Prepaid card authorization and security system
First Claim
1. A system for managing a plurality of pre-paid money cards, comprising:
- an account database comprising account codes identifying respective accounts, account balances identifying funds available funds from respective accounts, and account activation codes associated with the respective accounts;
an interface for receiving an account code and an account activation code from a consumer over a telecommunications network;
an account manager coupled to the interface for accessing the account database to confirm that the received account activation code is associated with the received account code, the account manage configured for requesting a secret code via the interface from the consumer over the telecommunications network after the account manager has confirmed that the received account activation code is associated with the received account code, the account manager configured for adding the secret code received from the consumer to the account database such that the secret code is uniquely associated with the respective account code.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method to facilitate commerce over a computer network utilizing a prepaid account code. A potential consumer desiring to purchase goods or services over a computer network purchases the account code or card. To purchase goods or services, the consumer utilizes the card and a secret code at any seller web site, accessed via a computer network, such as the Internet. The seller web site verifies the validity and balance of the money card when the account code and secret code are utilized to purchase goods or services. Upon receiving authorization from the money card exchange, the seller executes the purchase and the money card exchange updates the money card balance in a database. In this manner the account code system facilitates commerce over a computer network.
286 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for managing a plurality of pre-paid money cards, comprising:
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an account database comprising account codes identifying respective accounts, account balances identifying funds available funds from respective accounts, and account activation codes associated with the respective accounts;
an interface for receiving an account code and an account activation code from a consumer over a telecommunications network;
an account manager coupled to the interface for accessing the account database to confirm that the received account activation code is associated with the received account code, the account manage configured for requesting a secret code via the interface from the consumer over the telecommunications network after the account manager has confirmed that the received account activation code is associated with the received account code, the account manager configured for adding the secret code received from the consumer to the account database such that the secret code is uniquely associated with the respective account code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for anonymously transferring funds using pre-paid money cards, comprising:
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an account database comprising account codes identifying respective accounts, account balances identifying available funds associated with respective accounts, and authorization codes associated with respective accounts;
an interface for receiving an account code and an authorization code from a consumer or seller over a telecommunications network;
an account manager coupled to the interface for accessing the account database to confirm that the received authorization code is associated with the received account code, the account manager configured for transferring funds from the account after the account manager has confirmed that the fund request does not exceed a balance of the account identified by the account code, the account manager deducting the fund request from the balance in the account database.
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8. A method for securely transferring funds using an account database comprising a plurality of account codes and card activation codes, the account codes identifying accounts comprising respective account balances identifying available funds, the card activation codes uniquely associated with respective account codes, the method comprising:
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providing the account codes and associated card activation codes to one or more distributors or consumers;
receiving an account code and a card activation code from a consumer via a telecommunications network;
accessing the account database to confirm that the received card activation code is uniquely associated with the received account code;
requesting a secret code from the consumer via the telecommunications network;
receiving a secret code from the consumer;
storing the secret code in the account database such that the secret code is associated with the account code; and
permitting secured transactions via the account code. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28)
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12. A method for securely transferring funds, comprising:
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purchasing an account code, the account code comprising an account balance and a card activation code associated therewith;
sending the account code and the activation code via a telecommunications network to an account manager to activate the account code; and
receiving a query from the account manager to provide a secret code to be associated with the account code after the account manager has activated the account code; and
sending a secret code to the account manager via the telecommunications network.
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17. A method for a seller to sell products to a purchaser via a network, comprising:
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receiving a prepaid account code and a secret code from a purchaser, the prepaid account code not identifying the purchaser;
determining whether the prepaid account code and secret code are valid; and
receiving payment for the products from a balance associated with the prepaid account code.
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25. A method for securely transferring funds using a prepaid account code, the prepaid account code comprising an account balance and an authorization code associated therewith, comprising:
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receiving a transaction request via a telecommunications network, the transaction request comprising a value, a prepaid account code, an authorization code, and a destination;
confirming that the authorization code is associated with the prepaid account code;
verifying that the value does not exceed the account balance associated with the prepaid account code;
debiting the value from the account balance associated with the prepaid account code; and
transferring the value to the destination.
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Specification