Method of using prepaid cash card for making purchases on the world wide web
First Claim
1. A method for making purchase transactions over the world wide web, comprising the steps of:
- purchasing a card having a unique identification code and a predetermined cash balance;
activating an account associated with the card by providing only the identification code and not any personally identifying information to a card service system;
selecting one or more goods or services offered by a seller through a web-site;
providing the identification code of the card to the seller who then transmits the identification code to the card service system for verification, wherein the verification by the card service system includes the steps of determining if the identification code is associated with a valid and active account by searching a database of activated accounts, and if there is sufficient cash balance in the account to purchase the selected goods or services; and
transmitting an approval code to the seller if the identification code is valid and a sufficient cash balance is available in the associated account to purchase the selected goods or services, or transmitting a denial code to the seller if the identification code is determined invalid or there is insufficient cash balance in the associated account to purchase the selected goods or services; and
debiting the purchase price of the selected goods or services from the cash balance of the account when an approval code is transmitted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for making on-line purchases includes purchasing a card having a unique identification code and a predetermined cash balance and activating an associated account. Goods or services offered by a seller through a web-site are selected and the identification code provided to the seller who transmits it for verification. If the identification code is associated with the valid and active account and if there is sufficient cash balance in the account, an approval code is sent to the seller, and the purchase price of the selective goods or services is debited from the cash balance of the account. If the identification code is determined invalid, or there is insufficient cash balance, a denial code is transmitted to the seller. As there are low cash balances and no personally identifying or sensitive information associated with the cards, there is little risk in use over the Internet.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for making purchase transactions over the world wide web, comprising the steps of:
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purchasing a card having a unique identification code and a predetermined cash balance; activating an account associated with the card by providing only the identification code and not any personally identifying information to a card service system; selecting one or more goods or services offered by a seller through a web-site; providing the identification code of the card to the seller who then transmits the identification code to the card service system for verification, wherein the verification by the card service system includes the steps of determining if the identification code is associated with a valid and active account by searching a database of activated accounts, and if there is sufficient cash balance in the account to purchase the selected goods or services; and transmitting an approval code to the seller if the identification code is valid and a sufficient cash balance is available in the associated account to purchase the selected goods or services, or transmitting a denial code to the seller if the identification code is determined invalid or there is insufficient cash balance in the associated account to purchase the selected goods or services; and debiting the purchase price of the selected goods or services from the cash balance of the account when an approval code is transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for making purchase transactions over the world wide web, comprising the steps of;
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purchasing a card having a unique identification code and a predetermined cash balance; removing an obstruction covering the identification code after purchasing the card; activating an account associated with the card by calling the card service system by telephone and providing only the identification code and not any personally identifying information; selecting one or more goods or services offered by a seller through a web-site; providing the identification code of the card to the seller by entering the identification code into a designated field of the web-site, who then transmits the identification code to the card service system for verification; determining if the identification code is associated with a valid and active account and if there is a sufficient cash balance in the account to purchase the selected goods or services; and transmitting an approval code to the seller if the identification code is valid and a sufficient cash balance is available, and crediting the seller with the value of the purchase price of the selected goods or services and debiting the purchase price of the selected goods or services from the cash balance of the account, or transmitting a denial code if the identification code is invalid or there is insufficient cash balance in the associated account to purchase the selected goods or services. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for making purchase transactions over the world wide web, comprising the steps of:
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purchasing a card having a unique identification code and a predetermined cash balance; removing an obstruction covering the identification code after purchasing the card; activating an account associated with the card by entering only the identification code into a designated field of a card service system web-site without any personally identifying information; selecting one or more goods or services offered by a seller through a web-site; providing the identification code of the card to the seller by entering the identification code into a designated field of the seller'"'"'s web-site, who then transmits the identification code to the card service system for verification; determining if the identification code is associated with a valid and active account and if there is a sufficient cash balance in the account to purchase the selected goods or services; transmitting an approval code to the seller if the identification code is valid and a sufficient cash balance is available, and crediting the seller the value of the value of the purchase price of the selected goods or services and debiting the purchase price of the selected goods or services from the cash balance of the account, or transmitting a denial code if the identification code is invalid or there is insufficient cash balance in the associated account to purchase the selected goods or services; a cardholder determining current card account cash balance by contacting the card service system; and transferring a minimal cash balance from one card account of the cardholder to another card account of the cardholder by contacting the card service system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification