Systems and methods to temporarily transfer funds to a member

• US 8,376,222 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Billman, Bradly Jay, Medina, Reynaldo III, Stotts, Benjamin Hunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Thien T
• Application Number:
  US11/929,998
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/488, 235/380, 235/436, 235/379, 235/384, 235/382, 705/39, 705/64, 705/43, 705/40, 705/41, 705/51, 705/45, 345/204
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide a time-limited monetary value to a member of an organization, using a member card or member icon, which may be issued by other than a bank or brokerage institution. In embodiments, the monetary value may be restricted to a single transaction and a maximum amount. In other embodiments, purchases of authorized goods and services may be controlled by corresponding product codes. A password or biometric may be used to authenticate the intended purchaser to the organization and/or merchant.

Claims

1. A card for a member of an organization other than a bank or brokerage institution, the card for a single card-readable transaction by the member, the card comprising:

an electronic identification associated with the member;

a security subsystem responsive to a unique input directly on the card, made by the member, associated with a code identifying an intended purchase, to identify the member and to allow the card readable transaction;

an electronic storage to store a single currency value for a single purchase transaction by the member; and

an electronic circuit to inhibit a transaction after the single purchase transaction.

2. The card of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit further inhibits an attempt to spend more than the single currency value.

3. The card of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit further inhibits an attempt to store additional currency value into the electronic storage.

4. The card of claim 1, wherein the electronic storage is further to store a time after which the single currency value cannot be spent.

5. The card of claim 1, further comprising indicia identifying the organization.

6. The card of claim 1, further including a security subsystem, responsive to a unique input associated with at least one of the member or with the member'"'"'s intended purchase, to allow the card-readable transaction.

7. The card of claim 6, wherein the unique input comprises at least one of a number or a biometric.

8. A method using a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions stored thereon that are executed by a processor to allow the use of a card for a single card-readable transaction by a member of an organization other than a bank or brokerage institution, the method comprising:

associating an electronic identification provided on the card with the member;

identifying the member through a security subsystem in the card responsive to a unique input, made by the member directly on the card, associated with a code identifying an intended purchase, to allow the card readable transaction;

storing a single currency value on an electronic storage of the card for a single purchase transaction by the member; and

inhibiting a transaction attempted after the single purchase transaction through an electronic circuit on the card.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

inhibiting an attempt to spend more than the single currency value.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

inhibiting an attempt to store additional currency value into the electronic storage.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing a time in the electronic storage after which the single currency value cannot be spent.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing indicia on the card to identify the organization.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

allowing the card-readable transaction if a unique input associated with at least one of the member or with the member'"'"'s intended purchase is authenticated by a security subsystem coupled to the electronic circuit.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving the unique input as at least one of a number or a biometric.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions to allow the use of a card for a single card-readable transaction by a member of an organization other than a bank or brokerage institution, said

computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

associating an electronic identification provided on the card with the member;

identifying the member through a security subsystem in the card responsive to a unique input directly on the card, made by the member, associated with a code identifying an-identity of an intended purchase, to allow the card readable transaction;

storing a single currency value on an electronic storage of the card for a single purchase transaction by the member; and

inhibiting a transaction attempted after the single purchase transaction through an electronic circuit on the card.

16. The computer-readable instructions of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

inhibiting an attempt to spend more than the single currency value.

17. The computer-readable instructions of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

inhibiting an attempt to store additional currency value into the electronic storage.

18. The computer-readable instructions of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

storing a time in the electronic storage after which the single currency value cannot be spent.

19. The computer-readable instructions of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

providing indicia on the card to identify the organization.

20. The computer-readable instructions of claim 15, further comprising instructions for:

allowing the card-readable transaction if a unique input associated with at least one of the member or with the member'"'"'s intended purchase is authenticated by a security subsystem coupled to the electronic circuit.

21. The computer-readable instructions of claim 20, further comprising instructions for:

receiving the unique input as at least one of a number or a biometric.