Method and system for processing financial transactions

• US 20060020542A1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Plej, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plej, Inc.
• Inventors: Shah, Ashesh C., Pedersen, Palle M., Litle, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US10/896,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020542A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments

Abstract

A method and system for processing financial transactions by receiving a payment transaction as an Issuing Payment Processor, converting the payment into one or more derivative transactions based on a defined rules set, and then sending, as a Merchant Payment Processor, the resulting derivative transaction or transactions to another Issuing Payment Processor, resulting in real-time settlement, faster and less costly implementation of discount, gift, and loyalty programs, and enhanced member credit card security and privacy.

Claims

1. A method of processing financial transactions, the method comprising:

on a financial network, receiving a payment transaction as an Issuing Payment Processor;

converting said payment transaction into a derivative transaction; and

sending the derivative transaction, as a Merchant Payment Processor, to another Issuing Payment Processor.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein a second derivative transaction is bridged to another payment processing network.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second derivative transaction is a trigger for non-financial action.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein, based on a defined rules set including member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences, a dynamically determined derivative transaction is derived and sent to another Issuing Payment Processor;

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein preferences specify limitations on the creation of derivative transactions based on date, time, purchase amount, purchase type, or location.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein preferences of one rules set input entity can be assigned higher priority over preferences of other input entities.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein, based on a defined rules set including member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences, multiple derivative transactions are derived and sent to other Issuing Payment Processors;

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein portions of a bounty are shared between a sponsor, member, and an intermediate server as specified by a defined rules set;

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the derivative transaction is used to acquire monetary value derived from at least one of a virtual coupon, gift card, or promotional discount.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein an Generated Identification Number (GIN) is used to associate a payment transaction to a member credit source.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the Generated Identification Number is a one-time Payment System Identifier.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein a non-monetary value is converted to a monetary value.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein a non-monetary value is frequent flyer points.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

15. A method of processing financial transactions, the method comprising:

on a financial network, receiving a payment transaction as an Issuing Payment Processor; and

converting said payment transaction into multiple derivative transactions based on a defined rules set.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein at least one of the derivative transactions is sent to another Issuing Payment Processor.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the defined rules set is based on member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein preferences specify limitations on the creation of derivative transactions based on date, time, purchase amount, purchase type, or location.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein preferences of one rules set input entity can be assigned higher priority over preferences of other input entities.

20. The method according to claim 15 wherein, based on the defined rules set including member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences, a dynamically determined derivative transaction is derived and sent to another Issuing Payment Processor;

21. The method according to claim 15 wherein portions of a bounty are shared between a sponsor, member, and an intermediate server as specified by the defined rules set;

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the derivative transaction is used to acquire monetary value derived from at least one of a virtual coupon, gift card, or promotional discount.

23. The method according to claim 15 wherein processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

24. A method of processing financial transactions, the method comprising:

on a financial network, receiving a payment transaction as an Issuing Payment Processor; and

converting said payment transaction into a dynamically determined derivative transaction based on a defined rules set.

25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising sending said derivative transaction to another Issuing Payment Processor.

26. The method according to claim 24 wherein the defined rules set is based on member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein preferences specify limitations on the creation of derivative transactions based on date, time, purchase amount, purchase type, or location.

28. The method according to claim 26 wherein preferences of one rules set input entity can be assigned higher priority over preferences of other input entities.

29. The method according to claim 24 wherein portions of a bounty are shared between a sponsor, member, and an intermediate server as specified by the defined rules set;

30. The method according to claim 24 wherein the derivative transaction is used to acquire monetary value derived from at least one of a virtual coupon, gift card, or promotional discount.

31. The method according to claim 24 wherein processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

32. A system for processing financial transactions using an intermediate server, the system comprising:

a receiving unit, acting as an Issuing Payment Processor on a financial network, that receives a payment transaction;

a converter unit that converts the payment transaction into a derivative transaction; and

a sending unit, acting as a Merchant Payment Processor, that sends the derivative transaction to another Issuing Payment Processor.

33. The system according to claim 32 wherein a second derivative transaction is bridged to another payment processing network.

34. The system according to claim 32 wherein a second derivative transaction is a trigger for non-financial action.

35. The system according to claim 32 wherein, based on a defined rules set including member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences, the converter unit derives a dynamically determined derivative transaction and the sending unit sends said derivative transaction to another Issuing Payment Processor;

36. The system according to claim 35 wherein preferences specify limitations on the creation of derivative transactions based on date, time, purchase amount, purchase type, or location.

37. The system according to claim 35 wherein preferences of one rules set input entity can be assigned higher priority over preferences of other input entities.

38. The system according to claim 32 wherein, based on a defined rules set including member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preference, the converter unit derives multiple derivative transactions and sending unit sends said derivative transactions to other Issuing Payment Processors;

39. The system according to claim 32 wherein portions of a bounty are shared between a sponsor, member, and an intermediate server as specified by a defined rules set;

40. The system according to claim 32 wherein the derivative transaction is used to acquire monetary value derived from at least one of a virtual coupon, gift card, or promotional discount.

41. The system according to claim 32 wherein an Generated Identification Number (GIN) is used to associate a payment transaction to a member credit source.

42. The system according to claim 32 wherein the Generated Identification Number is a one-time Payment System Identifier.

43. The system according to claim 32 wherein a non-monetary value is converted to a monetary value.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein a non-monetary value is frequent flyer points.

45. The system according to claim 32 wherein processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

46. A system for processing financial transactions using an intermediate server, the system comprising:

a receiving unit, acting as an Issuing Payment Processor on a financial network, that receives a payment transaction; and

a converter unit that converts the payment transaction into multiple derivative transactions based on a defined rules set.

47. The system according to claim 46 further comprising a sending unit that sends at least one of the derivative transactions to another Issuing Payment Processor.

48. The system according to claim 46 wherein the defined rules set is based on member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences.

49. The system according to claim 48 wherein preferences specify limitations on the creation of derivative transactions based on date, time, purchase amount, purchase type, or location.

50. The system according to claim 48 wherein preferences of one rules set input entity can be assigned higher priority over preferences of other input entities.

51. The system according to claim 46 wherein, based on the defined rules set including member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences, the converter unit derives a dynamically determined derivative transaction and a sending unit sends said derivative transaction to another Issuing Payment Processor;

52. The system according to claim 46 wherein portions of a bounty are shared between a sponsor, member, and an intermediate server as specified by the defined rules set;

53. The system according to claim 46 wherein the derivative transaction is used to acquire monetary value derived from at least one of a virtual coupon, gift card, or promotional discount.

54. The system according to claim 46 wherein processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

55. A system of processing financial transactions using an intermediate server, the system comprising:

a receiving unit, acting as an Issuing Payment Processor on a financial network, that receives a payment transaction; and

a converter unit that converts the payment transaction into a dynamically determined derivative transaction based on a defined rules set.

56. The system according to claim 55 further comprising a sending unit that sends the derivative transaction to another Issuing Payment Processor.

57. The system according to claim 55 wherein the defined rules set is based on member token issuer, credit card issuer, member, merchant, and network preferences.

58. The system according to claim 57 wherein preferences specify limitations on the creation of derivative transactions based on date, time, purchase amount, purchase type, or location.

59. The system according to claim 57 wherein preferences of one rules set input entity can be assigned higher priority over preferences of other input entities.

60. The system according to claim 55 wherein portions of a bounty are shared between a sponsor, member, and an intermediate server as specified by the defined rules set;

61. The system according to claim 55 wherein the derivative transaction is used to acquire monetary value derived from at least one of a virtual coupon, gift card, or promotional discount.

62. The system according to claim 55 wherein processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

64. The method according to claim 61 wherein the intermediate server performs the following derivative transactions to implement the rules set:

a derivative collection transaction to the member credit source for the amount associated with the purchased goods less the discount specified in the defined rules set;

derivative collection transaction to the merchant promotional fund source for the bounty amount;

derivative credit transaction to the merchant account for the amount associated with said purchased goods;

derivative credit transaction to the sponsor in an amount equal to the portion of bounty as defined by said sponsor within the rules set;

derivative credit transaction to the intermediate server in amount equal to the portion of bounty as defined by said sponsor within said rules set.

63. A method of processing payments and promotional bounties using a payment processing network, the method comprising:

A. establishing a sponsor supported rules set defining acceptance and use of a member identity token and portions of a bounty to be shared between the sponsor, member, and an intermediate server;

B. recruiting participating merchants that establish a bounty for any valid transaction using a member payment system identifier associated with the sponsor;

C. for a merchant, establishing promotional find source and specifying member discount associated with goods;

D. issuing a member identity token associated with a unique member payment system identifier;

E. for a member, registering a payment system identifier associated with the sponsor and one or more other payment system identifiers, each associated with a credit source, with the intermediate server;

F. for a member, presenting payment system identifier associated with the sponsor to a merchant to purchase goods and potentially receive enhanced services;

G. the merchant submitting payment transaction including member payment system identifier associated with the sponsor to the Merchant'"'"'s Payment Processor for approval and settlement;

H. the Merchant Payment Processor directing the payment transaction to appropriate payment network for approval and settlement;

I. the intermediate server, acting as an Issuing Payment Processor, receiving and evaluating said payment transaction based on defined rules set;

J. the intermediate server, based on said defined rules set, converting said payment transaction into multiple derivative transactions; and

K. the intermediate server, acting as a Merchant Payment Processor, sending derivative transactions to implement the rules set.

65. The method according to claim 63 wherein the payment system identifier is a credit card number.

66. The method according to claim 65 wherein the credit card number is 15 or 16 digits in length.

67. The method according to claim 63 wherein the member identity token is a credit card.

68. The method according to claim 63 wherein the member identity token is a smart card.

69. The method according to claim 63 wherein the member identity token is a cellular telephone.

70. The method according to claim 63 wherein the member identity token is a pager or personal digital assistant (PDA).

71. The method according to claim 63 wherein said credit source is at least one of a standard, gift card, or promotional bank account.

72. The method according to claim 63 wherein member account is activated when member identity information is stored within the intermediate server.

73. The method according to claim 63 wherein the intermediate server resides on a data network using a ring topology.

74. The method according to claim 63 wherein all transactions occur in real-time or near real-time.

75. The method according to claim 63 wherein the credit source is another merchant.

76. The method according to claim 63 wherein the promotional fund source is a bank account.

77. The method according to claim 63 wherein the intermediate server, based on the rules set, may increase the derivative credit transaction value according to the value of at least one of a virtual coupon, gift card, or promotional discount.

78. The method according to claim 63 wherein the intermediate server collects non-monetary value from said merchant, converts non-monetary value to a monetary equivalent based on the rules set, and uses resulting monetary value in derivative credit transactions.

79. The method according to claim 78 wherein the non-monetary value is an amount of frequently flyer points.

80. The method according to claim 63 wherein processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

81. A method of processing financial transactions with enhanced privacy and security, the method comprising:

on a secure network, receiving payment transaction information and request for a Generated Identification Number (GIN) from a member;

creating and associating said Generated Identification Number (GIN) with said payment transaction and a credit source of said member;

on said secure network, sending Generated Identification Number (GIN) to said member;

on a financial network, receiving said payment transaction associated with said Generated Identification Number (GIN) as an Issuing Payment Processor;

verifying that Generated Identification Number (GIN) and payment transaction information received from said financial network correlate with Generated Identification Number (GIN) generated and transaction information received from said secure network;

converting said payment transaction into a derivative transaction; and

sending the derivative transaction, as a Merchant Payment Processor, to another Issuing Payment Processor.

82. The method according to claim 81 wherein the Generated Identification Number (GIN) is a one-time payment system identifier (PSID).

83. The method according to claim 81 wherein a member personal identification number (PIN) or secret is included in the Generated Identification Number (GIN) or with the payment transaction information received from the secure network.

84. The method according to claim 81 wherein at least a portion of the Generated Identification Number (GIN) is randomly or pseudo-randomly generated.

85. The method according to claim 81 wherein at least a portion of the Generated Identification Number (GIN) is derived based on a combination of a bank identification number, date and time stamp of transaction initiation swipe, a terminal identification number, payment system identifier, and a checksum.

86. The method according to claim 81 wherein the Generated Identification Number (GIN) is encoded with additional feature or authorization codes.

87. The method according to claim 81 wherein a Bank Identification Number (BIN) is included in the Generated Identification Number (GIN).

88. The method according to claim 81 wherein said secure network is a virtual private network within a insecure network.

89. The method according to claim 81 wherein processing is performed by a general purpose computer server or multiple general purpose computer servers.

90. The method according to claim 81 wherein said secure network uses an encrypted and authenticated tunnel based on a shared secret between a member point-of-sale terminal and a general purpose computer server.

91. The method according to claim 90 wherein said point-of-sale terminal has the form factor of and may be inserted as any one of a floppy disk and universal serial bus device into a personal computer.

92. A system for processing financial transactions using an intermediate server, the system comprising:

receiving means for receiving payment transactions as an Issuing Payment Processor;

converter means for determining the number and type of derivative transactions based on a defined rules set and converting the original payment transaction into said derivative transactions;

sending means for sending one or more derivative transactions as a Merchant Payment Processor;

93. The system according to claim 92 further comprising a bridging means for receiving a payment transaction from a second network, converting said payment transaction into an understandable format for said receiving means or, after receiving one or more derivative transactions from the sending means, converting said derivative transactions into an understandable format for said second network and sending said derivative transactions to said second network.

94. The system according to claim 92 further comprising a data input/output means for sending and receiving data to and from said financial network.

95. The system according to claim 92 wherein system processing is performed by one or more general purpose computer systems.

96. A system for processing financial transactions using an intermediate server, the system comprising:

a receiving means for receiving a payment transaction as an Issuing Payment Processor on a financial network; and

a converter means for converting the payment transaction into multiple derivative transactions based on a defined rules set.

97. A system for processing financial transactions using an intermediate server, the system comprising:

a receiving means for receiving a payment transaction as an Issuing Payment Processor on a financial network; and

a converter means for converting the payment transaction into a dynamically determined derivative transaction based on a defined rules set.