Flexible method for applying customized rating adjustments to transaction charges
First Claim
1. A method for determining charges for a class of transactions, comprising the steps of:
- a) partitioning said class into cells in accordance with predetermined criteria;
b) providing a user with apparatus for computing base rates for said transactions, said apparatus being responsive to configuration data stored in said apparatus to select particular discounts or surcharges from a plurality of predetermined discounts or surcharges, and to apply said particular discounts or surcharges to said base rates for said transactions to determine said charges, said configuration data defining correspondences between said discounts or surcharges and said cells, and said configuration data having a predetermined form and being communicated to said apparatus through a selected medium;
c) defining custom discount rates for said user;
d) transmitting data defining said custom discount rates to a data processing center;
e) at said data processing center, inputting said defining data to means for translating said defining data into corresponding configuration data in said form, andf) transmitting said corresponding configuration data to said apparatus through said medium to update said stored configuration data and implement said custom discount rates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and a system for enabling an authorized user of the system to automatically apply customized rating adjustments to transaction charges. To this end, a structure is employed for supplying to a central processor information identifying criteria for rating and for customized rating adjustments. The central processor compares data entered through an input device with information stored in memory. The central processor, after correlating the identifying information with the entered input data, generates a base rate and a modified rate (which incorporates a customized rating adjustment) for a particular transaction and user. The calculated charges are made available for output to the user.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for determining charges for a class of transactions, comprising the steps of:
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a) partitioning said class into cells in accordance with predetermined criteria; b) providing a user with apparatus for computing base rates for said transactions, said apparatus being responsive to configuration data stored in said apparatus to select particular discounts or surcharges from a plurality of predetermined discounts or surcharges, and to apply said particular discounts or surcharges to said base rates for said transactions to determine said charges, said configuration data defining correspondences between said discounts or surcharges and said cells, and said configuration data having a predetermined form and being communicated to said apparatus through a selected medium; c) defining custom discount rates for said user; d) transmitting data defining said custom discount rates to a data processing center; e) at said data processing center, inputting said defining data to means for translating said defining data into corresponding configuration data in said form, and f) transmitting said corresponding configuration data to said apparatus through said medium to update said stored configuration data and implement said custom discount rates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification