Credit card transaction authority by content rating

• US 20030055786A1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pierre, Ron Saint, Rodriguez, Herman, Smith, Newton James Jr., Donnelly, James Aloysius
• Application Number:
  US09/956,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20030055786A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Administration of credit account transaction authority including receiving a request for authorization for a credit transaction against a credit account for purchase of at least one item available for purchase through credit transactions, wherein the item available for purchase has a content rating, and wherein the credit account has a content rating, an account owner, and at least one authorized account user; comparing the content rating of the item requested for purchase and the content rating of the credit account, wherein the comparing produces a determination whether the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account; and authorizing the requested transaction when the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account.

Claims

1. A method for administration of credit account transaction authority, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for authorization for a credit transaction against a credit account for purchase of at least one item available for purchase through credit transactions, wherein the item available for purchase has a content rating, and wherein the credit account has a content rating, an account owner, and at least one authorized account user;

comparing the content rating of the item requested for purchase and the content rating of the credit account, wherein the comparing produces a determination whether the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account; and

authorizing the requested transaction when the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising retrieving the content rating of the credit account.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein retrieving the content rating of the credit account further comprises retrieving from a ratings repository the content rating of the credit account.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein retrieving the content rating of the credit account further comprises retrieving from a credit card company the content rating of the credit account.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the account owner has preferences regarding the content rating of the credit account and the method further comprises assigning the content rating to the credit account in dependence upon the account owner'"'"'s preferences.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein assigning a content rating further comprises editing by the account owner of the content rating of the credit account.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein assigning a content rating further comprises editing by the account owner of the content rating of the credit account on-line through a web site of a credit card company.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the credit account is a credit card account.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises a primary content label having primary content values.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the primary content values comprise “

personal.”

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the primary content values comprise “

commercial.”

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises an age category indicating the minimum age requirement for an authorized account user.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises a secondary content label having secondary content values.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

necessity.”

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

optional.”

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

entertainment.”

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

luxury.”

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises a content descriptor having content descriptor values.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the content description values comprise “

goods.”

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the content description values comprise “

services.”

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises a maximum value for a credit account transaction.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the maximum value comprises a maximum amount of money authorized for a credit account transaction.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises a timing code indicating when credit account transactions are enabled, the timing code having timing code values.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted date.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted time.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted transaction frequency.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises a governmental restriction having governmental restriction values.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise a minimum age for purchase of alcoholic beverages.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise an indication of a confirmation requirement for purchase of handguns.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise a minimum age for purchase of cigarettes.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the content rating comprises a merchant rating having merchant rating values.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a general merchandising merchant.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a specialty store.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a retail merchant of consumables.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a wholesale merchant of durable goods.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a provider of entertainment services.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a provider of financial services.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a retail merchant of durable goods.

39. A system for administration of credit account transaction authority, the system comprising the steps of:

means for receiving a request for authorization for a credit transaction against a credit account for purchase of at least one item available for purchase through credit transactions, wherein the item available for purchase has a content rating, and wherein the credit account has a content rating, an account owner, and at least one authorized account user;

means for comparing the content rating of the item requested for purchase and the content rating of the credit account, wherein the means for comparing has a capability of producing a determination whether the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account; and

means for authorizing the requested transaction when the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising means for retrieving the content rating of the credit account.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein means for retrieving the content rating of the credit account further comprises means for retrieving from a ratings repository the content rating of the credit account.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein means for retrieving the content rating of the credit account further comprises means for retrieving from a credit card company the content rating of the credit account.

43. The system of claim 39 wherein the account owner has preferences regarding the content rating of the credit account and the system further comprises means for assigning the content rating to the credit account in dependence upon the account owner'"'"'s preferences.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein means for assigning a content rating further comprises means for editing by the account owner of the content rating of the credit account.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein means for assigning a content rating further comprises means for editing by the account owner of the content rating of the credit account on-line through a web site of a credit card company.

46. The system of claim 39 wherein the credit account comprises a credit card account.

47. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises a primary content label having primary content values.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the primary content values comprise “

personal.”

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the primary content values comprise “

commercial.”

50. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises an age category indicating the minimum age requirement for an authorized account user.

51. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises a secondary content label having secondary content values.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

necessity.”

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

optional.”

54. The system of claim 51 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

entertainment.”

55. The system of claim 51 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

luxury.”

56. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises a content descriptor having content descriptor values.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the content description values comprise “

goods.”

58. The system of claim 56 wherein the content description values comprise “

services.”

59. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises a maximum value for a credit account transaction.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the maximum value comprises a maximum amount of money authorized for a credit account transaction.

61. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises a timing code indicating when credit account transactions are enabled, the timing code having timing code values.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted date.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted time.

64. The system of claim 61 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted transaction frequency.

65. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises a governmental restriction having governmental restriction values.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise a minimum age for purchase of alcoholic beverages.

67. The system of claim 65 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise an indication of a confirmation requirement for purchase of handguns.

68. The system of claim 65 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise a minimum age for purchase of cigarettes.

69. The system of claim 39 wherein the content rating comprises a merchant rating having merchant rating values.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a general merchandising merchant.

71. The system of claim 69 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a specialty store.

72. The system of claim 69 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a retail merchant of consumables.

73. The system of claim 69 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a wholesale merchant of durable goods.

74. The system of claim 69 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a provider of entertainment services.

75. The system of claim 69 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a provider of financial services.

76. The system of claim 69 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a retail merchant of durable gods.

77. A computer program product for administration of credit account transaction authority, the system comprising the steps of:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for receiving a request for authorization for a credit transaction against a credit account for purchase of at least one item available for purchase through credit transactions, wherein the item available for purchase has a content rating, and wherein the credit account has a content rating, an account owner, and at least one authorized account user;

means, recorded on the recording medium, for comparing the content rating of the item requested for purchase and the content rating of the credit account, wherein the means for comparing has a capability of producing a determination whether the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account; and

means, recorded on the recording medium, for authorizing the requested transaction when the content rating of the item requested for purchase matches the content rating of the credit account.

78. The computer program product of claim 77 further comprising means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving the content rating of the credit account.

79. The computer program product of claim 78 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving the content rating of the credit account further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving from a ratings repository the content rating of the credit account.

80. The computer program product of claim 78 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving the content rating of the credit account further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for retrieving from a credit card company the content rating of the credit account.

81. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the account owner has preferences regarding the content rating of the credit account and the computer program product further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for assigning the content rating to the credit account in dependence upon the account owner'"'"'s preferences.

82. The computer program product of claim 81 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for assigning a content rating further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for editing by the account owner of the content rating of the credit account.

83. The computer program product of claim 81 wherein means, recorded on the recording medium, for assigning a content rating further comprises means, recorded on the recording medium, for editing by the account owner of the content rating of the credit account on-line through a web site of a credit card company.

84. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the credit account is a credit card account.

85. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises a primary content label having primary content values.

86. The computer program product of claim 85 wherein the primary content values comprise “

personal.”

87. The computer program product of claim 85 wherein the primary content values comprise “

commercial.”

88. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises an age category indicating the minimum age requirement for an authorized account user.

89. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises a secondary content label having secondary content values.

90. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

necessity.”

91. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

optional.”

92. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

entertainment.”

93. The computer program product of claim 89 wherein the secondary content values comprise “

luxury.”

94. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises a content descriptor having content descriptor values.

95. The computer program product of claim 94 wherein the content description values comprise “

goods.”

96. The computer program product of claim 94 wherein the content description values comprise “

services.”

97. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises a maximum value for a credit account transaction.

98. The computer program product of claim 97 wherein the maximum value comprises a maximum amount of money authorized for a credit account transaction.

99. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises a timing code indicating when credit account transactions are enabled, the timing code having timing code values.

100. The computer program product of claim 99 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted date.

101. The computer program product of claim 99 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted time.

102. The computer program product of claim 99 wherein the timing code values comprise a restricted transaction frequency.

103. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises a governmental restriction having governmental restriction values.

104. The computer program product of claim 103 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise a minimum age for purchase of alcoholic beverages.

105. The computer program product of claim 103 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise an indication of a confirmation requirement for purchase of handguns.

106. The computer program product of claim 103 wherein the governmental restriction values comprise a minimum age for purchase of cigarettes.

107. The computer program product of claim 77 wherein the content rating comprises a merchant rating having merchant rating values.

108. The computer program product of claim 107 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a general merchandising merchant.

109. The computer program product of claim 107 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a specialty store.

110. The computer program product of claim 107 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a retail merchant of consumables.

111. The computer program product of claim 107 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a wholesale merchant of durable goods.

112. The computer program product of claim 107 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a provider of entertainment services.

113. The computer program product of claim 107 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a provider of financial services.

114. The computer program product of claim 107 wherein the merchant rating values comprise an indication that a merchant is a retail merchant of durable goods.