Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/CA2476467A1/en
Timestamp: 2019-08-19 09:43:58
Document Index: 537535886

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No.60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No.\n09', 'Application No. 09', 'Application No. 09']

CA2476467A1 - Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value - Google Patents
CA2476467A1
CA2476467A1 CA002476467A CA2476467A CA2476467A1 CA 2476467 A1 CA2476467 A1 CA 2476467A1 CA 002476467 A CA002476467 A CA 002476467A CA 2476467 A CA2476467 A CA 2476467A CA 2476467 A1 CA2476467 A1 CA 2476467A1
CA002476467A
2003-02-14 Application filed by Coinstar, Inc., Michael Doran, Douglas A. Martin, Scott A. Dean, Jessaca Jacobson, Kim P. Hanson, Kerry Smith, Outerwall Inc., Coinstar, Llc filed Critical Coinstar, Inc.
2003-02-14 Priority to PCT/US2003/004600 priority patent/WO2003071495A1/en
2003-08-28 Publication of CA2476467A1 publication Critical patent/CA2476467A1/en
Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards and the like (100 and 402). In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region (106), a coin sorting/counting apparatus (112), a card reader (202), and a communications facility (113) configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link (500). A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select a desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user.
RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to the following co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/357,331, filed February 15, 2002; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/357,555, filed February 15, 2002; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/419,735, filed October 18, 2002; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/424,377, filed November 6, 2002. This application incorporates all of the co-pending U.S.
This application incorporates the following U.S. Patents in their entireties by reference: U.S. Patent No. 5,746,299; U.S. Patent No. 6,047,808; U.S. Patent No.
This application further incorporates the following co-pending U.S. Patent Applications in their entireties by reference: U.S. Patent Application No.
09/661,956, filed September 14, 2000; U.S. Patent Application No. 09/662,414, filed September 14, 2000; U.S. Patent Application No. 09/661,955, filed September 14, 2000;
Examples of "non-prepaid" cards can include conventional credit cards and the like.
5 PCT/US03/04600 dispensing tickets (such as event and travel tickets), novelty items, and redeemable vouchers to users in return for the various forms of payment discussed above.
Certain embodiments of the methods and systems described herein for exchanging one form of value for another form of value are described in the context of computer-executable instructions pertormed by a general-purpose computer.
Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and in Figures 1-9 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand, however, that the invention may have additional embodiments which may be practiced without several of the details described below. In other instances, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that the methods and systems described can include additional details without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosed embodiments. In addition, some well-known structures and systems often associated with card dispensing apparatuses and methods and associated computer networks have not been shown or described in detail below to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the invention.
While the aspects and features of the drawer assembly 120 discussed above are representative of those that may be included as components of the value exchange machine 100 of Figure 1, those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that additional features may be included without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. For example, although the drawer assembly of the illustrated embodiment is shown with only one card outlet 208 and one ticket outlet 210, in other embodiments more card and ticket outlets may be included, depending on the particular application of the machine 100. Furthermore, in yet other embodiments one or more of the foregoing features may be omitted from the value exchange machine 100 in various applications without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
Referring to Figure 1, in one embodiment transaction options are displayed for a user on the display screen 118, and can include one or more of purchasing a prepaid cash card; purchasing a prepaid phone card; transferring money to an account; topping up an existing credit card account, cash card account, long distance phone card account, or wireless account; receiving a redeemable cash voucher, and/or performing other transfers or purchasing other items. The user can select the desired transaction or transactions by using the first keypad 114, the touch screen 117, and/or one or more of the selection buttons 115 in response to prompts shown on the display screen 118. If the user selects, for example, to purchase a prepaid cash card, then the machine 100 prompts the user to input his/her preferred payment option. In one.embodiment, the user can elect to pay with coins and can deposit a plurality of randomly oriented coins into the tray 106 and hingeably rotate the tray 106 upwardly to deliver the coins to the coin sorting/counting apparatus 112. The coin sorting/counting apparatus 112 then counts the coins and displays the total to the user on the display screen 118.
_g_ In another embodiment, a user may desire to purchase a prepaid cash card with an existing credit card. In this embodiment, the user swipes the existing credit card through the card reader 202 (Figure 2). After reading the card, the machine 100 prompts the user to input a PIN or other security code via the second keypad 206. Next, the machine 100 prompts the user to enter the desired dollar amount of the new prepaid cash card via the first keypad 114. After authorizing the transaction (by communicating, for example, with a remote bank via the communications facility 113), the machine 100 dispenses the new prepaid cash card to the user via the card outlet 208. In a further embodiment, the user can pay for a prepaid cash card at least in part by depositing a sufficient number of bills into the bill acceptor 204.
In one aspect of this embodiment, the receipt includes instructions directing the user to call a particular telephone number and activate their new prepaid credit card account. Per the instructions, the user calls the telephone number and activates his/her account by providing certain personal information, such as name and mailing address. The user then receives a unique number (such as a 16-digit number for their new prepaid credit card account) from the credit card account issuer over the telephone. The user can use this number immediately for credit-based purchases either by telephone, mail, or the Internet. Further, within a few days, the user receives a personalized, embossed prepaid credit card via the mail that can be used anywhere the particular prepaid credit card is accepted. In _g_ addition, the user can also have the option of attaching a PIN to their new prepaid credit card account that will allow them to make cash withdrawals at ATMs.
In a further embodiment, a user can top up a phone account (e.g., a long distance calling card account or a wireless account) with the machine 100. In one aspect of this embodiment, the display screen 118 can present or display a prompt or menu to the user asking if he or she would like to top up their phone card account. If so, the user selects his or her carrier and/or enters the corresponding account number or phone number. (In another embodiment, the user can swipe his/her card through the card reader 202 to have the account number read from the card.) For a PIN-based transaction, the user selects a predefined dollar amount to add to his/her account and then deposits money or other funds into the machine in one of the ways described above. For example, in one embodiment, the user can deposit currency via the bill acceptor 204. In another embodiment, the user can deposit coins via the coin tray 106. After depositing the funds, the user receives a printout or receipt with a PIN via the receipt outlet 212. The user then calls the carrier and enters the PIN to activate the additional minutes added to his/her account. In another embodiment, the user has the option of selecting either a predefined dollar amount of minutes or entering a specific dollar amount he/she wishes to add to his/her account. In this embodiment, once the user has inserted his or her payment, the user receives a receipt confirming the transaction and the funds are immediately credited to the user's phone card account. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art, in other embodiments the machine 100 can be used in other ways to purchase or top up cards or associated accounts without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.
In block 302, the machine 100 accepts one or more types of funds from the user. As explained above, funds can include any combination of coins, currency, credit card, debit card, gift card, existing prepaid cash card or phone card, etc. If a credit card is used for payment, the machine 100 validates the credit card and obtains authorization to debit the funds from the credit card account or accounts. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by communication between the machine 100 and one or more remote computers via the communications facility 113. The remote computers can access one or more financial institutions that control the authorization and debiting/crediting of credit card accounts. In block 303, the machine 100 receives authorization for the desired transactions) from the remote computers and dispenses the new form of value (e.g., a prepaid cash card, phone card, redeemable cash voucher, cash, event tickets, and/or associated transaction confirmation numbers) to the user. If the transaction involved topping up an existing card, then the user receives confirmation that the value associated with the card has been increased. Similarly, if the transaction involved a transfer of money to an account, then the user receives confirmation that the transfer has occurred.
computer that receives communications from the value exchange machines) 100 and sends corresponding communications to appropriate recipient computers to carry out various aspects of the value exchange system 500.
In a further aspect of this embodiment, the server computer 502 is connected to a financial institution computer 506. The financial institution computer 506 can be configured to facilitate the electronic transfer of funds between various financial accounts and/or institutions. For example, the financial institution computer 506, in one embodiment, can communicate with a credit card institution to facilitate the debiting and crediting of a credit card account. In other embodiments, the financial institution computer 506 can communicate with a bank, credit union, or brokerage firm to facilitate the debiting and crediting of various types of accounts typically found in such institutions. Similarly, in another embodiment, the financial institution computer 506 can communicate with a prepaid card-issuing institution to facilitate management of prepaid card accounts. In another aspect of this embodiment, the server computer 502 can be connected to one or more POS computers 510. The POS computers 510 can be located at retail outlets where users of the value exchange machines) 100 use their prepaid cash or credit cards to pay for goods and/or services.
Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine 600 implemented by the value exchange system 500 of Figure 5 in one embodiment. In block 602, a user selects one or more desired transactions at the machine 100 (Figure 1 ). In one aspect of this embodiment, the user may elect to perform multiple transactions with multiple types of input and receive multiple types of output. In block 604, the machine prompts the user for the method or methods of payment. As discussed in detail above, the user may elect to pay for the transaction with coins, currency, credit card, debit card, checking or savings account transfers, or value prepaid over the Internet.
Referring first to Figure 7, Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine 700 for receiving a transaction selection from a user in one embodiment. In block 702, the user is prompted to select a transaction type or option. As illustrated in blocks 703, the user can select from numerous transaction options that include: obtaining a new prepaid card (block 704), reloading or "topping up" an existing prepaid card (block 706a), obtaining a redeemable cash voucher (block 708), obtaining a prepaid phone card (block 710), obtaining a ticket or other item previously reserved and/or paid for over the Internet (block 712a), adding minutes to an existing cell phone account (block 714a), adding time to an existing long distance account (block 715a), or transferring money to an account (block 716a). After the user has selected the desired transaction, the machine may prompt the user for additional information.
If the user elects to pay for the transaction with coins as in block 806x, then in block 806b the user is instructed to deposit the coins, for example, by placing them in the coin tray 106 of the machine 100 shown in Figure 1 and rotating the tray 106 upwardly to deliver the coins to the coin sorting/counting apparatus 112.
If the user elects to pay for the selected transaction with a debit card as in block 810a, then in block 810b the user is instructed to swipe the debit card through the card reader 202. The user is then instructed in block 810c to enter a debit card PIN to verify user authorization. After entering the PIN, in block 810d the user is prompted to enter the amount to debit the associated account for the selected transaction. After this information has been entered, in block 81 Oe the machine 100 communicates with the server computer 502 to authorize use of the account for the amount of the debit. If instead the user elects to pay for the selected transaction by transferring money from an account as shown in block 812a, then in block 812b the user is prompted to enter the number of the account. In block 812c, the user may also be prompted to enter a PIN associated with the account.
discriminating at least a portion of the received coins with the coin discriminator to determine a value of the received coins; and issuing at least one prepaid card to the user from the card dispenser, the prepaid card having a card value related to the value of the received corns.
receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to one of the displayed transaction options, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected transaction option, and wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value related to a first portion of the value of the received coins; and issuing a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.
displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user; and receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to one of the displayed transaction options, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected transaction option.
and receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to one of the displayed transaction options, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected transaction option.
receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option; and receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second transaction option, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser includes a first card corresponding to the first transaction selection and a second card corresponding to the second transaction selection.
receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option; and receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second transaction option, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser includes a prepaid credit card corresponding to the first transaction selection and a prepaid phone card corresponding to the second transaction selection.
receiving a selection from the user corresponding to the at least one prepaid card option, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user from the card dispenser corresponds to the selected card option, and wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value related to a first portion of the value of the received coins; and issuing a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.
receiving an input from the user defining a card value for the selected prepaid card option, the card value corresponding to a first portion of the value of the received coins, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has the defined card value; and issuing a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.
reading information from a card submitted by the user with the card reader, the information being related to an account of the user; and receiving an input from the user defining a value to be debited or charged to the account, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value related to the value of the received coins and the value to be debited or charged to the account of the user.
transmitting at least a portion of the information read by the card reader to a remote computer via the communication facility, the remote computer being associated with the account of the user; and receiving confirmation from the remote computer related to the value to be debited or charged to the account of the user, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user is issued at least partially in response to receiving the confirmation from the remote computer.
reading information from a card submitted by the user, the information being associated with funds available to the user; and receiving an input from the user defining a portion of the funds available to the user value to be debited or charged to the account, wherein the at least one prepaid card issued to the user has a card value corresponding to the value of the received coins and the value to be debited or charged to the account of the user.
providing first information to a remote computer via the communication facility, the first information relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user; and in response to providing the first information to the remote computer, receiving second information from the remote computer via the communication facility, the second information relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user.
providing first information to a remote computer via the communication facility, the first information relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user; and in response to providing the first information to the remote computer, receiving second information from the remote computer via the communication facility, the second information relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user, wherein the at least one prepaid card is issued to the user at least partially in response to the second information.
reading information from a portion of the at least one prepaid card issued to the user; and providing at least a portion of the information read from the prepaid card to a remote computer.
providing at least a portion of the first information to a remote computer;
and in response to providing the remote computer with the first information, receiving second information from the remote computer relating to the at least one prepaid card issued to the user.
providing at least a portion of the identification information to a remote computer; and in response to providing the remote computer with the identification information, receiving verification information from the remote computer causing the card dispenser to dispense the at least one prepaid card to the user.
receiving an input from the user defining a portion of the total value to be transferred to the account; and transmitting funds information to the remote computer via the communications facility, the funds information being at least partially related to the portion of the total value.
displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user; and receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user, the first transaction selection being at least partially related to the account.
receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first account; and receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second account, wherein transmitting funds information to the remote computer via the communications facility includes transmitting first funds information to the first account and transmitting second funds information to the second account.
receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first account; and receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second account, wherein transmitting funds information to the remote computer via the communications facility includes transmitting first funds information to the first account and second funds information to the second account, and wherein the first funds information is related to a first portion of the value of the received coins and the second funds information is related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.
reading information from a card submitted by the user with the card reader, the information being related to the account; and receiving a PIN from the user associated with the account.
in response to transmitting the first information to the remote computer, receiving second information from the remote computer via the communication facility, the second information confirming the transfer of funds to the account; and in response to receiving the second information from the remote computer, issuing a record of the transaction to the user.
discriminating at least a portion of the received coins with the coin discriminator to determine a value of the received coins; and writing value information to a card with the card writer, the card being at least temporarily placed in the proximity of the card writer by the user, the value information being at least partially related to the value of the received coins.
displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user; and receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user, the first transaction selection causing at least a portion of the value of the received coins to be transferred to the card when the card is placed in the proximity of the card writer by the user.
receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user, the first transaction selection causing at least a first portion of the value of the received coins to be transferred to the card when the card is placed in the proximity of the card writer by the user; and issuing a redeemable voucher to the user, wherein the redeemable voucher has a voucher value related to a second portion of the value of the received coins.
receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first card; and receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second card, wherein writing value information to a card with the card writer includes writing first value information to the first card and writing second value information to the second card, and wherein both the first and second cards are at least temporarily placed in the proximity of the card writer by the user.
receiving a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first card; and receiving a second transaction selection from the user corresponding to the second card, wherein writing value information to a card with the card writer includes writing first value information to the first card and writing second value information to the second card, wherein the first value information relates to a first portion of the value of the received coins and the second value information relates to a second portion of the value of the received coins, and wherein both the first and second cards are at least temporarily placed in the proximity of the card writer by the user.
reading information from the card placed at least temporarily in the proximity of the card writer by the user, the read information being related to an initial value of the card; and displaying at least a portion of the read information to the user with the display.
receiving an input from the user defining a value to be transferred to the card, wherein writing value information to the card includes transferring the defined value to the card; and providing a confirmation to the user that the defined value has been transferred to the card.
receiving a first input from the user identifying the user; and receiving a second input from the user defining a value to be transferred to the card, wherein writing value information to the card includes transferring the defined value to the card.
in response to transmitting the first information to the remote computer, receiving second information from the remote computer, the second information being associated with an item of value selected by the user; and in response to receiving the second information from the remote computer, dispensing the item of value to the user via the outlet, wherein at least a portion of the value of the received coins is applied to the cost of the item of value.
a coin discriminator positioned within the enclosure to receive the plurality of coins from the coin-input region, the coin discriminator configured to discriminate at least a portion of the received coins to determine a value of the received coins; and a card dispenser positioned within the enclosure, the card dispenser configured to dispense a prepaid card to the user at least partially in response to receiving a card selection via the user interface, and further in response to discriminating at least a portion of the received coins, wherein the dispensed prepaid card has a card value related to the value of the received coins.
CA002476467A 2002-02-15 2003-02-14 Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value Abandoned CA2476467A1 (en)
CA2476467A1 true CA2476467A1 (en) 2003-08-28
CA2476502A Active CA2476502C (en) 2002-02-15 2003-02-14 Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value
CA002476500A Abandoned CA2476500A1 (en) 2002-02-15 2003-02-14 Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value
CA002476467A Abandoned CA2476467A1 (en) 2002-02-15 2003-02-14 Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value
2018-03-28 FZDE Dead