US 2015/0317619 A1Published application

Kiosk Gift Card System and Method

OwnerJames Robert Curtisinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A kiosk gift card system and method for purchasing and redeeming gift cards is disclosed. The system/method includes a gift card distribution kiosk that provides a user with access to a multitude of different forms of gift cards that may be purchased and printed onto customizable gift card stock. The kiosk includes a kiosk processor interface, a gift card dispenser, a card reader, and gift card management server connected to a network. The gift card management server, through the kiosk processor interface, provides vendor options to users to select and pay via the card reader. The kiosk may be used to redeem unused user gift cards for a reduced value user selected gift card, reduced cash value, full value store card, rewards points, bank debit, and/or an electronic code (eCode) towards online user purchases.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A kiosk gift card manufacturing system comprising:

(a) gift card management server (GMS);
(b) kiosk processor interface (KPI);
(c) near field communications (NFC) reader;
(d) kiosk card reader (KCR);
(e) gift card dispenser (GCD);
(f) gift card collector (GCC);
(g) gift card printer (GCP);
(h) gift card stacker (GCS);
(i) cash dispensing apparatus (CDA);
and
(j) computer communications network (CCN);
wherein
said KPI is configured to electronically communicate with said GMS through said CCN;
said KPI is configured to enable users to interact with said GMS through said CCN;
said GMS is configured to provide said users with options to purchase user-selected gift cards;
said GMS is configured to provide said users with options to redeem value within or consolidate monetary value from within one or more pre-existing gift cards;
said GCP is configured to print said user-selected gift cards upon receiving a payment from said user;
said user-selected gift cards are associated with a gift card value;
said GCS is configured to provide blank cards for said user-selected gift card printing to said GCP;
said KPI is configured to permit said user-selected gift card printing to be customized by said user to include:
information pertaining to the card size, personalized message, color, logo, value, and/or near field communication (NFC) chip;
said GCD is configured to dispense said user-selected gift cards to said user after printing by said GCP;
said GCD is configured to receive said payment via one or more user cards read by said KCR or a mobile device via said NFC reader;
said user card may be either:
credit card, debit card, or a pre-existing gift card;
said KPI is configured to dispense cash from said CDA to said user upon receiving one or more gift cards from said user via said KCR;
and
said GCC is configured to receive unused gift cards from said user that may be redeemed or exchanged for like kind gift cards or cash by said GMS.

25 more elements

A kiosk gift card manufacturing system comprising:

(a) gift card management server (GMS);
(b) kiosk processor interface (KPI);
(c) near field communications (NFC) reader;
(d) kiosk card reader (KCR);
(e) gift card dispenser (GCD);
(f) gift card collector (GCC);
(g) gift card printer (GCP);
(h) gift card stacker (GCS);
(i) cash dispensing apparatus (CDA);
(j) computer communications network (CCN);
and
(k) live interface portal (LIP);
wherein
said KPI is configured to electronically communicate with said GMS through said CCN;
said KPI is configured to enable users to interact with said GMS through said CCN;
said GMS is configured to provide said users with options to purchase user-selected gift cards;
said GMS is configured to provide said users with options to redeem value within or consolidate monetary value from within one or more pre-existing gift cards;
said GCP is configured to print said user-selected gift cards upon receiving a payment from said user;
said user-selected gift cards are associated with a gift card value;
said GCS is configured to provide blank cards for said user-selected gift card printing to said GCP;
said KPI is configured to permit said user-selected gift card printing to be customized by said user to include:
information pertaining to the card size, personalized message, color, logo, value, and/or near field communication (NFC) chip;
said GCD is configured to dispense said user-selected gift cards to said user after printing by said GCP;
said GCD is configured to receive said payment via one or more user cards read by said KCR or a mobile device via said NFC reader;
said user card may be either:
credit card, debit card, or a pre-existing gift card;
said KPI is configured to dispense cash from said CDA to said user upon receiving one or more gift cards from said user via said KCR;
said GCC is configured to receive unused gift cards from said user that may be redeemed or exchanged for like kind gift cards or cash by said GMS;
and
said LIP comprises an audio device and video device configured to enable said user to communicate with a live customer support center via said GMS through said CCN.

27 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/697,318Filed 27 Apr 2015
Priority: 17 Jul 2009
Published: 5 Nov 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G06Q 20/3433
Cards including a counter: the counter having monetary units
G06Q 20/10
Payment architectures: specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
G06Q 20/108
Specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems: remote banking, e.g. home banking
G06Q 20/18
Payment architectures: involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals

Family

Application12/505,342Continuation in part · filed 17 Jul 2009
Application12/839,294Continuation in part · filed 19 Jul 2010
Application13/108,837Continuation in part · filed 16 May 2011
Application14/596,990Continuation · filed 14 Jan 2015
Application14/697,318Continuation
Application14/596,990Continuation in part
US 10,460,311 B2Related patent
US 2011/0013501 A1Published application
US 2011/0015985 A1Published application
US 2011/0216640 A1Published application
US 2016/0203473 A1Published application
US 9,508,064 B2Related patent
US 2015/0317619 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.