Electronic vouchers and a system and method for issuing the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for authorizing an transaction comprising:
- receiving, at a first party, a request to conduct a transaction from a second Party;
receiving, at the first party, an electronic image file comprising image data and nonimage data, the image data comprising a plurality of bits that define an image and the nonimage data comprising a plurality of bits that do not define the image, wherein altering the nonimage data has no effect on the appearance of the image;
using a processor, verifying an identity of the second party based on the nonimage data; and
using the computer processor, authorizing the transaction.
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Abstract
A system and method for issuing electronic vouchers representing value. An issuing server generates an eVoucher that a recipient may use to purchase goods and services from a merchant'"'"'s e-commerce Web site. The eVoucher includes an image, such as a corporate logo, that identifies the issuing merchant. Nonimage data, such as a unique identifier for the eVoucher and encrypted arbitrary text, is embedded in the eVoucher image and is used to track the use of the eVoucher and to verify its authenticity.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for authorizing an transaction comprising:
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receiving, at a first party, a request to conduct a transaction from a second Party; receiving, at the first party, an electronic image file comprising image data and nonimage data, the image data comprising a plurality of bits that define an image and the nonimage data comprising a plurality of bits that do not define the image, wherein altering the nonimage data has no effect on the appearance of the image; using a processor, verifying an identity of the second party based on the nonimage data; and using the computer processor, authorizing the transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for authorizing an transaction comprising:
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receiving, at a merchant, a request to conduct a transaction from a second party, the transaction being for a purchase of a good or service; receiving, at the merchant, an electronic image file comprising image data and nonimage data, the image data comprising a plurality of bits that define an image and the nonimage data comprising a plurality of bits that do not define the image, the image data identifying an account, wherein altering the nonimage data has no effect on the appearance of the image; using a processor, verifying that the account has sufficient funds for the purchase of the goods or service; and using the computer processor, authorizing the transaction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of conducting an online transaction comprising:
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receiving, at a merchant computer, an order from a purchaser computer indicating one or more goods and/or services the purchaser intends to purchase; receiving, at the merchant computer, an electronic image file comprising image data and nonimage data, the image data comprising a plurality of bits that define an image and the nonimage data comprising a plurality of bits that do not define the image in said image file, the nonimage data uniquely identifying a recipient, wherein altering the nonimage data has no effect on the appearance of the image; using a computer processor, verifying an identity of the recipient based on the nonimage data; and using the computer processor, authorizing the transaction.
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14. A method for providing a recipient with an image file that is used to identify the recipient, comprising:
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at least one computer processor generating an image file including image data, the image data comprising a plurality of bits that define an image; the at least one computer processor embedding nonimage data comprising a plurality of bits that do not define the image in said image file, the nonimage data uniquely identifying a recipient, wherein the nonimage data has no effect on the appearance of the image; and transmitting the image file to a recipient.
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15. An image embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
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electronic image data defining an image; and nonimage data embedded in the electronic image data that uniquely identifies the image, wherein altering the nonimage data has no effect on the appearance of the image; wherein the electronic image data comprises a plurality of bits that define the image and a plurality of bits that do not define the image, and wherein the plurality of bits that do not define the image comprise the nonimage data; and wherein the nonimage data, when processed by a computer processor, verifies that the image is authentic.
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Specification