INTELLIGENT TRANSACTION ROUTER AND PROCESS FOR HANDLING MULTI-PRODUCT POINT OF SALE TRANSACTIONS

• US 20090228364A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Uzar, Leslie A., Sturm, Gregory R., Economy, Theodore F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,103,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• 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 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/208 Use of an ATM as a switch or hub
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/205 by calling a service number, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] or menu

Abstract

A transaction router and corresponding process that enables the point-of-sale activation (POSA) of POSA type devices, such as POSA pre-paid gift cards, debit cards, telephone cards and cellular replenishment cards, while utilizing a standard credit card swipe terminal (reader). The transaction router, during use, receives the output of the reader and allows standard credit and debit card transactions to pass to the financial transaction processing entity that is called by the reader, to allow the financial transaction to be carried out. If the card or device being read by the reader is a POSA type device to be activated, then the router routes the communication initiated by the reader to another processing entity capable of activating the POSA device. The reader is unaware of the existence of the router and operates in its ordinary manner, whether standard credit and debit cards are being processed, or whether a POSA card or other POSA device is being activated. Increasing the value of a previously activated POSA card also may be carried out.

Claims

1. A router for use in activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device, comprising:

a first communication port for communicating with a payment device reader capable of reading identification data from a payment device;

a second communication port for communicating with a selected one of a first processing entity capable of processing a financial transaction and a second processing entity capable of activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) device;

a control system adapted to allow, if the payment device is identified as a non-point-of-sale activated (non-POSA) device, a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate with the first processing entity;

the control system adapted to block, if the payment device is identified as a point-of-sale activated (POSA) device, the communication initiated by the reader;

the control system being further adapted, after blocking the communication initiated by the reader, to receive via the first communication port identification data of a payment device read and communicated by the reader, and transmit via the second communication port to the second processing entity the received identification data to enable the second processing entity to activate the payment device identified by the transmitted identification data.

2. The router of claim 1, wherein the control system is further adapted to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a command code corresponding to an instruction for the reader to supply the identification data of the payment device.

3. The router of claim 2, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is received, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code corresponding to a code encoded to cause the reader to terminate the commenced financial transaction.

4. The router of claim 2, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is received, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a control code encoded to cause the reader to discontinue the communication initiated by the reader.

5. The router of claim 1, wherein the control system is further adapted to receive via the first communication port from the reader a monetary value to be placed on the POSA device, and to control the second communication port to transmit to the second processing entity the received monetary value to enable the second processing entity to activate the payment device to the transmitted monetary value.

6. The router of claim 1, further comprising an access button coupled to the control system for identifying that the payment device is a POSA device so that the router blocks the communication initiated by the reader if the access button is depressed.

7. The router of claim 1, wherein the control system further is adapted to monitor the communication from the reader to the first communication port and to identify whether the payment device is a POSA device or a non-POSA device based on the monitored identification data communicated by the reader.

8. The router of claim 1, wherein the control system is adapted to learn a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity, and adapted to extract the identification data from the communication by the reader in accordance with the learned format.

9. The router of claim 8, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is extracted, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code encoded in accordance with the learned format to cause the reader to terminate the commenced financial transaction.

10. The router of claim 8 in combination with a learn payment device having known, pre-set identification data stored thereon or therein;

wherein the control system is adapted to allow a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate to the first processing entity the pre-set identification data read from the learn payment device;

the control system being adapted to monitor communications between the reader and the first processing entity to ascertain a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity based on the known, pre-set identification data of the learn payment device and the monitored communications.

11. A combination, comprising:

a payment device reader adapted to read identification data from a payment device and to commence a financial transaction, the reader having a communication port adapted to transmit and receive communications and to commence a communication directed to a first processing entity capable of processing a financial transaction;

a router having first and second communication ports, the first communication port being adapted to supply and receive communications to and from the communication port of the reader, the second communication port adapted to communicate with one or more processing entities;

the router adapted to allow, if a payment device read by the reader is identified as a non-point-of-sale activated (non-POSA) device, a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate with the first processing entity as commenced by the reader;

the router adapted to block, if the payment device read by the reader is identified as a point-of-sale activated (POSA) device, the communication initiated by the reader;

the router further adapted, after blocking the communication initiated by the reader, to receive via the first communication port identification data of the payment device read and communicated by the reader, and to transmit via the second communication port to a second processing entity capable of activating a POSA device the received identification data to enable the second processing entity to activate the payment device identified by the transmitted identification data.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the router is adapted to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a send identification instruction;

and the reader is adapted to supply to the router the identification data of the payment device upon receiving the send identification instruction.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is received, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code;

and the reader is adapted to terminate the commenced financial transaction upon receiving the transaction rejection code.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the reader is adapted to discontinue communication upon receiving the transaction rejection code.

15. The combination of claim 11, wherein the reader is adapted to receive a designated monetary value to be placed on the POSA device and to communicate the designated monetary value from the communication port of the reader;

and the router is adapted to receive from the reader the designated monetary value and to communicate the monetary value to the second processing entity to enable the second processing entity to activate the payment device to the monetary value.

16. The combination of claim 11, wherein the router includes an access button to identify that the payment device is a POSA device, the router being adapted to block the communication initiated by the reader if the access button is depressed.

17. The combination of claim 11, wherein the router is adapted to monitor communications from the reader and to identify whether the payment device is a POSA device or a non-POSA device based on the monitored communications.

18. The combination of claim 11, wherein the router is adapted to learn a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity, and to extract the identification data from the communication by the reader in accordance with the learned format.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the router is adapted, after the identification data is extracted, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code encoded in accordance with the learned format;

and the reader is adapted to terminate the commenced financial transaction upon receiving the transaction rejection code.

20. The combination of claim 18, further comprising a learn payment device having known, pre-set identification data stored thereon or therein;

wherein the router is adapted to allow a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate to the first processing entity the pre-set identification data read from the learn payment device;

the router being adapted to monitor communications between the reader and the first processing entity to ascertain a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity based on the known, pre-set identification data of the learn payment device and the monitored communications.