A gift card system and method for purchasing gift cards at a kiosk is disclosed. The system/method includes a gift card distribution kiosk located at a retail establishment that provides a user with access to a multitude of different forms of gift cards that may be purchased and printed onto a customizable card with a personalized message. The kiosk includes a kiosk processor interface, a gift card dispenser, a card reader and gift card management server connected to a network. The gift card management server, through the kiosk processor interface, provides vendor options to users to select and pay via the card reader. In another embodiment, the kiosk is used to redeem unused user gift cards for a reduced value user selected gift card, reduced cash value, full value store card, rewards points, bank debit, and/or electronic code user towards online purchases.

A method for selling a cryptocurrency via a consumer-operated kiosk is provided. In some embodiments, the method: displays to a user, via a user interface, one or more options to purchase one or more cryptocurrencies; receives from the user, via the user interface, a selection of one of the cryptocurrencies; obtains a cryptocurrency exchange rate from a cryptocurrency exchange; presents the exchange rate to the user via the user interface; receives from the user payment for the selected cryptocurrency via a bill acceptor; purchases the selected cryptocurrency from the cryptocurrency exchange in an amount based on a value of the received payment and the exchange rate; and displays to the user, via the user interface, a receipt having a redemption code and a personal identification number (PIN), wherein both the redemption code and the PIN are necessary to obtain the selected cryptocurrency.

A computer-implemented method for providing payment account information in a user account by receiving payment card information by a card reader at a point of sale. An account can be created when the payment card information is read by the card reader. Optionally, a gift card can be scanned prior to the creation of the account, and the gift card information can be combined with the payment card information. The gift card can be an electronic gift card which can be personalized with textual, visual, video, and/or audio portions.

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.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing stored-value instrument purchase functionality for online shopping systems. In various embodiments, a computing system might assess content and/or information presented in a checkout page of a retailer website, the checkout page listing items selected by a user for purchase and a total purchase amount. The computing system might autonomously modify the checkout page by generating a user-selectable option therewithin, the user-selectable option comprising an option to purchase the items using a gift card available for purchase from a service provider. In response to selection of the user-selectable option, the computing system might provide a purchase interface that presents the user with a process to purchase a gift card having a gift card value. After completing purchase of the gift card, the computing system might apply the gift card value toward the total purchase amount within the checkout page.

A payment method, apparatus, and device are provided. The method includes: determining, according to geographical location information of a user, a third-party payment institute corresponding to the user's location, obtaining, through a payment server, a payment account of the third-party payment institute compatible for a local transaction, and scanning a barcode to complete a payment using the payment account. During the payment process, a DOI including information of the payment account is presented to a merchant, and the merchant extracts the payment account therein, and forwards order information and the payment account to the third-party payment institute. The third-party payment institute identifies the payment account and forwards the same to the payment server. The payment server identifies a user identity corresponding to the payment account, and then completes the payment process.

A client selects several merchants with whom the card may be redeemed, the amount redeemable, and a design for the card, which is personalized for the card recipient.

A portable, application-specific USB autorun device, following connection to a computer terminal, automatically initialises or presents itself as a known type of device and then automatically sends to the terminal a sequence of data complying with a standard protocol, that sequence of data automatically causing content to be accessed or a task to be initiated. The device (i) includes a standardised USB module that includes a USB microcontroller, the standardised module being designed to be attached to or embedded in multiple types of different, application specific packages but (ii) excludes mass memory storage for applications or end-user data.

A system and method of provisioning a securable device may include providing a plurality of securable device stations, each securable device station including (i) a controller and (ii) a set of securable devices in local communication with the controller, the controller being configured to enable a user to initiate access to a securable device from a set of securable devices. In response to a first controller of a first securable device station receiving (i) an access indicia and (ii) rental parameter that enables the user to access a securable device located in at least two of the securable device stations from a user, the first controller may communicate the access indicia and rental parameter to a network address that enables, by a second controller, the user to access a securable device at the second securable device station as provided by the rental parameter.

The invention comprises various data points from various data sources to aid a user in selecting the proper credit card for a credit card transaction.