A first identification code intended to uniquely identify the payment card is indicated on the front face and/or rear face.

The one just described is the known configuration of electronic payment cards or debit cards used in prior art for payments.

There are several types of payment cards used for many activities: payment cards recently have not been limited to the payment for the purchase of products or services, but are used as real checking accounts for depositing wages or for the direct debit of bills.

Currently available payment cards therefore work closely with the checking account, even replacing it in some cases .

It is known that each payment card, debit card (for instance ATM card) or electronic payment card, has an identification code intended to uniquely identify the payment card. Such identification code is known as PAN code (Primary Account Number) and it is the identification number of a debit card and electronic payment card associated therewith from their issue date. An algorithm associated with the PAN generates the PIN, which on the contrary is the identi ication number of the user. While PIN is entered by the user upon the transaction, PAN is "written" on the card. Upon the transaction, PAN is read by devices of the ATM or POS type and it is sent via network till reaching the authorization center checking that the card has been issued with such PAN and checking its validity.

Although currently available payment cards, in addition to activities listed above, allow any product or service to be purchased, however they do not allow a real service card to be implemented, which allows not only payments to be made but which can be also used as a loyalty card, that is as a card for accumulating loyalty points, discounts, or even as a coupon, particularly luncheon vouchers.

Such uses currently are not possible because of the several actors in the system: the several retailers cannot act on the PAN code, which is given by the financial institution issuing the card, therefore they cannot check the correct transaction in their favor and the validity of the card.

Therefore there is a need not satisfied by prior art payment cards to provide a payment card that allows all the activities listed above to be performed and at the same time able to combine the need of being used as a value-added service card, for example loyalty card, coupon or the like.

The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a payment card as described above, wherein a second identification code intended to uniquely identify the payment card is printed on the front face and/or rear face.

Particularly the first identification code is used for a first type of economical transactions, while the second identification code is used for a second type of transactions .

Thus operations known as payments , RID charges , deposits of wages, etc, can be related to the first identification code, while value-added services such as coupons and loyalty points can be associated to the second identification code.

Thus a real multifunction card is achieved which can be used for purchasing any product or service and at the same time where coupons, particularly luncheon vouchers can be loaded.

One of the main advantages, resulting from the fact that the modes of payment do not change, is that the use of the payment card remains the same, the first or second identification codes will be simply used by the reading devices, POS or ATM, on the basis of the performed transaction.

As with electronic payment cards or debit cards known in prior art, also the payment card of the present invention can have identification codes in predetermined areas of the front face or rear face.

According to a first embodiment, the payment card of the present invention has a chip on the front face, inside which chip the first and second identification codes are stored.

Moreover according to a possible embodiment the payment card of the present invention provides a code, of the barcode type or the like, on the rear face, inside which barcode the first and second identification codes are stored.

As it will be more clear below when disclosing the characteristics of the second identification code it is possible to provide to set the chip or the barcode such to associate the second identification code with transactions intended to pay predetermined services.

The payment card of the present invention guarantees to the card holder, in addition to the payment function and to the main functionalities of a card and of a checking account (credit transfers, deposit of wages and pensions, RID, direct debit of bills, telephone recharges, payment of motorway tolls, payment of bills etc.) also a plurality of value-added services and advantages.

By means of the second identification code it is possible to load on the payment card of the present invention coupons, issued as a kind of business benefits or incentives and usable in digital format.

Moreover it is possible to load electronic luncheon vouchers, that is service instruments free of taxes, issued as a kind of business benefits or incentives and usable in digital format.

All payment cards known in prior art, also when having several identification codes, use their own codes for conventional payment transactions aiming at increasing security.

They do not provide to purchase value-added services besides the payment.

The multifunction credit card of the present invention enables the possibility of performing transactions for additional services without using the conventional PAN, such not to spread a sensitive element such as the number of the credit card to providers of the several value-added services.

The fact of providing an "open" PAN usable also by other service providers allows further services to be provided (also handled by third parties) .

Since the conventional financial PAN of known payment cards is a sensitive element, the payment card of the present invention allows it to be used only for financial transactions handled by certified actors (banks, terminal operators, etc.) with high security criteria .

Moreover the reading of a financial PAN requires POS reading devices to exhibit certificates and security criteria, therefore it would be necessary to equip all the value-added service acceptance points with a certified and bank POS, thus reducing the possible network accepting the value-added services.

Moreover it is specified that the current payment infrastructure is not arranged for providing value- added services starting from the financial PAN, therefore it results in a secure infrastructure but enclosing only payments , a drawback solved by the payment card of the present invention.

Moreover as it will be described below, the second identification code can represent a customer recognizing key for value-added services also of different providers.

The second identification code can be advantageously associated to a customer identity and then to all his/her accounts on the several value-added services and it is easy to be defined by reading the chip or by reading the barcode also on not certified devices, thus considerably increasing the possible acceptance network also by means of mobile devices or barcode readers that can read the second identification code of the payment card of the present invention.

Moreover as it is clear the payment card of the present invention allows a network of affiliated retailers to be created, able to emit coupons and gift vouchers and loaded on the card, by means of the second identification code.

Moreover such networks of affiliated retailers allow discounts and promotions to be offered in cash- back mode: if transactions are made with the payment card of the present invention at one of the affiliated retailers it is possible to provide discounts or credits to be loaded whici can be used at additional affiliated retailers of the network.

Moreover affiliated networks allow the holder of the payment card of the present invention to save on any purchase made within the network, by the cash-back system that pays back a part of the paid amount automatically in the card.

All the advantages described above can be achieved by the particular configuration of the second identi ication code.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second identification code is composed of three parts, of which a first part arranged to identify the payment card, a second part arranged to identify the card holder and a third part arranged to identify predetermined services that can be used by means of the second identification code.

Particularly the first part of the second identification code comprises one or more bytes that can be read, but cannot be modified.

Moreover advantageously the third part of the second identification code comprises one or more memory units for storing codes related to said predetermined services, said memory areas being modifiable.

It is clear how it is possible to insert or eliminate services that can be purchased only by modifying the identification code: the memory units are like dynamically created sectors wherein it is possible to insert one or more of the predetermined services.

Due to the several characteristics of the second identification code it is possible to provide the following uses of the payment card of the present invention :

- the payment card can be used to redeem discount coupons at the supermarket by reading the second identification code;

the payment card can be used to redeem electronic luncheon vouchers at the retailer by reading the second identification code; the payment card can be used by an external ticketing service provider to be used as a channel to recognize his/her registered customers by the second identi ication code;

- the payment card can be used by an external loyalty service provider to be used as a channel for recognizing his/her registered clients by the second identification code (for example loyalty cards of large-scale retail trade) .

Due to the advantageous characteristics of the payment card just described, the present invention relates also to a payment method for purchasing a specific product or service.

Such method provides to use a payment card having one or more of the characteristics described above, as an alternative or in combination.

Particularly the method of the present invention provides the following steps:

a) determining the type of transaction,

b) associating the transaction with the first or second identification code,

c) payment.

Based on the method of the present invention it is clear how the transactions are related and associated with the first or second identification code.

The modes of payment are the same as those described and known in prior art, that is upon the transaction, the identification code is read by devices of the ATM or POS type and it is sent via network, till reaching the authorization center, that checks the card being issued with such identi ication code and its validity.

In this case the difference in the method of the present invention is due to the presence of two identification codes, particularly the second identification code that allows transactions related to purchase of value-added services described above to be performed.

According to one embodiment of the method of the present invention, it is possible to provide that in case of exceeding a specific threshold value of the transaction and in case of the association of the transaction with the second identification code, a step cl) is provided prior to the payment step c) and related to the partition of the value of the transaction on the first and second identification code .

It results in the possibility, at least partially, to pay the cost of one of the value-added services by using the network related to the first identification code that is the one related to the checking account of the user.

According to such configuration, the method of the present invention therefore allows a compensatory transaction to be automatically made.

According to a particular case, it is possible to provide one of the value-added services to be the use of luncheon vouchers that, loaded on the payment card of the present invention, become electronic luncheon vouchers . By integrating several services on a single tool, that is the payment card of the present invention, the holder can use the card as a electronic luncheon voucher during his/her lunch break and can pay the difference, if any, when the amount of the expense exceeds the value of the electronic ticket, automatically, by a single electronic transaction, by choosing to use the functionalities of a multifunction card, obtaining a compensatory transaction to settle the performed expense. Besides the electronic luncheon voucher it will be possible to make a compensatory transaction based on the payment of any type of service .

It is specified that the invention relates also to a system for managing payments comprising at least one payment card and at least one user unit.

The payment card is made according to one or more of the characteristics described above, while the user unit has means for acquiring the first and second identification codes.

As it is clear, the system of the present invention can be implemented by means of the known knowledge in prior art for managing any payment and for creating a virtual profile of the card holder that facilitates purchases and transactions.

The means acquiring the first and second identification codes can be made in any manner known in prior art.

Particularly if the second identification code is made as a barcode placed on the rear face, it is possible to provide such code to be read by mobile devices, tablets, checkouts of large-scale retail trade, personal computers with barcode readers and by any barcode readers for providing value-added services by acquiring the second identification code.

According to a possible embodiment intended to increase the security of the second identification code, it is possible to insert also authentication systems where the system can ask the user, after several uses of the second identification code for value-added services, to confirm the latter and further additional identification data of the customer (personal data, a selfie photo for face recognition, fingerprint etc) elements that can overcome security criteria of the conventional payment PIN.

These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following description of some embodiments shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

Figs, la and lb are a possible implementation of the payment card of the present invention;

Fig.2 is a flow diagram of the payment method of the present invention;

Fig.3 is a flow diagram of the system of the present invention.

It is specified that figures annexed to the present patent application are shown for better describing the advantages and characteristics of the payment card and of the payment system and method of the present invention. Therefore such figures have to be intended for illustrative purposes and not as a limitation of the inventive concept of the present invention, that is to provide a multifunction payment card having value-added services, that is to provide a single tool by means of which any kind of purchase can be made, thus helping the user.

With a particular reference to figures la and lb the payment card of the present invention is composed of a rectangular-shaped sheet 1 made of plastic material, so as to have two faces, of which a front face 11 and a rear face 12.

The payment card of the present invention has a first identification code both on the front face 11 and on the rear face 12, intended to uniquely identify the payment card.

Moreover a second identification code is provided both on the front face 11 and on the rear face 12, intended to uniquely identify the payment card.

As mentioned above, the first identification code is used for a first type of economic transactions, while the second identification code is used for a second type of transactions .

With a particular reference to figure la it shows the front face 11 of the payment card, wherein a chip 13 is provided wherein the first and second identification codes are stored.

Moreover the front face 11 has all the characteristics of prior art known payment cards, such as number of the payment card, name of the card holder, expiration date, retailer and payment network.

Among functionalities known in prior art about payment cards, the payment possibility known as "contact-less" is specified, that is the payment card is moved near a sensor and, without swiping the card or reading the chip, the payment is performed.

The payment card of the present invention has such contact-less mode shown in figure la by the symbol numbered with 15.

In the particular case of the payment card of the present invention, it is clear how the contact-less payment functionality can use both the first and the second identification codes, based on the modes described both above and below, with a particular reference to figure 2.

The payment card of the present invention can therefore be used in the contact-less mode to provide payment services and value-added services.

Figure lb on the contrary shows the rear face 12 of a possible embodiment of the payment card of the present invention, wherein a code, of the barcode type or the like 14 is provided, on the rear face 12, inside which barcode 14 the first and second identification codes are stored.

Also in this case the rear face 12 of the payment card of the present invention has all the characteristics of prior art known payment cards, such as magnetic stripe, three-digit security code, and the space for the card holder signature.

As it will be clear from the description of figure 2 , as regards the payment method of the present invention, the second identification code is associated with transactions intended for the payment of predetermined services .

Such services, called as value-added services, are predetermined since it is possible to associate to the second identification code a selected list of services.

This is possible by the specific implementation of the second identification code.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second identification code is composed of three parts, of which a first part arranged to identify the payment card, a second part arranged to identify the card holder, and a third part arranged to identify the predetermined services.

In particular the first part of the second identification code comprises one or more bytes that can be read, but cannot be modified.

Preferably the first part of the second identification code is represented by a file with a maximum size of 36 bytes. Such file is opened in read mode and it contains data identifying the user and the card. The file has to exhibit characteristics of a OTP (One time password) , that is once data are written inside it they cannot be modified anymore. The access as read mode has to be possible also without external authentication, namely without requiring identifications to the device reading the payment card.

The second part of the second identification code is preferably composed of a file containing information about the holder. The total size of the file is 70 bytes. The file must be initialized with binary zeros. Unlike the first part, in this case the reading is allowed following an external authentication.

Moreover according to a preferred embodiment, the third part of the second identification code comprises one or more memory units to store the codes related to predetermined services, such memory areas being modifiable .

Thus the third part is composed of different files, whose number is variable and is a function of the services to be activated and of the memory space available in the EEPROM of the computer. Each individual value-added service will be coded into an elementary file. The standard file for managing a service preferably has a size of 500 byte. The file has to be initialized by binary zeros. Also in this case the reading is allowed following external authentication .

Based on what described, according to the preferred embodiment, the second identification code is composed of seven files present on the card, divided as it follows (obviously if the space allows it, it is possible to create value-added service-related files till filling the EEPROM) :

• 1 file related to the first part (size of 35 bytes) ;

• 1 file related to the second part (size of 70 bytes) ;

· at least 5 files (or till filling the EEPROM) associated with the third part.

Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of the payment method of the present invention, intended to purchase products or services.

The shown payment method provides to use a payment card made according to the characteristics described above .

With a particular reference to figure 2, the method provides the following steps:

a) determining the type of transaction, denoted by

21,

b) associating the transaction to the first or second identification code, denoted by 31,

c) payment, denoted by 41.

Upon the transaction, the type of purchased product or service is defined, step 21.

If the type of transaction is related to one of the value-added services present in the list of the second identification code, the second identification code is used, step 31, which is read, step 32, by devices of the ATM type or POS type and it is sent via network till reaching the authorization center, that checks the card being issued and the validity thereof.

Therefore the payment is performed, step 41.

If the product or service is not within the value- added service list present in the second identification code, the first identification code is used in a manner completely similar to what described in steps above.

The payment modes will follow the modes known in prior art based on the kind of payment card, that is electronic or debit payment card.

According to a variant embodiment it is possible to provide the payment method of the present invention, in case of exceeding a specific threshold value of the transaction and in case of association of the transaction with the second identification code, to provide a step cl) prior to the payment step c) and related to the partition of the transaction value on the first and second identification code.

In this case a step detecting the cost 33 of the transaction is provided intended to detect whether such cost exceeds a specific threshold value.

The threshold value can change on the basis of the value-added service to be paid, that is a precise threshold value can be associated with each service related to the second identification code.

The step detecting the cost 33 detects the threshold value of the service, if the cost exceeds such value, automatically it pays the amount exceeding the threshold value by a transaction using the first identification code.

For example make reference to the case when the value-added service is the payment of the lunch by means of electronic luncheon vouchers.

The electronic luncheon voucher is one of the value-added services associated to the second identification code, wherein also the value of the luncheon voucher can be stored.

The user, by means of the payment card of the present invention, pays the lunch and the transaction is associated to the second identi ication code.

The cost of the lunch and the value of the electronic luncheon voucher are compared: if the cost of the lunch exceeds the value of the electronic luncheon voucher, the residual amount is paid by a transaction by using the first identification code.

Obviously the payment card is associated to a checking account of the user, therefore the user will have such amount charged to his/her checking account.

If the amount is less than the value of the electronic luncheon voucher, it is possible to credit the excess amount to the user.

The crediting can directly take place on the checking account of the user associated to the payment card, or it is possible to provide such amount to be pay back on the value-added service of the electronic luncheon voucher just used.

Thus it is possible to create a kind of virtual moneybox related to each value-added service, such to accumulate the "residual amounts" deriving from transactions .

Due to the characteristics described about the payment card and the method of the present invention, figure 3 shows a system for managing the payments that uses the payment card and the method just described.

The system comprises a payment card 5 having one or more of the characteristics described above, with a particular reference to figures la and lb, and a user unit 6.

The user unit 6 has means for acquiring the first and second identi ication code of the payment card 5.

Such acquisition means can be made in any manner known in prior art.

For example if the user unit 6 is composed of a portable device of the smartphone, tablet type or the like it is possible to provide means able to acquire the barcode 14 such to store the first and second unique codes .

Obviously both the user unit 6 and the payment card 5 can be provided in communication with a remote unit 7 that supervises the operation of the system and inside which control databases are provided for validating the first or second identification codes.

Thus a system managing the payments is implemented which has the advantages of the payment card and of the payment method described above.

Obviously it is possible to provide a logic programme that can be installed in the user unit 6 facilitating the payments and the acquisition of the first and second identification codes, particularly that allows the two codes to be digitized such to be usable for on-line purchases and for purchases within the network of affiliated stores.

If the user unit 6 is composed of a portable device, it is possible to provide a geo-locating service, to access to stores that have joined affiliated networks to obtain the discounts and promotions described above, by making the search on the map, entering the city or the address of interest; or by an advanced search, by selecting the product category. Once the store is selected, for example the distance can be shown and the path for reaching it can be calculated.

These and other functionalities can be implemented by the system of the present invention.

Finally, by way of an example, it is possible to implement the system of the present invention to carry out one or more of the functionalities described in the patent 0001408666 to the same applicant, whose contents has to be considered as an integral part of the present patent application.