# US 2007/0152039 A1 · Automated Card Customization Machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0152039 A1 - Document ID: US20070152039A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/618,939 - Filed: 2007-01-02 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-03 - Assignees: Msystems Ltd. - Inventors: Eyal Bychkov; Yohan Cohen; Itzhak Pomerantz; Avraham Meir - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070152039A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/005: {for the hiring of content carriers, e.g. of DVDs or CDs (reverse vending for box-like objects such as videocassettes G07F7/069)} - G06Q 20/1235: {with control of digital rights management [DRM]} - G06Q 20/3552: {Downloading or loading of personalisation data} - G07F 7/1008: {Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system} - G07F 17/26: for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus (ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42) - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A card vending machine includes a storage area, wherein each of a plurality of memory cards to be issued by a respective one of at least two different issuers are stored. A security mechanism conditions access of each issuer to only a respective portion of the storage area upon authorization of this issuer. An interface mechanism is operated by a user to define a purchasing transaction and a controller is operative, in accordance with the interface mechanism, to customize a memory card at least in part according to the purchasing transaction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A card vending machine comprising: (a) a storage area, wherein each of a plurality of memory cards to be issued by a respective one of at least two different issuers are stored. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The card vending machine of claim 1 further comprising. (b) a security mechanism that conditions access of each of said at least two different issuers to only a respective portion of said storage area upon authorization of said each issuer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The card vending machine of claim 2, wherein said security mechanism includes compartments, within said storage area, each said compartment having a corresponding locking mechanism that provides access to only an authorized issuer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The card vending machine of claim 1, wherein said plurality of memory cards include secure memory cards. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The card vending machine of claim 1 further comprising: (b) an interface mechanism that is operated by a user to define a purchasing transaction; and (c) a controller operative, in accordance with said interface mechanism, to customize a memory card at least in part according to said purchasing transaction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5, wherein said memory card is one of said plurality of memory cards. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5, wherein said memory card is a personal memory card that is fed to the card vending machine by said user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The card vending machine of claim 7 further comprising: (d) a card slot for inputting said personal memory card. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5, wherein said controller is operative to customize said memory card in accordance with a value of at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: digital content, physical contour, graphical decoration, and means of payment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5 further comprising: (d) an authentication mechanism for authentication of said user in accordance with requirements of a respective issuer of said memory card. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The card vending machine of claim 10, wherein said controller is operative to customize said memory card conditional on said authentication of said user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The card vending machine of claim 10, wherein said authentication mechanism includes a biometric identifier reader. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The card vending machine of claim 10, wherein said authentication mechanism includes a voice recognition unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The card vending machine of claim 13, wherein said voice recognition unit includes a microphone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The card vending machine of claim 10, wherein said authentication mechanism includes a facial recognition unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The card vending machine of claim 15, wherein said facial recognition unit includes a camera. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The card vending machine of claim 10, wherein said authentication mechanism includes a wireless communication mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5, wherein said interface mechanism includes a keypad. ### Claim 19 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5, wherein said interface mechanism includes a touch screen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5, wherein said interface mechanism includes a USB connector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5, wherein said interface mechanism includes a scanner. ### Claim 22 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5 further comprising: (d) a contour shape editor unit that is responsive to said controller to customize said memory card. ### Claim 23 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5 further comprising: (d) a graphical editor unit that is responsive to said controller to customize said memory card. ### Claim 24 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5 further comprising: (d) a programming unit that is responsive to said controller to program said memory card with digital content. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The card vending machine of claim 24, wherein said programming unit is operative to store at least 200 bytes of data in said memory card. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The card vending machine of claim 25, wherein said data is user-dependant. ### Claim 27 (depends on 5) The card vending machine of claim 5 further comprising: (d) a display for displaying a pre-view of said customized memory card. ### Claim 28 A vending method comprising the steps of: (a) storing, in a common storage area, a plurality of memory cards; and (b) issuing each of said plurality of memory cards by a respective one of at least two different issuers. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The vending method of claim 28, wherein said plurality of memory cards include at least one secure memory card. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The vending method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of: (c) receiving a respective value of each of at least one parameter that defines a purchasing transaction of a user; and (d) customizing one of the memory cards, at least in part, according to said at least one value. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30, wherein said customizing step is effected in accordance with a value of at least one feature selected from the group consisting of: digital content, physical contour, graphical decoration, and means of payment. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30, wherein said customizing includes storing at least 200 bytes of data in said one memory card. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The vending method of claim 32, wherein said data is user-dependant. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30 further comprising the step of: (c) previously to said customizing, authenticating a user in accordance with requirements of said respective one issuer. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The vending method of claim 34, wherein said customization of said one memory card is conditional on said authentication of said user. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The vending method of claim 34, wherein said authentication is effected by reading biometric identification. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The vending method of claim 34, wherein said authentication is effected by voice recognition. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The vending method of claim 34, wherein said authentication is effected by facial recognition. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The vending method of claim 34, wherein said authentication is effected by wireless communication. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30, wherein said at least one value is received from a keypad. ### Claim 41 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30, wherein said at least one value is received from a touch-screen. ### Claim 42 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30, wherein said at least one value is received from a portable storage device. ### Claim 43 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30, wherein said at least one value is received from a scanner. ### Claim 44 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30 further comprising the step of: (e) downloading digital content from a remote device in accordance with said at least one value. ### Claim 45 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30 further comprising the step of: (e) displaying a pre-view of said customized one memory card. ### Claim 46 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30 further comprising the step of: (e) allowing access of each of said at least two different issuers to only a respective portion of said common storage area conditional on authorization of said each issuer. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The vending method of claim 46, wherein said allowing access includes separately storing memory cards of said each issuer in compartments, each said compartment having a corresponding locking mechanism that provides access to only an authorized issuer. ### Claim 48 (depends on 30) The vending method of claim 30, wherein said one memory card is a personal memory card that is fed by said user. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The vending method of claim 48 further comprising the step of: (c) updating said personal memory card. ### Claim 50 A card vending machine comprising: (a) an interface mechanism that is operated by a user to define a purchasing transaction; and (b) a controller operative, in accordance with said interface mechanism, to customize a memory card at least in part according to said purchasing transaction. ### Claim 51 A method of vending of memory cards by a card vending machine comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, by the card vending machine, a respective value of each of at least one parameter that defines a purchasing transaction of a user; and (b) customizing, by the card vending machine, one of the memory cards, at least in part, according to said at least one value. ### Claim 52 A card vending machine comprising (a) an interface mechanism that is operated by a user to define a purchasing transaction; and (b) a controller operative, in accordance with said interface mechanism, to customize a memory card at least in part according to said purchasing transaction by modifying at least 200 bytes of user-dependant data. ### Claim 53 A method of vending of memory cards by a card vending machine comprising the steps of. (c) receiving, by the card vending machine, a respective value of each of at least one parameter that defines a purchasing transaction of a user; and (d) customizing, by the card vending machine, one of the memory cards, at least in part, according to said at least one value at least by modifying at least 200 bytes of user-dependant data. ### Claim 54 A card vending machine comprising: (a) an interface mechanism that is operated by a user to define a purchasing transaction; and (b) a controller operative, in accordance with said interface mechanism, to customize a visual appearance of a memory card at least in part according to said purchasing transaction. ### Claim 55 A method of vending of memory cards by a card vending machine comprising the steps of: (c) receiving, by the card vending machine, a respective value of each of at least one parameter that defines a purchasing transaction of a user; and (d) customizing, by the card vending machine, a visual appearance of one of the memory cards, at least in part, according to said at least one value. ### Claim 56 A card vending machine comprising: (a) a connecting mechanism for receiving digital content from an external storage unit; and (b) a controller operative to store, in a memory card, at least a portion of said digital content. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The card vending machine of claim 56, wherein said controller is further operative to modify said digital content. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) The card vending machine of claim 56, wherein said connecting mechanism includes a USB connector. ### Claim 59 A method of vending of memory cards by a card vending machine comprising the of: (a) receiving, by the card vending machine, digital content from an external storage unit; and (b) storing, in a memory card, at least a portion of said digital content. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The method of claim 59 further comprising the step of: (c) modifying said digital content.