Patent ID: 7885890

Claim:
A system for approving a credit request and authorizing a purchase request, the system comprising: a credit request device operable to receive customer-related information from a customer, the credit request device located at a first location, and the customer-related information including a credit request; a point of sale system operable to receive customer identification information and to process the purchase request, the point of sale system located at a second location; a credit analysis module operable to analyze the customer-related information to determine whether the credit request should be approved, and to generate a conditional offer of credit upon approval of the credit request; a first communication path between the credit request device and the credit analysis module for communication of the customer-related information and the conditional offer of credit; an activation module in communication with the credit analysis module for receipt of information relating to the conditional offer of credit, the activation module operable to establish a credit account in response to confirmation that the customer has accepted the conditional offer of credit, the credit account including a line of credit; an authorization module operable to authorize or disallow use of the line of credit for the purchase request; and a second communication path isolated from the first communication path and affording communication between the point of sale system and the activation module, and between the point of sale system and the authorization module, wherein in response to receiving the conditional offer of credit from the credit analysis module, the credit request device directs the customer to the point of sale system for initiation of the purchase request and merchant verification of an identity of the customer, wherein the point of sale system obtains the customer identification information when the customer initiates the purchase request, and sends the customer identification information to the activation module via the second communication path, thereby indicating to the activation module that the customer has accepted the conditional offer of credit, and wherein upon receipt of the customer identification information and while the customer is at the point of sale system, the activation module establishes the credit account including the line of credit and the authorization module authorizes or disallows the requested purchase.