Systems and methods for operating data card terminals for transaction authorization
First Claim
1. A method for providing electronic authorizations in connection with a proposed transaction associated with a data card presented by a cardholder to a merchant utilizing a data card terminal, comprising the steps of:
- (1) automatically attempting to connect the terminal for communications via a first telecommunications link to a transaction host processing computer system;
(2) at the transaction processing host computer system, attempting to establish a host/authorization source telecommunication link to an authorization source computer system corresponding to the card presented;
(3) at the transaction processing host computer system, in response to establishment of the host/authorization source telecommunication link with the authorization source computer system, providing information associated with the data card and the proposed transaction amount to the authorization source computer system;
(4) at the transaction processing host computer system, receiving authorization indicia from the authorization source computer system as remotely obtained authorization indicia;
(5) at the transaction processing host computer system, in response to failure of establishment of the host/authorization source telecommunication link with the authorization source computer system, determining whether to authorize the transaction by providing a transaction processor authorization indicia;
(6) in response to receipt of the remotely obtained authorization indicia from the authorization source computer system or the transaction processor authorization indicia, providing the authorization indicia to the terminal via the first telecommunication link;
(7) in response to failure to connect the terminal to the transaction processing host computer system or receipt of a call me signal provided by the transaction processing host computer system, automatically attempting to connect the terminal with an audio response unit (ARU) via a second telecommunications link;
(8) in response to connection of the terminal to the ARU, providing information associated with the data card and with the proposed transaction in the form of data signals to the ARU; and
(9) providing an audible authorization approval code received from the ARU to the merchant.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for operating a data card terminal, such as a credit card transaction terminal, for providing chargeback protection services for the benefit of merchants are disclosed. The terminal includes a transaction terminal comprising an embossed character reader and magnetic stripe reader, with a separate signature capture primer. The transaction terminal is operative for detecting the physical presence of a data card during a card transaction. The embossed character reader employs a tactile imager and pattern recognition for detecting the embossed characters on the data card. A signature capturing printer prints a paper receipt, which is signed by a cardholder at a signature capturing window on the printer. A signature capturing system digitizes and compresses signals corresponding to the signature of the card holder. Transaction data including compressed signature signals and signals indicative of the presence of the card are transmitted to the host computer system of a transaction processor, who guarantees the transaction as chargeback-protected under certain circumstances. Also disclosed are methods for providing electronic and off-line transaction authorizations.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for providing electronic authorizations in connection with a proposed transaction associated with a data card presented by a cardholder to a merchant utilizing a data card terminal, comprising the steps of:
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(1) automatically attempting to connect the terminal for communications via a first telecommunications link to a transaction host processing computer system; (2) at the transaction processing host computer system, attempting to establish a host/authorization source telecommunication link to an authorization source computer system corresponding to the card presented; (3) at the transaction processing host computer system, in response to establishment of the host/authorization source telecommunication link with the authorization source computer system, providing information associated with the data card and the proposed transaction amount to the authorization source computer system; (4) at the transaction processing host computer system, receiving authorization indicia from the authorization source computer system as remotely obtained authorization indicia; (5) at the transaction processing host computer system, in response to failure of establishment of the host/authorization source telecommunication link with the authorization source computer system, determining whether to authorize the transaction by providing a transaction processor authorization indicia; (6) in response to receipt of the remotely obtained authorization indicia from the authorization source computer system or the transaction processor authorization indicia, providing the authorization indicia to the terminal via the first telecommunication link; (7) in response to failure to connect the terminal to the transaction processing host computer system or receipt of a call me signal provided by the transaction processing host computer system, automatically attempting to connect the terminal with an audio response unit (ARU) via a second telecommunications link; (8) in response to connection of the terminal to the ARU, providing information associated with the data card and with the proposed transaction in the form of data signals to the ARU; and (9) providing an audible authorization approval code received from the ARU to the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for providing electronic authorizations in connection with a proposed transaction associated with a data card presented by a cardholder to a merchant utilizing a data card terminal comprising:
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(1) means for automatically attempting to connect the terminal for communications via a first telecommunications link to a transaction processing host computer system; (2) means associated with the transaction processing host computer system for attempting to establish a host/authorization source telecommunication link to an authorization source computer system corresponding to the card presented; (3) means associated with the transaction processing host computer system, in response to establishment of the host/authorization source telecommunication link with the authorization source computer system, for providing information associated with the data card and the proposed transaction amount to the authorization source computer system; (4) means associated with the transaction processing host computer system for receiving authorization indicia from the authorization source computer system as remotely obtained authorization indicia; (5) means associated with the transaction processing host computer system responsive to failure of establishment of the host/authorization source telecommunication link with the authorization source computer system for determining whether to authorize the transaction by providing a transaction processor authorization indicia; (6) means responsive to receipt of the remotely obtained authorization indicia from the authorization source computer system or the transaction processor authorization indicia for providing the authorization indicia to the terminal via the first telecommunication link; (7) means associated with the terminal responsive to failure to connect the terminal to the transaction processing host computer system or receipt of a call me signal provided by the transaction processing host computer system, for automatically attempting to connect the terminal with an audio response unit (ARU) via a second telecommunications link; (8) means associated with the terminal responsive to connection of the terminal to the ARU for providing information associated with the data card and with the proposed transaction in the form of data signals to the ARU; and (9) means associated with the terminal for providing an audible authorization approval code received from o the ARU to the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for providing electronic authorizations to a merchant in connection with a proposed transaction associated with a data card presented by a cardholder, comprising:
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(a) a transaction processing host computer system; (b) an audio response unit (ARU); (c) means for connecting said transaction processing host computer system with an authorization source computer system associated with a data card issuing institution via a host/authorization source telecommunications link, said authorization source computer system being operative for providing authorization indicia; and (d) a data card transaction terminal for association with the merchant, comprising; first communication means for automatically connecting the terminal for data communications with said transaction processing host computer system via a first telecommunications link; second communications means for automatically connecting the terminal for data communications with said transaction processing host computer system via a separate second telecommunications link in response to failure to establish said first telecommunications link; third communications means for automatically connecting the terminal for communications with said ARU via a separate third telecommunications link in response to failure to establish both said first telecommunications link and said second telecommunications link; and means for requesting authorization indicia from said transaction processing host computer system via said first telecommunications link or said second telecommunications link in connection with a proposed transaction; means for connecting the terminal to said authorization source computer system via said first telecommunications link or said second telecommunications link, whichever is established, and said host/authorization source telecommunications link; audio means for providing audible authorization indicia received from the ARU to the merchant; means for receiving the manual entry of said audible authorization indicia from the merchant as manually entered authorization indicia; means for verifying said manually entered authorization indicia; and means for storing authorization indicia received from said transaction processing host computer system or said manually entered authorization indicia. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for providing electronic authorizations in connection with a proposed transaction associated with a data card presented by a cardholder to a merchant utilizing a data card terminal, comprising:
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a host computer system operative for; in response to a connection with a data card terminal via a first telecommunication link, receiving information associated with the data card and with the proposed transaction in the form of data signals from said data card terminal; in further response to said connection with said data card terminal attempting to establish a host/authorization source telecommunication link to an authorization source computer system associated with the data card presented; in response to establishment of said host/authorization source telecommunication link with said authorization source computer system, providing information associated with the data card and with the proposed transaction to the authorization source computer system; receiving authorization indicia from said authorization source computer system as remotely obtained authorization indicia; in response to failure of establishment of said host/authorization source telecommunication link with said authorization source computer system, determining at the host computer system whether to authorize the transaction by providing transaction processor authorization indicia; and in response to receipt of said remotely obtained authorization indicia from the authorization source computer system or said transaction processor authorization indicia, providing either said remotely obtained authorization indicia or said transaction processor authorization indicia to said terminal via said first telecommunication link; and a data card terminal including audio equipment for reproducing sounds, said data card terminal operative for; automatically attempting to connect the terminal for communications to said host computer system via said first telecommunications link; in response to connection to said host computer system, providing information associated with the data card and with the proposed transaction in the form of data signals to said host computer system; receiving said remotely obtained authorization indicia, said transaction processor authorization indicia, or a call me signal provided by said host computer system; in response to either failure to connect to said host computer system or receipt of said call me signal provided by said host computer system, automatically attempting to connect to an audio response unit (ARU) via a second telecommunication link; in response to connection to said ARU, providing information associated with the data card and with the proposed transaction in the form of data signals to said ARU; and providing an audible authorization approval code received from said ARU to the merchant via said audio equipment. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for providing electronic authorizations to a merchant in connection with a proposed transaction associated with a data card presented by a cardholder, comprising:
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(a) a transaction processing host computer system, said transaction processing host computer system operative for transmitting authorization requests to an authorization source computer system associated with a data card issuing institution and receiving authorization indicia back from said authorization source computer system; (b) an audio response unit (ARU); (c) a host/authorization source telecommunications link for connecting said transaction processing host computer system with said authorization source computer system; and (d) a data card transaction terminal for association with the merchant, comprising; a data communications port; a controller operative for; automatically connecting said data communications port to said transaction processing host computer system via a first telecommunications link; in response to failure to establish said first telecommunications link, automatically connecting said data communications port to said transaction processing host computer system via a separate second telecommunications link; in response to failure to establish both said first telecommunications link and said second telecommunications link, automatically connecting said data communications port to said ARU via a separate third telecommunications link; requesting authorization indicia via said first telecommunications link or said second telecommunications link, whichever is established, in connection with a proposed transaction; receiving authorization indicia via said first telecommunications link or said second telecommunications link, whichever is established, and said host/authorization source telecommunications link; audio equipment for providing audible authorization indicia received from said ARU to the merchant; a manual data entry device responsive to manual entry of said audible authorization indicia from the merchant for providing manually entered authorization indicia; said controller further operative for verifying said manually entered authorization indicia; and a memory for storing authorization indicia received from said transaction processing host computer system or said manually entered authorization indicia. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification