Transaction system with special handling of micropayment transaction requests
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of determining whether to require a user to enter a secret code into an electronic transaction device for completing selected merchant transactions, the method comprising:
- (a) a user presenting a form of account identification to an electronic transaction device to initiate a transaction;
(b) inputting a transaction amount;
(c) providing a table that includes a plurality of merchant categories and transaction threshold amounts for each merchant category;
(d) obtaining the merchant category for each initiated transaction;
(e) comparing the inputted transaction amount to the transaction threshold associated with the merchant; and
(f) requiring the user to enter the secret code for the selected transaction if the inputted transaction amount exceeds the transaction threshold amount associated with the merchant.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A debit-type merchant transaction is conducted and the merchant transactions are automatically routed to customer accounts for payment of the merchant transactions. A user presents a form of account identification to an electronic transaction device to initiate a transaction. The account identification includes a customer account number. Each customer account is associated with a respective card issuer. At least some of the card issuers have for selected customers a debit account and a stored value account associated with the same customer account number. To perform a transaction, a customer inputs a transaction amount. A table is provided that includes a plurality of merchant categories and transaction threshold amounts for each merchant category. The merchant category is obtained for each initiated transaction. The inputted transaction amount is compared to the transaction threshold associated with the merchant. The user is required to enter the secret code for the selected transaction if the inputted transaction amount exceeds the transaction threshold amount associated with the merchant. A routing engine is provided that has individually specified routing rules for each of a plurality of different card issuers. The rules define when a transaction should be routed to the debit account and when a transaction should be routed to the stored value account. The routing rules are applied to the transaction and the transaction is routed to either the debit account or the stored value account.
145 Citations
43 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method of determining whether to require a user to enter a secret code into an electronic transaction device for completing selected merchant transactions, the method comprising:
-
(a) a user presenting a form of account identification to an electronic transaction device to initiate a transaction;
(b) inputting a transaction amount;
(c) providing a table that includes a plurality of merchant categories and transaction threshold amounts for each merchant category;
(d) obtaining the merchant category for each initiated transaction;
(e) comparing the inputted transaction amount to the transaction threshold associated with the merchant; and
(f) requiring the user to enter the secret code for the selected transaction if the inputted transaction amount exceeds the transaction threshold amount associated with the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer-implemented apparatus for determining whether to require a user to enter a secret code into an electronic transaction device for completing selected merchant transactions, the apparatus comprising:
-
(a) means for presenting a form of account identification to an electronic transaction device to initiate a transaction;
(b) means for inputting a transaction amount;
(c) a table that includes a plurality of merchant categories and transaction threshold amounts for each merchant category;
(d) means for obtaining the merchant category for each initiated transaction;
(e) means for comparing the inputted transaction amount to the transaction threshold associated with the merchant; and
(f) means for requiring the user to enter the secret code for the selected transaction if the inputted transaction amount exceeds the transaction threshold amount associated with the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
21. A routing engine for use in automatically routing debit-type merchant transactions to customer accounts for payment of the merchant transactions, each customer account being associated with a respective card issuer, at least some of the card issuers having for selected customers a debit account and a stored value account associated with the same customer account number, the routing engine comprising individually specified routing rules for each of a plurality of different card issuers, the rules defining when a transaction should be routed to the debit account and when a transaction should be routed to the stored value account.
-
28. A computer-implemented method of conducting a debit-type merchant transaction and automatically routing the merchant transactions to customer accounts for payment of the merchant transactions, the method comprising:
-
(a) a user presenting a form of account identification to an electronic transaction device to initiate a transaction, the account identification including a customer account number, each customer account being associated with a respective card issuer, at least some of the card issuers having for selected customers a debit account and a stored value account associated with the same customer account number, (b) inputting a transaction amount;
(c) providing a table that includes a plurality of merchant categories and transaction threshold amounts for each merchant category;
(d) obtaining the merchant category for each initiated transaction;
(e) comparing the inputted transaction amount to the transaction threshold associated with the merchant;
(f) requiring the user to enter the secret code for the selected transaction if the inputted transaction amount exceeds the transaction threshold amount associated with the merchant;
(g) providing a routing engine having individually specified routing rules for each of a plurality of different card issuers, the rules defining when a transaction should be routed to the debit account and when a transaction should be routed to the stored value account; and
(h) applying the routing rules to the transaction and routing the transaction to either the debit account or the stored value account. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
Specification