System and method for prepaid biometric redemption accounts

• US 7,483,862 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: YT Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy L., Goff, Tennille V., Watson, Timothy Neil, Schildt, Bradford R., Corwin, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/187,836
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 705/52, 705/67, 713/186
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A system and method of offering a redemption account that allows users to purchase in advance and subsequently redeem products and services from one or more vendors that are affiliated with the system. The present invention imparts a process by which users enrolled in a biometric authorization system can access a redemption account for advance purchased products and services by submitting their biometric data. Information stored in the user record can then be utilized to enable the fulfillment of the advance purchase.

Claims

1. A method for enabling redemption of a product via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a user to purchase said product;

receiving biometric data associated with said user;

creating a user record, said user record comprising said biometric data;

receiving purchase information associated with a purchase of said product;

storing said purchase information in association with said user record;

adjusting said purchase information stored in said user record, wherein said adjusting comprises one or more of adding value to said product, canceling purchase of said product, requesting a refund of a portion of a value of said product, providing information about an additional user authorized to redeem said product, altering one or more portions of said product, and altering one or more of a time and location of redemption of said product;

at an authorization station, receiving a request to redeem said product, said redemption request comprising submission of biometric data;

comparing said submitted biometric data to biometric data stored in said user record;

if said submitted biometric data matches biometric data stored in said user record, then comparing said redemption request with said stored purchase information; and

authorizing redemption of said product if said redemption request meets a parameter defined by said stored purchase information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said product comprises at least a portion of a package related to one or more of a place, an event, and an attraction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a price of said product is discounted.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting said user record upon the occurrence of one or more of the following:

redemption in full of said product; and

an expiration of a period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said purchase information comprises an amount owed for said product.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said user agrees to remit the amount owed for said product via one or more subsequent payments.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said purchase information comprises a value account associated with said user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying, at an authorization station, an age of said user by accessing said stored user record.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising limiting distribution of said product by said authorization station according to a system parameter.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing a visual record of redemption of said product at said authorization station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said authorization station is monitored by an attendant.

12. A method for conducting a transaction, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a user to purchase a product, said request comprising user biometric data and user financial information, said user financial information used for processing a payment associated with purchase of said product;

determining whether said request meets a system parameter;

if said request meets said system parameter, storing said request in a user record in a biometric authorization system;

adjusting said purchase information stored in said user record, wherein said adjusting comprises one or more of adding value to said product, canceling purchase of said product, requesting a refund of a portion of a value of said product, providing information about an additional user authorized to redeem said product, altering one or more portions of said product, and altering one or more of a time and location of redemption of said product;

processing said payment for said product;

receiving, at an authorization station, a request to redeem one or more portions of said product, said redemption request comprising biometric data;

if said biometric data matches biometric data stored in said user record, approving said redemption request; and

updating said user record after redemption of said one or more portions of said product.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said parameter comprises a verification of said user biometric data by comparison with user biometric data registered in a third-party database.