1600results about "Pre-payment schemes" patented technology

A surrogate system for the transparent control of electronic commerce transactions is provided through which an individual without a credit card is enabled to shop at online merchant sites. Upon opening an account within the surrogate system, the account can be funded using numerous fund sources, for example credit cards, checking accounts, money orders, gift certificates, incentive codes, online currency, coupons, and stored value cards. A user with a funded account can shop at numerous merchant web sites through the surrogate system. When merchandise is selected for purchase, a purchase transaction is executed in which a credit card belonging to the surrogate system is temporarily or permanently assigned to the user. The credit card, once loaded with funds from the user's corresponding funded account, is used to complete the purchase transaction. The surrogate system provides controls that include monitoring the data streams and, in response, controlling the information flow between the user and the merchant sites.

Systems and methods are described for redeeming rewards at a merchant's point-of-sale. The reward redemption takes place in real time and can be accomplished without the active participation of the merchant. A single credit card with no additional information may be used with a single swipe from the consumer to access both credit and rewards accounts, such that a single authorization request is made to encompass both rewards and credit. Merchants can be fully compensated for transactions by the issuer despite the customer's choice to redeem rewards.

A disclosed cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse includes a network interface allowing the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse to communicate with a number of gaming properties and a processor configured to enable the validation of cashless instruments at a gaming property different from where the cashless instrument was generated. Methods are provided at the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse and at the gaming properties that enable cashless instrument transactions across multiple gaming properties including multi-site promotions. In addition, methods are provided at the cashless instrument transaction clearinghouse that allow 1) a transfer of resources from an account at a first gaming property to an account or device at a second gaming property, 2) account information access, 3) generation of cashless transaction threads comprising a plurality of related cashless transaction, 4) awards and services based upon properties of a cashless transaction thread and 5) local resource accounts maintained at the clearinghouse.

Method for carrying out a transaction on a system that includes at least one central processing platform, at least issuer server and at least one acquirer server, wherein the central processing platform includes a routing engine coupled by a communication connection to the issuer server and the acquirer server, and the method includes the steps of receiving a transaction inquiry at the acquirer server or the issuer server, routing of the inquiry from the acquirer server or from the issuer server to the central processor platform, and operating the central processor platform, in order to implement the transaction.

A system and method for performing an on-line transaction, such as making a payment, with a single-use payment instrument makes use of computer hardware and software, such as the computing device of a customer, the customer's bank's home banking server, the bank's card authorization server, a vendor's website server, and the vendor's credit card acquirer, coupled to one another over a network. The customer is issued a single use payment instrument through the bank, the bank debits an account nominated by the customer for the requested value of the payment instrument and may also specify an expiry for the payment instrument. The customer is able to nominate a particular source of funds for each transaction from among various accounts of the customer. The payment instrument settles and clears through existing credit card payment mechanisms without a need for special accommodation with the Internet vendor.

A electronic monetary system comprising a mobile communication unit as an electronic wallet for transactions including electronic payments, money transfer, and recharging the electronic account. The security of the electronic transactions is confirmed by circulating a confirmation number through a loop formed by an E-wallet managing server through the wireless network to the mobile communication unit of the user.

A method is disclosed for authorizing a prepaid network service in a data network. A network end station issues a request for a prepaid network service. At a network node, such as a router serving as a gateway for selecting services, a determination is made about whether a user associated with the end station is authorized to access the prepaid network service. Network traffic from the end station is forwarded to a service provider only when the user is authorized to use the prepaid network service. Specific embodiments provide message flows among a mobile station, gateway support node, router, and authentication server that support providing prepaid services in a packet-switched network for mobile communication. In certain embodiments, a connection is held open for an end station while a prepaid quota value is refreshed at a portal, thereby reducing overhead and precluding the need to repeat user logon steps. Further, unused quota amounts can be returned to the authentication server for use in association with multiple concurrent connections of the same device.

A system and a method for money sharing are provided. The system includes a processor configured to receive a deposit amount and assign an account value to a stored-value account. The stored-value account is stored in a storage device. The processor then dispenses two or more stored-value cards associated with the stored-value account. The stored-value cards can be distributed among two or more cardholders who may withdraw money from the stored-value account at a remote access unit configured to accept any of the distributed stored-value cards associated with the same account. Additional deposit amount can be received into the stored-value account from a cardholder of any distributed stored-value cards associated with the same account. The remote access unit can be unattended. The cards can be ATM-enabled.

A dual card, which facilitates payment for goods or services from either a credit account or a stored value account, operates on both an open network and a closed network. The dual card is a payment card that integrates the ability to provide credit privileges and stored value privileges to a cardholder of the dual card. The features, benefits, and advantages of a stored value card are integrated with the credit card aspects of the dual card. The benefits, features, and advantages of a credit card are integrated with a stored value card.

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for prioritizing tasks associated with a group of first users based on number of times the first users have monitored the status of a task. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for task prioritizing, the tasks may be prioritized based on the number of first users associated with a task, the importance of each first user associated with a task, and the way the task was identified.

A virtual card management system including one or more servers having memory executable via a processor is provided. The virtual card management system including a virtual card manager executable on the one or more servers having an integration connector engine configured to communicatively link at least one card service provider and the virtual card manager. The virtual card management system may further include a virtual card management platform configured to communicatively link the virtual card manager with at least one virtual card engine, each virtual card engine including one or more virtual cards, the virtual card management platform including an enablement module configured to selectively enable a virtual card transaction between at least one virtual card and a corresponding card service provider based on a set of predetermined authentication rules.