System for distribution and use of virtual stored value cards

• US 7,529,563 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard Mobile Transactions Solutions, Inc. (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: C-SAM Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pitroda, Satyan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/612,789
• Time in Patent Office: 3,221 Days
• Field of Search: 455406-408, 455/558, 455/414, 455/551, 455/64, 455/35, 455/41, 455/67, 455/39, 455/34, 455/17, 455/44, 455/80, 455/405, 455/414.1, 455/557, 705/64, 705/41, 705/67, 705/39, 705/34, 705/17, 705/1, 705/44, 705/35, 705/65
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0655 e-cash managed centrally
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/223 based on the use of peer-to-peer networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of exchanging payment information in an electronic transaction includes a first electronic transaction device transferring payment information to a second electronic transaction device, the second electronic transaction device transferring value information to the first electronic transaction device, and the second electronic transaction device transferring value information and payment information to a service consolidation center. A retailer electronic transaction device may transfer a virtual stored value card to a customer'"'"'s electronic transaction device.

A method of tracking retail sales of pre-paid telephone cards to cash subscribers includes entering value purchased information and subscriber information in a retailer electronic transaction device, the retailer electronic transaction device transferring the value purchased information and subscriber information to a mobile operator, and the mobile operator adding value corresponding to the value purchased information to an account corresponding to the subscriber information.

Claims

1. A method of distributing virtual pre-paid cards comprising:

a) creating a plurality of virtual pre-paid cards, each virtual pre-paid card comprising a digital representation of information corresponding to information stored on a physical card;

b) downloading batches of virtual pre-paid cards to a retailer electronic transaction device,

c) transferring one of the plurality of virtual pre-paid cards from the retailer electronic transaction device to a MO Subscriber Handset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital representation of information corresponding to information stored on a physical card comprises an authorization code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital representation of information corresponding to information stored on a physical card comprises an image of a card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital representation of information corresponding to information stored on a physical card comprises value information, said value information comprising a quantity of minutes corresponding to a pre-paid telephone account.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring payment information from the MO subscriber handset to the retailer electronic transaction device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment information comprises cash payment information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cash payment information includes an identification of a person providing a cash payment.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the payment information comprises credit payment information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the plurality of virtual cards is performed by an electronic transaction device service center.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

a) transferring payment information and subscriber information from the MO subscriber handset to the retailer electronic transaction device; and

b) transferring the payment information and subscriber information from the retailer electronic transaction device to the electronic transaction device service center.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of downloading the virtual card to a retailer electronic transaction device occurs via a MO switch.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual card further comprises logo and branding information.