Payment program for use in point-of-sale transactions

• US 10,296,887 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safeway Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Safeway Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Kingsborough, Donald, Roche, Talbott, Llach, Teri, Shaw, Julianna
• Primary Examiner(s): Alvarez, Raquel
• Application Number:
  US13/796,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20130191204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1448, 705 2635
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

In some embodiments, the present application relates to card-free programs provided by a merchant to a customer, whereby the customer has access to functions such as payment options and/or loyalty program benefits without needing to present a physical card at a point of sale. For example, a customer may make a card-free purchase of goods or services from a merchant, whereby the customer need not present a card such as a debit card, credit card, loyalty card, or other physical tender to make a purchase. Further, the customer need not provide biometric data or otherwise use an electronic device or identifier to make a purchase. Alternatively or additionally, the customer may access a loyalty program without needing to provide a physical card or data associated with a card.

Claims

1. A method for a card-free program of a merchant performed by a computer system of the merchant, wherein the computer system of the merchant comprises a wide area network (WAN) server, a local area network (LAN) server connected to the WAN server via a wide area network (WAN), and a point of sale device connected to the LAN server via a local area network (LAN), the method comprising:

maintaining, by the point of sale device, a unique identification code of a purchaser enrolled in a card-free payment program of the merchant;

receiving, by the point of sale device, from the purchaser during a point of sale transaction without requiring presentation of a physical card to the point of sale device, customer selected unique identifying data consisting of an identification component and a security component;

determining, by the point of sale device, the unique identification code matches the identification component of the customer selected unique identifying data;

constructing, by the point of sale device, a unique authorized transaction code comprising the unique identifying data, a transaction identifier identifying the point of sale transaction as a card-free payment, and a transaction descriptor comprising an amount of the point of sale transaction;

transmitting, by the point of sale device to the LAN server, the unique authorized transaction code;

transmitting, by the LAN server to the N server, the unique authorized transaction code;

maintaining, by the WAN server, a security code and financial information of the purchaser enrolled in the card-free payment program the merchant;

determining, by the WAN server, the security code matches the security component of the unique identifying data of the unique authorized transaction code; and

transmitting, by the WAN server to a payment switch, a request for initiation of an ACH transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the point of sale device, the unique identification code is associated with a loyalty account number of the purchaser; and

transmitting, by the point of sale device to the LAN server, a loyalty program transaction message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the loyalty program transaction message comprises the loyalty account number of the purchaser.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining, by the LAN server, a reward is available for the loyalty account number; and

forwarding, by the LAN server to the point of sale device, a command message for the point of sale device to provide the reward to the purchaser.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the ACH transaction pays for goods or services provided by the merchant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reward is associated with another merchant.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the reward comprises a rebate, a discount, a coupon, a point, a frequent flyer mile, a charitable contribution, a free item, a discount item, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the LAN server and the point of sale device are located within a store operated by the merchant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the WAN server is remotely located with respect to the point of sale device and the LAN server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein funding for the ACH transaction is via deposit or transfer from a checking account, a savings account, a credit card, a debit card, a line of credit, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a source of the funding is pre-selected by the purchaser prior to the point of sale transaction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the WAN server comprises distributed processors which are utilized by the WAN server to execute steps of the method performed by the WAN server.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a source of the funding is selected by the purchaser during the point of sale transaction.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the ACH transaction realizes a non-financial benefit to the purchaser.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-financial benefit comprises admission to a secured facility.

16. A computer system for a card-free program of a merchant, wherein the computer system of the merchant comprises:

a wide area network (WAN) server,

a local area network (LAN) server connected to the WAN server via a wide area network (WAN), and

a point of sale device connected to the LAN server via a local area network (LAN);

wherein the point of sale device is configured to

i) maintain a unique identification code of a purchaser enrolled in a card-free payment program of the merchant,

ii) receive, from the purchaser during a point of sale transaction without requiring presentation of a physical card to the point of sale device, customer selected unique identifying data consisting of an identification component and a security component,

iii) determine the unique identification code matches the identification component of the customer selected unique identifying data,

iv) construct a unique authorized transaction code comprising the unique identifying data, a transaction identifier identifying the point of sale transaction as a card-free payment, and a transaction descriptor comprising an amount of the point of sale transaction and

v) transmit the unique authorized transaction code to the LAN server;

wherein the LAN server is configured to;

i) transmit the unique authorized transaction code to the WAN server;

wherein the WAN server is configured to;

i) maintain a security code and financial information of the purchaser enrolled in the card-free payment program of the merchant;

ii) determine the security code matches the security component of the unique identifying data of the unique authorized transaction code; and

iii) transmit a request for initiation of an ACH transaction to a payment switch.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the point of sale device is further configured to:

a) determine the unique identification code is associated with a loyalty account number of the purchaser; and

b) transmit a loyalty program transaction message to the LAN server, wherein the loyalty program transaction message comprises the loyalty account number of the purchaser.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the LAN server is configured to:

i) determine a reward is available for the loyalty account number; and

ii) forward, to the point of sale device, a command message for the point of sale device to provide the reward to the purchaser.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the ACH transaction pays for goods or services provided by the merchant, and wherein the reward is associated with another merchant.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the LAN server and point of sale device are located within a store operated by the merchant, and wherein the WAN server is remotely located with respect to the point of sale device and the LAN server.