U.S. patent application number 12/508009 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-08 for system and method for activating serial number of a point storage card.
This patent application is currently assigned to Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Wen-Hung CHEN.
Application Number | 20100173700 12/508009 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42312064 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100173700 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; Wen-Hung |
July 8, 2010 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING SERIAL NUMBER OF A POINT STORAGE
CARD
Abstract
A system and a method for activating serial numbers of point
storage cards are provided. First, a user connects a computer
device to the system for activating the serial number of the point
storage card, and inputs a member account and member password for
authentication purposes. Once the member account and member
password are verified to be valid, a point storage card selection
interface is generated for the user to select at least one kind of
the point storage cards therefrom. When a payment process for the
selected point storage card is completed, the payment information
is transmitted to a corresponding supplier system to request
activation of the serial number of the point storage card.
Inventors: |
CHEN; Wen-Hung; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARNE & GORDON LLP
1801 EAST 9TH STREET, SUITE 1200
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-3108
US
|
Assignee: |
Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
42312064 |
Appl. No.: |
12/508009 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/29 ;
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/387 20130101;
G06Q 20/3437 20130101; G07F 7/02 20130101; G06Q 20/351 20130101;
G06Q 20/349 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/29 ;
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 6, 2009 |
TW |
098100144 |
Claims
1. A method for activating serial numbers of point storage cards,
applicable to a system for activating the serial number of the
point storage card, the method comprising the steps of: connecting
a computer device to the system for activating the serial number of
the point storage card and inputting a member account and a member
password; generating a point storage card selection interface and
transmitting the point storage card selection interface to the
computer device if the system verifies that the member account and
the member password are valid; selecting at least one kind of the
point storage cards from the point storage card selection interface
through the computer device; performing a payment process via the
system according to the selected point storage card; and
transmitting payment information related to the point storage card
from the system to a supplier system corresponding to the point
storage card so as to request the supplier system to activate the
serial number of the point storage card.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the member account and the member
password are created and stored in the system for activating the
serial number of the point storage card when a user applies to the
system for membership.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein, after the supplier system
activates the serial number of the point storage card, the supplier
system further provides a point storage service for the point
storage card.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein, after completing the point
storage service, the supplier system transmits point storage
information to the system for activating the serial number of the
point storage card, and the system for activating the serial number
of the point storage card further transmits the point storage
information to the computer device.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein after completing the serial
number activation process, the supplier system transmits serial
number activation information to the system for activating the
serial number of the point storage card, and the system for
activating the serial number of the point storage card further
transmits the serial number activation information to the computer
device.
6. A system for activating serial numbers of point storage cards,
capable of being used by users at computer devices for requesting
supplier systems to activate the serial numbers of the point
storage cards over the Internet, the system for activating serial
numbers of point storage cards comprising: an account password
module for storing member accounts and member passwords; a
verification module for receiving member accounts and member
passwords input through the computer devices and comparing those
received with the member accounts and member passwords stored in
the account password module so as to determine whether the input
member accounts and member passwords are valid; a point storage
card selection module for generating a point storage card selection
interface each time the verification module verifies that a
received member account and member password are valid, and
transmits the point storage card selection interface to the
corresponding computer device such that the user of the computer
device can select at least one kind of the point storage cards from
the point storage card selection interface; a payment module for
performing a payment process according to the selected point
storage cards; and an information transmission module for
transmitting payment information related to the point storage cards
to the supplier system corresponding to the point storage cards
after the payment module completes the payment process so as to
request the supplier system to activate the serial numbers of the
point storage cards.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein, after the supplier system
activates the serial number of the corresponding point storage
card, the supplier system further provides a point storage service
for the point storage card.
8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an information
receiving module for receiving point storage information from the
supplier systems after the supplier systems have completed the
point storage services.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the information receiving module
transmits the point storage information to the corresponding
computer devices.
10. The system of claim 6, further comprising an information
receiving module for receiving serial number activation information
from the supplier systems after the supplier systems have completed
the serial number activation process.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information receiving
module transmits the serial number activation information to the
corresponding computer devices.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a system and a method for
activating serial numbers of point storage cards, and, more
particularly, to a system and a method that provides cross-platform
serial number activation services through a single interface.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Online games are rapidly increasing in popularity along with
developments in multimedia. Generally, game players are required to
purchase and activate point storage cards so as to continue their
`lives` in the online games they are playing, such point storage
cards usually being sold through distributors/retailers.
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a conventional process for purchasing a point
storage card by a game player. As shown in the drawing, a supplier
3a provides a point storage card to a distributor/retailer 2a for
sale. A game player 1a purchases the point storage card from the
distributor/retailer 2a so as to obtain a serial number by
scratching off the silver coating of the point storage card, and
then the game player inputs the serial number into a service
website 4a for activating the points allocated to the card.
[0006] However, such a process requires the fabrication of the
point storage cards and silver coating, thereby increasing the
cost. Meanwhile, the silver debris from the scratching step causes
secondary pollution to the environment. In addition, since the
silver coating could be fairly readily scratched off and recoated,
serial numbers may be unlawfully obtained for reproduction of point
storage cards, thus potentially resulting in great loss to the
industry and consumers.
[0007] FIG. 2 shows a conventional semi-automatic process for
selling a point storage card. As shown in the drawing, a supplier
3b provides an electronic point storage card to a
distributor/retailer 2b for sale. When a game player purchases the
electronic point storage card from the distributor/retailer 2b, the
distributor/retailer prints the serial number of the electronic
point storage card through a printing system and then the game
player inputs the serial number into a service website 4b for
activating the points allocated to the serial number.
[0008] The above-described process avoids the silver coating and
environmental pollution caused by the silver coating, and also
saves the cost for fabricating the point storage cards. However, it
incurs the cost for printing serial numbers of the electronic point
storage cards and cannot effectively prevent disclosure of the
serial number information and unlawful fraud associated
therewith.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a conventional fully automatic process for
selling a point storage card. As shown in the drawing, a game
player purchases an electronic point storage card from a website
provided by a distributor/retailer 2c by using a network payment
method and then inputs the serial number of the card using a
service website 4c for activating the points allocated to the
card.
[0010] Such a process saves manual costs and printing costs, and
greatly reduces the cost for fabricating point storage cards. Also,
game players do not need to go to the physical stores of
distributors/retailers for purchasing the point storage cards.
However, the process still cannot prevent disclosure of the serial
number information because such information might be intercepted
while being sent back.
[0011] Therefore, overcoming the above drawbacks has become a
rather urgent issue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] According to the above drawbacks, an objective of the
present invention is to provide a method and system for activating
serial numbers of point storage cards such that users can
conveniently select various kinds of point storage cards in a
common platform interface, thereby diversifying the selection of
point storage cards.
[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
method and system for activating serial numbers of point storage
cards so as to prevent unintended disclosure of the serial number
information and to simplify the processes for storage or exchange
of the serial number information between a supplier system and a
distributor/retailer or a consumer.
[0014] In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the
present invention provides a method and system for activating
serial numbers of point storage cards. The method of the present
invention is applicable to a system for activating serial numbers
of point storage cards, which comprises the steps of: providing a
means for a user to connect a computer device to the system for
activating the serial number of the point storage card and
inputting a member account and password; generating a point storage
card selection interface via the system and transmitting the point
storage card selection interface to the computer device upon
verification of the member account and password; selecting at least
one kind of the point storage cards from the point storage card
selection interface through the computer device; performing a
payment process via the system according to the selected point
storage card; and transmitting payment information related to the
point storage card via the system to a supplier system
corresponding to the point storage card so as to request the
supplier system to activate the serial number of the point storage
card.
[0015] The system for activating serial numbers of point storage
cards comprises: an account password module for storing member
accounts and member passwords; a verification module for receiving
member accounts and member passwords input through the computer
device and comparing those received with the member accounts and
member passwords stored in the account password module so as to
determine whether the input member accounts and member passwords
are valid; a point storage card selection module for generating a
point storage card selection interface each time the verification
module verifies that a received member account and member password
are valid, and transmits the point storage card selection interface
to the corresponding computer device such that the user of the
computer device can select at least one kind of the point storage
cards from the point storage card selection interface; a payment
module for performing a payment process according to the selected
point storage cards; and an information transmission module for
transmitting payment information related to the point storage cards
to a supplier system corresponding to the point storage cards after
the payment module completes the payment process so as to request
the supplier system to activate the serial numbers of the point
storage cards.
[0016] Therefore, the present invention provides a mechanism for
requesting a supplier system to activate serial numbers of point
storage cards through the Internet without the need for disclosing
the serial numbers to distributors/retailers. After the supplier
system receives payment information related to the point storage
cards, the supplier system activates the serial numbers of the
point storage cards. During this process, the serial number
information does not need to be transmitted back to the system for
activating the serial numbers or transmitted to the outside,
thereby decreasing the risk of disclosure of the serial number
information. Meanwhile, the distributors/retailers are freed from
the burden of bearing a serial number inventory.
[0017] Further, users at the computer device do not need to input
the serial numbers or verification codes, thereby improving the
users' convenience.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional process for
purchasing a point storage card by a game player;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional semi-automatic
process for selling a point storage card;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional fully automatic
process for selling a point storage card;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of a
system for activating serial numbers of point storage cards
according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a method for activating
serial numbers of point storage cards according to the present
invention; and
[0023] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing a method for activating
serial numbers of point storage cards according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The following illustrative embodiments are provided to
illustrate the disclosure of the present invention; these and other
advantages and effects will be apparent to those skilled in the art
after reading the disclosure of this specification.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of a
system 3 for activating serial numbers of point storage cards
according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the
system 3 of the present invention is used by a user such as a game
player operating a computer device 1 so as to request a supplier
system 4 to activate the serial number of the point storage card
through the Internet 2. The system 3 comprises an account password
module 30, a verification module 31, a point storage card selection
module 32, a payment module 33, an information transmission module
34 and an information receiving module 35.
[0026] The account password module 30 stores member accounts 301
and member passwords 302, which are created and stored when users
apply to the system for membership. The verification module 31
compares member accounts and member passwords input through
computer devices 1 with the member accounts and member passwords
stored in the account password module 30 so as to determine whether
the input member accounts and member passwords are valid, thereby
identifying the users of the computer devices 1 and providing
serial number activation or point storage services required by the
users.
[0027] If the verification module 31 verifies that an input member
account and member password are valid, the point storage card
selection module 32 generates a point storage card selection
interface and transmits the point storage card selection interface
to the computer device 1 such that the user can select one or more
point storage cards from the point storage card selection
interface. Therefore, the system 3 of the present invention
provides a cross-supplier service for point storage cards.
[0028] After a user at the computer device 1 completes selection,
the payment module 33 performs an online payment process such as a
credit card payment process according to the selected point storage
card or cards. Since the online payment process is already known in
the art, detailed description thereof is omitted herein.
[0029] After the payment module 33 completes the payment process,
the information transmission module 34 generates payment
information related to the point storage card, and transmits the
payment information to the supplier system 4 corresponding to the
point storage card so as to request the supplier system 4 to
activate the serial number of the point storage card. After the
supplier system 4 completes the serial number activation process,
the supplier system 4 generates serial number activation
information 40.
[0030] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the information receiving module 35 receives the serial number
activation information 40 from the supplier system 4 and further
transmits the serial number activation information 40 to the
computer device 1.
[0031] In addition, the supplier system 4 can provide a point
storage service for the point storage card. Correspondingly, after
the supplier system 4 completes the point storage service, the
information receiving module 35 receives point storage information
41 from the supplier system 4 and transmits the point storage
information 41 to the computer device 1.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a method for activating
serial numbers of point storage cards according to the present
invention. As shown in the drawing, first, at step S60, a user
connects the computer device 1 to the system 3 for activating
serial numbers of point storage cards, and inputs a member account
301 and a member password 302. Then, the process goes to step S61.
It should be noted that the member account 301 and member password
302 are created through a membership application program using a
general webpage; therefore the details thereof are omitted.
[0033] At step S61, if the system 3 verifies that the member
account 301 and the member password 302 are valid, the system 3
generates a point storage card selection interface and transmits
the point storage card selection interface to the computer device
1. Then, the process goes to step S62.
[0034] At step S62, at least one kind of point storage card in the
point storage card selection interface is selected by the user
through the computer device 1. Then, the process goes to step
S63.
[0035] At step S63, a payment process is performed according to the
selected point storage card. Then, the process goes to step
S64.
[0036] At step S64, after the payment process is completed, the
system 3 transmits payment information to a supplier system 4
corresponding to the point storage card so as to request the
supplier system 4 to activate the serial number of the point
storage card.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, at least one kind of the point
storage cards of the supplier system 4 is stored in the point
storage card selection interface so as to diversify the selection
and facilitate the user to purchase different kinds of point
storage cards at one time. In addition, the system 3 transmits
payment information related to the point storage card to the
corresponding supplier system 4. Further, in addition to the
activation request, other requests, such as a point storage
request, can be performed in the present embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing a method for activating
serial numbers of point storage cards according to another
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing,
first, at step S70, after the supplier system 4 receives the
payment information related to the point storage card, the supplier
system 4 activates the serial number of the point storage card and
generates serial number activation information 40, or provides a
point storage service for the point storage card and generates
point storage information 41. Then, the process goes to step
S71.
[0039] At step S71, the supplier system 4 transmits the serial
number activation information 40 or point storage information 41 to
the system 3. Then, the process goes to step S72.
[0040] At step S72, the system 3 informs the computer device 1
through an electronic message that the serial number is activated
or points are successfully stored in the member account.
[0041] According to the method of the present embodiment, after the
supplier system 4 receives the payment information related to the
point storage card, the supplier system does not transmit the
serial number information to the system 3, thereby reducing the
risk of disclosure of the serial number information to provide a
safer and more efficient transaction. Further, the user at the
computer device does not need to input the serial number or
verification code at a service website of the supplier system 4,
thereby improving the user's convenience.
[0042] Therefore, the present invention provides a mechanism for a
user at a computer device 1 to request the supplier system 4 to
activate the serial number of the point storage card through the
Internet 2. The present invention efficiently reduces the cost of
suppliers that conventionally consign a distributor/retailer to
collect the payment, improves a user's convenience since the user
does not need to input the serial number or verification code at a
service website of the supplier system 4, and reduces risk of
disclosure of the serial number information. Furthermore, the
present invention provides a single interface for requesting
various supplier systems to activate serial numbers or store
points, and provides cross-supplier services.
[0043] The above-described descriptions of the detailed embodiments
are intended to illustrate the preferred implementations according
to the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope
of the present invention. Accordingly, various modifications and
variations completed by those with ordinary skill in the art fall
within the scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *