Managing micropayment transactions with value accounts

• US 20050075939A1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paystone Technologies Corp.
• Original Assignee: Paystone Technologies Corp.
• Inventors: Roberts, Brian, Thompson, H. Alan, Garcia, C. Tante, Whiteside, Ken, Bao, Dao-Ping
• Application Number:
  US10/678,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• 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 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/29 characterised by micropayments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

A method for managing micropayment transactions includes receiving a purchase request from a customer, where the purchase request includes a purchase item and a purchase price, and comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request. Then, if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, the method includes completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account. Alternatively, if the purchase request is a micropayment request, the method includes completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction. In the latter case, completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes: maintaining a value account for the customer, adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and completing the purchase request with the value account.

Claims

1. A method for managing micropayment transactions, comprising:

receiving a purchase request from a customer, the purchase request including a purchase item and a purchase price;

comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request;

if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account; and

if the purchase request is a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction, wherein completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes;

maintaining a value account for the customer,

adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and

completing the purchase request with the value account.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transferring a value from the value account to a cash-access account; and

using an access card to access the cash-access account for at least one of a cash withdrawal at an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine), a POS (Point of Service) purchase, or a value transfer into the value account.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving the purchase request as an Internet signal.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is a micropayment request includes confirming a valid credit transaction for the credit account.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is a micropayment request includes sending an Internet request for goods or services.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is not a micropayment request includes confirming a valid credit transaction for the credit account.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is not a micropayment request includes sending an Internet request for goods or services.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the value increment is not less than the micropayment threshold.

9. A system for managing micropayment transactions, comprising:

transaction center connected to the Internet for communication with purchasers and sellers of some combination of goods and services, the transaction center including executable instructions for;

receiving a purchase request from a customer, the purchase request including a purchase item and a purchase price;

comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request;

if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account; and

if the purchase request is a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction, wherein completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes;

maintaining a value account for the customer,

adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and

completing the purchase request with the value account.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising executable instructions for:

transferring a value from the value account to a cash-access account; and

using an access card to access the cash-access account for at least one of a cash withdrawal at an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine), a POS (Point of Service) purchase, or a value transfer into the value account.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving the purchase request as an Internet signal.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is a micropayment request includes confirming a valid credit transaction for the credit account.

13. A system according to claim 9, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is a micropayment request includes sending an Internet request for goods or services.

14. A system according to claim 9, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is not a micropayment request includes confirming a valid credit transaction for the credit account.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is not a micropayment request includes sending an Internet request for goods or services.

16. A system according to claim 9, wherein the value increment is not less than the micropayment threshold.

17. Computer-readable media tangibly embodying a computer program for managing micropayment transactions, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

receiving a purchase request from a customer, the purchase request including a purchase item and a purchase price;

comparing the purchase price to a micropayment threshold to determine if the purchase request is a micropayment request;

if the purchase request is not a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a credit transaction with a credit account; and

if the purchase request is a micropayment request, completing the purchase request as a micropayment transaction, wherein completing the purchase request a micropayment transaction includes;

maintaining a value account for the customer,

adding a value increment to the value account from the credit account if the value account is insufficient for the purchase price, and

completing the purchase request with the value account.

18. Computer-readable media according to claim 17, further comprising:

transferring a value from the value account to a cash-access account; and

using an access card to access the cash-access account for at least one of a cash withdrawal at an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine), a POS (Point of Service) purchase, or a value transfer into the value account.

19. Computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving the purchase request as an Internet signal.

20. Computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is a micropayment request includes confirming a valid credit transaction for the credit account.

21. Computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is a micropayment request includes sending an Internet request for goods or services.

22. Computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is not a micropayment request includes confirming a valid credit transaction for the credit account.

23. Computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein completing the purchase request when the purchase request is not a micropayment request includes sending an Internet request for goods or services.

24. Computer-readable media according to claim 17, wherein the value increment is not less than the micropayment threshold.