Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of valve
First Claim
1. A method for providing a prepaid card to a user, the method comprising:
- providing a value exchange machine having a card reader, a communications facility, and a card dispenser;
displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user with the value exchange machine, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to purchasing the prepaid card with a card, and wherein the second transaction option corresponds to purchasing the prepaid card with at least one of cash, coins, and bank account funds;
receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option;
reading information from a card submitted to the card reader by the user, the card being submitted for at least partial payment for the prepaid card;
communicating with at least one remote computer via the communications facility to receive authorization to charge an account associated with the card submitted by the user to at least partially pay for the prepaid card; and
issuing the prepaid card to the user from the card dispenser upon receiving the authorization from the remote computer.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards, and the like. In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region, a coin sorting/counting apparatus, a card reader, and a communications facility configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link. A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select the desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for providing a prepaid card to a user, the method comprising:
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providing a value exchange machine having a card reader, a communications facility, and a card dispenser;
displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user with the value exchange machine, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to purchasing the prepaid card with a card, and wherein the second transaction option corresponds to purchasing the prepaid card with at least one of cash, coins, and bank account funds;
receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option;
reading information from a card submitted to the card reader by the user, the card being submitted for at least partial payment for the prepaid card;
communicating with at least one remote computer via the communications facility to receive authorization to charge an account associated with the card submitted by the user to at least partially pay for the prepaid card; and
issuing the prepaid card to the user from the card dispenser upon receiving the authorization from the remote computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for adding value to a first card, the method comprising:
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providing a value exchange machine having a card reader, a communications facility, and a card writer, wherein the card reader is configured to read information from cards submitted by the user, wherein the communications facility is configured to communicate with one or more remote computers to receive authorization to debit accounts to pay for values added to cards, and wherein the card writer is configured to write information to cards submitted by the user;
displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user with the value exchange machine, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to adding value to the first card with a second card, and wherein the second transaction option corresponds to adding value to the first card with at least one of cash, coins, and bank account funds;
receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option;
reading information from the second card when the second card is submitted to the card reader by the user to add value to the first card;
communicating with at least one remote computer via the communications facility to receive authorization to debit an account associated the second card to pay for the value added to the first card; and
writing value information to the first card with the card writer when the first card is submitted to the card writer by the user, the value information being at least partially related to the value debited from the account. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification