System and method for prepaid biometric redemption accounts

• US 8,370,218 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy L., Schildt, Bradford R., Goff, Tennille V., Corwin, Daniel J., Watson, Timothy Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Iwarere, Seye
• Application Number:
  US12/335,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20090099944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26.82
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A system and method of offering a redemption account that allows users to purchase in advance and subsequently redeem products and services from one or more vendors that are affiliated with the system. The present invention imparts a process by which users enrolled in a biometric authorization system can access a redemption account for advance purchased products and services by submitting their biometric data. Information stored in the user record can then be utilized to enable the fulfillment of the advance purchase.

Claims

1. A method for enabling the provision of a product via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first authorization station, a purchase request from a user to purchase a product, wherein said purchase request includes first biometric data from said user;

receiving, at said first authorization station, payment for said product, wherein said product is not provided to said user upon payment receipt;

storing, at a database, purchase information in a record, wherein said purchase information comprises stored biometric data from said user and data identifying said product;

receiving, at a second authorization station, a redemption request from said user to obtain said product, said redemption request comprising submission of second biometric data from said user;

identifying, via said second authorization station, said user based upon said second biometric data sufficiently matching said stored biometric data;

determining, at said database, said product associated with said user; and

authorizing, via said second authorization station, said redemption request to obtain said product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said product comprises at least a portion of a package related to one or more of a place, an event, and an attraction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving payment for said product comprises performing a biometric authorization of said user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating said electronic record.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic record is an existing user record.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said purchase information further comprises user age data.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

verifying, at one or more of said first authorization station and said second authorization station, an age of said user by accessing said user age data, and

determining whether to provide said product to said user based on an age restriction.

8. A method for enabling the provision of a product via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first authorization station, a purchase request from a first user to purchase a product, wherein said purchase request includes biometric data from said first user;

receiving, at said first authorization station, payment for said product, wherein said product is not provided to said first user upon payment receipt;

storing, at a database, purchase information in a record, wherein said purchase information comprises stored biometric data from said first user and data identifying said product;

receiving, at said first authorization station, an authorization, from said first user, to enable provision of said product to a second user;

associating, at said database, first identifying information of said second user with said electronic record;

receiving, at a second authorization station, a redemption request from said second user to obtain said product, said redemption request comprising second identifying information submitted by said second user;

identifying, via said second authorization station, said user based upon said second identifying information sufficiently matching said first identifying information;

determining, at said database, whether said product associated with said second user, and

authorizing, via said second authorization station, said redemption request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said receiving payment for said product comprises performing a biometric authorization of said first user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving authorization from said first user to enable the provision of said product to a second user comprises performing a biometric authorization of said first user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein associating first identifying information regarding said second user with said electronic record comprises receiving first identifying information directly from said second user.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein associating first identifying information regarding said second user with said electronic record comprises utilizing first identifying information maintained in a second electronic record associated with said second user.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said first identifying information comprises biometric data.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said authorization to enable the provision of said product to said second user is limited according to one or more system parameters.

15. A method for enabling the provision of a product via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first authorization station, a purchase request from a user to purchase a product;

obtaining, at said first authorization station, first biometric data from said user;

receiving, at said first authorization station, payment from said user for said product, wherein said product is not provided to said user upon payment receipt;

enabling, via a database, said user to access said product via a first biometric authorization of said user;

maintaining, at said database, purchase information in an electronic record, wherein said purchase information comprises stored biometric data from said user and data identifying said product;

receiving, at a second authorization station, a redemption request from said user to obtain said product, said redemption request comprising submission of second biometric data from said user;

identifying, at said database, said electronic record associated with said product;

determining, at said database, expiration data associated with said electronic record;

evaluating, at said database, said second biometric data based on said determining; and

authorizing provision of said product to said user based on said evaluating.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said product comprises at least a portion of a package related to one or more of a place, an event, and an attraction.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving payment for said product comprises performing a second biometric authorization of said user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic record expires after said product has been provided.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic record expires after a period of time.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising deleting said electronic record based on said expiration data.