Multiple service card system.

(54) Title: MULTIPLE SERVICES CARD SYSTEM. (54) Title: MULTIPLE SERVICE CARD SYSTEM.

(57) Summary

A system and method of providing a multi-service card is described. As a result, a cardholder (108) is provided with a single card that serves as a credit card and a club membership card to access the exclusive club of the service partner. This multi-service card may have traditional credit card details on one side of the card, including, for example, the account number, the name of the account holder, and the expiration date. The other side of the card may include a magnetic strip that contains the account information in a computer readable form as well as the appropriate membership information to allow entry into a service partner facility. In the system the primary party and service partner participants cooperate to complete the processes associated with the provision of the combined card services, including a new account process, replacement and renewal process, a membership cancellation process of the service partner, and a process for cancellation and / or transfer by a primary party.

(57) Abstract

A system and method for providing a multiple Service card is disclosed. As a result, a card member (108) is provided with a single card that serves as both a credit card and a club membership card for access to the Service partner s exclusive club. This multiplex Service card may have the traditional credit card data on one side of the card, including, for example, the account number, yam of the account holder, and the expiration date. The other side of the card may inelude a magnetic stripe that contains the account Information in machine readable form as well as membership Information suitable to permit entry into a Service partner s facility. In the system, the primary party and the Service partner participants cooperate to complete the processes associated with the provision of the combined card Services, including a new account process, card replacement and renewal processes, a Service partner membership cancellation process, and a process for cancellation and or transfer by a primary party.

(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization

International Bureau (43) International Publication Date 26 July 2001 (26.07.2001)

<img file="MXPA02007142A_D0001.tif" />

PCT (10) International Publication Number

WO 01/54082 A2 (51) International Patent Classification⁷: G07F 7/00 (21) International Application Number: PCT / US01 / 01886 (22) International Filing Date: 18 January 2001 (18.01.2001) (25) Filing Language: English (26) Publication Language: English (30) Priority Data:

60 / 177,530 21 January 2000 (21.01.2000) US (71) Applicant: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC. [US / US]; American Express Tower, World Financial Center, New York City, NY 10285-4900 (US).

(72) Inventors: FITZMAURICE, Mary, Ann; American Express, 200 Vesey Street, New York City, NY 10285 (US). FREUD, Aliza; American Express, 200 Vesey Street, New York City, NY 10285 (US). SHARP, Ray; American Express, 200 Vesey Street, New York City, NY 10285 (US). NANTON, Jason; American Express, 200 Vesey Street, New York City, NY 10285 (US). VOSBURGH, Scott;

American Express, 7701 Airport Center Drive, Greensboro, NC 27409 (US).

(74) Agent: SOBELMAN, Howard, I .; Snell &amp; WilmerL.LP, One Arizona Center, 400 East Van Burén, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2202 (US).

(81) Designated States (national): AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU,

AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ7 DE, DK, DM, DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HK HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MXJHZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ) TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW.

(84) Designated States (regional): AREPO patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, Π, FR, GB, GR, IE, ΓΓ, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR) , OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF,

CG, d, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).

Published:

- without International search report and to be republished upon receipt of that report [Continued on next page] §s (54) Title: MULTIPLE-SERVICE CARD SYSTEM

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Exemplaiy System fot Providing a Multiple Service Card.

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(U * A

WO 01/54082 A2 (57) Abstract: A system and method for providing a multiple-service card is disclosed. As a result, a card member (108) is provided with a single card that serves as both a credit card and a club membership card for access to the Service partner's exclusive club. This multiple-service card may have the traditional credit card data on one side of the card, including, for example, the account number, yam of the account holder, and the expiration date. The other side of the card may inelude a magnetic stripe that contains the account Information in machine readable form as well as membership Information suitable to permit entry into a service partner's facility. In the system, the primary party and the Service partner participants cooperate to complete the processes associated with the provision of the combined card Services, including a new account process, card replacement and renewal processes, a service partner membership cancellation process, and a process for cancellation and / or transfer by a primary party.

MULTIPLE SERVICES CARD SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to credit cards and membership card services, and more particularly to a system for providing a single card that functions both as a credit card and for accessing credit services provided by a first party and a membership card to gain access to an exclusive membership club by a third party.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's world, there is a wide variety of benefits available to consumers in which access to benefits depends on the consumer's possession of a card, for example some of the benefits to which a typical consumer may have access to. Having a card includes proof of identity, proof of professional licenses, entry to exclusive membership clubs, entry to a restricted entry place, access to credit services, use of the phone system and earn loyalty rewards / incentives such as frequent flyer miles or. discounts and sales in stores. For example, US Patent no. 5,924,080, which is incorporated by reference, describes a system that can allow a consumer to receive discounts without the burden of using coupons, similar to those currently used in many stores.

Because of how desirable those benefits are, they consume them. today's consumers typically carry a wide variety of cards in purses and bags. Cards carried by consumers include but are not limited to credit cards, driver's licenses, club membership cards, frequent flyer cards, professional registration cards, store loyalty cards, and security-related restricted access cards. Typically each of these consumer cards contains information about the specific user or consumer, information about the service or benefit provider and the information that serves to define the benefits or services, to which the consumer is entitled by virtue of his possession. of the card. Information regarding card members may include photographs, signatures, fingerprints, and other information that identifies or describes the card member. The information regarding the service provider and the associated benefits to which the card member is entitled can be easily determined by reading the card's face, can be coded or accessed to use the card. Information can be incorporated into cards by a variety of means including printing, die cutting, laminating, embossing, bar coding, strip coding

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a driver's license formed like a plastic card.

Unfortunately, due to the proliferation of services and benefits available from various service providers, the number of cards that average consumers carry has become irrationally and unnecessarily high. For example, on a shopping trip, a typical consumer may carry a driver's license to drive their car to the mall, a membership card to access the merchant's exclusive membership club, a phone card to make phone calls during purchases, and a credit card to obtain credit services to facilitate the purchase of merchant items. However it can be tiring and annoying to carry all those unnecessary cards in. wallet, bag or pocket.

Thus it would be advantageous to reduce the volume of cards that the consumer must carry while retaining consumer access to a whole group of benefits provided by different providers. US Patent No. 5,590,038, which is incorporated by reference, describes a universal electronic transaction card that can serve as a credit, identification, and medical card. Furthermore, the US patent does not. 5,844,230, which is also incorporated by reference, describes a card that can contain the information of two credit cards on a single card. While these references are intended to decrease the volume of cards that a consumer must carry to access a given group of services, it requires, among other elements, a multiple group of included information and multiple magnetic strips.

Simultaneously with this desire to reduce the volume of the cards, there is an obvious need for the information carrying capacity of those consumer cards. For example, US Patent no. 5,308.11 and a related patent US Patent no. 5,503,434, which are incorporated by reference, describe credit cards that can be deployed to allow more space, to print the information. Furthermore, the US patent does not. 4,066,873, which is also incorporated, describes a bank access and identification card that contains a magnetic strip and a barcode on the back of the card that can be scanned by a scanning device.

However despite these efforts to increase the usefulness of consumer cards while reducing the volume of cards a consumer must carry, there is no card currently that offers the combined benefits of multiple cards without requiring the addition of information. additional or additional magnetic strips on the card in question. In addition, the prior art aims to reduce the amount of cards that a consumer must carry typically focus on modifying the cards and not modifying them. processes and systems employed by individual benefit providers so that the consumer can continue to use the benefit of multiple providers. In fact none of the methods or systems for providing a multiplicity of services by means of a single card that are known in the art include substantial administrative cooperation between the different service providers.

Furthermore, it has become apparent 'that consumers seeking access to a particular group of benefits from one service provider are more likely to want access to a second group of benefits from a different class of service providers. For example, it is the reason that consumers who have access to a membership shopping club are likely to want credit services during their trip to the club. Therefore it would be advantageous for providers of different services such as credit services and membership club purchasing services to cooperate to offer a single card that provides consumers with access to the benefits of currently individual and distinct cards. By doing this, a primary provider of credit services and a membership club can promote the use of their respective services while providing a synergistic benefit between themselves and their consumers.

In addition, individual cards currently carried by a typical consumer contain a

<td>multiplicity</td><td>7 duplicate information such as</td>

<td>Photographs,</td><td>signatures, addresses, information of</td>

<td>billing,</td><td>etc. Therefore it would be advantageous</td>

minimize duplication of identical information on multiple cards. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if 1 information were grouped on different sides of a single card in such a way that that first side of the card provides a first group of benefits while the other side of the card provides access to another group of different and separate benefits. . Thus it would be advantageous to have a multiple service card that serves to provide a

<td>consumer the</td><td>benefit typically provided by</td>

<td>a provider</td><td>different service. It would also be</td>

<td>advantageous if</td><td>multiple card, services not</td>

require card-like elements connected with a hinge or by the use of multiple magnetic strips. It would also be advantageous to have a system and method that facilitates cooperation between separate service providers and distinct from card services.

It would also be advantageous to have a multi-service card that works both as a credit card and as a separate membership card. It would also be advantageous to have a multi-service card that also features the customer's photograph on the face of the card, and not on the front. It would also be advantageous to have a photograph placed on the front of the card captured by the service provider and sent to the card generator. It would also be advantageous to have a card that contains a barcode that can be scanned at the point of sale when customers make the comparison so that the scanned data can be sent directly to the service provider system for reporting and monitoring purposes. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method of providing consumers with the benefits of multiple cards by allowing them to carry a single card. To achieve this advantage, the system and method of the present invention allow a single card to function in multiple ways eg as a credit card and as an individual service membership card. By providing a rear end functional system that takes advantage of cooperation between multiple service providers, the present invention eliminates the disadvantage of prior art systems such as for example the requirement to join using a multiple hinge or fastener card segments or the requirement to insert multiple magnetic strips on the customer's card.

More particularly, the system of the present invention provides methods for opening new accounts, methods for achieving card replacement, methods for terminating a membership of a service partner, methods for terminating a primary account, and methods for transferring an account to a different partner. The multi-service card made possible by the invention can include any combination of membership information, a barcode, and a photo in addition to the standard credit card information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the non-limiting embodiments presented in the description and claims in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which like numbers designate like elements, and:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for providing a multi-service card;

Figure 2a is a flow chart of a portion of an exemplary new account process, complementing Figure 2b in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2b is a flow chart of a portion of an exemplary new account process, complementing Figure 2a in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3a is a flow chart of a portion of a multi-service exemplary card replacement process, supplementing Figure 3b, in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3b is a flow chart of a portion of a multi-service exemplary card replacement process, supplementing Fig. 3a, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of a multi-service card service provider membership termination process in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5a is a flow chart of an example of a portion of a multi-service primary card cancellation process, complementary to Figure 5b in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5b is a flow chart of an example of a portion of a multi-service primary card cancellation process, complementary to FIG. 5a in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE MODALITIES invention memory circuits,

The present invention can be described here in terms of functional block components, display parts, optional selections, and various processing steps. It must be taken into account that these functional blocks can be evaluated by any number of hardware and / or software components configured to perform the specific functions. For example, the present may employ various integrated components, for example processing element elements, logic elements, reference tables, and the like, which perform a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the software elements of the present invention can be implemented with any programming or encryption language such as C, C + +, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, or the like, the different algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Furthermore it should be noted that the present invention can employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control and the like. For a basic introduction to cryptography, see a text written by Bruce that

Schneider entitled Applied Crytography: Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code in C, published by John Wiley &amp; Sons (second edition, 1996) which is incorporated by reference.

Note that particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the invention in its best form and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Indeed for brevity, conventional data networks, application development, and other functional aspects of the system (and components of individual operating system components) may not be described in detail here. Furthermore the connecting lines shown in the different figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and / or physical couplings between various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical electronic transaction system. It should further be noted that the order of the steps shown in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting, and the steps can be accomplished in other orders without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the actors described performing individual stages in the described process should not be interpreted as limiting in a loophole since someone skilled in the art appreciates that the stages can be evaluated by different actors than those described here without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. .

It will be appreciated that many applications of the present invention could be formulated. Someone skilled in the art will appreciate that the network can include any system for exchanging data or conducting commercial transactions, such as the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, WAN, LAN, satellite communications, and / or the like. The parties can interact with the system by means of an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, kiosk, personal digital assistant, handheld computer (eg Palm Pilot®), cell phone and / or the like. Similarly the invention could be used in conjunction with any type of personal computer, network computer, workstation, minicomputer, mini-frame or the like running any operating system such as any version of Windows, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows 95, MacOS, OS / 2, BeOS, Linux, UNIX or the like. Furthermore, although the invention can be implemented with TCP / IP communication protocols, it will be easily understood that the invention could also be implemented using IPX, Appletalk, IPO-6, NetBIOS, OSI, or any number of existing or future protocols. Furthermore, the system contemplates the use, sale, or distribution of any article, service or information through any network that has a functionality similar to that described here.

The consumer, merchant, primary party, and service partner may represent individuals, entities, or businesses. Although labeled as a primary party, the primary party may represent other types of card-issuing institutions, such as credit card companies, card-sponsoring companies, loyalty / incentive companies, or third-party issuers under contract with financial institutions. In addition it is observed that other participants may be involved in some phases of the system and the methods, but those participants are not shown.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 in an exemplary embodiment, the system of the present invention may comprise a first-party provider 102 or credit services as well as a service partner 106. Both the primary part 102 and the service partner 106 are equipped with a unit or computer system to facilitate online transactions and commercial communications. Those units or computer systems can be in the form of a computer or group of computers although other types of units or computer systems can be used including laptops, notebooks, handheld computers, individual computers, workstations, computer servers, computers main, mini-computers, PC servers, groups of computer networks and / or the like.

Primary part 102 and service partner

106 They both consist of computing units or systems, which communicate with and through a card service engine 104 and which are connected to each other by means of a data communications network. The network can be a public network, which must be assumed to be insecure and open to violators. For example, the internet can be used as the network. In this context, computers may or may not always be connected to the internet. For example, the service partner's computer 106 may employ a modem to occasionally connect to the Internet, while the primary part's computer center may maintain a permanent connection to the Internet. It is observed that the network can also be implemented as a gold type of network, such as an interactive television network (ITV). Computers can also be connected via existing proprietary networks such as those that currently lead to transactions for credit cards, debit cards, and other financial / bank cards. Such an interconnection is a closed network that can be assumed to be secure from violators. Examples of such proprietary networks include American Express® networks,

VisaNet®, and Veriphone®.

As appreciated by someone skilled in the art, the present invention can be realized as a method, a data processing system, a device for data processing and / or a computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of a fully software embodiment, a fully hardware embodiment, or an embodiment that combines aspects of both software and hardware. Furthermore the present invention may take the form of a computer program product or a computer readable storage medium computer readable storage medium

Any suitable computer can be used including hard drives, CD-ROMs, optical, magnetic, and / or similar storage devices.

The present invention is described below with reference to block diagrams and flow diagram illustrations of the methods, apparatus (eg systems) and computer program products according to different aspects of the invention. It will be understood that each functional block of the block and flow diagram illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block and flow diagram illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by means of the instructions of computer programs. Those computer program instructions can be loaded into a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computers, or other programmable data processing devices to produce a machine such that the instructions, which are run on the computer or other computer Programmable data processing, creates means to implement the junctions specified in the block or blocks of the flowchart.

Those computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct to a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus produce an article of manufacture including instructional means, which implements the function specified in the block or blocks of Flowchart. The instructions of the computer program may also be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a process implemented on that computer such that the instructions run on the computer or other programmable devices, they provide the steps to implement the functions specified in the flow block (s).

Accordingly, the functional blocks in the illustrations of the flow-to-block diagrams support media arrangements to perform the specified functions, stage arrangements to perform the specified functions, and program instructions to enhance the specified functions. It will also be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and the illustrations of the flow diagram and functional block combinations in the block and flow diagrams, can be implemented either for computing systems by hardware for special purposes, They perform the specified functions or stages or appropriate special hardware arrangements and computer instructions.

Also, as someone skilled in the art would appreciate, a consumer or credit card as used here includes any suitable device, code or financial instrument. The device, code, or instrument may also represent an account with a financial institution such as a bank, card issuer, and / or the like. The device, code, and other financial instrument may also have an associated line of credit or balance, where the line of credit or balance is in a form of financial provider that has discrete units such as a type. currency. Furthermore, a consumer card or credit card, as used here, includes any device, ins t rument or financial code configured appropriately to allow the cardholder to interact or communicate with the system, such as for example a charging card, a credit card, a debit card, a prepaid card, a smart card, a card with a magnetic tape, a card with a barcode, authorization / access code, a personal identification number (PIN), internet code, or other identification code, and / or the like. Additionally, a cardholder or Card Member includes any person or entity that uses a consumer card and participates in the present invention and may include a person who simply has a financial account identifier, such as an authorization or credit code. bill.

Communication between the parties to the system of the present invention is achieved through the use of suitable means of communication such as, for example, a telephone network, intranet, internet, point of interaction device (point of sale device, personal digital assistant). , cell phone, kiosk etc.) online communications, offline communications, wireless communications and / or the like. Someone skilled in the art will also appreciate that for security reasons any database, system or component of the present invention will consist of any combination of databases or components in one place or in multiple places, where each database or System includes any of several suitable security features, such as fire walls, access codes, encryption, decryption, compression, decompression and / or the like.

Generally in an exemplary modality, the multi-service card is a joint credit card with a membership card from a service partner. A prospect card member 108 provides the service partner 106 with the request information for the services of the primary party and the services of the service partner. Such information may include, for example, traditional credit card application information as well as application information to traditional membership clubs. Service partner 106 reigns and processes the request information and sends it to the primary part 102, via a card service engine 104 for further processing. The card service engine 106 sends its membership information to a card generator 120 that manufactures the physical card and sends the card to the card member 108. An example of the card manufacturing process is found in the US patent application. not. 09 / 653,837 titled Transaction Card Filed September 1, 2000, content which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

As a result, cardholder 108 can receive a single card that serves both as a credit card and as a club membership card to access an exclusive or open club for service members.

This multi-service card may have traditional credit card details on one side of the card, including for example the account number, the name of the account holder and the expiration date. The other side of the card may include a magnetic strip containing the account information in a mechanically readable form, a signature space, a customer service number, a service partner membership number that is appropriate to allow entry into a facility to the service partner, a barcode with the same membership information that can be scanned at the point of sale and a photograph or digital image or any other image of the cardholder's identifier. The photograph or other identifying image may be taken at the service partner's location. Any combination of the above data can be located on either side of the card.

In the system of the present invention, the primary part participants 102 and the service partner 106 cooperate to perform the process associated with the provision of the combined card services. These processes may include a new account process, a card replacement and renewal process, a process to cancel a member's membership to a service, and a process for cancellation and transfer by a primary party 102. The replacement and renewal process may be initiated by the primary party 102 or service partner 106 and may be a response to a member's request, a member's report of fraudulent activity, an emergency, or the member's activity in association with a service partner

1056. Each of the participants in the process performs a series of process steps.

As used here, the term product control number refers to a number that identifies the service partner 106 that participated in the application and the date that it did so. Also as used here, the term balance report refers to 1 report that verifies and files the information sent between two parties. Finally, the information manager 112 records the information, transfers files, and sends reports and other electronic communications between the primary party 102 and the service partner 106.

New Account Processing

In an exemplary new account process, multiple participants in the process cooperate to carry out the 'stages of the process. Participants in the process may include 'only the first parent 102, the service engine 104 and the service partner 106, but those participants may also delegate their responsibilities to entities within their respective organizations or to other entities. Furthermore, the service bike to card 104 may be the same part as the primary part 102 by the service partner 106.

Referring to Figures 2a and 2b, regardless of which of the entities the different stages of the process are delegated to, the new account process is initiated by the sending of a request information card member (step 210) either to the service partner 106 or primary party 102. If card member 108 sends the information to service partner 106, service partner 105 performs initial processing of the request information (step 220). If the card member

108 it sends the request information to the card 104 service engine, however, the primary part 102 receives the request (step 210) from the card member 108 and sends (step 210) the information to the service partner 106, who performs the, initial procedure (step 220).

The initial processing (step 220) performed by the service partner 106 includes the steps of receiving (step 221) the request information, encoding (step 222) each request information file for the basic information, transferring the information from the request (step 223) to the service partner database, create (step 224) a product control number from the request information file for each request, create (step 225) a standard variable byte file of the new request data, and send (step 226) the standard variable byte file of the new request data, and send (step 226) the variable byte file New Request Data Standard via a TI Line / Batch Interface to the Card Service Engine 104 · The Unique Product Control Number also applies to any physical request that is also sent to Hold. In an exemplary mode this file does not contain any service partner member data

106 .

In addition to achieving initial processing of the new request information, service partner 106 produces (step 230) a balance report containing the total records of each file and transmits (step 231) the report to primary party 102 Service partner 106 also produces (step 232) a new account life report of any request older than a predetermined period of time, for example 30 days. Those reports are used by Information Manager 112 after each transmission. Finally, service partner 106 returns (stage

233) any paper application and compare it (step

234) with the card service engine retention guidelines.

Once the initial processing is complete, the card service engine 104 receives (step 240) the standard variable byte file from the service partner 106 and performs the further processing. This addition processing includes creating (step 241) the necessary codes and updating (step 242) the related tables required to identify the new consumer products and service partner 106, creating (step 243) a consolidated decision file, sending ( step 244) a file of approved accounts to the card service engine 104, process rejected requests (step 345), update (step 246) the balance report containing the total records of the transmitted file, create (step 247) a job control language process to execute the balancing job of the information manager and create (step 248) a backup of transmitted file and roll reports according to current standards of the card service engine. The consolidated decision file contains information about approved, declined, and canceled service partner requests.

Customer Service Manager 114 extracts (step 250) all approved, declined and canceled sodium request information from partners service consolidated service decision file and transmits (step 251) a billing data file that it is classified, first by the product control number and then by the sequence number, to service partner 106 that contains data on approved, declined and canceled service partner accounts. The customer service manager 114 also produces (step 252) a balance report containing the total records of the transmitted file and creates a job control language process to execute the balance job of the information manager after receiving the report. partner transmission. Finally, the customer service administrator 114 created (step 253) a backup of the transmitted file and the balance report with an expiration of 90 days.

With all declined or canceled requests, the billing data file contains the transaction date, product control number, cardholder name, sequence number, and state code that indicates whether it is approved, declined, or cancelled. With all approved requests, the billing data file contains the transaction date, the primary party account number (basic and supplemental), the product control number, the cardholder name, the sequence number and the code status indicating whether the status is approved, declined, or canceled.

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service partner 106 identifies (step 260) the approved accounts through the presence of a number of fourteen issued by the primary party 102 and fills the service partner database (step 261} with the new account numbers of the primary part For all unrecognized product control numbers the service partner 106 produces (step 262) a rejection report to be used for operations reconciliation processes This rejection report includes. the primary party account number, if applicable, cardholder name, product control number, and transaction date. Service partner 106 also produces (step 263) a balance report containing the total records of the received file and transmits (step 264) the report to primary party 102. After receiving an approved account file from the card service engine 104, the card service engine 104., uploads (step 270) the files to its database, creates (step 271) a daily plastic file, and periodically sends (step 272) a plastic billing file to the card generator

120 .

Card generator 120, receives (stage

280) Periodically the plastic file of the service motor of the motor 104. After receiving the plastic file, the card generator 120 identifies the card, (step 281) all charge accounts and loans to the service partner in the plastic file of renovation of the primary part and transmits (stage

282) an identified accounts file of all accounts identified to service partner 106. The identified accounts file includes information such as primary party account numbers, card member names 108, card processing identifiers transaction date generator, the identifiers of the primary parties. A file creates identified.

periodically for periodic renewal and processing. Balance reports are also sent (step 283) to show the total number of accounts sent to service partner 106.

On receipt of the identified account file from the card generator 120, the service partner 106 merges (step 290) the identified account file into the service partner 106 database by means of the new account numbers of the primary part . Service partner 106 periodically classifies (step 291) the daily file into approved, declined, and canceled in sequential new numerical order of accounts to create a daily membership file with the membership information of a service partner 106. Finally, the service partner Service 106 transmits (step 292) the daily membership file to card generator 120.

For individual members the service partner's membership data 106 includes for example the service partner's membership number, the date from when the member is the service partner, the type of member to the service partner and the photo image. For business members, the data includes the company name, its resale ID, the type of resale, and the resale status. In general other membership data includes for example a photographic image flag indicator, the new account number of the primary part, the card generator processing indicator, the processing data, the card generator bag identifier .

After transmitting the daily membership file to card generator 120, service partner 106 creates (step 293) an exception rejection report that contains invalid product control numbers, which are account numbers that do not match the base of sodium service data.

The exception rejection report is used with the operations reconciliation process, it includes the account number of the primary party, the name of the card member, the transaction date, the processing indicator of the card generator and the identification of the primary part exchange 102. Finally, the service partner 106 produces (step 294) a balance report containing the total records of the file of received indentified accounts. This balance report is used by information manager 112 after each transmission to balance it with card generator 120.

After receiving the updated information file from the service partner 106, the card generator 120 using the new account number of the primary part merges (step 284) the data from the updated engraving information file with the plastic file that it was previously received from the card 104 service engine. In addition, card generator 120 records all required data from primary part 102, prints a cardholder number on the signature panel, prints required service partner membership data such as those described above on the back of the primary party card, places the service partner's membership number in the third position on the magnetic strip, converts the service partner's membership number to a barcode, print the barcode on the back of the primary card, put the service partner's membership number in the third position on the magnetic strip, convert the service partner's membership number to a barcode, print the barcode on the back of the membership card, and send the membership card to the 108 card member.

In addition card generator 120 creates (step 285) a rejection report for all non-primary account numbers or invalid card generator processing indicators received from the service partner

106. This rejection report includes all the data received on the service partner file except a photo image. The report is labeled as Invalid Accounts Received from the Service Partner and is used for operational reconciliation.

Finally, the card generator 120 forwards, in a subsequent transmission to the service partner 106, in particular account numbers that do not have a service partner membership number. After a predetermined number of attempts, the information is removed from the engraving file and placed in the card generator reject report. Balance reports show the total number of accounts received from service partner 106.

Card Replacement Processes

In an exemplary card replacement process, multiple participants in the process cooperate to complete the stages of the process. Participants in the process may include only primary part 102, card service engine 104, and service partner 106, but those participants may also delegate their responsibilities to entities within their respective organizations or other entities. Furthermore, the card service engine 104 can be the same part as either the primary part 102 or the service partner 106. Regardless of which entities the various procedural steps are delegated to, the card replacement process can be initiated by from the primary party 102, in conjunction with the card member 108, or by the service partner 106. In addition, special procedures may be used in cases of fraud or emergencies. In an exemplary embodiment, after initial processing, a plastic card replacement process is initiated.

Referring to Figures 3a and .3b, if a card member 108 requests (step 310) the card replacement, the card replacement manager 116 updates (step 311) the plastic replacement request with the card 104 service and thus begins the process of replacing the card. If a cardholder 108 reports (step 320) fraudulent activity on an account, the report is sent (step 321) to resolution manager 118, who tries (step 322) to resolve the case and if the claim is deemed valid, it sends (step 323) a request to the card replacement manager 116, which updates (step 324) the request to replace the plastic in the service engine to the cards 104 and thus begins the process of replacing the plastic card.

If a cardholder 108 requests (step 330) the emergency replacement of the card, the card replacement manager 116 updates (step 331) the card service engine 104 so that it does not issue a plastic card and updates the service server , which sends (step 332) the recording information to the card generator, which records (step 33) the plastic and sends it to the cardholder 108. In an exemplary modality, those emergency cards do not contain service partner information and expire at the end of the following month unless requested.

<td>another thing for</td><td>e 1</td><td>cardholder 108. In</td><td>addition, the</td>

<td>administrator</td><td>of</td><td>card replacement</td><td>115 issues</td>

<td>(stage 3 3 4)</td><td>a</td><td>second request to</td><td>engine of</td>

card 104 service to issue the replacement plastic from the service partner, thereby initiating the standard card replacement process. In cases of emergency replacements, cardholder 108 is notified (step 335) first that the emergency card replacement plastic will preferably not contain service partner membership details and that cardholder 108 should seek assistance from the service dispatch at members, secondly, that the reissue of the multiple services card will be carried out and will be received within a predetermined period of time, and third, that additional cards in the account will be required to be replaced if the service partner 106 determines that there have been changes in the membership information.

Service partner 106 can initiate card replacement by updating (step 340) the service partner data and sending (step 341) a file to card replacement manager 116 indicating cardholders 108 that require new plastic cards. Service partner 106 also produces (step 342) a balance report containing the total transmitted and transmits information 112 after each transmission to balance with card generator 120.

log file

After receiving (step 350) the updated service partner data file from service partner 106, customer service manager 114 reads (step 351) the file and sends (step 352) a request to the card replacement manager 116 to create replacement plastic cards. Customer service manager 114 also creates (step 353) a rejection report with the card 116 replacement manager indicating replacements for service partners who have invalid account numbers. Then the customer service administrator 114 produces (step 354) a balance report containing the total records of the transmitted / received file, The customer service manager 114 also creates (step 355) a job control language process to run the administrator information balancing job. Finally the customer service manager 114 creates (step 356) a backup of the service partner replacement request file and balance reports for a predetermined period of time, eg 90 days.

On receipt (step 360 = request from customer service manager 114 to create replacement plastic cards, card replacement manager 116 updates (step 361) the card replacement request with the 104 card service engine and so on. begins the process of replacing plastic cards.

As previously stated, the plastic card replacement process is initiated by an update of the plastic replacement request with the service engine to card 104 ·. After receiving such an update the card service engine 104 creates (step 370) a file of the daily plastic and sends (step 371) an engraving file of the daily plastic to the card generator

120 .

Upon receiving (step 380) of the card service engine daily plastic engraving file 104, the card generator 120 splits (step 381) the service partner's accounts and sends (step 382) a file of all the identified accounts from service partner to service partner 106. This file is transmitted daily and contains the account number of the primary party, the name of the card member, the processing identifier of the card generator, the transaction date and the bag identifier of the primary party. Balance reports are also sent (step 383) showing the total number of accounts sent to the service partner 106.

Upon receiving (step 382) of the file showing all the identified accounts of the service partner, the service partner 106 merges (step 384) the data contained in the file into the service partner's database according to the number of new account of the primary part. At this time the service partner 106 also needs to determine (step 385) whether the additional cardholders 108 in the relationship require the cards to be replaced due to changes in the service partner's membership data. Next, the service partner 106 sorts (step 386) the daily file for the basic cards first, then the supplemental cards, in a sequential numerical order. In addition service partner 106 creates (step 387) an engraving information file with any new data from the service partner's membership and transmits (step 388) the engraving information file to card generator 120. The service partner 106 also creates (step 389) an exception rejection report for account numbers that do not result in a match in the service partner database. This report should be used with the operations reconciliation process and includes the account number of the primary party, the name of the cardholder, the date of the transaction, the processing indicator of the card generator, and the identifier of the stock market of the primary part. Finally, the service partner produces a balance report that contains the total records of the received file.

Upon receiving the service partner engraving information file 106, the card generator 120 merges (step 390) the data from the service partner engraving information file with the daily plastic engraving file previously received from the service engine card number 104. For new account numbers that do not have a service partner membership number, plastic cards will not be engraved. The card generator 120 then records (step 391) the plastic cards and sends (step 392) the replacement cards to the card members 108. The card generator 120 also generates (step 393) a rejection report for all part account numbers are primary or invalid card generator processing flags received from service partner 106. This report includes all the data received in the service partner's file except the photographic image. The report is labeled as invalid accounts received from the service partner, and the report is used for operational reconciliation. Finally, the card generator 120 forwards (step 394) to the account numbers of the service partners that do not have a service partner membership number that does not have a service partner membership number. Those account numbers are sent in a subsequent transmission. After a predetermined number of attempts, the information is removed (step 395) from the engraving file and placed in the PDR rejection report.

Cancellation of Maintenance Processes

Service Partner Card / Membership

In an exemplary service partner membership cancellation process, multiple process participants cooperate to accomplish the process stages. Process participants may include only primary part 102, card service engine 104, and service partner 106, but those participants may also delegate their responsibilities to entities within their respective organizations or other entities. Furthermore, the service engine to the card 104 can then be the same part as the primary part 102 or the service partner 106. Referring to Figure 4, despite the fact that entities are delegated the different processes, the process of cancellation of Service partner membership is initiated by service partner 106 transmitting (step 410) a cancellation file to primary party 102. The cancellation file contains data elements for all cardholders 108 for the entire primary party 102 who have canceled their memberships to the service society. Those data elements

<td>include the</td><td>date</td><td>cancellation,</td><td>e 1</td><td>new number</td><td>of</td>

<td>count of</td><td>the part</td><td>primary,</td><td>and</td><td>name</td><td>of 1</td>

<td colspan="2">cardholder.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>To the</td><td>to receive</td><td>the file</td><td>of</td><td>cancellation</td><td>of the</td>

service partner 106, primary part 120 produces (step 420) a service partner membership termination report in the report generator. This report is used by card service providers to transfer (step 430) card members 108 to a new product. The primary part 102 also sends (step 421) a report to the customer service manager 114 and produces (step 422) a balance report containing the total records of the received cancellation file. In addition the primary part 102 creates (step 423) a job control language process to execute the information manager balance job. Finally the primary part 102 creates (step 424) a backup of the service partner's cancellation file and balance reports for 90 days.

Processes_of_Maintenance_of

Cards / Cardholder Cancellations to Party

Primary or Transfer of Products that are not

Service Partners

In an exemplary process of canceling card membership, multiple participants in the process cooperate to complete the stages of the process. Process participants may include only primary part 102, card service engine 104, and service partner 106, but those participants may also delegate their responsibilities to entities within their respective organizations or other entities. Further. The card service engine 104 may be the same part as the primary part 102 or the service partner 106. Referring to Figures 5a and 5b despite the fact that entities delegate the different stages of the process, the cancellation process cardholder is initiated by the primary party customer service administrator 114 (step 510) a request from cardholder 108 to terminate or convert to another product.

If cardholder 108 requests not to end, and cardholder 108 specifies a product, to which cardholder 108 wants to transfer, customer service manager 114 opens (step 520) a memo search and inserts (521) a notice that 'indicates that cardholder 108 wants to transfer to a specific product. In addition, the customer service administrator 114 opens (step 522) a memo list and obtains (step 523) the accounts that must be transferred to a new AI. Finally. Customer service manager 144 processes (step 524) the advancement of the rebate and performs the migration transaction to move cardholder 108 to the new product.

If cardholder 108 wants to end or if cardholder 109 does not specify a. product, to which cardholder 108 wants to transfer the customer service manager. 114 transfers (step 530) cardholder 108 to the membership administrator, who verifies (step 531) that cardholder 108 wishes to terminate.

If I want to finish the tar.j. this holder does not

<td>can be</td><td>verified,</td><td>the</td><td>administrator</td><td>of</td><td>membership</td>

<td>identifies</td><td>(stage 5 4 0)</td><td>the</td><td>options</td><td colspan="2">transfer</td>

<td colspan="2">of the cardholder and</td><td>opens</td><td>(step 541)</td><td>a</td><td>search</td>

memorandum specifying the product to which cardholder 108 wishes to transfer. In addition, the customer service administrator 114 opens (step 542) a memo list and obtains (step 543) accounts that must be transferred to a new IA.

Finally the customer service manager

114 processes (step 544) the advancement of the discount and performs (step 545) the migration transaction to move cardholder 108 to the new AI.

If the cardholder's desire to end

108 is verified, the membership manager processes (step 550) the wear, causing the customer service engine 104 to update (step 551 = the file with a cancel code. In addition the card service engine 104 creates (step 552) and / or updates (step 553) the change / renewal file with the parental code extraction code of the customer service administrator 114.

Once the customer service administrator 114 has extracted (step 560) the service partner / primary part accounts from the change / renewal file, the customer service administrator 114 creates (step 561) a delete file of all card members 108 who have canceled their card from multiple services. Next the customer service manager

114 transmits (step 562) the cancellation file to service partner 106 and produces (step 563) a primary party / service partner card cancellation report in the report generator. This report will be used through the card provider services to transfer (step 570) cardholders 108 to a new primary part product. Customer service manager 114 also produces (step 571) a balance report containing the file records and creates (step 572) a job control process to execute the information manager balance.

Primary part 102 creates (step 573) the balance report partner cancellation file for 90 days.

working language totals of finally a support service and

On receiving (step 580) the cancellation file from the primary part of the customer service manager 114, the service partner 106 sends the credit flag flag to N, thereby severing (step 581) the system link. In this situation, service partner 106 may issue (step 582) a separate membership card. Finally the service partner 106 produces (step 583) a balance report containing the total records to the transmitted file. The balance report will be used (step 584) via information manager 112 after each transmission for balance with card generator 120.

As one skilled in the art may appreciate, the transaction entry interface described above, as well as other aspects of the present invention, may include any suitable form of encryption and / or other security measures either currently known or subsequently deduced.

However it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples while indicating exemplary embodiments of the present invention are only given for illustrative purposes only and not limiting. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention can be made without departing from its spirit, and the invention includes all such modifications. The corresponding structures, materials, acts and equivalents of all the elements in the following claims are intended to include all the structures, materials or actions to perform the functions in combination with the other specifically claimed claimed elements. The scope of the invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given above. For example, the steps described in any of the claims relating to the method can be performed in any order and not be limited to the order presented in the following claims. Furthermore no element is essential to the practice of the invention unless specifically described herein as critical or essential.