Transfer Instrument

A transfer instrument issuer system, comprising:

• a) a database computer software application process executing on the physical computer hardware database server programmed for receiving a request via a computer software interface application process executing on a physical computer hardware interface server from a first party entered by the first party on a first party personal computer software application process executing on a physical hardware first party personal computer for a gift certificate for a second party having a name, the gift certificate being a computer-generated indication of a charge account, obtained by the transfer instrument issuer from an account issuer different from the transfer instrument issuer, but without both an issuance and provision of a physical card for the charge account or provision of a presentable gift certificate to the second party, the charge account:
• i) being usable solely in the name of the second party;
• ii) having an associated first party selectable account parameter;
• and
• iii) being capable of having a purchase made using the account authorized using an authorization infrastructure of a card association associated with an account issuer;
• b) the database computer software application process executing on the physical computer hardware database server being also programmed for informing the second party of the account;
• and
• c) the database computer software application process executing on the physical computer hardware database server being further programmed for activating the account for usage by the second party.

A transfer instrument issuer machine, comprising:

• a microprocessor coupled to a memory, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for:
• a) making an instrument, of a purchaser selectable value, available for purchase online by a first party in a name of a second party, a purchase of which will result in the transfer instrument issuer maintaining a payment card account associated with the second party, although no physical card is both issued for the account and provided to the second party at a time when the second party uses the payment card account, the payment card account being maintainable by the transfer instrument issuer so that when an economic transaction with a merchant, other than the transfer instrument issuer, occurs in accordance with the instrument parameters, the economic transaction will be authorized using the authorization infrastructure of a card association authorization entity normally used to authorize transactions involving a physical payment card account;
• and
• b) invoking a notification procedure in response to the purchase.