A system for controlling prepaid delivery of utilities includes a utility meter with a cutoff device for enabling or disabling delivery of a utility; and a server connected to the utility meter via a network. The utility meter receives a usage limit from the server, measures usage of the utility by the load, and when the usage limit is exceeded, activates the cutoff device. The utility meter transmits the measured usage to the server at configurable intervals. The server maintains an account balance associated with the load, receives the measured usage from the utility meter, and decrements the account balance based on the measured usage. When the account balance is exhausted, the server sends a command to activate the cutoff device to the utility meter. Otherwise, the server generates a further usage limit based on the account balance, and sends the further usage limit to the utility meter.

A computer-implemented method for prepaid card funding for sponsored purchases includes receiving a payment request for funding a sponsored purchase using a payment vehicle, deducting funds from a financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a negative balance, and loading additional funds into the financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a zero balance.

A method and system for the purchase and activation of services on a wireless device are provided. The method and system include the use of an airtime card with a near field communication tag with a unique identifier code used to improve a user's experience and ease of activation/provisioning of services for the wireless device. In some aspects, the unique identifier may be generated during the activation and purchase of the wireless service and it is not required that the unique identifier code be recorded in a backend system of the wireless provider prior to activation. The services to be purchased and activated may include at least one of the following: out of the box activation, device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, data, and/or SMS enrollments or data content.

A method and system for the purchase and activation of services on a wireless device are provided. The method and system include the use of an airtime card with a near field communication tag with a unique identifier code used to improve a user's experience and ease of activation/provisioning of services for the wireless device. In some aspects, the unique identifier may be generated during the activation and purchase of the wireless service and it is not required that the unique identifier code be recorded in a backend system of the wireless provider prior to activation. The services to be purchased and activated may include at least one of the following: out of the box activation, device upgrades, device reactivations, wireless number changes, wireless number porting, and the addition or purchasing of services including airtime, data, and/or SMS enrollments or data content.

A system for managing a transaction of an item between first and second users includes a first lock attached to the item, a storage unit having a second lock attached thereto and physically storing the item, and a processor that manages a first privilege to open the first lock and a second privilege to open the second lock. The processor performs management so that a holder of the first and second privileges is the first user. Upon receiving, from the storage unit, information indicating the second lock being opened, the processor performs management so that a first transaction is concluded in which the first user tentatively receives the item from the second user. Upon receiving, from the first lock, information indicating the first lock being opened, the processor performs management so that a second transaction is concluded in which the first user inspects the item and finally receives the item.

A system for managing a transaction of an item between first and second users includes a first lock attached to the item, a storage unit having a second lock attached thereto and physically storing the item, and a processor that manages a first privilege to open the first lock and a second privilege to open the second lock. The processor performs management so that a holder of the first and second privileges is the first user. Upon receiving, from the storage unit, information indicating the second lock being opened, the processor performs management so that a first transaction is concluded in which the first user tentatively receives the item from the second user. Upon receiving, from the first lock, information indicating the first lock being opened, the processor performs management so that a second transaction is concluded in which the first user inspects the item and finally receives the item.

A prepaid electronic funds transferring system, components, and method is provided for users that do not have checking or savings accounts. A user has a digital currency store such as, for example, in a non-checking non-savings prepaid account associated with a secure unified prepaid banking card and/or smartphone app. Interest may be provided by an issuer on funds in the digital currency store. Debit and credit transactions may be processed. NFC and UWB geo-locating can be used to find lost cards and/or the mobile device on which the app is loaded. Electronic transactions may be received and performed without requiring a recipient to download an app. Secure semiconductors may facilitate wireless and non-wireless communications with ATMs and POS machines. QR codes may identify accounts, constitute private/public encryption keys, or other relevant info. A cold storage or hot storage system may be implemented for the digital currency store.

A prepaid electronic funds transferring system, components, and method is provided for users that do not have checking or savings accounts. A user has a digital currency store such as, for example, in a non-checking non-savings prepaid account associated with a secure unified prepaid banking card and/or smartphone app. Interest may be provided by an issuer on funds in the digital currency store. Debit and credit transactions may be processed. NFC and UWB geo-locating can be used to find lost cards and/or the mobile device on which the app is loaded. Electronic transactions may be received and performed without requiring a recipient to download an app. Secure semiconductors may facilitate wireless and non-wireless communications with ATMs and POS machines. QR codes may identify accounts, constitute private/public encryption keys, or other relevant info. A cold storage or hot storage system may be implemented for the digital currency store.

An apparatus for providing a bundled set of individually redeemable healthcare services in a purchase data record, determining a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) for the at least one healthcare service of the bundled set, associating the purchase data record with user debt for purchase of the healthcare services, providing a digital health asset token representing the purchase data record identified by and with a unique confirmation number, said purchase data record comprising the associated user debt of the at least one bundled set of healthcare services, and providing marketplace access to the token to finance the debt. The marketplace may use the token for buying, selling or trading the bundled set of healthcare services to finance the debt. The token and a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) may be provided to an Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process for resolving a dispute under the No Surprises Act.

A wearable RFID device is provided for use in an event-based interrogation zone. The zone contains terminals with RFID readers. The device has an element worn by a user and an attached or embedded RFID tag. The tag has stored data representing a UniqueID of the tag, and a stored funds balance. The tag is programmed to activate an otherwise inactive one of said terminals upon presentation of the tag to the RFID reader of said terminal in a first tap, and communicate its UniqueID to the terminal for validation. Upon validation and following a second tap of the tag at the RFID reader, the tag's stored funds balance can be changed by the amount of a transaction run through said terminal. A temporary installation of a system of RFID-based terminals and user-worn RFID devices is also provided for use within an event interrogation zone.