Patent ID: 7578439

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for processing a stored-value card transaction request in a card data management system having a central processor in communication with a plurality of point-of-sale terminals over a communications network, each of the one or more terminals having a unique terminal identifier and being associated with a location and a prepaid card merchant, the central processor being in communication with a database having stored therein a plurality of card records, each card record containing data associated with a stored-value card distributed to a prepaid card merchant for further distribution to purchasers at a location controlled by the prepaid card merchant, the method comprising: receiving the stored-value card transaction request from a requesting terminal, the requesting terminal being one of the plurality of point-of-sale terminals, the transaction request comprising a requesting terminal identifier, a card identifier assigned to a stored value card, and information indicative of a requested transaction type; determining if the requesting terminal is authorized to request the requested transaction type for the stored value card; responsive to a determination that the requesting terminal is authorized to request the requested transaction type, initiating the requested transaction; and transmitting a request response to the requesting terminal.