System for processing, activating and redeeming value added prepaid cards

• US 10,223,684 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Llach, Teri
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Danzig, Reva R
• Application Number:
  US13/617,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 705 141, 705 17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computer implemented method for adding value to a stored value card in excess of the purchase price for the stored value card is provided. In one embodiment a stored value card transaction processor receives an activation or redemption request for a stored value card from a point of sale terminal. The activation or redemption request comprises at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a merchant identification, and an activation time which is compared to data stored in a stored value card datastore to determine if the stored value card to be activated is eligible for a value added award. The processor then determines the value added award and modifies the request to include the value added award. The processor then transmits the modified request to the card issuer authorization system and receives a response which is forwarded to the point of sale terminal.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction, the method being performed on a stored value card transaction computer having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which transform the stored value card transaction computer into a particular machine and cause the stored value card transaction computer to perform the method in a sequence of steps, the steps of the method comprising:

receiving, by the stored value card transaction computer, a transaction request for a stored value card from a point of sale terminal, wherein the transaction request comprises at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, a merchant identification, wherein the transaction request further comprises an activation request for the stored value card and a date of the activation request of the stored value card, wherein the date of the activation request is the date of activation;

determining, by the stored value card transaction computer, that the stored value card is eligible for a value differentiation by comparing the date of the activation request and at least one of the card identification, the point of sale terminal identification, the vendor identification, and the merchant identification, to stored data in a stored value card datastore;

determining, by the stored value card transaction computer, based on the date of the activation request, the value differentiation to be attributed to an account associated with the stored value card when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation;

modifying, by the stored value card transaction computer, the activation request to a modified activation request which includes the value differentiation when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation;

authorizing the modified activation request to activate the stored-value card with the value differentiation; and

transmitting, by the stored value card transaction computer, a response that the stored-value card is activated and includes the value differentiation to the point of sale terminal.

2. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the response comprises a reference to the value differentiation.

3. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the value differentiation comprises a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card.

4. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 3, wherein the monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card is less than the purchase price of the stored value card.

5. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 3, wherein the purchase price of the stored value card is less than the monetary redemption value for the stored value card.

6. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the value differentiation comprises a non-monetary redemption value.

7. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, further comprising reconciling accounts of card transaction interested parties.

8. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 7, wherein the card transaction interested parties comprise at least one of card vendors, card merchants, card issuers, and a stored value card transaction system administrator.

9. A stored value card transaction system comprising:

a datastore maintaining account information for a plurality of stored value cards, conditions for receiving a value differentiation, and conditions for redeeming the value differentiation; and

a stored value card transaction computer coupled to the datastore and having a processor and non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which transform the stored value card transaction computer into a particular machine and cause the stored value card transaction computer to perform a sequence of steps to function as;

a point of sale interface for receiving and transmitting a transaction message with a point of sale terminal, wherein the transaction message comprises an activation message for a stored-value card of the plurality of stored value cards and a date of the activation message for the stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards, wherein the date of the activation message is the date of activation;

a value added determination component to determine, based on the date of the activation message in comparison with at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, and a merchant identification, the stored value card is eligible for a value differentiation and a type of value differentiation to be awarded to an account associated with the stored value card when the stored value card is eligible for the value differentiation;

a message modification component which modifies the activation message to a modified activation message which includes the value differentiation when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation;

a card issuer system interface for transmitting the transaction message to, and receiving a response to the transaction message from, a card issuer system; and

an authorization component for authorizing the modified activation request to activate the stored-value card with the value differentiation.

10. The stored value card transaction system of claim 9, wherein the transaction message further comprises a redemption request.

11. The stored value card transaction system of claim 9, wherein the message modification component modifies messages to at least one of the point of sale terminal and the card issuer system to indicate information about the value differentiation associated with a stored value card transaction.

12. The stored value card transaction system of claim 9, wherein the response comprises a reference to the value differentiation.

13. The stored value card transaction system of claim 9, wherein the value differentiation comprises a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card.

14. The stored value card transaction system of claim 13, wherein the monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card is less than the purchase price of the stored value card.

15. The stored value card transaction system of claim 13, wherein the purchase price of the stored value card is less than the monetary redemption value for the stored value card.

16. A stored value card transaction system for activating and redeeming stored value cards with value added bonuses, comprising:

a datastore maintaining account information for a plurality of stored value cards, conditions for receiving a value added bonus, and conditions for redeeming the value added bonus; and

a stored value card transaction computer coupled to the datastore and having a processor and non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which transform the stored value card transaction computer into a particular machine and cause the stored value card transaction computer to perform a sequence of steps to function as;

a point of sale interface for receiving and transmitting activation and redemption messages with a point of sale terminal, wherein the activation message comprises an activation request for a stored-value card of the plurality of stored value cards and a date of the activation request for the stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards, wherein the date of the activation request is the date of activation;

a value added determination component to determine, based on whether (a) the date of the activation message falls within a date range to qualify for the value added bonus;

(b) the card identification matches with a database of card products that qualify for the value added bonus; and

(c) a merchant identification that matches with a database of merchants that qualify for the value added bonus, that the stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards is eligible for the value added bonus and a type of value added bonus to be awarded to an account associated with the stored value card which is eligible for the value added bonus;

a message modification component which modifies the activation message to a modified activation message which includes the value added bonus when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value added bonus;

an authorization component for authorizing an awarding of the value added bonus, a redemption of the value added bonus, the activation of the stored value card, and optionally, redemption of the stored value card.