CUSTOMIZED PAYMENT TRANSACTION NOTIFICATION

• US 20080183480A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Faith, Patrick, Carlson, Mark, Stan, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US11/962,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20080183480A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/835 Time or frequency of notifications, e.g. Advice of Charge [AoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8104 Time or frequency of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for customizing alerts and notifications for portable consumer device transactions is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising receiving information that a transaction associated with a portable consumer device is occurring, and providing an alert to a consumer associated with the portable consumer device, wherein the alert indicates that the transaction is occurring, wherein the alert is sent to the consumer according to a time or communication mode previously specified by the consumer using an interface that allows the user to specify the time and communication mode for receiving the alert.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving information that a transaction associated with a portable consumer device is occurring; and

providing an alert to a consumer associated with the portable consumer device, wherein the alert indicates that the transaction is occurring, wherein the alert is sent to the consumer according to a time or communication mode previously specified by the consumer using an interface that allows the user to specify the time and communication mode for receiving the alert.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert is sent to the consumer if the transaction that is occurring is over a predetermined amount, the transaction is of a predetermined type, the transaction is made outside a geographic location specified by the consumer, the transaction is determined to be a risky transaction, the transaction being conducted without the portable consumer device being physically present at a point of sale, the transaction is a cash transaction, the transaction is a particular type of user-defined transaction, the transaction involves account access, the transaction indicates that a person is entering or exiting a location, the transaction indicates that a payment is due or overdue, or the transaction indicates that a specified person is conducting the transaction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert is sent to the consumer according to the time and communication mode previously specified by the consumer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a portable consumer device is in the form of a card, and wherein the alert is sent to a phone operated by the consumer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert is a first alert, and wherein a second alert is sent to the consumer through another communication mode.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, via an interface, a user-specified time and communication mode for receiving the alert.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication mode includes using at least one of a phone call, voicemail, SMS, instant message, and an e-mail.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the consumer previously provided a trigger specifying a condition under which the alert would be sent.

9. A computer readable medium comprising:

code for receiving information that a transaction associated with a portable consumer device is occurring; and

code for providing an alert to a consumer associated with the portable consumer device, wherein the alert indicates that the transaction is occurring, wherein the alert is sent to the consumer according to a time or communication mode previously specified by the consumer using an interface that allows the user to specify the time and communication mode for receiving the alert.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the alert is a first alert, and wherein the computer readable medium further comprises code for sending the second alert to the consumer through another communication mode.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the information is received via a payment processing network, and wherein the payment processing network is configured to process credit and debit card transactions.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the alert is in the form of a phone call.

13. A server computer comprising the computer readable medium of claim 9.

14. The server computer of claim 13 wherein the server computer is in communication with a payment processing network.

15. The server computer of claim 13 wherein the alert is a first alert, and wherein the computer readable medium further comprises code for sending the second alert to the consumer through another communication mode.

16. A client computer comprising a processor, and a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions for executing a method comprising:

receiving information on how to be notified if a predetermined activity is occurring with respect to a portable consumer device, wherein an alert is provided in manner consistent with the information provided if the predetermined activity is occurring wherein the information provided is a result of a consumer'"'"'s choice to customize an alert for each predetermined activity by using an interface that allows a user to customize the alert according to at least communication mode and time; and

sending the information to a notification server.

17. The client computer of claim 16 further comprising a display coupled to the processor, wherein the display displays an interface showing the consumer customized times, communication modes, and triggers for alerts.

18. The client computer of claim 16 wherein the interface is a Web interface.

19. The client computer of claim 16 wherein the alert is in the form of a phone call.

20. A method comprising:

providing information on how to be notified if a predetermined activity is occurring with respect to a portable consumer device; and

receiving an alert in manner consistent with the information provided if the predetermined activity is occurring wherein the information provided is a result of the consumer'"'"'s choice to customize an alert for each predetermined activity by communication mode and time.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the information provided includes a time when a consumer wants to be notified.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the information provided includes a date when a consumer wants to be notified.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the information provided includes a communication mode by which a consumer wants to be notified.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the communication mode includes a phone call, voicemail, SMS, instant message, and e-mail.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the alert is initiated after conditions set by an issuer or payment processing organization are met.

26. A phone comprising a processor, and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, wherein the computer readable medium comprises code for receiving an alert, wherein the alert indicates that the transaction is occurring, wherein the alert is sent to the consumer according to a time or communication mode previously specified by the consumer using an interface that allows the consumer to specify the time and communication mode for receiving the alert.