IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,743,689
Granted Patent B1
US 12,743,689 · App. 18/769,051 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Systems and methods for ghost card creation via a browser extension

Inventors: Huihui Wu (Grapevine, TX); Alejandra Valles (El Paso, TX); Darrius M. Jones (San Antonio, TX); Valmore M. Smith (San Antonio, TX); Lonnie B. Roberts (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
G06Q20/351G06Q20/348G06Q20/354
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,743,689
App. No.
18/769,051
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

Embodiments described herein disclose methods and systems for identifying that a user is accessing a retailer or service provider website and automatically enabling an interactive window that includes personalized user information. The system can detect that the user is accessing a payment webpage associated with the website, and, in response, generate a selectable list of payment instruments associated with the user. When the user selects a payment instrument, the system can create an electronic ghost card linked to the payment instrument and the electronic ghost card information can be input into the payment webpage.

Claims (62)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving a selection for generating merchant-specific virtual credit cards associated with at least one payment card associated with a user;

generating a first reusable merchant-specific virtual card associated with a first merchant and a second reusable merchant-specific virtual card associated with a second merchant, wherein the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card and the second reusable merchant-specific virtual card are linked to the at least one payment card and have merchant-specific virtual card numbers that are different than a card number of the at least one payment card;

storing, in at least one virtual card manager database, the first reuseable merchant-specific virtual card and the second reusable merchant-specific virtual card, wherein the at least one virtual card manager database is configured to provide reusable virtual cards for reuse with respective merchants;

in response to the user accessing a payment webpage of a website associated with the first merchant, selecting, from the at least one virtual card manager database, the first reusable merchant-specific virtual car generated for the first merchant;

automatically entering, via a web browser extension, information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card into a payment section of the payment webpage; and

submitting the information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card as a transaction request for a purchase of one or more items.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, via the web browser extension, a list of reusable merchant-specific virtual cards associated with a user account.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, via the web browser extension, a request for authentication credentials identifying the user; and

receiving, via the web browser extension, the authentication credentials identifying the user.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the user accessing the website, automatically enabling an interactive window, wherein the interactive window includes personalized information associated with the user.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying an interactive window that includes the information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, via the web browser extension, the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card and at least one indication that it is linked to the at least one payment card.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to complete a transaction from the first merchant using the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card; and

charging the at least one payment card linked to the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card for the transaction.

8 . A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform a process comprising:

receiving a selection for generating merchant-specific virtual credit cards associated with at least one payment card associated with a user;

generating a first reusable merchant-specific virtual card associated with a first merchant and a second reusable merchant-specific card associated with a second merchant, wherein the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card and the second reusable merchant-specific virtual card are linked to the at least one payment card and have merchant-specific virtual card numbers that are different than a card number of the at least one payment card;

storing, in at least one virtual card manager database, the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card and the second reusable merchant-specific virtual card, wherein the at least one virtual card manager database is configured to provide reusable virtual cards for reuse with respective merchants;

in response to the user accessing a payment webpage of a website associated with the first merchant, selecting, from the at least one virtual card manager database, the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card generated for the first merchant;

automatically entering, via a web browser extension, information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card into a payment section of the payment webpage; and

submitting the information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card as a transaction request for a purchase of one or more items.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:

displaying, via the web browser extension, a list of reusable merchant-specific virtual cards associated with a user account.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:

displaying, via the web browser extension, a request for authentication credentials identifying the user; and

receiving, via the web browser extension, the authentication credentials identifying the user.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:

in response to the user accessing the website, automatically enabling an interactive window, wherein the interactive window includes personalized information associated with the user.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:

displaying an interactive window that includes the information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:

displaying, via the web browser extension, the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card and at least one indication that it is linked to the at least one payment card.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the process further comprises:

receiving a request to complete a transaction from the first merchant using the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card; and

charging the at least one payment card linked to the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card for the transaction.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving a selection for generating merchant-specific virtual credit cards associated with at least one payment card associated with a user;

generating a first reusable merchant-specific virtual card associated with a first merchant and a second reusable, merchant-specific virtual card associated with a second merchant, wherein the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card and the second reusable merchant-specific virtual card are linked to the at least one payment card and have merchant-specific virtual card numbers that are different than a card number of the at least one payment card;

storing, in at least one virtual card manager database, the first useable merchant-specific virtual card and the second reusable merchant-specific virtual card, wherein the at least one virtual card manager database is configured to provide reusable virtual cards for reuse with respective merchants;

in response to the user accessing a payment webpage of a website associated with the first merchant, selecting, from the at least one virtual card manager database, the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card generated for the first merchant;

automatically entering, via a web browser extension, information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card into a payment section of the payment webpage; and

submitting the information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card as a transaction request for a purchase of one or more items.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying, via the web browser extension, a list of reusable merchant-specific virtual cards associated with a user account.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying, via the web browser extension, a request for authentication credentials identifying the user; and

receiving, via the web browser extension, the authentication credentials identifying the user.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to the user accessing the website, automatically enabling an interactive window, wherein the interactive window includes personalized information associated with the user.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying an interactive window that includes the information associated with the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying, via the web browser extension, the first reusable merchant-specific virtual card and at least one indication that it is linked to the at least one payment card.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: WU, HUIHUI; VALLES, ALEJANDRA; JONES, DARRIUS M.; SMITH, VALMORE M.; ROBERTS, LONNIE B.
To: UIPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 067954/0221 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: UIPCO, LLC
To: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
Reel/Frame 067954/0342 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17882189 · Aug 5, 2022
Continuation 17175473 · Feb 12, 2021
Continuation 15909721 · Mar 1, 2018
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