Method and apparatus for distributing currency
First Claim
1. A method for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising the following steps:
- generating a plurality of card numbers, each card number including an account number and a bank identification number, corresponding to card numbers encoded on a plurality of cards;
creating a database on a central computer having at least a first field for said bank identification number, a second field for said account number, a third field for customer data, a fourth field for a currency amount, and a fifth field for a personal identification number (PIN);
loading said bank identification number and said account numbers into said database, leaving said third and fourth fields without customer data or currency amount;
receiving, at a subsequent time of card purchase, customer data, an ID number corresponding to a card number and a currency amount selected by a customer from a first remote terminal;
immediately entering said customer data and said currency amount into said third and fourth fields, respectively, of said database corresponding to a bank identification number and an account number included in said card number;
immediately entering a personal identification number (PIN) into a fifth field of said database corresponding to said customer;
subsequently receiving, from a second remote terminal, a customer inputted PIN, a card number from a card for said customer and a debit currency amount;
subtracting said currency debit amount from the currency amount in said database corresponding to the received customer card number and PIN and updating said currency amount in said database;
transmitting to said second remote terminal an authorization message for transferring said currency debit amount if said currency debit amount is not greater than said currency amount in the database;
transmitting to said second remote terminal a message denying the transferring of currency if said currency debit amount is greater than the currency amount in the database.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process which provides electronic access to pre-paid funds for cash or payment for goods and services. A card is issued to a customer with a value selectable by the customer. The card has a magnetic stripe with an encoded card number including a bank identification number (BIN) and an account number. The central card processor establishes a zero balance database including the card numbers, but with blank fields for the customer data and the value of the account. When a customer purchases a card, the sales agent transmits to the central database computer which fills in the blanks in the database, activating the account, and transmits an acknowledgement signal back to the sales agent. The customer can immediately use the card in ATM or other remote terminals to acquire cash or purchase goods and services. The customer inputs a PIN number which is provided with the card, or a customer selected alternative PIN number.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising the following steps:
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generating a plurality of card numbers, each card number including an account number and a bank identification number, corresponding to card numbers encoded on a plurality of cards; creating a database on a central computer having at least a first field for said bank identification number, a second field for said account number, a third field for customer data, a fourth field for a currency amount, and a fifth field for a personal identification number (PIN); loading said bank identification number and said account numbers into said database, leaving said third and fourth fields without customer data or currency amount; receiving, at a subsequent time of card purchase, customer data, an ID number corresponding to a card number and a currency amount selected by a customer from a first remote terminal; immediately entering said customer data and said currency amount into said third and fourth fields, respectively, of said database corresponding to a bank identification number and an account number included in said card number; immediately entering a personal identification number (PIN) into a fifth field of said database corresponding to said customer; subsequently receiving, from a second remote terminal, a customer inputted PIN, a card number from a card for said customer and a debit currency amount; subtracting said currency debit amount from the currency amount in said database corresponding to the received customer card number and PIN and updating said currency amount in said database; transmitting to said second remote terminal an authorization message for transferring said currency debit amount if said currency debit amount is not greater than said currency amount in the database; transmitting to said second remote terminal a message denying the transferring of currency if said currency debit amount is greater than the currency amount in the database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising the following steps:
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generating a plurality of card numbers, each card number including an account number and a bank identification number, corresponding to card numbers encoded on magnetic stripes on a plurality of cards; printing a visible serial number, different from, but related to, said card number, on each of said cards; creating a database on a central computer having at least a first field for said bank identification number, a second field for said account numbers, a third field for customer data, and a fourth field for a currency amount; loading said bank identification number and said account numbers into said database, leaving said third and fourth fields without customer data or currency amount; storing inventory control status information in said database to indicate the status of said cards; receiving, at a subsequent time, customer data, the serial number and a currency amount from a first remote terminal; receiving a sales agent ID with said serial number for said card; immediately translating said serial number into a card number; immediately entering said customer data and said currency amounts into said third and fourth fields, respectively, of said database corresponding to a bank identification number and an account number included in said card number; immediately entering a personal identification number (PIN) into a fifth field of said database corresponding to said customer; comparing said sales agent ID with said inventory control status information; returning an error message if said comparing step does not produce a match; subsequently receiving, from a second remote terminal, a customer inputted PIN, a card number from a card for said customer and a debit currency amount; subtracting said currency debit amount from the currency amount in said database corresponding to the received customer card number and PIN and updating said currency amount in said database; transmitting to said second remote terminal an authorization message for transferring said currency debit amount if said currency debit amount is less than said currency amount in the database; and transmitting to said second remote terminal a message denying the transferring of currency if said currency debit amount is greater than the currency amount in the database.
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8. A system for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising:
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means for generating a plurality of card numbers, each card number including an account number and a bank identification number, corresponding to card numbers encoded on a plurality of cards; a database on a central computer having at least a first field for said bank identification number, a second field for said account numbers, a third field for customer data, and a fourth field for a currency amount, said bank identification number and said account numbers being loaded into said database, leaving said third and fourth fields without customer data or currency amount, and a fifth field for a personal identification number (PIN); a first remote terminal for transmitting customer data, and ID number corresponding to a card number and a currency amount; means for entering said customer data and said currency amounts into said third and fourth fields, respectively, of said database corresponding to a bank identification number and an account number included in said card number and entering the PIN into said fifth field of said database corresponding to said customer; a second remote terminal for transmitting a customer inputted PIN, a card number from a card for said customer and a debit currency amount; means for subtracting said currency debit amount from the currency amount in said database corresponding to the received customer card number and PIN and updating said currency amount in said database; means for transmitting to said second remote terminal an authorization message for transferring said currency debit amount if said currency debit amount is not greater than said currency amount in the database; means for transmitting to said second remote terminal a message denying the transferring of currency if said currency debit amount is greater than the currency amount in the database.
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9. A method for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising the following steps:
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generating a plurality of card numbers, each card number including an account number and a bank identification number, corresponding to card numbers encoded on a plurality of cards; creating a database on a central computer having at least a first field for said bank identification number, a second field for said account number, a third field for customer data, a fourth field for a currency amount, and a fifth field for a person identification number (PIN); loading said bank identification number and said account number into said database, leaving said third and fourth fields without customer data or currency amount; receiving at a subsequent time of card purchase, customer data, an ID number corresponding to a card number and a currency amount selected by a customer from a first remote terminal; immediately entering said customer data and said currency amount into said third and fourth fields, respectively, of said database corresponding to a bank identification number and an account number included in said card number; immediately entering a personal identification number (PIN) into a fifth field of said database corresponding to said customer; subsequently receiving, from a second remote terminal, a customer inputted PIN, a card number from a card for said customer and a debit currency amount; subtracting said currency debit amount from the currency amount in said database corresponding to the received customer card number and PIN and updating said currency amount in said database; transmitting to said second remote terminal an authorization message for dispensing said currency debit amount to the customer if said currency debit amount is less than said currency amount in the database; transmitting to said second remote terminal a message denying the dispensing of currency if said currency debit amount is greater than the currency amount in the database; and disposing of said card when the currency amount in the database is depleted and deactivating the account corresponding to said card number.
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10. A method for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising the following steps:
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generating a plurality of card numbers, each card number including an account number and a bank identification number, corresponding to card numbers encoded on a plurality of cards; creating a database on a central computer having at least a first field for said bank identification number, a second field for said account number, a third field for customer data, a fourth field for a currency amount, and a fifth field for a personal identification number (PIN); loading said bank identification number and said account numbers into said database; loading customer data and a fixed currency amount into said third and fourth fields, respectively, of said database corresponding to a bank identification number and an account number included in said card number; entering a personal identification number (PIN) into a fifth field of said database corresponding to said customer; subsequently receiving, from a second remote terminal, a customer inputted PIN, a card number from a card for said customer; subtracting a currency debit amount from the currency amount in said database corresponding to the received customer card number and PIN and updating said currency amount in said database; transmitting to said second remote terminal an authorization message for transferring said currency debit amount if said currency debit amount is in the database; transmitting to said second remote terminal a message denying the transferring of currency if said currency debit amount is not in the database. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification