DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The present invention includes a system for and a method of combining account information for multiple credit cards on a single credit card or other token. The consumer may access a database and register their multiple credit cards with a registration service that allows them to access the numerous credit card account information using a single credit card. For instance, if the consumer has several bank cards (e.g. MasterCard®, a Visa®, Discover®, American Express®, etc.) store cards (e.g. Sears®, Penney's®, etc.) and gas station credit cards (e.g., Shell®, Exxon®, Mobil®, etc.), the consumer may access the registration database and record all associated account information with the registration database and select a primary one of the credit cards to carry on their person. Once the alternate credit card information is recorded with the registration service, the card member may use the primary credit card or similar token for their purchases and when the primary credit card is used, account information for each of the registered credit cards may be displayed to the consumer. The consumer would then have the opportunity to select which of the credit cards the purchase should be charged to. In addition to conventional credit cards, automatic teller machine cards, debit cards or bank cards can be combined on the primary card to provide a single card for use by the consumer for their varied transactions. Similarly, information may be included on the primary card, which allows the primary card to be used for personal identification by the consumer.

[0012] FIG. 1 shows the registration process for multiple credit cards onto a primary credit card. User 101 may access database 105 through computer 102 , an Internet 103 , and server 104 . Database 105 may store primary credit card information and associated accounts and this information may be accessed when a user presents the primary card for payment. Preferably information stored in database 105 is encrypted to limit unauthorized access. For example, various security features may be implemented in connection with certain accounts, transaction values, terminal being used, etc. Small transactions, such as purchases of gasoline from a self-service gas pump may not require additional user confirmation prior to providing access to the associated gasoline credit card. The user may also select a default account to be charged, (e.g., the Mobil® account is charged at Mobil® stations). Conversely, access to ATM card information may required the user to input a PIN prior to granting access. Use of a PIN further provides for decryption of associated account information using the PIN as a key. FIG. 1 further shows one format 106 of data storage in database 105 .

[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram that illustrates the process used by user 101 to register his various credit cards. Using computer 102 , user 101 logs onto the registration database in step 201 . One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that step 201 includes various methods for accessing the database, including direct access to the database, accessing database 105 through an Internet 103 and a server 104 connection, access via a telephone line, or any other method available to user 101 to set up an association between the various accounts and the primary credit card.

[0014] Once user 101 logs into the registration database, the system queries user 101 to submit identifying information in step 202 . This identifying information may include name, address, telephone number, social security number, passwords, or other information required to identify the user. Identifying information may also include personal identification numbers assigned to currently held credit cards by the user. In this case, registration database 105 ( FIG. 1 ) may interface, typically through Internet 103 , to other databases, including the credit card issuer's database to verify the identity of the user. One of ordinary skill would understand that any manner of establishing the association between the user and their account information, including in-person transactions, are also included in the present invention.

[0015] Once the user has submitted identifying information in step 202 , and their identity has been validated, the user selects a primary credit card that would be carried on the user's person in step 203 . The user may select any of their existing credit cards, or may alternatively, select a new credit card. In step 203 , the user submits account information, credit card issuer, Personal Identification Number (PIN), credit limit, or any other additional information desired to be stored in database 105 . One of ordinary skill in the art would also understand that, with permission from the user, portions of this information can be obtained from the credit card issuer. This information may be used by the system to provide additional information to the user. For instance, a message may be generated and displayed to the user as a credit limit or billing date approaches.

[0016] Once the primary credit card has been identified in step 203 , the user enters information pertaining to additional credit cards that they would like to be linked to the primary credit card in step 204 . This information entered in step 204 may consist of account information, credit card issuer information, PINs, credit limits, billing rates, due dates, or any other information desired for database 105 . In step 205 of FIG. 2 , the user is presented the opportunity to update the PIN associated with the multi-use credit card. If the user desires to update their PIN, step 206 is used to allow the user to enter a new PIN and confirm the selected PIN. Once the new PIN is entered and confirmed or if the user decides not to update their PIN number, step 207 “End” is encountered. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the purpose of the processing depicted in FIG. 2 is to aggregate multiple account information pertaining to a user in a single database and associate that account information to a single or primary credit card.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the end result of the registration process. In this example, the user has accessed database 105 ( FIG. 1 ) and has selected an American Express® credit card 305 as the primary credit card in step 203 ( FIG. 2 ). In step 204 of FIG. 2 , the user has linked MasterCard® 302 , Visa® 303 , Discovers 304 , Mobil® 306 , Shell® 307 and their First Unions card 308 to the primary credit card 305 . The user must present some token identifying the primary account, typically in the form of the physical credit card issued for that account. This multi-use card is identified as 301 in FIG. 3 . While the primary credit card 301 may be used to charge purchases or services to any of the associated credit cards, the associated credit cards may still be used to post charges to that specific account.

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates how a user may use a multi-use or primary credit card. The user, or a retailer, slides a multi-use credit card or other token through a terminal device such as card reader 401 . Attached to card reader 401 is screen 402 . The information read from card reader 401 is routed via communications link 403 to Internet 103 , server 104 and database 105 . Server 104 includes a processor. Within database 105 , information read from multi-use credit card 301 is used to access the user's information obtained via the registration process illustrated by the flow chart of FIG. 2 . Thus, by accessing database 105 , software identifies that MasterCard® 302 , Visa® 303 , Discover® 304 , American Express® 305 , Mobil® 306 , Shell® 307 and First Union® card 308 ( FIG. 3 ) are each associated with multi-use credit card 301 for the user.

[0019] Information pertaining to cards 302 through 308 is then sent back to screen 402 for display. Display 402 is updated to include the various accounts associated with the multi-use credit card. The display of screen 402 is updated to show a selection for MasterCard®, Visa®, Discover®, American Express®, Mobil®, Shell®, and First Union®. The user may then select any of these options displayed on screen 402 to indicate which of the credit cards the current purchase should be charged to. This selection may be made via touch screen, mouse selection, light pen, voice, an enter key or any other method in which the user transmits their selection to the system. Once this selection is made, the appropriate charge would be posted to the selected credit card. Once the user selects the appropriate credit card for the charge, this information is passed back to database 105 , which in turn, supplies the appropriate account information to the merchant. The merchant would then charge the purchase to the appropriate account in the normal manner as if the card for that account had been presented and swiped.

[0020] The invention provides a system and method for authorizing credit card transactions by the use of a single multi-use credit card. The system is comprised of three major components.

[0021] The first component is a card reading device. The card reading device functions as a scanning device to scan information from a credit card via the magnetic strip. In addition, the card reading device displays information to a user and receives input from selections made by credit card users.

[0022] The second component includes a database. The database stores information which associates various accounts with a primary card selected by user 101 . The database typically resides on a server and is configured to communicate via an Internet. Through the Internet, a credit card user can update credit card account information.

[0023] The third component is a processor which is configured to receive information from the input device and the database and to generate charges on a user selected account.

[0024] The system interfaces with a primary credit card, which is typically formed of plastic and includes a magnetic strip, chip, or other device for storing encoded information. Preferably, secure data storage and transmission techniques and systems are used to avoid compromising sensitive account data and user information.

[0025] One of ordinary skill will also appreciate that additional information stored in database 105 may be displayed to the user on display 402 ( FIG. 4 ). For instance, billing dates, approaching credit limits, extended warranty coverage offered by credit card companies, etc. may be displayed to the user to assist in the determination as to which account should be charged. In addition the server 104 of the invention may also query the merchant, or a database entry containing merchant information, to determine the types of credit cards which could be used for purchases from the merchant and adjust the displayed account information accordingly. For example, a gas card could not be used for a purchase at Sears® and should not be offered to the user as a possible selection.