Method and Apparatus for Simplifying the Handling of Complex Payment Transactions

• US 20090210299A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cowen, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00

Abstract

A predetermined amount, which may, in general, be zero, less than, the same as, or greater than a (yet-to-be-determined) final transaction amount, is charged upon first presentation of a payment device to a merchant. A final transaction amount is calculated, preferably at a central server, subsequent to the first presentation. A variable adjustment value is calculated, preferably at the central server, by comparing the predetermined amount already charged with the final transaction amount. A new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of the payment device, is modified by the variable adjustment value.

Claims

1. A method for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said method comprising the steps of:

charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation;

calculating said final transaction amount, subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being made available to a central server;

calculating a variable adjustment value by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being made available to said central server; and

modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device, by said variable adjustment value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said final transaction amount and said variable adjustment value are calculated at said central server.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a system, wherein said system comprises distinct software modules, each of said distinct software modules being embodied on a tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium, and wherein said distinct software modules comprise a reader module, a payment platform module, and an active file manager module;

wherein;

said payment platform module executes on said central server;

said step of charging said predetermined amount upon said first presentation is carried out by said reader module executing upon a hardware processor associated with a terminal;

said step of calculating said final transaction amount, subsequent to said first presentation, is carried out by said payment platform module executing on said central server;

said step of calculating said variable adjustment value is carried out by said payment platform module executing on said central server; and

said step of modifying said new predetermined amount charged, upon said subsequent presentation of said payment device, is carried out by said active file manager module executing in association with a front end communications processor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said merchant comprises a transit authority associated with a transit system, said final transaction amount is associated with a variable transit fare, and said first presentation comprises presentation upon entrance to said transit system, further comprising the additional step of checking out of said transit system by presenting said payment device upon exit from said transit system, wherein:

said calculating step is also conducted subsequent to said checking out; and

said transaction amount is based on said presentation upon said entrance and said checking out.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said variable transit fare comprises a distance-based transit fare.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said system further comprises a fare gate assembly, said fare gate assembly comprising said hardware processor associated with said terminal, further comprising opening said fare gate assembly upon said first presentation.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein:

said predetermined amount comprises a maximum fare; and

said variable adjustment value comprises a difference between said maximum fare and said final transaction amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, in said modifying step, said subsequent presentation is in connection with a subsequent transaction, and wherein said modifying comprises initially charging said predetermined amount, less said variable adjustment value, for said subsequent transaction.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the additional step of applying a value of zero to said variable adjustment value in a case where a user of said device fails to check out of said transit system upon exit, wherein said maximum fare is applicable in said case where said user fails to check out, and wherein said applying said value of zero is carried out by said payment platform module executing on said central server.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the additional step of initializing said variable adjustment value to said maximum fare less a minimum fare, prior to said first presentation, whereby a user of said device having a balance at least equal to said minimum fare may enter said transit system upon said first presentation of said device, said initializing of said variable adjustment value being carried out by said payment platform module executing on said central server.

11. An apparatus for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said apparatus comprising:

means for charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation;

means for calculating said final transaction amount subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being made available to a central server;

means for calculating a variable adjustment value by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being made available to said central server; and

means for modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device, by said variable adjustment value.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said final transaction amount and said variable adjustment value are calculated at said central server.

13. An apparatus for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to said memory, and operative to;

facilitate charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation;

facilitate calculating said final transaction amount subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being made available to a central server;

facilitate calculating a variable adjustment value by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being made available to said central server; and

facilitate modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device, by said variable adjustment value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said final transaction amount and said variable adjustment value are calculated at said central server.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one processor comprises a first processor located on said central server, a second processor, and a third processor, further comprising:

a terminal, said second processor being associated with said terminal;

a front end communications processor said third processor being associated with said front end communications processor; and

distinct software modules, each of said distinct software modules being embodied on a tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium, said distinct software modules comprising a reader module, a payment platform module, and an active file manager module;

wherein;

said second processor is operative to charge said predetermined amount upon said first presentation by executing said reader module;

said first processor is operative to calculate said final transaction amount, subsequent to said first presentation, by executing said payment platform module;

said first processor is operative to calculate said variable adjustment value by executing said payment platform module; and

said third processor is operative to modify said new predetermined amount charged, upon said subsequent presentation of said payment device, by executing said active file manager module.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said merchant comprises a transit authority associated with a transit system, said final transaction amount is associated with a variable transit fare, and said first presentation comprises presentation upon entrance to said transit system, wherein said at least one processor is operative to facilitate checking out of said transit system by presenting said payment device upon exit from said transit system, wherein:

said variable adjustment value is calculated subsequent to said checking out; and

said transaction amount is based on said presentation upon said entrance and said checking out.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said variable transit fare comprises a distance-based transit fare.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said apparatus further comprises a fare gate assembly, said fare gate assembly comprising said second processor, said second processor being operative to facilitate opening said fare gate assembly upon said first presentation.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

said predetermined amount comprises a maximum fare; and

said variable adjustment value comprises a difference between said maximum fare and said final transaction amount.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said subsequent presentation is in connection with a subsequent transaction, and wherein said third processor is operative to modify said new predetermined amount charged by initially charging said predetermined amount, less said variable adjustment value, for said subsequent transaction.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first processor is operative to apply a value of zero to said variable adjustment value in a case where a user of said device fails to check out of said transit system upon exit, wherein said maximum fare is applicable in said case where said user fails to check out, and wherein said applying of said value of zero is carried out by said payment platform module executing on said first processor.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first processor is operative to initialize said variable adjustment value to said maximum fare less a minimum fare, prior to said first presentation, whereby a user of said device having a balance at least equal to said minimum fare may enter said transit system upon said first presentation of said device, said initializing of said variable adjustment value being carried out by said payment platform module executing on said first processor.

23. A computer program product comprising a tangible computer readable recordable storage medium including computer usable program code for payment with a payment device when a final transaction amount is not known upon first presentation of said payment device to a merchant, said computer program product including:

computer usable program code for charging a predetermined amount upon said first presentation;

computer usable program code for calculating said final transaction amount, subsequent to said first presentation, said calculated final transaction amount being made available to a central server;

computer usable program code for calculating a variable adjustment value by comparing said predetermined amount already charged with said final transaction amount, said calculated variable adjustment value being made available to said central server; and

computer usable program code for modifying a new predetermined amount charged, upon a subsequent presentation of said payment device, by said variable adjustment value.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said final transaction amount and said variable adjustment value are calculated at said central server.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said computer program product comprises distinct software modules, each of said distinct software modules being embodied on said tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium, and wherein said distinct software modules comprise a reader module, a payment platform module, and an active file manager module;

wherein;

said payment platform module is configured to execute on said central server;

said reader module comprises said computer usable program code for charging said predetermined amount upon said first presentation, said reader module being configured to execute upon a hardware processor associated with a terminal;

said payment platform module comprises said computer usable program code for calculating said final transaction amount, subsequent to said first presentation, said payment platform module being configured to execute on said central server;

said payment platform module comprises said computer usable program code for calculating said variable adjustment value, said payment platform module being configured to execute on said central server; and

said active file manager module comprises said computer usable program code for modifying said new predetermined amount charged, upon said subsequent presentation of said payment device, said active file manager module being configured to execute in association with a front end communications processor.