Remote memory, prepaid accounts for use in purchasing goods and services are generally well known. Presently known schemes typically include a printed transaction card, for example a wallet-sized plastic or cardboard card, which bears on one side a unique authorization or account number and instructions for access to funds, services, and the like. Such prepaid cards have been used extensively throughout the world. One such example is the use of these remote memory cards as prepaid long distance telephone calling cards.
In contrast to stored value cards (e.g., "smart cards") wherein a remaining account balance is stored within a memory resident in the card, remote memory systems generally store information pertaining to a prepaid account at a central host computer. The host computer typically stores information relating to the available balance remaining in the account, as well as information pertaining to past activity associated with the account. In particular, the host computer may store transaction data relating to various goods or services purchased using the card. In the context of a prepaid telephone calling card, the host computer may store telephone call data, including the date, time, duration, and various other parameters relating to calls which were placed using the prepaid telephone card. The host computer may be accessed via a telephone or data line by the consumer through the use of an authorization code, personal identification number (PIN), or the like.
The use of prepaid remote memory telephone cards is particularly prevalent in the United States. A typical prepaid telephone calling card includes a toll-free telephone number used by a consumer to access a host computer system, a unique authorization code associated with the card and a corresponding remote account, and dialing instructions. When a customer desires to use the card to place a long distance call, he dials the toll-free number, thereby accessing the host system which manages the remote accounts. The consumer then enters a predetermined authorization number for allowing access to the database. Next, the consumer enters the desired long distance telephone number, and the system connects the consumer with the desired calling destination. Long distance telephone charges attributed to the telephone call are deducted from the remaining balance in the account and the call is terminated when the account is fully consumed. A call history, which includes information pertaining to the calls charged to the various accounts, may also be maintained by the host computer for each account.
In the United States, preprinted instructions on how to use the transaction cards are generally printed directly on the cards in a single language, such as English. The use of such cards by individuals who are not conversant in the English language can be inconvenient or even impossible, depending on their fluency in the English language and their familiarity with how to use the transaction cards. While instructions may be printed on a single card in several languages, the number of languages that may be printed on a card is directly related to the size of the card and the level of detail to which the instructions will be printed; in the event wallet-sized cards are used, limited space usually precludes more than one language being printed on the card. Another option in attempting to resolve this language problem is to print a series of cards in a variety of different languages. However, this option has the disadvantage, among others, of increasing the issuer's and merchant's inventory by a factor equal to the number of languages printed. A third option is to assign each language a separate telephone number. Once connected to the host computer by phone, the consumer can be instructed on how to use the transaction card in that particular language. This however, has the disadvantage of requiring the issuer to maintain a phone number and connection for each language.
Consequently, a system and method is thus needed which will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and will allow the issuer to easily produce transaction cards that may be used by consumers in a plurality of different languages.