System and Method for Providing Alerts Over a Network

• US 20080200144A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NetSpend Corporation (Global Payments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NetSpend Corporation (Global Payments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sibson, Keith, Ginsberg, Todd D.
• Application Number:
  US11/830,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200144A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

The present disclosure provides system and methods for providing real time alerts over a network. In one respect, transactional data including a card identifier is received by a transaction processor. At least one alert corresponding to the received transactional data may be determined and may be forwarded to a mobile unit associated with the card identifier. Alternatively or in addition, messages received by a card user may be received. At least one alert responsive to the received message may be determined and may be forwarded to a card user via a mobile unit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving as input transactional data including a card identifier from a point of sale;

determining at least one device alert corresponding to the received transactional data; and

forwarding the at least one alert to a mobile unit associated with the card identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transactional data further comprises merchant information and a transaction amount.

3. The method of claim 1, the mobile unit comprising at least one of a cell phone, a PDA, a pocket computer, and a pager.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the at least one alert comprises forwarding an activity alert including a transaction amount and a balance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the at least one alert comprises forwarding an educational alert including information related to the transactional data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information related to the transactional data comprises at least one of merchant information, a decline alert, and a gratuity alert.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the card identifier identifies at least one of a post-pay card and a prepaid card.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the at least one alert comprises forwarding a tag line and at least one alert.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving as input a message from a user via the mobile unit;

determining at least one alert corresponding to the message from the user; and

forwarding the one or more alerts corresponding to the message to the mobile unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the at least one alert comprises sending a text message via a short message service (SMS) over a short message peer to peer (SMPP) infrastructure to a mobile cellular phone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the at least one alert comprises sending electronic mail over a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) to at least one of a PDA, portable computer, and a stationary computer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the at least one alert comprises sending a text message via a short message service (SMS) over a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) to a mobile cellular phone.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a status message of the forwarding step at a predetermined time interval.

14. A method for providing real-time account information, the method comprising:

registering a card with an alert system;

receiving at the alert system a message from a user of the card;

determining an alert associated with the received message; and

forwarding the alert to a mobile unit associated with the registered card.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving comprises receiving a text message from the user, the text message comprising account information, frequently asked questions, and configuration information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining an alert comprises determining a key word in the message.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein forwarding the alert comprises forwarding a tag line and the alert.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving transactional data from a point of sale including an identifier of the card;

determining an alert associated with the transactional data; and

forwarding the alert to the mobile unit associated with the registered card.

19. A system comprising:

a transaction processor operable to;

receive transactional data including a card identifier, determine an alert associated with the data;

queue the alert for distribution; and

an outgoing alert server coupled to the transaction processor, the server operable to forward the alert to a mobile unit associated with the card identifier.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the transaction processor is further operable to:

receive a message from a card user; and

determining an alert associated with the received message.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the outgoing alert server is further operable to forward the alert associated with the received message to the card user.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the outgoing alert server is in operable connection to a short message service aggregator or the Internet.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the outgoing alert server is operable to forward a tagline with the alert to the mobile unit.