초록 ▼

A system and method for displaying a presentation instrument such as a gift card, and for establishing and maintaining an account associated with the gift card. The gift card is packaged with a card carrier for display at a retail establishment, with both the card and the card carrier each having an

A system and method for displaying a presentation instrument such as a gift card, and for establishing and maintaining an account associated with the gift card. The gift card is packaged with a card carrier for display at a retail establishment, with both the card and the card carrier each having an account identifying element, such as a magnetic stripe or bar code. The identifying element on the card may be electronically read in order to conduct transactions against the account. The identifying element on the card carrier may be electronically read to activate the account, but not conduct transactions, thereby reducing the opportunity for fraudulent transactions against the account.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A data card display system, comprising: a data card having a first machine readable identifying element thereon associated with a debit account in order to electronically identify the account and conduct transactions against the account; and a card carrier for holding the dat

What is claimed is: 1. A data card display system, comprising: a data card having a first machine readable identifying element thereon associated with a debit account in order to electronically identify the account and conduct transactions against the account; and a card carrier for holding the data card for display, the card carrier having a second machine readable identifying element associated with the account in order to electronically identify the account and activate the account for use by the cardholder, wherein the card carrier is constructed so that the second identifying element is physically altered at the time the data card is removed from the card carrier and by the act of removing the data card from the card carrier so that it cannot be read by a point of sale device, and is thereafter prevented from being used to conduct transactions. 2. The display system as in claim 1, wherein the data card is selected from the group consisting of a debit card, stored value card, gift card or credit card, wherein the data card is to be removed from the card carrier after activated, and wherein the card carrier is arranged to have the second identifying element electronically read prior to removal of the data card. 3. The display system of claim 2, wherein the identifying element on the card carrier and the identifying element on the data card each have information therein that distinguish the card carrier from the data card. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising adhesive tape overlaying at least a portion of the data card and at least a portion of the second identifying element on the carrier, the tape for being removed in order to separate the data card from the carrier, and thereby physically altering the account identifier on the carrier. 5. A presentation instrument and carrier assembly, comprising: a presentation instrument associated with a debit account; and a carrier for holding the instrument for display prior to purchase of the presentation instrument by a customer; wherein the presentation instrument and the carrier each have an machine readable account identifier thereon for electronically identifying the debit account, the account identifier on the presentation instrument for conducting transactions against the debit account once the account has been activated, and the account identifier on the carrier for activating the account; and wherein the presentation instrument is to be removed from the carrier prior to being used to conduct transactions, and wherein the account identifier on the carrier is arranged to be physically altered at the time the presentation instrument is separated from the carrier and by the act of removing so that it cannot be read by a point of sale device and is thereafter prevented from being used to conduct transactions. 6. The assembly as in claim 5, wherein the presentation instrument is a card. 7. The assembly as in claim 6, wherein the card is a prepaid gift card. 8. The assembly as in claim 6, wherein the account identifier on the carrier comprises a magnetic stripe, and wherein the carrier is constructed so that when the card is separated from the carrier, the magnetic stripe is altered. 9. The assembly as in claim 8, wherein the magnetic stripe is altered by physically tearing the magnetic stripe. 10. The assembly as in claim 6, wherein the account identifier on the carrier comprises magnetic stripe with account information thereon, wherein the magnetic stripe further comprises identifying information thereon for identifying whether the magnetic stripe is associated with the card or with the carrier. 11. The assembly as in claim 5, wherein the account identifier on the presentation instrument and the account identifier on the carrier each have information associated with the debit account, and wherein the information on each is the same. 12. The assembly as in claim 5, wherein the account identifier on the presentation instrument and the account identifier on the carrier each have information associated with the debit account, and wherein the information on each is different. 13. Apparatus for holding a presentation instrument for display, comprising: a carrier for supporting the presentation instrument; and machine readable identifying element on the carrier, the machine readable identifying element for being electronically read in order to activate an account associated with the presentation instrument, the machine readable identifying element arranged to be altered at the time the presentation instrument is removed from the carrier and by the act of removing the presentation instrument from the carrier so that it cannot be read by a point of sale device so as to prevent its use for conducting unauthorized transactions. 14. A presentation instrument assembly, comprising: a first portion; and a second portion removably attached to the first portion; wherein the first portion and the second portion each have machine readable account identifier thereon for electronically identifying a stored value account, the machine readable account identifier on the first portion being a first account identifier for conducting transactions against the stored value account, and the machine readable account identifier on the second portion being a second account identifier for associating a stored value amount with the account; and wherein the second account identifier on the second portion is physically altered at the time the second portion is removed from the first portion and by the act of removing so that it cannot be read by a point of sale device in order to prevent further use of the second account identifier on the second portion. 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the account identifier on the second portion may be used to activate the account when associating a stored value amount with the account. 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the first portion comprises a presentation instrument. 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the presentation instrument is a gift card to be purchased by one person for a second person, and wherein the stored value account is a gift card account. 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the account identifier on the second portion may be used to load funds into the account when associating a stored value amount with the account, and wherein the loading of funds may occur after the identifier on the first portion has been used to conduct transactions. 19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second portions are formed from a single sheet of material, with perforations between the first and second portions used to separate the first and second portions after activation of the stored value account. 20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the sheet of material is plastic. 21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the second portion is a card carrier for use in displaying the gift card at a retail location. 22. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the assembly is configured for purchase of the gift card and activation of the account while the first and second portions are attached, where the second portion is configured for separation from the first portion after purchase, and where the second portion is configured to add additional value to the stored value account after being removed from the first portion. 23. A presentation instrument and carrier assembly, comprising: a presentation instrument associated with a debit account; and a carrier for holding the instrument for display prior to purchase of the presentation instrument by a customer; wherein the presentation instrument and the carrier each have machine readable account identifier thereon for being electronically read in order to electronically identify the debit account and thereby directly access the account within a database, the account identifier on the presentation instrument being a first account identifier for conducting transactions against the debit account once the account has been activated, and the account identifier on the carrier being a second account identifier for activating the account; wherein the first account identifier on the presentation instrument is a first sub-account number and wherein the second account identifier on the carrier is a second, separate and different sub account number, both first and second account numbers associated with the debit account in the database; and wherein the second account identifier is physically altered at the time the presentation instrument is removed from the carrier and by the act of removing so that it cannot be read by a point of sale device and cannot be used to conduct transactions against the account. 24. A presentation instrument and carrier assembly, comprising: a presentation instrument associated with a debit account; and a carrier for holding the instrument for display prior to purchase of the presentation instrument by a customer; wherein the presentation instrument and the carrier each have an machine readable account identifier thereon for electronically identifying the debit account, the account identifier on the presentation instrument being a first account identifier for conducting transactions against the debit account once the account has been activated, and the account identifier on the carrier being a second account identifier for activating the account but not permitting transactions against the account; and wherein both the first account identifier on the presentation instrument and the second account identifier on the carrier are visible in the assembly when the presentation instrument is held for display by the carrier and wherein the second account identifier is physically altered at the time the presentation instrument is removed from the carrier and by the act of removing so that it cannot be read by a point of sale device and cannot be used to conduct transactions against the account. 25. The assembly as in claim 24, wherein the account identifier is to be read by a terminal, which terminal may be used to either activate the account or conduct transactions against the account, and wherein the account identifier has information associated therewith in order to determine whether the account identifier being read is on the presentation instrument or on the associated camer. 26. The assembly as in claim 25, wherein the account has associated therewith first and second sub account numbers, the account identifier on the carrier including the first sub account number and wherein the account identifier on the presentation instrument including the second sub account number, and wherein use of the first sub account number permits the account to be activated, and wherein use of the second account number permits transactions against the account. 27. The assembly of claim 25, wherein at least one of the account identifiers on the presentation instrument and on the carrier has a marker digit to indicate whether that account identifier is on the presentation instrument or is on the carrier.