# US 8,751,401 B1 · System and method for securely authorizing and distributing stored-value card data

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- Number: US 8,751,401 B1
- Document ID: US8751401B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/186,247
- Filed: 2014-02-21
- Published: 2014-06-19
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2003-09-05
- Assignees: e2interactive, Inc.
- Applicants: e2interactive, Inc.
- Inventors: Phillip Craig Graves; Merrill Brooks Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751401B1

## CPC

- G06Q 20/28: Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
- G06Q 20/02: involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
- G06Q 20/04: Payment circuits
- G06Q 20/3552: {Downloading or loading of personalisation data}
- G06Q 20/3558: {Preliminary personalisation for transfer to user}
- G06Q 20/3829: {involving key management}
- G07F 7/1008: {Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system}
- 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
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

A computerized system and method for securely authorizing and distributing stored-value card data over a communications network is provided. The method allows for storing in the database a plurality of records comprising stored-value card data for each stored-value card as well as information identifying a plurality of trusted sources of stored-value card activation requests and/or a plurality of trusted communications networks for transmitting stored-value card activation requests. A transmitting step allows for a requesting terminal to transmit over a communications network a request to change the status of a stored-value card. The central processor then determines whether the requesting terminal and/or the communications network is a trusted source. Based on whether the requesting terminal or communications network is a trusted source or trusted communications network, the request can be processed and the card can be activated. A method for establishing a list of trusted sources and trusted communications networks is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computerized method for authorizing and conducting transactions associated with a stored-value card, the method comprising:
storing in a database coupled to a central processor a plurality of records comprising identifiers of merchant locations, if any, and communications networks for carrying or transmitting stored value card processing requests, if any, that are authorized to request transactions for one or more stored-value cards;
receiving at the central processor:
a transaction request associated with a stored value card; and
the identifier of the merchant location or the communication network requesting the transaction;
determining at the central processor whether the received identifier of the merchant location or communication network is stored or noted in the database as authorized for requesting the transaction;
if the received identifier is of a merchant location and it is determined that the merchant location is stored or noted in the database as authorized for requesting the transaction, conducting or authorizing the transaction; and
if the received identifier is of a communication network and it is determined that the communication network is stored or noted in the database as authorized for requesting the transaction, capturing an identifier of the merchant location from which the transaction request was sent over the communications network and storing the identifier of the merchant location in the database as authorized for requesting future transactions, if not already stored in the database, and conducting or authorizing the transaction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1, wherein said stored-value card is selected from the group consisting of: a gift card, a prepaid gas card, a prepaid grocery card, a prepaid entertainment card, a card used for downloading ring tones, a card used for downloading software, a card used for downloading music files and a customer rewards card.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the communications network is a dedicated data circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the specific processing request is a request to activate, deactivate, reload, refresh, or refund the stored value card.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the merchant location is identified by one or more internet protocol (IP) addresses, and the determining step is based on whether one or more of the IP addresses are recorded in the database as authorized to request transactions for one or more stored-value cards.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1 wherein the identifiers of merchant locations are selected from the group consisting of: a telephone number, an IP address, a password or code, a geographic address, or a name.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises one or more stored value card records associated with one or more stored-value cards.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The computerized method of claim 7, wherein the stored value card records comprise information identifying merchant locations or communications networks that are authorized to request transactions for the stored value cards.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The computerized method of claim 8, wherein the determination at the central processor of whether the received identifier of the merchant location or communication network is authorized for requesting the transaction is based on whether identifiers received by the merchant location for a transaction associated with a specific stored value card match or correspond to identifiers stored in the stored value card record associated with the specific stored-value card.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1, wherein said stored-value card is a card for a purpose, selected from the group consisting of: downloading music files, downloading games, enabling long distance telephone communication, enables wireless communication, enables paging services, enables interne communication services, and enables wireless web access.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving at the central processor a request to add stored value to a customer account, the request including an indicia, wherein the indicia is associated with the stored-value, and wherein the customer account is managed by a provider; and
providing from the central processor a provider-specific indicia associated with the provider to the customer, wherein the provider-specific indicia is effective to add the associated stored value to the customer account.

### Claim 12

A computerized method for authorizing and conducting transactions associated with a stored-value, the method comprising:
storing in a database coupled to a central processor a plurality of records comprising identifiers of merchant locations, if any, and communications networks for carrying or transmitting stored value processing requests, if any, that are authorized to request transactions for one or more types of stored-value;
receiving at the central processor:
a transaction request associated with a stored value; and
the identifier of the merchant location or the communication network requesting the transaction;
determining at the central processor whether the received identifier of the merchant location or communication network is stored or noted in the database as authorized for requesting the transaction;
responsive to a determination that merchant location is stored or noted in the database as authorized for requesting the transaction, conducting or authorizing the transaction; and
responsive to a determination that the communication network is stored or noted in the database as authorized for requesting the transaction, capturing an identifier of the merchant location from which the transaction request was sent over the communications network and storing the identifier of the merchant location in the database as authorized for requesting future transactions, if not already stored in the database, and conducting or authorizing the transaction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The computerized method of claim 12, wherein the database further comprises one or more stored value records associated with one or more types of stored-value.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computerized method of claim 13, wherein the one or more types of stored value comprises different types of value, different value denominations, or different values with redemption limitations.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The computerized method of claim 14, wherein the different values with redemption limitations comprise stored values that are redeemable with one or more providers of goods or services.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The computerized method of claim 13, wherein the stored value records comprise information identifying merchant locations or communications networks that are authorized to request transactions for the stored value.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The computerized method of claim 13, wherein the determination at the central processor of whether the received identifier of the merchant location or communication network is authorized for requesting the transaction is based on whether identifiers received by the merchant location for a transaction associated with a specific stored value match or correspond to identifiers stored in the stored value record associated with the specific stored-value.