Patent ID: 6980969
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for allowing a customer at an Internet client device to make Internet based purchases using a temporary credit card number, the method comprising the steps of: during an Internet purchase transaction receiving a message indicative of a request to apply for a credit card account at an Internet server from the Internet client device via the Internet; during the Internet purchase transaction transmitting data indicative of an electronic credit card account application from the Internet server to the Internet client device via the Internet; during the Internet purchase transaction receiving the credit card account application at the Internet server from the client device via the Internet, the credit card account application including applicant data; during the Internet purchase transaction storing the applicant data in a computer readable memory; during the Internet purchase transaction verifying the applicant data against a verification database; during the Internet purchase transaction, if the applicant data is verified, opening the credit card account and issuing a temporary credit card number associated with the credit card account, the temporary credit card number being unique among a plurality of currently active temporary credit card numbers stored in a temporary account database, the temporary credit card number available for immediate use, after opening the credit card account, as payment in the Internet purchase transaction; allowing a plurality of additional Internet based purchases based on the temporary credit card number until the temporary credit card number is deactivated; and deactivating the temporary credit card number, wherein the step of deactivating the temporary credit card number comprises the step of expiring the temporary credit card number in response to a predetermined time period elapsing, and wherein the step of deactivating the temporary credit card number in response to a predetermined time period elapsing comprises the step of expiring the temporary credit card number in response to a predetermined time period of customer inactivity at a website elapsing.