Hybrid Credit Card Transaction System
First Claim
1. A hybrid credit card transaction system for processing a transaction, initiated by a cardholder using a hybrid credit card, as either one of a group of virtual standard transactions routed through a clearinghouse or as one of a group of virtual closed loop transactions bypassing the clearinghouse, said transaction system comprising:
- a hybrid credit card;
a merchant having a point-of-sale terminal configured to identify the hybrid credit card and to label the transaction using the hybrid credit card as being one of the virtual closed loop transactions;
an affiliated acquiring entity configured to acquire and direct the virtual standard transactions to the clearinghouse and configured to acquire and direct the virtual closed loop transactions so as to bypass the clearinghouse; and
an affiliated card issuing entity configured to accept the virtual standard transactions from the clearinghouse and to debit a credit card account and to accept the virtual closed loop transactions and to debit a private label account;
wherein the acquiring entity and card issuing entities are separate entities affiliated by an agreement to bypass the clearinghouse.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid credit card transaction system that processes transactions as either virtual standard transactions directed through a clearinghouse or as virtual closed loop transactions bypassing the clearinghouse, is disclosed. The system includes a logic enabled merchant that detects virtual closed loop transactions and directs them to an affiliated acquiring entity which acquires the virtual closed loop transactions and routes them directly to an affiliated card issuing entity so as to bypass the clearinghouse. The affiliated card issuing entity debits virtual standard transactions to a credit card account and virtual closed loop transactions to a private label account. The logic enabled merchant, associated acquiring entity and the associated card entity may be affiliated by participation in an Internet site that promotes transactions between small businesses and merchants selling wholesale goods. A reduction in processing fees accrued when bypassing the clearinghouse promotes issuance and use of the hybrid credit cards.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A hybrid credit card transaction system for processing a transaction, initiated by a cardholder using a hybrid credit card, as either one of a group of virtual standard transactions routed through a clearinghouse or as one of a group of virtual closed loop transactions bypassing the clearinghouse, said transaction system comprising:
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a hybrid credit card; a merchant having a point-of-sale terminal configured to identify the hybrid credit card and to label the transaction using the hybrid credit card as being one of the virtual closed loop transactions; an affiliated acquiring entity configured to acquire and direct the virtual standard transactions to the clearinghouse and configured to acquire and direct the virtual closed loop transactions so as to bypass the clearinghouse; and an affiliated card issuing entity configured to accept the virtual standard transactions from the clearinghouse and to debit a credit card account and to accept the virtual closed loop transactions and to debit a private label account; wherein the acquiring entity and card issuing entities are separate entities affiliated by an agreement to bypass the clearinghouse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification