METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXCHANGING AND/OR TRANSFERRING VARIOUS FORMS OF VALUE
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 .- 32 . (canceled)
33 . A system for transferring funds to an on-line payment account to enable users to make on-line purchases, the system comprising:
a network of consumer-operated coin-counting kiosks, each kiosk having a coin counting apparatus and a communications facility;
a host computer, wherein each of the consumer-operated kiosks is operably connectable to the host computer via the individual communication facilities associated with each kiosk; and
a remote computer associated with an on-line payment account, wherein the coin counting apparatus of each kiosk is configured to discriminate a batch of coins input by a user and determine a corresponding coin value, wherein the communications facility of the kiosk is configured to send information associated with the coin value to the remote computer for deposit in the on-line payment account, and wherein the on-line payment account enables the user to conduct electronic commerce transactions with the coin value via the Internet.
34 . The system of claim 33 wherein the on-line payment account further enables the user to withdraw funds from the on-line payment account at any one of the kiosks in the network.
35 . The system of claim 33 wherein the on-line payment account further enables the user to withdraw funds from the on-line payment account in the form of a redeemable cash voucher at any one of the kiosks in the network.
36 . The system of claim 33 wherein the each of the kiosks further includes a display screen that displays a plurality of transaction options, wherein a first transaction option corresponds to reloading an existing, user-owned prepaid card, and a second transaction option corresponds to transferring funds to the on-line payment account for making on-line purchases, wherein each of the transaction options is available to users in exchange for coins.
37 . The system of claim 33 wherein the each of the kiosks further includes a display screen that displays a plurality of transaction options, wherein a first transaction option corresponds to receiving a new prepaid card from the kiosk, a second transaction option corresponds to reloading an existing, user-owned prepaid card with the kiosk, and a third transaction option corresponds to transferring funds to the on-line payment account for making on-line purchases, wherein each of the transaction options is available to users in exchange for coins, credit, or both coins and credit.
38 . A computer-implemented method for transferring loose coin value to an on-line account for making on-line purchases from a website, the method comprising:
providing a consumer-operated kiosk having a coin counting apparatus, a display screen, a user interface, and a communications facility;
receiving a plurality of random coins from a user at the kiosk;
counting the plurality of coins with the coin counting apparatus to determine a coin value;
presenting a plurality of transaction options to the user via the display screen, wherein at least a first transaction corresponds to transferring at least a portion of the coin value to an on-line account for making on-line purchases via a website;
receiving a user selection via the user interface, wherein the user selection corresponds to the first transaction option;
receiving account information from the user via the user interface, wherein the account information identifies an on-line account of the user; and
transmitting funds information to the on-line account of the user via the communications facility, wherein the funds information identifies at least a portion of the coin value transferred to the on-line account of the user.
39 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising:
receiving the account information from the user via a user computer remote from the kiosk; and
debiting a portion of the coin value from the on-line account of the user to make an on-line payment for an item selected from a website.
40 . The method of claim 38 wherein the consumer-operated kiosk is a first kiosk having a first user interface, and wherein the method further comprises:
providing a second consumer-operated kiosk having a second user interface;
receiving the account information from the user via the second user interface of the second kiosk;
receiving amount information from the user via the second user interface, wherein the amount information identifies an dollar amount the user wishes to withdraw from the on-line account; and
dispensing the dollar amount to the user from the second kiosk.
41 . The method of claim 38 wherein the consumer-operated kiosk is a first kiosk having a first user interface, and wherein the method further comprises:
providing a second consumer-operated kiosk having a second user interface;
receiving the account information from the user via the second user interface of the second kiosk;
receiving amount information from the user via the second user interface, wherein the amount information identifies an dollar amount the user wishes to withdraw from the on-line account; and
dispensing a redeemable voucher for the dollar amount to the user from the second kiosk.
42 . The method of claim 38 wherein a second transaction option corresponds to receiving a redeemable cash voucher in return for at least a portion of the coin value, and wherein the method further comprises:
receiving amount information from the user via the user interface, wherein the amount information identifies a first portion of the coin value the user wishes to deposit in the on-line account; and
dispensing a redeemable voucher to the user for a second portion of the coin value.
43 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising receiving amount information from the user via the user interface, wherein the amount information identifies the portion of the coin value the user wishes to deposit in the on-line account.
44 . The method of claim 38 wherein a second transaction option corresponds to reloading an existing prepaid card with at least a portion of the coin value, and wherein the method further comprises:
receiving amount information from the user via the user interface, wherein the amount information identifies a first portion of the coin value the user wishes to deposit in the on-line account; and
reloading a second portion of the coin value onto the existing prepaid card.
45 . A network system for transferring consumer coin value to on-line accounts for making on-line purchases from a website, the system comprising:
a consumer-operated kiosk;
means for receiving a plurality of random coins from a user at the kiosk;
means for counting the plurality of coins at the kiosk to determine a coin value;
means for displaying a plurality of transaction options to the user at the kiosk, wherein at least a first transaction corresponds to transferring at least a portion of the coin value to an on-line account for making on-line purchases via a website;
means for receiving account information from the user at the kiosk, wherein the account information identifies an on-line account of the user; and
means for transmitting funds information to the on-line account of the user, wherein the funds information identifies at least a portion of the coin value transferred to the on-line account of the user.
46 . The network system of claim 45 wherein the means for transmitting include means for transferring a portion of the coin value to an e-wallet for making on-line purchases.