Systems and methods of introducing and receiving information across a computer network

• US 8,051,003 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Thompson, Mark, Seifert, Dean A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borlinghaus; Jason M
• Application Number:
  US10/855,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20050017067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,715 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

One method involves the use of stored value account that may be used, for example, to make internet payments, and that can be credited using a variety of payment techniques. Such a method involves receiving money at a money transfer location from a potential purchaser. The money is then stored as an electronic record in a stored value account of the purchaser. This money is then available for transfer at the request of the purchaser. Upon such a request, the money may be electronically sent to a recipient and the stored value account may be debited.

Claims

1. A method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:

receiving, at a money transfer station, money from the sender in the form of cash or negotiable instrument;

crediting the money to a stored value account associated with the sender;

receiving, at a money transfer system, information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money;

determining a plurality of options for transferring the money based on the received information about the recipient

receiving, at the money transfer system, a request from the sender to transfer at least a portion of money in the stored value account to the recipient;

transmitting at least one recommended option for selection in completing the transfer, wherein the recommended option is based on the received information about the recipient such that recommended option is tailored to the recipient;

electronically processing, the recommended option, the request by the money transfer system;

debiting the stored value account for the money transferred; and

maintaining the balance in the stored value account of money not transferred to the recipient, so that the balance may be used for one or more subsequent transactions by the sender using the stored value account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a computer request over a network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving one of a telephone request, an in-person request, and a voice response unit request.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, on an ATM network interface, a second request from the sender to obtain at least a portion of the balance;

transmitting the portion of the balance to the sender using the ATM network; and

debiting the portion of the balance from the stored value account.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one subsequent transaction comprises using the balance in the stored value account for a subsequent purchase of goods or services, the balance accessed by the sender using a debit card associated with the stored value account.

6. A method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:

receiving, at a money transfer station, money from the sender in the form of cash or negotiable instrument;

crediting the money to a stored value account associated with the sender;

receiving, at a money transfer system, information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money;

determining a plurality of options for transferring the money based on the received information about the recipient

receiving, at the money transfer system, a request from the sender to transfer at least a portion of money in the stored value account to the recipient;

transmitting at least one recommended option for selection in completing the transfer, wherein the recommended option is based on the received information about the recipient such that recommended option is tailored to the recipient;

electronically processing, using the recommended option, the request by the money transfer system;

debiting the stored value account for the money transferred; and

maintaining the balance in the stored value account of money not transferred to the recipient, so that the balance may be used for one or more subsequent transactions by the sender using the stored value account;

wherein the cash or negotiable instrument is physically presented to a money transfer agent at the money transfer location.

7. A method for electronically transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:

receiving, at a money transfer station, money from the sender in the form of cash or negotiable instrument;

crediting the money to a stored value account associated with the sender;

receiving, at a money transfer system, information from the sender on the recipient that is to receive money;

determining a plurality of options for transferring the money based on the received information about the recipient

receiving, at the money transfer system, a request from the sender to transfer at least a portion of money in the stored value account to the recipient;

transmitting at least one recommended option for selection in completing the transfer, wherein the recommended option is based on the received information about the recipient such that recommended option is tailored to the recipient;

electronically processing, using the recommended option, the request by the money transfer system;

debiting the stored value account for the money transferred; and

maintaining the balance in the stored value account of money not transferred to the recipient, so that the balance may be used for one or more subsequent transactions by the sender using the stored value account;

wherein the recipient is a holder of an outstanding bill of the sender.