Method and system for facilitating the anonymous purchase of goods and services from an e-commerce website

• US 20020019781A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Shooks, Analydia, Hibler, Kimberly
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6254 by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0615 Anonymizing

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating the purchase of goods and services anonymously from an e-commerce website is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of transaction account numbers, each of which is associated with a monetary load value. The transaction account numbers are stored in a database having a plurality of records. Each of the records corresponds to one of the transaction account numbers. None of the records are configured to store identifying information of a purchaser of one of the transaction numbers. A request for an authorization of a purchase transaction having a purchase value is received from a remote computer terminal. The request is associated with a transaction account number. If the purchase value does not exceed the monetary value associated with the transaction account number, an authorization message is sent to the remote computer terminal granting the request.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the anonymous purchase of goods and services from a remote computer terminal, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of transaction account numbers;

storing said plurality of transaction account numbers in a database, said database having a plurality of records, each of said plurality of records corresponding to one of said plurality of transaction account numbers, wherein none of said plurality of records is configured to store identifying information of a purchaser of one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

associating one of said plurality of transaction account numbers with a monetary load value.

receiving from a remote computer terminal a request for an authorization of a purchase transaction having a purchase value, wherein said request is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers

comparing said purchase value to said monetary load value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers to determine if said purchase value exceeds said monetary load value;

authorizing said request for an authorization of a purchase transaction;

subtracting said purchase value from said monetary load value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers to obtain a first updated monetary load value; and

associating said first updated monetary load value with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of transaction account numbers is associated with an initial monetary value which is equal to zero at said providing, and further comprising:

receiving from a remote computer terminal a purchase request for the purchase of said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

receiving from said remote computer terminal a monetary load request for associating said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers with said monetary load value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a remote computer terminal a monetary load request for increasing said first updated monetary load value by a reload monetary value, wherein said monetary load request is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

adding said first updated monetary load value and said reload monetary value to obtain a second updated monetary load value; and

associating said second updated monetary load value with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

4. The method of claim 1, said identifying information of a purchaser comprising at least one of a name, an address, a social security number, a credit card number, and a debit card number.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if said purchase value exceeds said monetary load value, denying said request for an authorization of a purchase transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, said authorizing comprising transmitting an authorization message to said remote computer terminal.

7. The method of claim 5, said denying comprising transmitting a denial message to said remote computer terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said monetary load value is stored in a record corresponding to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first updated monetary load value is stored in a record corresponding to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said second updated monetary load value is stored in a record corresponding to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

11. The method of claim 2, said remote computer terminal comprising one of a point-of-sale terminal, a personal data assistant, or a personal computer.

12. The method of claim 3, said remote computer terminal comprising one of a point-of-sale terminal, a personal data assistant, or a personal computer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of transaction account numbers is stored on a card.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a remote terminal a balance inquiry, wherein said balance inquiry is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

transmitting to said remote terminal said first updated monetary load value.

15. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving from a remote terminal a balance inquiry, wherein said balance inquiry is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

transmitting to said remote terminal said second updated monetary load value.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an e-commerce website system coupled to a public computer network and adapted to receive and store order information from a purchaser of one of said plurality of account numbers who connects to the ecommerce website via said public computer network, wherein said e-commerce website is further coupled to said account authorization system and adapted to transmit to and receive from said account authorization system payment authorization information associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a remote computer terminal in operative communication with said account authorization system and adapted to transmit to said account authorization system a request to purchase said one of said plurality of account numbers.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a remote computer terminal in operative communication with said account authorization system and adapted to transmit to said account authorization system a monetary value to be associated with said one of said plurality of account numbers.

20. The system of claim 17, said public computer network comprising the Internet.

21. The system if claim 16, said identifying information of a purchaser comprising at least one of a name, an address, a social security number, a credit card number, and a debit card number.

22. The system of claim 18, said remote computer terminal comprising one of a point-of-sale terminal, a personal data assistant and a personal computer.

23. The system of claim 19, said remote computer terminal comprising one of a point-of-sale terminal, a personal data assistant and a personal computer.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein said account authorization system is configured to receive a request to purchase said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said account authorization system is configured to receive a monetary value to be associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers and to associate said monetary value with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said account authorization system is configured to receive and process a request to increase said monetary value by a reload monetary value.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said account authorization system is configured to compare said purchase value to said monetary value and to deny said purchase transaction if said purchase value exceeds said monetary value.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said account authorization system is configured to compare said purchase value to said monetary value and to authorize said purchase transaction if said purchase value does not exceed said monetary value.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said account authorization system is configured to transmit a message denying said purchase transaction.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said account authorization system is configured to transmit a message authorizing said purchase transaction.

31. The system of claim 16, wherein said account authorization system is configured to determine if said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers has expired and to deny said purchase transaction if said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers has expired.

32. The system of claim 16, wherein said account authorization system is configured to associate said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers with at least one use-limitation parameter.

33. The system of claim 16, wherein said account authorization system is configured to determine if said plurality of transaction account numbers has been reported to be one of lost and stolen and to deny said purchase transaction if said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers has been reported to be one of lost and stolen.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein said account authorization system is configured to determine if said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers has expired and to deny said request to increase said monetary value by said reload monetary value if said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers has expired.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein said account authorization system is configured to determine if said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers has been reported to be one of lost and stolen and to deny said request to increase said monetary value by said reload monetary value if said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers has been reported to be one of lost and stolen.

37. The method of claim 36, said computer network comprising the Internet.

40. The method of claim 39, said computer network comprising the Internet.

41. The method of claim 39, said identifying information of a purchaser comprising at least one of a name, an address, a social security number, a credit card number, and a debit card number.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein each of said plurality of transaction account numbers is associated with an initial monetary value which is equal to zero at said generating, and further comprising:

receiving a purchase request for the purchase of said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

receiving a monetary load request for associating said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers with said monetary value.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving a monetary load request for increasing said first updated monetary value by a reload monetary value, wherein said monetary load request is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

adding said first updated monetary value and said reload monetary value to obtain a second updated monetary load value; and

associating said second updated monetary load value with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving from a terminal remote from said database a balance inquiry, wherein said balance inquiry is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

transmitting to said terminal said first updated monetary value.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving from a terminal remote from said database a balance inquiry, wherein said balance inquiry is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

transmitting to said terminal said second updated monetary load value.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein each of said plurality of transaction account numbers is associated with an initial monetary value which is equal to zero at said providing, and further comprising:

receiving from a remote computer terminal a purchase request for the purchase of said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

receiving from said remote computer terminal a monetary load request for associating said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers with said monetary load value.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving from a remote computer terminal a monetary load request for increasing said first updated monetary load value by a reload monetary value, wherein said monetary load request is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

adding said first updated monetary load value and said reload monetary value to obtain a second updated monetary load value; and

associating said second updated monetary load value with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

49. The method of claim 16, said identifying information of a purchaser comprising at least one of a name, an address, a social security number, a credit card number, and a debit card number.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

if said purchase value exceeds said monetary load value, denying said request for an authorization of a purchase transaction.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein said monetary load value is stored in a record corresponding to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein said first updated monetary load value is stored in a record corresponding to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein said second updated monetary load value is stored in a record corresponding to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

54. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving from a remote terminal a balance inquiry, wherein said balance inquiry is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

transmitting to said remote terminal said first updated monetary load value.

55. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

receiving from a remote terminal a balance inquiry, wherein said balance inquiry is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

transmitting to said remote terminal said second updated monetary load value.

16. A system for facilitating the anonymous purchase of goods and services from an e-commerce website, said system comprising:

a database configured to store a plurality of transaction account numbers, said database having a plurality of records, each of said plurality of records corresponding to one of said plurality of transaction account numbers, wherein none of said records is configured to store identifying information of a purchaser of one of said plurality of transaction account numbers; and

an account authorization system in operative communication with said database and configured to receive a request for an authorization of a purchase transaction having a purchase value, wherein said request is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

36. A method for facilitating the purchase of goods and services anonymously over a computer network, said method comprising:

generating a plurality of non-activated account numbers;

storing said plurality of non-activated account numbers in a database, said database having a plurality of records, each of said plurality of records corresponding to one of said plurality of non-activated account numbers, wherein each of said plurality of records comprises a field for storing one of said plurality of non-activated account numbers and a field for storing a monetary value associated with each of said plurality of non-activated account numbers and wherein none of said plurality of records is configured to store identifying information of a user of one of said plurality of non-activated account numbers,

providing one of said plurality of non-activated account numbers to a user in return for a monetary payment not less than said monetary value associated with said one of said plurality of non-activated account numbers and converting said one of said plurality of non-activated account numbers to an activated account number;

receiving from a computer terminal remote from said database a request for an authorization of a purchase transaction having a purchase value, wherein said request is associated with a transmitted account number;

determining if said transmitted account number is equal to said activated account number;

if said transmitted account number is not equal to said activated account number, sending a denial message denying said request;

if said transmitted account number is equal to said activated account number, comparing said purchase value to said monetary value associated with said activated account number to determine if said purchase value exceeds said monetary value;

if said purchase value exceeds said monetary value associated with said activated account number, sending a denial message denying said request;

if said purchase value does not exceed said monetary value associated with said activated account number;

sending an authorization message authorizing said purchase transaction;

subtracting said purchase value from said monetary value associated with said activated account number to obtain an updated monetary value associated with said activated account number; and

storing said updated monetary value in said field for storing a monetary value.

38. A method for a purchaser to purchase anonymously goods and services from an ecommerce website, said method comprising:

transmitting to a card provider system a purchase request for the purchase of a transaction number, wherein information sufficient to identify the purchaser of said transaction number is not provided to said card provider system;

transmitting to said card provider system a monetary load request for associating a monetary load value with said transaction number;

receiving from said card provider system authorization of said purchase request;

accessing a merchant via an e-commerce website and selecting a purchase;

providing to said merchant via said e-commerce website said transaction number as a form of payment for said purchase.

39. A method for facilitating the purchase of goods and services anonymously over a computer network, said method comprising:

generating a plurality of transaction account numbers;

storing said plurality of transaction account numbers in a database, said database having a plurality of records, each of said plurality of records corresponding to one of said plurality of transaction account number wherein none of said records is configured to store identifying information of a purchaser of one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

associating a monetary value with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

receiving from a computer remote from said database a request for an authorization of a purchase transaction having a purchase value, wherein said request is associated with a transmitted account number;

determining if said transmitted account number is equal to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

if said transmitted account number is not equal to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers, sending a denial message denying said request;

if said transmitted account number is equal to said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers, comparing said purchase value to said monetary value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers to determine if said purchase value exceeds said monetary value;

if said purchase value exceeds said monetary value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers, sending a denial message denying said request;

if said purchase value does not exceed said monetary value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

sending an authorization message authorizing said purchase transaction; and

subtracting said purchase value from said monetary value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers to obtain a first updated monetary value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.

46. A method for facilitating the anonymous purchase of goods and services from a remote computer terminal, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of transaction account numbers;

storing said plurality of transaction account numbers in a database of a host, said database having a plurality of records, each of said plurality of records corresponding to one of said plurality of transaction account numbers, wherein said plurality of records is configured to store identifying information of a purchaser of one of said plurality of transaction account numbers and wherein said host is not configured to provide said identifying information to a non-host entity;

associating one of said plurality of transaction account numbers with a monetary load value;

receiving from a remote computer terminal a request for an authorization of a purchase transaction having a purchase value, wherein said request is associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers;

30 comparing said purchase value to said monetary load value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers to determine if said purchase value exceeds said monetary load value;

authorizing said request for an authorization of a purchase transaction;

subtracting said purchase value from said monetary load value associated with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers to obtain a first updated monetary load value; and

associating said first updated monetary load value with said one of said plurality of transaction account numbers.