System and method for using a prepaid card

• US 20060078100A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Stangle, Burnett D. Hunter, Janice Wiggins, Kevin Mckenzie, Nicole N. Risafi, Vincent Forte
• Original Assignee: Brian Stangle, Burnett D. Hunter, Janice Wiggins, Kevin Mckenzie, Nicole N. Risafi, Vincent Forte
• Inventors: Hunter, Burnett D., Wiggins, Janice, McKenzie, Kevin, Risafi, Nicole N., Stangle, Brian, Forte, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,675,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• 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 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0028 Use of a wired telephone or public communication device charging and metering the use of the telecommunication network H04M17/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• 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 17/02 : Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 : using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 : with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 : using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• 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 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 : Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user

Abstract

A system and method for transferring money by use of a prepaid card account is disclosed wherein two cards are issued to the user accountholder, one of which is provided to another user, and either user may add value to the prepaid account so that the other user may use the card and that value in a financial transaction.

Claims

1. (canceled)

30. The method of claim 1, in which the first party is the party adding value to said card account.

31. The method of claim 1, in which the second party is the party adding value to the card account.

32. The method of claim 1, in which the step of using one of the said prepaid cards in a card transaction includes purchasing a good or service using a prepaid card at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

33. The method of claim 1, in which the step of using one of the said prepaid cards in a card transaction includes withdrawing cash from an ATM using a prepaid card.

34. The method of claim 1, in which the step of using one of the said prepaid cards in a card transaction includes withdrawing cash from a money transfer agent using a prepaid card.

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29. A method for transferring money between two parties, each holding a prepaid card associated with the same account, comprising:

a) issuing to a first party at least two prepaid cards sharing an associated prepaid card account, said account adapted to hold value representative of money transferable at least between said parties using said cards;

b) sending at least one of said prepaid cards to a second party;

c) adding value to said card account by one of the first party or second party using one of said prepaid cards in the possession of the party adding said value;

d) using one of said prepaid cards in a card transaction by the party other than the one adding said value in step (c).