SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPAID BIOMETRIC REDEMPTION ACCOUNTS

• US 20090099944A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: YT Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Goff, Tennille V., Watson, Timothy Neil, Robinson, Timothy L., Schildt, Bradford R., Corwin, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A system and method of offering a redemption account that allows users to purchase in advance and subsequently redeem products and services from one or more vendors that are affiliated with the system. The present invention imparts a process by which users enrolled in a biometric authorization system can access a redemption account for advance purchased products and services by submitting their biometric data. Information stored in the user record can then be utilized to enable the fulfillment of the advance purchase.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method for enabling the provision of a product via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first authorization station, a request from a user to purchase a product, wherein said request includes first biometric data from said user;

receiving payment for said product, wherein said product is not provided to said user at a time of receipt of payment;

maintaining purchase information in an electronic record, wherein said purchase information comprises stored biometric data from said user and data identifying said product;

receiving, at a second authorization station, a request from said user to be provided with said product, said request comprising submission of second biometric data from the user;

determining whether said second biometric data sufficiently matches said stored biometric data; and

if said second biometric data sufficiently matches said stored biometric data;

determining whether said product has been provided, and

authorizing provision of said product to said user if said product has not been provided.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said product comprises at least a portion of a package related to one or more of a place, an event, and an attraction.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said receiving payment for said product comprises performing a biometric authorization of said user.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising generating said electronic record.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic record is an existing user record.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein said purchase information further comprises user age data.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

verifying, at one or more of the first authorization station and the second authorization station, an age of said user by accessing said user age data, and

determining whether to provide said product to said user based on an age restriction.

32. A method for enabling the provision of a product via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first authorization station, a request from a first user to purchase a product, wherein said request includes biometric data from said first user;

receiving payment for said product, wherein said product is not provided to said first user at a time of receipt of payment;

maintaining purchase information in an electronic record, wherein said purchase information comprises stored biometric data from said first user and data identifying said product;

receiving an authorization, from said first user, to enable the provision of said product to a second user;

associating first identifying information regarding said second user with said electronic record;

receiving, at a second authorization station, a request from said second user to obtain said product, said request comprising second identifying information submitted by said second user;

determining whether said second identifying information sufficiently matches said first identifying information; and

if said second identifying information sufficiently matches said first identifying information;

determining whether said product has been provided, and

authorizing provision of said product to said second user if said product has not been provided.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said receiving payment for said product comprises performing a biometric authorization of said first user.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving authorization from said first user to enable the provision of said product to a second user comprises performing a biometric authorization of said first user.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein associating first identifying information regarding said second user with said electronic record comprises receiving first identifying information directly from said second user.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein associating first identifying information regarding said second user with said electronic record comprises utilizing first identifying information maintained in a second electronic record associated with said second user.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein said first identifying information comprises biometric data.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein said authorization to enable the provision of said product to said second user is limited according to one or more system parameters.

39. A method for enabling the provision of a product via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, at an authorization station, a request from a user to purchase a product;

obtaining first biometric data from said user;

receiving payment from said user for said product;

enabling said user to access said product via a first biometric authorization of said user;

maintaining purchase information in an electronic record, wherein said purchase information comprises stored biometric data from said user and data identifying said product;

receiving, at a second authorization station, a request from said user to obtain said product, said request comprising submission of second biometric data from said user; and

determining whether said electronic record associated with said product has expired; and

if said electronic record has not expired;

determining whether said second biometric data sufficiently matches said stored biometric data, and

if said second biometric data sufficiently matches said stored biometric data;

determining whether said product has been provided, and

authorizing the provision of said product to said user if said product has not been provided.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said product comprises at least a portion of a package related to one or more of a place, an event, and an attraction.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said receiving payment for said product comprises performing a second biometric authorization of said user.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein said electronic record expires after said product has been provided.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein said electronic record expires after a period of time.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

if said electronic record has expired, deleting said electronic record.