Multiple credit card system

A credit card system, comprising:

• (a) a card capable of storing a set of machine-readable digital data, including identifying information pertaining to the owner of the card, the card including data pertaining to credit card accounts established by a plurality of different issuers, the accounts being established in the name of the owner of the card, the card being free of any visually-perceptible indicia pertaining to the owner of the card or to any of the credit card accounts encoded on the card,
• (b) a card reader,
• (c) a microprocessor,
• (d) a control console,
• (e) a printer,
• (f) a modem, and
• (g) a remotely-located computer, wherein the console is connected to control the card reader, the microprocessor, and the printer, wherein the modem is connected to provide data communication between the microprocessor and the remote computer, wherein the remote computer is programmed to store information on a plurality of credit card accounts maintained by the owner of the card, and wherein the remote computer is programmed to transmit a signal to the microprocessor, the signal indicating whether or not a transaction is approved.

A system for processing multiple credit card transactions, comprising:

• (a) card reader means for interpreting a set of machine-readable data encoded on a card, the card containing identifying information pertaining to the owner of the card, and the names and numbers of a plurality of credit card accounts, the credit card accounts originating from a plurality of different issuers, the card being free of any visually-perceptible indicia pertaining to the owner of the card or to any of the credit card accounts encoded on the card,
• (b) a local computer,
• (c) means for establishing a data communication path between the local computer and a remotely-located computer, and
• (d) a control console, the console being connected to control the card reader means and the local computer, the console including means for entering data for processing by the computer, the local computer being programmed to compare information on the identity of a customer, supplied by the customer and entered onto the console, with the data encoded on the card, the remote computer being programmed to compare the name of the credit card account, supplied by the customer and entered onto the console, with the data encoded onto the card, wherein the local computer is programmed to issue a warning if the information relating to the identify of the customer, given orally by the customer and entered onto the console, does not match the information encoded on the card, and to issue a warning if the name of the credit card account, given orally by the customer and entered onto the console, does not match the information stored in the remote computer, and to issue a signal of approval if all the information given orally by the customer, and entered onto the console, is correct.

A method for processing multiple credit card transactions, comprising the steps of:

• (a) presenting a card containing identifying information pertaining to the owner of the card, and the names and numbers of a plurality of credit card accounts, the credit card accounts originating from a plurality of different issuers, the card being free of any visually-perceptible indicia pertaining to the owner of the card or to any of the credit card accounts encoded on the card,
• (b) orally supplying identifying information pertaining to the owner of the card, and supplying the name of the credit card account to be used in a transaction,
• (c) determining whether the identifying information and the credit card account name supplied match the information encoded in machine-readable form on the card, and
• (d) processing the transaction for the credit card account selected if the information given matches the information encoded on the card.

A method for processing multiple credit card transactions, comprising the steps of:

• (a) presenting a card containing identifying information pertaining to the owner of the card, and containing the names and numbers of a plurality of credit card accounts, the credit card accounts originating from a plurality of different issuers, the card being free of any visually-perceptible indicia pertaining to the owner of the card or to any of the credit card accounts encoded on the card,
• (b) orally supplying identifying information pertaining to the owner of the card, and supplying the name of the credit card account to be used in a transaction,
• (c) determining whether the identifying information and the credit card account name supplied match the information encoded in machine-readable form on the card, and
• (d) interrogating a remotely-located data base to determine whether the credit card account specified in step (b) in fact belongs to the owner of the card, and
• (e) processing the transaction for the credit card account selected in step (b), if the identifying information given matches the information encoded on the card, and if the owner of the card is found to own a credit card account designated by the credit card name supplied.

A system for representing a plurality of credit cards on a single card, comprising:

• (a) a card capable of storing a set of machine-readable digital data, including identifying information pertaining to the owner of the card, and the names and numbers of a plurality of credit card accounts, the credit card accounts originating from a plurality of different issuers,
• (b) a card reader, the reader being capable of decoding the data stored on the card,
• (c) a verification system for determining the validity of a proposed transaction with at least one of the credit card accounts stored on the card,
• (d) means for printing an invoice when a transaction has been approved, and
• (e) a console for controlling the card reader, the verification system, and the printer means, the console being connected to a microprocessor for analyzing the data on the card and for controlling the printing of the invoice.