Computer system and method for on-line generating a password protected and barcode prepaid instrument of entitlement and activating said instrument on presentation over a computer network
First Claim
1. A computer network method for printing, under user control, from a computer network system, a password protected and barcode instrument of entitlement including generating a digital format to be used for obtaining goods or services from a merchant, wherein said computer network system includes at least a host server, a client terminal, a printer, a merchant server, a mobile communication device, a credit authority server as well as interface means, means for verifying availability of goods or services requested, means for payment, means for receiving pre-approval and final approval for such payment from said credit authority, means to transfer funds from user to merchant'"'"'s account controlled over said computer network, said instrument including a plurality of sections and formats, said method comprising the steps of:
- requesting for a user'"'"'s password to create the instrument through said user interface means;
requesting for a user'"'"'s mobile communication device number to sent the digital instrument receipt through said user interface means;
providing the name of a merchant of goods and services and a monetary value for the instrument through said user interface means;
printing within one section of said password protected and barcode instrument, the name of the merchant, the monetary value of the instrument, receipt number, the bar code and associated identification number of the instrument; and
printing within another section of said ticket, the nature of the service or goods, the name of the instrument holder, the expiry date of the instrument and graphics representative of the merchant'"'"'s indicia on client'"'"'s printer over said computer network.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system network over the internet to allow users to purchase and print instrument of entitlements for goods and services in one website such as a ticket. Users can pay using credit cards or internet bank transfer which is automated by the host computer and causes the account to be debited and prints the said instrument. Users are provided with the opportunity to protect their tickets using personal identification such as passwords to activate the tickets on presentation. The host computer informs the merchants of the issued ticket which will be presented at their premises. Merchants can authenticate the ticket holder by reading the bar codes printed using a bar code reader and by inputting the identification number of the ticket which is linked to a personal identification password over the computer network. The ticket expires in full once activated by this password at the point of exchange for goods or services.
247 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A computer network method for printing, under user control, from a computer network system, a password protected and barcode instrument of entitlement including generating a digital format to be used for obtaining goods or services from a merchant, wherein said computer network system includes at least a host server, a client terminal, a printer, a merchant server, a mobile communication device, a credit authority server as well as interface means, means for verifying availability of goods or services requested, means for payment, means for receiving pre-approval and final approval for such payment from said credit authority, means to transfer funds from user to merchant'"'"'s account controlled over said computer network, said instrument including a plurality of sections and formats, said method comprising the steps of:
-
requesting for a user'"'"'s password to create the instrument through said user interface means;
requesting for a user'"'"'s mobile communication device number to sent the digital instrument receipt through said user interface means;
providing the name of a merchant of goods and services and a monetary value for the instrument through said user interface means;
printing within one section of said password protected and barcode instrument, the name of the merchant, the monetary value of the instrument, receipt number, the bar code and associated identification number of the instrument; and
printing within another section of said ticket, the nature of the service or goods, the name of the instrument holder, the expiry date of the instrument and graphics representative of the merchant'"'"'s indicia on client'"'"'s printer over said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
-
-
10. A computer network system for printing, under user control, a password protected and bar code instrument of entitlement including generating a digital format to be used for obtaining goods or services or entitlement from an issuer, wherein said computer network system includes at least a host server, a client terminal, a merchant server, a printer, a mobile communication device, a credit authority server as well as interface means, means for verifying availability of goods or services requested, means for payment, means for receiving pre-approval and final approval for such payment from said credit authority, means to transfer funds from user to merchant'"'"'s account controlled over said computer network, said instrument including a plurality of sections and formats, said system comprising the means to:
-
request for a user'"'"'s password to create the instrument of entitlement through said user interface means;
request for a user'"'"'s mobile communication device number to sent the digital instrument through said user interface means;
provide the name of an issuer of goods and services and a monetary value for the instrument through said user interface means;
print within one section of said password protected and barcode instrument, the name of the issuer, the monetary value of the instrument, receipt number of the instrument, the bar code and associated identification number of the instrument; and
print within another section of said instrument, the nature of the service or goods, the name of the user, the expiry date of the instrument and graphics representative of the issuer'"'"'s indicia on client'"'"'s printer over said computer network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22)
-
-
19. A method of authentication from a mobile phone or wireless communication device connected to a public switched telephone network, a bar code and password protected instrument for obtaining goods or services or entitlement from a merchant, wherein said method comprising the steps of:
-
requiring the merchant to input merchant'"'"'s login into merchant'"'"'s terminal using the key board to connect to the host server over the network;
scanning the bar codes on the instrument of entitlement using a bar code scanner device;
inputting the identification number on the ticket using the key board at the merchant'"'"'s terminal;
response from the host server requesting the user to connect to a particular number from the user'"'"'s mobile phone to the host computer connected to an internet gateway via the public switched telephone network;
upon answering the call, the host computer will capture and record the originating mobile telephone number in order to query the database as to the validity of the said phone and phone number;
receiving response from the host server that the mobile phone number is authenticated to a current live request for authentication from a merchant over the computer network;
requesting from the user for the password associated with the presented instrument;
user input the password by pressing on appropriate keys on the alpha-numeric pad on the mobile phone and sending it over the public switched telephone network to host server through an internet gateway;
querying the host server'"'"'s database as the validity of the password in connection to the live authenticating request from the merchant for a particular instrument of entitlement over the computer network;
receiving a response from the host server as to the validity of the password over the computer network;
receiving a response from the host server to merchant'"'"'s terminal as to the authenticity of the instrument and validity of its holder and terminate all connections.
-
-
20. A method of authentication from a mobile phone or wireless communication device connected to a public switched telephone network, a digital bar code and password protected instrument for obtaining goods or services or entitlement from a merchant, wherein said method comprising the steps of:
-
at the time of approving the purchase, host server notifying the purchaser of the purchase by sending a digital encrypted receipt to the buyer'"'"'s mobile phone or communication device to be stored until presentment;
at the time of authentication, requiring the merchant to input merchant'"'"'s login into merchant'"'"'s terminal using the key board to connect to the host server over the network;
response from the host server requesting the user to interface the mobile phone to the merchant'"'"'s terminal linking to the host computer connected to an internet gateway via the public switched telephone network;
upon interfacing to a data receiving socket at merchant'"'"'s terminal connected to the host computer, the mobile phone will download the digital receipt received earlier sent by the host computer which will be sent to be matched against the original receipt stored in the host computer;
receiving response from the host server that the receipt is good or bad over the computer network;
requesting from the holder for the password associated with the presented digital instrument;
user input the password by pressing on appropriate keys on the merchant'"'"'s terminal keyboard;
querying the host server'"'"'s database as the validity of the password in connection to the live authenticating request from the merchant for a particular digital instrument over the computer network;
receiving a response from the host server as to the validity of the password over the computer network;
receiving a response from the host server to merchant'"'"'s terminal as to the authenticity of the digital instrument and validity of its holder and terminate all connections.
-
Specification