Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value

Abstract

Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards, and the like. In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region, a coin sorting/counting apparatus, a card reader, and a communications facility configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link. A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select the desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method of transferring coin value to an account, the method comprising:
 providing a networked kiosk programmed to communicate with a plurality of remote devices, the kiosk including a coin counting apparatus;   receiving a plurality of random coins from a user at the kiosk,   counting the coins with the coin counting apparatus to determine a value;   presenting a plurality of transaction options to the user at the kiosk, wherein at least one of the transaction options corresponds to transferring at least a portion of the value to an account for electronic commerce;   receiving a selection of the at least one option from the user at the kiosk; and   in response to receiving the selection, transferring at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to an e-wallet account of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein transferring at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the e-wallet account includes transferring the portion of value to an account that enables the user to make on-line purchases with a hand-held device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein transferring at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the e-wallet account includes transferring the portion of value to an account that enables the user to make purchases at a point-of-sale terminal with a hand-held device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein transferring at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the e-wallet account includes transferring the portion of value to an account that enables the user to make electronic purchases with a mobile phone. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the kiosk includes a wireless communication link, and wherein transferring at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the e-wallet account includes wirelessly communicating information from the kiosk to the e-wallet account. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the kiosk includes a wireless communication link, and wherein transferring at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the e-wallet account includes wirelessly communicating information from the kiosk to a virtual account. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving payment for at least one of goods and/or services from the e-wallet account at a merchant point-of-sale. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising wirelessly receiving payment for at least one of goods and/or services from the e-wallet account via a hand-held device at a merchant point-of-sale terminal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18  wherein transferring at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the e-wallet account includes transferring the portion of value to an account that enables the user to make purchases with a hand-held device, and wherein the method further comprises receiving an electronic identification of the hand-held device. 
     
     
         27 . A networked system for transferring consumer coin value to a mobile commerce account, the system comprising:
 at least one remote computer associated with an e-wallet account of a user; and   a consumer operated kiosk including a coin counting apparatus, a communications facility, and a processing device, wherein the processing device is programmed to cause the kiosk to perform a method comprising:   receiving a plurality of random coins from the user;   counting the coins with the coin counting apparatus to determine a value;   presenting a plurality of transaction options to the user, wherein at least one of the transaction options corresponds to transferring at least a portion of the value to the e-wallet account of the user;   receiving a selection of the at least one option from the user at the kiosk; and   in response to receiving the selection, sending transaction information from the kiosk to the remote computer via the communications facility, wherein the transaction information causes the remote computer to add the portion of the value to the e-wallet account of the user, and wherein the e-wallet account enables the user to make purchases with a hand-held device.   
     
     
         28 . The networked system of  claim 27  wherein the hand-held device is a mobile phone, and wherein the e-wallet account enables the user to make electronic purchases with the mobile phone. 
     
     
         29 . The networked system of  claim 27  wherein the e-wallet account enables the user to make purchases at one or more retailer point-of-sale computers. 
     
     
         30 . The networked system of  claim 27 , further comprising a plurality of retailer point-of-sale terminals, wherein the method further includes wirelessly receiving payment for at least one of goods or services from the e-wallet account via the hand-held device at one of the retailer point-of-sale terminals. 
     
     
         31 . The networked system of  claim 27  wherein the kiosk further includes a wireless communication link, and wherein the method further comprises sending information to the handheld device of the user via the wireless communication link, wherein the information is related to the e-wallet account. 
     
     
         32 . The networked system of  claim 27 , further comprising the hand-held device of the user, wherein the remote computer is configured to wirelessly send e-wallet information to the hand-held device in response to receiving the transaction information from the kiosk.