Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value

• US 8,033,375 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Coinstar Incorporated (Outerwall Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Kerry, Martin, Douglas A., Doran, Michael, Dean, Scott A., Jacobson, Jessaca, Hanson, Kim P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro; Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US10/504,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20060037835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,161 Days
• Field of Search: 194/205, 194210-213, 194215-218, 194/302, 235380-3825, 235/383, 235/835, 235/492, 235/493, 221/92, 221/131, 221/133, 221/123, 221/211, 221/217
• US Class Current: 194/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/02 giving change coin-actuated mechanisms in general G07F
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/0087 Banknote changing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/204 Loading of a stored value token using an ATM
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/08 Counting total of coins inserted

Abstract

Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards, and the like. In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region, a coin sorting/counting apparatus, a card reader, and a communications facility configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link. A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select the desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing a prepaid card to a user, the method comprising:

providing a coin-counting machine having a coin-input region, a coin discriminator, and a card dispenser, the card dispenser having a first card hopper holding a first plurality of prepaid cards of a first type, a second card hopper holding a second plurality of prepaid cards of a second type, and at least a third card hopper holding a third plurality of prepaid cards of a third type, the card dispenser further having a card outlet slot unaligned with the first, second, and third card hoppers;

receiving a plurality of coins from a user in the coin-input region of the coin-counting machine;

discriminating at least a portion of the received coins with the coin discriminator to determine a value of the received coins;

moving a card carriage to a first position proximate the first card hopper;

receiving at least one prepaid card from the first card hopper with the card carriage;

reading information from a portion of the at least one prepaid card;

providing at least a portion of the information read from the prepaid card to a remote computer;

moving the card carriage to a second position offset from the first, second, and third card hoppers and aligned with the card outlet slot; and

issuing the prepaid card to the user from the card outlet slot, the prepaid card having a card value related to the value of the received coins.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a coin-counting machine further includes providing a communication facility, the communication facility configured to exchange information with one or more remote computers, wherein providing at least a portion of the information read from the prepaid card to the remote computer includes providing first information to the remote computer, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to providing the first information to the remote computer, receiving second information from the remote computer via the communication facility, the second information relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a coin-counting machine further includes providing a communication facility, the communication facility configured to exchange information with one or more remote computers, wherein providing at least a portion of the information read from the prepaid card to the remote computer includes providing first information to the remote computer, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to providing the first information to the remote computer, receiving second information from the remote computer via the communication facility, the second information relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user, wherein the at least one prepaid card is issued to the user at least partially in response to the second information.

4. The method of claim 1

wherein reading information from a portion of the at least one prepaid card includes reading first information, and wherein the method further comprises, in response to providing the remote computer with the first information, receiving second information from the remote computer relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a coin-counting machine further includes providing a card writer configured to write information to cards issued from the card dispenser, and wherein the method further includes writing selected information to the at least one card issued to the user with the card writer, the selected information being at least partially related to the value of coins received from the user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving at least one prepaid card includes removing the at least one prepaid card from the first card hopper with the card carriage.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein reading information from a portion of the at least one prepaid card includes reading the information with a card reader carried on the card carriage.

8. A method for providing a prepaid card to a user, the method comprising:

providing a coin-counting machine having a coin-input region, a coin discriminator, and a card dispenser, the card dispenser having a card carriage movable between three or more card hoppers, wherein each of the card hoppers contains a different type of prepaid card, and wherein the card dispenser further includes a card outlet slot laterally offset from all of the card hoppers;

receiving a plurality of coins from a user in the coin-input region of the coin-counting machine;

discriminating at least a portion of the received coins with the coin discriminator to determine a value of the received coins;

receiving a prepaid card selection from the user, the prepaid card selection corresponding to at least one prepaid card in at least one card hopper;

in response to receiving the prepaid card selection, moving the card carriage to a first position proximate the at least one card hopper;

with the card carriage, removing the at least one prepaid card from the at least one card hopper;

reading identification information from a portion of the at least one prepaid card while the prepaid card is supported by the card carriage;

providing at least a portion of the identification information to a remote computer;

activating the at least one prepaid card with the remote computer by associating the card identification information with a card value in a remote database;

in response to providing the remote computer with the identification information, receiving verification information from the remote computer;

in response to receiving the verification information from the remote computer, moving the card carriage to a second position aligned with the card outlet slot; and

dispensing the prepaid card to the user through the card outlet slot with the card carriage, the prepaid card having a card value related to the value of the received coins.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user;

receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to one of the displayed transaction options, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected transaction option, and wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value related to a first portion of the value of the received coins; and

issuing a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving a plurality of coins from a user includes nonsequentially receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins of at least two different denominations from a user.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving a plurality of coins from a user includes nonsequentially receiving a plurality of randomly oriented coins of at least two different denominations from a user in a coin tray, and wherein the method further comprises moving the coin tray to at least partially deliver the plurality of coins to the coin discriminator.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein providing a coin counting machine includes providing an enclosure housing the coin discriminator and the card dispenser.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user; and

receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to one of the displayed transaction options, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected transaction option.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user, the first transaction option being to purchase a prepaid credit card and the second transaction option being to purchase a prepaid phone card; and

receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to one of the displayed transaction options, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected transaction option.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user;

receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option; and

receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second transaction option, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser includes a first card corresponding to the first transaction selection and a second card corresponding to the second transaction selection.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user, the first transaction option being to purchase a prepaid credit card and the second transaction option being to purchase a prepaid phone card;

receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option; and

receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second transaction option, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser includes a prepaid credit card corresponding to the first transaction selection and a prepaid phone card corresponding to the second transaction selection.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying at least one prepaid card option to the user;

receiving a selection from the user corresponding to the at least one prepaid card option, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected card option, and wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value related to a first portion of the value of the received coins; and

issuing a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying at least one prepaid card option to the user;

receiving a selection from the user corresponding to the at least one prepaid card option;

receiving an input from the user defining a card value for the selected prepaid card option, the card value corresponding to a first portion of the value of the received coins, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has the defined card value; and

issuing a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein providing a coin-counting machine includes providing a card reader configured to read information from cards, wherein the at least one prepaid card dispensed to the user is a first card, and wherein the method further comprises reading information from a second card submitted by the user, the information being related to an account of the user, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value related to the value of the received coins and the value of funds received from the account of the user.

20. The method of claim 8 wherein providing a coin-counting machine further includes providing a card reader configured to read information from cards, wherein the at least one prepaid card dispensed to the user is a first card, and wherein the method further comprises:

reading information from a second card submitted by the user with the card reader, the information being related to an account of the user; and

receiving an input from the user defining a value to be debited or charged to the account, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value related to the value of the received coins and the value to be debited or charged to the account of the user.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein providing a coin-counting machine further includes providing a communication facility, the communication facility being operatively connected to at least the card reader and configured to exchange information with one or more remote computers, and wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting at least a portion of the information read from the second card by the card reader to a remote computer via the communication facility, the remote computer being associated with the account of the user; and

receiving confirmation from the remote computer related to the value to be debited or charged to the account of the user, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user is issued at least partially in response to receiving the confirmation from the remote computer.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein receiving an input from the user defining a value includes receiving a first input from the user, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a second input from the user, the second input being related to at least one of identification of the account and access to the account of the user.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein receiving an input from the user defining a value is receiving a first input from the user, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a second input from the user, the second input being related to at least one of a password and an account number.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein reading information from a second card submitted by the user includes reading information from at least one of a wallet-sized credit card, debit card, phone card, and smart card.

25. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a coin-counting machine includes providing a card reader configured to read information from cards, wherein the at least one prepaid card dispensed to the user is a first card, and wherein the method further comprises:

reading information from a second card submitted by the user, the information being associated with funds available to the user from an account; and

receiving an input from the user defining a portion of the funds available to the user to be debited or charged to the account, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value corresponding to the value of the received coins and the value to be debited or charged to the account of the user.

26. The method of claim 8 wherein providing a coin-counting machine further includes providing a communication facility, the communication facility configured to exchange information with one or more remote computers, and wherein the method further comprises providing transaction information to the remote computer via the communication facility, wherein the transaction information relates to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user.

27. An apparatus for providing prepaid cards to users, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

a user interface positioned at least proximate to the enclosure and accessible to a user positioned outside the enclosure, the user interface configured to receive instructions from the user related to a prepaid card;

a coin-input region positioned to receive a plurality of coins from the user for transfer into the enclosure;

a coin discriminator positioned within the enclosure to receive the plurality of coins from the coin-input region, the coin discriminator configured to discriminate at least a portion of the received coins to determine a value of the received coins;

a first card hopper positioned within the enclosure;

a second card hopper positioned within the enclosure;

a third card hopper positioned within the enclosure;

a card carriage selectively movable between the first, second and third card hoppers and configured to selectively receive a prepaid card therefrom in response to receiving a card selection via the user interface;

a card reader positioned within the enclosure and configured to read identification information from the prepaid card;

a communications facility positioned at least partially within the enclosure, the communications facility operatively connectable to at least one remote computer associated with a prepaid card account, wherein the communications facility transmits the card identification information to the remote computer, wherein the remote computer associates the identification information with a card value in a remote database, the card value being related to the value of the received coins, and wherein the remote computer transmits confirmation back to the communications facility indicating that the prepaid card is active; and

a card outlet not aligned with the first, second, or third card hoppers, wherein the card carriage dispenses the prepaid card to the user via the card outlet at least partially in response to receiving the confirmation from the remote computer.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the dispensed prepaid card has a card value related to a first portion of the value of the received coins, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a voucher printer configured to issue a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the coin input region includes a coin tray configured to nonsequentially receive a plurality of randomly oriented coins of at least two different denominations from a user.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the coin input region includes a coin tray configured to nonsequentially receive a plurality of randomly oriented coins of at least two different denominations from a user, and wherein the coin tray is further configured to move at least partially upwardly to deliver the plurality of coins to the coin discriminator.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the card carriage is configured to selectively remove the prepaid card from the first, second or third card hopper in response to receiving a card selection via the user interface.