Patents by Inventor Erik S. Crawford
Erik S. Crawford 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).
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Patent number: 10296876Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
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Patent number: 8960537Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of facilitating money transfers. The method includes receiving, at a money transfer system, access to a customer's account, establishing, at the money transfer system, a money transfer record including a recipient and an amount, and receiving, at the money transfer system, an identifier for the money transfer record. The method further includes receiving presentation of the identifier at an input device of the money transfer system and authorizing a money transfer associated with the money transfer record.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Kurt Bulawa, Corey Allen Bohler, Dean A. Seifert, Thomas B. Sayor, Mark Baumgart, Erik S. Crawford
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Publication number: 20140172594Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
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Publication number: 20140172699Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: THE WESTERN UNION COMPANYInventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
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Patent number: 8700479Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
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Patent number: 8336768Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of facilitating money transfers. The method includes receiving, at a money transfer system, access to a customer's account, establishing, at the money transfer system, a money transfer record including a recipient and an amount, and receiving, at the money transfer system, an identifier for the money transfer record. The method further includes receiving presentation of the identifier at an input device of the money transfer system and authorizing a money transfer associated with the money transfer record.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Kurt Bulawa, Corey Allen Bohler, Dean A. Seifert, Thomas B. Sayor, Mark Baumgart, Erik S. Crawford
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Publication number: 20120233069Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of facilitating money transfers. The method includes receiving, at a money transfer system, access to a customer's account, establishing, at the money transfer system, a money transfer record including a recipient and an amount, and receiving, at the money transfer system, an identifier for the money transfer record. The method further includes receiving presentation of the identifier at an input device of the money transfer system and authorizing a money transfer associated with the money transfer record.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Kurt Bulawa, Corey Allen Bohler, Dean A. Seifert, Thomas B. Sayor, Mark Baumgart, Erik S. Crawford
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Patent number: 8152054Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of facilitating money transfers. The method includes receiving, at a money transfer system, access to a customer's account, establishing, at the money transfer system, a money transfer record including a recipient and an amount, and receiving, at the money transfer system, an identifier for the money transfer record. The method further includes receiving presentation of the identifier at an input device of the money transfer system and authorizing a money transfer associated with the money transfer record.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Kurt Bulawa, Corey Allen Bohler, Dean A. Seifert, Thomas B. Sayor, Mark Baumgart, Erik S. Crawford
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Publication number: 20110145079Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
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Patent number: 7917395Abstract: A method of providing network access includes entering network access information into a merchant device at a merchant location. The information relates to a request from a customer to obtain network access. The method also includes causing the information to be transmitted to a host computer system from the merchant device, receiving a payment from the customer, receiving activation confirmation from the host computer system at the merchant device, and providing a presentation instrument to the customer. The presentation instrument may be used by the customer to obtain network access. The method further includes using the presentation instrument to settle a transaction with the customer for merchandise.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Kenneth Algiene
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Publication number: 20100161485Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of facilitating money transfers. The method includes receiving, at a money transfer system, access to a customer's account, establishing, at the money transfer system, a money transfer record including a recipient and an amount, and receiving, at the money transfer system, an identifier for the money transfer record. The method further includes receiving presentation of the identifier at an input device of the money transfer system and authorizing a money transfer associated with the money transfer record.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: The Western Union CompanyInventors: Kurt Bulawa, Corey Allen Bohler, Dean A. Seifert, Thomas B. Sayor, Mark Baumgart, Erik S. Crawford
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Patent number: 7647246Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for executing such a bilateral action. A communication is received at a host system. A determination is made that the communication identifies a physical instrument that identifies an account of stored value. A request is transmitted to another host system to debit the account by an amount identified in the communication to support the bilateral action. A confirmation is received from the other host system that the account of stored value has been debited. An approval for the bilateral action is transmitted to an originating communications device.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2004Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: First Data CorporationInventors: Michael Rodin, David Baumgartner, Eric Eldred, Erik S. Crawford, Karen Larsen, Kenneth Timbers, Kevin Harte, Terra Geiger
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Publication number: 20080195498Abstract: Systems and methods for providing connectivity to a wireless network may include a point of sale device at a merchant location that is used to receive an account identifier that in turn is associated with a stored value account of a customer. The account identifier is transmitted along with transaction data to a financial network to permit the stored value account to be processed according to the transaction request. When needing to receive wireless access, a customer using a personal communications device transmits a request to obtain wireless access while he is at the merchant location. An evaluation is performed to confirm that the customer has performed a transaction involving the stored value account within a certain time period. Wireless access to the wireless network is provided if the customer has performed the transaction within the certain time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: First DAta CorporationInventors: Erik S. Crawford, Thomas B. Sayor, Ken Algiene