INTERNET-BASED MONEY ORDER SYSTEM

• US 20090055312A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated), Cybersource Corporation (Visa, Inc.), Western Union
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chin, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system and method for purchasing a money order via the internet including the steps of providing an internet based money order system capable of generating money orders upon the receipt of a purchase request by a prospective buyer via the internet for a predetermined amount of funds. The prospective buyer transmits information to the money order system. via the internet, which information is required to purchase the money order. The money order is then remotely generated by the money order system and is delivered to an intended recipient of the money order.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A database, comprising:

data for submitting an electronic funds transfer request and based on a money order generation request from a requestor;

data on a completed electronic funds transfer;

data on delivery of a generated money order;

data on authorization of generation of a money order; and

data on a confirmation, for the requestor, of the money order authorization.

20. A method for purchasing a money order utilizing a money order system, wherein the money order system is accessible online through a wide area network, said method comprising:

submitting, to the money order system and via the wide area network, a request for a money order, the request including authorization to debit a card account, wherein the submitting step is initiated by a money order sender;

receiving confirmation by a money order sender, via the wide area network, that the money order request has been fulfilled;

issuing a money order, wherein the money order is backed by a third party other than the money order sender or a recipient; and

causing delivery of the money order to the recipient.

21. A method for purchasing a money order utilizing a money order system, wherein the money order system is accessible online through a wide area network according to claim 20 wherein submitting a request for a money order comprises the steps of:

selecting a money order request selection on a web page;

entering data requesting the money order including information identifying an account to be debited; and

authorizing debiting the account.

22. A method for generating a money order from a money order dispensing apparatus, wherein the money order is backed by a third party, said method comprising:

receiving, from a requestor and via a wide area network, a money order request;

requesting an electronic funds transfer upon receipt of the money order request, whereby the electronic funds transfer is used to pay for a money order;

instructing the money order dispensing apparatus to generate the money order upon receipt of the funds in response to the electronic funds transfer request, wherein the money order is backed by someone other than the requestor; and

initiating delivery of the money order after generation to a location associated with a recipient.

23. A method for generating a money order from a money order dispensing apparatus, wherein the money order is backed by a third party according to claim 22 wherein requesting an electronic funds transfer comprises transmitting credit card information to a billing server.

24. A method for generating a money order from a money order dispensing apparatus, wherein the money order is backed by a third party according to claim 22 further comprising the step of notifying a party that is to receive the money order that the money order has been authorized.

25. A method for generating a money order from a money order dispensing apparatus, wherein the money order is backed by a third party according to claim 22 further comprising the step of transmitting the money order to a party.

26. (canceled)