System and method for distributing personal identification numbers over a computer network

• US 7,522,716 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EWI Holdings Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EWI Holdings Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Paschini, Miles
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/316,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,324 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.12, 379/93.17, 379/90.01, 379/93.25, 379/114.19, 379/114.2, 379/114.15, 379/114.17, 379/144.01, 379/110.01, 705/14, 705/56, 705/58, 705/72, 705/1
• US Class Current: 379/93.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1025 Identification of user by a PIN code
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• 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 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/201 automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system and method for providing a personal identification number (PIN) to a client terminal over a computer network. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a server receives a request for a PIN over a network, the request originating from a user at a client terminal. The request is associated with a requested monetary unit and a requested provider. The server retrieves from a database a PIN associated with the requested monetary unit and requested provider. The server transmits the retrieved PIN to the client terminal over the network, wherein the PIN is transmitted to the client terminal on-demand in response to the customer'"'"'s request.

Claims

1. A system for providing a personal identification number (PIN) to a user, comprising:

a server receiving a request for a PIN over a network, the request originating from a user at a client terminal, the request associated with a requested monetary unit and a requested provider wherein the server is further operative to transmit, to the client terminal and in response to selection of a service at said client terminal, names of plural available providers; and

a database containing plural sets of PINs, each of the sets being associated with one of the plural available providers wherein the database includes information associating a monetary unit, an expiration period and rate information with each of the PINs;

wherein the server retrieves from the database one of the PINs associated with the requested monetary unit and requested provider, and transmits the one of the PINs to the client terminal over the network in response to the user'"'"'s request; and

wherein dealer identification information is entered into the database and associated with the one of the PINs subsequent to receipt of the request for a PIN.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is further operative to transmit, to the client terminal over the network, a list of monetary units associated with the requested provider.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is further operative to:

transmit to the client terminal a plurality of regions available for the requested provider; and

receive from the client terminal a selection of one of the regions available.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is further operative to receive a request from the client terminal to view certain of the rate information and to transmit the certain of the rate information to the client terminal.

5. A method of providing a personal identification number (PIN) to a client terminal, comprising:

compiling a database of PIN records, each of the PIN records being associated with a PIN and including a provider identification field, a monetary denomination field, one or more PIN attribute fields, and a dealer identification field;

receiving a request for a PIN over a network, the request originating from a user at a client terminal and being associated with a requested monetary unit and a requested provider;

retrieving from the database one of the PINs associated with the requested monetary unit and requested provider; and

transmitting the one of the PINs to the client terminal over the network in response to the user'"'"'s request.

6. The method of claim 5 further including entering, subsequent to receipt of the request for a PIN, information into one or more fields of the one of the PIN records which corresponds to the one of the PINs.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the one or more fields includes the dealer identification field of the one of the PIN records.

8. The method of claim 5 further including transmitting, to the client terminal, a plurality of available provider names prior to receiving the request for the PIN over the network.