminal, a gift card from one of a plurality of retailers or service providers. The gift card terminal can be arranged to accept credit cards, debit cards or currency and provides a convenient device for the purchase and/or activation of gift cards. Additionally, the gift card terminal can be configured for processing gift card transactions through a Virtual Private Network (VPN), a closed network, or the Internet.  
         [0011]     The term activation of a gift card refers to the process of completing the transaction related to the sale of a gift card, i.e. the purchase funds are transferred to an account of the selected retailer and an account or card number associated with the particular gift card to be activated is credited in an amount equal to the purchase price of the gift card. Usually, the name of the retailer at which the gift card is redeemable through is pre-printed on a face of the gift card. Thus, the gift card is actually a pre-paid debit card redeemable at a retailer from which it was purchased.  
         [0012]     In addition to the sale and activation of gift cards, the gift card terminal of the present invention can be used to check the balance of, or to “reload” a previously purchased gift card. The term “reload” as used herein means to purchase additional credit to be added to an existing or previously purchased gift card. These transactions can be completed by using a card reader or scanner associated with the gift card terminal for identifying the actual gift card for which the balance is to be checked or additional value is to be added.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, the gift card terminal includes a display wherein blank gift cards from various retailers or service providers are stored and are selectable by a customer and can be purchased and activated via the gift card terminal. The gift cards can include an amount designation on a face of the card such as $25 or $50 wherein the purchase price equals the designated value of the card. Alternatively, the gift cards can be blank as to the value thereof, wherein the purchaser selects a desired amount for the gift card and the gift card is activated accordingly following payment of the selected value of the gift card.  
         [0014]     Alternatively, the gift card terminal can be configured wherein a generic gift card supplied with, or dispensed from, the gift card terminal can be purchased and activated for redemption through a retailer or service provider selected from a plurality of retailers or service providers. In this embodiment, the purchaser selects a retailer from a list of retailers as well as a value for the gift card. Following payment of the selected value by the purchaser, the computer processor then activates a generic card for redemption at the selected retailer in an amount equal to the selected value. The gift card terminal can include means for labeling or imprinting the gift card with the name or logo of the selected retailer or service provider at which the gift card is redeemable.  
         [0015]     In either of the above-identified embodiments, the present invention gift card terminal provides for the sale and activation of gift cards for any number of retailers from a single self-service location.  
         [0016]     Additionally, the present invention gift card terminal can be used for the purchase of mall cards as discussed above. Accordingly, the self-service gift card terminals could be positioned throughout a shopping mall and configured to provide for the purchase and activation of mall cards redeemable at any of a number of participating stores or shops associated with a particular shopping mall or chain of malls. The gift card terminals can be positioned in locations accessible after hours such that the mall cards can be purchased at any time whether or not the mall is open for business.  
         [0017]     In another embodiment, a gift card terminal according to the present invention can be configured for the sale and activation of gift cards redeemable at particular retailer or service provider. This embodiment of the gift card terminal is useful for large retailers so that a consumer can stop by a store location and utilize a self-service gift card terminal for purchasing a gift card. This allows a customer to purchase a gift card quickly without waiting for a clerk, and provides an automated means for a retailer to sell gift cards without the use of a clerk&#39;s time. Alternatively, a single retailer gift card terminal as described above, could be located at other places remote from a store location.  
         [0018]     In still another embodiment, the gift card terminal of the present invention can be configured for the self-service purchase of pre-paid bank cards or debit credit cards such as a pre-paid Visa® or Mastercard®. For example, a pre-paid Visa® or Mastercard® can be purchased through the gift card terminal from an associated bank and can be used anywhere that accepts Visa® or Mastercard®. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of a gift card terminal according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are illustrations of front and rear sides respectively of one embodiment of a typical gift card from a large retailer as used with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are front and rear side views of one embodiment of a generic gift card in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a summary of the system process according to one embodiment of the present invention gift card terminal;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a check balance process for a gift card according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 7A-7C  are a flow chart illustrating a reload card process for a gift card according to the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an activation process for a gift card reload process according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are a flow chart illustrating a new card purchase process for a gift card according to the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating an activation process for a gift card purchase process according to the present invention; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a credit card authorization process as used with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  a gift card terminal according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The gift card terminal  10  includes a housing  12  and a computer processor  14  disposed in the housing. The gift card terminal  10  has a user interface including a display  16  and key pad  18  mounted to the housing  12  and coupled to the computer process  14 . The display  16  has a touch screen  20  for user input of data to the computer processor  14 . A modem  22  is coupled to the computer processor  14  and connectable to a network for transmitting data to and from the gift card terminal  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the gift card terminal  10  includes a speaker  24  that is coupled to the computer processor  14  for playing music or providing audible instructions to a user.  
         [0031]     A card reader  26  is mounted to the housing  12  and coupled to the computer processor  14  for inputting data from a credit card or gift card. Additionally, a scanner  28  is coupled to the computer processor  14  and provided for scanning barcodes or other data stored on credit cards or gift cards. The gift card terminal  10  can also be equipped for processing smart cards, Bluetooth® enabled, wireless or other network cards for use in gift card transactions. A signature verification pad  29  is provided for inputting a user&#39;s signature for use in a credit, debit or other card verification process.  
         [0032]     A printer  30  for providing receipts for gift card transactions is mounted inside the housing  12  adjacent to a printer opening  32  defined by the housing  12 . The printer  30  is coupled to the computer processor  14  and can also be configured for printing promotional information or coupons.  
         [0033]     The gift card terminal  10  accepts and dispenses currency via a bill acceptor/dispenser  34 , a coin acceptor  36  and a coin dispenser  38 , each of which are coupled to and controlled by the computer processor  14 . Advertising can be displayed on the gift card terminal  10  at a signage area  44 .  
         [0034]     Blank gift cards or bankcards are dispensed from the gift card terminal via a gift card dispenser  40 . Additionally, blank gift cards can be stored on an exterior surface of the gift card terminal  10  at a display area  42 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the front and rear sides respectively of a typical $25 gift card  44  supplied from a retailer such as Best Buy®. The value designation  46  shown on the front of the card indicates a predetermined value for the gift card  44 , which is also the cost to purchase the gift card. The rear of the gift card  44  includes a magnetic strip  48 , a serial number  50 , and a barcode  52 . Typically, the magnetic strip  48 , the serial number  50  and the barcode  52  all include information identifying the retailer, the designated value of the gift card, as well as a serial number of the actual gift card  44 . A variable value gift card (not shown) is similar to the gift card  44  without the value designation  46  as the value is to be selected by the purchaser of the gift card. For example, the same blank gift card could be purchased for $50 dollars, $100 dollars, or any other amount, wherein the activation process would allocate the appropriate amount of funds in an account of the retailer corresponding to the serial number  50  of the gift card. When a holder of the card returns to the retailer to purchases goods, some or all of the purchase price of the goods can be offset by presenting the gift card. Typically, a clerk for the retailer simply swipes the magnetic strip  48  on the rear of the card through a card reader thereby entering the serial number  50  of the card into the retailer&#39;s computer system. The retailer&#39;s computer system then accesses a gift card database and retrieves a balance designated as corresponding to the gift card presented. Typically, the customer can request any portion of the balance of funds allocated to the gift card to be used to complete the purchase of the goods.  
         [0036]     Following the above-identified gift card transaction, if a balance remains on the gift card, the customer retains the gift card for a subsequent purchase. If the balance of the funds on the gift card is depleted, the gift card is useless to the customer, unless the holder of the gift card intends to purchase additional credit and reload the gift card for further use.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the front and rear sides of a generic gift card  54 . The generic gift card  54  includes an area  56  in which the name of a selected retailer can be identified on the gift card. The gift card terminal  10  can include means for labeling or imprinting a generic gift card  54  in accordance with a purchaser&#39;s selection. Gift card terminal  10  includes a labeler  41  mounted inside the housing  12  for labeling a generic gift card  54 . The rear side of the generic gift card  54  also includes a magnetic strip  48 , a serial number  50  and a barcode  52  similar to those discussed above with respect to the retailer gift card  44 . The purchase, activation and reloading processes of a generic gift card  54  are similar to that of a gift card provided by a specific retailer, however, depending on the processing system, the generic gift card  54  may be processed through both a gift card vendor as well as the selected retailer for which the generic gift card was purchased.  
         [0038]     Thus, the only difference between the generic gift card  54  and the retailer&#39;s gift card  44  is that the generic gift card  54  enables the gift card terminal  10  to provide gift cards from any number of retailers. For example, a gift card vendor can be associated with literally thousands of retailers or service providers and offer gift cards for sale at a single gift card terminal  10  that are redeemable at any one of the associated retailers or service providers.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 , the system process of the gift card terminal  10  is designated generally with the reference number  90 . The system process  90  begins with a screen saver including advertising for the gift card terminal  10  in an idle state at block  100 . To initiate a process on the gift card terminal  10 , a user simply touches the touch screen  20  or keypad  18  as shown at block  102 . The user is offered a choice of languages at block  104  and completes a language selection at block  106 . The system process  90  proceeds to offer various task selections including 1) Check gift card balance? (block  108 ); 2) Reload a gift card? (block  110 ); 3) Purchase new gift card? (block  112 ); or Cancel? (block  114 ).  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a check gift card balance process is illustrated generally by the reference numeral  115 . If the user selects “Check gift card balance?” (block  108 ), the process continues at block  116  by prompting the user to swipe an existing gift card  46  or  54  through the card reader  26  on the gift card terminal  10 , (block  142 ). At decision block  118 , the computer processor  14  determines whether or not the gift card  44 ,  54  swiped is identifiable. If the gift card  44 ,  54  is unreadable or otherwise unidentifiable, the user is informed accordingly at block  120 . Once the gift card  44 ,  54  is identified, the validity of the gift card  44 ,  54  is verified with the appropriate vendor at block  122  and utilized at decision block  124 . If the gift card  44 ,  54  is not valid, an appropriate message is displayed to the user at block  126 . For valid gift cards, the amount of the balance of funds allocated to the gift card  44 ,  54  is retrieved at block  128  and displayed to the user at block  130  and the check gift card balance process ends. Alternatively, the user could request that the balance of the gift card  44 ,  54  be printed on a receipt.  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a reload card process executed upon user selection of the “Reload a gift card?” option at block  110 . The reload card process is generally designated by the reference number  140 . The reload card process  140  begins similar to the check gift card balance process  115  and includes many of the same sub-processes as indicated with like reference numerals. The reload process  140  begins with a prompt  116  requesting the user to swipe an existing card to be reloaded with additional credit to be purchased. The reload process proceeds through blocks  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  126  and  128  as set forth above with respect to the check current balance process  115  for a gift card. At block  128 , the reload process  140  retrieves the current balance of the gift card  44 ,  54  to be reloaded. At block  142 , the current balance of the gift card  44 ,  54  is displayed along with a prompt requesting the user enter an additional amount to be purchased and added to the gift card balance.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 7B , the reload process  140  continues at block  144  wherein the user is prompted to confirm the reload amount entered. The system records the reload request at block  146  and the reload process  140  proceeds at block  148  wherein the user selects a cash or credit purchase for the payment of the additional value to be added to the gift card  44 ,  54 . For cash purchases, the user is prompted to enter currency via the bill acceptor/dispenser  34  or the coin acceptor  36  at block  150 . Upon acknowledgement of the deposit of the reload amount, the reload process  140  continues at block  158  shown in  FIG. 8 . For credit purchases, (block  152 ) the reload process  140  continues with a typical credit card authorization process referred to generally by the reference numeral  160  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The credit card authorization process  160  will not be discussed further herein.  
         [0043]     Whether via a cash or credit purchase, the reload process  140  resumes as shown in  FIG. 8  at block  154 —cash entered, or block  156 —credit approved. At block  158 , the reload process  140  continues wherein the amount of the customer&#39;s purchase is transferred to the appropriate retailer or gift card vendor to be credited to the serial number or account corresponding to the gift card  44 ,  54  being reloaded. Upon successful reloading of the gift card  44 ,  54 , determined at decision block  163 , a message acknowledging the reload and displaying the new balance of the reloaded gift card is provided at block  162 . If a problem occurs in the reload process, an appropriate message is displayed to the user at block  164 . The reload process  140  records the failed reload at block  166 .  
         [0044]     A purchase new gift card process is referred to generally by the reference numeral  170  as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . Following selecting “Purchase new gift card?” at block  112 , a user is prompted to select a new gift card  44 ,  54  at block  172  and swipe the new gift card through the card reader  26  or scanner  28 . The new gift card can be a retailer gift card  44  or a generic gift card  54 . For generic gift cards, an additional query is presented to the purchaser wherein a user is provided with a list of retailers or service providers to select from. The generic gift card  54  purchased will be redeemable through the selected retailer or service provider and labeled accordingly as discussed above. In either case, the purchase new card process  170  resumes at block  174  wherein the swiped gift card is verified for authenticity with the appropriate retailer or gift card provider. If the new gift card  44 ,  54  cannot be read or is damaged, the user is provided an appropriate message at block  176 . If the new gift card  44 ,  54  is not valid for use with the corresponding retailer or gift card provider, the user is informed accordingly through a displayed message at block  178 . An invalid gift card may be one that has been reported lost or stolen.  
         [0045]     At block  180 , the purchase process  170  resumes with the user being queried as to how much credit does the user want to purchase to be allocated to, and added to the balance of the gift card  44 ,  54 . For new purchases of designated value gift cards such as gift card  44 , the customer knows the designated amount of the gift card  44  and the designated value information has been inputted to the computer processor  14  via the magnetic strip  48  when the gift card was swiped at block  172 . Thus, the customer merely is asked to confirm the purchase amount. Otherwise for gift cards that do not include a designated value, the customer is asked first to enter a purchase amount and then to confirm the entered amount.  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 9B , the purchase new card process  170  continues at block  181  wherein the system records the purchase request. At block  148  the user selects a cash or credit purchase for the payment of the purchase price to be allocated to the gift card  44 ,  54 . For cash purchases, the user is prompted to enter currency via the bill acceptor/dispenser  34  or the coin acceptor  36  at block  150 . For credit purchases, (block  152 ) the purchase process  170  continues with a the credit card authorization process referred to generally by the reference numeral  160  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Upon acknowledgement of the deposit of the purchase amount, the purchase process  170  continues as &#39;shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0047]     Whether via a cash or credit purchase, the purchase process  170  resumes as shown in  FIG. 10  at block  154 —cash entered, or block  156 —credit approved. At block  183  the purchase process  170  continues wherein the amount of the customer&#39;s purchase is transferred to the appropriate retailer or gift card vendor to be credited to the serial number or account corresponding to the gift card  44 ,  54  being purchased. Upon successful purchase of the gift card  44 ,  54 , determined at decision block  185 , a message acknowledging the purchase and displaying the new balance of the purchased gift card is provided at block  187 . If a problem occurs in the purchase process  170 , an appropriate message is displayed to the user at block  189 . The purchase process  170  records the failed purchase at block  191 .  
         [0048]     The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. The embodiments described were chosen to best illustrate the principals of the invention and practical applications thereof to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.