Patent Application
20080228602
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of data processing systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for credit card lost-and-found notification.
2. Description of the Related Art
The utilization of credit cards is nearly ubiquitous in today's world. Some examples of common credit card use include the payment of goods or services via phone or an online store. A credit card is commonly defined as a plastic card that includes a number and a coded magnetic stripe. The credit card, when signed, entitles its bearer to a revolving line of credit. The size and interest rate pertaining to the line of credit is commonly determined by the borrower's income and credit report. The use of credit cards began in the late 1940s when banks issued paper certificates that could be utilized like cash in local stores. The first real credit card was issued in 1951 by Franklin National Bank in New York.
If a credit card holder accidentally leaves his or her credit card at an establishment, or loses his or her card, the credit card holder must retrace his or her steps to determine the last known location of the credit card. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method addressing the above-mentioned limitation.
The present invention includes a method, system, and computer-usable medium for sending a first notification message to a credit card agency alerting the credit card agency of a misplaced credit card, an identification of a credit card owner, and a location of the misplaced credit card; in response to receiving the first notification message, sending a second notification message to the credit card owner corresponding to the misplaced credit card; and in response to receiving the second notification message, specifying a procedure for returning the misplaced credit card to the credit card owner.
The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further purposes and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the figures, and more specifically, referring now to
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, network 100 provides a system in which a credit card owner may retrieve a credit card that was accidentally left at a restaurant after a meal. Restaurant credit card terminal 102 is preferably implemented as a computer interface that includes a magnetic card reader for gathering information from the magnetic stripe located on the back of the credit card.
Restaurant credit card terminal 102 is coupled to the other components of network 100 via wide-area network (WAN) 104, which is preferably implemented as the Internet. Credit card agency server 106 is preferably implemented as a computer server that includes at least one computer-readable medium that stores information regarding credit card transactions and credit card owner information.
Client terminal 108 is preferably implemented as a computer system, telephone, personal data assistant (PDA), or another other device capable of coupling to WAN 104 and receive messages from credit card agency server 106 about lost credit cards.
Referring now to
As illustrated, data processing system 150 includes a collection of processing units 152a-n which are coupled by system interconnect 154. Also coupled to processing units 152a-n via system interconnect 154 is system memory 156. Mezzanine interconnect 158 couples system interconnect 154 with peripheral interconnect 160.
Those with skill in this art will appreciate that peripheral interconnect 160 may be implemented as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI), accelerated graphics port (AGP), or any other peripheral bus. Coupled to peripheral interconnect 160 is hard disk drive 162, which is utilized by data processing system 150 as a mass storage device. Also coupled to peripheral bus 160 is a collection of peripherals 164a-n.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that data processing system 150 can include many additional components not specifically illustrated in
With reference now to
As illustrated in steps 200-202, a first notification message is sent from restaurant card terminal 102 to credit card agency server 106 via WAN 104 that includes a location of the lost credit card and the identification of the credit card owner. In response to receiving the first notification message, credit card agency server 106 sends a second notification message to client terminal 108 via WAN 104 (step 204). The second notification message includes an indication that a credit card belonging to the credit card owner has been reported lost and the location of the lost credit card. Preferably, this second notification message may be an automated message sent via e-mail or phone. As previously discussed, client terminal 108 may be implemented as any device capable of connection to WAN 104, including, but not limited to, a phone, a desktop or laptop computer, a personal data assistant (PDA), etc.
After receiving the second notification message, the credit card owner may determine the requested action to be performed on the missing credit card. For example, the restaurant may receive a message from the card owner via client terminal 108 instructing the restaurant employees to hold the credit card for the credit card owner to physically retrieve the credit card (step 208). For security purposes and to discourage unauthorized use of the credit card, the credit card owner may send a message via client terminal 108 to credit card agency server 106 to deactivate the missing credit card (step 210). Also, the credit card owner may send a message via client terminal 108 instructing the restaurant employees to send the missing credit card to the credit card holder via a predetermined or provided address. (step 212). As illustrated, the process ends at step 214.
As discussed, the present invention includes a method, system, and computer-usable medium for sending a first notification message to a credit card agency alerting the credit card agency of a misplaced credit card, an identification of a credit card owner, and a location of the misplaced credit card; in response to receiving the first notification message, sending a second notification message to the credit card owner corresponding to the misplaced credit card; and in response to receiving the second notification message, specifying a procedure for returning the misplaced credit card to the credit card owner.
It should be understood that at least some aspects of the present invention may be alternatively be implemented in a computer-usable medium that contains a program product. Programs defining functions on the present invention can be delivered to a data storage system or a computer system via a variety of signal-bearing media, which include, without limitation, non-writable storage media (e.g., CD-ROM), writable storage media (e.g., hard disk drive, read/write CD-ROM, optical media), system memory such as, but not limited to Random Access Memory (RAM), and communication media, such as computer and telephone networks, including Ethernet, the Internet, wireless networks, and like network systems. It should be understood, therefore, that such signal-bearing media when carrying or encoding computer-readable instructions that direct method functions in the present invention, represent alternative embodiments of the present invention. Further, it is understood that the present invention may be implemented by a system having means in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware as described herein or their equivalent.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/373,872, filed on Mar. 10, 2006, entitled “System and Method for Credit Card Lost-and Found Notification”. Applicants claim benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/373,872, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11373872 | Mar 2006 | US |
| Child | 12129859 | US |
