System and method for transponder-enabled account transactions

Abstract

A transponder-initiated transaction system is electromagnetically coupled to an account transponder device at the point of sale. The account transponder device may be embedded within a watch, key chain or other personal article for convenience or affinity. The transponder device may communicate account information to an RF-enabled point of sale device, enabling transactions to take place without resort to remote data processing facilities. In other embodiments partial or complete account information may be accessed or stored at co-located or remote sources. New account registrants may access a Web site to enter a transponder ID and activate a new account, which may be a credit account, debit account, cash account, special purpose vending account, or other types of accounts.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method for facilitating the association of a transponder identification number associated with a first transaction account with a second transaction account, comprising: 
 receiving a second transaction account number;    receiving a transponder identification number associated with a first transaction account; and    associating the transponder identification number with the second transaction account,    wherein the transponder identification number is associated with more than one transaction account, and wherein the transponder identification number is authorized to be used for multiple transactions.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the transponder identification number comprises unchangeable indicia.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the transponder identification number comprises a bank identification number (BIN).  
     
     
         24 . A method for facilitating a customer-merchant transaction by use of a transponder identification number associated with a first transaction account and a second transaction account, comprising: 
 receiving a transponder identification number previously associated with a first transaction account;    associating the transponder identification number with a second transaction account number associated with a second transaction account;    wherein the transponder identification number within a transponder server system is configured to associate the transponder identification number to one or more transaction accounts; wherein the transponder identification number comprises unchangeable indicia permanently associating the transponder identification number with a transponder;    thereafter facilitating, during a customer-merchant transaction, a merchant authorization process comprising: 
 receiving the transponder identification number in connection with a transaction, the transaction comprising a transaction amount;  
 forwarding the transponder identification number to the transponder server system;  
 identifying the second transaction account associated with the transponder identification number in the transponder server system;  
 determining if the second transaction account is authorized for the transaction; and  
 returning the authorization result to the merchant;  
   thereafter facilitating a merchant settlement process, wherein the settlement process comprising: 
 receiving a settlement request from the merchant;  
 forwarding the transponder identification number to the transponder server system;  
 recognizing the transponder identification number as associated with the second transaction account;  
 charging the transaction amount against the second transaction account; and  
 adjusting the second transaction account balance by the transaction amount.  
   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first transaction account comprises a credit card account, a debit account, a stored value account, a telephone card account, a special purpose vending account, a cash account or a rewards account.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second transaction account comprises a credit card account, a debit account, a stored value account, a telephone card account, a special purpose vending account, a cash account or a rewards account.  
     
     
         27 . A method of associating a transponder identification number that is associated with a stored value account to a new account, comprising: 
 receiving a request from a customer to associate a transponder identification number with a new account;    prompting the customer to provide an existing stored value account number that is associated with the transponder identification number; and    associating the new account with the transponder identification number and the existing stored value account number, wherein the existing stored value account number is authorized for multiple purchases,    wherein further associating the new account with the transponder identification number and the existing stored value account number further comprises:    forwarding the existing stored value account number to a transponder server system configured to recognize the existing stored value account number account as associated with the transponder identification number and the new account.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising thereafter closing the stored value account.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising facilitating online communication with the customer.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein facilitating online communication with the customer further comprises providing a registration web page configured to receive customer information regarding the customer's request to associate the transponder identification number with the new account.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 determining if the stored value account has an outstanding value at the time of the customer request to associate the transponder identification number with the new account;    removing, if the stored value account has an outstanding value, the value from the stored value account; and    crediting the value to the new account.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 updating authorization systems and accounts receivable systems to reflect the new account information.    
     
     
         33 . A system for facilitating the association of a transponder identification number associated with a first transaction account with a second transaction account, comprising: 
 a user interface system configured to communicate with a user to accept a request from the user to associate a transponder identification number associated with a first transaction account with second transaction account;    a modifiable computer data structure configured to associate the transponder identification number with a plurality of transaction account types; and    a transponder server system configured to facilitate the association of the transponder identification number with the second transaction account.    
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first transaction account comprises a stored value account and the second transaction account comprises a credit card account, wherein the transponder identification number comprises the account number of the stored value account.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first transaction account comprises a stored value account and the second transaction account comprises a credit card account, wherein the transponder identification number comprises the account number of the credit card account.  
     
     
         36 . A method for facilitating the re-association of a transponder identification number from a first transaction account to a second transaction account, comprising: 
 receiving a transponder identification number, wherein the transponder identification number is associated with a first transaction account;    receiving a second transaction account number associated with a second transaction account;    receiving the transponder identification number;    disassociating the transponder identification number from the first transaction account; and    associating transponder identification number with the second transaction account.    
     
     
         37 . A method for associating a plurality of transaction accounts with a transponder identification number, comprising: 
 receiving a first transaction account number, wherein the first transaction account number is usable in successive transactions;    providing a second transaction account number;    associating the first transaction account number and the second transaction account number with the transponder identification number;    providing a transponder identification number in connection with a transaction;    using the transponder identification number to associate, during authorization and settlement phases of the transaction, the first transaction account number with the second transaction account number.    
     
     
         38 . A method for associating a credit card transaction account with a transponder identification number, comprising: 
 receiving a stored value transaction card number, wherein the stored value account number is associated with a transponder identification number, wherein the stored value account number is associated with a stored value account;    receiving a credit card transaction account having a credit card transaction account number different from the stored value account number;    associating the transponder identification number with the credit card transaction account; and    using the transponder identification number to associate the stored value account number with the credit card transaction account number.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein using the transponder identification number further comprises forwarding the transponder identification number to a transponder server system and forwarding the credit card transaction account number from the transponder server system to a credit card account system.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the transponder identification number comprises the stored value account number.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the transponder identification number is permanently associated with a transaction instrument comprising a physical device configured for facilitating financial transactions.  
     
     
         42 . A method for facilitating the association of a transponder identification number associated with a first transaction account to a second transaction account, comprising: 
 receiving a second transaction account number associated with a second transaction account; and    associating the transponder identification number with the second transaction account;    wherein the transponder identification number is associated with a transponder,    wherein further the transponder identification number is stored within a transponder server system configured to associate the transponder identification account number with a plurality of transaction accounts, and    wherein the transponder identification number is authorized to be used for multiple transactions.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the transponder identification number comprises unchangeable indicia permanently associating a transponder with the transponder identification number.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the first transaction account includes at least one of a stored value account, charge card account, loyalty account, phone card account, credit card account, and debit card account.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the second transaction account includes at least one of a stored value account, charge card account, loyalty account, phone card account, credit card account, and debit card account.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the transponder identification number comprises a number, a code, a letter, a symbol, biometric or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein receiving further comprises receiving an authorization code.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the authorization code comprises a PIN, a password or a biometric known to a holder of the transponder.