Intelligent transaction router and process for handling multi-product point of sale transactions
First Claim
1. A router for use in activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device, comprising:
- a first communication port for communicating with a payment device reader capable of reading identification data from a payment device;
a second communication port for communicating with a selected one of a first processing entity capable of processing a financial transaction and a second processing entity capable of activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device;
a control system adapted to allow, if the payment device is identified as a non-point-of-sale activated (non-POSA) device, a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate with the first processing entity;
the control system adapted to block, if the payment device is identified as a point-of-sale activated (POSA) device, the communication initiated by the reader;
the control system being further adapted, after blocking the communication initiated by the reader, to receive via the first communication port identification data of a payment device read and communicated by the reader, and transmit via the second communication port to the second processing entity the received identification data to enable the second processing entity to activate the payment device identified by the transmitted identification data.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transaction router and corresponding process that enables the point-of-sale activation (POSA) of POSA type devices, such as POSA pre-paid gift cards, debit cards, telephone cards and cellular replenishment cards, while utilizing a standard credit card swipe terminal (reader). The transaction router, during use, receives the output of the reader and allows standard credit and debit card transactions to pass to the financial transaction processing entity that is called by the reader, to allow the financial transaction to be carried out. If the card or device being read by the reader is a POSA type device to be activated, then the router routes the communication initiated by the reader to another processing entity capable of activating the POSA device. The reader is unaware of the existence of the router and operates in its ordinary manner, whether standard credit and debit cards are being processed, or whether a POSA card or other POSA device is being activated. Increasing the value of a previously activated POSA card also may be carried out.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A router for use in activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device, comprising:
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a first communication port for communicating with a payment device reader capable of reading identification data from a payment device;
a second communication port for communicating with a selected one of a first processing entity capable of processing a financial transaction and a second processing entity capable of activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device;
a control system adapted to allow, if the payment device is identified as a non-point-of-sale activated (non-POSA) device, a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate with the first processing entity;
the control system adapted to block, if the payment device is identified as a point-of-sale activated (POSA) device, the communication initiated by the reader;
the control system being further adapted, after blocking the communication initiated by the reader, to receive via the first communication port identification data of a payment device read and communicated by the reader, and transmit via the second communication port to the second processing entity the received identification data to enable the second processing entity to activate the payment device identified by the transmitted identification data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17)
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11. A combination, comprising:
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a payment device reader adapted to read identification data from a payment device and to commence a financial transaction, the reader having a communication port adapted to transmit and receive communications and to commence a communication directed to a first processing entity capable of processing a financial transaction;
a router having first and second communication ports, the first communication port being adapted to supply and receive communications to and from the communication port of the reader, the second communication port adapted to communicate with one or more processing entities;
the router adapted to allow, if a payment device read by the reader is identified as a non-point-of-sale activated (non-POSA) device, a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate with the first processing entity as commenced by the reader;
the router adapted to block, if the payment device read by the reader is identified as a point-of-sale activated (POSA) device, the communication initiated by the reader;
the router further adapted, after blocking the communication initiated by the reader, to receive via the first communication port identification data of the payment device read and communicated by the reader, and to transmit via the second communication port to a second processing entity capable of activating a POSA device the received identification data to enable the second processing entity to activate the payment device identified by the transmitted identification data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A combination for commencing financial transactions and for activating a point-of-sale activation device, comprising:
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a payment device reader for reading an identification data of a payment device and for communicating via a communication port with a payment processing entity to carry out a financial transaction; and
a router communicatively coupled to the communication port of the reader and adapted to selectively route, when the reader reads a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device, a communication commenced by the reader via the communication port to a POSA device processing entity capable of activating the POSA device, and to communicate the identification data of the POSA device read by the reader to the POSA device processing entity to cause the POSA device to be activated. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A process for activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device, the POSA device having identification data stored thereon or therein;
obtaining by a reader the identification data of the obtained POSA device;
commencing by the reader a financial transaction by initiating a communication to communicate with a first processing entity capable of processing financial transactions;
routing, prior to when communication between the reader and the first processing entity is established, the communication to a second processing entity capable of activating the POSA device; and
communicating the identification data to the second processing entity to cause the POSA device to be activated. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A process for activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a payment device, the payment device being one of a point-of-sale activated (POSA) device and a non-point-of-sale activated (non-POSA) device, the payment device having identification data stored thereon or therein;
identifying the payment device as a POSA device or a non-POSA device;
obtaining by a reader the identification data of the obtained payment device;
commencing by the reader a financial transaction by initiating a communication to communicate with a first processing entity capable of processing financial transactions, the communication being supplied to a router distinct from the reader;
allowing, by the router, the initiated communication to pass to the first processing entity if the payment device is identified as a non-POSA device;
blocking, by the router, the initiated communication if the payment device is identified as a POSA device, and after blocking the initiated communication, carrying out the steps of receiving by the router the obtained identification data from the reader, and transmitting the obtained identification data from the router to a second processing entity to cause the second processing entity to activate the payment device as identified by the transmitted identification data. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification