Apparatus and method for providing account security
First Claim
1. An account security apparatus, comprising:
- a memory device for storing a limitation or restriction on a use of an account, wherein the account is at least one of a cable television account, an electrical utility account, a gas utility account, a fuel oil utility account, an insurance account, a subscription account for a good, product, or service, a health care insurance account, a pharmacy account, a social security account, and a credit report account, wherein the limitation or restriction is transmitted to a receiver from a communication device associated with an individual account holder, and wherein the limitation or restriction is automatically received by the receiver, and further wherein the limitation or restriction is automatically stored in the memory device; and
a processing device for processing an authorization request for a transaction on the account or a use of the account, wherein the processing device utilizes the limitation or restriction automatically stored in the memory device in processing the authorization request, wherein the processing device generates a signal containing information for authorizing or disallowing the transaction on the account or the use of the account.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An account security apparatus, including a memory device for storing a limitation or restriction on a use of at least one of a cable television account, an electrical utility account, a gas utility account, a fuel oil utility account, an insurance account, a subscription accounts for a good, product, or service, a health care insurance account, a pharmacy account, a social security account, and a credit report account, transmitted to a receiver from a communication device associated with an individual account holder, and a processing device for processing an authorization request for a transaction or a use of the account. The processing device utilizes the limitation or restriction automatically stored in the memory device in processing the authorization request and generates a signal containing information for authorizing or disallowing the transaction or the use of the account.
80 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An account security apparatus, comprising:
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a memory device for storing a limitation or restriction on a use of an account, wherein the account is at least one of a cable television account, an electrical utility account, a gas utility account, a fuel oil utility account, an insurance account, a subscription account for a good, product, or service, a health care insurance account, a pharmacy account, a social security account, and a credit report account, wherein the limitation or restriction is transmitted to a receiver from a communication device associated with an individual account holder, and wherein the limitation or restriction is automatically received by the receiver, and further wherein the limitation or restriction is automatically stored in the memory device; and a processing device for processing an authorization request for a transaction on the account or a use of the account, wherein the processing device utilizes the limitation or restriction automatically stored in the memory device in processing the authorization request, wherein the processing device generates a signal containing information for authorizing or disallowing the transaction on the account or the use of the account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An account security apparatus, comprising:
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a processing device for processing information regarding a transaction on an account or a use of an account, wherein the account is at least one of a cable television account, an electrical utility account, a gas utility account, a fuel oil utility account, an insurance account, a subscription account for a good, product, or service, a health care insurance account, a pharmacy account, a social security account, and a credit report account, wherein the information is automatically received by a receiver, wherein the processing device is capable of allowing or disallowing the transaction on the account or the use of the account, and further wherein the processing device generates a signal containing information regarding the transaction on the account or the use of the account; and a transmitter for transmitting the signal to a communication device associated with an individual account holder, wherein the signal is transmitted to the communication device via, on, or over, at least one of the Internet and the World Wide Web, and further wherein the communication device provides information to the individual account holder regarding the transaction on the account or the use of the account. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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12. An account security apparatus, comprising:
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at least one of an input device and a data entry device for at least one of inputting and entering information regarding a transaction on an account or a use of an account into a first communication device, wherein the account is at least one of a cable television account, an electrical utility account, a gas utility account, a fuel oil utility account, an insurance account, a subscription account for a good, product, or service, a health care insurance account, a pharmacy account, a social security account, and a credit report account; a processing device for processing the information and for generating a signal corresponding to the transaction on the account or the use of the account; and a transmitter for transmitting the signal to a second communication device, wherein the second communication device is associated with an individual account holder, and wherein the second communication device provides information to the individual account holder regarding the transaction on the account or the use of the account, and further wherein the second communication device is at least one of a beeper, a pager, a telephone, a two-way pager, a reply pager, a home computer, a personal computer, a personal communication device, a personal communication services device, a television, an interactive television, a digital television, a personal digital assistant, a display telephone, a video telephone, a watch, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a mobile telephone, a display cellular telephone, and a facsimile machine. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification