# US 7,611,051 B1 · Systems, methods and devices for selling transaction instruments

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- Number: US 7,611,051 B1
- Document ID: US7611051B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/844,734
- Filed: 2007-08-24
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2004-03-12
- Assignees: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Randy Beck; Gennye Feldman; Rachel Riley Heitz; John Steven Imada; Paula S Martinez; Sven Miller; Clyde Page; Steven J Keiser
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611051B1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/06: Buying, selling or leasing transactions
- G06Q 20/10: specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
- G06Q 20/28: Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
- 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
- G06Q 40/02: Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for creating an open transaction instrument for use in a retail environment, comprising:
receiving a plurality of account codes;
configuring one of the plurality of account codes to respectively correspond to one of a plurality of tracking codes; and,
facilitating sale of the open transaction instrument, wherein one of the plurality of account codes is respectively associated with a transaction account and the transaction account is associated with the open transaction instrument, and wherein at least one of: a package, another item within the package and the open transaction instrument includes one of the plurality of tracking codes, wherein the package contains the open transaction instrument and wherein the open transaction instrument is offered by a merchant to a consumer and is directly accessible by the consumer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating distribution of the open transaction instrument to the merchant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the plurality of account codes and one of the plurality of tracking codes to a third party, wherein the third party at least one of: embosses, encodes and prints, (i) one of the plurality of account codes on the respective open transaction instrument and (ii) one of the plurality of tracking codes on a respective at least one of: the package and the open transaction instrument.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating the sale of the open transaction instrument further comprises facilitating approval of one of the plurality of tracking codes by converting one of the plurality of tracking codes to one of the plurality of account codes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating funding of the open transaction instrument.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating activating the open transaction instrument.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument is the account code.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument is at least one of: the account code printed on paper, the account code encoded into an RFID device, and a signal of the account code transmitted to a personal digital assistant of the consumer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the open transaction instrument includes indicia of a product sponsor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking code is presented in at least one of: a numerical format, a code format, bar code format, encrypted format, radio frequency format, and magnetic stripe format.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the account code is presented in at least one of: a numerical format, a code format, bar code format, encrypted format, radio frequency format and magnetic stripe format.

### Claim 12

A method for funding an open transaction instrument for use in a retail environment, comprising:
receiving a tracking code, wherein at least one of: a package, another item in the package and the open transaction instrument includes the tracking code, and wherein the package contains the open transaction instrument;
converting the tracking code to a corresponding account code associated with the open transaction instrument, wherein the open transaction instrument is directly accessible by a consumer, wherein the open transaction instrument is offered by a merchant to the consumer and wherein the account code is associated with a transaction account and the transaction account is associated with the open transaction instrument;
transmitting the corresponding account code to an issuer to facilitate funding of the open transaction instrument;
receiving an approval message from the issuer;
re-converting the corresponding account code back to the tracking code; and,
transmitting the approval message.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the tracking code comprises receiving the tracking code from at least one of: a merchant and the consumer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the tracking code comprises receiving the tracking code in a funding message.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein facilitating funding comprises at least one of: initial loading of funds, partial funding, re-loading funds and funding at a time subsequent to purchase.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising facilitating activating the open transaction instrument.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising facilitating activating the open transaction instrument at least one of: before, during and after funding of the open transaction instrument occurs.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein facilitating funding the open transaction instrument occurs at least one of: before, during and after activation of the open transaction instrument occurs.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the tracking code comprises receiving the tracking code from the consumer via at least one of: computer, personal digital assistant, cellular phone, website, mail, email, telephone, and facsimile.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the transaction account associated with the transaction instrument to have a monetary amount that is available when the transaction instrument is activated.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising facilitating activating the transaction account associated with the open transaction instrument at a time subsequent to the time when the transaction account is caused to have a monetary amount.

### Claim 22 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising facilitating activating the transaction account associated with the open transaction instrument at a time subsequent to the time when the transaction account is caused to have a monetary amount, wherein activating the open transaction instrument occurs automatically.

### Claim 23 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the open transaction instrument is configured to be generally accepted by merchants that are not directly affiliated with each other.

### Claim 24 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the open transaction instrument is configured to be generally accepted by at least one of: merchants that are not directly affiliated with each other, merchants within one shopping mall, merchants within one payment network, merchants within one country, and merchants within one geographic region.

### Claim 25 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the tracking code includes receiving a personal identification number (PIN).

### Claim 26 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the open transaction instrument is the account code.

### Claim 27 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the open transaction instrument is at least one of: the account code printed on paper, the account code encoded into an RFID device, and a signal of the account code transmitted to a personal digital assistant of the consumer.

### Claim 28 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the tracking code is presented in at least one of: a numerical format, a code format, bar code format, encrypted format, radio frequency format, and magnetic stripe format.

### Claim 29 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the account code is presented in at least one of: a numerical format, a code format, bar code format, encrypted format, radio frequency format and magnetic stripe format.

### Claim 30 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the open transaction instrument comprises at least one of: a pre-paid card, a charge card, a gift card, a credit card, and a debit card.

### Claim 31 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting an approval message comprises transmitting a confirmation of the tracking code.

### Claim 32 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the tracking code is located on the open transaction instrument and visible through the package.