Method and apparatus for simplifying the handling of complex payment transactions
First Claim
1. A method for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said method comprising the steps of:
- charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation, using at least one hardware processor;
calculating said final transaction amount, using said at least one hardware processor and subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being calculated at a central server;
calculating a variable adjustment value using said at least one hardware processor by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being calculated at said central server; and
modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device for a subsequent transaction, by said variable adjustment value, using said at least one hardware processor;
wherein;
said payment device has a monetary balance stored thereon in a first non-transitory computer-readable medium;
said first presentation comprises entry to an environment and said predetermined amount is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device;
further comprising the additional step of checking out of said environment, using said payment device;
wherein;
said final transaction amount is calculated at said central server, after said checking out, based at least in part on said first presentation and said checking out; and
said new predetermined amount charged is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said method comprising the steps of:
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charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation, using at least one hardware processor; calculating said final transaction amount, using said at least one hardware processor and subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being calculated at a central server; calculating a variable adjustment value using said at least one hardware processor by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being calculated at said central server; and modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device for a subsequent transaction, by said variable adjustment value, using said at least one hardware processor; wherein; said payment device has a monetary balance stored thereon in a first non-transitory computer-readable medium; said first presentation comprises entry to an environment and said predetermined amount is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device; further comprising the additional step of checking out of said environment, using said payment device; wherein; said final transaction amount is calculated at said central server, after said checking out, based at least in part on said first presentation and said checking out; and said new predetermined amount charged is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said apparatus comprising:
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a memory; and at least one processor, coupled to said memory, and operative to; facilitate charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation; facilitate calculating said final transaction amount subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being calculated at a central server; facilitate calculating a variable adjustment value by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being calculated at said central server; and facilitate modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device for a subsequent transaction, by said variable adjustment value; wherein; said at least one processor comprises a processor located on said central server, a first entrance terminal processor coupled to said processor located on said central server, a second entrance terminal processor coupled to said processor located on said central server, and an exit terminal processor coupled to said processor located on said central server; said apparatus is configured for operation with said payment device, said payment device having a monetary balance stored thereon in a first non-transitory computer-readable medium; said first presentation comprises entry to an environment and said predetermined amount is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device, by said first entrance terminal processor; said exit terminal processor is operative to check a holder of said payment apparatus out of said environment, using said payment device; wherein; said final transaction amount is calculated by said processor located on said central server, after said checking out, based on said first presentation and said checking out; said variable adjustment value is calculated by said processor located on said central server; and said new predetermined amount charged is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device by said second entrance terminal processor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which when executed by at least one hardware processor cause the at least one hardware processor to perform a method for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said method comprising the steps of:
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charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation; calculating said final transaction amount, subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being calculated at a central server; calculating a variable adjustment value by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being calculated at said central server; and modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device for a subsequent transaction, by said variable adjustment value; wherein; said payment device has a monetary balance stored thereon in a first non-transitory computer-readable medium; said first presentation comprises entry to an environment and said predetermined amount is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device; said method further comprises checking out of said environment, using said payment device; wherein; said final transaction amount is calculated at said central server, after said checking out, based at least in part on said first presentation and said checking out; and said new predetermined amount charged is charged against said monetary balance stored on said payment device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification