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A computer-based method for allocating funds in pre-established accounts for use by customers, by creating for each customer a customer account file containing a record of funds deposited for the customer, and limiting how the funds in each customer account file may be spent on audio and video entertainment in the form of goods and services in response to command instructions from the fund depositor, wherein the limit on the funds is a limit on transaction amount or a limit according to content on the audio or video entertainment on which the funds may be spent. Computer-based systems implementing the inventive method are also disclosed.

Inventors: Michael J. Picciallo, Peter J. Butch, III
Primary Examiner: Charles R. Kyle
Attorney: Synnestvedt & Lechner LLP
Current U.S. Classification: 705/39

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Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US7735726Nov 17, 2005Jun 15, 2010Target Brands, Inc.Voucher system and method of use
US7945512Aug 13, 2007May 17, 2011eBay Inc.Spending and savings secondary linked accounts
US8011578Jun 11, 2010Sep 6, 2011Target Brands, Inc.Voucher system and method of use
US8214269Jul 25, 2007Jul 3, 2012American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.Transactional tax settlement in personal communication devices

Claims

1. A computer-based method for allocating parental funds in preestablished accounts for use by children, comprising;

providing a bank or credit account containing parental funds for allocation to at least one child;

creating a secondary account file with an internet music file supplier accessible by a child for spending on internet music purchases; and

periodically transferring directly and automatically to said secondary account file from said bank or credit account an allowance payment for use by said child to purchase and transfer music files over the internet using a personal computer;

wherein said steps of creating a secondary account file and periodically transferring funds from said bank or credit account to said secondary account are performed using information supplied by said parent over the internet using a personal computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing information on said internet music purchases.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of supplying to said parent said purchase information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said supplying step is performed periodically.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said allowance payment is transferred weekly or monthly.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of limiting how said allowance payment in said secondary account file may be spent in response to command instructions from said fund depositor, wherein said limit on said allowance payment is a limit on transaction amount or a limit according to music content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said limit on said allowance payment is a limit on transaction amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said limit on transaction amount is a periodic limit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said limit on transaction amount is a weekly or monthly limit.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said limit on said allowance payment is a content limit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said content limit is according to artist, genre or content rating.

Drawings