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US 10,600,069 B2Granted
Gift card exchange kiosks and associated methods of use
AssigneeCardpool, Inc.
InventorsElizabeth Jane Lindemulder, Sarah Christine Heffernan, Walter Paulsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to gift card exchange kiosks and associated methods of use. In one embodiment, for example, a consumer operated kiosk can receive a gift card identifier associated with a gift card via a user interface and/or a card reader, verify the gift card's activation status and/or face value, and display exchange options for a consumer. The exchange options can include exchanging the gift card for cash or a redeemable cash voucher. The kiosk can also store exchanged gift cards for later sale at the kiosk or at a remote location.
Claims20
A method of exchanging gift cards for value with a consumer operated kiosk, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a gift card identifier via a card reader associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the gift card identifier is associated with a gift card received from a user;
- verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a card activation status and a gift card value associated with the gift card identifier;
- displaying one or more exchange options to the user via a display associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein at least one of the exchange options includes returning the gift card or exchanging the gift card value for a redeemable cash voucher having a buy-back value, wherein the buy-back value is less than the gift card value;
- receiving, at the kiosk and via the display, a selection from the user corresponding to at least one of the exchange options;
- and
- when the user selection corresponds to exchanging the gift card value for the redeemable cash voucher, issuing, by the kiosk, the redeemable cash voucher to the user.
3 more elements
A method of exchanging gift cards for value with a consumer operated kiosk, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a gift card from a first user via a card reader associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the card reader reads a gift card identifier from the gift card;
- verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a card activation status and a gift card value associated with the gift card identifier;
- displaying one or more exchange options for the first user via a display associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the one or more exchange options include returning the gift card or exchanging the gift card value for a buy-back value in the form of cash and/or a redeemable cash voucher, wherein the buy-back value is less than the gift card value;
- receiving, at the kiosk and via the display, a selection from the first user corresponding to at least one of the exchange options;
- when the user selection corresponds to exchanging the gift card for cash and/or a redeemable cash voucher, issuing, by the kiosk, the selected cash and/or redeemable cash voucher to the first user;
- and
- reselling the gift card value to a second user for a price less than the gift card value and greater than the buy-back value.
4 more elements
A method of exchanging gift cards for value with a consumer operated kiosk, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a first gift card identifier via a user interface at the consumer operated kiosk, wherein receiving the first gift card identifier includes reading the first gift card identifier from a first gift card via a card reader at the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the first gift card identifier is associated with a gift card received from a user;
- verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a first activation status and a first gift card value associated with the first gift card identifier;
- receiving, at the consumer operated kiosk, a second gift card identifier from the user via the user interface, wherein the second gift card identifier is associated with a second gift card;
- verifying, by the consumer operated kiosk and via interactions with a remote server and at least one database, a second activation status associated and a second gift card value with the second gift card identifier;
- maintaining the first activation status while the second gift card identifier is received and the second activation status is verified;
- displaying one or more exchange options to the user, via a display associated with the consumer operated kiosk, wherein the one or more exchange options include returning the first gift card, returning the second gift card, and exchanging the gift card value for a redeemable cash voucher;
- receiving, at the kiosk and via the display, a selection from the user corresponding to at least one of the exchange options;
- and
- when the user selection corresponds to exchanging the gift card value for the redeemable cash voucher, issuing, by the kiosk, the redeemable cash voucher to the user.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.