METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXCHANGING AND/OR TRANSFERRING VARIOUS FORMS OF VALUE

• US 20090018959A1
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Kerry, Martin, Douglas A., Doran, Michael, Dean, Scott A., Jacobson, Jessaca, Hanson, Kim P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

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.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method for transferring funds from a first user to a second user, the method comprising:

providing a kiosk for performing money-based transactions, the kiosk including at least a central computer and a user-interface operatively connected to the central computer;

receiving second user information from the first user via the user-interface of the kiosk, the second user information at least partially identifying the second user;

receiving funds information from the first user via the user-interface of the kiosk, the funds information including at least an amount of funds to transfer from the first user to the second user;

sending a request to a remote computer for authorization to transfer the amount of funds to the second user;

receiving an authorization from the remote computer to transfer the amount of funds to the second user; and

in response to receiving the authorization, sending a message to the second user to inform the second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the kiosk is a first kiosk, and wherein the method further comprises:

providing a second kiosk for performing money-based transactions, the second kiosk including at least a second central computer, a second user-interface, and a voucher outlet, the second user-interface and the voucher outlet being operatively connected to the second central computer;

in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user via the second user-interface for the funds; and

in response to the request from the second user, dispensing a voucher to the second user via the voucher outlet of the second kiosk, the voucher being redeemable for the amount of the funds.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein sending a message to the second user includes sending a code to the second user, and wherein the kiosk is a first kiosk, and wherein the method further comprises:

providing a second kiosk for performing money-based transactions, the second kiosk including at least a second central computer, a second user-interface, and a voucher outlet, the second user-interface and the voucher outlet being operatively connected to the second central computer;

in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user via the second user-interface for the funds, the request including at least a portion of the code; and

in response to the request from the second user, dispensing a voucher to the second user via the voucher outlet of the second kiosk, the voucher being redeemable for the amount of the funds.

21-32. -32. (canceled)