Box for receiving a card

Abstract

A box 1 for a card, such as a credit or debit card, comprise a receptacle 3 for receiving a card; a processor for releasing the card and / or performing a transaction using the card in dependence on the

Description

Field of the disclosure The present disclosure relates to a box for receiving a card as well as a method of using the box, an apparatus for controlling the box and a system comprising the box. Background to the disclosure In order to teach children about the use of cards, such as credit or debit cards, it can be desirable to control the functionality and access provided to those children. Conventional methods of providing access involve a parent only providing the child with a card for limited periods; however, these methods can be inefficient and ineffective. Summary of the disclosure According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is described: a box for a card, the box comprising: a receptacle for receiving a card; a processor for releasing the card and / or performing a transaction using the card in dependence on the meeting of (or satisfying of) a condition set by a controlling party; wherein the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of a value of tokens that are associated with, and / or held by, the party. Preferably, the box comprises a retaining structure for retaining the card in the receptacle. Preferably, the box is arranged to activate and / or deactivate the retaining structure based on the meeting of a release condition set by the controlling party. Preferably, the box comprises a card reader for determining an identity and / or a characteristic of a card inserted into the receptacle. Preferably, the processor is arranged to determine the condition based on the identity and / or the characteristic of the card. Preferably, the characteristic comprises one or more of: an owner or a user of the card, a type of the card, an issuer of the card, an amount of money on the card, and one or more permissions associated with the card. Preferably, the condition is associated with a card being in the receptacle for (e.g. more than) a threshold duration of time. Preferably, performing a transaction comprises freezing and / or unfreezing the card. Preferably, the transaction comprises unfreezing the card based on the meeting of the condition. Preferably, the box is arranged to freeze the card, preferably to freeze the card based on a threshold amount of time passing and / or a threshold amount of funds being spent using the card. Preferably, performing a transaction comprises one or more of: altering a merchant and / or a category of a merchant, for which a card may be used; setting a budget limit (e.g. a daily ora weekly budget limit) for a card; and transferring funds to a card. Preferably, satisfying the condition comprises watching a media item and / or interacting with a media item. Preferably, performing the transaction comprises adding money to the card. Preferably, performing the transaction comprises completing a purchase using the card. Preferably, performing the transaction comprises adding a permission to the card. Preferably, the card comprises a payment card. Preferably, the card comprises a debit card, a credit card, and / or a charge card. Preferably, the condition is associated with the provision of tokens (e.g. digital tokens and / or physical tokens. Preferably, the condition is associated with the provision of a threshold number and / or value of tokens. Preferably, the box is arranged to require a delay between one or more of: the provision of a plurality of tokens; the provision of a plurality of groups of tokens; the provision of a plurality of types of tokens. Preferably, the processor is arranged to require a delay between consecutive transactions and / or consecutive activations of the retaining structure. Preferably, the delay required is one or more of: more than one minute, more than one hour, and / or more than twenty-four hours. Preferably, the delay required depends on one or more of: the condition; a party associated with the tokens; a type and / or value of the tokens; and the controlling party. Preferably, the box comprises a receptacle for receiving a physical token. Preferably, the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of physical a token to the receptacle. Preferably, the tokens comprise digital tokens. Preferably, the box comprises a user interface and / or a communication interface for identifying and / or receiving a token. Preferably, the box comprises a user interface and / or a communication interface for identifying and / or receiving the condition. Preferably, the processor is arranged to identify an association and / or an ownership of the token. Preferably, the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of one or more of: a number of tokens; a type of token; and a value of tokens. Preferably, the condition is associated with the performance of tasks. Preferably, the processor is arranged to identify a type of each token, wherein the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of a plurality of different types of tokens, wherein each different type of token is associated with a different type of task. Preferably, the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of a plurality of tokens of the same type. Preferably, the box comprises a user interface and / or a communication interface that is arranged to receive from the controlling party one or more of: an approver for a task; a reward for completing a task; and a requirement for a task to be completed. Preferably, the box comprises a sensor arranged to identify the removal of a card from the receptacle and / or the insertion of a card into the receptacle. Preferably, the sensor is arranged to identify one or more of: an identity and / or a characteristic of the card; and the time of the removal and / or insertion, preferably wherein the sensor is arranged to compare said time to a target time. Preferably, the processor is arranged to determine a modifier. Preferably, the modifier is associated with a time period and / or a type of token; and to determine that the condition has been met based on the modifier. Preferably, the box comprises a plurality of receptacles. Preferably, the box comprises a plurality of retaining structures. Preferably, each retaining structure is associated with a different condition. Preferably, the box comprises a plurality of card readers. Preferably, each card reader is associated with a different condition. Preferably, the condition is dependent on the party. Preferably, the processor is arranged to determine an appropriate condition for the party. Preferably, the condition is dependent on one or more of: a previous activity of the party; a previous condition associated with the party; a previous condition having been met by the party; a previous condition not having been met by the party; a time required for a previous condition to have been met by the party; and a change in a characteristic of the party. Preferably, the retaining structure is arranged to provide access to the receptacle in dependence on a plurality of conditions. Preferably, the retaining structure is arranged to provide access to one or more of a plurality of cavities in dependence on the condition that has been met. Preferably, a user interface and / or a communication interface is arranged to output one or more of: the condition; an indication of progress towards the condition; and a number, value, and / or type of tokens earned by a party. Preferably, the number, value, and / or type of tokens earned by a party for completing a task depends on one or more of: one or more factors that include: a task success or failure; a score for a task; a time to completion for a task; and an engagement level of a user during completion of a task; and one or more characteristics of a user, preferably wherein the characteristics include an age or a skill level. Preferably, the engagement level is determined using one or more sensor measurements. Preferably, the box is arranged to receive the sensor measurements and to determine the engagement level based on the sensor measurements. Preferably, the box comprises a processor arranged to identify a token. Preferably, the processor is arranged to identify one or more of: a value of a token; and a type of a token. Preferably, the condition is associated with and / or dependent on: a time; a party attempting to access the box; an item within the receptacle; and a behaviour of a party attempting to access the box. Preferably, the box comprises a user interface for providing an output when an attempt is made to access the receptacle and / or when the receptacle is accessed and / or when the retaining structure is operated. Preferably, the box comprises a communication interface for communicating with other computer devices, wherein the communication interface is arranged to receive transmissions from said other devices in relation to the condition. Preferably, the box is arranged to pair with one or more other computer devices. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is described an apparatus for controlling the aforesaid box, the apparatus comprising a communication interface for setting the condition. Preferably, the communication interface is arranged to indicate the meeting of the condition to the box. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is described a system comprising the aforesaid box and / or the aforesaid apparatus. Preferably, the system comprises a monitoring device arranged to communicate with the box and / or the apparatus. Preferably, the monitoring device is arranged to transmit a notification indicating a progress of a task and / or a completion of a task. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is described a computer-implemented method of providing access to a box for a card, the method comprising: identifying a box comprising a receptacle for receiving a card; and identifying a condition set by a controlling party of the box, wherein the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of a value of tokens, wherein the tokens are associated with, and / or held by, a party; determining whether the condition has been met; and releasing the card and / or performing a transaction using the card in dependence on the condition having been met. Preferably, the method comprises determining an association and / or ownership of the tokens. Preferably, the method comprises providing access to the receptacle comprises transmitting a notification to the box indicating that the condition has been met. Preferably, the method comprises receiving the condition from the controlling party. Preferably, the method comprises determining that a task has been completed by a party; and awarding the party a token based on the completion of the task. Preferably, the method comprises receiving a plurality of conditions from a plurality of controlling parties. Preferably, each of the plurality of controlling parties is able to provide a different type of operation, e.g. transaction, that is associated with the completion of a condition received from those parties. Preferably, the method comprises receiving a plurality of tasks from a plurality of controlling parties, preferably wherein the plurality of tasks are associated with a plurality of different types of token, more preferably wherein different controlling parties are able to associate different types of tokens with tasks. Various aspects of the present disclosure also provide one or more of: A system for issuing digital credentials based on behavioural mastery of financial topics. The aforesaid system, wherein the credential issuance requires a delay period, token threshold, and approval by a parent or Al engine. The aforesaid system, wherein a digital stamp is issued only upon the completion of tasks verified via behavioural tracking and smart contract logic. A method for generating adaptive educational recommendations comprising: capturing user preference and behavioural data; mapping the data via a trained Al model; and presenting recommended courses or actions. The aforesaid method, wherein said data includes journal inputs, peer store ratings, and token usage patterns. A non-transferable, token-gated passport system for recording digital learning credentials, tied to a learner identity. A reward mechanism comprising physical or digital interfaces that unlocks experiences or products based on credential status. A user interface for visualising earned credentials, upcoming paths, and goal progress tied to a token economy. The aforesaid system, wherein a child launches a store only after earning specified credentials. The aforesaid method, wherein the model utilises fine-tuned transformer architecture (LLM) trained on education data. A credential manager for associating stamps with blockchain / NFT recordkeeping for digital provenance. A family-configurable platform with multi-user management, approval routing, and household goal tracking. A method of dynamically adjusting difficulty levels based on behavioural consistency or learning retention. A system wherein completed pathways yield community prestige or badges viewable in a child-safe social feed. The aforesaid system, of any preceding claim integrated with third-party course APIs (e.g., Open University, Coursera). A reward logic engine that uses performance-based feedback to trigger access to entertainment or social privileges. A decision-tree framework enabling conditional reward logic based on behaviour timeframes. An Al journaling tool that maps self-reflection inputs into suggested goal progressions. A simulated economy where users use tokens earned through credentials to transact or trade. A monitoring module for educators or mentors to review and approve task evidence asynchronously. Any feature in one aspect of the disclosure may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, features implemented in hardware may be implemented in software, and vice versa. Any reference to software and hardware features herein should be construed accordingly. Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory. It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the disclosure can be implemented and / or supplied and / or used independently. The disclosure extends to methods and / or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a card box according to the present disclosure. Figure 2 illustrates a computer device that is used to implement aspects of the card box. Figure 3 shows a method of operating the card box. Figure 4 shows an exemplary arrangement of modules of a system comprising the card box. Figure 5 shows an exemplary arrangement of modules for a financial learning pathway. Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a card box 1 that comprises a frame 2. A receptacle 3 is located in the frame, where the receptacle is arranged to receive a card, such as a debit card so that this card is held within the box. The receptacle 3 typically comprises a retaining structure (or mechanism) that is arranged to retain the card in the receptacle until this retaining structure is operated (e.g. activated or deactivated). For example, the retaining structure may comprise a lid that can be placed onto the receptacle once a card has been inserted. This lid may be secured over the receptacle using an electromagnetic lock that can be operated by a processor of the box. In some embodiments, the lid is located within the frame and slides into the receptacle from a wall of the receptacle in order to secure a card in the receptacle. ln some embodiments, the retaining structure is arranged to remove the card from the receptacle. For example, the card may be secured in the receptacle by the size of the receptacle (where the card fits snugly into the receptacle so that it cannot be removed by hand). The retaining structure may then comprise a protrusion or a raised platform that is arranged to push the card (at least partially) out of the receptacle when the retaining structure is activated or deactivated. In such embodiments, the retaining structure can be considered to be active where the protrusion is held outside of the receptacle and a card is retained in the receptacle; the retaining structure can then be deactivated in order to move the protrusion into the receptacle so that the card is pushed out of the receptacle. The card box 1 may comprise a display 4 that enables information to be shown to users of the card box. The card box may also comprise a power input that enables power to be supplied to the card box. It will be appreciated that these are optional features; for example, instead of a power input the card box may comprise a battery to provide power to components of the charging box. The card box 1 typically also comprises a mounting structure (e.g. for mounting the card box to a wall). The card box 1 typically comprises a communication interface for communicating with another electronic device, such as a phone. This other electronic device is typically able to control the retaining structure; for example, the other electronic device may be able to activate or deactivate the retaining structure. Similarly, the other electronic device may be able to set conditions forthe activation and deactivation of the retaining structure (e.g. set a time at which the retaining structure will be deactivated and / or set requirements that must be met for the retaining structure to be deactivated). The retaining structure may also be controlled using a user interface on the card box, such as the display 4, where a user may be able to deactivate the retaining structure and / or set conditions forthe deactivation of the retaining structure by operating the user interface. In order to prevent another party changing these conditions, the user interface and / or the card box typically requires authentication before use (e.g. the entry of a passcode) so that only certain parties are able to control the retaining structure. As shown in Figure 1, in some embodiments the card box comprises a token input 6 for receiving physical tokens. In this regard, in some embodiments, the retaining structure is arranged to operate in dependence on the receipt of tokens (e.g. physical tokens). In particular, the retaining structure may be arranged to allow access to the cavity when a certain number of tokens and / or a certain type of tokens are inserted. As will be described in more detail later on, a party controlling the card box is typically able to set conditions for deactivating the retaining structure, such as “insert 3 tokens” or “insert 1 red token and 1 blue token”. This enables the controlling party to award tokens to another party in return for desirable behaviour so that once this other have obtained enough tokens they are able to operate the retaining structure and to access the cavity. In a practical example, the controlling party is a parent and the other party is a child. The parent is then able to incentivise the child to perform chores etc. by offering the child tokens. Other users are of course possible; for example, the controlling party may be an employer with the other party being an employee. With this example, the employee may be rewarded with tokens for performing exemplary work. The design of the card box typically depends on the use of the card box so that when the card box is used with children it might be decorated with bright colours and cartoons. Where the card box is used for employees, it might be decorated with more subdued colours. The card box is typically arranged to identify an identity or a characteristic of a card placed into the receptacle 3 based on a user input. For example, a user may provide this input via the display 4 or via the communication interface. The characteristic may, for example, be an owner or a user of the card, a type of the card, an issuer of the card, an amount of money on the card, one or more permissions associated with the card (e.g. permitted uses), etc. Typically, the card box comprises a card reader 5, where this card reader is arranged to determine an identity or a characteristic of the card. For example, the card reader may read a chip of the card when the card is placed into the receptacle (and this chip moves past or adjacent to the card reader). In some embodiments, the card reader 5 comprises a near-field communication (NFC) reader and / or a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. Typically, the card reader 5 is also arranged to update the card and / or to transmit a communication with the card or with a further computer device so as to update the card. Updating the card typically comprises performing a transaction in relation to the card. For example, the card reader 5 may transfer a sum of money to a debit card that is located in the receptacle 3, or the card reader may update a permission of the card to enable, for example, the card to be used with a particular merchant or for a particular purpose. The permission may, for example, be associated with one or more of: a spending purpose (e.g. to enable the card to be used for certain merchants or certain types of goods); a spending limit (e.g. to enable the card to be used to purchase a certain amount of goods); and a spending time (e.g. to enable the card to be used for a certain time period). With certain types of cards, updating the permission may comprise updating the permission so that a card can be used to open a door or to interact with a certain item. Transmitting this communication may comprise initiating a communication from a further device or transmitting the communication using, e.g. via, a further device. For example, where the card box is connected to a mobile phone of a controlling party (e.g. a parent), transmitting the communication may involve initiating a bank transfer using this mobile phone or altering a permission ora possible use of the card using this mobile phone. In some embodiments, the mobile phone is arranged to determine that a condition has been satisfied and then to transmit a communication so as to update the card (where, e.g. the identity of the card is received from the card box). In some embodiments, the mobile phone is arranged to identify the satisfying of the condition based on a communication from the card box. In some embodiments, the card box is able to directly update the card (e.g. to provide the card with permissions to open a door). Therefore, the card box is able to identify a card placed into the receptacle 3, to identify the card using the card reader 5, and to provide via the display 4 a user with information about the card or about conditions for retrieving or updating the card. The conditions may depend on the card and / or on an owner of the card. Therefore, a parent that has multiple children is able to set different conditions to these children for releasing and / or updating their card, where these different conditions are enforced (automatically) by the card box. The card box can then identify that one or more conditions has been satisfied and can update the card (e.g. transfer money to the card) based on the satisfying of the conditions. Equally, the card box can deactivate the retaining structure to release the card based on the satisfying of the conditions. In a practical implementation, a parent may provide a card box with one or more receptacles and instruct their children to place one or more cards in the card box. Based on an updating condition being satisfied, the cards can then be updated. For example, the card may be updated as a child completes their chores, or the card may be updated based on a passage of time (to provide a child with regular pocket money). Then, based on a releasing condition being satisfied, the card can be released from the card box and used by the child. The child may then need to return the card to the card box in order to update the card (e.g. to receive more money) so that the child can be encouraged to use the card box even without explicit intervention from their parent. The conditions may comprise different types of conditions. For example, one or more of the conditions may comprise an ‘unlocking’ or ‘releasing’ condition that results in the retaining structure 3 being deactivated. One or more of the conditions may comprise an ‘updating’ condition that results in the card being updated. One or more of the conditions may be both an unlocking condition and a releasing condition. The conditions may comprise a plurality of different conditions. For example, the conditions may comprise a plurality of different updating permissions, where each updating permission adds a different amount of money to the card (e.g. so that different chores can be defined that earn different amounts of money). Typically, the card box is arranged to update and / or to release the card without requiring an active input from a controlling user. For example, a user of the card box, such as a child, may be able to provide tokens to the token input 6 in order to update and / or to release the card. In some embodiments, the card box is arranged to update and / or release the card based on a user input, such as an input of a password or a PIN. By enabling a user, such as a child, to operate the card box themselves, the child is able to receive a sense of achievement and is able to learn how to responsibly use a card on their own (with some supervision being provided via the conditions and via the rewards for satisfying these conditions). While the embodiment of Figure 1 comprises a token input 6 for receiving physical tokens in orderto update the card or operate the retaining structure 3, it will be appreciated that a similar system is possible using digital tokens (or ‘points’) - and wherever the present disclosure refers to tokens or points it will be appreciated that these can be either physical or digital tokens / points. In some embodiments, the card box is associated with an application on a smartphone where the controlling party (e.g. the parent) and the user (e.g. the child) each have access to this application. The parent is then able to award digital tokens to the child in response to the completion of tasks and the child is able to update the card or operate the retaining structure using the application once sufficient tokens have been collected. References in this document to tokens should be understood to cover both physical tokens and digital tokens, or digital points (and references to points should similarly be understood to cover physical tokens and digital tokens). For example, where this disclosure refers to a user needing to provide a certain number of tokens to the token input 6 in orderto access the cavity, this should be understood to also cover embodiments where a certain number of digital points are required to access the cavity. The embodiment of Figure 1 shows a card box with a single receptacle. In practice, the card box may comprise a plurality of cavities and / or a plurality of receptacles, where each receptacle may be associated with a different retaining structure 3 and / or card reader 5. Each receptacle - or each card placed into a receptacle - may be associated with different conditions, e.g. different unlocking conditions or different updating conditions. For example, each receptacle may be unlocked by providing a different number of points or type of points, so that a child may be able to unlock cheaply a first receptacle to receive a first card and / or a child may be able to save up their points to unlock a second receptacle to receive a second card. Referring to Figure 2, the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are typically implemented on a computer device 1000. In particular, the card box 1 typically comprises a computer device. Furthermore, various aspects of the methods disclosed herein may be implemented on computer devices, such as the smartphones or personal computers of the various parties. The (or each) computer device 1000 comprises a processor in the form of a CPU 1002, a communication interface 1004, a memory 1006, storage 1008, a user interface 1010, and a power supply 1012 coupled to one another by a bus 1014. The CPU 1002 (or processor) executes instructions, including instructions stored in the memory 1006 and / or the storage 1008. The communication interface 1004 is typically an Ethernet network adaptor coupling the bus 1012 to an Ethernet socket. The Ethernet socket is coupled to a network, such as the Internet. It will be appreciated that any communication medium may be used by the communication interface, such as area networks (e.g. the Internet), infrared communication, and Bluetooth®. Typically, the communication interface 1004 of the card box 1 is arranged to interact with the communication interface of another communication device in orderto receive instructions, e.g. in orderto determine a condition for the operation of the retaining structure. The memory 1006 stores instructions and other information for use by the CPU 1002. The memory is the main memory of the computer device 1000. It usually comprises both Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM). The storage 1008 provides mass storage for the computer device 1000. In different implementations, the storage is an integral storage device in the form of a hard disk device, a flash memory or some other similar solid state memory device, or an array of such devices. The user interface 1010 enables users to interact with the computer device 1000. For the card box 1, the user interface typically comprises the display 4. The display may be a touch sensitive screen so that users can view information and also input information. In embodiments without the display (or with the display), the operation of the card box may be controllable by another computer device, such as a mobile phone of a controlling party. The retaining structure 3 typically comprises an electronic retaining structure that is arranged to be controlled by the computer device 1000 (e.g. the CPU 1002) of the card box 1. For example, the retaining structure may comprise a solenoid or an actuator. The retaining structure may then be activated and deactivated remotely and / or activated and deactivated based on conditional logic statements executed by the CPU 1002. The powersupply 1012 provides powertothe other components of the computer device 1000. The power supply may comprise one or more of: a connection to mains power (e.g. a plug), a portable power supply, a battery, and a rechargeable battery. A portable power supply may be used to implement a portable card box. In some embodiments, the card box comprises both a mains power supply and a portable power supply; this enables the card box to be plugged into the mains supply during normal use and then used as a portable card box occasionally. In some embodiments, the card box 1 comprises a sensor, such as the card reader 5, for determining that an item has been placed into the receptacle and / or for identifying or reading an item located in a cavity (e.g. the card reader may comprise an RFID or NFC sensor). The card box may also comprise sensors for interacting with the external environment, e.g. the card box may comprise a sensor for checking whether a child (or a person) is present in a room, for checking whether a person is in a bed or is asleep, or for checking whether a light is on (e.g. the card box may comprise a noise sensor or a light sensor). These sensors may, for example, be used to award points to a child who adheres to a bed time. A computer program product is provided that includes instructions for carrying out aspects of the method(s) described below. The computer program product is stored, at different stages, in anyone of the memory 1006, the storage 1008 and / or a removable storage (e.g. a universal serial bus storage device). The storage of the computer program product is non-transitory, except when instructions included in the computer program product are being executed by the CPU 1002, in which case the instructions are sometimes stored temporarily in the CPU or memory. It should also be noted that the removable storage is removable from the computer device 1000, such that the computer program product may be held separately from the computer device from time to time. Different computer program products, or different aspects of a single overall computer program product, are present on the computer devices used by any of the users. The card box 1 may also be arranged to communicate with, and in particular receive transmissions from, other computer devices in order to evaluate the performance of tasks and / or in order to update the card. For example, the card box may be arranged to communicate with a smart watch to determine that the user has performed exercise, the card box may be arranged to interact with a personal computer to determine an amount of time for which the personal computer has been used (and / or to determine a use of the personal computer), and / or the card box may be arranged to interact with a server or a further computer device in order to update a card in the receptable 3 (e.g. in order to transfer funds to / from this card or to unlock a permission of this card, e.g. to freeze or unfreeze the card or to enable the card to be used with a certain vendor). This enables automation of the collection of points so that the amount of supervision required by the parent is minimised. This is useful both to save time for the parent and to give the child a feeling of independence. In some embodiments, the card box is arranged to communicate with a further device to confirm that a user has watched and / or interacted with a specific piece of media content (e.g. a specific video), where the card is then updated based on this watching / interaction. The present disclosure envisages a card, a card box, and a system that requires a user periodically and / or occasionally return a card to the card box so that a user (e.g. a child) is only able to use the card within set limits before the card is frozen and the user needs to return the card to the card box and then to meet a condition to unfreeze the card. This enables parents to regularly update the conditions and control spending while still providing the child with a sense of independence. For example, a (e.g. separate) application may be used to regularly freeze a card whereby in order to unfreeze the card a user is required to insert the card into the receptacle 3 and to satisfy an updating condition to unfreeze the card. In some embodiments, the card box 1 is arranged to perform a transaction in response to a condition being satisfied, where the transaction comprises one or more of: altering a merchant and / or a category of a merchant, for which a card may be used; setting a budget limit (e.g. a daily or a weekly budget limit) for a card; and transferring funds to a card. This enables a controlling party to control the uses of a card using the card box. In some embodiments, parties in the system may be provided with monitoring computer devices (e.g. smart watches or cameras) that are useable to verify the completion of tasks. There may be provided a system comprising the card box 1 and one or more such monitoring computer devices. The card box may be arranged to communicate with these monitoring computer devices in order to determine the completion of a task, the meeting of a condition, and / orthe collection of a certain number of points. Equally, these monitoring computer devices may be arranged to communicate with a further computer device (e.g. a server), where the further computer device is arranged to award a token to a child in dependence on a transmission from a corresponding monitoring computer device. The monitoring device may comprise a sensor, such as a GPS sensor, and may also comprise an output means, such as a display, a speaker and / or a communication device. The output means may be arranged to operate in dependence on the condition. For example, the output means may comprise a communication interface for making calls, where a child is only able to use this communication interface if the condition is met. Typically, the monitoring device is arranged to interact with a further device in order to collect tokens. For example, the monitoring device may comprise a watch and the further device may comprise a wand. This may enable a parent to give their child the watch and to then tap the watch in order to provide a token to the child. This method enables a mechanism for providing a reward that is tangible (e.g. because it involves the use of a wand) as well as portable. Another example of a monitoring device is a smart toothbrush, where such a toothbrush may be arranged to determine that a child has brushed their teeth, and / or has brushed their teeth for a certain period and / or at a certain time, and to provide a token in dependence on such action having been taken. The monitoring device may be provided alongside the card box 1 (e.g. in a kit of parts along with the card box) and may be arranged to be paired with the card box. Referring to Figure 3, there is described a method of operating the card box 1, and in particular a method of operating the card box to update the card and / or to remove the card from the receptacle. This method is typically carried out by the computer device 1000 of the card box. In a first step 11, the computer device 1000 determines a condition for updating the card and / or releasing the retaining structure. The condition may be a condition for either updating the card or releasing the retaining structure. Equally, the condition may be a condition for both updating the card and releasing the retaining structure. Typically, this condition is set by a party controlling the card box (e.g. a parent). The controlling party may set the condition using the user interface 1010 and / or using the communication interface 1004 of the computer device 1000 of the card box 1. Typically, the condition is set via an application on another computer device, such as a smartphone of the parent. This enables the unlocking condition to be set easily and to be changed easily. This can be useful, for example, if a child is misbehaving; in this situation the controlling party may implement (or threaten to implement) a stricter condition without the need to be in the proximity of the card box. In a second step 12, the computer device 1000 determines whether the condition has been met. For example, a child may collect a number of tokens for each task that they perform and the computer device may compare the number of tokens collected to a threshold value. In a third step 13, if the condition has been met, the computer device 1000 updates the card and / or releases the retaining structure. Equally, the third step 13 may comprise using the card based on the satisfaction of the condition. For example, the third step may involve initiating or completing a transaction using the card, e.g. to buy a good. The card box may be arranged to coordinate this transaction, e.g. using the card reader 5 and / or by using information (e.g. a PIN) of the card. Such a third step enables the controlling party to control the uses of the card regardless of the origin or the operator of the card - specifically, the transactions can be controlled by the card box instead of the card operator (e.g. a bank). Therefore, updating the card may comprise performing a transaction using the card (where this changes an amount of funds on the card). In practice, a child that wants to buy a good, such as a game, may place their card into the receptacle 3, earn a certain amount of points in order to satisfy a condition, and then the card box may enable the child to buy a good by, e.g. initiating the purchase or by releasing a previously generated and held purchase request. The child may be able to earn points before inserting their card into the receptacle 3 and the method of Figure 3 may be initiated based on this insertion of the card so that the child can earn points, insert their card, and then quickly complete a purchase. A purchase transaction may be generated based on an input on the display 4 (e.g. where the display enables the child to navigate to a website and to purchase a good). Equally, the purchase transaction may be generated based on a communication from a further device. In some embodiments, the condition is associated with a use of the card. For example, if a user has only spent money on certain (allowed) goods in a preceding period of time, then a first release condition may be used that releases the card quickly. If a user has spent money on forbidden goods, then a second release condition may be used that holds the card for an extended period of time and / or that requires the user to perform an action such as watching a video on fiscal responsibility. If in the second step 12 the computer device 1000 determines that the condition has not been met, then the computer device may return to the first step 11 of the method. Typically, the method is initiated by an action, such as the child completing a task and being awarded tokens, or the child attempting to unlock the card box 1. Therefore, if the condition has not been met, the method may simply end. Determining that the condition has been met may comprise one or more of: identifying a number and / or type of tokens that have been earned (e.g. based on these tokens being inserted into the token input 6); receiving a transmission from a monitoring device; and receiving a transmission from a separate computer device associated with a controlling party. As has been described with reference to Figure 1, the card box 1 may be arranged to receive (physical) tokens. The method of Figure 3 may then be initiated by the card box identifying that a token has been placed into the token input 6, where the second step 12 of the method may then comprise determining whether a sufficient number and / or a certain type of tokens has been provided. The condition typically relates to one or more of: - A certain number of tokens and / or points being earned. Each task may be associated with a certain number of tokens so that, for example, completing homework may earn more tokens than washing the dishes. Unlocking the card box 1 may then require a certain number of tokens to be collected. These tokens may automatically be used (so that the child cannot save up tokens), or the use of the tokens may be dependent on the child so that the child is able to save up tokens. This could enable the child to save up tokens for a few weeks so that they are able to unlock the card box a number of consecutive times or so that they can simultaneously unlock a number of different cavities of the card box. - A time. For example, the card box 1 may be operable only after 7pm and / or only between 7pm and 9pm. Similarly, the card box may only be operable (e.g. to release or update a card) when the card has been held in the receptacle 3 for above a threshold duration of time. The completion of a specific task and / or a specific type of task and / or the provision of a certain type and / or certain types of tokens. Tasks may be sorted into types, where a child is required to complete a certain type of task and / or a plurality of different types of tasks to unlock the card box 1. Exemplary types of tasks include learning tasks (e.g. doing homework or reading a book), chores (e.g. washing up dishes or cleaning toilets), sporting tasks (e.g. playing a sport, or doing a certain amount of exercise), and achievements (e.g. getting an ‘A’ grade at school or winning a competition). Where tokens are used, a child may be provided with different types of tokens depending on the task that is completed; for example, the child may receive a green token for learning tasks and a blue token for chores. In order to unlock the card box, the child may be required to provide three tokens, at least one of which is green. - An interaction of the user with the card box 1, e.g. with the display of the card box. In particular, the condition may be associated with a user watching and / or interacting with a media item, such as a video. In some embodiments, the display is arranged to show a user instructional videos and / or test a user on their understanding of a subject, such as finance (e.g. to test a user on the teachings of the instructional videos). Therefore, the card box is able to teach a user about making transactions theoretically and also to enable a user to implement this teaching practically. In some embodiments, the user may be able to interact with a separate computer device to watch the videos and / or complete a test in order to meet a condition. In practice, the condition may comprise a plurality of sub-conditions, so the child may be able to unlock the card box 1 only during a certain time, when a certain number of token have been collected, and when specific types of tasks have been performed. Furthermore, the condition may comprise a plurality of alternative conditions, for example the child may be required to either collect a certain number of points or to complete a certain task, where the child is then able to choose which of these conditions to meet. The updating of the card and / or the operation of the retaining structure 3 may be dependent on a plurality of conditions, where meeting each condition may update a different card or operate a different retaining structure and / or may operate a different aspect of the box. For example, meeting a first condition may release a first retaining structure of a first receptacle and meeting a second condition may release a second retaining structure of a second receptacle (or release both the first and second retaining structures). This can be used to set easy and hard conditions, where meeting harder conditions results in a bigger reward. In practice, there may be daily tasks, weekly tasks, and monthly tasks, where completing the monthly tasks obtains a larger (but less regular) reward. Typically, the unlocking condition and / or the updating condition is dependent on an identity or a characteristic of the card. Therefore, the card box may be arranged to identify a characteristic of the card using the card reader 5 and to determine the condition based on the characteristic. The conditions may be associated with an interaction with the card box 1 and / or with a receptacle of the card box. Similarly points may be awarded for interactions with the card box. A requirement for unlocking a second receptacle may be that a card is returned to a first receptacle, where this return of the card may be identified using the card reader 5. Typically, the user interface 1010 (e.g. the display 4) of the card box 1 and / orthe user interface of another device is arranged to show the conditions required for unlocking and to show progress towards these conditions. The user interface may also show a list of tasks and the rewards available for completing these tasks. The child is then able to determine which tasks they need to complete to operate the card box. The controlling party, e.g. the parent, is able to set tasks (and rewards) and to set conditions. This enables the parent to incentivise certain tasks; for example, the reward for doing revision may be increased as exams approach. This also enables parents to alter conditions based on external factors; for example, misbehaviour may result in the parent increasing the number of tokens needed to access the cavity. The parent may also be able to add and / or remove achievements forthe child. For example, the child may be awarded a certain number of tokens fordoing chores and the parent may be able to change this award later on if the chore is found to be done particularly well or particularly poorly-this alteration may comprise altering a digital token and / or altering the way in which the card box responds to a physical token (e.g. the card box may be instructed to only give half credit fora certain type of token). The parent is typically also able to alter the behaviour of the card box 1. For example, the parent may be able to change a notification that occurs: when a condition has been met, when the child attempts to unlock the card box and / or when the card box is unlocked. In some embodiments, the card box 1 is arranged to require a delay between the receipt of different tokens, different sets of tokens, and / or different types of tokens. This delay may be set by the parent. In a practical example, the child may earn two tokens for doing the washing up and may place these into the token input; the child may then earn a token for doing homework, but the card box may be arranged so that this token cannot be placed into the token input for a certain period of time. This can be used to prevent the child from rushing through chores (and doing them poorly) to earn tokens more rapidly and can also be used to prevent the child from saving up tokens to unlock the card box over and over (for example, avoid time limits placed on the use of electronic devices). The tokens may be automatically provided to the card box 1 when earned (e.g. where the card box continually monitors an account associated with the child) so that the delay may relate to a delay between the earning of tokens where a child is only able to earn a certain amount of tokens in a given time period. Equally, the tokens may be provided to the card box by the child, so that a child may be able to acquire a large number of tokens but may only be able provide a certain number of these tokens to the card box in a given time period (e.g. so that a child cannot unlock the card box multiple times in quick succession). Similarly, the card box 1 may be arranged to require a delay between the meeting of conditions and / or operations of the card box (e.g. between successive transactions made using a card located in the receptacle 3 and / or between successive releases or updates of a card) so that the child is not able to operate the card box multiple times in quick succession. The delay required (e.g. between the receipt of tokens, the meeting of conditions, and / or the unlocking of the box) may be more than one minute, more than thirty minutes, more than one hour, more than six hours, more than twelve hours, more than twenty-four hours, more than one week, and / or more than one month. The delay may depend on a condition that is being met. For example, the meeting of a first condition that enables a child to purchase an expensive reward (e.g. a new video game console) may only be possible each year; the meeting of a second condition that enables a child to purchase a relatively low value reward (e.g. a new video game) may be possible once every month. Similarly, the delay required may be determined based on a party attempting to unlock the card box and / or based on the controlling entity of the card box (e.g. a parent may determine how often each child is able to open the card box). The card box 1, and / or an application associated with the card box, may be arranged to store historic information, e.g. relating to the tasks completed by the child. The child and / or the controlling party may then be able to view this information using the user interface 1010 (e.g. the display 4) of the card box. Also disclosed herein is an application that is useable to control operate the card box 1 and to view information associated with the card box. This application is typically provided in two parts: a parent application that can be accessed by the party controlling the card box (e.g. by inputting a password) and a child application that is accessible by the party attempting to access the card box. The application (or one of the applications) may be downloaded to a smart phone, a smart watch, and / or another smart device. The controlling application is arranged to communicate with the card box 1 and / or the child application in order to: Set tasks and specify rewards. Set an approver and / or overseer for tasks. In this regard, tasks typically require approval to confirm that they have been completed; for example, if the child is tasked to tidy their room a parent might need to inspect the room before the child is awarded points. The parent might trust the child to self-certify for certain tasks. This can also be used to teach responsibility to a child so that a child may be set as an approver for a certain task as a reward for good performance of this task - and then this self-approval ability may be removed if the child thereafter decreases the quality of their performance of the task. Set the condition(s) for unlocking the card box 1. Set an output for a condition having been met and / or a task having been completed (e.g. the card box 1 may light up and / or make a sound when an unlocking condition has been met). - Access a task history and / or an achievement history. Provide feedback to the child application (e.g. provide feedback if a task is done poorly so that this feedback can be referenced when the task is next performed). Pair a monitoring device to the card box 1. The child application is typically arranged to communicate with the card box 1 and / or the parent application in order to: View tasks and rewards. View approver(s) for tasks. View the condition(s) for operating the card box 1. View the progress towards conditions (e.g. view a current number of points). Access a task history and / or an achievement history. - Access feedback. In some embodiments, the condition(s) required for a party to operate the card box 1 is dependent on that party, e.g. on a characteristic of that party and / or a history of that party. For example, when a child has regularly met a condition required to operate a card box, a processor of the card box may be arranged to update the condition to make it more difficult (e.g. to increase a value of tokens required to release the retaining structure at a future time). Equally, where a child has not managed to meet a condition for an extended period of time, the processor may be arranged to simplify the condition (e.g. to decrease the value of tokens required to release the retaining structure) so as to encourage the child to continue earning tokens. In some embodiments, a controlling party is able to define a type or a value of a token that is earned for completing a task (such as watching a video). The controlling party may also define a reward (such as the unfreezing of a card or the transfer of a certain amount of money) that is earned for completing a task. Typically, the controlling party defines a type or value of a token earned for each task of a plurality of tasks and also defines a number, value, and / or type of tokens required to trigger a reward. This provides the child with some flexibility to decide which tasks they complete, while also enabling the parent to set mandatory tasks and to control a number of tasks required to receive a reward. In some embodiments, tokens can be converted between different types and / or values. For example, three tokens of a first type may be convertible to obtain one token of a second type. Furthermore, the controlling party may define a modifier for one or more types of tokens, e.g. to provide a bonus multiplier for a token type. For example, the controlling party may define that, for a week, tokens of the first type have an increased value. This can be used to incentivise the child to complete certain tasks, or use certain tokens, during certain periods of time. In some embodiments, a computer device (e.g. of the card box 1) is arranged to determine one or more factors that include: a task success or failure; a score for a task; a time to completion for a task; and an engagement level of a user, and to provide one or more tokens based on the determined factors. For example, a user may be set a test and may receive a number of tokens that depends on their score on this test. This can be used to incentivise a child to complete tasks both accurately and quickly. The factors may include an input from an external device, such as a wearable device. The engagement level may be determined using sensor measurements, for example, measurements from: eye tracking sensors, heart rate sensors, etc. This ensures that a child that is, for example, watching a video is actually watching the video (and not simply playing the video in the background while doing something else. The sensor measurements may include presence detection, sleep tracking, device usage time, etc. In some embodiments, a computer device (e.g. of the card box 1) is arranged to determine one or more characteristics of a user, such as an age or skill level, and to provide one or more tokens to a user based on these characteristics. For example, a number, type, or value of tokens provided to a user for completing a task may depend on these characteristics. In practice, this may enable a controlling party to set a reward for a task that depends on the characteristics so that multiple children can each complete the task while receiving different rewards. In some embodiments, a computer device is arranged to use a machine learning model and / or an artificial intelligence model to determine a reward forthe completion of a task. The inputs for this model may be the factors described above, e.g. the characteristics of a user and the time to completion for a task, with the model determining a number, type, or value of tokens that should be provided based on these factors. Typically, the reward for a task is defined before the task is offered to a child (so that the child is aware of their reward before they start the task). In some embodiments, there are a plurality of controlling parties that are able to offer different types of token. For example, a parent may be able to define tasks that offer a first type of token as a reward and a teacher may be able to define tasks that offer a second type of token as a reward. Each controlling party may be able to define the conditions for obtaining the reward (e.g. time limits and / or completion scores). Controlling parties may include a parent, a teacher or a school, an employer, a therapist, etc.. Each party, e.g. each controlling party, may be able to define the tasks, the rewards for completing a task, and the conditions for operating the card box (e.g. to unfreeze a card). Equally, certain actions may be limited to only a subset of the controlling parties. For example, a teacher may be able to define a task and a reward for completing that task while only a parent is able to define the conditions for operating the card box. Typically, each party is able to access an application in order to perform these actions, where the teacher and the parent can then interact using this application. The application also enables a single teacher to interact with a plurality of parents and / or teachers, e.g. to set homework for a whole class of pupils. This homework may offer the same reward to each pupil, or may offer a reward (e.g. a number of tokens) that depends on the factors described above and / or the characteristics of each pupil. Each parent may still be able to define different conditions for operating a card box so that different pupils may require different numbers of tokens to unfreeze a card. The application may enable messaging between the controlling parties and / or the controlling parties and a user (e.g. a child). In various embodiments, a processor (e.g. of the card box 1 or of a separate computer device) is arranged to determine an appropriate condition fora party based on one or more of: previous conditions that have been met by the party; previous conditions that have not been met by the party; a time required to meet a previous condition; a characteristic of the party and / or a change in a characteristic of the party, such as an age (where conditions may become harder as a child ages); a knowledge of the party; and a behaviour of the party. By enabling the processor to determine an appropriate operating condition for a party, a controlling entity is able to set an initial operating condition forthat party and to thereafter allow an appropriate condition to be determined by the processor. This enables the efficient personalisation of operating conditions. The determination of an appropriate operating condition may depend on artificial intelligence and / or machine learning algorithms. Referring to Figure 4, there is shown an exemplary (and detailed) arrangement of modules that may be used to implement the systems described above. This arrangement comprises: - A controller module 101 that is arranged to receive inputs from a controlling entity, e.g. to define a task, a reward for completing a task, and / or a condition for operating the card box 1. - A user module 102 that is arranged to enable a user to view tasks, rewards, and conditions. - An application interface 103 that enables each party to communicate, e.g. via instant messaging. One or more monitoring devices 104, e.g. a smart watch, a heart monitor, etc. that monitor the actions of a user so as to determine a user’s performance in one or more tasks. - A token system 105 that is arranged to determine, e.g. based on measurements from the monitoring devices 104, that a user has completed one or more tasks and to provide tokens to the user based on this completion. - An Al personalisation engine 106 that can personalise a task or a reward to a user, e.g. based on inputs from the monitoring devices 104. - A card module 107 that interacts with a card located in the receptacle, e.g. to determine an identity of the card and to operate the card box 1, e.g. to transfer funds to the card or to freeze / unfreeze the card. - A transaction engine 108 that performs transactions on the card, e.g. via the card box 1 and / or via an application. In this regard, the methods performed herein can, in some embodiments, be performed via an application instead of the card box. - A gamified learning system 109 that enables, for example, a user to earn ranks or badges through the completion of tasks, to unlock new modules or tasks (e.g. to unlock new, high-level, videos by completing initial, low-level, videos), or to unlock personalised tasks. - A financial literacy pathway 110 that determines a financial literacy of a user based on their completion of tasks and recommends appropriate further tasks based on this determined financial literacy. - A permissioned access module 111 that determines suitable transactions for performing by the card box 1. For example, the permissioned access module may determine that, in response to a condition being satisfied, the card box should transfer funds to a card, unfreeze a card, enable a user to use the card for certain purposes (e.g. to purchase games or to use the card with certain merchants), etc.. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the provision of an adaptive educational pathway, in particular for providing and evidencing the financial literacy of a user. This pathway can be used to determine the completion of tasks and to provide tokens to a user of a card box. Equally, the pathway may be used in isolation from the card box to provide, e.g. a certificate that a user can show to demonstrate their literacy. Referring to Figure 5, there is shown an exemplary arrangement of modules that can be used to provide this pathway. The arrangement includes (one or more of): - A user setup module 21. The user setup module enables a user to input data about themselves to indicate, e.g. an age, a skill level, an interest, etc. - A learning module 22. The learning module determines, based on the user information, appropriate learning experiences for a user, such as videos, games, etc. The learning module 22 may be arranged to receive data from a third-party so as to provide courses from this third party (e.g., Open University, Coursera, etc.). - A behavioural monitoring module 23. The behavioural monitoring module monitors a user’s behaviour, e.g. to determine whether the user has completed the experiences determined using the learning module 22. The behavioural monitoring module may monitor this behaviour using user inputs and / or using monitoring devices 104. The behavioural monitoring module may be arranged to consider user data such as journal inputs, peer store ratings, and token usage patterns. - A digital stamps module 24. The digital stamps module 24 defines one or more stamps or certificates that indicate a user’s skills and experiences. These stamps may be based on input from the user. Furthermore, stamps may be provided based on a user’s completion of experiences determined by the learning module 22. The digital stamps module may provide digital stamps upon completing simulations, logging spending, peer reviews, and reflection. Typically, the stamps are awarded via smart contract logic; the stamps may be issued based upon time-stamped approval and repeat validation. In some embodiments, the stamps are stored in a non-transferable digital wallet; for example, the stamps may be implemented using a blockchain, e.g. the stamps may be provided in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) associated with a blockchain. - An Al pathway engine 25. The Al pathway engine determines suitable experiences for a user and also determines suitable rewards for a user for completing these experiences. These experiences and rewards are typically determined based on the user’s characteristics and skill level. The Al pathway engine may generate personalised educational and business pathways, adapting to behavioural insights and goal evolution. The Al pathway engine may suggest real-world or digital courses, entrepreneurship models, and peer pathways based on behavioural and preference data. The Al pathway engine 25 may create a learner embedding from user preferences, task behaviour, and reflection logs. For example, large language models (LLMs) or neural models may suggest paths for a user such as college links, training modules, and business ventures. The Al pathway engine 25 may utilises a fine-tuned transformer architecture (e.g. an LLM) trained on education data. - A personalised roadmap module 26. The personalised roadmap module determines a personalised roadmap for a user, e.g. to recommend an order in which a user should complete experiences and / or to recommend a goal for a user. - A token based rewards module 27. The token based rewards module can be used to integrate this pathway with the previously described card box 1. In particular, the token based rewards module may determine a number, type, or value of tokens that are provided to a user based on a user completing the experience’s determined by the learning module. The token based rewards module may provide tokens or stamps, which may be used to unlock rewards (e.g. to operate the card box) and also to unlock further learning experiences. It will be appreciated that additional modules may be implemented, e.g. to support parental approval, mentor engagement, and social impact challenges. The pathway of Figure 5 provides a system and method for issuing behaviour-based digital credentials and dynamically mapping personalised educational and entrepreneurial pathways using real-time data, learning models, and reward logic in a youth-oriented financial education platform. In some embodiments, before operating the card box 1 and / or issuing a token or stamp, the card box and / or the token based rewards module requires a delay period between the provision of tokens, the completion of a learning experience and / or approval by a controlling party or Al engine. In some embodiments, the application and / or the card box 1 is arranged to provide access to a digital store and / or to certain items based on a user’s tokens and / or task completions. For example, the system may provide a digital store where a user can spend their tokens, where the available purchases are based on the tasks that have been completed by a user and / or the learning experiences that have been completed by a user (or the credentials earned by a user). More generally, the tasks disclosed herein may comprise one or more tasks that demonstrate a skill, such as a financial literacy. The present disclosure envisages a system for providing a reward to a user that demonstrates the skill, such as a token for use with the card box 1 or a digital stamp or certificate that can be used to evidence mastery of a skill. The system may be arranged to provide a level system, so that users unlock new tasks (e.g. new learning experiences) based on their completion of existing tasks. This enables a user to advance through a hierarchy of tasks in order to gain tokens and / or stamps and / or certificates. Alternatives and modifications It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention. In some embodiments, the card box 1 comprises speakers. These speakers (or the display 4) may output a notification when a condition has been met. This can be used to congratulate the child and also provides a way to notify the child that they can deactivate the release structure 3 and / or update the card (or perform a transaction). More broadly, the user interface and / or the communication interface may output a notification when a condition has been met. While the detailed description has primarily described the invention in the context of a card box 1 for a child that is controlled by a parent, it will be appreciated that the disclosure extends beyond this context. For example, the card box 1 may be controlled by an employer and used to reward employees or the card box may be controlled by a corporation and used to reward certain behaviours (e.g. tokens for use with the card box may be provided for recycling). While the detailed description has primarily considered the use of debit or credit cards, it will be appreciated that other types of cards may also be used with the card box 1. For example, the present disclosure envisages a card that is designed for use with the card box where this card enables a user to gain points or functions. As an example, the card may be an access card that provides access to certain rooms or items based on the actions of a user. In a practical example, this may comprise the card being loaded with points as a user completes tasks, where the card can then be used to activate a games console or to open a games room. While the detailed description has primarily considered the use of the card box for a child, it will be appreciated that other uses are possible. For example, the card box may be used by a workplace in order to provide guests of the hotel with access to different rooms in the workplace as a reward for good work performance. Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A box for a card, the box comprising:a receptacle for receiving a card;a card reader for determining an identity and / or a characteristic of a card inserted into the receptacle; anda processor for releasing the card and / or performing a transaction using the card in dependence on the meeting of a condition set by a controlling party;wherein the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of a value of tokens that are associated with, and / or held by, a further party.

2. The box of any preceding claim, comprising a retaining structure for retaining the card in the receptacle.

3. The box of claim 2, wherein the box is arranged to activate and / or deactivate the retaining structure based on the meeting of a release condition set by the controlling party.

4. The box of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is arranged to determine the condition based on the identity and / or the characteristic of the card.

5. The box of any preceding claim, wherein the characteristic comprises one or more of: an owner or a user of the card, a type of the card, an issuer of the card, an amount of money on the card, and one or more permissions associated with the card.

6. The box of any preceding claim, wherein the condition is associated with a card being in the receptacle for a threshold duration of time.

7. The box of any preceding claim, wherein performing a transaction comprises freezing and / or unfreezing the card.

8. The box of claim 7, wherein the transaction comprises unfreezing the card based on the meeting of the condition.

9. The box of any preceding claim, wherein performing the transaction comprises one or more of: altering a merchant and / or a category of a merchant for which the card may be used; setting a budget limit for the card; and transferring funds to the card.

10. The box of any preceding claim, wherein satisfying the condition comprises watching a media item and / or interacting with a media item.

11. The box of any preceding claim, wherein performing the transaction comprises completing a purchase using the card.

12. The box of any preceding claim, wherein performing the transaction comprises adding a permission to the card.

13. The box of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is arranged to require a delay between consecutive transactions and / or consecutive activations of the retaining structure.

14. The box of any preceding claim, comprising a sensor arranged to identify the removal of a card from the receptacle and / or the insertion of a card into the receptacle.

15. The box of any preceding claim, wherein the condition is associated the provision of a threshold number and / or value of tokens.

16. The box of any preceding claim, wherein the number, value, and / or type of tokens earned by a party for completing a task depends on one or more of:one or more factors that include: a task success or failure; a score for a task; a time to completion for a task; and an engagement level of a user during completion of a task; andone or more characteristics of a user.

17. The box of any preceding claim, comprising a processor arranged to identify a token.

18. An apparatus for controlling the box of any preceding claim, the apparatus comprising a communication interface for setting the condition.

19. A system comprising the box of any of claims 1 to 17 and / or the apparatus of claim 18.

20. A computer-implemented method of operating a box for a card, the method comprising: identifying a box comprising a receptacle for receiving a card;determining an identity and / or a characteristic of a card inserted into the receptacleof the box; andidentifying a condition set by a controlling party of the box;determining whether the condition has been met; andreleasing the card and / or performing a transaction using the card in dependence on the condition having been met;wherein the meeting of the condition is associated with the provision of a value of tokens, wherein the tokens are associated with, and / or held by, a further party.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method comprises determining an association and / or ownership of the tokens.

22. The method of claim 20 or 21, wherein comprising transmitting a notification to the box indicating that the condition has been met.

23. The method of any of claims 20 to 22, comprising determining that a task has been completed by the further party; and awarding a token to the further party based on the completion of the task.

24. The method of any of claims 20 to 23, comprising receiving a plurality of conditions from a plurality of controlling parties.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of controlling parties is associated with a different type of transaction, where each different type of transaction is associated with the completion of an associated condition that has been received from one of the plurality of controlling parties.IntellectualPropertyOfficeApplication GB2507904.7Search report under Section 17 of the Patents Act 1977Date search completed: 31 October 2025Claims searched: 1-25International classificationSubclass and subgroup Valid from A45C1 / 12 01 / 01 / 2006 A45C11 / 00 01 / 01 / 2006 G07C9 / 00 01 / 01 / 2020 G07F11 / 62 01 / 01 / 2006Field of searchWorldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC:G07F, G07C, A45CDatabases used in the preparation of this search report:SEARCH-PATENTDocuments considered to be relevantPatent literatureCategory Relevant Document of relevanceclaimsX 1-3,7,13-25 GB 2612599 A REWARD TECH LIMITED, See whole document X 20,22 GB 2458503 A SONICWARP LIMITED, See whole document X 20,22 EP 1982312 B1 RICHINGS, See whole document Non-patent literature Category Relevant claims Document of relevanceCategoriesLetter or symbolDescriptionDocument indicating lack of novelty or inventive step.Document indicating lack of inventive step, if combined with another document of the same category.& Member of the same patent family. A Document indicating technological background. P Document published on or after the priority date but before the fling date of the present application. E Earlier application published on or after the filing date of the present application.

Images