Method and device for loyalty program enrollment and dispensing of loyalty cards

1 . A device for providing a loyalty card, comprising:

an interface for receiving consumer identification information;

a scanner for scanning loyalty identification information from the loyalty card;

a dispenser for dispensing the loyalty card;

a processor in communication with the interface and the scanner, wherein the processor associates the consumer identification information with the loyalty identification information; and

a communication interface for communicating the consumer identification information and the loyalty identification information to a storage device.

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a card scanner, wherein the card scanner receives consumer identification information from one or more of a credit card, a debit card, a driver's license and a previously issued loyalty card.

3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a biometric input device, wherein the biometric input device receives consumer identification information in the form of a biometric sample.

4 . The device of claim 3 wherein the biometric sample comprises a scan of a fingerprint.

5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the loyalty card is embedded in a loyalty card template that includes a plurality of card form factors of one or more sizes.

6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the processor further verifies the authenticity of the consumer identification information.

7 . A device for providing a loyalty card, comprising:

an interface for receiving consumer identification information;

a processor in communication with the interface, wherein the processor determines loyalty identification information for a loyalty card and associates the consumer identification information with the loyalty identification information;

a printer for printing the loyalty identification information on the loyalty card.

a dispenser for dispensing the loyalty card; and

a communication interface for communicating the consumer identification information and the loyalty identification information to a storage device.

8 . The device of claim 7 wherein the interface comprises a card scanner, wherein the card scanner receives consumer identification information from one or more of a credit card, a debit card, a driver's license and a previously issued loyalty card.

9 . The device of claim 7 wherein the interface comprises a biometric input device, wherein the biometric input device receives consumer identification information in the form of a biometric sample.

10 . The device of claim 9 wherein the biometric sample comprises a scan of a fingerprint.

11 . The device of claim 7 wherein the loyalty card is embedded in a loyalty card template that includes a plurality of card form factors of one or more sizes.

12 . The device of claim 7 wherein the processor further verifies the authenticity of the consumer identification information.

13 . A method of enrolling a consumer in a merchant loyalty program, the method comprising:

receiving consumer identification information from a consumer via an input device;

determining loyalty identification information associated with a loyalty card;

automatically associating the loyalty identification information with the consumer identification information;

dispensing the loyalty card to the consumer substantially in real time; and

storing the consumer identification information and loyalty identification information in a storage device.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the input device comprises one or more of the following:

a keyboard;

a touch screen;

a pointing device;

a barcode scanner;

a magnetic stripe reader;

a biometric scanner; and

a communications interface in communication with one or more of the Internet and an intranet.

15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the loyalty card is embedded in a loyalty card template that includes a plurality of card form factors of one or more sizes.

16 . The method of claim 13 wherein the consumer identification information comprises one or more of the following:

a name of the consumer;

an address of the consumer;

a phone number of the consumer;

one or more household statistics of the consumer;

one or more retail preferences of the consumer;

a birth date of the consumer; and

consumer payment preference information.

17 . The method of claim 13 wherein storing the consumer identification information and the loyalty identification information comprises transmitting the consumer identification information and the loyalty identification information via one or more of:

a communications interface in communication with a computer network; and

a wireless communications interface in communication with a wireless network.

18 . The method of claim 13 wherein the storage device is remotely located from the input device.

19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

verifying the authenticity of the consumer identification information.

20 . A processor-readable storage medium containing one or more programming instructions for performing a method of enrolling a consumer in a merchant loyalty program, the method comprising:

receiving consumer identification information from a consumer via an input device;

determining loyalty identification information associated with a loyalty card;

automatically associating the loyalty identification information with the consumer identification information;

dispensing the loyalty card to the consumer substantially in real time; and

storing the consumer identification information and loyalty identification information in a storage device.

21 . The processor-readable storage medium of claim 20 wherein storing the consumer identification information and the loyalty identification information comprises transmitting the consumer identification information and the loyalty identification information via one or more of:

a communications interface in communication with a computer network; and

a wireless communications interface in communication with a wireless network.

22 . The processor-readable storage medium of claim 20 , further containing one or more programming instructions for:

verifying the authenticity of the consumer identification information.