초록 ▼

A method and system for providing purchasable value for gifts and other uses in the form of a credit instrument is provided. A purchaser of a gift credit instrument authorizes a credit institution with which the purchaser holds a credit account to create a limited-value, non-renewable secondary acco

A method and system for providing purchasable value for gifts and other uses in the form of a credit instrument is provided. A purchaser of a gift credit instrument authorizes a credit institution with which the purchaser holds a credit account to create a limited-value, non-renewable secondary account linked exclusively to the purchaser's credit account. A credit instrument is issued to an authorized user which credit instrument uniquely identifies the secondary account. The gift credit instrument may be used in the same manner as the purchaser's credit instrument; however, it expires after a certain period of time or after the initial value of the secondary account is spent. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a credit transaction system, said credit transaction system including a plurality of points of sale and a credit data storage and transaction processing system communicatively connected to said points of sale, said credit data storage and transaction processing system

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a credit transaction system, said credit transaction system including a plurality of points of sale and a credit data storage and transaction processing system communicatively connected to said points of sale, said credit data storage and transaction processing system comprising primary computer memory means for storing credit account data of a plurality of primary credit accounts, and computer means for processing said credit account data and transaction data communicated to said computer means from said points of sale, the improvement comprising:secondary computer memory means communicatively connected to said computer means for storing data of a secondary account, said secondary account having an initially-determined value and being exclusively related to one of said primary accounts such that said initially-determined value is charged to said one of said primary accounts; anda credit instrument for conducting transactions at one or more of said plurality of points of sale in said credit transaction system, wherein said credit instrument uniquely identifies said secondary account and data of said transactions are processed by said computer means and stored in said secondary computer memory means, and wherein said computer means terminates said secondary account when said credit instrument has been used for said transactions such that the value of said transactions equals said initially-determined value of said secondary account.