Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/76840242/Methods-And-Systems-For-Exchanging-Andor-Transferring-Various-Forms-Of-Value---Patent-7865432
Timestamp: 2014-07-24 18:49:57
Document Index: 552767232

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 03742772', 'Application No. 03742772', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

Methods And Systems For Exchanging And/or Transferring Various Forms Of Value - Patent 7865432
United States Patent: 7865432
7,865,432
Doran; Michael (Bothell, WA), Martin; Douglas A. (Woodinville, WA), Dean; Scott A. (Issaquah, WA), Jacobson; Jessaca (Newcastle, WA), Hanson; Kim P. (Woodinville, WA), Smith; Kerry (Bellevue, WA)
10/504,437
PCT/US03/04601
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Applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/357,331, filed
Feb. 15, 2002, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/357,555, filed
Feb. 15, 2002; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/419,735, filed
Oct. 18, 2002; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/424,377,
filed Nov. 6, 2002. This application incorporates all of the co-pending
U.S. Provisional Patent Applications listed above in their entireties by
1.  A computer implemented method for transferring funds from a first user to a second user, the method comprising: receiving a request from a first user computer for one or more
display pages, the one or more display pages being configured to receive information from the first user related to the transfer of funds from the first user to the second user;  in response to the request, providing the one or more display pages to the
first user computer;  receiving information from the first user computer via the one or more display pages, the information including an amount of funds to transfer to the second user, an electronic address of the second user, and a source of funds;
receiving an authorization from a remote computer associated with the source of funds to debit the source of funds for the amount of funds;  and in response to receiving the authorization, sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the
second user to inform the second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user, wherein sending the electronic message includes sending information about the location of one or more value exchange machines
configured to dispense the funds to the second user.
2.  The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving the information about the source of funds, sending a request to the source of the funds for authorization to debit the amount of funds from the source of funds.
3.  The method of claim 1 wherein receiving information about the source of funds includes receiving information about a credit card account of the first user to be used as the source of funds, and wherein the method further comprises, in
response to receiving the credit card account information, sending a request to a credit card provider for authorization to debit the amount of funds from the credit card account.
4.  The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to sending the electronic message to the electronic address of the second user, receiving a request from the second user for the funds;  and in response to receiving the request from the
second user, providing the funds to the second user.
5.  The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to sending the electronic message, receiving a request from the second user for the funds via one of the value exchange machines;  and in response to receiving the request from the
second user, providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange machine.
6.  The method of claim 1 wherein sending the electronic message includes sending information about one or more retail shopping outlets having value exchange machines configured to dispense the funds to the second user, and wherein the method
further comprises: in response to sending the electronic message, receiving a request from the second user for the funds via one of the value exchange machines;  and in response to receiving the request from the second user, providing the funds to the
second user via the one value exchange machine.
7.  The method of claim 1 wherein sending the electronic message includes sending a unique code to the second user, and wherein the method further comprises: in response to sending the electronic message, receiving a request from the second user
for the funds, the request including at least a portion of the unique code;  and in response to receiving the request from the second user, providing the funds to the second user.
8.  A computer implemented method for transferring funds from a first user to a second user, the method comprising: receiving a request for one or more display pages from a first user computer, the one or more display pages being configured to
receive information from the first user related to the transfer of funds from the first user to the second user;  in response to the request, providing the one or more display pages to the first user computer;  receiving information from the first user
computer via the one or more display pages, the information including at least an amount of funds;  sending a request to a financial institution computer for authorization to debit the amount of funds from an account associated with the first user;  in
response to sending the request for authorization, receiving an authorization from the financial institution computer to debit the amount of funds from the account associated with the first user;  in response to receiving the authorization, automatically
sending an electronic message to the second user to inform the second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user;  receiving a request for the funds from the second user via one of a plurality of value exchange
machines;  in response to receiving the request from the second user via the one value exchange machine, debiting the amount of funds from the account associated with the first user;  and providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange
9.  The method of claim 8 wherein sending a request for authorization to debit the amount of funds from an account associated with the first user includes sending an electronic request to a financial institution computer for authorization to
transfer the amount of funds from the first user to the second user, wherein receiving the authorization to debit the amount of funds includes receiving an electronic authorization from the financial institution computer.
10.  The method of claim 8 wherein receiving information from the first user computer includes receiving information about the account associated with the first user.
11.  The method of claim 8 wherein receiving information from the first user computer includes receiving information about a credit card account of the first user to be used as a source of funds to be transferred from the first user to the
second user, and wherein sending a request for authorization to debit the amount of funds from an account associated with the first user includes sending a request to a credit card provider for authorization to debit the amount of funds from the credit
12.  The method of claim 8 wherein the information received from the first user computer includes an electronic address of the second user, and wherein automatically sending an electronic message to the second user includes sending an electronic
message to the electronic address of the second user.
13.  A computer implemented method for transferring funds from a first user to a second user, the method comprising: receiving a request for one or more display pages from a first user computer, the one or more display pages being configured to
computer via the one or more display pages, the information including at least an amount of funds;  receiving an authorization from a source of funds to transfer the amount of the funds from the first user to the second user;  in response to receiving
the authorization, sending a message to the second user to inform the second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user, wherein sending the message to the second user includes sending information about the
location of one or more value exchange machines;  in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user via one of the value exchange machines for the funds;  and in response to receiving the request from the
second user via the one value exchange machine, providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange machine.
14.  The method of claim 13 wherein sending the message to the second user includes sending information about the location of one or more value exchange machines located in one or more retail shopping outlets.
15.  The method of claim 13 wherein sending the message to the second user includes sending a unique code associated with the transfer of funds from the first user to the second user, and wherein the method further comprises: in response to
sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user for the funds, the request from the second user including the unique code;  and in response to receiving the request from the second user including the unique code,
providing the funds to the second user.
16.  A computer implemented method for transferring funds to a recipient, the method comprising: requesting one or more display pages from a web site by use of a first user computer, the one or more display pages being configured to receive
information related to funds transfers;  in response to the request, receiving the one or more display pages from the web site;  entering information on the one or more display pages, the entered information including at least an amount of funds to be
transferred to the recipient;  and sending the one or more display pages back to the web site with the entered information, wherein entering information on the one or more display pages includes entering information causing the transferred funds to be
made available to the recipient at one or more value exchange machines, and wherein entering information on the one or more display pages further includes entering information causing an electronic message to be automatically sent to a second user
computer informing the recipient that the transferred funds are available at one or more value exchange machines.
17.  The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a confirmation that the transfer of funds to the recipient has been authorized.
18.  The method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving a confirmation that the transfer of funds to the recipient has been authorized;  and receiving a notification that the recipient has received the funds.
19.  The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the one or more display pages includes receiving and displaying the first display page on a screen of the first user computer, and wherein entering information on the one or more display pages
includes entering a recipient name and a recipient electronic address into one or more fields on the first display page.
20.  The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the one or more display pages includes receiving and displaying the first display page on a screen of the first user computer, and wherein entering information on the one or more display pages
includes entering a recipient name, a recipient telephone number, and a source of the funds into one or more fields on the first display page.
21.  A computer implemented method for transferring funds to a recipient, the method comprising: requesting one or more display pages from a web site via a user computer, the one or more display pages being configured to receive information
related to funds transfers and including at least a first display page;  in response to the request, receiving the one or more display pages from the web site and displaying the first display page on a screen of the user computer;  entering information
on the one or more display pages, the entered information including at least an amount of funds to be transferred to the recipient, a recipient email address and a recipient locale, the recipient locale at least generally defining a region in which the
recipient lives;  and sending the one or more display pages back to the web site with the entered information, whereby an electronic message is automatically sent to the recipient email address informing the recipient that the transferred funds are
available and informing the recipient about the location of one or more value exchange machines located proximate to the recipient locale.
22.  The method of claim 21 wherein the method further comprises receiving a notification that the recipient has received the funds from a value exchange machine located at least proximate to the recipient locale.
23.  The method of claim 21 wherein entering information on the one or more display pages includes entering a credit card account number, the credit card account number identifying an account intended to be a source of the funds.
24.  The method of claim 21 wherein sending the one or more display pages back to the web site causes an electronic message to be automatically sent to the email address of the recipient, and wherein the electronic message informs the recipient
of the location of one or more value exchange machines in the recipient locale configured to dispense the funds to the recipient.
25.  A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions causing a computer to transfer funds from a first user to a second user by a method comprising: receiving a request for one or more
display pages from a first user computer, the one or more display pages being configured to receive information from the first user related to the transfer of the funds from the first user to the second user;  in response to the request, providing the
one or more display pages to the first user computer;  receiving information from the first user computer via the one or more display pages, the information including at least an amount of funds;  receiving an authorization from a remote computer
associated with an account of the first user to debit the amount of funds from the account associated with the first user;  in response to receiving the authorization, automatically sending an electronic message to a second user computer to inform the
second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user, and to inform the second user about the location of one or more value exchange machines configured to dispense the funds to the second user;  receiving a request
for the funds from the second user via one of the value exchange machines;  in response to receiving the request from the second user via the one value exchange machine, debiting the amount of funds from the account associated with the first user;  and
providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange machine.  Description
Certain specific details are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-11 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention.  Those of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand, however, that the
account of another person (e.g., for a person-to-person payment or for a bill payment).  Similarly, the user can also elect to transfer the proceeds from any such payment to a bank account for direct deposit, to a cell phone account (e.g., for
payment.  For example, the user may elect, to pay for the transaction with cash (e.g., dollar bills) (block 804a), coins (e.g., a plurality of randomly oriented coins) (block 806a), credit (block 808a), debit (block 810a), and/or funds from various types
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine 1000 for transferring money in accordance with an embodiment.  In one aspect of this embodiment, the routine 1000 can be implemented with the value exchange system 500 of FIG. 5 for a
person-to-person money transfer between a first user and a second user.  By way of example, the first user can be operating one of the user computers 520 (such as user computer 1), and the second user can be operating another one of the user computers
520 (such as user computer .eta.).  In another aspect of this embodiment, the money transfer web site 543 (FIG. 5) can be configured to provide one or more web pages to user computers to facilitate the transfer of funds between users as described herein. As used here, the term &quot;web site&quot; is understood to include a server computer and/or the associated databases required to store, send, and implement the various aspects of the associated web pages.
Referring to FIG. 10, in block 1002, the first user retrieves a money transfer web page from the money transfer web site 543 for display on user computer 1.  The web page is configured to receive information from the first user related to the
desired money transfer.  In block 1004, the first user enters information on the displayed web page including one or more of the name of the second user (i.e., the &quot;recipient&quot;), and contact information for the second user, such as an email address, phone
number, pager number, and the like.  This information can also include the amount of money the first user would like to transfer to the second user, and credit card information or other information identifying the source of the funds for the transfer.
In block 1006, after the first user has entered the necessary information on the web page, the user selects a corresponding send button to automatically transfer the information to one or more remote computers to authorize the transaction.  In a further
aspect of this embodiment, the one or more remote computers can include the server computer 502 and the financial institution computer 506 described above with reference to FIG. 5.  Upon receiving this information, the financial institution computer 506
can communicate with one or more credit or debit card issuers as required to obtain authorization to debit the first user&#39;s account for the amount to be transferred to the second user.  Here, &quot;financial institution&quot; can include virtually any institution
that holds or manages money for customers.  Such institutions may include, for example, brokerage firms, banks, credit unions, on-line accounts, etc.
In block 1007, the money transfer web site 543 receives authorization for the funds transfer from the financial institution computer 506.  After receiving the authorization, in block 1008, the money transfer web site 543 sends a first electronic
message to the first user at user computer 1.  The first message notifies the first user that the money transfer has been authorized.  Similarly, in block 1010, the money transfer web site 543 also sends a second electronic message to the second user at
user computer .eta..  The second message notifies the second user that the first user has transferred funds to the second user, and directs the second user to one or more of the value exchange machines 100 to retrieve the transferred funds.  In addition,
the second message can also include other security related information, such as a password, code, or PIN that the second user will need to enter into the value exchange machine 100 before the machine will dispense the funds.
In block 1012, the second user visits a conveniently located value exchange machine 100 and obtains the transferred funds.  In yet another aspect of this embodiment, the second user can obtain the funds by selecting the appropriate transaction
option as displayed, for example, on the display screen 118, and by entering the necessary code or PIN included with the second message via, for example, the first key pad 114 or the second key pad 206 (See FIGS. 1 and 2).  After the second user has
input the code or PIN, the value exchange machine 100 dispenses a voucher to the second user for the transferred amount.  The second user may then take the voucher to a POS at a retail outlet or other commercial location (such as a bank), and exchange
the voucher for cash, goods and/or services up to the amount specified on the voucher.
The method described above in accordance with the routine 1000 provides an efficient way to transfer money between two or more individuals.  Aspects of this embodiment may provide additional benefits in those situations where the first and second
users live in different states or different countries, or are otherwise separated by sufficient distance to make hand-delivered money transfers impractical.
In another embodiment similar to that described above with reference to FIG. 10, the value exchange system 500 of FIG. 5 can be utilized for a person-to-person money transfer between a first user operating one of the value exchange machines 100
and a second user operating one of the user computers 520.  In one aspect of this embodiment, the first user visits one of the machines 100 and selects an option for a person-to-person money transfer.  After selecting the option, the machine 100 displays
a number of instructions or prompts for the first user for receiving information from the first user related to the desired money transfer.  In response to the prompts, the first user can enter information about the money transfer.  Such information can
include, for example, one or more of the name of the second user (i.e., the &quot;recipient&quot;); contact information for the second user, such as an email address; the amount of money the first user would like to transfer to the second user; and credit card or
other information identifying the source of the funds for the money transfer.  After the first user has entered the necessary information into the machine 100, the machine 100 sends (via, e.g., the communications facility 113 of FIG. 1) the funds source
information to, e.g., the server computer 502 and the financial institution computer 506 to authorize the transaction as described above with reference to FIG. 10.  In addition, the machine 100 can also send at least a portion of the transaction
information to the money transfer web site 543.
Upon authorization, the financial institution computer 506 sends an electronic message to the money transfer web site 543 authorizing the funds transfer.  In response to the message, the money transfer web site 543 sends a first electronic
message back to the machine 100 for display to the first user.  The first message notifies the first user that the money transfer has been authorized.  The money transfer web site 543 can also send a second electronic message, e.g., an email message, to
the second user at the user computer 520.  The second message notifies the second user that the first user has transferred funds to the second user, and directs the second user to one or more of the value exchange machines 100 to retrieve the transferred
funds.  In addition, the second message can also include other security related information, such as a password, code, or PIN that the second user will need to enter into the machine 100 before the machine will dispense the funds.  The second user can
then visit a conveniently located machine 100 and obtain the transferred funds as described above with reference to FIG. 10.
The foregoing method provides an efficient way to transfer money between two or more individuals when the transferor may not have access to a user computer for accessing the money transfer web site 543.  In such a situation, the transferor can
instead visit one of the value exchange machines 100 to conveniently execute the money transfer.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display page 1100 useable for a person-to-person money transfer in accordance with an embodiment.  In one aspect of this embodiment, the display page 1100 can be provided by the money transfer web site 543
(FIG. 5) in response to a request from a user desiring to make a money transfer as described above with reference to FIG. 10.  The display page 1100 can include a number of different data entry fields configured to receive information from the user about
the money transfer.  Such fields can include a dollar amount field 1102, a plurality of funds source fields 1104, a recipient name field 1106, and a plurality of electronic address fields 1108.  In the illustrated embodiment, the dollar amount field 1102
can be configured to receive the dollar amount the user would like to transfer to the recipient.  The funds source fields 1104 can be configured to receive account information identifying the one or more sources from which the funds will be taken.  For
example, the funds source fields 1104 can include one or more credit card fields, a debit card field, and an &quot;other&quot; field for other sources such as a checking or savings account.  Accordingly, the user can check the box adjacent to the desired source of
funds, and then enter the particular information needed to identify the account.  Such information can include, for example, an account number and a unique password, code or PIN.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the electronic address fields 1108 can include a plurality of fields for receiving various types of electronic addresses for communicating--digitally, by voice, or otherwise--with the recipient.  For example,
in one aspect of this embodiment, the fields can include an email address field for sending the recipient an email message.  In another aspect, the fields can include a telephone number field for sending a voice message to the recipient, or for sending a
digital message to the recipient&#39;s cell phone display.  In yet another aspect, the fields can include a pager number field for sending the recipient a page instructing them to call a number or go on-line to receive their message.
After entering sufficient information onto the display page 1100, the user can select a confirm button 1110 to send the information to, for example, the money transfer web site 543 (FIG. 5).  From the money transfer web site 543, the funding
portion of the information can be further communicated to the server computer 502 for authorization via the financial institution computer 506, as described above with reference to FIG. 10.  After receiving authorization for the funds transfer, the money
transfer web site 543 sends an email to the recipient&#39;s email address notifying the recipient of the money transfer.
Methods and systems for exchanging and or transferring various forms of value, Doran, et al., Michael Doran, Douglas A. Martin, Scott A. Dean, Jessaca Jacobson, Kim P. Hanson, Kerry Smith, Application number 10 504-437, Data Processing:Financial Business Practice Management Or Cost Price Determination, the user, Patent number, value exchange, Patent Agent, patent data, Patent Search, Publication Date, dispensing machine, Kerry Smith, Coin counter