Abstract:
Systems and methods of using a keycard for automating transaction requests are disclosed. Methods may comprise receiving a request for a product identification number that is associated with a product by inputting keycard information at a merchant terminal, wherein the keycard was selected from among a plurality of keycards and is associated with a specific provider and value; processing the request; transmitting a transaction confirmation; and retaining the keycard by the merchant. Systems may comprise a plurality of keycards maintained in the merchant&#39;s possession before and after automating a product request, wherein each keycard is pre-associated with a product identification number; a merchant terminal comprising an input device for inputting a product identification number from the keycard, and an output device for outputting a transaction confirmation; and a central processor configured to process a transaction request associated with the keycard and the product identification number; and deliver a transaction confirmation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/712,182 filed on Nov. 11, 2003, which claims priority on U.S. application Ser. No. 10/411,971, filed Apr. 11, 2003, which in turn claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/641,363 filed Aug. 18, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,361 issued Jun. 10, 2003, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/149,740 filed Aug. 19, 1999, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/253,243 filed Sep. 24, 2002, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/324,333 filed Sep. 24, 2001 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/396,404 filed Jul. 15, 2002, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to International Application No. PCT/US02/30281 filed Sep. 24, 2002, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/655,828 filed Sep. 5, 2003, and the application entitled “System And Method For Confirming Transaction Or Billing Communications” filed Nov. 5, 2003 all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to processing transaction requests. More particularly, the present invention is related to the distribution of personal identification numbers (PINs) and/or stored-value cards between a plurality of users and a central processor over a communication network. 
     A customer may select a particular PIN defined by a variety of categories, such as a product type, amount, and brand name or product or service provider. A merchant may be required to specify each category of the requested PIN by making a series of successive category selections in order to process the request. In the present invention, selecting a particular keycard may replace the conventional steps of making selections within those categories during the process of requesting a stored-value card or PIN. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Stored-value cards such as prepaid phone cards and gift cards can be purchased at merchant terminals, such as credit card terminals. In a typical stored-value card purchase transaction, the customer specifies a stored-value card request. For instance, the customer may select a particular stored-value card for purchase. The specific stored-value card is defined according to a variety of categories, such as transaction type, value, and service provider. For instance, a customer may request a new prepaid phone card from a specific provider, U.S. South, in the amount of $50. The merchant terminal requests from a central processor a PIN representing value, such as a prepaid product or service value. In order to specify this transaction request, the merchant may be required to make a series of selections at the merchant terminal, such as a credit card processing terminal. For instance, the merchant may be required to first select a type of product (such as a PIN for a prepaid phone card), a telecommunications service provider (U.S. South), and an amount of value ($50). The central processor delivers the PIN back to the merchant terminal. The merchant terminal prints the PIN on a receipt, and the receipt is provided to the customer. 
     The merchant terminal may comprise a screen that displays a variety of menu options, in a manner similar to the options displayed at an ATM machine. The transaction request may involve several selections across several selection screens. At one menu screen, the merchant may select “prepaid phone card” from a variety of stored-value card options such as “prepaid phone card,” “prepaid gift card,” and other stored-value card types. Selecting “prepaid phone card” at this menu may cause the screen to display the next category, such as transaction type. 
     The merchant may select a “create new card” transaction type, which may cause the screen to display another category, such as telecommunications service provider. The screen may then display a variety of telecommunications service providers, such ABC Telecom, DEF Company, and U.S. South. Selecting a service provider may cause the screen to display a variety of values, such as $20, $30, and $50, or it may enable the merchant to input a user-specified amount at a keyboard at the terminal. The merchant may then select $50 from among the various displayed values (or the merchant may manually input a value). The menu may then pass to a screen asking whether to proceed with a transaction to request a PIN for a new stored-value card for long-distance service provided by U.S. South in the amount of $50. Other selections and inputs may be required. For instance, to “refill value” of an existing card, the terminal may require the stored-value card&#39;s existing PIN to be entered at the terminal. 
     The merchant would then request the terminal to proceed with the transaction request. The terminal transmits the request to a central processor. Once it receives the request, the central processor generates or selects a PIN that corresponds to the specific stored-value card request and transmit the PIN to the merchant terminal. 
     Prepaid phone card and other stored-value card transactions can be authorized and confirmed over communication networks. For instance, transactions involving the delivery of identification numbers (such as PINs or passwords) or other products can be authorized over communication networks between one or more remote merchant terminals and a central processor. The PINs and/or other products can be delivered over the same or another network. After a transaction, a party such as the merchant or customer can be billed for the transaction after the transaction is authorized and/or confirmed. By way of example, a convenience store merchant may sell a calling card or PIN to a customer. During the sale, the convenience store merchant requests a PIN or calling card authorization code from a central processor over a telephone network. The central station then processes the request and transmits the PIN to the store merchant over the telephone network. The store merchant receives the PIN and delivers it to the customer. Finally, the central station bills the customer or merchant for the price of the PIN. 
     Examples of communication networks include dedicated telephone lines, public switched telephone networks (such as those that provide automatic number identification (ANI)), the internet, any other computer network such as a WAN or LAN, and any other networked communication. The data of the stored-value cards is related to services and/or products paid or prepaid by the owner or end user of the card. Each of the stored-value cards may be associated with a PIN. Examples of prepaid services that may be accommodated by a stored-value card include long distance telephone communication, wireless communication, paging and internet-enabled communication services, including wireless web access, emergency road service, legal service, accounting service, tax service, property cleaning and/or maintenance service, clothe cleaning service, transportation service, travel service, delivery service, online (or off-line) dating service, electrical and/or gas service, water service, sewage service, internet access, and film processing (including digital film processing). Other examples of prepaid services and/or products that may be accommodated by a stored-value card include gift cards, prepaid gas cards, prepaid grocery cards, prepaid entertainment cards, prepaid movie cards, downloadable ring tone cards, downloadable game cards, downloadable movie cards, downloadable music cards that use MP3, MP4, WMV, WAV, or other music formats, any other downloadable software card, customer rewards cards, bridge and/or road toll cards, and any other type of stored-value cards for products, services, or both, that may be prepaid by the owner of the card. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A keycard is a card that is associated with a particular stored-value card, such as a prepaid long distance telephone card. A customer or clerk selects a keycard from among a variety of keycards, each associated with a particular type of stored-value card transaction. In a preferred embodiment, the keycard can be used in the purchase of a product associated with a PIN, such as a prepaid long distance telephone card or other prepaid product. 
     One advantage of a keycard is that keycard information can be used to automatically specify the parameters defining a particular transaction request. For instance, scanning a keycard&#39;s barcode (or swiping a keycard&#39;s magnetic stripe) may automatically specify various stored-value card features, such as the type of stored-value card, amount of stored value, and brand. 
     Aspects of the invention include systems and methods of using a keycard for automating transaction requests are disclosed. The methods may comprise receiving a request for a product identification number that is associated with a product by inputting keycard information at a merchant terminal, wherein the keycard was selected from among a plurality of keycards and is associated with a specific provider and value; processing the request; transmitting a transaction confirmation; and retaining the keycard by the merchant. The systems may comprise a plurality of keycards maintained in the merchant&#39;s possession before and after automating a product request, wherein each keycard is pre-associated with a product identification number; a merchant terminal comprising an input device for inputting a product identification number from the keycard, and an output device for outputting a transaction confirmation; and a central processor configured to process a transaction request associated with the keycard and the product identification number; and deliver a transaction confirmation. 
     Other embodiments could be considered. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system that can use a keycard in the distribution of stored-value cards according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a system that can use a keycard in the distribution of stored-value cards according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a method of using a keycard to automate a product request according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the front side of a keycard according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the back side of a keycard according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system that can use a keycard in the distribution of stored-value cards according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises one or more merchants  8 , one or more point-of-sale merchant terminals  12 , a merchant communication interface  13 , a communications network  10 , a host bank  20 , and a central processor  28  comprising a processor  16  and database  18 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , by way of a communications network  10  and/or a point-of-sale merchant terminal  12 . The communications network  10  may comprise a public switched phone network, a wireless network, a dedicated data circuit such as a dedicated phone line, a credit or debit card network, the Internet, an intranet, etc., over which credit or debit card transactions are authorized or denied. The point-of-sale merchant terminal  12  may comprise a credit or debit card terminal, is used to send a request to a stored-value card data management system  14 , such as may be managed and operated by the assignee of the present invention. The terminal&#39;s  12  request may result when keycard information is input at the merchant terminal  12 . 
     Central processor  28  may comprise a processor  16  coupled to a database  18 . The central processor  28  may comprise a host computer, a computer server, a computer system with software applications that receive transactions and process them according to preset rules, and any other computer system. The database  18  may store a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card issued by the assignee of the present invention. The plurality of records may also comprise keycard data for each keycard that may be used at the remote terminals  12 . 
     A respective requesting terminal  12  may send a keycard-related request through a communications network  10  and/or a suitable host bank  20  to the central processor  28 . The host bank  20  may comprise any bank or other institution that can process keycard-related requests, such as a request for a PIN enabling long distance telephone access. The keycard-related request could also be routed straight to the communications network  10  without passing through a host bank  20 .  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary link architecture between the communications network  10  and the central processor  28 , optionally through the host bank  20 . That is, the link architecture allows communication of card-related data from the merchant  8 , to the communications network, which in one exemplary embodiment would be the Visa network for a Visa-routed transaction, to the host bank  20 , and then to the central processor  28 . It will be appreciated that other link architectures may be implemented, such as a host-to-host architectural connection. In this case, the communications network, such as a dedicated link or the internet, would be directly between a merchant&#39;s  8  “host” system and a “host” system of the assignee of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to applications that require a host bank  20  because a host-to-host connection does not require any host bank  20  or Visa network to transfer the card-related data to the central processor  28 . 
     The keycard-related request may include information about the keycard swiped and the terminal used to swipe it, such as the electronic signature of that terminal, an IP address of the terminal, a phone number of the terminal, or a password provided by the terminal. It should be appreciated that other methods may be used to capture identification of the card besides swiping it; for instance, the information can be barcode-scanned or entered manually at a keypad of a computer. Further, merchant terminals  12  may be any system that can transmit card identifier information over a communications network. Thus, merchant terminals  12  may comprise telephones, electronic cash registers, credit card machines, fax machines, computers, or other devices that can receive and transmit information. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a system that can use a keycard in the distribution of stored-value cards according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a keycard  20  and a merchant terminal  12  operatively connected to a central processor  28 . The merchant terminal  12  may comprise any merchant terminal  12  used to processes transactions, such as a credit card terminal, ATM machine, computer, electronic cash register, or any other merchant terminal  12  as described above for  FIG. 1 . The merchant terminal  12  comprises a terminal input  23  and terminal output  30 , both operatively connected to a terminal processor  24 ; and a terminal database/memory  26 , also operatively connected to the terminal processor  24 . The central processor  28  comprises a central input/output device  11  operatively connected to a processor  16 , and a central database/memory  18  operatively connected to the processor  16 . The central processor  28  may comprise any central server used for processing transactions received from one or more merchant terminals  12 , such as a central bank computer system or server, a credit card computer system or server, an internet site, or any other suitable system  14 , processor  16 , or host bank  20  as described in  FIG. 1 . 
     The terminal input  23  is configured to receive keycard  20  information. The terminal input  23  may comprise a magnetic card reader, a barcode or other optical reader, a keyboard, or another input device capable of inputting keycard  20  information. The terminal input  23  is configured to pass received keycard  20  information to the terminal processor  24 . The terminal processor  24  is configured to receive information from the terminal input  23 , and to output information to the terminal output  30 . It is also configured to pass information to (and receive information from) the terminal database/memory  26 , which stores information. 
     The terminal processor  24  is configured to pass information, such as a transaction request and/or keycard information, to the central processor  28  at its central input/output  11 . The central input/output  11  passes received information to the processor  16 . The processor  16  is configured to process transaction requests, which may comprise generating a PIN based on received keycard or transaction information. The processor  16  may also select a PIN from the central database/memory  18  based on received keycard or transaction information. The generated or selected PIN and/or other transaction information is passed to the central input/output  11 , which then passes the information to the merchant terminal  12  at the terminal processor  24 . The other transaction information processed at the processor  16  may comprise additional information about the transaction, such as price, transaction identification information, and instructions regarding the use of the PIN or other transaction information. The instructions may comprise an identification number or password, an internet site or phone number, and any other information that may be necessary or relevant for the transaction. 
     The terminal processor  24  is configured to output the PIN and any other transaction information at the terminal output  30 . The terminal output  30  may comprise a printer, display, or other output device. In a preferred embodiment, the terminal output  30  is configured to print a receipt for the customer showing a PIN and/or instructions for using the PIN. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a method of using a keycard  20  to automate a product request according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     In step  31 , a keycard  20  is selected. The keycard may be any keycard  20  as described herein, such as in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The keycard  20  is associated with a particular transaction. In a preferred embodiment, the associated transaction is the purchase of a PIN. A PIN may comprise any identification number, password, code, or other information associated with a particular transaction. Preferably, a PIN is an identification number used by a specific customer to access a product or service, such as wireless telephone service. The PIN may be associated with a stored-value card account. 
     The keycard  20  is selected in order to process the transaction associated with the keycard  20 . The transaction associated with a particular keycard  20  may be defined by several variables, including transaction type, service provider, dollar amount, and/or another quantity such as an amount of time. The keycard may be selected from among a plurality of other keycards, which may be associated with different transaction types, product or service providers, amounts, and other variables. 
     Transaction types may comprise refilling value of existing stored-value account, redeeming value of an existing stored-value account, creating a new stored-value account, and activating a new stored-value account. For instance, one keycard  20  may be associated with a transaction wherein the customer receives a PIN enabling the customer to access $30 of prepaid wireless service provided by a particular service provider. Another keycard  20  may enable the customer to receive a PIN that enables the customer to add $20 of value to an existing account, wherein the account enables the customer to download music from a specific internet site or service. 
     For instance, a keycard may be selected to process a transaction relating to the purchase of a PIN that enables $30 of long distance telephone service with a particular telecommunications service provider. The keycard  20  may be associated with a particular SKU, barcode number, or other identification number. The keycard  20  may comprise a barcode printed on the card and/or a magnetic stripe storing barcode or other identification information. In a preferred embodiment, the keycard is not initially associated with a PIN. 
     The keycard  20  may be selected by a customer at a merchant store. For instance, a variety of keycards  20  may be displayed at a merchant store, e.g., at a counter display or aisle display, or at a display near the merchant terminal  12  which is only accessible to the merchant&#39;s employees. A customer may select one card  20  from among the variety of keycards. 
     The customer may then bring the keycard  20  to a merchant terminal  12  in order to process the transaction associated with the keycard  20 . In another embodiment, a merchant may select a keycard  20  from among a variety of keycards, for instance at the request of a customer. The customer may request a particular keycard transaction by describing the desired transaction, and the merchant may select the appropriate keycard  20  based on the customer&#39;s request. 
     The keycards  20  may be located near the merchant terminal  12  in order to allow the merchant easy access to the keycards  20  when the customer requests a particular keycard  20 . To facilitate quick access to the keycards  20 , the keycards  20  may be attached to a ring so that the merchant can flip through the keycards  20  and quickly select the desired keycard. The keycards  20  may be color-coded to further facilitate quick selection and avoid confusion. For instance, one keycard  20  associated with a particular type of PIN may be colored bright red, so that the merchant or customer may quickly find and select the keycard  20  by searching for a red-colored keycard  20 . Alternately, all keycards  20  associated with a particular service provider may have a particular color, style, size, or texture to enable easy identification from among the other keycards and/or other merchant products. 
     Alternately, the customer may select a particular “dummy keycard” from among a variety of “dummy keycards” displayed at the merchant store, wherein each dummy card is associated with a particular keycard. For instance, a keycard used for requesting a $50 long distance PIN may have a nearly identical dummy card on display. However, the “real” keycard  20  can be used to process a transaction, e.g., by scanning its barcode, whereas the dummy card will identify the appropriate transaction but will not otherwise have the necessary elements to trigger the transaction at the merchant terminal  12 , such as barcode information or the information stored on a magnetic strip. The customer could select a dummy card and present it to the merchant at the merchant terminal  12 . The merchant would then select a “real” keycard  20  associated with the dummy card and begin to process the transaction. 
     Using a “dummy” keycard has several advantages. First, dummy cards may be lost or stolen with little or no harmful effect to the merchant or issuer of stored-value card accounts. The “real” keycards  20  are kept secure in the possession of the merchant, e.g., “behind the counter”. The “real” cards may be used over and over again, as they might never be passed to the customer, and the merchant may keep them after each transaction. The dummy cards may be less expensive to produce since they do not require a barcode or magnetic strip. The dummy cards may be re-usable; e.g., after a customer brings a dummy card to the merchant or merchant terminal  12 , the dummy card may be retained by the merchant and restocked in the merchant store. In another embodiment, the dummy card can be used for the receipt, and the merchant terminal  12  may print the PIN or other information on the dummy card. In this case, the customer may keep the dummy card at the end of the transaction, as described below in step  36 . 
     Using dummy cards may also save time for the merchant. The customer selects the keycard  20  before approaching the merchant, rather than after. Finally, the use of a dummy card can prevent errors due to miscommunication. When customers and merchants often do not speak the same language, the use of a dummy card can facilitate a transaction by signaling the customer&#39;s choice without requiring the customer to otherwise communicate the selection. The merchant can merely look at the dummy keycard and use the associated “real” keycard  20  to process the transaction. 
     The dummy cards may be colored and designed similar to their associated keycard  20 . In this way, a customer may select a particular dummy keycard, and the merchant can quickly find the appropriate keycard  20  by searching for a keycard that looks like the dummy card. This has an added advantage of overcoming communication barriers and confusion, as the customer and merchant do not need to communicate verbally provided that the merchant can see the dummy keycard selected by the customer. 
     In step  32 , keycard  20  identification information is input at the merchant terminal  12 . In a preferred embodiment, keycards  20  comprising a magnetic strip and/or barcode may be swiped at merchant terminals  12  equipped to read magnetic strips and/or barcodes. If the keycard  20  has a printed identification number, the number may be entered manually at the terminal, for instance at a terminal keypad. 
     In step  33 , the merchant terminal  12  transmits the keycard information to a central processor  28 . The central processor  28  may be any central processor  28  as described herein. The information may be transmitted over the internet, over a public switched telephone network (e.g., via modem), on a dedicated data line, or on another communication network  10 . 
     In step  34 , the central processor  28  processes the keycard information and selects a PIN. In a preferred embodiment, the keycard is not associated with a PIN prior to this step. The central processor  28  may process the keycard information in order to determine the appropriate transaction or PIN type. In one example, the merchant terminal swipes the magnetic strip or scans the barcode of a keycard  20  associated with a particular transaction, as described above in step  32 . The merchant terminal transmits the keycard identification information to the central processor  28  in step  33 . The central processor  28  receives the keycard information and determines the transaction request associated with the keycard information. For instance, if the keycard  20  is associated with a new PIN for $30 of wireless telephone service from US South Communications, then the central processor will read the received keycard information and determine that it refers to a new PIN for $30 of wireless telephone service provided by US South Communications. Based on this determination, it will select a PIN associated with the transaction request. In this example, the central processor would select a PIN associated with $30 of wireless telephone service provided by US South Communications. 
     In step  35 , the central processor transmits the PIN and/or other transaction information to the merchant terminal. The medium of communication may be any communication network. 
     In step  36 , the merchant terminal delivers the PIN and/or other transaction information to the customer. For instance, the merchant terminal may display the PIN and/or other information to the customer on a screen. It also may print the PIN and/or other information at a printer at the merchant terminal. In a preferred embodiment, the merchant terminal prints a PIN on a receipt provided to the customer at the end of the transaction. The receipt may comprise a dummy card. The customer may later use the PIN in one or more of the ways discussed above, such as by activating and using an amount of long distance calling time or downloading music from an internet site. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the front side of a keycard  20  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The front side of the keycard  20  may comprise a keycard title  41 , a brand (or carrier)  42 , a value  43 , a transaction type  44 , a product type  45 , a bar code  46 , a bar code identifier  47 , a magnetic strip  48 , and a hole  49  for attaching multiple keycards  20 . The keycard  20  may be any size and may be comprised of any material. Preferably, the keycard  20  comprises plastic and has a size similar to that of a credit card or small envelope. 
     Any information related to the keycard  20  or the associated transaction may be displayed on either side of the keycard  20 . For instance, items shown in  FIG. 4  on the front side may instead (or in addition) be on the back of the card, and vice versa. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the back side of a keycard  20  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The back side of the keycard  20  may comprise a keycard title  51 , a brand (such as a carrier or service provider)  52 , a value  53 , information about the keycard  20 , transaction, or PIN  54 - 57 , and a hole  58  for attaching multiple keycards  20 . Information about the keycard  20  may comprise: disclaimer information  54  such as “no value until activated at register;” advertising  55 , such as a description of other products available in the store or with a particular brand; descriptions of sources of additional information  56 , such as a message indicating a website that describes further information about the keycard  20  or a keycard transaction; and instructions to the customer or merchant  57 , such as an instruction to follow the directions on the PIN receipt. The hole  49  on the front side is also visible on the back side. 
     It will be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is exemplary only. Numerous variations, changes, substitutions and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, any of the communications described above, such as delivering a PIN, may be encrypted communications, and the central processor and remote terminal may use any encryption and decryption apparatus and techniques in the art. In particular, the terms used in this application should be read broadly in light of the similar terms used in the related applications. For instance, the point-of-sale terminals  12  may be any kind of terminal as disclosed in the related applications, and the processor may be any kind of processor as disclosed in the related applications. Accordingly, it is intended that all subject matter described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings be regarded as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and that the scope of the invention be solely determined by the appended claims.