GB2327063A - Electronic business card - Google Patents

Abstract

The card includes a hologram 1, a metallic or electronic strip 2 (on the rear of the card) and a barcode 3.

Description

Description of the Invention: COMPUTERISED/ELECTROIVICBUSIRrESS CARD This invention relates to an electronically readable business card.

Conventional business cards are used to relay information from one person to another and gives the receiving person (hereinafter referred to as "receiver") full details of the presenting person's (hereinafter referred to as "presenter") first and family names, company name, work and/or home address, telephone, facsimile, mobile numbers and position within the company. The business card is normally made of thin cardboard and easily carried in the pocket of a shirt or ajacket.

Figure 1 illustrates a common business card. These cards are normally made of cardboard of various thicknesses but can also be manufactured in other materials such as plastic, wood, stone and even metal to name but a few.

In Figurel (a conventional business card), details of the presenter's particulars such as first and family name (1), Position (2), Company Name (3),Address (4) and (5), Postcode (6), Country (7), contact numbers be they telephone (8) and facsimile (9) and Company Logo (10) are clearly visible.

The receiver, upon receipt of a business card, will normally carry out one of the following actions with the card:i) throw it away; ii) look at it and then store it either in a card holder or in a drawer; iii) record the information given on the card onto paper or type into a computer or make a photocopy and then carry out actions i) or ii) above.

The computerised/electronic business card (detailed in Figures 2,3 and 4) allows all information to be stored on the card in a form and format that can be electronically transferred to a computer, personal organiser or other such device for storage.

The form of storage on a business card can be through the use of one or all of the following methods (but not limited to one of these methods):i) Hologram (Figure 2, Item 2)- for storing visual photos of the presenter and/or the company; ii) Barcode (Figure 2 Item 1) - for allowing all details of the presenter to be read by a barcode reader and then stored; iii) Electronic strip on the back of the card (Figure 3 Item 1). This strip will be programmed with the presenters information and company information and details at the point of manufacture.

One, two or three or a mix of the above can be used to store and relay information to the receiver.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 details the business card that is the subject of this invention. The card incorporates all the above three methods of storage on the card. The hologram of the company's logo can be on the front of the card (Figure 2, Item 2); the barcode at the base (Figure 2, Item 1); the electronic strip on the rear of the card (Figure 3 Item 1). Figure 4 shows the card in a 3-Dimensional format with Item 1 as the Hologram, Item 2 as the Metallic Strip on the rear of the card and Item 3 as the Barcode.

The conventional business card is now replaced with the new card that can store and relay information to the receiver, not only information on the presenter but also on the company itself i.e. financial information, products, head office numbers, customer support and many more applications.

Some specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples and reference to the accompanying drawings.

Upon presentation of the electronic /computerised business card to the receiving party, the said party, be it a business associate, partner, contact, sales prospect, supplier, or receptionist (to name but a few) will swipe the card through an electronic reader and the presenter's information will immediately be downloaded onto a personal organiser and/or a computer that could also be networked to a central mainframe. This information, apart from allowing instant storage of the presenter's information onto the receiver's file, also results in the information being available to all departments of the company/institution. This vital information can and most probably will be used by sales, production, technical, contracts, commercial in fact by any part of a company.

The electronic/computerised business card can be either kept by the receiver or returned to the presenter.

The alternative to swiping the metallic strip is to pass the card under a barcode reader.

The effect is the same. Figure 2, Item 1, shows the barcode and Figure 3 Item 1 shows the metallic strip.

Another example of the invention is when a business card is offered to a receptionist.

Once the receptionist swipes or reads the card, not only is a Visitor's card printed instantly, but the visiting person's details are immediately available to all other departments in the company. Security Departments can then track a visitor instantly.

Claims (1)

1. c]LAmL

   1) An electronic/computerised business card manufactured of either strong cardboard, laminated board, plastic, metal, stone or any material that is suitable. The size of the card is normally in the region of 5cm x 9cm (can be larger or smaller as appropriate).

   2) An electronic/computerised business card as is claimed in Claim 1 whereby printed information on the presenter is clearly seen on the front and/or back of the card 3) An electronic/computerised business card as is claimed in Claims 1 and 2 whereby a barcode storing all relevant information is printed on either the front or the back of the card.

   4) An electronic/computerised business card as is claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 whereby a metallic or electronic strip is present on the back that stores all the information on the card holder plus, if required, specific information on the card holder's company, the company's products and other relevant information.

   5) An electronic/computerised business card substantially as described above with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 as attached.