Adaptive communication system within a transaction card network
First Claim
1. A system for transferring data between a retail information system and a transaction card processor through an authorization network, said retail information system having a plurality of processing devices linked to a processor controller, said processor controller executing a particular software application, said transaction card processor having responsibility for network services including network access methods and point of sale compliance requirements, said system comprising:
- communication means for controlling said transfer of data between said processor controller and said authorization network, said data transferred between said retail information system and said transaction card processor including financial data messages and non-financial data messages, said communication means including;
means for communicating with said processor controller;
means for processing and transferring said financial data messages concurrently with said non-financial data messages;
means for establishing communication with said authorization network through a dial-up telephone connection; and
means for insulating said retail information system from changes to said network access methods, and from changes to said point of sale compliance requirements, independent of said particular software application executing on said processor controller.
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Abstract
The present invention is a point-of-presence device installed in a merchant establishment as an interface between a retail information system and a transaction card authorization network. By using a simple message data format between the retail information system and the device, the device insulates the retail information system from changes to local communication access methods and changes to point-of-sale compliance requirements initiated by the card processor. The device first establishes a dial-up telephone connection to the authorization network and then interleaves both financial data messages and non-financial messages over the same telephone line to the authorization network. The device provides authorization response times that substantially equal response times provided by leased line connections to the authorization network. In addition, the present invention provides improved diagnostic and draft capture capability for the retail information system.
91 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for transferring data between a retail information system and a transaction card processor through an authorization network, said retail information system having a plurality of processing devices linked to a processor controller, said processor controller executing a particular software application, said transaction card processor having responsibility for network services including network access methods and point of sale compliance requirements, said system comprising:
communication means for controlling said transfer of data between said processor controller and said authorization network, said data transferred between said retail information system and said transaction card processor including financial data messages and non-financial data messages, said communication means including; means for communicating with said processor controller; means for processing and transferring said financial data messages concurrently with said non-financial data messages; means for establishing communication with said authorization network through a dial-up telephone connection; and means for insulating said retail information system from changes to said network access methods, and from changes to said point of sale compliance requirements, independent of said particular software application executing on said processor controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a transaction card processor authorization network including a retail information system having a plurality of processing devices linked to a processor controller, said transaction card processor having responsibility for network services including network access methods and point of sale communication requirements, a communication apparatus comprising:
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means for communicating with said processor controller; means for establishing communication with said authorization network through a dial-up telephone connection; means for communicating with a remote help desk facility; means for maintaining drafts, groups and multiple settlement batches; means for communicating to a host computer for communication between said processor controller and said host computer; and means for transferring data between said processor controller and said authorization network including means for isolating said retail information system from changes to said network access methods and from changes to said point of sale compliance requirements made by said transaction card processor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing improved communication services between a retail information system and a transaction card processor authorization network using a communication apparatus which insulates said retail information system from changes to network access methods and from changes to point of sale compliance requirements chosen by said transaction card processor, said communication apparatus providing said retail information system improved authorization response time and diagnostic capability, said method comprising said steps of:
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connecting said communication apparatus to said retail information system and to said authorization network; establishing a first dial-up connection between said communication apparatus and said transaction card network; and interleaving financial data messages and non-financial data messages between said retail information system and said authorization network over said first dial-up connection by said communication apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification