SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTHORIZING TRANSACTIONS

• US 20110145147A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael S. Wylie
• Original Assignee: Michael S. Wylie
• Inventors: Wylie, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US12/763,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20110145147A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for authorizing a transaction that includes a remote location where the transaction takes place from which purchaser information may be obtained and providing that information to a central site where pre-determined information regarding the customer exists. Storing legal information at that central site provides the criterion for determining authorization by comparing the purchaser data with the stored legal information. The transaction data is stored, authorization is transmitted to the remote location, and the transaction authorization is transmitted to a temporary database available for near real-time access solely by law enforcement officers.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing a transaction comprising:

obtaining information relating to a potential purchaser at a remote location;

transmitting said purchaser information to a central site in a message that includes purchaser personal data that may qualify the purchaser to complete a proposed transaction and the identity of the remote location;

storing legal information at a central site that specifies requirements for authorization of a transaction;

comparing said purchaser personal data with said legal requirement information;

determining whether the purchaser personal data complies with the legal requirements and is authorized;

storing the potential purchaser personal data, the remote location identity, and the date and time of the transmission from the remote location;

transmitting the determination of authorization to the remote location; and

storing the transaction authorization in a temporary database available for near real time access solely by law enforcement officers.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of storing criminal records information, at a site other than the remote location, transmitting the purchaser personal data to the other site, comparing the purchaser personal data with the stored criminal records information, determining whether the transaction complies with legal requirements relating to the purchaser'"'"'s personal data and the criminal records, and transmitting the determination of authorization to the remote site.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said criminal records include probation terms and conditions.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said criminal records include outstanding arrest warrants.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining information relating to a potential purchaser includes scanning of a purchaser'"'"'s government issued identification card.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the scanning step includes obtaining an image of the front and/or back of the identification card, transmitting that image to another site, storing a master template image of an authentic identification card at the other site, comparing said scanned image to said master template image, determining if the scanned image is genuine, and transmitting said determination to said remote location.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of temporarily storing the transaction authorization includes storing every transaction authorization for a fixed period of time equal to less than a month.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said temporary storage period is twenty-four hours.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the temporary storage location is under the control of a law enforcement entity.

10. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code for receiving scanned input data regarding a person seeking authorization of a proposed transaction at a remote site;

computer readable program code for authenticating the input data;

computer readable program code containing personal information regarding the person seeking authorization;

computer readable program code for comparing the scanned input data with the personal information;

computer readable program code for determining authorization of the proposed transaction;

computer readable program code for storing the transaction data with the personal information; and

computer readable program code for storing the transaction data in an active database accessed exclusively by law enforcement officers.

11. The computer readable program code of claim 10 wherein the scanned input data includes personal age information.

12. The computer readable program code of claim 11 wherein the scanned input data is obtained from a driver'"'"'s license.

13. The computer readable program code of claim 12 wherein the personal information includes drivers license information.

14. The computer readable program code of claim 13 wherein the scanned input data personal age information is compared to a current date to determine if the person'"'"'s age authorizes the proposed transaction.

15. The computer readable program code of claim 10 wherein the input data is obtained from a scan of a driver'"'"'s license.

16. The computer readable program code of claim 15 wherein the scan comprises an image of the license.

17. The computer readable program code of claim 16, wherein the scanned input data image is compared to an image template of a driver'"'"'s license created by a governmental entity.

18. A system for authorizing and storing a proposed transaction comprising:

a terminal located at a retail site selling a product for scanning a person'"'"'s driver'"'"'s license;

a central site including a computer database of issued drivers licenses;

a communication system interconnecting the terminal and central site;

a computer program for receiving the scanned information;

a computer program for comparing the scanned driver'"'"'s license with a template of issued drivers licenses for authenticating the scanned driver'"'"'s license;

a second computer program for determining if the age or other personal data of the person carrying the driver'"'"'s license is authorized to purchase the product;

a transmitter for sending authorization to the terminal; and

a law enforcement database for receiving transaction information on a near-real time basis and making such transaction information available exclusively to law enforcement officers.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the law enforcement database transaction information is only temporarily stored.