| Mastercard International Incorporated Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120131094 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INDIRECT CONTROL OF A WEBSITE - A method for indirectly controlling a website using a user communication device is disclosed. A unique machine-readable code is displayed on a display device, the unique machine-readable code being specific to the display device displaying contents from a website through a server. The unique machine-readable code is readable by a user communication device, the user communication device in turn being able to communicate with the server through a communication path not involving an input device associated with the display device. Commands to control content displayed through the server are received from the user communication device. The commands include the identity of the specific display device by the displayed unique machine readable code. The content displayed on the specific display device is then changed accordingly. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130889 | FINANCIAL CARD METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM UTILIZING BAR CODES TO IDENTIFY TRANSACTION DETAILS - An electronic financial transaction arrangement using a payer device to read a machine-readable pay code in which transaction details for a specific transaction may be encoded by a pay code provider is disclosed. The machine-readable pay code may be distributed to the payer device through acoustic stimuli, or as a result of voice or human based gesture actions. A user of the payer device may also participate in the financial transaction through the indirect control of a display by reading a unique machine-readable code unique to the display. Additional transaction details for the specific transaction may be received in the payer device through near field communication, or accessed at a later time when there is established connectivity to a mobile network. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130888 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ADVERTISEMENTS TO MOBILE DEVICES PROMPTED BY AURAL SOUND STIMULUS - A method for distributing context-based data using an acoustic receiving device and a high frequency analog acoustic signal is disclosed. The acoustic receiving device a high frequency analog acoustic signal. A high frequency analog acoustic signal is of a frequency of at least 21,000 Hz and contains encoded data. The high frequency analog acoustic signal is converted to a digital acoustic signal and then analyzed to obtain the encoded data. The data is decoded to obtain information, and the information is then displayed on the acoustic receiving device. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130866 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS USING VOICE OR HUMAN BASED GESTURE ACTIONS - A method of initiating a consumer transaction using a human interaction device to read voice or human based gesture actions is disclosed. Video data is transmitted from a processing device to a display device. The video is monitoring for event data corresponding to a plurality of consumer products or services, and monitored event data is received in the processing device. A consumer is notified on the display device of an eligible consumer transaction. Voice or human based gesture actions are read with a human interaction device and are analyzed. If the voice or human based gesture actions conform to a predetermined set of requirements, then a consumer transaction for the plurality of consumer products or services is initiated. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130790 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATION- AND HISTORY-BASED DISTRIBUTION OF OFFERS TO MOBILE DEVICES - A method of distributing context based offers to a mobile device based on device location and user transaction history is disclosed. The geographic location of a mobile device associated with a user is disclosed. At least one merchant proximate to the geographic location is identified. A user account associated with the user is analyzed in order to identify at least one previous transaction between the user and the at least one merchant. Upon identifying at least one previous transaction, an offer for goods or services associated with the at least one merchant is distributed to the mobile device. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120072344 | TECHNIQUES FOR TRANSACTION ADJUSTMENT - Techniques are provided for transaction adjustment. A payment device, having an offline balance, is presented to an offline terminal in connection with a putative transaction. If an irregularity with the putative transaction is detected, the offline balance is adjusted responsive to the detection. In one aspect of the invention, such adjustment can be carried out, via offline-terminal interaction, substantially without the use of a security module and cryptographic keys in the offline terminal. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120047075 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GLOBAL REPLACEMENT CARD SERVICES - A prompt-response card issuing system providing temporary financial transaction cards includes a communications module, a personal account number (PAN) mapping module, and a security measure determination module. The communications module communicates with a plurality of financial card issuers, each having different profile standards for generating security measures, and also receives, from an issuer, an authorization for a new PAN associated with a financial account of a cardholder. The PAN module maps the new PAN to a temporary personal account number (TPAN) for the cardholder. The security measure determination module determines at least one security measure requirement according to a system profile standard of said prompt-response card issuing system rather than the system profile standard of the authorizing issuer. The TPAN, the security measure requirement, and personal information regarding the cardholder are communicated to a physical card producer so that a physical card bearing the TPAN, the security measure, and at least one item of personal information about the cardholder, can be produced and delivered to the cardholder. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120011062 | Apparatus and Method for Dynamic Offline Balance Management for Preauthorized Smart Cards - A smart payment device is issued to a user; the device is capable of both offline and online transactions and has a total available balance split. The split is between an available offline balance and an available online balance. It is determined whether the user has entered a primarily offline environment or will imminently enter a primarily offline environment. If this is so, the total available balance split is redistributed to favor offline transactions. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20110320251 | System And Method For Performing A Redemption Transaction On A Point Of Sale Terminal - A method and system for performing a redemption transaction at a point-of sale terminal. The cardholder initiates the transaction using a redemption card. The terminal obtains a transaction amount, a private currency, and an exchange rate. The transaction amount is converted into a transaction amount miles equivalent using the exchange rate, and the transaction amount miles equivalent is compared against the balance of the redemption account associated with the redemption card. The terminal transmits a clearing record for further processing. The clearing record is received by a clearing server, which identifies a lodged card associated with the transaction. The clearing server computes a periodic aggregate amount comprising the aggregate transaction amount for all transactions associated with the lodged card and a particular merchant during that period. The clearing server triggers a single transaction towards an acquirer associated with the merchant for the periodic aggregate amount. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110309154 | PAYMENT DEVICE WITH AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL CAPABILITY AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A payment device includes a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, a communications module coupled to the processor and configured to interact with a payment terminal, a sound-producing element coupled to the processor, and an associated body portion. The memory is configured to store at least one representation of at least one sound and the processor is configured to cause the sound-producing element to produce a sound corresponding to the at least one representation of the at least one sound when such representation is stored in the memory, responsive to the communications module interacting with the payment terminal, substantially without usage of a battery on the device. Visual stimuli can be employed in addition to or in lieu of sounds. Sounds can be downloaded to devices with or without batteries, as part of a service offering. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110295745 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR APPENDING SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT DATA TO A TRANSACTION MESSAGE - A managing platform for appending supplemental payment data to a transaction message receives a transaction message representative of a credit card transaction from a merchant or an associated financial institution. The managing platform uses the transaction data contained in the transaction message and other information to determine whether the transaction satisfies one or more payment rules previously established by the cardholder. If the transaction satisfies a payment rule, the managing platform appends supplemental payment data to the transaction message in a format specified by a financial institution associated with the cardholder. The supplemental payment data includes information identifying a secondary payment account associated with the satisfied payment rule. The managing platform subsequently transmits the appended transaction message to the financial institution associated with the cardholder. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110251953 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING MESSAGES IN A BILL PAYMENT AND PRESENTMENT SYSTEM OVER A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - In a bill payment and presentation system, a method for electronically routing billing information over a communications network is provided, using an open financial exchange communication protocol. The method provides for a centrally located mainframe system and a switching system for coordinating the routing of messages between customer service providers and biller service providers. In particular, the method collects at the CSPs and at the BSPs mainframe application files comprising the messages, forwards these files in batch mode to the mainframe system and converts with a switching system these mainframe files into web-enabled addresses, allowing for the effective transmission of financial billing information in flat-file and/or Internet-based form. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251952 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BILL PRESENTMENT AND PAYMENT - A bill presentment service, wherein bills received from a plurality of billing entities are made available to a plurality of consuming entities via a plurality of consuming entity service providers, is provided under control of an operator of a payment processing network. Registration and preference data pertaining to each of the plurality of consuming entities are stored in a database, accessible to the operator of the payment processing network. A given one of the consuming entities which has switched from a first one of the consuming entity service providers to a second one of the consuming entity service providers is allowed to access the bill presentment service via the first one of the consuming entity service providers, prior to the switching, and via the second one of the consuming entity service providers, subsequent to the switching, using the stored registration and preference data. A subset of the registration and preference data pertains to the given one of the consuming entities. The given one of the consuming entities is allowed to access the bill presentment service via the second one of the consuming entity service providers without having to take any updating action as to at least a portion of the subset of the registration and preference data. Methods for a “one click” payment aspect, an aspect wherein a bill having a single biller account number associated therewith is routed from a billing entity to multiple consuming entity service providers for presentation to a consuming entity, and a transaction tracking aspect are also provided, as are corresponding apparatuses and computer program products. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110231311 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING MESSAGES IN A BILL PAYMENT AND PRESENTMENT SYSTEM OVER A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - In a bill payment and presentation system, a method for electronically routing billing information over a communications network is provided, using an open financial exchange communication protocol. The method provides for a centrally located mainframe system and a switching system for coordinating the routing of messages between customer service providers and biller service providers. In particular, the method collects at the CSPs and at the BSPs mainframe application files comprising the messages, forwards these files in batch mode to the mainframe system and converts with a switching system these mainframe files into web-enabled addresses, allowing for the effective transmission of financial billing information in flat-file and/or Internet-based form. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110047075 | LOCATION CONTROLS ON PAYMENT CARD TRANSACTIONS - Geographical location information provided by a mobile device is used as a control on the use of a payment card as described. Mobile device identification is linked to a payment card account such that when a payment card authorization request is received, information about the geographic location of the origination of the request is checked against the geographic location provided by the mobile device, and if there is a match, the transaction can further processed for authorization or directly authorized. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110042465 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SIMULATING A PROXIMITY-BASED TRANSACTION DEVICE - Reference equipment including a reference card and a reference reader is provided for testing electronic payment devices such as cards and card readers. The reference equipment includes reference cards and reference readers that respectively can be used to verify compliance of product cards and product readers with product specifications The product specifications may, for example, be the ISO 14443 Standard specifications which are commonly accepted in the electronic payment industry The reference equipment is designed to enhance interoperability of product payment devices whose functional behaviors may vary because of vendor customization of device specifications or due to manufacturing tolerances In some embodiments, the reference equipment includes a reference card for testing card readers The exemplary reference card can comprise a current mirror to permit an electronically adjustable variable load using an external controller The reference card electronic circuit can exhibit variable load conditions | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110017820 | TECHNIQUES FOR AUTHORIZATION OF USAGE OF A PAYMENT DEVICE - Techniques for authorization of usage of a payment device include facilitating an issuer of the device obtaining an authorization message for an account number associated with the device, based on desired spending limit parameters established by a merchant and/or an issuer of the device; facilitating obtaining an issuer authorization decision; and responsive to the issuer authorization decision, facilitating setting a spending limit for the account number based on at least an appropriate one of the parameters. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110015960 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR REWARDING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND/OR ENCOURAGING APPROPRIATE PURCHASES WITH A REWARD CARD - A wellness program is set up for employees of an employer and participation in the program by at least a first one of the employees of the employer is tracked to determine if the at least first one of the employees has earned a reward by virtue of the participation. In response to determining that the reward has been earned, it is determined whether this is the employee's initial earned reward. If such is the case, a reward payment card is created for the employee; an amount associated with the reward payment card is initialized; and the card is provided to the employee. Subsequently-made purchases by the employee with the card are detected. In some cases, based on purchase level data associated with the subsequently-made purchases, it is determined if the employee is eligible for a supplemental award; if this is the case, supplemental award value is associated to the reward payment card. In other instances, purchase-level data associated with at least those of the subsequently-made purchases which are qualified purchases is reported to the employer. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110010289 | Method And System For Controlling Risk Using Static Payment Data And An Intelligent Payment Device - Example embodiments are described that permit a merchant to conduct a payment transaction using a customer's intelligent payment device when it is determined that the customer has an intelligent payment device. In the absence of such a device, the merchant may conduct the payment transaction using a traditional payment token, for example a payment token including static data. The static data may include an intelligent device data, for example a code embedded on a magnetic stripe, that may alert a merchant to the existence of the intelligent payment device. The merchant may then conduct the payment transaction using the intelligent payment device instead of using the static data. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20100332387 | Method, Apparatus, and Computer Program Product for Allowing Payment Cards Issued for Only Limited Duration Use to be Reused Multiple Times to Reduce the Overall Cost of Issuance - A recyclable contactless payment device is issued to a first patron of a venue. Use of the contactless payment device at the venue by the first patron is facilitated, as is return of the contactless payment device by the first patron for recycling. The contactless payment device is deactivated and stored. The issuing and facilitation of use are repeated for at least a second patron of the venue, with the same recyclable contactless payment device. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100325039 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ENCODING ENHANCED ISSUER INFORMATION IN A CARD - Facilitating communications between an electronic payment device and an issuer host includes storing in the payment device a set of personalization parameters. A first set of status information indicative of available status information relating to the payment device is transformed into a second set of status information based on the set of personalization parameters, and/or a second set of actions is selected from a first set of actions indicative of available actions to be performed by the payment device based on the set of personalization parameters and an order received from the issuer for initiating at least one corresponding action in the payment device. The second set of status information includes a subset of the first set of status information; the second set of actions includes a subset of the first set of actions. The payment device transmits the second set of status information to the issuer and/or initiates the actions in the second set of actions corresponding to the order received from the issuer. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100318463 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDRESSING ISSUER HOLD FOR AUTOMATED FUEL DISPENSER TRANSACTIONS IN AN ELECTRONIC PAYMENT SYSTEM - Placement of a hold amount against a payment card account of a customer is facilitated, in response to the customer presenting a payment device, associated with the payment card account, in connection with a non-PIN, signature-based, dual-message transaction with a merchant. The presenting of the payment device is prior to a time when an amount of the transaction can be determined. Subsequent to the placement of the hold amount, immediately after the time when the amount of the transaction can be determined, transmission of an authorization advice message from an acquirer associated with the merchant to an issuer of the payment device is facilitated. The authorization advice message indicates the amount of the transaction. A further step includes facilitating the issuer of the payment device releasing any portion of the hold amount which exceeds the amount of the transaction, immediately responsive to the authorization advice message. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100274722 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR RECOVERING TORN SMART PAYMENT DEVICE TRANSACTIONS - Initial presentation of a payment device to a payment terminal assembly, in connection with a putative transaction, is facilitated. The payment device includes a payment device memory storing a device-side payment application, with an on-device balance, and at least one payment device processor coupled to the payment device memory. The payment terminal assembly includes a terminal memory, storing a terminal-side payment application, and at least one terminal processor coupled to the terminal memory. A first command is sent from the payment terminal assembly to the payment device to compute a cryptogram to complete the putative transaction. It is detected that the cryptogram is not received as expected. In response, an identifier of the payment device and transaction recovery data associated with the putative transaction are stored in a storage area of the terminal memory. The payment terminal assembly obtains the identifier of the payment device, upon re-presentation of the payment device to the payment terminal assembly. Upon the re-presentation of the payment device to the payment terminal assembly, the payment terminal assembly compares the obtained identifier of the payment device to contents of the storage area. Conditioned at least upon the comparing yielding a match, a second command is sent from the payment terminal assembly to the payment device. The second command instructs the payment device to re-produce the cryptogram to complete the putative transaction. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100274712 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING A QUALITY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR THE CONTACTLESS INTERFACE OF A DUAL-INTERFACE CARD - Techniques for enabling performance of a quality control function on the contactless interface while the contactless interface is disabled are provided. The techniques include implementing, on a dual-interface payment device, one or more security mechanisms, wherein the dual-interface payment device comprises a first interface and a second interface, using the one or more security mechanisms to prevent a subset of data corresponding to the first interface from being read using the second interface while allowing data corresponding to the second interface to be read using the first interface, and personalizing the dual-interface payment device and the one or more security mechanisms according to one or more requirements of an issuer of the dual-interface payment device. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100264226 | PAYMENT CARD HAVING ACCEPTANCE ATTRIBUTES ON A SINGLE SIDE - A payment card has a generally planar body having a first side and a second side, and a plurality of acceptance attributes on the second side. The first side is formed without any acceptance attributes thereon. The first side may include artwork of an issuer of the payment card. The acceptance attributes may include, for example, a signature panel, a cardholder name, a card expiration date, at least one of a bar code and a magnetic stripe, and a card security code. A method of using such a card includes physically presenting the card to a merchant, and viewing, by the merchant, of at least needed ones of the acceptance attributes without the merchant being required to turn the card over. Another method of using such a card includes supplying (without necessarily physically presenting the card), from a card user to a merchant, acceptance attribute information of a payment card of the kind described, as well as viewing, by the card user, of the acceptance attribute information without the card user being required to turn the card over. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100252624 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATED PAYMENT AND ELECTRONIC MERCHANDISE TRANSFER - Interrogation of an electronic device by a first terminal is facilitated, to obtain an account number associated with the electronic device. The electronic device is configured according to a payment specification. The first terminal has a first terminal payment module configured according to the payment specification and a first terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to the first terminal payment module to permit transfer of non-payment e-merchandise related information from the first terminal electronic merchandise module to the first terminal payment module. The interrogation of the electronic device is performed by the first terminal payment module. Generation of non-payment e-merchandise related information by the first terminal electronic merchandise module is facilitated. Transfer of the non-payment e-merchandise related information from the first terminal electronic merchandise module to the electronic device via the first terminal payment module, within a transaction between the electronic device and the first terminal payment module that is conducted in accordance with the payment specification, is also facilitated. The non-payment e-merchandise related information is stored on the electronic device in accordance with the payment specification. The electronic device and the first terminal independently calculate a summary data item. The first terminal calculates a first message authentication code based on the non-payment e-merchandise related information and a terminal-calculated value of the summary data item. The non-payment e-merchandise related information is stored on the electronic device together with an electronic device-calculated value of the summary data item and the first message authentication code. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100174644 | Integrated File Structure Useful in Connection with Apparatus and Method for Facilitating Account Restructuring in an Electronic Bill Payment System - An electronic funds transfer bill payment operation of a financial institution receives first information representing an account restructuring of a biller which uses the electronic funds transfer bill payment operation. The first information is combined with second information into a uniformly formatted file. The second information is formatted differently than the first information. The second information includes card update information for recurring payment card payments made with payment cards issued by the financial institution. The uniformly formatted file is transferred to an operator of a payment network of a kind configured to facilitate transactions between multiple issuers and multiple acquirers. The uniformly formatted file specifies at least one old account number associated with a biller and at least one new account number associated with the biller. The payment network operator operates both a recurring payment transaction system for card-not-present recurring payments and an electronic funds transfer account conversion application in accordance with the uniformly formatted file. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100174556 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING PROVIDER PAYMENT - Authorization, clearing and settlement are facilitated for a pre-payment portion of a transaction conducted with a provider using a payment device having an account number. Adjudication of a claim pertaining to the transaction is facilitated, resulting in a payer portion and a remaining patient portion. Storage of transaction information pertaining to the transaction, by an issuer of the payment device, is facilitated, as is matching, by the issuer of the payment device, of: (i) a payment advice associated with the adjudication of the claim with (ii) the transaction information stored in the step of facilitating storage. In some instances, responsive to the matching, an additional step includes facilitating the issuer controlling initiation of authorization, clearing, and settlement of the remaining patient portion. In addition to or in lieu of the additional step, the step facilitating the issuer communicating with a holder of the payment device to offer the holder an opportunity for opt-out, prior to settlement of the remaining patient portion, may be carried out. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100121768 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BULK PAYMENT ACCOUNT - An offeror offers a first plurality of payment device holders a first offer including a negotiated deal on a first ware, which is available for a first predetermined period of time. Those certain holders among the first plurality of payment device holders who wish to accept the first offer (“first offer accepting holders”) are registered. Registration includes obtaining at least personal identifying information and corresponding registered payment device account numbers for the first offer accepting holders. A first plurality of transactions are processed in accordance with the negotiated deal on the first ware. The first plurality of transactions are purchases of the first ware, by the first offer accepting holders, during the first predetermined period of time. In some circumstances, the offeror does not require purchase of any product or service other than the first ware for which the negotiated unit price is offered in order for the first offer accepting holders to obtain the negotiated unit price on the first ware. In some cases, monetary amounts of the first plurality of transactions are adjusted to reflect the negotiated deal, contemporaneously with the first plurality of transactions. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100100480 | Apparatus and Method for Bill Payment Card Enrollment - A bill payment provider offers to a customer an option to pay a bill from a biller using a payment card account. The offering is carried out via a mechanism of the bill payment provider. The mechanism is of a kind which normally facilitates payments via electronic funds transfer from a demand deposit account of the customer. A request to pay the bill using the payment card account is received via the mechanism. Payment of the bill using the payment card account is facilitated by formatting and dispatching a message from the bill payment provider to an electronic bill payment system. The message is flagged with a flag indicating that the message comprises a non-financial, card payment, message. The message includes an identification of the biller, a card number of the payment card account, and an expiration date of the payment card account. The message is an electronic funds transfer message augmented with the flag, the card number, and the expiration date. An alternative technique using an operator of a payment network is also disclosed, as are corresponding systems. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100088207 | Method and System for Linkage of Generally Available Healthcare Accounts to Credit Card - A general-purpose payment card product is linked to a designated reimbursement account. A payment card authorization request is obtained, with a full amount and a reimbursement eligible amount included therein, based on a transaction with the payment card product at a merchant. In one aspect, a payment card authorization response is returned to the merchant from an issuer of the payment card product, based on the full amount. A funding request is initiated, for the reimbursement eligible amount, from the designated reimbursement account. The payment card product and the designated reimbursement account are managed separately. In an alternative, the authorization request is intercepted by an operator of a payment network. The operator initiates a first operator authorization request for the reimbursement eligible amount, and a second operator authorization request for the full amount less the portion of the reimbursement eligible amount, and returns a coordinated response to the merchant. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100057554 | Method and System for Enabling Promotion of Product(s) and/or Service(s) - At least one promotional program manager provides a plurality of merchants with a list of item identifiers for a plurality of items eligible for a promotion, and a list of device identifying numbers of payment devices associated with the promotion. A given one of the merchants identifies, during a putative purchase transaction with a given one of the payment devices, at least one of the plurality of items eligible for the promotion. The given one of the merchants, and an acquiring entity, cooperatively format and dispatch an authorization request. The authorization request is sent to an issuing entity of the given one of the payment devices, via an operator of a payment network. The authorization request includes a given one of the device identifiers associated with the given one of the prepaid payment devices, a given one of the item identifiers associated with the at least one of the plurality of items eligible for the promotion, and price data associated with the at least one of the plurality of items eligible for the promotion. The issuing entity prepares and sends an authorization request response to the authorization request. The authorization request response is sent from the issuing entity to the merchant, via the operator of the payment network and the acquiring entity. The authorization request response indicates whether the putative purchase of the at least one of the plurality of items eligible for the promotion with the given one of the prepaid payment devices is approved. The method further includes the promotional program manager applying the promotion to the given eligible item. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100017235 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING UNCERTAIN TRANSACTION AMOUNTS IN A PAYMENT SYSTEM - A first acquirers receives, via a payment network configured to facilitate transactions between multiple issuers and multiple acquirers, an authorization response flagged with a flag. The flag indicates that clearing of a first transaction, associated with the authorization response, is to be suspended. The first transaction initially has an uncertain amount, and is associated with a first payment account, of a first user, associated with a first issuer. Subsequent determination of a final certain amount for the first transaction is awaited. Upon determination of the final certain amount, the first one of the acquirers proceeds with clearing the first transaction, based on the final certain amount. The steps are repeated for at least a second acquirer and at least a second transaction. The second transaction is associated with a second payment account, of a second user, associated with a second one of the issuers. The steps are carried out by an operator of the payment network, and the flag is understandable to the first and second issuers and the first and second acquirers. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20090210299 | Method and Apparatus for Simplifying the Handling of Complex Payment Transactions - A predetermined amount, which may, in general, be zero, less than, the same as, or greater than a (yet-to-be-determined) final transaction amount, is charged upon first presentation of a payment device to a merchant. A final transaction amount is calculated, preferably at a central server, subsequent to the first presentation. A variable adjustment value is calculated, preferably at the central server, by comparing the predetermined amount already charged with the final transaction amount. A new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of the payment device, is modified by the variable adjustment value. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090132414 | System And Method For Integrated Electronic Invoice Presentment And Payment - A system and method is provided for an electronic invoice presentment and payment management service. The system and method automatically link electronic purchase orders, invoices, receipt-of-goods documents, and other transaction-related information to a payment card transaction, such as a purchasing card transaction. The system may be used in conjunction with existing infrastructure and the systems currently employed by a buyer organization and a supplier organization. The system provides for the delivery of Level III data (invoice detail) with every payment card transaction and automatically inputs this Level III detailed transaction data into the buyer's accounts payable system and enterprise resource planning system. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090103730 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING A DEVICE CONFORMING TO A PAYMENT STANDARD FOR ACCESS CONTROL AND/OR SECURE DATA STORAGE - Secure establishment of a key associated with a first facility identifier is facilitated. The key is shared between a device and an operator of a first facility, via a public key management infrastructure of a payment system operating according to the payment standard, during a first transaction, substantially in accordance with the payment standard, between the device and the first facility. Controlling access to a first facility is facilitated, via the device, using the key associated with the first facility identifier, substantially without reference to an issuer of the device and substantially without use of asymmetric keys of the device, during a plurality of subsequent transactions, substantially in accordance with the payment standard, between the device and the first facility. The steps can be repeated for a number of different facilities, such as different transit systems, with appropriate rules to address a situation where the device has a limited storage capacity for keys of different transit operators. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090063333 | Apparatus And Method For Payment Card Account Personalization - Techniques for payment card account personalization include obtaining access to data describing a first set of parameters associated with the payment card account and obtaining indications of a first change in a life situation of an account holder. The first change may be one that has occurred since establishment of the first set of parameters. Presentation of a first menu of updated parameter choices to the holder is facilitated. The presentation of the first menu can be based upon the first change in the life situation of the holder. A holder selection can be obtained from the first menu, including data describing a second set of parameters associated with the payment card account, the second set of parameters being different than the first set of parameters. The payment card account then operates according to the second set of parameters. In some instances, account parameters can be updated across multiple financial institutions, by a service provider. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090048883 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING INTRAGOVERNMENTAL TRANSACTIONS - A plurality of validated electronic trade documents, associated with a transaction between a government agency buyer and a government agency seller, are obtained. The electronic trade documents are logically linked in an intragovernmental transaction container, and periodically scanned to determine if conditions exist for at least partial settlement of the transaction. Responsive to the determination that the conditions for the at least partial settlement of the transaction exist, the at least partial settlement of the transaction is initiated. Capability for handling grants can also be provided. | 02-19-2009 |
