Card issuance system and process

Abstract

A method of secured card issuance from a card issuing machine, as well as a system for card issuance, that is designed to address many of the security concerns surrounding automated, self-service card issuance. The invention relies upon a combination of measures to enhance the security of the card issuance process. The security measures include tracking and auditing of the cards from a card loading site up to the time of card issuance to the customer, controlling physical access to the cards, and real time reporting and monitoring of card transactions and subsequent inventory changes.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of card issuance from a card issuing machine that receives cards within a container from a card loading site, with the card issuing machine and the card loading site being in communication with a host controller, the method comprising: 
 loading the container with cards at the card loading site;    transmitting a loaded card inventory of the loaded cards to the host controller;    transporting the loaded container from the card loading site to the card issuing machine, and loading the container into the card issuing machine;    determining a received card inventory in the loaded container; and    comparing the received card inventory with the loaded card inventory.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to    claim 1   , wherein the container includes means for storing information, and further including storing the loaded card inventory in the means for storing information.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 2   , wherein determining a received card inventory comprises reading the loaded card inventory from the means for storing information.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 3   , wherein comparing the received card inventory with the loaded card inventory comprises transmitting the read loaded card inventory to the host controller, and comparing the read loaded card inventory with the loaded card inventory.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 2   , wherein determining a received card inventory comprises using the card issuing machine to take an actual card inventory of the cards in the loaded container.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to    claim 5   , wherein comparing the received card inventory with the loaded card inventory comprises transmitting the actual card inventory to the host controller, and comparing the actual card inventory with the loaded card inventory.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to    claim 1   , further including transmitting a card inventory fulfillment request from the host controller to the card loading site, and wherein loading the container with cards comprises loading the container with cards based on the card inventory fulfillment request.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to    claim 2   , wherein the container includes an electronic lock mechanism thereon for locking the container, the electronic lock mechanism being operable by a lock code, and further including storing the lock code in the means for storing information at the card loading site.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to    claim 8   , further including transmitting the lock code from the host controller to the card issuing machine in order to operate the electronic lock mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to    claim 2   , wherein the container includes a unique identification number stored in the means for storing information, and further including transmitting the unique identification number from the card loading site to the host controller, reading the unique identification number after the container is loaded into the card issuing machine, and comparing the transmitted unique identification number with the read unique identification number.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to    claim 1   , further comprising updating the card inventory in the container as the container is emptied of the cards.  
     
     
         12 . A method of card issuance from a card issuing machine that receives cards within a container from a card loading site, the method comprising: 
 loading the container with cards at the card loading site, and storing a loaded card inventory of the loaded cards into memory provided on the container;    transporting the loaded container from the card loading site to the card issuing machine, and loading the container into the card issuing machine;    reading the loaded card inventory from cassette memory;    conducting an inventory scan of the cards actually in the container to determine an actual card inventory; and    comparing the read loaded card inventory with the actual card inventory.    
     
     
         13 . A card issuance system, comprising: 
 a card issuing machine having a container therein adapted to hold a plurality of cards for issuance by said card issuing machine, said container including means for storing inventory information of said cards within said container; and    a card loading site at which the container is loaded with the cards.