SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURE AND TRANSPARENT CARDLESS TRANSACTIONS

• US 20080319869A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Faith, Patrick, Keshan, Surendra, Carlson, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for handling and/or authorizing payment requests by a consumer for a transaction are provided. Payment information can be sent directly from a consumer to a non-merchant, thereby allowing no new entities to obtain the payment information. Transaction identifiers can be used to facilitate communications among the entities. The payment information can be sent to the non-merchant via a merchant application with a submit payment button directed to the non-merchant so little or no deviations from standard practices are required.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server of the merchant from an access device used by the consumer, a checkout request to initiate a transaction;

providing, from the merchant server to the access device, a first code for displaying an application page containing a plurality of payment mechanism options for the transaction, wherein a first subset of the payment mechanism options includes one or more first payment mechanisms,

wherein when one of the first payment mechanisms is selected, a destination address of a submit payment element on the application page is a server not operated by the merchant, and wherein account information of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction is sent to the non-merchant server when the submit payment element is activated; and

receiving, at the merchant server from the non-merchant server, a response message regarding the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when a payment mechanism not in the first subset is selected, a destination address of a submit payment element on the application page is the merchant server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the merchant server from the access device, a selection of one of the first payment mechanisms; and

sending a link to the access device such that code is served from the non-merchant server to display the submit payment element with the destination address directed to the non-merchant server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the link is an IFrame.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first code determines whether to change the destination of the submit payment element based on the selection of a payment mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating, at the merchant server, a transaction identifier corresponding to the transaction; and

sending, from the merchant server to the access device, the transaction identifier, wherein the response message includes the transaction identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the response message is an authentication response message indicating whether the transaction is approved or not approved.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the account information includes an account identifier, and wherein the response message includes a payment identifier associated with the account of the consumer, further comprising:

sending, from the merchant server, an authorization request using the payment identifier received from the non-merchant server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the payment identifier is not the account identifier, and wherein only the non-merchant server knows the association between the payment identifier and the account identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the response message, sending, from the merchant server to the non-merchant server, a transaction message including the transaction identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the checkout request includes one or more items to be purchased in the transaction, and wherein the transaction message includes the items and an amount of the transaction.

12. A system for conducting a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the system comprising:

a server having an external interface, wherein the server is associated with the merchant;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices containing instructions for directing the one or more processors to;

receive, at the external interface from an access device used by the consumer, a checkout request to initiate a transaction;

provide, from the merchant server to the access device, a first code for displaying an application page containing a plurality of payment mechanism options for the transaction, wherein a first subset of the payment mechanism options includes one or more first payment mechanisms,

wherein when one of the first payment mechanisms is selected, a destination address of a submit payment element on the application page is a server not operated by the merchant, and wherein account information of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction is sent to the non-merchant server when the submit payment element is activated; and

receive, at the merchant server from the non-merchant server, a response message regarding the transaction.

13. A method for authorizing a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server of a non-merchant entity, a consumer message from an access device used by the consumer, wherein the consumer message includes;

account information for an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction; and

a transaction identifier;

receiving, at the non-merchant server, an amount associated with the transaction; and

sending, to a merchant server from the non-merchant server, a funding message including the transaction identifier.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sending, to an acquirer, a payment identifier associated with the consumer'"'"'s account.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the account information includes a credit card number.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the funding message is an authentication response message indicating whether the transaction is approved or not approved.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the non-merchant server is part of a payment processing network, further comprising:

sending an authorization request from the non-merchant server to an issuer of the account; and

receiving an authorization response from the issuer, wherein the authentication response message is based on the authorization response from the issuer.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the account information includes an account identifier, and wherein the funding message includes a payment identifier.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the payment identifier is not the account identifier, further comprising:

creating, at the non-merchant server, the payment identifier; and

associating the payment identifier with the account identifier.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

prior to receiving the consumer message, receiving, at the non-merchant server from the merchant server, a transaction message including the transaction identifier.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving the amount associated with the transaction is accomplished via the transaction message.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing, to the merchant server from the non-merchant server, code that is incorporated into an application page that is sent from the merchant to the consumer as part of the transaction, wherein the code provides a link to other code that directs the consumer message to the non-merchant server.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the consumer message is directed to the non-merchant server when the consumer selects a particular payment method.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the consumer is not required to enroll in a program or service or to have been previously enrolled in a program or service before sending the consumer message.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the access device used by the consumer is in a retail store associated with the merchant.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the consumer message is transmitted via a network connection between the access device and the non-merchant server.

27. The method of claim 13, wherein the consumer message is transmitted via SMS or MMS.

28. The method of claim 13, wherein the account information includes an account identifier, wherein the non-merchant entity is associated with an issuer of the consumer'"'"'s account, and wherein the non-merchant entity creates at least a portion of the account identifier.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the portion of the account identifier is a Bank Identification Number (BIN) that is associated with the issuer.

30. The method of claim 13, wherein no account information of the consumer'"'"'s account is sent to the merchant or received from the merchant during the transaction.

31. A system for authorizing a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the system comprising:

a server having an external interface for receiving a consumer message from an access device used by the consumer, wherein the consumer message includes;

account information for an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction; and

a transaction identifier, and wherein the server is associated with a non-merchant entity;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices containing instructions for directing the one or more processors to;

receive, at the non-merchant server, an amount associated with the transaction; and

send, to a merchant server from the non-merchant server, a funding message including the transaction identifier.

32. A method for conducting a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the method comprising:

providing, to a server of the merchant by the consumer, a checkout request to initiate a transaction;

receiving, from the merchant server by an access device used by the consumer, a first code for displaying an application page containing a plurality of payment mechanism options for the transaction, wherein a first subset of the payment mechanism options includes one or more first payment mechanisms;

selecting one of the first payment mechanisms, wherein when a first payment mechanism is selected, a destination address of a submit payment element on the application page is a server not operated by the merchant; and

activating the submit payment element, thereby sending, to the non-merchant server, account information of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein when a payment mechanisms not in the first subset is selected, a destination address of a submit payment element on the application page is the merchant server.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the consumer does not provide a password during or at any point prior or register for an account during or at any point prior to the transaction.

35. A system for conducting a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the system comprising:

an external interface operable to connect to a merchant server, wherein the connection allows a consumer to provide, to the merchant server, a checkout request to initiate a transaction;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices containing instructions for directing the one or more processors to;

display an application page containing a plurality of payment mechanism options for the transaction, wherein a first subset of the payment mechanism options includes one or more first payment mechanisms;

when a first payment mechanism is selected, provide a destination address of a submit payment element on the application page to be a server not operated by the merchant; and

when the submit payment element is activated, send, to the non-merchant server, account information of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction.

36. A method for requesting authorization of a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the method comprising:

providing, to a server of the merchant by the consumer, a checkout request to initiate a transaction;

receiving, from the merchant server by an access device used by the consumer, a first code for displaying an application page containing a payment object directed to a non-merchant entity; and

sending, to a server of the non-merchant entity, a consumer message from an access device used by the consumer, wherein the consumer message includes;

account information of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction; and

a transaction identifier corresponding to the transaction.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the payment object is a submit payment button.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the payment object is a payment mechanism option.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the consumer is not required to enroll in a program or service or to have been previously enrolled in a program or service before sending the consumer message.

40. A system for requesting authorization of a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the system comprising:

an external interface operable to connect to a merchant server, wherein the connection allows a consumer to provide, to the merchant server, a checkout request to initiate a transaction;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices containing instructions for directing the one or more processors to;

display an application page containing a payment object directed to a non-merchant entity; and

send, to a server of the non-merchant entity, a consumer message from an access device used by the consumer, wherein the consumer message includes;

account information of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction; and

a transaction identifier corresponding to the transaction.

41. A method for authorizing a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server of a non-merchant entity, a consumer message directly from an access device used by the consumer, wherein the consumer message includes;

account identifier of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction;

receiving, at the non-merchant server, an amount associated with the transaction; and

sending, to a merchant server from the non-merchant server, a funding message including the transaction identifier,

wherein the non-merchant entity is associated with an issuer of the consumer'"'"'s account, and wherein the non-merchant entity creates at least a portion of the account identifier.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the portion of the account identifier is a Bank Identification Number (BIN) that is associated with the issuer.

43. A system for authorizing a transaction between a consumer and a merchant, the system comprising:

a server having an external interface, wherein the server is associated with a non-merchant entity;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices containing instructions for directing the one or more processors to;

receive, at the external interface, a consumer message directly from an access device used by the consumer, wherein the consumer message includes an account identifier of an account of the consumer to be used for the transaction;

receive, at the non-merchant server, an amount associated with the transaction; and

send, to a merchant server from the non-merchant server, a funding message including the transaction identifier,

wherein the non-merchant entity is associated with an issuer of the consumer'"'"'s account, and wherein the non-merchant entity creates at least a portion of the account identifier.