System and method for adding value to a stored-value account

• US 7,328,190 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Merrill Brooks, Graves, Phillip Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Subramanian; Narayanswamy
• Application Number:
  US10/739,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37, 705/44, 705/41, 705/35, 379/144, 235/380, 235/375, 235/385, 235379-382, 455/406
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0652 e-cash with decreasing value according to a parameter, e.g. time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• 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: 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• 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 2017/2518 from material card, using a magnetic stripe card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2525 : optical code recognition [OCR], e.g. bar code reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2568 : bar code
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 : WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7027 : Activate new subscriber or card

Abstract

A system and method for adding value into a customer'"'"'s stored-value account is provided. A stored-value card is distributed to a merchant for distribution to a customer who has an account with a specific provider of goods and/or services. The stored-value card has an associated identifier that can be used to associate a stored value with the card. The associated stored value is redeemable with one or more providers, including the specific provider. The account has an associated account number. During a card purchase transaction, a central processor receives a request to activate the card from a merchant terminal. The central processor receives a redemption request from the customer, wherein the redemption request includes the identifier. The central processor identifies the provider and the account number. The central processor inserts the associated value into the account, for instance by passing a value insertion request to the provider. The central processor receives a subsequent request to activate the card from a different merchant terminal. The central processor recognizes the card, identifies the provider and account number, and automatically inserts the value into the account.

Claims

1. A method of processing a stored-value card request, comprising:

distributing a stored-value card to a first merchant for distribution to a customer having a pre-paid account with a specific provider other than the first merchant, the stored-value card having an associated identifier printed on the stored-value card and used to associate a stored value with the card, the-stored value being redeemable with one or more providers, including the specific provider, the pre-paid account having an associated account number, the stored-value card having an indication of the providers with which the stored value may be redeemed disposed visibly thereon;

receiving at a central processor over a private network a first request to activate the card from a first merchant terminal, the first request resulting from a purchase of the card, wherein the central processor is in selective communication with the first merchant terminal, the customer, and the one or more providers;

associating the stored value with the identifier;

distributing the stored-value card to the customer;

receiving at the central processor a redemption request from the customer to apply the stored value to the pre-paid account, wherein the redemption request comprises the identifier;

determining at the central processor the specific provider and the pre-paid account number based on the redemption request;

receiving at the central processor a verification response from the customer that the correct specific provider and pre-paid account number has been determined;

passing from the central processor to the specific provider a first request to apply the stored value to the pre-paid account with the specific provider, wherein the first request to apply the stored value comprises a request to add the stored value to the pre-paid customer account; and

applying the stored value to the pre-paid customer account with the specific provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card is associated with the specific provider prior to receiving the first activation request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored-value card has a face value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the first activation request;

receiving at the central processor a request for a card preauthorization confirmation from the first merchant terminal; and

passing from the central processor the card preauthorization confirmation to the first merchant terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing from the central processor an activation confirmation to the first merchant terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the central processor a value insertion confirmation from the specific provider; and

passing from the central processor to the customer confirmation information indicating that the stored value was added to the account.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first activation request comprises input information that was input from the card at the first merchant terminal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the card comprises machine readable data, selected from the group consisting of a two dimensional barcode, a three dimensional bar code, and a magnetic strip.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein redemption instructions are printed on the card.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific provider is identified and the redemption request is received from at least one of a specific processor phone number, and a specific website.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the customer for card information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the redemption request is received from a customer phone number, and the account number is identified by identifying the customer phone number using an automatic identification number (ANI) process.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the central processor whether the first merchant terminal is a trusted source of activation requests; and

activating the card at the central processor.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the central processor whether the first activation request was received over a trusted communication network; and

activating the card at the central processor.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the central processor whether the first merchant terminal is associated with the card; and

activating at the central processor the card based on the determining action.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is associated with the specific provider.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request to apply the stored value comprises at least one of an .xml file conforming to an API of the specific provider and an input into an interactive voice response (IVR) system of the specific provider.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the central processor whether to activate the card based on receiving the first activation request.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

associating the stored value with the identifier and passing from the central processor an activation confirmation to the first merchant terminal after a determination to activate the card.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for services, the services selected from the group consisting of:

wireless telephone service;

internet-enabled communication services;

wireless web access;

emergency road services;

legal services;

accounting services;

tax services;

transportation services;

online dating services;

internet access; and

film processing.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for long distance telephone or wireless communication.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating at the central processor the specific provider and the pre-paid account number with the identifier in a record.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a second request to activate the card at the central processor;

identifying at the central processor the pre-paid account number and the specific provider by processing the record based on receiving the second request; and

passing a second request to apply the stored value from the central processor to the specific provider.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

determining at the central processor whether the pre-paid account number and the specific provider have been previously identified based on receiving the second request.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the second request to apply the stored value comprises adding the stored value to the pre-paid account.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the second activation request is received from a second merchant terminal.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the second activation request is received over the internet or from a PDA.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the central processor stores the record in a database.

22. The method of claim I, wherein the stored-value card is selected from the group consisting of a

gift card;

prepaid gas card;

prepaid grocery card;

prepaid entertainment card;

prepaid movie card;

downloadable ringtone card;

downloadable game card;

downloadable movie card;

downloadable music card;

customer rewards card;

bridge toll card;

or

road toll card.

31. A method of processing a stored-value card request, comprising:

distributing a stored-value card to a first merchant for distribution to a customer having a pre-paid account with a specific provider other than the first merchant, the stored-value card having an associated identifier printed on the stored-value card that is used to associate a stored value with the card, the stored value being redeemable with one or more providers, including the specific provider, the pre-paid account having an associated account number;

receiving at a central processor over a private network a first request to activate the card from a first merchant terminal, the first request resulting from a purchase of the card, and the central processor being in selective communication with the first merchant terminal, the customer, and the one or more providers;

associating the stored value with the identifier;

distributing the stored-value card to the customer;

receiving at the central processor a redemption request from the customer to apply the stored value to the pre-paid account, wherein the redemption request comprises the identifier and a request to add the stored value to the pre-paid customer account;

determining at the central processor the specific provider and the pre-paid account number based on the redemption request;

receiving at the central processor a verification response from the customer that the correct specific provider and pre-paid account number has been determined;

associating at the central processor the specific provider and the pre-paid account number with the identifier in a record;

applying at the central processor the stored value to the pre-paid account based on the redemption request;

receiving at the central processor over a private network a second request to activate the card; and

applying the stored value from the central processor to the pre-paid customer account with the specific provider based on the second activation request.

32. A system for adding stored value to a customer account, comprising;

a stored-value card having an associated stored value redeemable with any of a plurality of providers, wherein the stored-value card comprises an identifier printed on the card, an indicia of the identifier, and an indication of the providers with which the stored value may be redeemed;

a merchant terminal at a merchant other than the plurality of provider, configured to input an indicia of an identifier associated with a stored-value card and transmit the indicia to a central processor during a stored-value card transaction with a customer having a pre-paid account with a specific provider, the pre-paid account having an associated account number;

a central processor configured to;

receive over a private network an indicia of an identifier from a merchant terminal, wherein the indicia is associated with a specific stored-value card;

receive an identifier from a customer, wherein the identifier is associated with the specific stored-value card;

identify the specific provider and a customer account number associated with the specific stored-value card;

receive a verification response from the customer that the correct specific provider and pre-paid account number has been determined; and

pass a first request to apply the stored value from the central processor to the specific provider, wherein the specific provider is configured to modify the pre-paid customer account based on the request; and

a provider configured to receive from the central processor requests to apply the stored value to the pre-paid customer account, wherein the request to apply the stored value comprises a request to add the stored value to the pre-paid customer account.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the central processor is further configured to:

associate the specific provider and the pre-paid account number with the indicia in a record;

automatically identify the pre-paid account and the specific provider based on receiving the indicia of a card for which the central processor has already passed a request to the specific provider to add the associated value to a pre-paid account with the specific provider; and

after identifying the pre-paid account and the specific provider, automatically pass from the central processor to the identified specific provider is configured to modify the pre-paid customer account based on the request.

34. A method of processing a stored-value card request, comprising:

distributing a stored-value card to a first merchant for distribution to a customer having a pre-paid account with a specific provider other than the first merchant, the stored-value card having an associated identifier printed on the stored-value card used to activate the card and associate a stored value with the card, the stored value being redeemable with one or more providers, including the specific provider, the account having an associated account number, and the stored-value card having an indication of the providers with which the stored value may be redeemed disposed visibly thereon;

receiving over a private network a first request to activate the card at a central processor from a first merchant terminal, the first request resulting from a purchase of the card;

passing over a private network an identifier from the central processor to the merchant terminal for distribution to the customer;

associating the stored value with the identifier;

distributing the identifier to the customer;

receiving a redemption request from the customer to apply the stored value to the pre-paid account, wherein the redemption request comprises the identifier. wherein the redemption request comprises a request to add the stored value to the pre-paid customer account;

identifying the specific provider and the pre-paid account number;

receiving at the central processor a verification response from the customer that the correct specific provider and pre-paid account number has been identified;

passing a first request to apply the stored value from the central processor to the specific provider; and

applying the stored value to the pre-paid customer account with the specific provider.

35. A method of processing a stored-value card request, comprising:

distributing a stored-value card to a first merchant for distribution to a customer having a pre-paid account with a specific provider other than the first merchant, the pre-paid account having an associated account number, the stored-value card having an indication of the providers with which the stored value may be redeemed disposed visibly thereon;

receiving at a central processor over a private network a first request to activate the card from a first merchant terminal, the first request resulting from a purchase of the card, wherein the central processor is in selective communication with the first merchant terminal, the customer, and the specific provider;

passing over a private network an identifier from the central processor to the first merchant terminal for distribution to the customer, the identifier being associated with the card and operative to associate a stored value with the card, the stored value being redeemable with one or more providers, including the specific provider;

associating the stored value with the identifier;

distributing the identifier to the customer;

receiving at the central processor a redemption request from the customer to apply the stored value to the pre-paid account, wherein the redemption request comprises the identifier;

determining at the central processor the specific provider and the pre-paid account number based on the redemption request;

receiving at the central processor a verification response from the customer that the correct specific provider and pre-paid account number has been determined;

passing from the central processor a first request to apply the stored value to the specific provider, wherein the first request to apply the stored value comprises a request to add the stored value to the pre-paid customer account; and

applying the stored value to pre-paid customer account with the specific provider.

36. A method of processing a stored-value card request, comprising:

distributing a stored-value card to a first merchant for distribution to a customer having a pre-paid account with a specific provider other than the first merchant, the stored-value card having an associated identifier printed on the stored-value card used to associate a stored value with the card, the stored value being redeemable with one or more providers, including the specific provider, the account having an associated account number, the stored-value card having an indication of the provider with which the stored value may be redeemed disposed visibly thereon;

receiving at a central processor over a private network a first request to activate the card from a first merchant terminal, the first request resulting from a purchase of the card, wherein the central processor is in selective communication with the first merchant terminal, the customer, and the one or more providers;

associating the stored value with the identifier;

distributing the stored-value card to the customer;

receiving at the central processor a redemption request from the customer to apply the stored value to the pre-paid account, wherein the redemption request comprises a request to add the stored value to the pre-paid customer account, and wherein the redemption request further comprises the identifier and the specific provider and the pre-paid account number are determined;

receiving at the central processor a verification response from the customer that the correct specific provider and pre-paid account number has been determined;

passing from the central processor to the specific provider a first request to apply the stored value to the pre-paid customer account with the specific provider;

receiving at the central processor over private network a second request to activate the card;

determining at the central processor the pre-paid account number and the specific provider by processing the record based on receiving the second request;

passing from the central processor a second request to apply the stored value to the specific provider; and

applying the stored value to the pre-paid customer account with the specific provider.