PORTABLE DEVICE INCLUDING ALTERABLE INDICATOR

• US 20090271315A1
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hammad, Ayman
• Application Number:
  US12/431,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• 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 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

A consumer device is disclosed. It includes a body, and a memory element coupled to the body, the memory storing a first account identifier associated with a first account, a second account identifier associated with a second account, and an alterable flag linking the first account and the second account.

Claims

1. A consumer device comprising:

a body; and

a memory element coupled to the body, the memory storing a first account identifier associated with a first account, a second account identifier associated with a second account, and an alterable flag linking the first account and the second account.

2. The consumer device of claim 1 wherein the consumer device is a portable consumer device.

3. The consumer device of claim 1 wherein the consumer device is a portable consumer device, wherein the portable consumer device is a phone.

4. The consumer device of claim 1 wherein the first account identifier is a prepaid account number and the second account identifier is a debit or credit account number.

5. The consumer device of claim 1 wherein the memory element is in the form of a magnetic stripe or a memory chip.

6. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server computer, an authorization request message comprising a first account identifier associated with a first account, a second account identifier associated with a second account, and an alterable flag, wherein the alterable flag links the first account and the second account;

analyzing the authorization request message; and

performing additional processing depending upon the state of the alterable flag.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the authorization request message is associated with a purchase transaction and the first account identifier is a prepaid account number and the second account identifier is a debit or credit account number, and wherein additional processing includes initiating the transfer of value from the second account to the first account if the alterable flag is in a transfer state.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the authorization request message is associated with a purchase transaction, and wherein the transfer of value includes automatically refilling the first account with a predetermined amount of money if the value amount in the first account is zero.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the authorization request message is associated with a purchase transaction, and wherein the method further comprises:

sending an authorization response message to a merchant.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the authorization response message comprises an indication of the amount of money from the first account and the amount of money from the second account that are used to pay for the purchase.

11. A computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed by a processor to implement a method according to claim 6.

12. A server computer comprising the computer readable medium of claim 11.

13. A method comprising:

sending an authorization request message comprising a first account identifier associated with a first account, a second account identifier associated with a second account, and an alterable flag, wherein the alterable flag links the first account and the second account, to a server computer, wherein the server computer thereafter analyzes the authorization request message and performs additional processing based on the alterable flag; and

receiving an authorization response message from the server computer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the authorization request message is associated with a purchase transaction and the first account identifier is a prepaid account number and the second account identifier is a debit or credit account number.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving the first account identifier, the second account identifier, and the alterable flag from a portable consumer device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the server computer resides at an issuer.

18. A computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed by a processor to implement a method according to claim 13.

19. An access device comprising the computer readable medium of claim 18.

20. A system comprising the access device of claim 18.

16. The method of 15 wherein the portable consumer device is a phone or a card.