Electronic postal money order method and system
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsMichael S. Opiela, Ronald E. Garey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is an electronic postal money order system and method comprising the purchase and fulfillment of a money order, having the steps of inputting, through a computer, money order identifying data, comprising at least the amount of the money order and addressee data and inputting payment authorization data through a payment authorization terminal. The system also transmits the money order identifying data and payment authorization data to a central server, authenticates the payment authorization data and, upon such authentication, prints a money order corresponding to the inputted money order identifying data and mails the money order to the addressee.
Claims19
A method for the electronic purchase and fulfillment of a money order, comprising the steps of:
- inputting, through a computer, money order identifying data, comprising at least the amount of the money order and addressee data;
- inputting payment authorization data through a payment authorization terminal;
- transmitting the money order identifying data and payment authorization data to a central server;
- authenticating the payment authorization data and, upon such authentication, printing a money order corresponding to the inputted money order identifying data;
- and
- mailing the money order to the addressee.
A method for the electronic purchase of a money order comprising:
- receiving, from a remote location, money order identification data, comprising at least payee information and monetary amount information;
- receiving a payment for said money order in a form other than cash;
- authenticating said payment;
- and
- authorizing said money order.
A system in which a purchaser of a money order can automatically track the status of the money order comprising:
- an authorized money order comprising at least payee information and amount information;
- a database, wherein said database stores transaction information of said authorized money order and wherein said database is capable of being accessed by a money order purchaser, wherein the database is capable of displaying transaction information of said money order performed during a predetermined period of time.
A money order comprising:
- a set of money order identification data comprising at least payee information and monetary amount information shown on a money order wherein the money order identification data is entered from a remote location and wherein the money order is purchased with a form of payment other than cash and wherein the money order is automatically dispensed from a location;
- and
- a transaction tracking number assigned to the authorized money order.
A method for the electronic purchase of a money order comprising:
- establishing a communication with a purchaser via the Internet to remotely purchase a money order, wherein an account is assigned to the purchaser and said account is stored in a database;
- prompting the purchaser to choose an icon associated with remotely purchasing said money order;
- prompting the purchaser to input a set of payee information and a monetary amount of said money order, wherein said set of payee information comprises a payee name and a payee address;
- encrypting said payee information and said monetary amount;
- prompting the purchaser to enter payment for said money order, wherein said payment is a form other than cash and wherein said purchaser enters said personal identification number to access said account;
- encrypting the payment and said personal identification number to form a bankcard packet to form an encrypted bankcard packet;
- sending the encrypted bankcard packet to a merchant server;
- decrypting said encrypted bankcard packet and attaching a merchant server identification;
- and
- sending said bankcard packet along with said merchant server identification for authorization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.