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 . A computer implemented method for transferring funds from a first user to a second user, the method comprising:
 receiving a request from a first user computer for one or more display pages, the one or more display pages being configured to receive information from the first user related to the transfer of funds from the first user to the second user;   in response to the request, providing the one or more display pages to the first user computer;   receiving information from the first user computer via the one or more display pages, the information including an amount of funds to transfer to the second user, an electronic address of the second user, and a source of funds;   receiving an authorization to debit the source of funds for the amount of funds; and   in response to receiving the authorization, sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the second user to inform the second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to receiving the information about the source of funds, sending a request to the source of the funds for authorization to debit the amount of funds from the source of funds. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving information about the source of funds includes receiving information about a credit card account of the first user to be used as the source of funds, and wherein the method further comprises, in response to receiving the credit card account information, sending a request to a credit card provider for authorization to debit the amount of funds from the credit card account. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to sending the electronic message to the electronic address of the second user, receiving a request from the second user for the funds; and   in response to receiving the request from the second user, providing the funds to the second user.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the second user includes sending information about the location of one or more value exchange machines configured to dispense the funds to the second user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the second user includes sending information about the location of one or more value exchange machines configured to dispense the funds to the second user, and wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to sending the electronic message, receiving a request from the second user for the funds via one of the value exchange machines; and 
 in response to receiving the request from the second user, providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange machine. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the second user includes sending information about one or more retail shopping outlets having value exchange machines configured to dispense the funds to the second user, and wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to sending the electronic message, receiving a request from the second user for the funds via one of the value exchange machines; and 
 in response to receiving the request from the second user, providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange machine. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the second user includes sending a unique code to the second user, and wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to sending the electronic message, receiving a request from the second user for the funds, the request including at least a portion of the unique code; and 
 in response to receiving the request from the second user, providing the funds to the second user. 
 
     
     
         9 . A computer implemented method for transferring funds from a first user to a second user, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for one or more display pages from a first user computer, the one or more display pages being configured to receive information from the first user related to the transfer of funds from the first user to the second user;   in response to the request, providing the one or more display pages to the first user computer;   receiving information from the first user computer via the one or more display pages, the information including at least an amount of funds;   receiving an authorization to transfer the amount of the funds from the first user to the second user; and   in response to receiving the authorization, sending a message to the second user to inform the second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, in response to receiving the information from the first user computer, sending an electronic request to a financial institution computer for authorization to transfer the amount of funds from the first user to the second user, wherein receiving the authorization to transfer the amount of funds includes receiving an electronic authorization from the financial institution computer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein receiving information from the first user computer includes receiving information about a source of funds, and wherein the method further comprises, in response to receiving the information about the source of funds, sending a request to the source of funds for authorization to debit the amount of funds from the source of funds. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein receiving information from the first user computer includes receiving information about a credit card account of the first user to be used as a source of funds to be transferred from the first user to the second user, and wherein the method further comprises, in response to receiving the credit card account information, sending a request to a credit card provider for authorization to debit the amount of the funds from the credit card account. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the information received from the first user computer includes an electronic address of the second user, and wherein sending a message to the second user includes sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the second user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user for the funds; and   in response to receiving the request from the second user for the funds, providing the funds to the second user.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein sending a message to the second user includes sending information about the location of one or more value exchange machines, and wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user via one of the value exchange machines for the funds; and 
 in response to receiving the request from the second user via the one value exchange machine, providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange machine. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein sending a message to the second user includes sending information about the location of one or more value exchange machines located in one or more retail shopping outlets, and wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user via one of the value exchange machines for the funds; and 
 in response to receiving the request from the second user via the one value exchange machine, providing the funds to the second user via the one value exchange machine. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein sending a message to the second user includes sending a unique code associated with the transfer of funds from the first user to the second user, and wherein the method further comprises:
 in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user for the funds, the request from the second user including the unique code; and 
 in response to receiving the request from the second user including the unique code, providing the funds to the second user. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method for transferring funds from a first user to a second user, the method comprising:
 providing a kiosk for performing money-based transactions, the kiosk including at least a central computer and a user-interface operatively connected to the central computer;   receiving second user information from the first user via the user-interface of the kiosk, the second user information at least partially identifying the second user;   receiving funds information from the first user via the user-interface of the kiosk, the funds information including at least an amount of funds to transfer from the first user to the second user;   sending a request to a remote computer for authorization to transfer the amount of funds to the second user;   receiving an authorization from the remote computer to transfer the amount of funds to the second user; and   in response to receiving the authorization, sending a message to the second user to inform the second user of the amount of funds that has been authorized for transfer to the second user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the kiosk is a first kiosk, and wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a second kiosk for performing money-based transactions, the second kiosk including at least a second central computer, a second user-interface, and a voucher outlet, the second user-interface and the voucher outlet being operatively connected to the second central computer; 
 in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user via the second user-interface for the funds; and 
 in response to the request from the second user, dispensing a voucher to the second user via the voucher outlet of the second kiosk, the voucher being redeemable for the amount of the funds. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein sending a message to the second user includes sending a code to the second user, and wherein the kiosk is a first kiosk, and wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a second kiosk for performing money-based transactions, the second kiosk including at least a second central computer, a second user-interface, and a voucher outlet, the second user-interface and the voucher outlet being operatively connected to the second central computer; 
 in response to sending the message to the second user, receiving a request from the second user via the second user-interface for the funds, the request including at least a portion of the code; and 
 in response to the request from the second user, dispensing a voucher to the second user via the voucher outlet of the second kiosk, the voucher being redeemable for the amount of the funds. 
 
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled)