Patent · US Active

System, method, and business method for settling micropayment transactions to a pre-paid instrument

US8738491B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
57References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 25, 2012
Grant dateMay 27, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 10, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q40/00
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides a method for conducting a transaction between a first and second consumer, and a merchant using one or more electronic communication devices. The method includes issuing a first prepaid calling card to a first consumer and issuing a second dependent prepaid calling card dependent on the first prepaid calling card, to a second consumer dependent on the first consumer, based on a second specified criteria. In the invention, the second specified criteria is specified by the first consumer, wherein both the first and second specified criteria are stored as imbedded data in the respective prepaid calling cards. The invention further involves conducting, at a merchant network node a micropayment transaction and receiving into the merchant network node from the at least one consumer electronic communications device first prepaid—calling card data or second dependent prepaid—calling card data as payment for the item of value.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.