System and method for managing stored-value card data

• US 6,918,537 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Merrill Brooks, Graves, Phillip Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US10/831,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/383, 235/381, 235/487, 235/380, 235/375, 705/39, 705/40, 379/114.2, 709/217
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• 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: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification

Abstract

A computerized system and method for managing stored-value card data over a communications network between a plurality of terminals and a central processor is provided. Each of the terminals is accessible to respective users and is located in a respective location generally remote relative to the central processor. The stored-value card data is configured to securely process in real time stored-value cards transacted by respective users to enable charging prepaid stored-value services to a recipient of the transacted stored-value card. The method allows for providing a database coupled to the central processor. The method further allows for storing in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card. An associating step allows for associating in each stored record respective identifiers to uniquely match a respective stored-value card and a respective terminal. The associating step is enabled by assigning a “setup” card to the location and capturing the terminal information when a transaction utilizing that card is made. A transmitting step allows for transmitting a request of stored-value card activation to the central processor from a respective requesting terminal, the central processor configured to accept said activation request based on whether the associated identifiers for the stored-value card to be activated match identifiers actually transmitted by the requesting terminal for that stored-value card and terminal.

Claims

1. A computerized method for managing stored-value card data over a communications network between a plurality of terminals and a central processor, each of said terminals accessible to respective users and located in a respective location generally remote relative to the central processor, the stored-value card data configured to securely process stored value cards transacted by respective users to enable charging prepaid services and/or products to a recipient of the transacted stored-value card, the method comprising:

providing a database coupled to the central processor;

storing in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card;

processing respective terminal identifiers for each of the plurality of terminals;

associating in the database a specific stored-value card with one or more of the plurality of terminal identifiers; and

receiving at the central processor a request to activate the specific stored-value card, the activation request being received from a first requesting terminal and comprising a first requesting terminal identifier, wherein the central processor is configured to accept said activation request based on whether the first requesting terminal identifier matches one of the one or more of the plurality of terminal identifiers associated with the specific stored-value card in the database.

2. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of terminal identifiers comprises a respective electronic signature for each corresponding terminal.

3. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein each record stored in the database further includes a parameter indicative of a predefined amount corresponding to the face value of each stored-value card.

4. The computerized method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at the central processor a request for incrementing a value associated with the specific stored-value card, said incrementing request being received from a second requesting terminal and comprising a second requesting terminal identifier, wherein the central processor is configured to accept said incrementing request based on whether the second requesting terminal identifier matches one of the one or more of the plurality of terminal identifiers associated with the specific stored-value card in the database.

5. The computerized method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at the central processor a request to deactivate the specific stored-value card, said deactivating request being received from a third requesting terminal and comprising a third requesting terminal identifier, wherein the central processor is configured to accept said deactivating request based on whether the third requesting terminal identifier matches one of the one or more of the plurality of terminal identifiers associated with the specific stored-value card in the database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated may be used for long distance telephone communication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated may be used for wireless communication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated may be used for paging.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated may be used for internet-enabled communication service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated may be used for wireless web access.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated is a gift card.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated is a prepaid gas card.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated is a prepaid grocery card.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated is a prepaid entertainment card.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card to be activated is a customer reward card.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating reports of transmitted requests of stored-value card activation.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted request of stored-value card activation from the terminal is first transmitted to a host bank before the request is transmitted to the central processor.

18. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer program code for managing stored-value card data over a communications network between a plurality of terminals and a central processor, each of said terminals accessible to respective users and located in a respective location generally remote relative to the central processor, the stored-value card data configured to securely process stored-value cards transacted by respective users to enable charging prep aid services and/or products to a recipient of the transacted stored-value card, the program code causing a computer to execute a method comprising:

controlling a database coupled to the central processor;

storing in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card;

processing respective terminal identifiers for each of the plurality of terminals;

associating in the database a specific stored-value card with one or more of the plurality of terminal identifiers; and

receiving at the central processor a request to activate the specific stored-value card, the activation request being received from a first requesting terminal and comprising a first requesting terminal identifier, wherein the central processor is configured to accept said activation request based on whether the first requesting terminal identifier matches one of the one or more of the plurality of terminal identifiers associated with the specific stored-value card in the database.

19. A system for managing stored-value card data over a communications network between a plurality of terminals and a central processor, each of said terminals having a terminal identifier and being accessible to respective users and located in a respective location generally remote relative to the central processor, the stored-value card data configured to securely process stored-value cards transacted by respective users to enable charging prep aid services and/or products to a recipient of the transacted stored-value card, the system comprising:

a database coupled to the central processor;

a storage module configured to store in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card;

an associating module configured to associate in each stored record a respective stored-value card and at least one terminal identifier;

a value module configured to define in each stored record a parameter corresponding to the face value of each respective stored-value card;

a first processing module configured to receive and process a request of stored-value card activation from a first requesting terminal, the activation request comprising a first requesting terminal identifier, the central processor being configured to accept said activation request based on whether the first requesting terminal identifier matches one of the at least one terminal identifier associated with the specific stored-value card in the database.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a second processing module configured to receive and process a request for incrementing a value associated with the specific stored-value card, said incrementing request being received from a second requesting terminal and comprising a second requesting terminal identifier, wherein the central processor is configured to accept said incrementing request based on whether the second requesting terminal identifier matches one of the at least one terminal identifier associated with the specific stored-value card in the database.