Method of managing prepaid accounts

• US 20050147225A1
• Filed: 01/04/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Epassporte NV
• Original Assignee: Epassporte NV
• Inventors: Keith, Tony, Hall, Joel, Mallick, John Christopher, Andrews, Clay, Martinez, Esther
• Application Number:
  US11/029,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20050147225A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/201 automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 Multiple accounts per user

Abstract

A method for managing prepaid accounts. A prepaid account is established for an account holder who deposits funds into the account. A virtual account number is issued for the prepaid account. The virtual account number is compatible with a standardized credit transaction system. Use of the virtual account number is limited to transactions placed over the Internet and to transactions between the prepaid account and another prepaid account. A physical credit card for the prepaid account may also be issued to the account holder. Such a credit card has a card account number which is different than the virtual account number. The card account number is also compatible with the standardized credit transaction system. The card account number may also include use limitations.

Claims

1. A method of managing prepaid accounts, the method comprising:

establishing a first prepaid account for a first account holder;

placing funds received from the first account holder into the first prepaid account; and

issuing a first virtual account number, the first virtual account number being compatible with a standardized credit transaction system and being limited to use in transactions placed over the Internet and in transactions between the first prepaid account and a second prepaid account.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing a credit card to the first account holder, the credit card having a card account number which is different than the first virtual account number and which is compatible with the standardized credit transaction system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the credit card also functions as a debit card.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the card account number is limited to predetermined transaction types.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the card account number is not authorized for use in transactions placed over the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising accepting a transaction request from the first account holder, the transaction request being submitted from a remote access point.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transaction request is a request to transfer funds between the first prepaid account and the second prepaid account.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the transaction request is a request to place additional funds into the first prepaid account.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the remote access point comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) enabled device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the SMS enabled device comprises a cell phone having a phone number associated therewith.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

maintaining record of the phone number associated with the cell phone; and

directing a confirmation of a remote transaction request to the phone number on record.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating one or more prepaid sub-accounts under the first prepaid account;

placing funds received from the first account holder into one or more of the prepaid sub-accounts; and

issuing a unique virtual account number for each prepaid sub-account, wherein each unique virtual account number is compatible with a standardized credit transaction system.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising transferring control of one of the prepaid sub-accounts from the first account holder to a third party, wherein the first account holder retains authorization to place additional funds into the prepaid sub-accounts.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising issuing a credit card for each prepaid sub-account, wherein the credit card has a card account number which is different than the virtual account number for each prepaid sub-account.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing the second prepaid account for a second account holder.

16. A method of managing prepaid accounts, the method comprising:

establishing a first prepaid account for a first account holder;

placing funds received from the first account holder into the first prepaid account;

issuing a first virtual account number, the first virtual account number being compatible with a standardized credit transaction system and being limited to use in transactions placed over the Internet and in transactions between the first prepaid account and a second prepaid account;

issuing a credit card to the first account holder, the credit card having a card account number which is different than the first virtual account number and which is compatible with the standardized credit transaction system; and

accepting a transaction request from the first account holder, the transaction request being submitted from a remote access point.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the credit card also functions as a debit card.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the card account number is limited to predetermined transaction types.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the card account number is not authorized for use in transactions placed over the Internet.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the transaction request is a request to transfer funds between the first prepaid account and the second prepaid account.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the transaction request is a request to place additional funds into the first prepaid account.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote access point comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) enabled device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the SMS enabled device comprises a cell phone having a phone number associated therewith.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

maintaining record of the phone number associated with the cell phone; and

directing a confirmation of a remote transaction request to the phone number on record.

25. A method of managing prepaid accounts, the method comprising:

establishing a first prepaid account for a first account holder;

placing funds received from the first account holder into the first prepaid account;

issuing a first virtual account number, the first virtual account number being compatible with a standardized credit transaction system and being limited to use in transactions placed over the Internet and in transactions between the first prepaid account and a second prepaid account;

creating one or more prepaid sub-accounts under the first prepaid account;

placing funds received from the first account holder into one or more of the prepaid sub-accounts;

issuing a unique virtual account number for each prepaid sub-account, wherein each unique virtual account number is different than the first virtual account number and is compatible with a standardized credit transaction system; and

issuing a credit card for each prepaid sub-account, each credit card having an unique card account number which is different than the first virtual account number and each unique virtual account number, wherein each unique card account number is compatible with the standardized credit transaction system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second prepaid account is one of the prepaid sub-accounts.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein each credit card also functions as a debit card.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein each unique card account number is limited to predetermined transaction types.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein each unique card account number is not authorized for use in transactions placed over the Internet.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising transferring control of one of the prepaid sub-accounts from the first account holder to a third party, wherein the first account holder retains authorization to place additional funds into the prepaid sub-accounts.