GAMES, PRIZES, AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR POWERED CARDS AND DEVICES

Abstract

Advanced payment applications are provided to improve the functionality of cards and devices. For example, a user interface may be placed on a card (e.g., a physical button) or a telephonic device (e.g., a virtual button on a capacitive touch screen). Manual input provided to this user interface may, for example, cause a purchase to be paid by credit and points may be earned for the purchase. A different manual input may, for example, cause a purchase to be paid by credit and points not be earned for the purchase in exchange for one or more chances to win a prize in a random lottery. An instant winner functionality may be provided on a card. For example, a card may randomly become an instant winner based on, for example, time and/or use.

Claims

1. A card comprising: a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device configured to wirelessly communicate data to a magnetic stripe reader; a capacitive touch-screen display forming substantially all of at least one surface of the card; a processor configured to execute an instant winner algorithm that randomly determines instant win conditions based on received game codes; at least one input device operable to receive a game code associated with a merchant transaction; and a memory configured to store game codes and associated prize codes, wherein upon execution of the instant winner algorithm, the processor generates and displays a redeemable prize code on the capacitive touch-screen display.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch-screen display displays a barcode readable by a barcode reader.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein the received game code increases a counter within the instant winner algorithm, and an instant win is triggered upon reaching a predetermined count.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein the redeemable prize code is valid only within a predefined redemption period.

5. The card of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication interface operable to receive updates to the instant winner algorithm via pulses of light from an external electronic device.

6. A powered card system comprising: a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device; an RFID communication device; an IC chip communication device; a processor configured to simultaneously communicate user-specific transaction data through at least two of the dynamic magnetic stripe communications device, the RFID communication device, and the IC chip communication device; and a memory storing discretionary data codes associated with user-selectable features, wherein selection of a feature causes the processor to embed associated discretionary data codes within communications transmitted during a transaction.

7. The powered card system of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of buttons, wherein each button corresponds to a distinct feature selectable by a user.

8. The powered card system of claim 6, wherein discretionary data codes include information indicating a user's choice between earning reward points and obtaining chances to win prizes.

9. The powered card system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to vary discretionary data codes communicated on different magnetic stripe data tracks.

10. The powered card system of claim 6, wherein the discretionary data codes communicated during transactions are modified remotely via wireless updates received by the card.

11. A method comprising: detecting, by a read-head detector on a powered card, a presence of a magnetic stripe reader; determining, via an algorithm executed by a processor of the powered card, whether the card is an instant winner upon detection of the magnetic stripe reader; communicating a code indicative of instant win status from a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device to the magnetic stripe reader if an instant win is determined; and transmitting a notification to a mobile telephonic device associated with the card indicating instant win status and redemption instructions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the instant win determination is based on a pre-defined period elapsed since a previous instant win.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitted notification includes a redeemable prize code and a redemption expiry time.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein instant win notifications are sent via text message to the mobile telephonic device.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, via the mobile telephonic device, a wireless signal that configures the instant win determination algorithm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The principles and advantages of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a mobile device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows card 100 that may include, for example, a dynamic number that may be entirely, or partially, displayed via display 112. A dynamic number may include a permanent portion such as, for example, permanent portion 111. Permanent portion 111 may be printed as well as embossed or laser etched on card 100. Multiple displays may be provided on a card. For example, display 113 may be utilized to display a dynamic code such as a dynamic security code. Display 125 may also be provided to display logos, barcodes, as well as multiple lines of information. A display may be a bi-stable display or non bi-stable display. Permanent information 120 may also be included and may include information such as information specific to a user (e.g., a user's name or username) or information specific to a card (e.g., a card issue date and/or a card expiration date). Card 100 may include one or more buttons such as buttons 130-134. Such buttons may be mechanical buttons, capacitive buttons, or a combination or mechanical and capacitive buttons. Card 100 may include button 199. Button 199 may be used, for example, to communicate information through dynamic magnetic stripe communications device 101 indicative of a user's desire to pay for an item on credit, but to forego the earning of points that would otherwise be earned for one or more chances to win a prize. Button 199 may also pay for an item on, for example, debit. Additionally, a chance may be provided regardless of whether points are forfeited for a purchase. Button 198 may cause, for example, a purchase to be made via credit (and points to be earned associated with the amount of the purchase). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that pressing a button (e.g., button 199) may cause information to be communicated through device 101 when an associated read-head detector detects the presence of a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Button 198 may be utilized to communicate (e.g., after button 198 is pressed and after a read-head detects a read-head of a reader) information indicative of a user's desire to purchase an item using a payment account (e.g., credit or debit account). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a chance to win a prize may be awarded with each purchase. Additional chances to win a prize, however, may be earned at a purchase by a user foregoing the points they would have earned on that purchase for a chance to win.

[0022] Architecture 150 may be utilized with any card. Architecture 150 may include processor 120. Processor 120 may have on-board memory for storing information (e.g., application code). Any number of components may communicate to processor 120 and/or receive communications from processor 120. For example, one or more displays (e.g., display 140) may be coupled to processor 120. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that components may be placed between particular components and processor 120. For example, a display driver circuit may be coupled between display 140 and processor 120. Memory 142 may be coupled to processor 120. Memory 142 may include data that is unique to a particular card. For example, memory 142 may store discretionary data codes associated with buttons of card 150. Such codes may be recognized by remote servers to effect particular actions. For example, one or more codes may be stored on memory 142 that is displayed based on an instant winner algorithm such that a user may redeem such codes for prizes. Such a code may be communicated, for example, in a magnetic stripe message, RFID message, and/or exposed chip message (e.g., EMV message) from a card. Memory 142 may also store types of actions that a user may select. Each type of action may be associated with a button. Or, for example, a user may scroll through a list of actions on a display on the front of the card (e.g., using buttons to scroll through the list). As per another example, a code may be stored indicative of a user's desire to pay with credit or forego points in an attempt to earn a prize. Such a code may be communicated, for example, in a magnetic stripe message, RFID message, and/or exposed chip message (e.g., EMV message) from a card.

[0023] Any number of reader communication devices may be included in architecture 150. For example, IC chip 152 may be included to communicate information to an IC chip reader. IC chip 152 may be, for example, an EMV chip. As per another example, RFID 151 may be included to communicate information to an RFID reader. A magnetic stripe communications device may also be included to communicate information to a magnetic stripe reader. Such a magnetic stripe communications device may provide electromagnetic signals to a magnetic stripe reader. Different electromagnetic signals may be communicated to a magnetic stripe reader to provide different tracks of data. For example, electromagnetic field generators 170, 180, and 185 may be included to communicate separate tracks of information to a magnetic stripe reader. Such electromagnetic field generators may include a coil wrapped around one or more materials (e.g., a soft-magnetic material and a non-magnetic material). Each electromagnetic field generator may communicate information serially to a receiver of a magnetic stripe reader for particular magnetic stripe track. Read-head detectors 171 and 172 may be utilized to sense the presence of a magnetic stripe reader (e.g., a read-head housing of a magnetic stripe reader). This sensed information may be communicated to processor 120 to cause processor 120 to communicate information serially from electromagnetic generators 170, 180, and 185 to magnetic stripe track receivers in a read-head housing of a magnetic stripe reader. Accordingly, a magnetic stripe communications device may change the information communicated to a magnetic stripe reader at any time. Processor 120 may, for example, communicate user-specific and card-specific information through RFID 151, IC chip 152, and electromagnetic generators 170, 180, and 185 to card readers coupled to remote information processing servers (e.g., purchase authorization servers). Driving circuitry 141 may be utilized by processor 120, for example, to control electromagnetic generators 170, 180, and 185.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows card 200 that includes button 211 associated with display 215, button 212 associated with display 216, and button 213 associated with display 217. Each button may be associated with a feature displayed in display 210. A user may press a button in order to communicate data representative of the feature through a magnetic stripe communications device or other communications device (e.g., RFID or IC chip). A light emitting diode (or other source of light) may be associated with each button to indicate to a user what feature was selected by a user. A user may be able to select multiple features such that multiple feature codes are communicated in tracks of magnetic stripe data communicated by a magnetic stripe communications device. Such codes may be provided in discretionary data fields. Such codes may be repeated on each track of communicated magnetic stripe data (e.g., repeated on tracks 1 and 2 or repeated on tracks 1, 2, and 3). In doing so, a user may associate multiple features to a purchase. A user may set that a prize feature be utilized by, for example, pressing button 211 for a purchase transaction. Such a prize feature may, for example, cause a purchase to be transacted via a payment account (e.g., credit) and, furthering the example, that points associated with the transaction be forfeited in exchange for one or more chances to earn a prize. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a prize may be won every time a purchase is transacted with button 211. In doing so, the whimsical and festive nature of such a feature may be increased. However, for example, the value of prizes won at every purchase may be lower than the prizes associated with a feature that provides for intermittent prize wins. A user may press button 212 to set that a purchase be transacted with, for example, a payment account. For example, a credit account may be utilized and points may be earned that are associated with the amount of the purchase. Button 213 may allow a user, for example, to receive an instant winner code. Display 217 may, for example, display that a card is an instant winner based on, for example, use or time. For example, when a card is an instant winner, display 217 may display WINNER. An instant winner may expire based on time such that, for example, a user has a period of time to press button 213 to receive an instant winner code and redeem that code online. After an instant winner expires, for example, display 217 may go blank until the next instant winner occurs.

[0025] A card may randomly, based on time, indicate to a user that the user has won a prize. Such a feature may occur, for example, based on time. A user may have a period of time to make a purchase to claim the prize. For example, a user may have approximately, 24, 48, or 72 hours to claim a prize. Accordingly, a user may open his/her wallet or purse and see that the user has won a prize. The user may then make a purchase within a pre-determined amount of time by pressing a particular button (e.g. a redeem prize button). Information associated with this user selection may be communicate to a remote server (e.g., of a card issuer) via a magnetic stripe message from a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device, an RFID message from an RFID antenna, or a chip message from an exposed IC chip (e.g., an EMV chip). A card may allow for prizes, or chances to win prizes, to be earned in multiple ways. For example, any of the prize algorithms or prize chance algorithms discussed herein may be provided on a card. Accordingly, a card may provide a prize randomly based at least in part on time. The card may also allow a user to forego earning points for additional chances to win prizes.

[0026] The features associated with each card may be pre-determined by a user. For example, a user may select features to place on a card when ordering a card. Additionally, a user may go to a card issuer's website and select attributes of features. For example, a user may visit a card issuer's website and select the particular offering that is to be purchased whenever a user selects the feature associated with button 211 and displayed on display 215. Information associated with a button may be displayed via a display or permanently printed, embossed, or laser engraved on a card. Card 200 may include a light sensing device to receive information via light pulses from a display (e.g., a television, mobile phone, or laptop display). A user may select to change the features or attributes of features from a card issuer's website and may reconfigure a card accordingly. Alternatively, a card may be provided with buttons and no descriptive information. A user may change the features or attributes of features associated with one or more buttons via a card issuer's website and remote processing may perform the associated processing as a result of on-card button selections. Different codes may be communicated depending on the feature or attributes of features on a card. Such codes may be changed via a wireless communications signal (e.g., a light-based communications signal). In doing so, processing may occur off-card at a remote server without the need to determine what feature a user associated with a code. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card issuer may monitor the frequency and number of times that a user utilizes a particular feature. Additionally, the card may receive wireless communications signals (e.g., WiFi signals) associated with the modifications and additions).

[0027] A light receiver may be utilized in a variety of ways. For example, a mobile telephonic phone may have an application that is associated to a user's card. After a user makes a purchase, data may be pushed to the application indicative of whether or not a user won a prize. The application may also be loaded by a user such that the application pulls information from remote servers indicative of any recent purchases and, for example, prizes associated with those purchases. A prize may include one or more chances to win a prize via a particular game. For example, an application on a mobile telephonic device may provide a person with chances to partake in a particular game on the phone, where the game is associated with the type of merchant associated with the purchase and the chances to win are associated with the amount of the purchase. For example, a $10 purchase at a gas station may cause the phone application to allow a user to partake in a race of virtual cars for prizes one time. A $100 purchase at an online store may allow a user to partake in a spin the wheel for reward point games ten times. Prizes may take the form, for example, of discounts or coupons. Such discounts and coupons can take the form of codes that may be redeemed online or barcodes that may be redeemed in a store via a barcode scanner by displaying the barcodes on the display of the mobile telephonic device. Such codes may be communicated to a card via light pulses that are provided by a mobile telephonic device's application to communicate information to one or more light sensors on a card.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows card 300 that may include dynamic magnetic stripe communications device 310, buttons 311-315, permanent information 320, display 350, data receiving device 370, and buttons 331-333. Button 331 may be associated with a first line of displayed information on display 350. Button 332 may be associated with a second line of displayed information on display 350. Button 333 may be associated with a third line of displayed information on display 350. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that buttons 331-333 may actually be virtual buttons on display 350 and display 350 may be a capacitive touch screen. Data receiving device 370 may be a light or sound sensor for receiving information through received light or sound. Portion 399 may be displayed on display 350. The first line of portion 399 may be associated with button 331 and may, for example, cause a code to be communicated (e.g., with magnetic stripe data for authorizing a purchase transaction) to a magnetic stripe reader that is associated with a user's desire to display a winning code. The second line of portion 399 may be associated with, for example, button 332 of display 350 and may be utilized by a user to see the expiration date for a winning code. The third line of portion 399 may be utilized by a user to see the prize level associated with the code. Each line of portion 399 may directly display the associated information or may require a user to press the associated button one or more times for the information to be displayed and scrolled through. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that display 350 may display multiple prizes. For example, display 350 may display the most recently earned prizes and buttons 331 and 333 may allow a user to scroll through all unexpired prizes. Button 332 may select a prize to reveal instructions on how to redeem the prize. The instructions to redeem a prize may be displayed, for example, across multiple lines of text or the single line of text associated with button 332. Accordingly, a highlight window (not shown) may be provided across the line of text on portion 399 associated with button 332.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows card 400 that may include signature line 410 and display 420. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that card 300 of FIG. 3 may depict the obverse side of a card and card 400 of FIG. 4 may depict the reverse side of a card. Individual components of card 300 of FIG. 3 or card 400 of FIG. 4 may be provided on either side of a card or both sides of a card. More than one instance of a component may be provided on any side of a card (e.g., the same side as a component or a different side as a component). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a user may communicate feature codes representative of a user's on-card selection via codes that may be displayed visually and entered into a webpage as part of an online payment. A display may display not only a code for an online payment, but also indicia representative of the feature. In doing so, the user can confirm that the right feature was selected. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different codes for the same feature may be displayed and communicated via a dynamic magnetic communications device. In doing so, the security of the card may be increased. Additionally, the same or different codes may be communicated on different tracks of data to represent the selection of a particular feature. A code may be utilized, for example, to communicate information about whether a card is an instant winner (e.g., for a period of time).

[0030] FIG. 5 shows mobile device 500, which may be a mobile telephonic device. Device 500 may include one or more physical buttons (e.g., button 540). Device 500 may include one or more display screens 510. Such a display screen may be touch sensitive such that virtual buttons (e.g., button 530 may be provided) on virtual card 520. Virtual card 520 may appear similar to a physical card described herein. A user may select different virtual cards by, for example, swiping his/her finger across a touch-sensitive display to scroll to the next virtual card. Mobile phone 502 may include a communications device operable to communicate data to a card reader. For example, mobile phone 502 may include an RFID antenna to communicate to an RFID reader, a pop-out IC chip panel operable to be fed into an IC chip reader, or a magnetic communications device having a magnetic emulator operable to communicate magnetic stripe data wirelessly to a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Virtual button 530 may be provided to indicate a user's desire to earn a prize change (e.g., instead of points) and pay for a purchase from a payment account. Virtual button 531 may be provided to indicate a user's desire to earn points and pay for an item with a payment account. After a purchase is authorized or settled, device 500 may receive information from a remote server indicative of the results of a prize determination. For example, the phone may receive information in the form of a text message where a user has to open the text message to see whether or not the user won. Similarly, an application may be provided on the device and the application may allow a user to see if a prize was won as well as manage prizes. A light sensor may be provided on a card so that a prize may be communicated, via pulses of light, from display 510 to a card. Accordingly, a card may include a button for redeeming a prize such that pressing a prize redemption button causes the prize to be communicated through a dynamic magnetic stripe communications device, RFID, and/or exposed IC chip.

[0031] Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the present invention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, the present invention more generally involves dynamic information. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of the present invention may be implemented in other ways then those described herein. All such modifications are within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.