System & method for distributing stored-value cards

• US 20040118914A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: OʼNeal, Jonathan, Smith, Merrill Brooks, Graves, Phillip Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts

Abstract

A system and method for supplying communication service value is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes distributing indicia of an identifier to a merchant for distribution to a customer having a customer account. The identifier has an associated service value that is redeemable with a plurality of carriers. The method further includes activating the identifier upon distribution of the indicia to the customer. A central processor may verify whether the merchant is authorized to distribute the indicia to the customer. During distribution to the customer, the merchant may transmit prior transaction information to the central processor, and the central processor may reconcile past billing records based on such prior transaction information. The method also includes receiving a request from the customer to add the associated service value to the customer account and adding the associated service value to the customer account is disclosed. The system and method may be used with any type of stored-value card account, including prepaid emergency road service cards.

Claims

1. A method for managing a stored value transaction comprising:

distributing indicia of an identifier to a merchant for distribution to a customer having a stored value account, the identifier having an associated stored value, the associated stored value being redeemable with at least one of a plurality of providers, and the customer account being associated with a specific one of the plurality of providers;

activating the identifier upon distribution of the indicia to the customer;

receiving a request from the customer to add the associated stored value to the customer account; and

providing to the customer a provider identifier, wherein the provider identifier is effective to add the associated stored value to the customer account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for prepaid emergency road service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for prepaid film processing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for prepaid digital film processing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for prepaid dating service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for at least one of prepaid electrical, gas, and water service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for prepaid movie service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for at least one of prepaid bridge and road toll service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for prepaid food service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored value is redeemable for at least one of prepaid legal, accounting, and tax service.

11. A method for managing a stored value transaction comprising:

establishing a set of identifiers at a central system, each identifier having an associated stored value being redeemable with at least one of a plurality of providers;

providing indicia of at least some of the identifiers to a plurality of merchants;

receiving a communication of a first identifier associated with a first indicia from a specific one of the plurality of merchants;

activating the first identifier associated with the first indicia;

receiving a request from a customer to add the associated stored value to a customer account with the specific one of the plurality of providers, the request including the first identifier associated with the first indicia, the customer having received the first indicia from the specific one of the plurality of merchants; and

providing to the customer a provider identifier associated with the specific one of the plurality of providers, wherein the provider identifier is effective to add the associated stored value to the customer account.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for prepaid emergency road service.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for film processing.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for digital film processing.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for dating service.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for at least one of electrical, gas, and water service.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for movie service.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for at least one of bridge and road toil service.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for food service.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the stored value is redeemable for at least one of legal, accounting, and tax service.

21. A computerized method for managing stored-value card data over a communications network between a plurality of terminals and a central processor coupled to a database, each of said terminals being accessible to respective users and located in a respective location generally remote relative to the central processor, the stored-value card data configured to securely process stored-value cards transacted by respective users to enable charging at least one of prepaid services and products to a recipient of the transacted stored-value card, the method comprising:

storing in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card;

processing a “

setup”

card assigned to that location through each terminal at that location to capture respective identifiers of each terminal;

associating in each stored record the captured identifiers to uniquely match a respective stored-value card and a respective terminal; and

transmitting a request of stored-value card activation to the central processor from a respective requesting terminal, the central processor configured to accept said activation request based on whether the associated identifiers for the stored-value card to be activated match identifiers actually transmitted by the requesting terminal for that stored-value card and terminal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid emergency road service.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid film processing.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid digital film processing.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid dating service.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid electrical, prepaid gas, and prepaid water service.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid movie service.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid bridge and prepaid road toll service.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid food service.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid legal, prepaid accounting, and prepaid tax service.

31. A computerized method for managing stored-value card data over a communications network between a plurality of terminals and a central processor, coupled to a database each of said terminals being accessible to respective users and located in a respective location generally remote relative to the central processor, the stored-value card data configured to securely process stored value cards transacted by respective users to enable charging at least one of prepaid services and products to a recipient of the transacted stored-value card, the method comprising:

storing in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card;

processing respective identifiers of each terminal;

associating in each stored record the captured terminal identifiers to uniquely match a respective stored-value card and a respective terminal; and

transmitting a request for stored-value card activation to the central processor from a respective requesting terminal, the central processor configured to accept said activation request based on whether the associated identifiers for the stored-value card to be activated match identifiers actually transmitted by the requesting terminal for that stored-value card and terminal, wherein each stored-value card has a predefined value and is pre-associated with a single provider.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid emergency road service.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid film processing.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid digital film processing.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid dating service.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid electrical, prepaid gas, and prepaid water service.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid movie service.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid bridge and prepaid road toll service.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid food service.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid legal, prepaid accounting, and prepaid tax service.

41. A computerized method for securely authorizing and distributing stored-value card data over a communications network, the method comprising:

storing in a database a plurality of records comprising;

stored-value card data for each stored-value card; and

at least one of information identifying trusted sources for making stored-value card processing requests and information identifying trusted communications networks for carrying or transmitting stored-value card processing requests,

receiving a request for changing the status of the stored-value card over a communications network from a requesting terminal;

determining at least one of;

whether the respective requesting terminal is a trusted source of requests; and

whether the communications network is a trusted communications network for carrying or transmitting requests; and

processing the request based on the determining step.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid emergency road service.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid film processing.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid digital film processing.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid dating service.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid electrical, prepaid gas, and prepaid water service.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid movie service.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid bridge and prepaid road toll service.

49. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for prepaid food service.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of prepaid legal, prepaid accounting, and prepaid tax service.

51. A method for reconciling billing information, comprising:

receiving at a central processor a request to process a current transaction coupled with a prior transaction identifier corresponding to a prior transaction, wherein the current transaction comprises processing a stored value card;

in response to receiving the prior transaction identifier, determining whether the prior transaction is identical to a first transaction based on the prior transaction identifier and amending a first transaction record to indicate that the first transaction is a questionable transaction if the prior transaction is determined to be different from the first transaction.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for emergency road service.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for film processing.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for digital film processing.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for dating service.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of electrical, gas, and water service.

57. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for movie service.

58. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of bridge and road toll service.

59. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for food service.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the stored value card is redeemable for at least one of legal, accounting, and tax service.