System for providing cardless payment

Abstract

The method and system of the invention provide a variety of techniques for using a selected alias and a selected personal identification entry (PIE) in conjunction with use of a transaction card, such as a credit card, debit card or stored value card, for example. A suitable number or other identification parameter is selected by the. account-holder as an alias. The account-holder is then required to choose a PIE for security purposes. The alias is linked to the account-holder's credit card number via a database. When the account-holder enters into a transaction with a merchant, the physical card need not be present. The account-holder simply provides his or her alias and then the PIE. This can be done at any point of sale such as a store, catalog telephone order, or over the Internet. The alias and PIE are entered and authorization is returned from the credit card company.

1 - 57 . (canceled)  
     
     
         58 . A transaction card system, comprising: 
 an alias for an account-holder;    a plurality of personal identification entries wherein a first personal identification entry is associated with a first transaction account and a second personal identification entry is associated with a second transaction account; and    a card controller operating portion configured to receive the alias and one or more of the plurality of personal identification entries to identify a specified transaction account.    
     
     
         59 . The transaction card system of  claim 58 , further comprising a remote terminal configured to communicate the alias and one or more of the plurality of personal identification entries to the card controller operating portion.  
     
     
         60 . The transaction card system of  claim 59 , wherein the remote terminal is a telephone.  
     
     
         61 . The transaction card system of  claim 59 , wherein the remote terminal is configured to communicate in a wireless manner.  
     
     
         62 . The transaction card system of  claim 59 , wherein the communication between the remote terminal and the card controller operating portion is encrypted.  
     
     
         63 . The transaction card system of  claim 59 , wherein the remote terminal is a terminal device with a keypad.  
     
     
         64 . The transaction card system of  claim 58 , wherein the alias and the personal identification entry is entered based on human characteristic recognition.  
     
     
         65 . The transaction card system of  claim 59 , wherein the remote terminal includes at least one of a fingerprint recognizer, gene identifier, DNA identifier, biometrics recognizer, retina identifier, and voice recognizer.  
     
     
         66 . The transaction card system of  claim 59 , wherein the remote terminal displays a selection menu and receives a selection from the selection menu.  
     
     
         67 . The transaction card system of  claim 58 , wherein the each transaction account is selected from the group consisting of one of the following: a stored value account, a credit card account, a charge card account, or a debit card account.  
     
     
         68 . The transaction card system of  claim 58 , further comprising: 
 a database comprising transaction account information, the transaction account information comprises the plurality of personal identification entries and the alias for the account-holder.    
     
     
         69 . The transaction card system of  claim 68 , wherein the database is configured to identify a transaction account of the account holder based on the combination of the alias and a personal identification entry.  
     
     
         70 . A transaction card system, comprising: 
 an alias for an account-holder;    a plurality of transaction accounts; and    a plurality of personal identification entries, wherein each personal identification entry specifies a hierarchical ranking among the plurality of transaction accounts; and    a card controller operating portion configured to receive the alias and one or more of the plurality of personal identification entries to identify a hierarchical ranking among the transaction accounts.    
     
     
         71 . The transaction card system of  claim 70 , wherein the each of the plurality of transaction accounts is any one of the following: a stored value account, a credit card account, a charge card account, or a debit card account.