System for Multiple Income-Generating Business Card and Referral Network

Abstract

A system for using a communications network with a server and a database to provide income-generating business card and referral card network. In one embodiment, a credit card issuer provides a set of personalized business cards to a first customer for his use, upon qualifying the first customer for a credit card from the card issuer. The business cards can be used to receive a discount from a merchant within certain network affiliated with the card issuer. At the same time, the business cards provide a linkage to the first customer's account, so that the first customer will receive a credit to his account, based on the second customer's use of the business card at an affiliated merchant. The second customer is then invited to apply for a credit card from the card issuer. If the second customer qualifies and accepts the credit card, the second customer receives his own set of personalized business cards for distribution. Whenever the second customer uses his credit card anywhere, another credit is applied to the first customer. Also, whenever a third customer uses the second customer's business card during a commercial transaction, the second customer will receive a credit in his account. If the third customer also becomes a credit card holder from the card issuer, the second customer will then receive a credit whenever the third customer uses his credit card anywhere. The system may be set up so that the customers who refer continue to receive credits whenever customers from one or more levels below use the business cards for discounts, or use their own credit cards.

1 . A system for using a communications network with a server and database to provide an income-generating business card system, comprising: 
 a business card, said business card being disposed to contain therein at least one merchant information and a first card-owner information;    a data entry unit coupled to said at least one merchant and coupled to said communications network, said data entry unit being disposed to recognize said merchant information and said first card-owner information on said business card, said data entry unit providing a predetermined discount to a holder of said business card upon verification;    a server coupled to said communications network;    a database coupled to said communications network, disposed to contain merchant information and card-owner information, said server and said database, said communications network being disposed to communicate among said data entry unit, said server and said database;    wherein:    said data entry unit forwards said merchant information and said first card-owner information to said server and said database,    said server, upon receiving said merchant information and said first card-owner information, accesses said database for verification, and if verified, computes a credit to said first card-owner and causes said database to record said credit on said account of said first card-owner.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said business card is an electronic business card, which is electronically transmitted from said first card-owner to said holder.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 said database containing card-owner information and the interrelations among the card-owners;    said server also computing a credit for a card-owner that is a direct and indirect referral source to said first card-owner based on a predetermined criteria.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein a credit is issued to said first card-owner when said server and database set up said holder as a credit card account holder.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein a credit is issued to said first card-owner when said server and database receives spending information from said holder's use of its credit card.  
   
   
       6 . A method of using a communications network, a server and a database to provide a multiple income-generating network, comprising: 
 providing a database, a server and a communications network, said database and said server being operatively connected to said communications network;    generating a least one referral cards for a card owner, said referral card being disposed to contain merchant information and said card owner information;    registering said card owner to said database with an associated card owner account;    said card owner distributing one of said referral card to a recipient;    said recipient presenting said referral card to a merchant during a transaction;    said merchant using a data entry unit to recognize said referral card and to verify said merchant information and said card owner information;    said merchant communicating with said server to verify said card owner information with said server and said database;    said merchant providing a predetermined privilege to said recipient upon verification by said server and said database;    said merchant notifying said server of a transaction with said recipient;    said server and said database issuing a credit to said card owner account upon a predetermined event by said recipient.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said predetermined event is at least one of: 
 when said recipient applies for a referral card from said network;    when said recipient uses said referral card in a commercial transaction;    when said recipient accepts a referral card from said network.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said merchant further generates a referral card for said recipient, said referral card for said recipient containing merchant information and card owner information including referral source information from other card owners.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said merchant also issues a payment to a predetermined charity organization based on predetermined formula.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said card from said network is a membership card which entitles its card holder predetermined privileges when conducting transactions at said merchant.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said business card further contains a telephone calling card function which can be activated by said server such that said telephone calling card function allows said holder of said business card to make telephone calls.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said business card further contains a predefined benefit that can be selectively activated by said server upon a predefined event by said holder of said business card.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said business card further contains a telephone calling card function which can be activated by said server such that said telephone calling card function allows said holder of said business card to make telephone calls.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said business card further contains a predefined benefit that can be selectively activated by said server upon a predefined event by said holder of said business card.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 6 , said referral card being disposed to contain a telephone calling card feature that can be activated by said server upon a predefined event.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 6 , said referral card being disposed to contain a predefined benefit feature that can be activated by said server upon a predefined event.