S/M for Providing, Reloading, and Redeeming Stored Value Cards used in Transit Applications

• US 20140046737A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Graves, Phillip, Smith, Merrill Brooks, Chakiris, Phil M., Parlotto, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 11,055,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0655 e-cash managed centrally
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks

Abstract

The invention is directed to systems and methods of conducting transactions associated with a transit card. A method of conducting transactions may be conducted between a processor and a transit processor. Steps may include receiving a redemption request and determining if it is a pre-authorization request or a redemption; if the redemption request is a pre-authorization request, determining if the account is authorized for a particular transit type. If the account is authorized, communicating approval to the transit processor. If the account is not authorized communicating denial. If the redemption request is a redemption: determining if account value is sufficient to pay the redemption amount; if not, denying and if so approving the transaction and deducting the amount, and determining if the account value is below a pre-determined threshold for a particular transit types, and if so, updating the status of the account at a data store.

Claims

1. A method of conducting transit card transactions, the method conducted amongst a central processor comprising an account associated with a transit card and a data store comprising a status of the account, and a transit processor, the method the comprising:

receiving at the central processor from the transit processor a redemption request including information identifying the transit card;

determining by the central processor whether the redemption request is a pre-authorization request for a particular transit type or a fee redemption request;

upon a determination that the redemption request is a pre-authorization request;

determining by the central processor whether the account is authorized for a transaction for the particular transit type based on factors including the status of the account;

if the account is authorized for a transaction for the particular transit type, communicating approval of pre-authorization to the transit processor;

if the account is not authorized for a transaction for the particular transit type, communicating denial of pre-authorization to the transit processor;

upon a determination that the redemption request is a fee redemption request;

determining by the central processor whether value associated with the account is greater than or equal to the amount requested by the fee redemption request;

if the value associated with the account is less than the amount requested by the fee redemption request, communicating a denial of the fee redemption request to the transit processor;

if the value associated with the account is greater than or equal to the amount requested by the fee redemption request;

communicating approval of the fee redemption request to the transit processor;

deducting the amount of the set fee redemption request from the account;

determining whether the amount of value associated with the account is below a pre-determined threshold for one or more particular transit types, and if so, updating the status of the account at the data store.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying the transit card comprises a machine readable indicia printed or stored on the transit card.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the central processor from a retailer point of sale (POS) an activation request comprising information identifying the transit card;

determining by the central processor;

if the information identifying the transit card is valid; and

the account associated with the transit card; and

activating the transit card by the central processor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transit card is disposed in a package prior to activation and the activation request further comprises information read or obtained by the POS from the package.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein particular transit type is selected from the group consisting of:

a taxi, a bus, a subway, a road or bridge toll, a parking meter, a train or light rail, a trolley, and a car rental.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transit processor is centrally located amongst a transit system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transit processor is associated with a particular transit type.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transit processor is associated with a specific point of sale processor.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon a determination by the central processor that exit from the particular transit type used in a fee redemption request is necessary, and that the value associated with the account is less than the amount requested by the fee redemption request;

authorizing the transaction for the total amount of value in the account; and

deducting the fee redemption request from the account, thereby causing a negative balance in the account.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed in real or near real-time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fee redemption request is associated with a citation for parking, driving, or toll violation.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

upon payment of the citation using the account, terminating the account thereby rendering the transit card invalid for future use.

13. A system for conducting transactions using or associated with a transit card, comprising:

a retailer point of sale (POS);

a transit processor;

a central processor in selective communication with the retailer POS and the transit processor, the central processor comprising;

a first data store, comprising one or more records associated the transit card and indicating an amount of value associated with the transit card;

a second data store, comprising one or more records associated with one or more transit cards, which may include the transit card, that are not authorized for transactions;

a processor configured to;

receive an activation request from the retailer POS to activate the transaction card, the activation request comprising information identifying the transit card;

receive a redemption request from the transit processor;

determine if the redemption request is a pre-authorization request for a particular transit type and if so, determine if the account is authorized for a transaction for the particular transit type based on factors including the status of the account;

determine if the redemption request is a or a fee redemption request, and if value associated with the account is greater than or equal to the amount requested by the fee redemption request communicate approval of the transaction request to the transit processor.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a point of sale disposed on or associated with each of one or more transit types.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more transit types are selected from the group consisting of:

a taxi, a bus, a subway, a road or bridge toll, a parking meter, a train or light rail, a trolley, and a car rental.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising a governmental processor associated with a governmental agency, the processor configured to process transactions regarding citations, the central processor in selective communication with the governmental processor.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a transit use card comprising an identifying indicia, the transit processor configured to receive the identifying indicia of the transit use card during a redemption transaction; and

a transit reload card comprising an identifying indicia, the retailer POS configured to receive the identifying indicia of the transit reload card during a reload transaction;

each of the transit use card and the transit reload card associated with each other and the one or more records in the first data store.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising,

a package comprising:

the transit use card;

the transit reload card;

an activation indicia, used by the retailer POS to activate the transit use card and transit reload card.