Patent ID: 8725657
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A financial transaction authorization system comprising: A. a financial institution which processes credit/charge card charge requests, B. a utility meter provided at a meter location separate and spaced from the financial institution, the utility meter having an associated meter location identifier unique to the meter location, and C. a user interface unit separate and spaced from the financial institution, the user interface unit being adapted to process a submitted credit/charge card charge authorization, wherein the utility meter is arranged: a. to communicate with the user interface unit, b. to obtain the card charge authorization therefrom, and c. to transmit a credit/charge card charge request to the financial institution based on the card charge authorization and meter location identifier, the card charge request including: to obtain authorization of the card charge from the financial institution, wherein the financial institution processes the card charge request from the utility meter regardless of whether the card charge request relates to any utility usage measurements made by the utility meter.