METHOD FOR PROVIDING PRE-PAID ANONYMOUS ELECTRONIC DEBIT CARD COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING NETWORK OF CREDIT CARDS
First Claim
1. A method for providing an electronic debit card which is compatible with an existing network of credit cards, the method comprising:
- (a) providing, through a financial institution which participates in the existing network of credit cards, a main account divided into a plurality of sub-accounts, purchases made on each of the plurality of sub-accounts being payable out of the main account through the existing network of credit cards;
(b) receiving a pre-payment from a customer;
(c) providing one of the plurality of sub-accounts with a credit balance not exceeding the amount of the pre-payment to form a pre-paid sub-account; and
(d) making the pre-paid sub-account available to a user who is one of (i) the customer and (ii) a third party designated by the customer by issuing the electronic debit card to access the pre-paid sub-account.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An issuer of pre-paid electronic debit cards contracts with an issuing bank for a main account compatible with an existing network of credit cards such as MasterCard or Visa, the main account being divided into sub-accounts. Upon pre-payment by a customer, the issuer issues to the customer a pre-paid electronic debit card, bearing the name of the issuer, for accessing one of the sub-accounts. The card can be issued in purely electronic form and is usable for electronic commerce as though it were the corresponding type of credit card. Purchases are billed to the main account. The customer can receive the card for personal use or send it to a third party, either as a gift or as payment for a purchase.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for providing an electronic debit card which is compatible with an existing network of credit cards, the method comprising:
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(a) providing, through a financial institution which participates in the existing network of credit cards, a main account divided into a plurality of sub-accounts, purchases made on each of the plurality of sub-accounts being payable out of the main account through the existing network of credit cards;
(b) receiving a pre-payment from a customer;
(c) providing one of the plurality of sub-accounts with a credit balance not exceeding the amount of the pre-payment to form a pre-paid sub-account; and
(d) making the pre-paid sub-account available to a user who is one of (i) the customer and (ii) a third party designated by the customer by issuing the electronic debit card to access the pre-paid sub-account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for obtaining an electronic debit card which is compatible with an existing network of credit cards, the method comprising:
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(a) making a pre-payment into a sub-account which is one of a plurality of sub-accounts into which a main account is divided, purchases on each of the plurality of sub-accounts being payable out of the main account through the existing network of credit cards, to form a pre-paid sub-account;
(b) causing the electronic debit card to be issued to a user to access the pre-paid sub-account. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for providing an electronic debit card which is compatible with an existing network of credit cards, the method comprising:
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(a) an issuing bank facility for providing, through a financial institution which participates in the existing network of credit cards, a main account divided into a plurality of sub-accounts, purchases made on each of the plurality of sub-accounts being payable out of the main account through the existing network of credit cards; and
(b) an issuer facility, in communication with the issuing bank facility and with a customer, for receiving a pre-payment from the customer, providing one of the plurality of sub-accounts with a credit balance not exceeding the amount of the pre-payment to form a pre-paid sub-account, and making the pre-paid sub-account available to a user who is one of (i) the customer and (ii) a third party designated by the customer by issuing the electronic debit card to access the pre-paid sub-account. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification