Systems and methods for enterprise based issuance of identification cards
View Patent ↗Methods and associated systems for enterprise-wide issuance of identification cards. A single enterprise server component and a plurality of card issuance machine controller components are distributed over an enterprise network. Each card machine controller component controls one or more devices for the production of identification cards including, for example, embossed and/or digitally encoded information. The single enterprise server component acts as a server to route the card issuance requests to the proper card machine controller component on behalf of client programs at each location used to request the production of an identification card. The enterprise server component further provides enhanced security and encryption to provide requisite security in the exchange of sensitive information in the production of such identification cards. An administrative component, which can be used anywhere on the network, provides centralized management of common data used by the server, card machine controllers and client programs in the production of identification cards. The administrative component also provides for centralized administration of the plurality of PCs, card issuance machines and software components to permit easy re-assignment of future production requests for purposes of management and/or for end user convenience.
1. A method for producing identification cards of a plurality of card types using a plurality of card issuance machines that are located in a plurality of locations, wherein the card issuance machines are communicably coupled to an enterprise server through an enterprise network, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a request in a client process to produce an identification card wherein said request includes information regarding a type of card to be produced from a plurality of card types;
transmitting said request from said client process to the enterprise server through an enterprise network to manage the production of said identification card;
evaluating a rule set and placing the request into one of a card issuance component queue where cards are ready for immediate production and a production queue for later production based on the evaluation, wherein the rule set includes card type criteria and geographic location criteria, and further comprising linking said request based at least in part on the requested card type and a geographic location where the request originated to one of the card issuance component queue and the production queue; and
forwarding said request from said card issuance component queue to a card issuance controller process coupled to the plurality of card issuance machines for production of the identification card;
producing the identification card using one of the card issuance machines.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the production queue includes production requests for later processing, and further comprising;
receiving instruction from an administrative user to process requests in said production queue; and
transferring said request from said production queue to said card issuance component queue.
3. A method for producing identification cards using card issuance machines which are located at a variety of separate locations, the method comprising the steps of:
transmitting a request from a client computer system to an enterprise server system, wherein the request is to produce an identification card of a certain type from a plurality of card types;
at the enterprise server system, evaluating the request, including the card type and a geographic location where the request originated, to determine where and when the request to produce the identification card can be fulfilled, wherein the determination further includes evaluating a geographic location where card issuance machines are located and available for producing the identification card;
if the evaluation indicates that the card is ready for immediate production, placing the request into a card issuance type queue for immediate production of the card using one of the card issuance machines;
if the evaluation indicates that the card is not ready for immediate production, placing the request into a production type queue for later processing; and
producing the card from the card issuance type queue or the production type queue using one of the card issuance machines.