Keycard for automating transaction requests

• US 7,293,704 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Merrill Brooks
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US11/486,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/493, 235/379, 235/380, 705/1, 705/13, 705/17, 705/39
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• 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 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• 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 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 : Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods

Abstract

Systems and methods of using a keycard for automating transaction requests are disclosed. Methods may comprise receiving a request for a product identification number that is associated with a product by inputting keycard information at a merchant terminal, wherein the keycard was selected from among a plurality of keycards and is associated with a specific provider and value; processing the request; transmitting a transaction confirmation; and retaining the keycard by the merchant. Systems may comprise a plurality of keycards maintained in the merchant'"'"'s possession before and after automating a product request, wherein each keycard is pre-associated with a product identification number; a merchant terminal comprising an input device for inputting a product identification number from the keycard, and an output device for outputting a transaction confirmation; and a central processor configured to process a transaction request associated with the keycard and the product identification number; and deliver a transaction confirmation.

Claims

1. A method for automating a product request, the method comprising:

receiving at a central processor a request for a product identification number associated with a purchasable product prior to the receiving action, wherein the request is received from a merchant terminal and the request is generated by inputting keycard information at the merchant terminal of a merchant, wherein the keycard is selected from among a plurality of keycards, wherein each keycard is associated with a specific provider and a specific value;

processing at the central processor the request;

transmitting from the central processor to the merchant terminal a transaction confirmation associated with the keycard to the merchant terminal;

retaining the keycard by the merchant after the transmitting step; and

delivering the product identification number to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction confirmation comprises a product identification number (PIN) or password.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transaction confirmation is associated with a prepaid calling card.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the keycard is associated with a specific telecommunications service provider.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the keycard comprises a barcode on the keycard, and the request is associated with the barcode.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the request comprises a product identification number associated with a barcode, the barcode is printed on the keycard, and the step of inputting comprises scanning the barcode.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the product information number is stored on a magnetic strip, and inputting the keycard information comprises swiping the magnetic strip.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the transaction confirmation comprises instructions for using a PIN associated with a stored-value account, and the PIN is associated with the keycard information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the keycard information is associated with at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a gift card.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a prepaid gas card.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a prepaid grocery card.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a prepaid entertainment card.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a downloadable game card.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a downloadable music card.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a downloadable music card that uses MP3, MP4, WMV, or WAV formats.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a customer rewards card.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with telecommunications service.

19. A system for automating a product request, comprising:

a plurality of keycards maintained in the possession of a merchant before and after automating a product request, wherein each keycard is pre-associated with a product identification number;

a merchant terminal comprising an input device for inputting a product identification number from the keycard, and further comprising an output device for outputting a transaction confirmation associated with a product identification number, the output device configured to deliver a product identification number to a customer; and

a central processor configured to;

process a transaction request associated with a keycard and the product identification number associated with the keycard, wherein the request is received from the merchant terminal; and

deliver a transaction confirmation associated with the keycard to the merchant terminal.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the transaction confirmation comprises a product identification number (PIN).

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the transaction confirmation is associated with a request to change the value of a stored-value account.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one of a stored-value card and a PIN is associated with a downloadable ring tone card.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the transaction confirmation comprises instructions for using a PIN associated with a stored-value account, and the PIN is associated with the product identification number, and wherein the keycard is associated with a product or service provider and a value.