Method and apparatus for facilitating monetary and commercial transactions

• US 20030139999A1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Think Tek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Think Tek Incorporated
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick
• Application Number:
  US10/376,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139999A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

The invention comprises financial accounts and methods of establishing and using the accounts, particularly in monetary and commercial transactions. Customer data is provided to an account provider, an account type is established, a value limit for the account is assigned, funds are deposited in the financial account in an amount not exceeding the value limit, an account expiration date is assigned, and an account signature is generated for use in establishing later entitlement to access the financial account. The financial account has monetary funds associated therewith which may be debited from the account, an expiration date associated therewith after which access to the account is prevented, a maximum funds value comprising the maximum funds which may be associated with the account, and account data for use in establishing entitlement to access the account.

Claims

1. A method of a customer establishing a financial account with an account provider comprising the steps of:

providing customer data to said account provider;

establishing an account type;

assigning a value limit for said account;

depositing funds in said financial account in an amount not exceeding said value limit;

assigning said financial account an expiration date after which access to said financial account is generally prohibited by a user; and

generating account data for use in establishing later entitlement to access said financial account.