Transaction processing platform for facilitating electronic distribution of plural prepaid services

• US 10,102,516 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EWI Holdings Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EWI Holdings Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Tamari, Roni Dolev, Herbinaux, Larry, New, Darren, Paschini, Miles, Hazel, Patrick K., Rose, Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawley, Talia F
• Application Number:
  US13/619,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20130036019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 3791142
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 : with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/201 : automatic recharging with predetermined amount at threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 : on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 : using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/22 : with automatic recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection the account is recharged automatically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/24 : with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/2593 : code management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 : Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A transaction processing platform capable of facilitating the distribution to consumers of various types of prepaid products is disclosed. The transaction processing platform is configured to interface with one or more providers of such prepaid products in order to facilitate the procurement or activation of the products. The platform includes a conduit interface through which service request messages are received and respectively utilized to generate transaction requests for corresponding types of prepaid services. A supply interface arrangement, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, is configured to route a first of the transaction requests through a first supply interface associated with a first type of prepaid service. The supply interface arrangement also routes a second transaction request through a second supply interface associated with a second type of prepaid service. The platform is also configured to provide supplier response information received through the supply interfaces to the conduit interface.

Claims

1. A system for processing prepaid service transactions, the system comprising:

a conduit interface, comprising a plurality of distributed servers and one or more processors and software programming stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable memory and executed by the one or more processors, which causes the conduit interface to;

receive, from a client terminal in a client transaction request, a first service request message and a second service request message, and

generate, based on receipt of the first service request message and the second service request message, a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service and a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service;

a platform front-end, comprising a load-balancing switch, wherein the load-balancing switch apportions service request messages, received via both a private network and the Internet, among the distributed servers; and

a supply interface arrangement, operatively coupled to the conduit interface and comprising the one or more processors and software programming stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable memory and executed by the one or more processor, which causes the supply interface arrangement to;

route the first transaction request through a first supply interface of the supply interface arrangement associated with the first type of prepaid service, and

route the second transaction request through a second supply interface of the supply interface arrangement associated with the second type of prepaid service, wherein supplier response information received through the first supply interface and the second supply interface is provided to the conduit interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the client terminal is a point of sale activation (POSA) terminal.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said POSA terminal is configured to interface to the private network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the client terminal is configured to connect to the Internet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit interface and the supply interface arrangement are part of a transaction processing platform comprising the one or more processors and the one or more non-transitory computer readable memory, the transaction processing platform being configured to be accessed by the client terminal via the Internet using an appropriate URL.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit interface and the supply interface arrangement are part of a transaction processing platform comprising the one or more processors and the one or more non-transitory computer readable memory, the transaction processing platform being configured to be accessed by the client terminal via the Internet using a browser program.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit interface and the supply interface arrangement are part of a transaction processing platform comprising the one or more processors, the one or more non-transitory computer readable memory, and a database configured to store customer records unique to individual customers, wherein said customers records comprise payment or credit accounts.

11. The system of claim 1, the supply interface arrangement comprising a real-time-supply module configured to provide personal information numbers (PINs) to end-users on a real-time basis in response to the client transaction request, wherein said PINs can be used to access desired goods or services.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit interface and the supply interface arrangement are part of a transaction processing platform comprising the one or more processors, the one or more non-transitory computer readable memory, the transaction processing platform being configured to electronically distribute prepaid products to end-users via the Internet, wherein said distribution is in real-time and wherein said transaction processing platform is configured to be accessed via the Internet using an appropriate URL.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit interface comprises conduit server configured to receive the client transaction request from the client terminal which is operative for wireless communication.

5. A method for processing transactions involving prepaid services performed by a transaction processing platform having a processor and computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer readable memory which, when executed by the processor, causes the transaction processing platform to perform the method comprising:

sending, by a platform front-end, wherein the platform front-end comprises a load-balancing switch which apportions service request messages received via both a private network and the Internet, a transaction request comprising a first service request message;

sending, by the platform front-end, the transaction request comprising a second service request message;

receiving, at a conduit interface of the transaction processing platform, wherein the conduit interface comprises distributed servers, the transaction request comprising the first service request message;

receiving, at the conduit interface of the transaction processing platform, the transaction request comprising the second service request message;

generating, by the conduit interface of the transaction processing platform, in response to said first service request message, a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service;

generating, by the conduit interface of the transaction processing platform, in response to said second service request message, a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service;

routing, by a supply interface arrangement of the transaction processing platform, the first transaction request to a first supply interface of the supply interface arrangement and associated with a first type of prepaid service;

routing, by a supply interface arrangement of the transaction processing platform, the second transaction request to a second supply interface of the supply interface arrangement and associated with a second type of prepaid service; and

providing, by the supply interface arrangement of the transaction processing platform, based upon supplier activation information received through the first supply interface, a first service activation response.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein said first service request message received by the transaction processing platform from the client terminal is via the internet using an appropriate URL.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein said first service request message received by transaction processing platform from the client terminal is via the Internet using a browser program.

16. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, at the transaction processing platform, identifying information unique to a customer through the conduit interface, wherein the identifying information corresponds to information in a platform database of customer records.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein the first service activation response is a personal information number (PIN), wherein said providing is by a real-time-supply module of the supply interface arrangement in response to the first transaction request, wherein said personal information number (PIN) is provided to an end-user on a real-time basis wherein the PIN and instructions for using the PIN are provided to the end-user via a printed receipt.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein said first service request message is received by a transaction processing platform via the Internet using an appropriate URL, the method further comprising:

electronically distributing, by the transaction processing platform, prepaid products to end-users via the Internet, wherein said distribution is in real-time.

19. The method of claim 5, wherein said first service request message is received from a client terminal operative for wireless communication.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing, by the transaction processing platform, target advertising to the customer.

6. A system for providing prepaid services comprising:

a transaction processing platform for processing prepaid services comprising one or more processors and software programming stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable memory;

a conduit interface, comprising a plurality of distributed servers and software programming stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable memory and executed by the one or more processors, through which a first service request message generated by a first client terminal and a second service request message generated by a second client terminal are received by the transaction processing platform from the first client terminal and the second client terminal and utilized to generate a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service and a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service;

a platform front-end, comprising a load-balancing switch, wherein the load-balancing switch apportions service request messages, received via both a private network and the Internet, among the distributed servers; and

a supply interface arrangement, comprising software programming stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory and executed by the one or more processors, operatively coupled to the conduit interface, configured to route the first transaction request through a first supply interface of the supply interface arrangement associated with the first type of prepaid service and to route the second transaction request through a second supply interface of the supply interface arrangement associated with the second type of prepaid service,

wherein supplier response information received through the first supply interface and the second supply interface is provided to the conduit interface.

7. A computer-implemented method for processing transactions involving prepaid services performed by a transaction processing platform having a processor and computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer readable memory which, when executed by the processor, causes the transaction processing platform to perform the method comprising:

sending, by a platform front-end, wherein the platform front-end comprises a load-balancing switch which apportions service request messages received via both a private network and the Internet, a first service request message generated by a first client terminal and a second service request message generated by a second client terminal;

receiving, through a conduit interface of the transaction processing platform, wherein the conduit interface comprises distributed servers, the first service request message and the second service request message;

generating, by the conduit interface of the transaction processing platform, in response to said first service request message received through said conduit interface, a first transaction request for a first type of prepaid service;

generating, by the conduit interface of the transaction processing platform, in response to said second service request message received through said conduit interface, a second transaction request for a second type of prepaid service;

routing, by a supply interface arrangement of the transaction processing platform, the first transaction request to a first supply interface of the supply interface arrangement and associated with the first type of prepaid service;

routing, by a supply interface arrangement of the transaction processing platform, the second transaction request to a second supply interface of the supply interface arrangement and associated with the second type of prepaid service; and

providing, by the supply interface arrangement of the transaction processing platform, based upon supplier activation information received through the first supply interface, a first service activation response to the conduit interface.