| Visa International Service Association Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20120136795 | Smart Card Loading Transactions Using Wireless Telecommunications Network - Smart card transactions allow consumers to load value onto and make purchases using smart cards with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. To load the smart card, the handset receives a request to load value. The handset generates a funds request message and sends the message to a funds issuer computer that debits a user account. Next, the handset authenticates the smart card and receives a response message including approval to load. The handset validates the response and loads the value onto the smart card. For payment, the handset sends an order request message to the merchant server computer, and in return receives a purchase instruction message. The handset processes the message locally, and sends a draw request message to a payment server computer. The payment server computer sends an approval to debit the smart card. The handset validates the approval and debits the smart card. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120136704 | Systems and Methods to Reward User Interactions - In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler, a data warehouse to store transaction data recording transactions processed at the transaction handler and to store account data identifying an account of a user, and a portal to receive a user selection of a first portion of an advertisement announcing a reward. The portal is to track user interactions associated with the advertisement to determine whether the user is qualified for the reward. Upon a determination that the user has completed the user interactions for the reward, the transaction handler is to provide the reward to the account of the user via statement credit. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120109749 | Systems and Methods to Provide Recommendations - In one aspect, a computing apparatus stores in a computer readable storage media transaction data related to a plurality of payment card transactions processed at a transaction handler for a group of accounts. Based on the transaction data and user feedback, such as ratings and comments, the computing apparatus computes preference scores to rank merchants and to provide recommendations or suggestions to users of the account group based on the preference scores, such as suggesting hotels or restaurants to business travelers of a company based on spending amount and frequency derived from the transaction data of the corporate credit card accounts of the company. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109730 | Systems and Methods to Provide Messages in Real-Time with Transaction Processing - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to generate trigger records for a transaction handler to identify authorization requests that satisfy the conditions specified in the trigger records, identify communication preferences of the users associated with the identified authorization requests, and use the communication preferences to target real-time messages at the users in parallel with the transaction handler providing responses to the respective authorization requests. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120078701 | Systems and Methods to Provide Services Based on Transaction Activities - Systems and methods are provided to structure services in tiers and provide services as rewards in accordance with the tiers. In one aspect, a system stores information identifying an account holder's account and information identifying features that are associated with the account. Account features include a plurality of services that are organized in tiers and any given tier determines the benefits the account holder is entitled to in connection with a set of services associated with the account feature. The account holder's account is associated with an original tier and the system monitors subsequent transactions to determine a tier that the user is entitled to based on the transactions. The tier includes all of the services that the user was previously entitled to in addition to any new services associated with a tier change. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078699 | Systems and Methods to Program Operations for Interaction with Users - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are independent from each other in processing and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078697 | Systems and Methods to Program Operations for Interaction with Users - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are independent from each other in processing and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120072997 | Systems and Methods to Modify Interaction Rules During Run Time - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are independent from each other in processing and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. The computing apparatus is configured to store data indicating the completion statuses of the events and process the events, including the scheduled actions, if any, in an atomic way. Thus, the offer rules can be changed on-the-fly during run time execution by the computing apparatus. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120066131 | MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE WITH AUTHENTICATION - A bank (or merchant) hosts and operates an online money transfer service (or “portal”). A sender logs into the portal and enters payment card and money transfer details and then submits the transaction. An authentication window appears displaying the sender's transaction details and the sender is prompted to enter his or her password. Upon successful authentication, the bank seeks authorization from the card issuer. Upon successful authorization, the bank credits the recipient's local bank account or existing payment card. The recipient can also receive a check, a draft, a prepaid card or cash. The money transfer service is used both cross-border and domestic to effect person-to-person money transfer. The money transfer service uses the “Verified by Visa” authentication service and VisaNet for authorization. Messages over VisaNet are used to deliver funds to a recipient. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066130 | DATA AUTHENTICATION AND PROVISIONING METHOD AND SYSTEM - Techniques for authenticating the identity and validating the profile of an individual (“a presenter”) who presents him or herself to another party (“an acceptor”) as having a certain identity and having certain corresponding profile data are described. The invention can be advantageously used in Internet transactions where such authentication and validation is difficult to perform. The techniques of the present invention allow the trusted party to give a definitive answer regarding the authentication of identity and validity of profile data. Other services such as profile data provisioning and profile data updating can also be performed. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066129 | DATA AUTHENTICATION AND PROVISIONING METHOD AND SYSTEM - Techniques for authenticating the identity and validating the profile of an individual (“a presenter”) who presents him or herself to another party (“an acceptor”) as having a certain identity and having certain corresponding profile data are described. The invention can be advantageously used in Internet transactions where such authentication and validation is difficult to perform. The techniques of the present invention allow the trusted party to give a definitive answer regarding the authentication of identity and validity of profile data. Other services such as profile data provisioning and profile data updating can also be performed. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066124 | MONEY TRANSFER SERVICE WITH AUTHENTICATION - A bank (or merchant) hosts and operates an online money transfer service (or “portal”). A sender logs into the portal and enters payment card and money transfer details and then submits the transaction. An authentication window appears displaying the sender's transaction details and the sender is prompted to enter his or her password. Upon successful authentication, the bank seeks authorization from the card issuer. Upon successful authorization, the bank credits the recipient's local bank account or existing payment card. The recipient can also receive a check, a draft, a prepaid card or cash. The money transfer service is used both cross-border and domestic to effect person-to-person money transfer. The money transfer service uses the “Verified by Visa” authentication service and VisaNet for authorization. Messages over VisaNet are used to deliver funds to a recipient. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066065 | Systems and Methods to Segment Customers - In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a data warehouse configured to store transaction data, geo-demographic data, attitudinal data and lifestyle data of a plurality of customers; a profile generator coupled with the data warehouse to determine a profile for each respective customer of the plurality of customers, the profile including at least one profile parameter to cluster customers based on the transaction data, the geo-demographic data, the attitudinal data and the lifestyle data; and a segment detector coupled with the data warehouse to segment the plurality of customers in a space having at least one first dimension corresponding to the at least one profile parameter, a second dimension for a value score indicative of a level of profitability value of each respective customer, and a third dimension for a current status of each respective customer in connection with a goal. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066064 | Systems and Methods to Provide Real-Time Offers via a Cooperative Database - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to: store transaction data recording transactions processed by a transaction handler; organize third party data according to community, where the third party data includes first data received from a first plurality of entities of a first community and second data received from a second plurality of entities of a second community; and responsive to a request from a merchant in the second community, present an offer of the merchant in the second community to users identified via the transaction data and the first data received from the first plurality of entities of the first community. In one embodiment, the first data provides permission from the merchant in the first community to allow the merchant in the second community to use intelligence information of the first community to identify users for targeting offers from the merchant in the second community. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120059702 | Systems and Methods to Rank and Select Triggers for Real-Time Offers - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to receive an input specifying a set of users, identify a set of triggers, each of which corresponds to a set of one or more conditions which when satisfied cause transmission of a message to the set of users, rank the triggers based at least in part on transaction data of the users that was recorded by a transaction handler, and generate a ranked list of the triggers based on the ranking. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120030006 | Systems and Methods to Optimize Media Presentations using a Camera - In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to: capture first images of customers who have watched a digital sign, using a digital camera attached to the digital sign positioned in vicinity of a retail location; identify characteristics of the customers based on the first images; identify, using the characteristics, a subset of customers who have made payment transactions at the retail location through a transaction handler; determine an aggregated spending profile based on transactions of the subset of customers recorded by the transaction handler; and arrange content on the digital sign based on the aggregated spending profile. The computing apparatus may be further configured to capture second images of the customers who have made payment transactions at the retail location through the transaction handler, using a digital camera attached to a point of sale (POS) station at the retail location, and to correlate the first and second images to identify the subset. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120022945 | Systems and Methods to Identify Payment Accounts Having Business Spending Activities - Systems and methods are provided to generate tools to evaluate the probability of an account being actually used by a business rather than an individual. In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a data warehouse configured to store transaction data of accounts issued by a plurality of issuers; and at least one processor configured to calculate values of a first plurality of variables for each of the accounts using the transaction data of the accounts issued by the plurality of issuers. The accounts include business accounts and non-business accounts. The at least one processor is further configured to identify a second plurality of variables from the first plurality of variables for a classification model to distinguish, using the values and logistic regression, the business accounts from the non-business accounts. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110125638 | Internet Payment, Authentication And Loading System Using Virtual Smart Card - A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server. The Internet provides the routing functionality between the client terminal and the various servers. A merchant advertises goods on a web site. A user uses the client terminal to purchase goods and/or services from the remote merchant server. The payment server processes, confirms and replies to the merchant server. The payment server is also used to authenticate the holder of a virtual card who wishes to redeem loyalty points from a merchant. To load value, the client terminal requests a load from a user account at the bank server. The load server processes, confirms and replies to the bank server. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110055057 | RETURN PAYMENT CARD PROCESS - A payment card returned as undeliverable is processed with a card administration system that responds to the return of the payment card by setting a “returned” indicator in a data record of a cardholder to whom the payment card was intended for delivery, and otherwise maintains the cardholder's account without change. A card handling system initiates destruction of the returned payment card and provides a replacement payment card to the cardholder if updated profile information of the cardholder is received within a predetermined time period, and closes the cardholder account and returns any funds in the cardholder account if no updated profile information of the cardholder is received within the predetermined time period. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20100332393 | ONLINE PAYER AUTHENTICATION SERVICE - A payment authentication service authenticates the identity of a payer during online transactions. The authentication service of the present invention allows a card issuer to verify a cardholder's identity using a variety of authentication methods, such as the use of passwords. Also, the only system participant requiring a certificate is the issuing financial institution. One embodiment of the invention for authenticating the identity of a cardholder during an online transaction involves querying an access control server to determine if a cardholder is enrolled in the payment authentication service, requests a password from the cardholder, verifies the password, and notifies a merchant whether the cardholder's authenticity has been verified. In another aspect of the invention, a chip card and the authentication service independently generate cryptograms that must match in order for the service to verify that the correct chip card is being used by the cardholder. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100312697 | PAYMENT SERVICES FOR MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS - A central coordinating body (CCB) is part of a global commercial card processing system. The CCB provides standards, relationships, management protocols, problem resolution, processing, data sourcing and reporting capabilities. The local card issuer services a client locally on behalf of the lead card issuer. The lead issuer and CCB enter into an agreement that defines services that will be performed for the client by local issuers and services to be performed by CCB. The local issuers and CCB enter into an agreement defining the services to be provided for the client. A list of services to be provided is published that describes the services provided by a local issuer. The agreements specify a bid process for when an RFP is received from a client. Revenue from transactions received by a local issuer is sent to the lead issuer. The local issuer and CCB charge fees for the services provided to the lead issuer. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100250956 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING DATA ACCESS AND MANAGEMENT ON A SECURE TOKEN - A system for facilitating data access and management on a smart card is provided. According to one exemplary aspect of the system, a storage architecture is provided in the smart card which allows data stored thereon to be shared by multiple parties. Access to data stored on the smart card is controlled by various access methods depending on the actions to be taken with respect to the data to be accessed. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100235282 | SMART CARD PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS USING WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A mobile handset includes a card reader; a gateway; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The handset receives a request to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request and sends it to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account. The handset generates a load request with a signature and sends it to an authentication computer. The handset receives a response. The handset validates the second signature and loads value onto the smart card. For payment, the system includes a merchant server and a payment server. The handset sends an order request to the merchant computer, and receives a purchase instruction. The handset processes the message, and then sends a draw request message to a payment server. The payment server sends a debit message to debit the smart card. The handset validates the signature and debits the smart card. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100223184 | Sponsored Accounts For Computer-Implemented Payment System - Systems and methods for primary and sponsored accounts are provided. A system may include an account processor to execute software instructions for creating and managing electronic payment accounts and an accounts database to store account data from the account processor. The account processor may be configured to create a primary account and a sponsored account in the accounts database. The primary account may be associated with a primary account holder who has access to the primary account to add and remove funds. The sponsored account may be associated with both the primary account holder and a sponsored account holder, where the primary account holder has access to the sponsored account to transfer funds between the primary account and the sponsored account in order to add and remove funds from the sponsored account, and the sponsored account holder has access to the sponsored account for making transactions using funds in the sponsored account. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100063895 | MOBILE ACCOUNT AUTHENTICATION SERVICE - A payment authentication service authenticates the identity of a payer during online transactions. The authentication service allows a card issuer to verify a cardholder's identity using a variety of authentication methods, such as with the use of tokens. Authenticating the identity of a cardholder during an online transaction involves querying an access control server to determine if a cardholder is enrolled in the payment authentication service, requesting a password from the cardholder, verifying the password, and notifying a merchant whether the cardholder's authenticity has been verified. Systems for implementing the authentication service in which a cardholder uses a mobile device capable of transmitting messages via the Internet are described. Systems for implementing the authentication service in which a cardholder uses a mobile device capable of transmitting messages through voice and messaging channels is also described. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100057619 | ACCOUNT AUTHENTICATION SERVICE WITH CHIP CARD - A payment authentication service authenticates the identity of a payer during online transactions. The authentication service of the present invention allows a card issuer to verify a cardholder's identity using a variety of authentication methods, such as the use of passwords. Also, the only system participant requiring a certificate is the issuing financial institution. One embodiment of the invention for authenticating the identity of a cardholder during an online transaction involves querying an access control server to determine if a cardholder is enrolled in the payment authentication service, requests a password from the cardholder, verifies the password, and notifies a merchant whether the cardholder's authenticity has been verified. In another aspect of the invention, a chip card and the authentication service independently generate cryptograms that must match in order for the service to verify that the correct chip card is being used by the cardholder. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20090099857 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERIFYING USE OF A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - Methods and systems for verifying that a registrant is authorized to use a particular payment instrument are presented. A registering service initiates one or more verifying transactions involving the instrument. The registrant contacts the issuing financial institution to dispute the transaction and verifies his or her identity to the issuing financial institution, resulting in the registering service being contacted and verifying to the registering service that the registrant owns or controls the payment instrument. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090037304 | CONDUCTING COMMERCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS - Receiving payment includes the establishment, at a first server, a transaction record including information identifying a payment amount, a first account to be credited by the payment amount, and a second account to be debited by a debit amount. A financial authorization network performs an authorization analysis on at least the second account. The second account is debited if the authorization analysis is successfully completed, and the first account is directly credited by the payment amount to conclude the transaction. Risk analysis may be performed for each individual. Payment is integrated with shipping. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090030844 | SMART CARD LOADING TRANSACTIONS USING WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A smart card transaction allows a consumer to load value onto a smart card and to make purchases using a smart card with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. For loading, the system includes: a mobile telephone handset including a card reader; a gateway computer; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The mobile telephone handset receives a request from a user to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request message which includes the value and sends the funds request message to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account associated with the user. Next, the handset generates a load request message with a cryptographic signature and sends the load request message to an authentication computer which authenticates the smart card. The handset receives a response message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to load. Finally, the handset validates the second cryptographic signature and loads the value onto the smart card. For payment, the system includes a merchant server and a payment server. First, the handset sends an order request message to the merchant server computer, and in return receives a purchase instruction message. The handset processes the purchase instruction message locally, and then sends a draw request message to a payment server computer. The payment server computer sends a debit message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to debit the smart card. Finally, the handset validates the cryptographic signature and debits the smart card. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090030843 | SMART CARD LOAD AND PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS USING WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A smart card transaction allows a consumer to load value onto a smart card and to make purchases using a smart card with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. For loading, the system includes: a mobile telephone handset including a card reader; a gateway computer; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The mobile telephone handset receives a request from a user to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request message which includes the value and sends the funds request message to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account associated with the user. Next, the handset generates a load request message with a cryptographic signature and sends the load request message to an authentication computer which authenticates the smart card. The handset receives a response message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to load. Finally, the handset validates the second cryptographic signature and loads the value onto the smart card. For payment, the system includes a merchant server and a payment server. First, the handset sends an order request message to the merchant server computer, and in return receives a purchase instruction message. The handset processes the purchase instruction message locally, and then sends a draw request message to a payment server computer. The payment server computer sends a debit message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to debit the smart card. Finally, the handset validates the cryptographic signature and debits the smart card. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090030842 | SMART CARD PURCHASING TRANSACTIONS USING WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - A smart card transaction allows a consumer to load value onto a smart card and to make purchases using a smart card with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. For loading, the system includes: a mobile telephone handset including a card reader; a gateway computer; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The mobile telephone handset receives a request from a user to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request message which includes the value and sends the funds request message to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account associated with the user. Next, the handset generates a load request message with a cryptographic signature and sends the load request message to an authentication computer which authenticates the smart card. The handset receives a response message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to load. Finally, the handset validates the second cryptographic signature and loads the value onto the smart card. For payment, the system includes a merchant server and a payment server. First, the handset sends an order request message to the merchant server computer, and in return receives a purchase instruction message. The handset processes the purchase instruction message locally, and then sends a draw request message to a payment server computer. The payment server computer sends a debit message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to debit the smart card. Finally, the handset validates the cryptographic signature and debits the smart card. | 01-29-2009 |