SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PRODUCTS FOR PROCESSING PAYMENTS USING A PROXY CARD

• US 20110180598A1
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Seth, Hitesh, Morgan, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3255 using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/409 Device specific authentication in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for processing payments for a proxy card are provided. Embodiments of the system include a processor, and a memory in communication with the processor. The memory may be configured to store processing instructions for directing the processor to receive a request for authorization of a payment. In various embodiments, the request is triggered at a merchant server, by the use of a proxy card of the customer. The processor attempts to identify at least one desired payment mode for making the payment, from among payment mode(s) associated with the proxy card. The processor first selects the payment modes based at least in part on one or more selection criteria, such as predefined customer goals, and then the processor performs an authorization check to identify the desired payment modes. Subsequently, the processor authorizes the payment if at least one desired payment mode is identified.

Claims

1. A method of processing a payment for a proxy card, the method comprising steps of:

receiving, at a server, a request for authorization of the payment;

attempting to identify at least one desired payment mode for making the payment, from among one or more payment modes associated with the proxy card; and

authorizing the payment if the at least one desired payment mode is successfully identified.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attempting to identify at least one desired payment mode comprises steps of:

selecting at least one selected payment mode, from among the one or more payment modes associated with the proxy card, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on one or more selection criteria;

performing an authorization check of the at least one selected payment mode, wherein the authorization check is based at least in part on one or more authorization criteria; and

selecting an alternative payment mode for performing the authorization check, if none of the at least one selected payment mode is authorized.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one payment mode comprises steps of:

communicating one or more payment mode options to a proxy card customer; and

receiving, at the server, a selection of the at least one selected payment mode from the customer.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the communicating one or more payment mode options to the customer comprises a step of sending an out-of-band notification to the customer.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the out-of-band notification to the customer includes notification through at least one of a text message, a voice call back, and an email.

6. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the communicating one or more payment modes comprises a step of suggesting a preferred payment mode option to the customer based at least in part on past behavior of at least one of the customer and a plurality of other customers.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the past behavior includes a recorded selected payment mode for a similar payment authorization request from at least one of the customer and the plurality of other customers.

8. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one selected payment mode comprises a step of identifying one or more pre-defined preferences associated with the request for the authorization of the payment, wherein the pre-defined preferences are defined by the customer.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the authorizing the payment further comprises at least one of (1) a step of sending an authorization code to a merchant and (2) a step of storing an electronic receipt associated with the payment.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the proxy card includes at least one of an existing debit card, a credit card, a charge card, a loyalty card, a pre-paid gift card of the customer, and a smart card.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the payment modes include at least one of a debit card, a credit card, a charge card, a bank account, a free savings account, a flexible spending account, a health savings account, a pre-paid gift card, redemption coupons, a stored-value card, and reward points.

12. A system of processing a payment for a proxy card, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory in communication with the at least one processor, the memory storing a plurality of processing instructions for directing the at least one processor to;

receive, at a server, a request for authorization of the payment;

attempt to identify at least one desired payment mode for making the payment, from among one or more payment modes associated with the proxy card; and

authorize the payment if the at least one desired payment mode is successfully identified.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a payment gateway.

14. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the payment mode includes at least one of a debit card, a credit card, a charge card, a bank account, a free savings account, a health savings account, a pre-paid gift card, redemption coupons, a stored-value card, and reward points.

15. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to send an authorization code to a merchant.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for processing a payment for a proxy card, said control logic comprising:

a first computer readable program code for receiving, at a server, a request for authorization of the payment;

a second computer readable program code for attempting to identify at least one desired payment mode for making the payment, from among one or more payment modes associated with the proxy card; and

a third computer readable program code for authorizing the payment if the at least one desired payment mode is successfully identified.

17. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16, wherein the second computer readable program code is further operable to:

select at least one selected payment mode, from among the one or more payment modes associated with the proxy card, wherein the selection is based at least in part on one or more selection criteria;

perform an authorization check of the at least one selected payment modes, wherein authorization is done based at least in part on one or more authorization criteria; and

select an alternative payment mode for performing the authorization check, if none of the at least one selected payment mode gets authorized.

18. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16, wherein the control logic further comprises a fourth computer readable program code for sending an authorization code to a merchant.

19. The computer program product as set forth in claim 16, wherein the control logic further comprises:

a fourth computer readable program code for receiving, at the server, a customer preference; and

a fifth computer readable program code for storing the customer preference in a database.