Stored-value card management method and system
First Claim
1. A computerized method for activating and issuing stored-value cards over a communications network directly to the cardholder on behalf of a merchant, the method comprising:
- storing in a central information database stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information and card purchasing requests received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers through a central processor via respective communication gateways;
coupling said central processor for data communications to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks, each network including a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database, and multiple respective merchant communication devices; and
in response to a card purchaser request, immediately electronically activating and issuing a stored value card from the central processor to the cardholder over the Internet and managing the interface transactions and activities originated by a cardholder for the stored-value cards through said unaffiliated networks by said central processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks. The universal central processor is programmed to issue the stored-value cards directly to the cardholder or card purchaser by download over respective communication gateways. The universal central processor is further programmed for reporting the card activations, issuances, transactions and activities to the cardholders and the merchants thereby providing a universal management system.
48 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A computerized method for activating and issuing stored-value cards over a communications network directly to the cardholder on behalf of a merchant, the method comprising:
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storing in a central information database stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information and card purchasing requests received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers through a central processor via respective communication gateways; coupling said central processor for data communications to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks, each network including a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database, and multiple respective merchant communication devices; and in response to a card purchaser request, immediately electronically activating and issuing a stored value card from the central processor to the cardholder over the Internet and managing the interface transactions and activities originated by a cardholder for the stored-value cards through said unaffiliated networks by said central processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of universally managing multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks, each network including a stored-value card processor connected to a stored-value card database, and multiple respective merchant communication interface devices for communication by respective merchants with said processors, said method comprising:
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providing a universal central processor and communicating said processor with a universal stored-value card cardholder information database managed by said universal central processor, communicating said universal central processor with potential or existing stored-value cardholders or holder benefactors through communication gateways, and communicating said universal central processor with said stored-value processing networks; and programming said universal central processor for electronically activating and issuing stored-value cards through said unaffiliated stored-value card processors directly to said cardholders from the central processor over the Internet or holder benefactors via said communication gateways, and further programming said universal central processor for managing stored-value card transactions and activities through said stored-value card processors and reporting said activations, transactions and activities to respective merchants. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A computerized system for activating and issuing stored-value cards over a communications network directly to the cardholder on behalf of a merchant, the system comprising:
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a central information database for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information and card purchasing requests received directly from respective stored-value card holders and card purchasers through a central processor via respective communication gateways; said central processor coupled for communication to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks, each network including a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored value card database, and multiple respective merchant communication devices; said central processor programmed in response to a card purchaser request for immediately electronically activating and issuing a stored-value card from the central processor over the Internet and managing the transactions and activities originated by a cardholder for the stored-value cards through said unaffiliated networks. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for universal management of multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks, each network including a stored-value card processor connected to a stored-value card database, and multiple respective merchant communication interface devices for communication by respective merchants with said processors, said universal management system comprising:
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a universal central processor communicating with a universal value-card cardholder information database managed by said universal central processor, with potential or existing stored-value cardholders or holder benefactors, and with said stored-value card processing networks; said universal central processor programmed for electronically activating and issuing stored-value cards from the central processor over the Internet through said unaffiliated stored-value card processors directly to said cardholders or holder benefactors via communication gateways, and managing the stored-value card transactions and activities through said stored-value card processors with universal reporting to respective merchants. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification