Patents by Inventor Dennis W. Bodman

Dennis W. Bodman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and system for account activation
    Patent number: 6837426
    Abstract: A method of activating a prepaid account uses an existing electronic funds transfer network which includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, debit/credit card processing infrastructure and an account issuer authorization center. The method includes obtaining identification data concerning the account to be activated at the POS terminal; sending an activation request from the POS terminal through the card processing infrastructure to the processing center; receiving the activation request message at the processing center, deciding whether or not to activate the account and generating a response code based upon the activation decision, the response code not resulting in the transfer of any funds and being a code other than an approval code or a denial code; sending the response code through the card processing infrastructure to the POS terminal; and receiving the response code at the POS terminal and confirming at the POS terminal that the account has been activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Mas Inco Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tidball, Dennis W. Bodman
  • Method and system for account activation
    Publication number: 20030197059
    Abstract: A method of activating a prepaid account uses an existing electronic funds transfer network which includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, debit/credit card processing infrastructure and an account issuer authorization center. The method includes obtaining identification data concerning the account to be activated at the POS terminal; sending an activation request from the POS terminal through the card processing infrastructure to the processing center; receiving the activation request message at the processing center, deciding whether or not to activate the account and generating a response code based upon the activation decision, the response code not resulting in the transfer of any funds and being a code other than an approval code or a denial code; sending the response code through the card processing infrastructure to the POS terminal; and receiving the response code at the POS terminal and confirming at the POS terminal that the account has been activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tidball, Dennis W. Bodman
  • Method and system for account activation
    Patent number: 6612487
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of activating a prepaid account using an existing electronic funds transfer network which includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, debit/credit card processing infrastructure and an account insurer authorization center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Mas Inco Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tidball, Dennis W. Bodman
  • Method and system for account activation
    Publication number: 20010034722
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of activating a prepaid account using an existing electronic funds transfer network which includes a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, debit/credit card processing infrastructure and an account insurer authorization center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: MAS Inco Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tidball, Dennis W. Bodman