Pre-paid payment instrument processing

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A server system for administering pre-paid payment instruments via a distributed computing system, the server system comprising:
 a payment processor operable to receive from a purchasing party, via an electronic purchaser device communicatively coupled to the distributed computing system, a payment input, a designated recipient for a pre-paid payment instrument, and one or more conditions according to which the pre-paid payment instrument can be redeemed, wherein the pre-paid payment instrument is redeemable only at a select number or type of retailer, or both, the payment processor being further operable to associate an identifier, a value, and the one or more conditions with the pre-paid payment instrument, and store in a memory device the identifier, the one or more conditions, and the value with the pre-paid payment instrument; and   an issue engine operable to:
 issue to the designated recipient, via a portable electronic recipient device communicatively coupled to the distributed computing system, a representation of the pre-paid payment instrument, the representation enabling the designated recipient to use the pre-paid payment instrument, and 
 issue, based on the one or more conditions, at least a portion of the value of the pre-paid payment instrument to a third party other than the designated recipient and the purchasing party. 
   
     
     
         27 . The server system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more conditions include a time period within which the pre-paid payment instrument must be redeemed or a manner by which the pre-paid payment instrument can be redeemed, or both. 
     
     
         28 . The server system of  claim 27 , wherein the issuing the at least a portion of the value of the pre-paid payment instrument to the third party is enabled by an input received by the payment processor from the purchasing party. 
     
     
         29 . The server system of  claim 26 , wherein the issue engine is further operable to provide a unique authentication certificate for the pre-paid payment instrument, the unique authentication certificate including the identifier associated with the pre-paid payment instrument. 
     
     
         30 . The server system of  claim 29 , further comprising a redemption engine operable to validate the unique authentication certificate against identifiers and a value index stored in an authentication system. 
     
     
         31 . The server system of  claim 26 , wherein the payment processor is further operable to verify with an external system the integrity of the payment input and, responsive to verification of the integrity of the payment input, initiate issuance of the representation of the pre-paid payment instrument. 
     
     
         32 . The server system of  claim 26 , wherein the portable electronic recipient device is a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, or a tablet or laptop computer. 
     
     
         33 . The server system of  claim 26 , wherein the payment processor and the issue engine are included in one or more pre-paid payment servers that are remote from one or more retailer servers of retailers with which the pre-paid payment instruments can be redeemed. 
     
     
         34 . The server system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more conditions include one or more expiration criteria. 
     
     
         35 . A method of administering pre-paid payment instruments via a distributed computing system, the method comprising:
 receiving from a purchasing party, via a purchaser device communicatively coupled to the distributed computing system, a payment input, a designated recipient for a pre-paid payment instrument, and one or more conditions according to which the pre-paid payment instrument can be redeemed, wherein the pre-paid payment instrument is redeemable only at a select number of retailers or a select type of retailer, or both;   associating an identifier, a value, and the one or more conditions with the pre-paid payment instrument;   indexing and storing in a memory device the identifier, the value, and the one or more conditions with the pre-paid payment instrument;   transmitting to the designated recipient, via a recipient device communicatively coupled to the distributed computing system, a representation of the pre-paid payment instrument, the representation enabling the designated recipient to use the pre-paid payment instrument; and   issuing, based on the one or more conditions, at least a portion of the value of the pre-paid payment instrument to a third party other than the designated recipient and the purchasing party.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more conditions include a time period within which the pre-paid payment instrument must be redeemed or a manner by which the pre-paid payment instrument can be redeemed, or both. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising receiving from the purchasing party a designation of the third party to whom the at least the portion of the value of the pre-paid payment instrument is issued. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising providing a unique authentication certificate for the pre-paid payment instrument, the unique authentication certificate including the identifier associated with the pre-paid payment instrument. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the issuing the at least a portion of the value of the pre-paid payment instrument to the third party is enabled by an input received by the payment processor from the purchasing party. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising verifying with an external system the integrity of the payment input and, responsive to verification of the integrity of the payment input, initiate issuance of the representation of the pre-paid payment instrument. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the recipient device is a portable electronic device comprising one of a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, or a tablet or laptop computer. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising tracking a remaining value of the pre-paid payment instrument subsequent to one or more authorized purchases made by the designated recipient. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the receiving, associating and indexing steps are performed by a payment processor, and the transmitting and issuing steps are performed by an issue engine, wherein the payment processor and the issue engine are included in one or more pre-paid payment servers that are remote from one or more retailer servers of retailers with which the pre-paid payment instruments can be redeemed. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 determining whether a predetermined expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument has expired; and   responsive to the determining whether the predetermined expiration time has expired, deactivating the pre-paid payment instrument.   
     
     
         45 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors communicatively coupled to a distributed computing system, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive from a purchasing party, via a purchaser device communicatively coupled to the distributed computing system, a payment input, a designated recipient for a pre-paid payment instrument, and one or more conditions according to which the pre-paid payment instrument can be redeemed, wherein the pre-paid payment instrument is redeemable only at a select number of retailers or a select type of retailer, or both;   associate an identifier, a value, and the one or more conditions with the pre-paid payment instrument;   index and storing in a memory device the identifier, the value, and the one or more conditions with the pre-paid payment instrument;   transmit to the designated recipient, via a recipient device communicatively coupled to the distributed computing system, a representation of the pre-paid payment instrument, the representation enabling the designated recipient to use the pre-paid payment instrument; and   issue, based on the one or more conditions, at least a portion of the value of the pre-paid payment instrument to a third party other than the designated recipient and the purchasing party.