Computer-Implemented Method, System and Apparatus for the Dynamic Verification of a Consumer Engaged in a Transaction with a Merchant and Authorization of the Transaction

• US 20070288375A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: I4 Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Hirschfeld, Daniel, Talbert, Vincent, Lavelle, Mark, Keithly, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method (100) for the dynamic verification of a consumer engaged in a transaction with a merchant (12) and authorization of the transaction. The method (100) comprises the steps of: providing a consumer transaction data set (16) including a plurality of data fields to a central credit issuer database (14); determining a processing queue (22) based upon the data contained in at least one of the data fields in the consumer transaction data set (16), the processing queue (22) including a plurality of prioritized target transactions (24); comparing at least one data field from the consumer transaction data set (16) directed to the consumer engaged in the prioritized target transaction (24) with at least one data field in at least one of the central credit issuer database (14) and a third party database (26); and determining a consumer/transaction identifier (36) based upon the comparison. A system (10) and apparatus (50) for the verification of a consumer/transaction is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for the dynamic verification of a consumer engaged in a transaction with a merchant and authorization of the transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a consumer transaction data set including a plurality of data fields to a central credit issuer database;

(b) determining a processing queue based upon the data contained in at least one of the data fields in the consumer transaction data set, the processing queue including a plurality of prioritized target transactions;

(c) comparing at least one data field from the consumer transaction data set directed to the consumer engaged in the prioritized target transaction with at least one data field in at least one of the central credit issuer database and a third party database; and

(d) determining a consumer/transaction identifier based upon the comparison;

wherein the determination is completed prior to at least one of goods being shipped by the merchant to the consumer and services being performed by the merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of contacting the consumer to verify the transaction based upon the consumer/transaction identifier in step (d).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of steps (b)-(d) are performed by a central credit issuer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of steps (a)-(d) are automatically performed by a computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the computing device is at least one of a personal computer, a networked device, a laptop, a palmtop, a personal digital assistant and a server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumer transaction data set includes at least one field populated with data reflecting at least one of a consumer'"'"'s name, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a social security number, a date of birth, the merchant'"'"'s name, an identification, an order number, an authorization number, an authorization date, an authorization time, an authorization amount, a ship-to address, a bill-to address and a transaction amount.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the central credit issuer database includes a plurality of fields populated with data reflecting at least one of a consumer'"'"'s name, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a social security number, a date of birth, the merchant'"'"'s name, an identification, an order number, an authorization number, an authorization date, an authorization time, an authorization amount, a ship-to address, a bill-to address, a transaction amount, a company identity, a merchant identity, a third party risk score, a general credit risk score, a credit bureau risk score, a prior approval, a merchant type, a customer type, prior report data, previous transaction data, a geographical risk factor, credit account data, bankcard balance data, delinquincy data, credit segment data, and ship-to country.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the third party database includes a plurality of fields populated with data reflecting at least one of a consumer'"'"'s name, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a social security number, a date of birth, the merchant'"'"'s name, an identification, an order number, an authorization number, an authorization date, an authorization time, an authorization amount, a ship-to address, a bill-to address, a transaction amount, a company identity, a merchant identity, a third party risk score, a general credit risk score, a credit bureau risk score, a prior approval, a merchant type, a customer type, prior report data, previous transaction data, a geographical risk factor, credit account data, bankcard balance data, delinquincy data, credit segment data, and ship-to country.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the central credit issuer database includes at least one sub-database containing at least one field therein.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the central credit issuer database includes at least one of:

(i) a transaction database including fields populated by data reflecting transaction information;

(ii) a verification database including fields populated by data reflecting verification information; and

(iii) a credit issuer database including fields populated by data reflecting credit issuer information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a third party data set from at least one third party database to the central credit issuer database.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a credit issuer consumer credit history data set from a credit issuer to the central credit issuer database.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of categorizing the prioritized target transaction based upon the consumer/transaction identifier, thereby providing a categorized target transaction.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of performing an action based upon the categorized target transaction.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the action is at least one of:

(i) interacting with the merchant;

(ii) interacting with the customer;

(iii) communicating with the merchant;

(iv) communicating with the customer;

(v) gathering additional transaction data;

(vi) gathering additional customer data;

(vii) gathering additional merchant data;

(viii) approving the categorized transaction;

(ix) denying the categorized transaction;

(x) queuing the categorized transaction for further delayed action;

(xi) interacting with the central credit issuer database; and

(xii) requesting further data from at least one of the customer, the merchant, a credit issuer, a credit issuer database, a third party and a third party database.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a verification queue at least partially based upon the consumer/transaction identifier, thereby providing at least one verification target consumer.

17. The method of claim 16, performing an action directed to at least one of the verification target consumer and the verification target transaction.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the verification queue is dynamically determined and modified in a real-time format.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the verification queue is determined based upon a set of predetermined rules directed to at least one of the data fields of at least one of the consumer transaction data set, the central credit issuer database and the consumer/transaction identifier.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing queue is dynamically determined and modified in a real-time format.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing queue is determined based upon a set of predetermined rules directed to at least one of the data fields of the consumer transaction data set.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an indicator to a user, the indicator based upon the determined consumer/transaction identifier.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the indicator is at least one of:

(i) a visual indicator that is at least one of a letter, a symbol, a term, a word, a phrase, a number, a color, a picture and a visual representation; and

(ii) an audio indicator that is at least one of a sound, an alarm, an audio file, a digital sound, and an analog sound.

24. An apparatus for dynamically verifying a consumer engaged in a transaction with a merchant and authorizing the transaction, the apparatus comprising:

a storage mechanism including a central credit issuer database;

an input mechanism for transmitting a consumer transaction data set including a plurality of data fields to the central credit issuer database; and

a processor mechanism configured to;

(i) determine a processing queue based upon the data contained in at least one of the data fields in the consumer transaction data set, the processing queue including a plurality of verification target transactions;

(ii) compare at least one data field from the consumer transaction data set directed to the consumer engaged in the verification target transaction with at least one data field in at least one of the central credit issuer database and a third party database; and

(iii) determine a consumer/transaction identifier based upon the comparison;

wherein the processor mechanism determines the consumer/transaction identifier prior to goods being shipped by the merchant to the consumer and/or services being performed by the merchant.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor mechanism is a computing device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the computing device is at least one of a personal computer, a networked device, a laptop, a palmtop, a personal digital assistant and a server.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the input mechanism is at least one of a direct-input device, a keyboard, a transmission device, a modem, a network and the Internet.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the consumer transaction data set includes at least one field populated with data reflecting at least one of a consumer'"'"'s name, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a social security number, a date of birth, the merchant'"'"'s name, an identification, an order number, an authorization number, an authorization date, an authorization time, an authorization amount, a ship-to address, a bill-to address and a transaction amount.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the central credit issuer database includes a plurality of fields populated with data reflecting at least one of a consumer'"'"'s name, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a social security number, a date of birth, the merchant'"'"'s name, an identification, an order number, an authorization number, an authorization date, an authorization time, an authorization amount, a ship-to address, a bill-to address, a transaction amount, a company identity, a merchant identity, a third party risk score, a general credit risk score, a credit bureau risk score, a prior approval, a merchant type, a customer type, prior report data, previous transaction data, a geographical risk factor, credit account data, bankcard balance data, delinquincy data, credit segment data, and ship-to country.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the third party database includes a plurality of fields populated with data reflecting at least one of a consumer'"'"'s name, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a social security number, a date of birth, the merchant'"'"'s name, an identification, an order number, an authorization number, an authorization date, an authorization time, an authorization amount, a ship-to address, a bill-to address, a transaction amount, a company identity, a merchant identity, a third party risk score, a general credit risk score, a credit bureau risk score, a prior approval, a merchant type, a customer type, prior report data, previous transaction data, a geographical risk factor, credit account data, bankcard balance data, delinquincy data, credit segment data, and ship-to country.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the central credit issuer database includes at least one sub-database containing at least one field therein.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the central credit issuer database includes at least one of:

(i) a transaction database including fields populated by data reflecting transaction information;

(ii) a verification database including fields populated by data reflecting verification information; and

(iii) a credit issuer database including fields populated by data reflecting credit issuer information.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the prioritized target transaction is categorizing based upon the consumer/transaction identifier, thereby providing a categorized target transaction.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising the step of performing an action based upon the categorized target transaction.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the action is at least one of:

(i) interacting with the merchant;

(ii) interacting with the customer;

(iii) communicating with the merchant;

(iv) communicating with the customer;

(v) gathering additional transaction data;

(vi) gathering additional customer data;

(vii) gathering additional merchant data;

(viii) approving the categorized transaction;

(ix) denying the categorized transaction;

(x) queuing the categorized transaction for further delayed action;

(xi) interacting with the central credit issuer database; and

(xii) requesting further data from at least one of the customer, the merchant, a credit issuer, a credit issuer database, a third party and a third party database.

36. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor mechanism is further configured to determine a verification queue at least partially based upon the consumer/transaction identifier, thereby providing at least one verification target consumer.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, performing an action directed to at least one of the verification target consumer and the verification target transaction.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the verification queue is dynamically determined and modified in a real-time format.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the verification queue is determined based upon a set of predetermined rules directed to at least one of the data fields of at least one of the consumer transaction data set, the central credit issuer database and the consumer/transaction identifier.

40. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processing queue is dynamically determined and modified in a real-time format.

41. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processing queue is determined based upon a set of predetermined rules directed to at least one of the data fields of the consumer transaction data set.

42. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor mechanism is further configured to generate an indicator to a user, the indicator based upon the determined consumer/transaction identifier.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the indicator is at least one of:

(i) a visual indicator that is at least one of a letter, a symbol, a term, a word, a phrase, a number, a color, a picture and a visual representation; and

(ii) an audio indicator that is at least one of a sound, an alarm, an audio file, a digital sound, and an analog sound.

44. An apparatus for dynamically verifying a consumer engaged in a transaction with a merchant and authorizing the transaction, the apparatus comprising:

means for providing a consumer transaction data set including a plurality of data fields to a central credit issuer database;

means for determining a processing queue based upon the data contained in at least one of the data fields in the consumer transaction data set, the processing queue including a plurality of prioritized target transactions;

means for comparing at least one data field from the consumer transaction data set directed to the consumer engaged in the prioritized target transaction with at least one data field in at least one of the central credit issuer database and a third party database; and

means for determining a consumer/transaction identifier based upon the comparison;

wherein the determination is completed prior to at least one of goods being shipped by the merchant to the consumer and services being performed by the merchant.