Systems, methods and devices for selling transaction instruments
First Claim
1. A method for creating an open transaction instrument for use in a retail environment, comprising:
- receiving account codes and tracking codes, wherein one of the account codes respectively correspond corresponds to one of the tracking codes, wherein one of the account codes is respectively associated with a transaction account and the transaction account is associated with the open transaction instrument, wherein a package contains the open transaction instrument;
at least one of;
embossing, printing and encoding one of the tracking codes at least one of;
on the open transaction instrument, on the package, in the package, and on another item within the package; and
,facilitating distribution of the open transaction instrument, wherein the open transaction instrument is offered by a merchant to a consumer and is directly accessible by the consumer.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
118 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for creating an open transaction instrument for use in a retail environment, comprising:
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receiving account codes and tracking codes, wherein one of the account codes respectively correspond corresponds to one of the tracking codes, wherein one of the account codes is respectively associated with a transaction account and the transaction account is associated with the open transaction instrument, wherein a package contains the open transaction instrument; at least one of;
embossing, printing and encoding one of the tracking codes at least one of;
on the open transaction instrument, on the package, in the package, and on another item within the package; and
,facilitating distribution of the open transaction instrument, wherein the open transaction instrument is offered by a merchant to a consumer and is directly accessible by the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus having an open transaction instrument included in a package that is configured to be distributed in a retail environment, the apparatus comprising:
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the open transaction instrument configured to be offered by a merchant to a consumer and the open transaction instrument is configured to be directly accessible by a consumer, wherein the open transaction instrument is configured to be generally accepted by merchants that are not directly affiliated with each other, and wherein the open transaction instrument is associated with a transaction account; the open transaction instrument having an account code associated with the open transaction instrument, wherein the account code is one of a plurality of account codes, wherein one of the plurality of account codes respectively correspond corresponds to one of a plurality of tracking codes, wherein one of the plurality of account codes is respectively associated with a transaction account and the transaction account is associated with the open transaction instrument, wherein the package contains the open transaction instrument; and
,a tracking code, wherein the tracking code is one of the plurality of tracking codes, wherein at least one of;
the open transaction instrument, the package, and another item within the package, includes the tracking code. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a computer system, information specifying a first one of a plurality of account codes and a corresponding first one of a plurality of tracking codes, wherein the first one of the plurality of account codes is associated with a transaction account, and wherein the transaction account is associated with an open transaction instrument that is storable in a package; wherein the first one of the plurality of tracking codes is associated with the open transaction instrument; and transmitting, by the computer system, information specifying an authorization related to the open transaction instrument. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, by the computing device, information specifying a first one of a plurality of account codes and a first one of a plurality of tracking codes, wherein the first one of the plurality of account codes is associated with a transaction account, and wherein the transaction account is associated with an open transaction instrument that is storable in a package; wherein the first one of the plurality of tracking codes is associated with the open transaction instrument; and transmitting, by the computing device, authorization-related information for the open transaction instrument. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification