Internet funds transfer system using ATM pickup

• US 8,494,956 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Thompson, Mark, Seifert, Dean A., Tulluri, Gupta Sesha Raghavendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fields, Benjamin S
• Application Number:
  US11/284,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,801 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39, 705/40
• US Class Current: 705/39
• 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 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

One method for transferring funds includes receiving at a web server computer a request to transfer funds from a sender to a receiver. The request includes information identifying the sender and a payment vehicle for providing funds to transfer. The payment vehicle is validated and a transaction identifier is generated or assigned. The transaction identifier may be transmitted from the web server computer to the sender. When ready to receive the funds, the transaction identifier is entered into an ATM. If the transaction identifier is validated, the funds are dispensed from the ATM.

Claims

1. A method for transferring funds, comprising:

receiving at a web server computer a request to transfer funds from a sender to a receiver, wherein the request is made by the sender accessing a web page at the web server, wherein the request includes information identifying the sender and a payment vehicle for providing funds to transfer, and wherein the identifying information is entered at the web page by the sender using a web browser-enabled device;

validating the payment vehicle and generating at the web server computer both a transaction identifier, for uniquely identifying a money transfer transaction and associated with funds to be transferred, and a pass code for subsequent use in verifying the receiver;

transmitting both the transaction identifier and the pass code from the web server computer to the sender, for the sender to provide to the receiver;

receiving at an automated teller machine (ATM) the transaction identifier and pass code inputted by the receiver;

transmitting the inputted transaction identifier and pass code from the ATM to the web server computer;

validating, at the web server computer, the inputted transaction identifier and pass code received from the ATM; and

dispensing funds if both the inputted transaction identifier and pass code are validated at the web server computer;

further comprising receiving a request for pick-up information at the web server computer from the web browser-enabled device, the request for pick-up information relating to a pick-up location nearby the receiver, and transmitting ATM information from the web server computer to the web browser-enabled device, the ATM information relating to nearby ATM locations where the funds may be received.

2. A system for transferring funds, comprising:

a host computer system including a web server computer at a money transfer exchange network that is configured to receive money transfer requests from senders in order to transfer money to receivers, wherein the request is made by a sender using a web browser-based sender computer accessing a web page at the web server computer;

an ATM system in communication with the host computer system, wherein the ATM system includes a network of ATM machines that are configured to dispense funds;

wherein the host computer system is configured to receive and validate a payment vehicle associated with a funds transfer request and to generate and transmit both a transaction identifier, for uniquely identifying a money transfer transaction and associated with the funds to be transferred, and a pass code, for subsequent use in verifying a receiver, to the sender computer using the web server, and is configured to also transmit both the transaction identifier and pass code to the ATM system;

wherein the ATM system is configured to receive the transaction identifier and pass code entered at one of the ATM machines by a receiver and is configured to compare the entered transaction identifier and pass code to the transaction identifier and pass code transmitted to the ATM system from the host computer system, in order to validate both the transaction identifier and pass code entered at one of the ATM machines and to then dispense funds associated with the transaction identifier using one of the ATM machines;

wherein the host computer system is further configured to determine ATM machines near a pick-up location of the receiver and to transmit from the web Server computer information on such ATM machines, in response to a request from the sender computer for such information.

3. A method for transferring funds, comprising:

receiving at a web server computer a request to transfer funds from a sender to a receiver, wherein the request is made by the sender accessing a web page at the web server, wherein the request includes information identifying the sender and a payment vehicle for providing funds to transfer, and wherein the identifying information is entered at the web page by the sender using a web browser-enabled device;

validating the payment vehicle and generating at the web server computer both a transaction identifier for uniquely identifying a money transfer transaction and associated with funds to be transferred in the transaction and a pass code for subsequent use in verifying the receiver;

transmitting both the transaction identifier and the pass code from the web server computer to the sender, for the sender to provide to the receiver;

receiving a request for pick-up information at the web server computer from the web browser-enabled device, the pick-up information relating to a pick-up location of the receiver, and in response transmitting automated teller machine (ATM) information from the web server computer to the web browser-enabled device, the ATM information identifying an ATM location nearby the receiver pick up location where the funds may be received;

receiving from the receiver, and entered at an ATM at the ATM location, the transaction identifier and pass code;

validating, at the web server computer, the transaction identifier and the pass code entered at the ATM by comparing the transaction identifier and pass code entered at the ATM to the transaction identifier and pass code generated at the web server computer; and

dispensing funds if both the transaction identifier and the pass code are validated.