US6678664B1 — Cashless transactions without credit cards, debit…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

A method for performing cashless transactions, comprising the steps: transmitting information identifying a purchaser of a product without identifying a payment account for the purchaser; receiving the transmitted identifying information at a central processing point; processing the received identifying information at the central processing point to determine if the purchaser is a registered purchaser; transmitting a notice confirming registration, from the central processing point, if the purchaser is determined to be a registered purchaser; receiving the transmitted notice at the point of purchase; and generating, at the point of purchase, a bill for the purchased product responsive to receipt of the notice.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 102 words

A method for performing cashless transactions, comprising the steps: transmitting information identifying a purchaser of a product without identifying a payment account for the purchaser; receiving the transmitted identifying information at a central processing point; processing the received identifying information at the central processing point to determine if the purchaser is a registered purchaser; transmitting a notice confirming registration, from the central processing point, if the purchaser is determined to be a registered purchaser; receiving the transmitted notice at the point of purchase; and generating, at the point of purchase, a bill for the purchased product responsive to receipt of the notice.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: scanning a document to obtain the information identifying the purchaser.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method according to claim 2 , wherein the document is a government issued document.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 2 , wherein the document is one of a drivers license and a passport.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein the payment account includes one of credited funds and deposited funds.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: transmitting a purchase price of the product; processing the received purchase price at the central processing point to determine if the purchase price exceeds a threshold amount; and transmitting an authorization for the purchase if the purchase price is determined not to exceed the threshold amount.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 6 , wherein the purchase price is transmitted from the point of purchase.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method according to claim 6 , wherein the notice and the authorization are transmitted as a unitary transmission.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: printing the generated bill at the point of purchase.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: obtaining a signature of the purchaser on the printed bill; and digitizing the obtained signature.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: transmitting the generated bill from the point of purchase; and receiving the transmitted bill at the central processing point.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method according to claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: centrally processing the transmitted bill to generate billing information representing the bill; and storing the billing information in a central database so as to be accessible to the purchaser.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method according to claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: associating a digitized signature of the purchaser with the bill at the point of purchaser; transmitting the associated digitized signature from the point of purchase; and storing the transmitted digitized signature in the central database with the stored billing information.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 79 words

A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: transmitting the generated bill from the point of purchase; receiving the transmitted bill at the central processing point; selecting one of immediate payment of the bill and delayed payment of the bill; centrally processing the transmitted bill to generate billing information representing the bill; and storing the billing information in a central database so as to be accessible to the purchaser only if delayed payment is selected.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 65 words

A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: transmitting the generated bill from the point of purchase; receiving the transmitted bill at the central processing point; selecting one of immediate payment of the bill and delay payment of the bill; and centrally processing the transmitted bill to automatically generate a directive to pay the transmitted bill if immediate payment is selected.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method according to claim 1 , wherein the information identifying the purchaser is transmitted to the central processing point from the point of purchase.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 87 words

A cashless transaction network, comprising: a central processing station configured to receive information identifying a purchaser of a product without identifying a payment account for the purchaser, to process the received identifying information to determine if the purchaser is a registered purchaser, and to transmit a notice confirming registration if the purchaser is determined to be a registered purchaser; and a point of sale station configured to receive the transmitted notice, and to generate a bill for the purchased product responsive to the receipt of the notice.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 87 words

A cashless transaction network, comprising: a central processing station configured to receive information identifying a purchaser of a product without identifying a payment account for the purchaser, to process the received identifying information to determine if the purchaser is a registered purchaser, and to transmit a notice confirming registration if the purchaser is determined to be a registered purchaser; and a point of sale station configured to receive the transmitted notice, and to generate a bill for the purchased product responsive to the receipt of the notice.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

A network according to claim 17 , wherein the point of sale station is further configured to transmit the information identifying the purchaser to the central processing station.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 27 words

A network according to claim 17 , wherein the point of sale station includes a scanner configured to read the information identifying the purchaser from a document.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 67 words

A network according to claim 17 , wherein: the point of sale station is further configured to transmit a purchase price of the product; the central processing station is further configured to process the received purchase price to determine if the received purchase price exceeds a threshold amount; and the notice includes a purchase authorization if the purchase price is determined not to exceed the threshold amount.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

A network according to claim 17 , wherein the point of sale station includes a printer configured to print the generated bill.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 30 words

A network according to claim 21 , wherein the point of sale station includes a electronic signature pad configured to digitize a signature of the purchaser on the printed bill.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

A network according to claim 22 , wherein the point of sale station is further configured to transmit the generated bill and the digitized signature to the central processing station.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 46 words

A network according to claim 23 , wherein the central processing station is further configured to receive the transmitted bill and the transmitted digitized signature, to store information corresponding to the received bill and the received digitized signature so as to be accessible to the purchaser.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 26 words

A network according to claim 17 , wherein the point of sale station is further configured to transmit the generated bill to the central processing station.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 46 words

A network according to claim 25 , wherein the central processing station is further configured to process the transmitted bill to generate billing information representing the bill, and includes a central database configured to store the billing information so as to be accessible to the purchaser.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 118 words

A network according to claim 26 , wherein: the point of sale station includes an input device configured to receive an input representing a selection of one of immediate payment of the bill and delayed payment of the bill, and is further configured to generate payment selection information representing the input payment selection and transmit the payment selection information to the central processing station; and the central processing station is further configured to direct the storage of the billing information in a central database only if the transmitted payment selection information represents the selection of delayed payment, and to automatically direct payment of the purchase only if the transmitted payment selection information represents the selection of immediate payment.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 83 words

A system for cashless transaction system, comprising: a processor configured to receive information identifying a purchaser of a product to be purchased from any one of a plurality of different sellers, without identifying a payment account for the purchaser, to transmit a purchase authorization, to receive a bill corresponding to a purchase price of the product, to generate billing information representing the received bill; and a memory configured to store the billing information so as to be accessible to the purchaser on request.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 83 words

A system for cashless transaction system, comprising: a processor configured to receive information identifying a purchaser of a product to be purchased from any one of a plurality of different sellers, without identifying a payment account for the purchaser, to transmit a purchase authorization, to receive a bill corresponding to a purchase price of the product, to generate billing information representing the received bill; and a memory configured to store the billing information so as to be accessible to the purchaser on request.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 77 words

A system according to claim 28 , wherein the processor is further configured to: receive payment type selection information representing a selection of one of immediate payment and delayed payment, to direct storage of the generated billing information in the memory if the received payment type selection information represents the selection of delayed payment, and to automatically direct payment of the purchase price only if the received payment type selection information represents the selection of immediate payment.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 146 words

A cashless transaction network, comprising: a plurality of point of sale stations representing a plurality of different sellers; and a central processing station configured to receive information from each of the plurality of point of sale stations, the received information identifying a plurality of different purchasers of different products without identifying payment accounts for the plurality of different purchasers, to process the received identifying information to determine if each of the plurality of purchasers is a registered purchaser, and to transmit notices confirming registration of those of the plurality of purchasers determined to be registered; wherein the plurality of point of sale stations are configured to receive the transmitted notices, and to generate bills, each representing a purchase price of the one of the respective purchased products being purchased by those of the plurality of purchasers determined to be registered, responsive to receipt of the notices.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 146 words

A cashless transaction network, comprising: a plurality of point of sale stations representing a plurality of different sellers; and a central processing station configured to receive information from each of the plurality of point of sale stations, the received information identifying a plurality of different purchasers of different products without identifying payment accounts for the plurality of different purchasers, to process the received identifying information to determine if each of the plurality of purchasers is a registered purchaser, and to transmit notices confirming registration of those of the plurality of purchasers determined to be registered; wherein the plurality of point of sale stations are configured to receive the transmitted notices, and to generate bills, each representing a purchase price of the one of the respective purchased products being purchased by those of the plurality of purchasers determined to be registered, responsive to receipt of the notices.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 72 words

A network according to claim 30 , wherein the plurality of point of sale stations are further configured to transmit the generated bills to the central processing station and the central processing station is further configured to generate billing information representing the transmitted bills, and further comprising: a central database configured to store the billing information so as to be accessible to those of the plurality of purchasers determined to be registered.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-01-12	2007-07-14	2008-01-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-01-12	2011-07-14	2012-01-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-01-12	2015-07-14	2016-01-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Cashless transactions without credit cards, debit cards or checks

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