Patents by Inventor John Steven Imada

John Steven Imada 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).

  • Patent number: 7841519
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Beck, Gennye Feldman, Rachel Riley Heitz, John Steven Imada, Paula S. Martinez, Sven Miller, Clyde Page, Steven J. Keiser
  • Patent number: 7624921
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Beck, Gennye Feldman, Rachel Riley Heitz, John Steven Imada, Paula S Martinez, Sven Miller, Clyde Page, Steven J Keiser
  • Patent number: 7611051
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Beck, Gennye Feldman, Rachel Riley Heitz, John Steven Imada, Paula S Martinez, Sven Miller, Clyde Page, Steven J Keiser
  • Patent number: 7458509
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Beck, Gennye Feldman, Rachel Riley Heitz, John Steven Imada, Paula S Martinez, Sven Miller, Clyde Page, Steven J Keiser
  • Patent number: 7455222
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Beck, Gennye Feldman, Rachel Riley Heitz, John Steven Imada, Paula S Martinez, Sven Miller, Clyde Page, Steven J Keiser
  • Patent number: 7344067
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and method for distributing an open transaction instrument. The system includes the steps of: accessibly offering for sale, in a retail environment, the open transaction instrument; selling a selected open transaction instrument; and enabling the use of the open transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open pre-paid card. Furthermore, accessibly offering the open pre-paid card for sale, in one exemplary embodiment, is performed by hanging the pre-paid card on a rack. The distribution of the open transaction instrument may also comprise the step of sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid open transaction instrument to be funded but not activated. Also, in accordance with further exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an issuer system is suitably configured to leverage existing infrastructure for inventory and related processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Beck, Gennye Feldman, Rachel Riley Heitz, John Steven Imada, Paula S Martinez, Sven Miller, Clyde Page, Steven J Keiser