Patent ID: 6938013
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method of transferring money from a customer to a beneficiary via a money-transfer system, said method comprising: said money-transfer system distributing money-transfer devices to a plurality of customers, each said of money-transfer devices equipped with a unique device code; creating a device database at said money-transfer system, said device database comprising a set of device records; loading each of said unique device codes into a different one of said device records; loading customer data, identifying said customers, into different ones of said device records; loading beneficiary data, identifying said beneficiaries, into different ones of said device records; said money-transfer system initiating a transfer of a particular amount of money from a requesting customer to a particular beneficiary by collecting from said requesting customer one of said money-transfer devices and said particular amount of money, accessing said device code from said one of said money-transfer devices to locate a corresponding one of said device records, and retrieving the identities of said requesting customer and said particular beneficiary from said customer data and said beneficiary data; and said money-transfer system giving said customer a unique pick-up code for use by said particular beneficiary to collect funds corresponding to said particular amount of money after giving said money-transfer system said pick-up code; the step of distributing money-transfer devices comprising said money-transfer system distributing money-transfer devices containing a data-storage medium having said unique device code stored therein; each of the transfer devices, as distributed to a corresponding one of said customers, has no device record or beneficiary information associated therewith; the method further comprising electronically networking a transfer company with a number of selling agents and paying agents to form said money-transfer system, and wherein said initiating step includes said requesting customer giving one of said money-transfer devices and said particular amount of money to a first selling agent, and said first selling agent machine reading said unique device code from said money transfer device, and transmitting data specifying said unique device code and said particular amount of money to said transfer company.