| MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20110320325 | INTERACTIVE ONLINE SPENDING ANALYSIS TOOL - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to interactively displaying account activity. An analysis of financial transactions associated with a financial unit can be performed by a spending analysis tool, which can display the analysis via a website. The analysis can include, for example, a spending analysis and a budget analysis. The financial transactions are associated with merchants. At least one of the financial transactions is associated with first merchant, a first merchant category, and a member of the financial unit. The spending analysis tool changes the merchant category associated with the at least one of the financial transactions to another merchant category based on a selection of a user. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110238540 | FINANCIAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT BASED ON SPECIFIED CRITERIA - Exemplary embodiments are directed to account management including reporting financial transactions to an account holder in a transaction reporting statement and automatic payment of open account balances. Consolidating reporting criteria and/or balance management criteria can be specified to customize reporting and/or payment of purchase transactions. The consolidated reporting criteria can be applied to transactions to identify amalgamable transactions, which can be consolidated into a consolidated transaction. The balance management criteria can include scheduling criteria and payment criteria and can be applied to open account balances to facilitate payment of open account balances. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110225020 | METHODOLOGY FOR IMPROVING A MERCHANT ACQUIRING LINE OF BUSINESS - A methodology for a merchant acquirer to leverage its own internal data for analysis purposes whereby it analyzes data associated with its issuing line of business to provide information for use in promoting/retaining business within its acquiring line of business. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110202462 | METHOD FOR A PAYMENT CARDHOLDER TO CONTROL AND MANAGE THE USE OF A PAYMENT CARD - A method for providing a payment cardholder with control over a payment card is provided herein, hi one respect, the method of the present invention uses a managing platform to configure a set of usage parameters for usage of the payment card. After that, the payment card is associated with the managing platform, and allows the payment cardholder to select one or more of the usage parameters. Based on the selected usage parameters, a set of cardholder parameters are associated with the payment card, and include defining rules for determining an acceptable transaction and an unacceptable transaction for the payment card. Then, the managing platform intercepts an authorization for each transaction of the payment card and identifies, based on the cardholder parameters, each of the transactions as being one of the acceptable transactions or the unacceptable transactions. Finally, a message notifies the payment cardholder of at least one of the unacceptable transactions. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110137795 | AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE SYSTEM - Exemplary embodiments are directed to processing Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions. A transaction request can be received from an ATM. The transaction request can include account information read from a transaction card and a transaction request. The account information corresponds to a first account. The transaction request is incapable of being processed using the first account for which the transaction card was issued. A second account belonging to the account holder of the first account can be identified and can be a different type of account than the first account. The transaction request is capable of being processed using the second account. The transaction request can be processed using the second account to perform the ATM transaction requested. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20100318447 | PRE-FUNDED SETTLEMENT - A system and method for advancing cash to merchants participating in a consumer card-based payment network. The system/method provides low cost working capital to merchants by aggregating lending offers from perspective lenders with borrowing applications from merchants to match the supply of capital with the demand for loans whereby an effective interest rate can be determined. The risk profile associated with a particular merchant, as well as the loan amount and duration, can also be considered when determining the effective interest rate. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100287083 | Detecting modifications to financial terminals - A method of detecting unauthorized modifications of financial terminals includes receiving an electromagnetic profile from the terminal, comparing the received profile to a stored profile, and determining whether unauthorized modifications have been made based on the comparison. The determination may be based on a correlation coefficient and the method may include transmitting a stimulus profile in an active mode. A system for detecting unauthorized modifications to financial terminals includes a receiver to receive the emitted profile and a computing device. The computing device compares the received profile to the stored profile to determine whether unauthorized modifications have been made. The system may also include a transmitter to transmit a stimulus profile in an active mode, wherein the received profile is emitted by the financial terminal in response to the stimulus profile. The system may also be incorporated in the financial terminal. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100153865 | Platform for Generating Composite Applications - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to composite applications that can be created and implemented using components of a platform disclosed herein. Widgets associated with one or more products available in a mashup container can be implemented based on a selection by a user of the widgets from a widget catalog. A behavior of, and an interaction between, the widgets can be defined using metadata data associated with the widgets without requiring assistance from the user. A skin can be applied to the composite application that controls a visual presentation of the application on a display. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100153242 | Interactive Online Spending Analysis Tool - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to interactively displaying account activity. An analysis of financial transactions associated with a financial unit can be performed by a spending analysis tool, which can display the analysis via a website. The analysis can include, for example, a spending analysis and a budget analysis. The financial transactions are associated with merchants. At least one of the financial transactions is associated with first merchant, a first merchant category, and a member of the financial unit. The spending analysis tool changes the merchant category associated with the at least one of the financial transactions to another merchant category based on a selection of a user. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100131354 | METHOD OF EVALUATING ACCEPTABILITY OF DIRECT MAIL ITEMS - A method is provided herein for evaluating acceptability of direct mail items, the method including preparing an interactive display showing a plurality of mail items. The mail items include one or more direct mail items of interest, with the direct mail items of interest being displayed in similar manner to the other mail items with no additional import being placed on the direct mail items of interest. The method further includes inquiring a plurality of respondents of the interactive display one or more questions as to how the respondents would treat each of the mail items if the respondents had received such mail items in customary fashion. Response dated to the questions is collected to evaluate the acceptability of the direct mail items of interest. Advantageously, with the subject invention, “challenger” direct mailings may be evaluated in a quicker and more thorough fashion than in the prior art. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100042938 | Interactive Navigation of a Dataflow Process Image - An interactive graphical environment that facilitates interactive navigation of a reconstructed dataflow process image is disclosed. The environment can create segmented image sections for at least one dataflow process image, which can be used to form the reconstructed dataflow process image. The environment can respond to inputs from a user to navigate the reconstructed dataflow process. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100036770 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CREDIT CARDHOLDER WITH MULTIPLE FUNDING OPTIONS - A method and a system for providing a payment cardholder with multiple funding source options for a payment card are provided herein. First, a managing platform associates at least two funding sources with the payment card. The funding sources include a first funding source and a second funding source. Next, the first funding source is designated as a default funding source and a set of pre-defined routing rules for funding transactions made with the payment card. Then, the managing platform intercepts each transaction of the payment card and routes the transactions to an issuer funding system for the first funding source using the managing platform. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100030670 | METHOD OF MONITORING DIFFERENT DEBIT CARD TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A SINGLE FUNDING SOURCE - The invention herein relates to a method of monitoring different debit card transactions associated with a single funding source. In particular, the method includes associating first and second debit cards with a single funding source, the first and second debit cards having different identification codes, different levels of transaction data and having different characteristics associated therewith. Further, the method includes reviewing debit card transactions settled from the funding source. Debit card transactions associated with the first and second debit cards are identified. Separate records are maintained for the debit card transactions identified with the first debit card and for debit card transactions identified with the second debit card. Advantageously, the method of the subject invention permits personal and business expenses settled from a single funding source to be identified and for records to be maintained thereof. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20090172678 | Method And System For Controlling The Functionality Of A Transaction Device - A method and system of controlling the functionality of a transaction device, the method includes providing a computing device for accessing an account corresponding to the transaction device. The computing device generates a list of a plurality of transaction functions associated with the transaction device. The method includes providing an option to disable and enable one or more of the transaction functions in response to a user input. In response to the user input disabling one of the transaction functions, an instruction is generated preventing the transaction device from being used for the disabled transaction function. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171846 | Contactless Payment Through Satellite Radio Devices - A method and system for making a purchase using a payment card and a satellite radio. The method includes: broadcasting information relating to goods or services for sale via a satellite radio; receiving a request to purchase goods or services via a satellite radio that includes a payment card account number; identifying subscriber account information based on the payment card account number; submitting a request for payment authorization; receiving an authorization and delivering the goods or services to a purchaser. The system includes: a satellite radio that has a receiver and a transmitter; radio programming that includes an advertisement for the sale of goods or services; a payment card with a microprocessor chip or a magnetic stripe that contains account information and a payment card reader connected to the satellite radio for reading the account information from the microprocessor chip or magnetic stripe. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171842 | Techniques For Conducting Financial Transactions Using Mobile Communication Devices - The present invention advantageously combines communications aspects of mobile devices with financial transaction system capabilities in a novel manner. This advantageous combination enables a user to automatically initiate a financial transaction with a merchant upon the user being located in a particular geographic vicinity. Numerous types of transactions can be enabled using the present invention. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171841 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING FUNDS BETWEEN ACCOUNT HOLDERS - The preferred embodiments are directed to facilitating a transfer of funds between account holders. The preferred embodiments can receive account information from a transaction devices associated with a first account and a second account and can receive a specified amount of funds to be transferred to the second account. The preferred embodiments can transfer the specified amount of funds from the first account to the second account in response to receiving the account information from the transaction devices of associated with the first and second accounts and the specified amount of funds. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171835 | Multiple Payment Transaction Systems - A system and method of conducting multiple payment transactions is disclosed. The system and method allow a consumer to make contributions to selected groups based upon the consumer's financial activity. The invention could be used by a consumer to identify beneficiaries and can be used by merchants and payment network providers to provide donations. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171830 | Payment Transaction System - A system for allocating a resource used in payment transactions is disclosed. The system includes an allocation module that allows a user of a payment device to specify a class of good or service and an allowable resource amount that can be charged to a user account for the selected class of good or service and a control module that authorizes a charge to the user account based on the selected class of good or service and the allowable resource amount. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171797 | Positionally Trackable Payment Device - A payment device includes a positioning module for determining a location of the payment device. The positioning module has a receiver for receiving a signal from a navigational system. A first antenna is operably connected to the positioning module. A transmitting module is operably connected to the positioning module. The transmitting module emits a location signal corresponding to the location of the payment device as determined by the positioning module. An account information element is interrogatable by a point of sale device for permitting the completion of a commercial transaction. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090171739 | Special Occasion Reminder and Gift Giving System - A method for on-line shopping for special occasions includes the steps of providing a link to a network accessible website, receiving and storing data from a user identifying at least one recipient, wherein the data includes at least one special occasion date, sending a notification to the user prior to the special occasion date, wherein the notification reminds the user of the special occasion date, offering a plurality of gifts for on line ordering via the website, receiving and storing an order for a gift in advance of the special occasion date and sending the gift to the recipient a predetermined number of days prior to the special occasion. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090166435 | SECURE PAYMENT CARD - In a first aspect of the subject invention, a secure payment card is provided, including: a flat body, the flat body having a patterned channel in proximity to a first face of the flat body; an elongated magnetic stripe disposed on the first face of the flat body, the magnetic stripe extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein at least a portion of the channel being located under the longitudinal axis; and a magnetic fluid disposed in the channel, the magnetic fluid configured to define a readable magnetic pattern. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090164373 | System and Method of Preventing Password Theft - A method and system for securely accessing an account using a security device that includes: (1) receiving a request via a payment device for access to an account having account information, wherein the request includes an account number; (2) generating randomly a numeric value; (3) displaying the numeric value; (4) prompting data entry of a combined PIN via the payment device, wherein the combined PIN is a combination of the numeric value and the PIN; (5) uncombining the numeric value from the entered combined PIN to provide an uncombined PIN; (6) comparing the uncombined PIN to the PIN; and (7) permitting access to the account information based on the comparison. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090164366 | PAYMENT VOUCHER GENERATION FOR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to consummating a financial transaction using payments vouchers. A merchant code associated with a merchant is received by a financial institution terminal, which verifies the merchant code against a stored code. A payment voucher is generated in response to the verification. The voucher includes an encoded message that indicates the voucher is authentic. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090164314 | MERCHANT SPECIFIED USAGE SCHEME IN FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS - The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to enabling a merchant to specify whether other entities or employees thereof should benefit from a usage scheme, such as discounts, incentives, promotions, rewards, or the like, implemented by the merchant. A transaction device holds information associating the transaction device with an entity. The information associating the transaction device with the entity is verified against stored merchant identification code to determine whether the holder of the transaction device should receive the benefit of the usage scheme. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090159679 | Ultra Low-Power User Authentication Device for Financial Transactions - A low-power device is adapted to authenticate a user desiring to conduct a financial transaction includes an input device, a computing device, and a power source. The input device is adapted to input user information. The computing device is operatively coupled to the input device, adapted to compare the input user information to stored user information, and authenticate the user based on the comparison. The power source provides power to at least the input device. The power source is adapted to obtain power from thermal energy, light energy, and/or electromagnetic energy, which is derived from the user and/or an ambient environment. A method of authenticating a user desiring to conduct a financial transaction includes inputting input user information, comparing the input user information to stored user information, authenticating the user based on the comparison, and performing the inputting using power obtained from thermal energy, light energy, and/or electromagnetic energy. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090150272 | Graphical Representation of Financial Transactions - A statement generator allows financial institutions to present transaction information as a graphical representation to an account holder in, for example, a statement of purchases. The statement generator obtains transaction information associated with an account holder and maps the transaction information to correlate the transaction information with at least one parameter. The transaction information can include at least one of a purchase amount, a purchase location, a purchase time, or a purchase category. The at least one parameter includes at least one of a purchase location, a purchase time, a purchase amount, or a purchase category. The statement generator depicts the mapping to the account holder to identify a correlation between transactions. The depiction can be a print out of the mapping or the mapping can be rendered on a display. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090150235 | System and Method for Processing Financial Transactions - A system for processing financial transactions based on consumer preferences is disclosed. The system allows a user to specify on a payment device a consumer preference which is communicable to a payment terminal and is determinative in pricing goods and services. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090145964 | SWIPE CARD AND A METHOD AND SYSTEM OF MONITORING USAGE OF A SWIPE CARD - A swipe card and a method and system of monitoring usage of a swipe card. The swipe card includes a substrate forming a body of the card, a magnetic strip for storing accessible account information and a swipe counter. The swipe counter detecting and accessibly storing a count of the number of times the magnetic strip is swiped. The swipe counter can include a piezo-electric element. The swipe counter can include a capacitive element for storing pulses of energy generated when the magnetic strip is swiped. The swipe counter can include a micro-electromechanical system for recording select physical movement of the card. The swipe card can further include a swipe analyzer for detecting and accessibly storing descriptive information associated with at least one transaction associated with each swipe, wherein the swipe analyzer is operatively coupled to the magnetic strip. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090138390 | Financial Transaction Message Exchange System - A system for conducting financial transactions which includes a message exchange service is disclosed. The message exchange can occur via a payment terminal and can be 1) payment device-to-payment device, 2) payment device-to-merchant, 3) merchant-to-payment device(s), 4) merchant-to-merchant, 5) anyone to/from financial institutions. The invention can enhance the paying experience, provide merchant feedback, as well as promote branding. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090132706 | Interpersonal Communication Enhancer - A system for enhancing interpersonal communication is disclosed. The system includes one or more personal computer devices capable of broadcasting and receiving select messages based on overlapping user interests. The device shares identity credentials with other devices to ensure credibility of the information being broadcast and maintains user interests in a portable secure database on the device. | 05-21-2009 |
