ONLINE PAYER AUTHORIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20080077526A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Arumugam, Avin
• Application Number:
  US11/533,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077526A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

An in-process payer authorization system is configured to host a merchant e-commerce web site and create a purchase transaction record based on a transaction with a customer. The purchase transaction record includes an account identifier of the customer. The system is also configured to render a first display screen on a computer of the customer that is configured to query whether the customer is registered for in-process payer authorization. The system is further configured to include information based on a response to the query in the transaction record and render a second display screen on the computer of the customer that is configured to receive a confirmation code from the customer. The system is also configured to locate an in-process payer authorization record that includes an electronic address of the customer, generate a random code relating to the purchase transaction, and send an electronic communication to the electronic address of the customer that includes the random code. The system is also configured to, while the transaction with the customer is in progress, receive the confirmation code from the server computer, compare the confirmation code to the random code, and, based on the comparison, determine whether to authorize the transaction.

Claims

1. An in-process payer authorization system, comprising:

a server computer configured to;

host a merchant e-commerce web site;

create a purchase transaction record based on a transaction with a customer, wherein the purchase transaction record includes an account identifier of the customer;

render a first display screen on a computer of the customer, wherein the first display screen is configured to query whether the customer is registered for in-process payer authorization;

include information based on a response to the query in the transaction record; and

render a second display screen on the computer of the customer, wherein the second display screen is configured to receive a confirmation code from the customer;

a host computer system configured to;

receive the transaction record from the server computer;

locate an in-process payer authorization record relating to the customer, wherein the in-process payer authorization record includes an electronic address of the customer;

generate a random code relating to the purchase transaction;

send an electronic communication to the electronic address of the customer, wherein the electronic communication includes the random code;

while the transaction with the customer is in progress, receive the confirmation code from the server computer;

compare the confirmation code to the random code; and

based on the comparison, determine whether to authorize the transaction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic address comprises an email address of the customer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic communication comprises an SMS message to a mobile phone number of the customer.

4. A method of processing a purchase transaction, comprising:

at a host computer system of a credit card processor, receiving a purchase transaction record from a merchant, wherein the purchase transaction record includes an account identifier for a customer;

locating a record relating to the customer, wherein the record identifies an electronic address for the customer;

generating a random code;

sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the customer, wherein the electronic message includes the random code;

receiving a communication from the customer via the merchant, wherein the communication includes a code;

comparing the code in the communication to the random code; and

in response to the comparison, authorizing the purchase transaction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic address comprises an email address of the customer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the customer comprises sending an SMS message to a mobile phone number of the customer.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising, pre-registering the customer prior to the transaction, wherein pre-registering the customer comprises:

receiving a request to register from the customer, wherein the request includes at least the account identifier of the customer and the electronic contact address for the customer; and

verifying the electronic address of the customer.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising, thereafter charging the merchant a reduced interchange rate for the purchase transaction.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising, thereafter shipping merchandise relating to the transaction to the customer at an expedited rate.

10. A method of processing a purchase transaction, comprising:

at a server computer of an online merchant, receiving from a customer a selection of at least one item to be purchased by the customer;

initiating a checkout process for the at least one item;

sending a transaction record relating to the purchase transaction to a host computer system of a transaction processor, wherein the transaction request includes a presentation instrument account identifier of the customer;

using the account identifier to locate a record of the customer, wherein the record includes an electronic address of the customer;

at the host computer system of the transaction processor, generating a random code;

sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the customer, wherein the electronic message includes the random code;

while the checkout process is in progress, receiving a confirmation code from the customer at the merchant server;

sending the confirmation code from the merchant server to the host computer system of the transaction processor;

at the host computer system of the transaction processor, comparing the confirmation code to the random code; and

based on the comparison, authorizing the transaction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic address comprises an email address of the customer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein sending an electronic message to the electronic address of the customer comprises sending an SMS message to a mobile phone number of the customer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, thereafter charging the merchant a reduced interchange rate for the purchase transaction.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising, thereafter shipping the at least one item to the customer at an expedited rate.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising, pre-registering the customer prior to the transaction, wherein pre-registering the customer comprises receiving a request to register from the customer, wherein the request includes at least the account identifier of the customer and the electronic address of the customer.

16. An in-process payer authorization system, comprising:

means for creating a purchase transaction record based on a transaction with a consumer, wherein the purchase transaction record includes an account identifier of the consumer;

means for locating an electronic address of the consumer using the account identifier while the transaction is in process;

means for generating a random code relating to the purchase transaction while the transaction is in process;

means for transmitting the random code to the electronic address of the consumer;

means for receiving a confirmation code from the consumer while the transaction is in process;

means for comparing the confirmation code to the random code; and

means for authorizing the transaction based on the comparison while the transaction is in process.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the means for transmitting the random code to the electronic address of the consumer comprises means for sending an SMS message to a mobile phone of the consumer.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising means for shipping an item relating to the transaction to the consumer at an expedited rate.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising means for charging the merchant a reduced interchange rate for the purchase transaction.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising means for pre-registering the customer prior to the transaction, wherein pre-registering the customer comprises receiving a request to register from the customer, wherein the request includes at least the account identifier of the customer and the electronic address of the customer.