Method and system for distributing and activating a non-personalized purchase card

• US 8,219,474 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PrivaCash Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PrivaCash Incorporated
• Inventors: Sutton, David B., Blasiman, Douglas B
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Application Number:
  US12/757,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705 39- 41, 705 64- 68, 705 74- 79, 902/22, 902/25
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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

Abstract

The system includes a first and second computer systems and a purchase card associated with a major credit card organization. The card does not include information about any prospective card holder and is provided with a card number so that when activated, has an initial monetary value. The first computer system, located at a purchase outlet, is configured to transmit the card number over a communication network to the second computer system to activate the account, without requiring information from any person acquiring the card. The activated card is usable at retail establishments that accept credit cards. A method includes the steps of authorizing distribution of a plurality of non-activated purchase cards to purchase card outlets and authorizing activation of the purchase card account without requiring information from any person acquiring the card. Another method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of non-activated purchase cards at a purchase card outlet, and selling the purchase cards without acquiring information about the purchaser and initiating activation of the purchase card sold.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

authorizing a plurality of purchase card outlets to sell unfunded physical purchase cards, each of the purchase cards including a major credit card organization brand and an associated account number, each card for sale not including any information associated with or provided by a prospective cardholder, and when funded, the card being usable to make purchases at retail establishments that accept credit cards of the major credit card organization, including retail establishments not associated with the plurality of purchase card outlets;

authorizing distribution of the purchase cards to the plurality of purchase card outlets; and

authorizing funding of a purchase card account associated with one of the purchase cards for a specified amount of money.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the purchase cards has an associated card date beyond which the card may not be used.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the card date is imprinted on the card.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein each of the purchase cards has imprinted thereon a predetermined monetary denomination.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein authorizing funding includes authorizing an intermediary to fund the purchase account.

6. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein the purchase cards are distributed in blocks of cards.

7. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein authorizing funding of a purchase card account is done using a software-implemented application.

8. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein authorizing funding of a purchase card account is done by phone.

9. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein each of the purchase cards, once funded, is usable at online retail establishments and bricks-and-mortar retail establishments.

10. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein no information associated with any prospective cardholder is collected.

11. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein the method further comprises the step of authorizing a purchase transaction against the funded card account after the purchase card account number and a monetary purchase amount have been transmitted to verify that the monetary purchase amount does not exceed the account'"'"'s available balance and without requiring any information from the cardholder.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the one of the purchase cards has an associated card date beyond which the card may not be used and wherein authorizing a purchase transaction occurs after verifying that the date of the purchase transaction is not beyond the card date.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the card date is imprinted on the card.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the purchase cards are distributed in blocks of cards.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein authorizing funding of a purchase card account is done using a software-implemented application.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the purchase cards, once funded, is usable at online retail establishments and bricks-and-mortar retail establishments.

18. The method of claim 1, 3 or 17 wherein the card date is imprinted by embossing.

19. The method of claim 1, 3 or 17 wherein the distributing step is on a consignment basis.

20. The method of claim 1 or 17 wherein the plurality of purchase card outlets includes banks.

36. The method of claim 1 or 17 wherein the funding a purchase card account is done without requiring the person acquiring the card to provide any personal information.

17. A method comprising:

distributing unfunded physical purchase cards to a plurality of purchase card outlets for sale by the purchase card outlets, each of the purchase cards including a major credit card organization brand and an associated account number, each distributed card not including any information associated with or provided by a prospective cardholder, and when funded, the card being usable to make purchases at retail establishments that accept credit cards of the major credit card organization, including retail establishments not associated with the plurality of purchase card outlets; and

funding a purchase card account associated with one of the purchase cards for a specified amount of money.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein each of the purchase cards has an associated card date beyond which the card may not be used.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the card date is imprinted on the card.

23. The method of claim 17 or 21 wherein each of the purchase cards has imprinted thereon a predetermined monetary denomination.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein funding a purchase card account includes authorizing an intermediary to fund the purchase account.

25. The method of claim 17 or 24 wherein the purchase cards are distributed in blocks of cards.

26. The method of claim 17 or 24 wherein funding a purchase card account is done using a software-implemented application.

27. The method of claim 17 or 24 wherein funding a purchase card account is done by phone.

28. The method of claim 17 or 24 wherein each of the purchase cards, once funded, is usable at online retail establishments and bricks-and-mortar retail establishments.

29. The method of claim 17 or 24 wherein no information associated with any prospective cardholder is collected.

30. The method of claim 17 or 24 wherein the method further comprises the step of authorizing a purchase transaction against the funded card account after the purchase card account number and a monetary purchase amount have been transmitted to verify that the monetary purchase amount does not exceed the account'"'"'s available balance.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the one of the purchase cards has an associated card date beyond which the card may not be used and wherein authorizing a purchase transaction occurs after verifying that the date of the purchase transaction is not beyond the card date.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the card date is imprinted on the card.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the purchase cards are distributed in blocks of cards.

34. The method of claim 30 wherein authorizing funding of a purchase card account is done using a software-implemented application.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein each of the purchase cards, once funded, is usable at online retail establishments and bricks-and-mortar retail establishments.