Masking private billing data by assigning other billing data to use in commerce with businesses

US 20070106609A1
Filed: 11/01/2006
Published: 05/10/2007
Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1-25. -25. (canceled)

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for shielding a user'"'"'s private billing data, such as credit card information, or other billing arrangements, but distributing different billing data to businesses during commerce therewith. Also disclosed is assigning the different billing data through real-time and advance distribution of the different billing data to a user, as well. Also disclosed is validating the correctness of a charge through confirmation of the charge with a financial institution, such as a bank, and by comparing itemized charges against expected charges identified by the user.

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60 Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method comprising for a user to provide substitute billing data in lieu of personal billing data, comprising:
- an electronic device obtaining distinct credit card numbers from a billing service for use by the user as a substitute for said personal billing data;
  
  the electronic device selecting a first of said credit card numbers to facilitate conduct of multiple purchasing transactions with a first business; and
  
  the electronic device selecting a second of said credit card numbers to facilitate conduct of multiple purchasing transactions with a second business.
- View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
- - 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the electronic device is a portable digital assistant, said method further comprising:
    - the electronic device disposing said distinct credit card numbers in a memory within the electronic device;
      
      the electronic device identifying a connection attempt to a particular business;
      
      the electronic device looking for selected credit card number for the particular business; and
      
      if found, the electronic device displaying the selected credit card number for the particular business.
  - 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
    - if no selected credit card number for the particular business is found, the electronic device then selecting a third credit card number from said distinct credit card numbers to facilitate conduct of purchasing transactions with the particular business; and
      
      the electronic device automatically conveying to the billing service of said selection of said third credit card number to conduct purchasing transactions with the particular business.
  - 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises:
    - the electronic device notifying the billing service of said selection of said first and second distinct credit card numbers to facilitate multiple purchasing transactions with said first and second businesses respectively.

30. A method comprising:
- a billing service registering a user; and
  
  the billing service providing at least a first and a second billing data, that are separate and distinct, for use by the user as substitutes for personal billing data for subsequent purchasing transactions with a first and a second business respectively.
- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 35, 36, 37)
- - 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said first billing data comprises:
    - a third billing data for use by said first business for charging the billing service for goods purchased by said user; and
      
      a fourth data for use by the billing service for billing the user for charges received from said first business.
  - 32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
    - the billing service providing a plurality of distinct billing data to an electronic device, such that the user can select said first and second separate and distinct billing data from said plurality of billing data, and associate said first and second separate and distinct billing data with said first and second businesses respectively.
  - 35. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
    - the billing service providing in real time said first and second billing data to an electronic device used by the user, wherein the electronic device is operable to purchase goods from said first and second businesses.
  - 36. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
    - the billing service receiving notification of usage of said first and second billing data with said first and second businesses from an electronic device used by the user.
  - 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said receiving notification comprises receiving a charge against one of said first and second billing data by a corresponding one of said first and second businesses.

33-34. -34. (canceled)

38-52. -52. (canceled)

53. An apparatus comprising:
- a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to enable the apparatus, when the programming instructions are executed, to provide at least a first and a second billing data, that are separate and distinct, for use by a user as substitutes for personal billing data when conducting purchasing transactions with a first and a second business respectively; and
  
  a processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the plurality of programming instructions.
- View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 58, 59, 60)
- - 54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein said first billing data comprises:
    - a third billing data used by said first business for charging the billing service for goods purchased by said user; and
      
      a fourth data for use by the billing service for billing the user for charges received from said first business.
  - 55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the programming instructions, when executed by said processor, enable the apparatus to:
    - provide a plurality of distinct billing data to an electronic device;
      
      receive a user selection of said first billing data from said plurality of billing data; and
      
      associate said first billing data with said first business.
  - 58. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the programming instructions, when executed by said processor, enable the apparatus to:
    - provide in real time said first billing data to an electronic device operable to purchase goods from said first business.
  - 59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the programming instructions, when executed by said processor, enable the apparatus to:
    - receive notification of usage of said first billing data with said first business from an electronic device used by a purchaser.
  - 60. The method of claim 59, wherein said receiving notification comprises receiving a charge against said first billing data, the charge being made by said first business.

56-57. -57. (canceled)

Specification

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Current Assignee
Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
Original Assignee
Hall Aluminum LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
Inventors
Phillips, Christopher, Engstrom, G.

Granted Patent

US 7,664,701 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

705/40
CPC Class Codes

G06Q 20/02   involving a neutral party, ...

G06Q 20/04   Payment circuits

G06Q 20/102   Bill distribution or payments

G06Q 20/12   specially adapted for elect...

G06Q 20/3829   involving key management

G06Q 20/385   using an alias or single-us...

G06Q 20/40   Authorisation, e.g. identif...

G06Q 30/04   Billing or invoicing

G06Q 40/03   Credit; Loans; Processing t...

Masking private billing data by assigning other billing data to use in commerce with businesses

First Claim

2 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

17 Citations

60 Claims

Specification

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Masking private billing data by assigning other billing data to use in commerce with businesses

First Claim

2 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

17 Citations

60 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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