SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR SELLING TRANSACTION INSTRUMENTS VIA WEB-BASED TOOL

• US 20050199706A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Vollmer, Nicole Milne, Rose, John R., Feldman, Gennye Hannover, Holt, Elizabeth Anne, Rubner, Marc, Miller, Sven, Page, Clyde, Beck, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing a transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: offering for sale, in a retail environment, the transaction instrument; selling a selected transaction instrument; communicating with the issuer of the transaction instrument via an internet accessible web site, and enabling the use of the transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. The distribution of the transaction instrument may also include the step of sending a message, through the web site, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid transaction instrument to be funded but not activated until later through an interactive voice response system, for example. In another example, an associated transaction account may be funded and activated at the time of distribution. Furthermore, an issuer system may be suitably configured to leverage existing Travelers Cheque infrastructure for inventory and related processes.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating distribution of a transaction instrument through a distributor, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a transaction instrument associated with a transaction account to the distributor; and

receiving, via a web based interface, information requesting authorization of the distribution of the transaction instrument;

providing a response to the distributor via said web based interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an inventory download file to a web tool, wherein said inventory download is stored in a web tool related database and is accessible by the distributor via said web based interface to perform inventory functions.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of reporting the distribution of the transaction instrument via said web tool.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of funding the transaction instrument at substantially the same time as its distribution.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said web based interface is configured to receive input identifying the transaction instrument, and wherein said input comprises at least one of the following:

type of account, amount, and the specific account number of the transaction instrument.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said information is obtained via at least one of manual entry, card swipe, and scan into said web page.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said web based interface is configured to receive input identifying the distributor and identifying the inventory in the possession of the distributor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of distributing said transaction instrument, and activating, via said web based interface, an account associated with said distributed transaction instrument at the time of distribution, wherein said transaction instrument is an open pre-paid card, and wherein said distributor is a merchant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said web based interface is configured to prevent fraud by sending a ‘

non-authorized’

signal for sale of transaction instruments that are not listed in inventory.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said web based interface is configured to facilitate at least one of:

reconciliation, generation of reports, production of receipts, cash out of cards at point of sale, voiding transaction instruments if transaction is not settled, balance inquiry, and replacing lost transaction instruments.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said web based interface is configured to receive input, identifying the method of payment for the transaction instrument, via at least one of:

a card swipe device, manual data entry, and scanning.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of activating said distributed transaction instrument after distribution via at least one of an interactive voice response system and a customer service representative.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of activating said distributed transaction instrument after distribution via an interactive voice response system, wherein said transaction instrument is an open pre-paid card, and wherein said distributor is a merchant.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

activating said distributed transaction instrument after distribution via an interactive voice response system, wherein said transaction instrument is an open pre-paid card, and wherein said distributor is a merchant;

associating a first number with said open pre-paid card, wherein said first number is suitably configured to conform to a Travelers Cheque infrastructure, wherein said first number comprises, at least in part, a serial number, wherein said open pre-paid card is one of a plurality of cards, and wherein said plurality of cards are consigned to said merchant in groups with each card identified respectively by said plurality of sequential numbers; and

associating a second number with said card, wherein said second number is a randomized account number.

15. A method of distributing a transaction instrument comprising the steps of:

providing an internet accessible web site that is configured to facilitate distribution of a transaction instrument, wherein said providing step further comprises the steps of;

receiving transaction instrument distribution information via said internet accessible web site;

forwarding said transaction instrument distribution information to a card authorization system and receiving an authorization response from said card authorization system; and

providing said authorization response for output on the internet accessible web site.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said internet accessible web site is configured to receive input identifying the transaction instrument, and wherein said input comprises at least one of:

the type of account, amount, and the specific account number of the transaction instrument.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said internet accessible web site is configured to do at least one of the following:

receive input identifying the distributor and identifying the inventory in the possession of the distributor, track inventory, prevent fraud by sending a ‘

non-authorized’

signal for sale of transaction instruments that are not in inventory, facilitate reconciliation, facilitate generation of reports, and facilitate production of receipts.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said internet accessible web site is configured to receive input, identifying the method of payment for the transaction instrument, via at least one of:

a card swipe device, manual data entry, and scanning.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said internet accessible web site is configured to facilitate at least one of:

cash out of cards at point of sale, voiding transaction instruments if transaction is not settled, balance inquiry, and replacing lost transaction instruments.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

causing a transaction account associated with the transaction instrument to be funded but not activated at the point of sale; and

,

activating said transaction account at a time subsequent to said receiving step.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said transaction instrument comprises a pre-paid open transaction instrument, wherein said method further comprises the step of activating said pre-paid open transaction instrument, and wherein said activating step further comprises the step of using an interactive voice response system.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said transaction instrument comprises a pre-paid open card, and further comprising the steps of associating a serialized number with said transaction instrument and associating a randomized card number with said open transaction instrument, wherein said card is packaged, wherein said packaging conceals said randomized card number and displays said serialized number, and said method further comprising the step of utilizing a pre-existing inventory and financial settlement processing system, which operates using serial number logic, to process said transaction instrument.

35. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving transaction instrument distribution information comprises receiving information related to said distribution of a first retail sale package containing a first transaction instrument, wherein said retail sale package is associated with a second retail sale package containing a second transaction instrument, wherein said first and second retail sale packages comprise a distribution group, and wherein said information identifies a location of a sale of said first retail sale package;

and wherein said method further comprises associating said location of said sale of said first retail sale package with said second retail sale package to facilitate determining said location of said second retail sale package in an inventory system.

23. A method for distributing a transaction instrument, in a retail environment, comprising the steps of:

offering, at a merchant, a transaction instrument for distribution;

allowing a customer to obtain said transaction instrument;

accessing, at the point of sale of said transaction instrument, an internet website that is configured to facilitate distribution of said transaction instrument;

communicating transaction distribution information to an issuer via said internet web site; and

facilitating the funding of said transaction instrument.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of selling the transaction instrument, wherein the transaction instrument is associated with a pre-paid card.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of selling the transaction instrument, wherein the transaction instrument is associated with a pre-paid card, and wherein said pre-paid card is funded during said selling step, and is activated after said selling step, and wherein said enabling step further comprises the step of using an interactive voice response system to activate said pre-paid card.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said transaction instrument is associated with a transaction instrument, and wherein said transaction instrument comprises a pre-paid card that is accepted at a plurality of merchants that are not directly affiliated with each other, and said method further comprising the steps of associating a serialized number with said transaction instrument and associating a randomized card number with said pre-paid card.

27. A web based system for facilitating distribution of a transaction instrument through a distributor comprising:

a transaction instrument issuing system configured to issue the transaction instrument to a distributor, wherein said transaction instrument issuing system comprises an internet website that is configured to receive transaction distribution information from said distributor;

a distributor system configured distribute the transaction instrument and to communicate with the transaction instrument issuing system, wherein said communication facilitates the funding of a transaction account associated with the transaction instrument, and wherein said distributor system further comprises a device for accessing said internet website to facilitate said communication.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said distributor system further comprises a point of sale device for processing payment for the transaction instrument.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said device further comprises a computer for accessing the internet.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein said open transaction instrument is a pre-paid card, and wherein said distributor is a merchant.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein said open transaction instrument is associated with a first number and a second number, and wherein said first number comprises, at least in part, a serialized number, wherein said first number comprises a Travelers Cheque number, wherein said distributor system is a merchant system that is configured to communicate information related to the distribution of the transaction instrument to said transaction instrument issuing system;

and wherein said information is configured for processing via a Travelers Cheque infrastructure.

32. A method of distributing a transaction instrument comprising the steps of:

receiving purchase data associated with the transaction instrument through a first medium, wherein said first medium comprises a web page authorization medium;

receiving a request to fund the transaction account through a second communication medium;

causing a transaction account associated with the transaction instrument to be funded but not activated; and

,

funding said transaction account at a time subsequent to said receiving purchase data.

33. The method claim 32, wherein said second medium comprises an interactive voice response medium.

34. The method claim 32, wherein said first medium comprises a point of sale card authorization medium, wherein said second medium comprises an interactive voice response medium, wherein said transaction instrument is associated with an open pre-paid card, and wherein receiving said purchase data facilitates activation of said open pre-paid card through said interactive voice response medium immediately after the transaction instrument is distributed.