Credit card system and method

Abstract

A credit card system is provided which has the added feature of providing additional limited use credit card numbers and/or cards. These numbers and/or cards can be used for a single or limited use transaction, thereby reducing the potential for fraudulent reuse of these numbers and/or cards. The credit card system finds application to “card remote” transactions such as by phone or Internet. Additionally, when a single use or limited use credit card is used for “card present” transactions, so called “skimming” fraud is eliminated. Various other features enhance the credit card system, which will allow secure trade without the use of elaborate encryption techniques. Methods for limiting, distributing and using a limited use card number, controlling the validity of a limited use credit card number, conducting a limited use credit card number transaction and providing remote access devices for accessing a limited use credit card number are also provided.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for processing a transaction initiated by a customer presenting a personalized gift card number to a merchant, the method comprising the steps of:
 associating, in a database, a plurality of merchant identifiers and a predetermined amount with the personalized gift card number;   receiving, in a central processing system, the personalized gift card number, a transaction amount, and a merchant identification number electronically routed from the merchant;   determining electronically whether the personalized gift card number has been deactivated because the predetermined amount has been satisfied;   electronically determining whether the merchant identification number corresponds to one of the plurality of merchant identifiers associated with the personalized gift card number;   electronically determining whether authorization can be obtained against the personalized gift card number based on the merchant identification number determining step, the received transaction amount, and the predetermined amount; and   electronically transmitting a signal to the merchant with the results of the authorization determining step for the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a signal to the merchant denying authorization if the personalized gift card number has been deactivated.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 authorizing the transaction based on the results of the authorization determining step.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 subtracting the transaction amount from the predetermined amount associated with the personalized gift card in the database.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 declining authorization of the transaction based on the results of the authorization determining step.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized gift card number is associated with a master account number of an account holder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 electronically transmitting a signal to a facility which issued the personalized gift card number, the signal including original transaction details but with the personalized gift card number remapped to be the master account number if the personalized gift card number has not been deactivated,   wherein the authorization determining step includes electronically determining whether authorization can be obtained against the master account number.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the personalized gift card number is linked to an organization selected from a group consisting of: a utility, a public network service provider, a telephone company, a bank account, a prepaid account, and a credit card issuer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting a signal to the organization which is linked to the personalized gift card number, the signal including the original transaction details if the personalized gift card number has not been deactivated;   performing a credit check to determine whether authorization can be obtained against the personalized gift card number; and   transmitting a signal to the merchant with the results of the authorization determining step for the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount corresponds to a funding amount for a predetermined number of transactions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined number of transactions is one of: a single transaction, a plurality of transactions, and a number of recurring transactions. 
     
     
         12 . A method for conducting a transaction involving a personalized gift card number, the method comprising the steps of:
 initiating a transaction by a customer presenting the personalized gift card number to a merchant electronically or in person;   electronically routing the personalized gift card number to a central processing system;   determining electronically whether the personalized gift card number has been deactivated because a predetermined amount associated with the personalized gift card number has been satisfied;   electronically determining whether a merchant identification number associated with the merchant corresponds to one of a plurality of merchant identifiers associated with the personalized gift card number;   electronically determining whether authorization can be obtained against the personalized gift card number based on the merchant identification number determining step, the predetermined amount associated with the personalized gift card number, and a transaction amount of the transaction; and   electronically transmitting a signal to the merchant with the results of the authorization determining step for the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         13 . A method for implementing a personalized gift card system, the method comprising:
 maintaining a pool of credit card numbers which share identical formatting;   assigning at least one credit card number from the pool of credit card numbers to be a personalized gift card number which is deactivated upon use of a predetermined amount which occurs subsequent to assignment of the at least one credit card number;   associating the predetermined amount with the personalized gift card number;   determining whether to deactivate the personalized gift card number when the personalized gift card number was used to perform a transaction, and for generating a deactivation command in response thereto, wherein the determining step of whether to deactivate the personalized gift card number determines whether the predetermined amount has been used to fund transactions, and if so, generates the deactivation command when the predetermined amount has been used; and   deactivating the personalized gift card number based on the deactivation command,   wherein the personalized gift card number is valid for use at a plurality of merchants for at least one financial transaction totaling up to the predetermined amount.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 associating a master account number with the personalized gift card number, while ensuring that the master account number cannot be discovered on the basis of the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined amount corresponds to a funding amount for a predetermined number of transactions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined number of transactions is one of: a single transaction, a plurality of transactions, and a number of recurring transactions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 transmitting, to a receiver, a personalized gift card associated with the personalized gift card number in electronic or physical form.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 associating the personalized gift card number with a message received from a gift provider, wherein the message is displayed to a receiver of the personalized gift card number upon use of the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         19 . A system for processing a transaction initiated by a customer presenting a personalized gift card number to a merchant, the system comprising:
 a database configured to store a plurality of merchant identifiers and a predetermined amount associated with the personalized gift card number;   a receiving device configured to receiving the personalized gift card number, a transaction amount, and a merchant identification number electronically routed from the merchant;   a processing device configured to
 determine electronically whether the personalized gift card number has been deactivated because the predetermined amount has been satisfied, 
 electronically determine whether the merchant identification number corresponds to one of the plurality of merchant identifiers associated with the personalized gift card number, and 
 electronically determine whether authorization can be obtained against the personalized gift card number based on the merchant identification number determining step, the received transaction amount, and the predetermined amount; and 
   a transmitting device configured to electronically transmit a signal to the merchant with the results of the authorization determination for the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the transmitting device is further configured to electronically transmit a signal to the merchant denying authorization if the personalized gift card number has been deactivated. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processing device is further configured to authorize the transaction based on the results of the authorization determination. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processing device is further configured to subtract the transaction amount from the predetermined amount associated with the personalized gift card number. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processing device is further configured to decline authorization of the transaction based on the results of the authorization determination. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the personalized gift card number is associated with a master account number of an account holder. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the transmitting device is further configured to electronically transmit a signal to a facility which issued the personalized gift card number, the signal including original transaction details but with the personalized gift card number remapped to be the master account number if the personalized gift card number has not been deactivated, and
 wherein the authorization determination includes electronically determining whether authorization can be obtained against the master account number.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the personalized gift card number is linked to an organization selected from a group consisting of: a utility, a public network service provider, a telephone company, a bank account, a prepaid account, and a credit card issuer. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein
 the transmitting device is further configured to electronically transmit a signal to the organization which is linked to the personalized gift card number, the signal including the original transaction details if the personalized gift card number has not been deactivated,   the processing device is further configured to perform a credit check to determine whether authorization can be obtained against the personalized gift card number, and   the transmitting device is further configured to electronically transmit a signal to the merchant with the results of the authorization determination for the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined amount corresponds to a funding amount for a predetermined number of transactions. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the predetermined number of transactions is one of: a single transaction, a plurality of transactions, and a number of recurring transactions. 
     
     
         30 . A system for conducting a transaction involving a personalized gift card number, the system comprising:
 an initiating device configured to initiate a transaction by a customer presenting the personalized gift card number to a merchant electronically or in person;   a routing device configured to electronically route the personalized gift card number to a central processing system;   a processing device configured to
 determine electronically whether the personalized gift card number has been deactivated because a predetermined amount associated with the personalized gift card number has been satisfied, 
 electronically determine whether a merchant identification number associated with the merchant corresponds to one of a plurality of merchant identifiers associated with the personalized gift card number, and 
 electronically determine whether authorization can be obtained against the personalized gift card number based on the merchant identification number determination, the predetermined amount associated with the personalized gift card number, and a transaction amount of the transaction; and 
   a transmitting device configured to electronically transmit a signal to the merchant with the results of the authorization determination for the personalized gift card number.   
     
     
         31 . A personalized gift card system, comprising:
 a database configured to store a pool of credit card numbers which share identical formatting;   an assignment device configured to assign at least one credit card number from the pool of credit card numbers to be a personalized gift card number which is deactivated upon use of a predetermined amount which occurs subsequent to assignment of the at least one credit card number,   an associating device configured to associate the predetermined amount with the personalized gift card number; and   a processing device configured to
 determine whether to deactivate the personalized gift card number when the personalized gift card number was used to perform a transaction, and to generate a deactivation command in response thereto, wherein the determination of whether to deactivate the personalized gift card number determines whether the predetermined amount has been used to fund transactions, and if so, generates the deactivation command when the predetermined amount has been used, and 
 deactivate the personalized gift card number based on the deactivation command, 
   wherein the personalized gift card number is valid for use at a plurality of merchants for a plurality of financial transactions totaling up to the predetermined amount.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the associating device is further configured to associate a master account number with the personalized gift card number, while ensuring that the master account number cannot be discovered on the basis of the personalized gift card number. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the predetermined amount corresponds to a funding amount for a predetermined number of transactions. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the predetermined number of transactions is one of: a single transaction, a plurality of transactions, and a number of recurring transactions. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a transmitting device configured to transmit, to a receiver, a personalized gift card associated with the personalized gift card number in electronic or physical form.