Abstract:
A system and method for issuance of a financial network-based payment card (generally known as a “payment card” or a “credit card”) almost instantaneously after application, wherein an applicant applies for a credit card by entering data into a data entry system using a handheld electronic device, advantageously by filling in a plurality of predefined forms in a computer-based data entry system. The applicant&#39;s data is sent via a data network to a central decision center, which approves or disapproves the application. If the application is approved, data is generated, a payment card is activated, and a result of the determination to issue is sent to the handheld electronic device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/652,540, filed Jan. 5, 2010, which is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/898,518, filed Jul. 23, 2004, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/490,331, filed Jul. 25, 2003. The entire disclosures of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/652,540, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/898,518 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/490,331 are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of financial network-based payment cards (e.g., credit cards, debit cards, etc.), and, more specifically, to a system and method that makes the time period from application to card issuance practically instantaneous. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Network based payment card companies (e.g., MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc.) are constantly soliciting applicants for their credit cards. Many of these solicitations take place in the form of mail or telephone. Such solicitations are frequently discarded or blocked so that the potential applicant does not even see or hear about the card. 
     On the other hand, there are many situations in which a person is more likely to participate in a credit card solicitation. For example, people waiting in line at theme parks, sport events, etc. may be more inclined to listen to a credit card solicitation and apply while they are waiting on line. Such application generally consists of the applicant filling out a form and having the solicitor send it to a possessing center. Generally however, applicants may be more inclined to apply if the credit card could be supplied virtually instantaneously. 
     Therefore there is a problem in that obtaining a credit card from application to delivery cannot be done where the applicant is most likely to apply. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a system and method for issuance of a financial network based payment card (generally known as a “credit card”) almost instantaneously after application. According to an aspect of this invention, an applicant applies for a credit card by entering data into a data entry system, advantageously by filling in a plurality of predefined forms in a computer-based data entry system. 
     Advantageously, the computer-based data entry system is handheld, so that an applicant can hold the device in one hand and enter data with the other. Also advantageously, the computer-based data entry system communicates with a local area network using wireless communication protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. The applicant&#39;s data may be encrypted before transmission for security. 
     The data entered by the applicant may be cross-referenced to a government-issued identification (e.g., a driver&#39;s license or passport), another credit card, or both. The applicant&#39;s data is then delivered to a decision system via a data network. The decision system indicates approval, disapproval or a pending decision. The decision and other information are relayed into a fulfillment center, which may be on-site at the place of data entry. If disapproved, the applicant is not notified on-site, but rather at a later date. In addition, before the information is displayed at the fulfillment center, the disapproval decision may be converted to a pending decision to protect the applicant&#39;s privacy, among other things. Pending decision means further review must be conducted. Further review generally is conducted at a site different from the fulfillment center. 
     If the application is approved, information regarding a credit card is delivered to an on-site card production system. The on-site card production system produces a credit card, which includes an embossed credit card number (which may be a temporary number) and any data magnetically encoded on it. This card can then be utilized on the various network point-of-sale networks (e.g., MasterCard, Visa, American Express). The fulfillment center verifies the applicant&#39;s identification information and delivers the card to the applicant. The card may be a permanent card that can be used anywhere the issuing association of the card, such as MasterCard or VISA, is accepted. Alternatively, the card may be limited in use to the on-site merchant (e.g., a theme park) and may be limited in time. If the card is so limited, a final card may be mailed to the applicant. 
     This process has proven to provide high data accuracy and high customer participation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of this invention may be obtained from a study of this specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of this invention; 
         FIGS. 2   a - c  are a flow chart of processing a credit card application in the context of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 3-13  are exemplary screen shots of data entry screens for an exemplary data entry system according to one aspect of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of this invention is shown, generally at  100 . Box  102  represents an on-site data collection and fulfillment center. On-site center  102 , may be, for example, at a theme park. While this exemplary embodiment is described in the context of theme park, this invention is not so limited. On-site center  102  may be an office in a strip mall, a fair, sporting event or other location. One skilled in the art will appreciate the versatility of this invention and the many situations in which this invention may be used. 
     At on-site center  102 , there are a plurality of tablet computers, represented by tablet computer  104  and tablet computer  106 . Tablet computers  104  and  106  are used for gathering data regarding an applicant as will be discussed further, below. Tablet computers  104  and  106  are in communication with wireless network  108 , in this exemplary embodiment. Wireless network  108  is in communication with local area network  110  at the on-site location  102 . 
     An applicant enters his or her personal data in tablet computer  104  or  106 , as will be described further, below in connection with  FIGS. 3-13 . The data is advantageously encrypted and then transmitted via wireless network  108  to local area network  110  within the theme park and eventually to a decision system  124  as described below. 
     Alternatively, an applicant can enter data at a personal computer or work station  112  using a keyboard in the manner known in the art. Also alternatively, an individual may fill out a paper application and hand it to a person on-site working at personal computer  112 . Furthermore, all forms of entering data may take place simultaneously. 
     Applicant&#39;s personal data is then routed from local area network  110  through data network  114 . In this exemplary embodiment, data network  114  comprises the Internet. While this exemplary embodiment of this invention is being described in terms of the Internet, one skilled in the art will appreciate how to practice this invention using any data network, public or private, after studying this specification. 
     Once the applicant&#39;s personal data arrives at a processing center, it passes through a firewall  116 , as is known in the art. Transaction processor  118  receives the applicant&#39;s personal data, decrypts it as necessary and optionally checks it for integrity. If the data passes the integrity check, it is entered into a fulfillment database  120 . Fulfillment database  120  tracks the progress of the transaction and can be accessed by personnel involved in the application process. 
     Transaction processor  118  submits the applicant&#39;s personal data to an input queue  122  of a decision system  124 . Decision system  124  makes a determination as to whether or not to approve the applicant. An example of a decision system is the Capstone Decision System. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to this type of decision system. Fraud screeners (not shown) may be used to review the applicant&#39;s data for potential fraud issues prior to finalizing the determination of the decision system  124 . When decisions system  124  is finished, it places the decision on output queue  126  which then updates fulfillment database  120 . 
     Transaction processor  118  is notified by fulfillment database  120  when the decision system  124  has completed. Alternatively, transaction processor  118  may periodically query fulfillment database  120  to determine whether a particular applicant has been approved. 
     In this exemplary embodiment of this invention, decision system  124  may approve an applicant, may disapprove an applicant or may mark the application as pending meaning further review is necessary. Such further review is generally performed at a later time. Transaction processor  118  receives the approval, disapproval or pending status and reacts accordingly. In accordance with this exemplary embodiment, transaction processor  118  delivers an approval along with the data necessary to imprint and encode a credit card (credit card numbers, etc.) back through data network  114  to local area network  110 . If the decision was disapproval or pending, transaction processor  118  sends that information back through data network  114  without card data. The approval, disapproval, or pending decision may be transmitted back to the appropriate input device  104 ,  106 , or  112  to give the applicant an immediate response. 
     Return data from the transaction processor  118  arrives at card fulfillment center  128 . Card fulfillment center  128 , in this exemplary embodiment, includes workstation  130  and card embosser and encoder  134 . Work station  130  receives applicant&#39;s card information (if the applicant was approved) or pending status. If the applicant was approved, work station  130  causes card embosser and encoder  134  to generate an embossed and encoded credit card. The applicant presents identification at the fulfillment center  128 . The card may be activated at work station  130  and delivered to the applicant. Alternatively, the applicant may first present his or her identification and then the card is made. This order of steps has the advantage of not printing cards if an applicant changes his or her mind. In addition to providing the applicant with a payment card, the applicant may also be provided credit line and annual percentage rate (“APR”) information. 
     In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the credit card may be fully operationally at any network point of sale for the particular network-based payment card (e.g., MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc). Alternatively, the card may be only valid at the on-site location  102  where the card was issued (again, such as a theme park). Further, the card may be limited for a predetermined duration and then a permanent card sent to the applicant via the mail. Additionally, the card may be temporarily limited in an amount that may be charged. 
     An experimental system in accordance with this invention can have a credit card ready in less than five minutes from application to card imprinting. Having the credit card available where the application was taken has been demonstrated to improve willingness of applicants to apply. Thus, the combination of speed and local availability of the credit card provides great advantages over the prior art. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2   a - c , a flow of operations of an exemplary embodiment of this invention is shown. In this flow chart, actions take place on-site  102 , in data networks  110  and  114  and in decision and data systems  118  and  124 . Processing starts on-site  102  in oval  200  and proceeds to manual input  202  where the applicant fills out forms. Processing moves to decision diamond  204  where the applicant&#39;s identification is verified. If the applicant cannot verify his or her ID, processing ends in oval  206 . 
     If the applicant verifies his or her ID, then processing moves to action box  208  where the application is submitted. Processing then moves through data networks  110  and  114  as the applicant&#39;s personal data is transported to decision system in box  210 . Decision and data systems  118  and  124  receive applicant&#39;s personal data in box  212  and performs any data verification and updates the database. Processing continues from  FIG. 2   a  to  FIG. 2   b  via connector A. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2   b  processing enters through connector A and then proceeds to action box  214  where the applicant&#39;s personal data is submitted to a decision system. Processing moves to decision diamond  216  where determination is made if the application has been approved. If the application has been approved, then processing moves to action box  218  where card data is generated. In this exemplary embodiment, card data includes any embossed data account information and, importantly, data for the magnetized card strip. 
     Processing from action box  218  and from decision diamond  216  (if the application was not approved) moves to action box  220  where the decision and card data (if generated) is sent back to the on-site location. The decision is sent through data networks  114  and  110  in box  222  and received at the on-site location in box  224 . Processing proceeds through connector B to decision diamond  226 ,  FIG. 2   c . Continuing with  FIG. 2   c , a determination is made in decision diamond  226  whether the application has been approved. If the application has not been approved then the applicant is informed that the status is pending further review at  227 . If the applicant was approved at decision diamond  226 , then processing proceeds to box  228  where a card is embossed and encoded. Processing proceeds to decision diamond  230  where the applicants identification is verified. If an applicant cannot verify his or her identification then processing ends in oval  232 . 
     If, in decision diamond  230 , the applicant verifies his or her ID then the card may be activated in box  234 . A message may be sent through data networks in box  236  to system inbox  238  and activation confirmation delivered back through data networks box  236  to box  234 . A determination is then made in decision diamond  240  whether the card was successfully activated. If the card was not successfully activated then an error code is delivered. If the card was successfully activated then a card is issued to the applicant in oval  244 . 
       FIGS. 3-13  illustrate exemplary embodiments of data entry screens in tablet computers  104  and  106 . Tablet computers are desirable in this application because they can be held in one hand while the applicant enters data with the other. Input may be via a touch screen or a stylus. A personal digital assisted device, laptop computer, or other computer device (with or without wireless capacity) could also be used. One skilled in the art will appreciate that any input device that is appropriate for the environment in which it will operate may be used.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary log in screen for an applicant. A person soliciting card applications (herein called “a handler”) enters his or her own identification and location information. In the screen of  FIG. 4 , the handler enters identification information of the applicant, such as driver&#39;s license and existing credit card, and verifies that he or she has seen the photo identification. 
     In the screens of  FIGS. 5-9 , additional information about the applicant is entered. Not all data entry fields shown in these figures are required, but some are, such as the applicant&#39;s social security number. In the screen of  FIG. 5 , the applicant fills out his or her name and address. In the screen of  FIG. 6 , the applicant fills out information such as social security number, date of birth, phone number and identification such as mother&#39;s maiden name. In the screen of  FIG. 7 , the applicant is asked for employment information and in  FIG. 8  enters income. In the screen  FIG. 9 , the applicant may optionally enter an e-mail address in order to receive information regarding card member products. 
     Terms and conditions are agreed to in the screen of  FIG. 10 . In the screen of  FIG. 11 , the applicant selects one of a choice of credit card designs. The handler, in the screen of  FIG. 12 , again verifies the applicant&#39;s information and enters the handler&#39;s own identification information. 
     It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the present invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiments can be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.