Patent ID: 6295522
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
A method of making a stored-value card purchase for a consumer when the consumer does not use any stored-value card in the consumer's physical possession, the method comprising:establishing a consumer value acquirer (CVA), remotely from the consumer, for storing consumer account funds;transferring funds to the CVA;the CVA holding the funds for the consumer in a consumer account;establishing a plurality of stored value cards as a CVA card pool in physical possession of the CVA for interacting with one or more merchants which each have physical possession of a stored-value card;the consumer placing an order through the CVA via a first network link;the CVA transmitting the consumer order to a merchant via a second network link;the merchant responding via the second network link to the consumer order by making a request for stored-value card funds of the consumer;the CVA transferring stored-value card funds via the second network link to the merchant in response to the merchant request for stored-value card funds; anddebiting the consumer account in the amount of funds requested by the merchant.