Centralized consumer cash value accumulation system for multiple merchants

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the credit value is determined based upon at least a predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the credit value is further determined by a credit rate selected by the merchant.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein, for each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant is electronically transmitted to the central system along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the method further comprising: for each transaction, accumulating, at the central system, bill value in a merchant account associated with that merchant's merchant data by increasing the bill value in that merchant's account in relation to the credit value; and periodically reducing the amount of the bill value upon confirmation of the predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 further comprising: resetting to zero the cash value in each consumer account for which access to funds is provided.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein access to funds is provided by issuing a check in an amount equal to the cash value in that consumer account.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein access to funds is provided through a funds dispensing electronic terminal communicating with the central system, and which dispenses the funds when properly accessed.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein, for each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant is electronically transmitted to the central system along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the method further comprising: for each transaction, accumulating, at the central system, bill value in a merchant account associated with that merchant's merchant data by increasing the bill value in that merchant's account in relation to the credit value.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 further comprising: generating for each merchant account a bill in an amount based upon the bill value in that merchant account.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 further comprising: reducing the bill value for a merchant account upon confirmation of credit value extended to a consumer by that merchant based upon an incentive offered by a third party.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 further comprising: assigning to each consumer a consumer account number which is that consumer's unique Social Security number.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 wherein access to funds is provided on at least one selected date.

Claim 14

The method of claim 12, the selected date being a birthdate common to the plurality of consumers to whom acces to funds is provided.

Claim 15

A centralized consumer cash value system for transactions between consumers and multiple merchants comprising: at each merchant location at least: consumer data input means at the point-of-sale for inputting an account number unique to the customer independent of how the consumer pays for the transaction; processor means for determining a credit value for the transaction; and first communication means for electronically transmitting to the central system the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; and at a central location, a central system having at least: second communication means for electronically receiving the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; consumer account memory means for storing cash values for a plurality of consumer accounts, each consumer account being associated with a respective, unique account number; processor means for incrementing the cash value in a consumer account associated with a received consumer account number by an amount related to the received credit value; and unit means for selectively providing to at least a plurality of consumers access to funds in an amount based upon the cash value in the consumer account associated with that consumer.

Claim 16

A centralized consumer cash value system for transactions between consumers and multiple merchants comprising: at each merchant location at least: consumer data input means at the point-of-sale for inputting an account number unique to the customer independent of how the consumer pays for the transaction; processor means for determining a credit value for the transaction; and first communication means for electronically transmitting to the central system the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; and at a central location, a central system having at least: second communication means for electronically receiving the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; consumer account memory means for storing cash values for a plurality of consumer accounts, each consumer account being associated with a respective, unique account number; processor means for incrementing the cash value in a consumer account associated with a received consumer account number by an amount related to the received credit value; and unit means for selectively providing to at least a plurality of consumers access to funds in an amount based upon the cash value in the consumer account associated with that consumer.

Claim 17

The system of claim 14, further including, at each merchant location, transaction data input means for inputting a predetermined incentive amount for the transaction, said merchant location processor means responsive to said transaction data input means whereby said credit value being determined at least in part in accordance with said inputted predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15, further including, at each merchant location, memory means for storing a credit rate selected by the merchant, said transaction data input means further for inputting the sales amount of the transaction, said merchant location processor means further responsive to said memory means whereby said credit value further being determined at least in part in accordance with said credit rate and the sales amount of the transaction.

Claim 19

The system of claim 15 wherein the first communication means also electronically transmits and the second communication means also electronically receives, related to each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the central system further having: merchant account memory means for storing bill values for a plurality of merchant accounts, each merchant account being associated with respective merchant data; said central system processor means further for incrementing the bill value in a merchant account associated with received merchant data by an amount related to the received credit value; and means for reducing the bill value upon confirmation of said predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 20

The system of claim 14, said processor means including means for resetting to zero the cash value in each consumer account for which access to funds is provided.

Claim 21

The system of claim 14, said unit means including a check printer whereby access to funds is by printing a check in an amount of the cash value in that consumer's account.

Claim 22

The system of claim 14 further comprising at least one funds dispensing electronic terminal communicating with said unit means for dispensing the funds.

Claim 23

The system of claim 14 wherein the first communication means also electronically transmits and the second communication means also electronically receives, related to each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the central system further having: merchant account memory means for storing bill values for a plurality of merchant accounts, each merchant account being associated with respective merchant data; and said central system processor means further or incrementing the bill value in a merchant account associated with received merchant data by an amount related to the received credit value.

Claim 24

The system of claim 21, the central system further having: means for issuing to each merchant a bill in an amount based upon the bill value in the merchant account associated with that merchant.

Claim 25

The system of claim 21, the central system further having: means for reducing the bill value for a merchant account upon confirmation of credit value extended to a consumer by that merchant based upon an incentive offered by a third party.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 wherein the credit value is further determined based upon a predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 29

The method of claim 25 wherein, for each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant is transmitted to the central system along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the method further comprising: for each transaction, accumulating, at the central system, bill value in a merchant account associated with that merchant's merchant data by increasing the bill value in that merchant's account in relation to the credit value; and periodically reducing the amount of the bill value upon confirmation of the predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 30

The method of claim 24 further comprising: resetting to zero the cash value in each consumer account for which access to funds is provided.

Claim 31

The method of claim 24, wherein access to funds is provided by issuing a check in an amount equal to the cash value in that consumer account.

Claim 32

The method of claim 24 wherein access to funds is provided through a funds dispensing electronic terminal communicating with the central system, and which dispenses the funds when properly accessed.

Claim 33

The method of claim 24 wherein, for each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant is transmitted to the central system along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the method further comprising: for each transaction, accumulating, at the central system, bill value in a merchant account associated with that merchant's merchant data by increasing the bill value in that merchant's account in relation to the credit value.

Claim 34

The method of claim 30 further comprising: generating for each merchant account a bill in an amount based upon the bill value in that merchant account.

Claim 35

The method of claim 24 further comprising: assigning to each consumer a consumer account number which is that consumer's unique Social Security number.

Claim 36

A centralized consumer cash value system for transactions between consumers and multiple merchants comprising: at each merchant location at least: consumer data input means at the point-of-sale for inputting an account number unique to the customer; transaction data means for inputting the dollar amount of the point-of-sale transaction; memory means for storing a credit rate selected by the merchant; processor means for determining a credit value based upon the dollar amount of the point-of-sale transaction and the selected credit rate; and first communication means for transmitting to the central system the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; and at a central location, a central system having at least: second communication means for receiving the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; consumer account memory means for storing cash values for a plurality of consumer accounts, each consumer account being associated with a respective, unique account number; processor means for incrementing the cash value in a consumer account associated with a received consumer account number by an amount related to the received credit value; and unit means for selectively providing to at least a plurality of consumers access to funds in an amount based upon the cash value in the consumer account associated with that consumer.

Claim 37

A centralized consumer cash value system for transactions between consumers and multiple merchants comprising: at each merchant location at least: consumer data input means at the point-of-sale for inputting an account number unique to the customer; transaction data means for inputting the dollar amount of the point-of-sale transaction; memory means for storing a credit rate selected by the merchant; processor means for determining a credit value based upon the dollar amount of the point-of-sale transaction and the selected credit rate; and first communication means for transmitting to the central system the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; and at a central location, a central system having at least: second communication means for receiving the consumer's account number and the credit value related to each transaction; consumer account memory means for storing cash values for a plurality of consumer accounts, each consumer account being associated with a respective, unique account number; processor means for incrementing the cash value in a consumer account associated with a received consumer account number by an amount related to the received credit value; and unit means for selectively providing to at least a plurality of consumers access to funds in an amount based upon the cash value in the consumer account associated with that consumer.

Claim 38

The system of claim 33, further including, at each merchant location, transaction data input means for inputting a predetermined incentive amount for the transaction, said merchant location processor means responsive to said transaction data input means whereby said credit value further being determined at least in part in accordance with said inputted predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 39

The system of claim 34 wherein the first communication means also transmits and the second communication means also receives, related to each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the central system further having: merchant account memory means for storing bill values for a plurality of merchant accounts, each merchant account being associated with respective merchant data; said central system processor means further for incrementing the bill value in a merchant account associated with received merchant data by an amount related to the received credit value; and means for reducing the bill value upon confirmation of said predetermined incentive amount.

Claim 40

The system of claim 33, said processor means including means for resetting to zero the cash value in each consumer account for which access to funds is provided.

Claim 41

The system of claim 33, said unit means including a check printer whereby access to funds is by printing a check in an amount of the cash value in that consumer's account.

Claim 42

The system of claim 33 further comprising at least one funds dispensing electronic terminal communicating with said unit means for dispensing the funds.

Claim 43

The system of claim 33 wherein the first communication means also transmits and the second communication means also receives, related to each transaction, merchant data associated with the merchant along with the consumer's account number and the credit value, the central system further having: merchant account memory means for storing bill values for a plurality of merchant accounts, each merchant account being associated with respective merchant data; and said central system processor means further for incrementing the bill value in a merchant account associated with received merchant data by an amount related to the received credit value.

Claim 44

The system of claim 39, the central system further having: means for issuing to each merchant a bill in an amount based upon the bill value in the merchant account associated with that merchant.