GATEWAY ABSTRACTION LAYER

• US 20120011067A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Katzin, Edward, Carlson, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• 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 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Systems, gateway computers, and methods for using a gateway abstraction layer and application platform interfaces for conducting service transactions are disclosed. A gateway abstraction layer computers can receive service requests in multiple message formats or communication protocols, transform those service requests into other message formats to process the service using one or more networks or third-party service providers. The results of the service request can then be translated back to the message format in which the original service request was received. The gateway abstraction layer can be maintained using update messages received from service providers.

Claims

1. A gateway computer for integrating multiple transaction services from multiple transaction services providers to a plurality of users using a gateway abstraction layer (GAL) comprising:

a processor;

a network interface coupled to the processor;

a service requestor interface coupled to the network interface;

a service provider interface coupled to the network interface; and

an abstraction layer database;

wherein the service requestor interface is configured to receive requests comprising service requests from the plurality of users using a first application platform interface (API),

wherein the service provider interface is configured to communicate with a plurality of service providers using a second API;

wherein the network interface is configured to communicate with a plurality of acquirers or payment networks using a lookup table of communication standards in the abstraction layer database.

2. The gateway computer of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive the requests from the service requestor interface, parse the service requests data from the requests, initiate service calls to the plurality of service providers based on the transaction service request data, and send results from the service calls to one or more of the users, acquirers or proprietary networks using the first API and the lookup table of communication standards.

3. The gateway of claim 2 wherein the service requests comprise transaction authorization requests.

4. The gateway of claim 3 wherein the transaction authorization requests comprises credit card payment authorization requests.

5. A method for providing services to a plurality of users using a gateway server comprising:

receiving a service request at the gateway server from one of the plurality of users at the gateway sever over a first application platform interface (API);

parsing service request data from the service request using the gateway computer;

accessing an abstraction layer database using the gateway server to determine one or more service providers; and

sending a service call based on the service request data and the abstraction layer database from the gateway server to the one or more service providers over a second API.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving results at the gateway server from the service providers and sending the results to the service requestor, an acquirer or a proprietary transaction network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the abstraction layer database comprises a lookup table of communication standards or APIs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lookup table comprises a mapping of translations between the first API and the second API.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving an update from a service provider and updating the abstraction layer database based on the update.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the update can include a change to one or more communication standard associated with the service provider.