Patent ID: 7896241

Claim:
A card vending machine comprising: card storage to store memory cards, the card storage comprising: a first storage compartment storing a first memory card that is associated with a first issuer; a second storage compartment storing a second memory card that is associated with a second issuer that is distinct from the first issuer; wherein the first issuer is permitted to access the first storage compartment and the first issuer is excluded from access to the second storage compartment; and wherein the second issuer is permitted to access the second storage compartment and the second issuer is excluded from access to the first storage compartment; an interface that is operable to receive at least one of a user-selected value of a first parameter and a user-selected value of a second parameter; and a controller operative to manage customization of at least one of the first memory card and the second memory card; an authentication mechanism to authenticate a user and to grant permission to the user to customize one of the first memory card and the second memory card in response to authenticating the user; and a card programming unit operative to: receive the first memory card from the card storage and store first data in the first memory card to produce a customized first memory card when the user is granted permission to customize the first memory card and in response to receipt at the interface of the user-selected value of the first parameter; and receive the second memory card from the card storage and store second data in the second memory card to produce a customized second memory card when the user is granted permission to customize the second memory card and in response to receipt at the interface of the user-selected value of the second parameter.