Charge number issuing and transaction system and method
First Claim
1. A method of issuing and transacting charge numbers using an electronic communications network, comprising:
- receiving, a plurality of valid charge numbers from an issuing bank, wherein each valid charge number is acceptable to any entity that accepts valid charge numbers that are provided to and routed by the charge settlement network for validating transactions;
storing, the plurality of valid charge numbers;
establishing a prepaid cash account for a user in exchange for cash;
detecting a request by a user via the electronic communications network for a valid charge number;
associating one of the plurality of valid charge numbers with the prepaid cash account;
providing, via the electronic communications network, the associated valid charge number in response to the request;
detecting, via the charge settlement network, a purchase transaction using the associated valid charge number between the user and a merchant; and
authorizing the purchase transaction if a cash balance of the prepaid cash account is sufficient for a purchase amount of the purchase transaction.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A charge number issuing and transaction system providing a universally acceptable, anonymous and secure payment option. An issuing and transaction system receives a bin of valid purchase numbers from an issuing bank, establishes a prepaid cash account for a user, detects a request for a charge number by the user, and provides a valid purchase number via a computer or telephonic network. The user may then consummate a pending transaction or a subsequent transaction via the network using the provided purchase number. The transaction is cleared through a charge settlement network. The issuing and transaction system may be pre-certified as processor for the purchase numbers, where the charge settlement network routes the purchase transaction back to the issuing and transaction system for verification, authorization and settlement. The issuing and transaction system may generate and provide a valid expiration date and may further expire each purchase number after being used.
41 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of issuing and transacting charge numbers using an electronic communications network, comprising:
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receiving, a plurality of valid charge numbers from an issuing bank, wherein each valid charge number is acceptable to any entity that accepts valid charge numbers that are provided to and routed by the charge settlement network for validating transactions; storing, the plurality of valid charge numbers; establishing a prepaid cash account for a user in exchange for cash; detecting a request by a user via the electronic communications network for a valid charge number; associating one of the plurality of valid charge numbers with the prepaid cash account; providing, via the electronic communications network, the associated valid charge number in response to the request; detecting, via the charge settlement network, a purchase transaction using the associated valid charge number between the user and a merchant; and authorizing the purchase transaction if a cash balance of the prepaid cash account is sufficient for a purchase amount of the purchase transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A charge number issuing and transaction system for issuing and authorizing valid charge numbers via an electronic communications network, comprising:
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a storage device that stores a plurality of valid charge numbers issued by an issuing bank and an accounts database including at least one prepaid cash account associated with the user, wherein each of the plurality of valid charge numbers is acceptable to any entity that accepts valid charge numbers that are provided to a charge settlement network and routed by the charge settlement network for validating transactions; a network system for coupling to and communicating with the electronic communications network and the charge settlement network; and an issuing and transaction system, coupled to the storage device and the network system, that detects a request by a user for a charge number via the electronic communications network and that issues a selected one of the plurality of valid charge numbers via the electronic communications network in response to the request, wherein the issuing and transaction system is configured to authorize a purchase transaction submitted for authorization with the selected valid charge number via the charge settlement network if a cash balance in a prepaid cash account associated with the user is sufficient to cover a purchase amount of the purchase transaction. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A charge number issuing and transaction system for issuing valid charge numbers via an electronic communications network and for transacting the valid charge numbers via a charge settlement network, comprising:
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an issuing and transaction system, comprising; a storage device that stores a plurality of valid charge numbers issued by an issuing bank and that stores an accounts database including at least one prepaid cash account, wherein each of the plurality of valid charge numbers is acceptable to any entity that accepts valid charge numbers that are provided to the charge settlement network and routed by the charge settlement network for validating transactions; a communication system for coupling to and communicating with the electronic communications network and the charge settlement network; a transaction system, coupled to the storage device and the communication system, that detects requests for charge numbers via the electronic communications network, that provides a selected one of the plurality of valid charge numbers via the electronic communications network in response to the request, and that is configured to authorize a purchase transaction submitted for authorization via the charge settlement network with a selected one of the plurality of valid charge numbers if a cash balance in a prepaid cash account is sufficient to cover a purchase amount of the purchase transaction; and a processor system, coupled to the transaction system, for coupling to and enabling communications with the charge settlement network; and a switch network, for coupling to the charge settlement network, that routes any of the plurality of valid charge numbers entered into the charge settlement network to the issuing and transaction system for processing. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification