Apparatus and method for production of transaction cards

1. A method for producing a transaction card corresponding to an account of a customer and bearing an image defined by said customer, the method comprising:

associating an optically-readable identifier with a customer-defined image to be applied to the transaction card;

reading said optically-readable identifier to reconcile said optically-readable identifier with a corresponding identifier associated with customer account information to be applied to the transaction card,

wherein said customer account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link to a card finishing facility,

wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to said card finishing facility; and

producing a transaction card bearing said customer-defined image and said customer account information.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the step of reconciling said optically-readable identifier with said corresponding identifier associated with said customer account information comprises deriving said corresponding identifier from said customer account information.

3. A method as in any preceding claim, wherein said customer account information and/or said corresponding identifier related to it are received securely from a card issuing authority.

4. A method as in claim 1 or 2 wherein after the step of reading said optically-readable identifier, a version of the identifier is encoded onto a recording medium on the transaction card.

5. A method as in claim 4 , wherein said encoded version of the identifier is read as part of the process of reconciliation with said corresponding identifier associated with said customer account information.

6. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the step of encoding a transaction card with a version of the identifier is performed at a site of a card manufacturer.

7. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the step of encoding a transaction card with a version of the identifier is performed at a site of a card finishing facility separate from the site of the card manufacturer.

8. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said customer account information comprises an embossing record for a financial transaction card.

9. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said corresponding identifier associated with the customer account information is derived from the account information.

10. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said corresponding identifier is derived from financial account information.

11. As method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said corresponding identifier is derived from an embossing record.

12. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein au encryption module on a site controlled by said card issuer generates a secure identifier from account information.

13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein said optically-readable identifier and said corresponding identifier correspond to or are derived from said secure identifier.

14. A method, as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein an identifier comprises one or more of:

a numeric code; an alpha numeric code; a text code; a non-sequential code; a one-way code; an encryption code; a hash code; meta tags; another suitable identifier.

15. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier comprises one or more of:

bar code; a digital signature; text; numerals; alpha numeric code; microdot; micro text; invisible ink; digital watermark or other suitable optically readable codes.

16. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said image and said optically-readable identifier are stored in a storage facility.

17. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said storage facility is on a site controlled by a card graphics hosting service.

18. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said storage facility is on a site of a card finishing facility.

19. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said storage facility is on a site of a card manufacturer.

20. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein cards with said optically-readable identifiers are transferred from the card manufacturer's control to a card finishing facility.

21. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein one or more of the customer-defined image and said optically-readable identifier is placed on the front of a card.

22. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein one or more of the customer-defined image and said optically-readable identifier is placed on the back of a card.

23. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the customer has generated said customer-defined image.

24. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the customer has manipulated said customer-defined image.

25. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the customer has selected said customer-defined image.

26. A method as in claim 25 , wherein an image is selected by a customer from an available collection of images.

27. A method, as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said customer-defined image is uploaded by a customer by means of the interact.

28. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is placed on said transaction card in a location that is subsequently covered by another feature of the card.

29. A method as in claim 28 , wherein the feature is selected from one or more of:

a chip a hologram; or a brand feature.

30. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein identifiers for cards authorized to be issued are received by a card graphics hosting service from an authorized card issuer such that only customer-defined images destined for cards authorized to be issued are supplied for downstream processing.

31. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said customer-defined image can be manipulated in relation to a template displaying one or more non-manipulatable card features.

32. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is applied to a portion of a card which is removed to generate a finished card.

33. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is applied to a card in more than one format.

34. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a finishing facility causes customer-defined images to be provided from an image gore based on reconciliation of identifiers.

35. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier is embedded in said customer-defined image.

36. A method as in claim 1 or 2 , wherein said optically-readable identifier and/or an identifier from which it is derived is generated by said card graphics hosting service.

37. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said card issuing authority also provides said corresponding identifier associated with the customer account information.

38. A method for production of a transaction card bearing account information and a customer-defined image, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier generated from account information of a customer;

generating an optically readable identifier corresponding to said received identifier;

associating said optically readable identifier with an image defined by said customer;

receiving a corresponding identifier; and

reconciling said corresponding identifier and said optical identifier associated with the customer-defined image to cause production of a card bearing the customer-defined image and relevant customer account information,

wherein said customer account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link to a card finishing facility, and

wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to said card finishing facility.

39. A method as in claim 38 , wherein said step of associating said optically-readable identifier with an image is performed by a card graphics hosting service.

40. A method for producing a transaction card bearing account information and a customer-defined image, the method comprising:

receiving on a secure link from a card issuing authority an identifier derived from customer account information, wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to a card finishing facility on said secure link;

embedding an optically readable version of said identifier in an image defined by said customer;

reading said optically readable identifier and encoding a version of the identifier in a recording medium of said transaction card;

receiving said account information at a card production facility and independently generating a corresponding identifier therefrom;

applying relevant account information and said customer defined image to a transaction card based on reconciliation of said corresponding identifier and said encoded version of the identifier.

41. An apparatus for producing transaction cards hearing customer-defined images, comprising:

means for receiving a card bearing a customer-defined image comprising an optically-readable identifier;

means for receiving at least financial information relating to a corresponding identifier;

means for reconciling said optically-readable identifier and said corresponding identifier;

means for applying account information to a transaction card bearing said customer-defined image responsive to said reconciliation step,

wherein said account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link, and

wherein only said account information is transferred from said card issuing authority.

42. Apparatus as in claim 41 , further comprising means for deriving said corresponding identifier from said account information.

43. Apparatus as in claim 41 , wherein said customer-defined image comprises an embedded optically readable identifier.

44. Apparatus as in claim 41 , wherein said step of reconciling comprises reading said optical identifier and encoding a magnetically readable version of the identifier in a magnetic strip.

45. A method for producing a transaction card corresponding to an account of a customer and bearing an image defined by the customer, the method comprising:

providing an interface for a customer to generate a customer-defined image to be applied to a transaction card;

associating an optically-readable identifier with said customer-defined image;

reading said optically-readable identifier and encoding a version of said identifier on a recording medium of said card;

reconciling the encoded version of the identifier with a corresponding identifier related to customer account information to generate a transaction card bearing said customer-defined image and said customer account information,

wherein said customer account information is provided by a card issuing authority on a secure link to a card finishing facility, and

wherein only said customer account information is transferred from said card issuing authority to said card finishing facility.

46. A method as in claim 45 , wherein said step of encoding a version of said identifier on a recording medium of the card comprises encoding a magnetic version of the identifier on the magnetic strip of a financial transaction card.