Stored-value card adapted to be read by an electronic device
AssigneeTarget Brands, Inc.
InventorsMark A. Schultz, Stacey Donovan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stored-value card including a first surface and a second surface. The first surface stores data adapted to be read by an electronic device to perform at least one interactive activity. The second surface is opposite the first surface. The second surface includes account indicia signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, and brand indicia relating to a retail setting configured to redeem the stored-value card. The at least one interactive activity includes displaying at least one of a character, an object, a textual passage, and a symbol associated with the retail setting. Financial transaction card assemblies, packaged stored-value cards, and methods of using such cards are also disclosed.
Claims32
A stored-value card, comprising:
- a first surface storing two interactive software programs each related to at least one of a brand, a store identifier, and a store mascot relating to a retail setting configured to redeem the stored-value card the interactive software programs adapted to be read by an optical data reader of an electronic device to perform at least one interactive activity, wherein the interactive software programs are programmed to prompt a display device of the electronic device to display a depiction of at least one of the brand, the store identifier, and the store mascot relating to the retail setting configured to redeem the stored-value card;
- a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface including:
- account indicia signifying a financial account linked to the stored-value card, wherein the financial account is stored in a database separate from the stored-value card;
- and
- brand indicia including at least one of the brand, the store identifier and the store mascot relating to the retail setting configured to redeem the stored-value card.
A method of using a card linked to a financial account or record, the method comprising:
- identifying the financial account with an account identifier included on the card, wherein the financial account is stored in a database separate from the card,
- activating the card by accessing the financial account that has been identified, wherein activating the card includes scanning the account identifier on the card through a generally transparent window in a package that houses the card;
- interacting with read-only software that is optically stored on the card, wherein the software is related to at least one of a holiday, a season, and an occasion, wherein indicia on the package identifies the software;
- using the card in payment of goods or services, the value of the goods or services being deducted from the financial account or record, wherein using the card includes accessing the financial account using the account identifier;
- wherein the software that is stored on the card comprises two interactive software programs each relating to at least one of a brand, a store identifier, and a store mascot relating to a retail setting configured to redeem the card.
A method of providing a stored-value card, the method comprising:
- displaying a stored-value card supported by a backer, the stored-value card including;
- a first surface optically storing two read-only, interactive software programs, and
- a second surface opposite the first surface and including an account identifier configured to identify a financial account or record stored in a database separate from the stored-value card,
- wherein the interactive software programs each relate to at least one of a brand, a store identifier, and a store mascot relating to a retail setting adapted to activate, load value on, or withdraw funds from the financial account or record, and
- wherein displaying the stored-value card includes visually linking each of the stored-value card and the backer to the retail setting adapted to activate, load value on, or withdraw funds from the financial account or record;
- scanning the account identifier through a portion of the backer to identify the financial account or record;
- and
- accessing the financial account or record to one of activate, load value on, or withdraw funds from the financial account or record.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.