Method and apparatus for generating gift certificates
US5243174A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F17/42
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic gift certificate dispenser device for printing and dispensing a gift certificate purchased by a credit card. A consumer approaches the device and inserts a credit card into a magnetic card reader. The consumer chooses a retailer from a menu of participating retailers and enters the gift certificate value. The machine automatically verifies the credit card, causes the account to be debited and prints the gift certificate. A plurality of gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. Information regarding gift certificate purchases is transferred from the devices to the central processing unit to be collated and billed to credit card accounts. The central processing unit also informs merchants of the purchase of gift certificates that will be redeemed at their stores.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.