Systems and methods of introducing and receiving information across a computer network

• US 8,271,382 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Seifert, Dean A., Thompson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Borlinghaus, Jason M
• Application Number:
  US13/248,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• 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 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

One method involves the use of stored value account that may be used, for example, to make internet payments, and that can be credited using a variety of payment techniques. Such a method involves receiving money at a money transfer location from a potential purchaser. The money is then stored as an electronic record in a stored value account of the purchaser. This money is then available for transfer at the request of the purchaser. Upon such a request, the money may be electronically sent to a recipient and the stored value account may be debited.

Claims

1. A method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:

receiving, at a money transfer system, information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money;

determining a plurality of options for transferring the money based on the received information about the recipient;

receiving, at the money transfer system, a request from the sender to transfer at least a portion of money in a stored value account to the recipient;

transmitting a plurality of recommended options for selection in completing the transfer, wherein the plurality of recommended options are based on the received information about the recipient such that plurality of recommended options are tailored to the recipient; and

electronically processing, using one of the plurality of recommended options, the request by the money transfer system.

2. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 1, wherein transmitting the plurality of recommended options comprises:

transmitting the plurality of recommended options to the recipient.

3. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from the recipient, a selection of the one of the plurality of recommended options.

4. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 3, wherein using one of the plurality of recommended options comprises:

using the selection received from the recipient.

5. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 1, wherein the plurality of recommended options comprises at least two selections from a group consisting of:

payout at a provider location;

payout at a kiosk;

payout at a point of sale device;

payout at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM);

payout to a stored value account;

payout to a bank account;

payout to a bank account via a wire transfer;

payout to a bank account via an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer; and

payout to a smart card.

6. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises a selection from a group consisting of:

receiving a telephone request;

receiving an in-person request; and

receiving a voice response unit request.

7. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, on an ATM network interface a second request from the sender to obtain at least a portion of a balance in the stored value account;

transmitting the portion of the balance to the sender using the ATM network; and

debiting the portion of the balance from the stored value account.

8. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a subsequent request for a transaction comprising using a balance in the stored value account for a subsequent purchase of goods or services, the balance accessed by the sender using a debit card associated with the stored value account.

9. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an initial request for money from the recipient.

10. The method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 9, wherein receiving, at a money transfer system, information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money comprises:

a response to the initial request for money from the recipient.

11. A non-transitory storage medium with instructions stored thereon for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the instructions executable by one or more processors to:

receive information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money;

determine a plurality of options for transferring the money based on the received information about the recipient;

receive a request from the sender to transfer at least a portion of money in a stored value account to the recipient;

transmit a plurality of recommended options for selection in completing the transfer, wherein the plurality of recommended options are based on the received information about the recipient such that plurality of recommended options are tailored to the recipient; and

process, using one of the plurality of recommended options, the request.

12. The non-transitory storage medium with instructions stored thereon for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 11, wherein transmitting the plurality of recommended options comprises:

transmitting the plurality of recommended options to the recipient.

13. The non-transitory storage medium with instructions stored thereon for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 12, the instructions further executable by one or more processors to:

receive, from the recipient, a selection of the one of the plurality of recommended options.

14. The non-transitory storage medium with instructions stored thereon for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 13, wherein using one of the plurality of recommended options comprises:

using the selection received from the recipient.

15. The non-transitory storage medium with instructions stored thereon for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 11, the instructions further executable by one or more processors to:

receive an initial request for money from the recipient.

16. The non-transitory storage medium with instructions stored thereon for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 12, wherein receiving information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money comprises:

a response to the initial request for money from the recipient.

17. A system for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the system comprising:

a money transfer system, wherein the money transfer system;

receives, from a terminal, information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money;

determines a plurality of options for transferring the money based on the received information about the recipient;

receives, from the terminal, a request from the sender to transfer at least a portion of money in a stored value account to the recipient;

transmits a plurality of recommended options for selection in completing the transfer, wherein the plurality of recommended options are based on the received information about the recipient such that plurality of recommended options are tailored to the recipient; and

processes, using one of the plurality of recommended options, the request.

18. The system for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 17, wherein the plurality of recommended options are transmitted to the terminal.

19. The system for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 17, wherein processing the request comprises:

sending instructions to a network in communication with the money transfer system.

20. The system for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient of claim 19, wherein the network comprises a selection from a group consisting of:

an ATM network;

a deposit maintenance network; and

a credit maintenance network.