Systems, methods, and devices for selling transaction instruments via web-based tool

• US 7,900,826 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Vollmer, Nicole Milne, Rose, John R., Rubner, Marc, Holt, Elizabeth Anne, Feldman, Gennye Hannover
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US12/118,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20090327087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/381, 235/375, 235/383, 705/38
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• 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 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing a transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: offering for sale, in a retail environment, the transaction instrument; selling a selected transaction instrument; communicating with the issuer of the transaction instrument via an internet accessible web site, and enabling the use of the transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. The distribution of the transaction instrument may also include the step of sending a message, through the web site, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid transaction instrument to be funded but not activated until later through an interactive voice response system, for example. In another example, an associated transaction account may be funded and activated at the time of distribution. Furthermore, an issuer system may be suitably configured to leverage existing Travelers Cheque infrastructure for inventory and related processes.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating distribution of an open transaction instrument to a consumer, comprising:

receiving, from a browser-based interface at a point of sale, transaction information requesting authorization to distribute the open transaction instrument at the point of sale in association with purchase of the open transaction instrument by the consumer at the point of sale, wherein the open transaction instrument is associated with a transaction account, and wherein a card number is associated with the open transaction instrument and the transaction account;

receiving, from a payment processor, an authorized payment amount submitted by the browser-based interface;

confirming that the authorized payment amount matches a requested load amount from the transaction information; and

,

providing approval to the browser-based interface for distribution of the open transaction instrument to the consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the requested load amount with the card number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirming step comprising reducing the authorized payment amount by administrative charges prior to matching to the requested load amount.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

transmitting at least a portion of the transaction information to an issuer to seek funding of the open transaction instrument;

and,

receiving a funding approval code from the issuer indicating that the open transaction instrument has been funded.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating a ‘

not-authorized for sale’

signal to the browser-based interface when the open transaction instrument is not listed as being in inventory at the point of sale.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

a consumer service representative and a consumer enter the transaction information into the browser-based interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument includes a plurality of open transaction instruments having different card numbers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving transaction information related to purchasing a plurality of open transaction instruments having different card numbers by a single consumer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument comprises at least one of:

a pre-paid card, a gift card, a charge card, a phone card, a credit card, a debit card, a mall card, a variable load card, a fixed load card, a smart card, an RFID device, a paper receipt, and a data packet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the card number is displayed on the open transaction instrument by at least one of:

embossing and printing the card number on the open transaction instrument.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a tracking code is included on at least one of the open transaction instrument and a sleeve associated with the open transaction instrument, wherein the tracking code is included in a format including at least one of:

a numerical format, a code format, bar code format, radio frequency format and magnetic stripe format.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument is configured to be generally accepted by at least one of merchants that are not directly affiliated with each other, merchants within one shopping mall, merchants within one payment network, merchants within one country, and merchants within one geographic region.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument is configured with restrictions.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument is configured with restrictions comprising at least one of:

geographic restrictions and device restrictions.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises at least one of:

payment data, seller data, the card number and the requested load amount.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorized payment amount relates to at least one of:

cash, transaction account information, loyalty points and cash equivalent value.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises payment data, wherein the payment data comprises at least one of:

account code of a payment account, charged amount, issuer information, security code, expiration date, cash equivalent value, demographic data, and loyalty point value.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested load amount comprises at least one of:

an initial load amount, reload amount, cash equivalent value, loyalty point value, information to transfer value from another account and information to transfer value to another account.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein providing approval further comprises sending a signal that indicates that the open transaction instrument is at least one of:

in stock, valid for sale, payment authorization amount is equivalent to a load amount, and load information is associated with the card number.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information related to the electronic till at the point of sale to facilitate confirming that the card number is in the electronic till and valid for sale.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying that the open transaction instrument identified by the transaction information is at least one of:

in stock and valid for sale.