COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHODS OF PROCESSING PAYMENTS FOR A MERCHANT SELLING GOODS OR SERVICES TO A CONSUMER

• US 20110029432A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Hildred, Richard N.
• Application Number:
  US12/512,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029432A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/229 Hierarchy of users of accounts
• 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 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided of processing payments to a merchant for selling goods or services to a consumer. The computer-implemented method comprises at a first time, receiving from the consumer a first payment made by a first payment instrument for a first purchase of goods or services, at a second time which is after the first time, receiving from the consumer a second payment made by a second payment instrument which is different from the first payment instrument for a second purchase of goods or services, and processing the first and second payment instruments to link the first and second payment instruments to the same consumer and thereby allowing the merchant to link the first and second purchases of goods or services without having had to ask the consumer for any personal information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of processing payments to a merchant for selling goods or services to a consumer, the computer-implemented method comprising:

at a first time, receiving from the consumer a first payment made by a first payment instrument for a first purchase of goods or services;

at a second time which is after the first time, receiving from the consumer a second payment made by a second payment instrument which is different from the first payment instrument for a second purchase of goods or services; and

processing the first and second payment instruments to link the first and second payment instruments to the same consumer and thereby allowing the merchant to link the first and second purchases of goods or services without having had to ask the consumer for any personal information.

2. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument by way of an existing account stored in memory and associated with the first payment instrument.

3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument by way of first and last names of the consumer stored in memory and associated with the first payment instrument.

4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument by way of a store location stored in memory and associated with the first payment instrument.

5. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument only when at least a predetermined number of criteria associated with the second payment instrument has been stored in memory and has been associated with the first payment instrument.

6. A computer-implemented method of processing payments to a merchant for selling goods or services to a consumer, the computer-implemented method comprising:

at a first time, receiving from the consumer a first payment made by a first payment instrument for a first purchase of goods or services;

at a second time which is after the first time, receiving from the consumer a second payment made by a second payment instrument which is different from the first payment instrument for a second purchase of goods or services; and

processing the first and second payment instruments to link the first and second payment instruments to the same consumer and thereby allowing the merchant to link the first and second purchases of goods or services without having had to ask the consumer for any personal information, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument only when at least a predetermined number of criteria associated with the second payment instrument has been stored in memory and has been associated with the first payment instrument.

7. A computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument by way of an existing account stored in memory and associated with the first payment instrument.

8. A computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument by way of first and last names of the consumer stored in memory and associated with the first payment instrument.

9. A computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the second payment instrument is linked to the first payment instrument by way of a store location stored in memory and associated with the first payment instrument.