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Systems and methods for operating data card terminals for transaction authorization

  • US 5,386,458 A
  • Filed: 11/05/1993
  • Issued: 01/31/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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:

  • (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.

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