IP Library Granted Patent US 7,890,425
Granted Patent B2
US 7,890,425 · App. 12/233,162 · Granted Feb 15, 2011

Card-less financial transaction

Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank N.A.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,890,425
App. No.
12/233,162
Granted
Feb 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems (and corresponding methodologies) that facilitate card-less financial transactions are provided. The innovation enables card-less ATM (automated teller machine) transactions such as cash withdrawals, transfers, balance inquiries, etc. In aspects, customers can set up an ‘electronic wallet’ account based upon a pre-set range or otherwise. Accordingly, access to the ‘electronic wallet’ is granted or denied based upon responses to challenges presented.

Claims (38)

1. A system that facilitates card-less financial transactions, comprising:

a memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon;

employing a processor that executes the computer executable instructions stored on the memory to implement the following components:

a card-less interface component that enables card-less input of a plurality of account credentials, wherein the plurality of account credentials includes an account identifier and a security credential that is selected as a function of amount of each of the card-less financial transactions, wherein the financial transaction is a cash withdrawal from an ‘electronic wallet’ account that automatically replenishes a balance to a predetermined amount based upon a user-defined policy; and

an analysis component that evaluates a subset of the account credentials to at least one of approve or deny each of the card-less financial transactions.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cash withdrawal is made from a non-virtual account separate from a primary account wherein funds maintained in the account separate from the primary account are pre-designated for card-less access.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein an additional card-less financial transaction is at least one of a fund transfer, balance inquiry, or postage purchase.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a retrieval component that captures the plurality of account credentials via input from an account owner.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an action component that triggers the card-less financial transaction based upon a successful validation of the plurality of account credentials.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the card-less financial transactions are at least one of a fund transfer, balance inquiry or postage purchase.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a validation component that facilitates confirmation of a subset of the plurality, of account credentials.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a challenge/response component that establishes an appropriate challenge based upon at least one of type of the financial transaction or amount of the financial transaction, wherein the plurality of account credentials are in response to the appropriate challenge.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a security question management component that maintains the appropriate challenge based upon the at least one of type of financial transaction or amount of the financial transaction.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a security answer management component that maintains an answer to the appropriate challenge based upon a user preference.

11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an account information management component that designates a portion of funds in said ‘electronic wallet’ account to be accessible via the card-less financial transaction.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a machine learning and reasoning component that employs at least one of a probabilistic and a statistical-based analysis that infers an amount accessible and designated for each of the card-less financial transactions as a function of intention or context of an individual.

13. A computer-implemented method that facilitates a plurality of card-less financial transactions, comprising:

employing a processor that executes computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium to implement the following acts:

maintaining an account balance in a financial institution managed, non-virtual account accessible by the plurality of card-less financial transactions;

receiving account credentials via a user interface, wherein the account credentials are card-less;

evaluating a subset of the card-less account credentials based upon a type or amount of each of the card-less financial transactions;

receiving information related to each of the card-less financial transactions, wherein the each of the plurality of card-less financial transactions is a cash withdrawal from the account balance; and

at least one of permitting or denying each of the card-less transactions based upon the evaluation.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising transferring funds into the account balance based upon a pre-defined instruction from a customer.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:

accessing a rule based upon the card-less financial transaction;

presenting a security challenge based upon the rule, wherein the security challenge is selected as a function of type or amount of the card-less financial transaction;

receiving a response to the security challenge; and

evaluating the response, wherein the act of permitting or denying is based upon the evaluation.

16. A computer-executable system, comprising:

employing a processor that executes computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium to implement the following means:

means for pre-designating an amount of funds to an ‘electronic wallet’ account, wherein the ‘electronic wallet’ account is a non-virtual account managed by a third-party;

means for transferring funds into the ‘electronic wallet’ account that facilitates a plurality of transactions, wherein the plurality of financial transactions are a plurality of card-less cash withdrawals from the ‘electronic wallet’ account via an automated teller machine (ATM);

means for receiving card-less credentials that are requested as a function of transaction type or transaction amount;

means for evaluating each of the card-less credentials; and

means for granting or denying access to the funds in the ‘electronic wallet’ account based at least in part upon the evaluation.

17. The computer-executable system of claim 16 , further comprising means for replenishing funds into the ‘electronic wallet’ account based upon a pre-determination of a user.

18. The computer-executable system of claim 16 , wherein the means for evaluating comprises means for validating the card-less credentials.

Assignments (4)
ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded Jun 2, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 071769/0158 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 022207/0325 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 23, 2009
From: WACHOVIA CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
Reel/Frame 022144/0731 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2008
From: STANLEY, GLYN
To: WACHOVIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021551/0521 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100070412A1 · Mar 18, 2010