Systems and methods for generating receipts

• US 7,520,420 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2003
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, David, Phillips, Cheryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US10/695,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 705/35, 705/39, 705/40, 705/42, 705/45
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/209 Specified transaction journal output feature, e.g. printed receipt or voice output
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

Systems and methods for electronically processing accounts receivable (AR) check transactions via a location-base device associated with a merchant. The location-base device, such as a point-of-sale (POS) device, can be configured to perform various functions that facilitate processing of AR checks. Such functions may include improved user interface, an ability to handle a repetitive input parameter, an ability to handle multiple merchant identifiers, an ability to generate multiple receipt types, an ability to edit check transactions, an ability to manage throughput of the device, and an ability to allow scanning of different types of checks so as to allow subsequent processing of the scanned checks to be different based on the type of the check. The location-base device configured in one or more of the foregoing manner facilitates a check authorization process performed by a check processing service.

Claims

1. A system for electronically processing a check transaction involving a merchant, comprising:

a point-of-sale device that receives user input as to a check transaction type and electronically converts a check, wherein the point-of-sale device is capable of generating a receipt and includes a plurality of stored receipt formats corresponding to one or more check transaction factors associated with the check transaction type including providing no receipt;

a check processing service linked to the point-of-sale device to receive information about the converted check from the point-of-sale device and perform an authorization process on the check transaction such that the check processing service notifies the merchant via the point-of-sale device of an authorize or decline decision of the authorization process;

wherein the point-of-sale device automatically determines, based on the check transaction type user input, whether to generate a receipt by selecting a receipt format from the plurality of stored receipt formats corresponding to one or more check transaction factors associated with the check transaction type, wherein the point-of sale device generates a receipt if the check transaction is authorized and involves a face-to-face-type transaction, and wherein the point-of-sale device does not generate a receipt if the check transaction involves an accounts receivable-type check transaction even if the accounts receivable-type check transaction is authorized by the check processing service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale device converts the check by scanning the check so as to read the check'"'"'s magnetic ink character recognition line and obtain an image of at least a portion of the check.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the point-of-sale device facilitates the determination of whether the check is an accounts receivable check by having the merchant select an option that allows processing of the accounts receivable check.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the authorization process includes a risk assessment of the check transaction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the check processing service performs the authorization process and notifies the merchant of its decision in a manner that depends at least on a level of service subscribed by the merchant wherein the level of service includes the check processing service guaranteeing or purchasing check transactions it authorizes thereby assuming at least some of the risk associated with the check.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the point-of-sale device generates a receipt that includes warranty language in response to input from the check processing service that the check transaction is guaranteed.

6. A method for processing a check transaction via a point-of-sale device associated with a merchant, the method comprising:

receiving user input as to a transaction type;

converting a check associated with the check transaction;

selecting a receipt format from a plurality of stored receipt formats wherein the plurality of stored receipt formats corresponds to one or more check transaction factors associated with the check transaction tv e and includes no receipt;

determining whether the check is an accounts receivable check based on the user input;

communicating with a check processing service that determines whether the check transaction should be authorized or declined based at least on information obtained from conversion of the check; and

determining automatically, based on the transaction type user input and the selected receipt format, whether to generate a receipt for the check transaction wherein the receipt is not generated if the check is an accounts receivable check.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein converting the check comprises scanning the check so as to read the check'"'"'s magnetic ink character recognition line and obtain an image of at least a portion of the check.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether the check is an accounts receivable check comprises providing the merchant with an option to process the check as an accounts receivable check such that the merchant selecting the option is indicative that the check is an accounts receivable check.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the check processing service determines whether to authorize or decline the check transaction by performing a risk assessment of the check transaction.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the check processing service performs the authorization process and notifies the merchant of its decision in a manner that depends at least on a level of service subscribed by the merchant wherein the level of service includes the cheek processing service guaranteeing or purchasing check transactions it authorizes thereby assuming at least some of the risk associated with the check.

11. A system for conducting a financial transaction involving a merchant, comprising:

a location-base device that receives user input as to whether the check transaction involves a face-to-face check transaction or an accounts receivable check transaction and processes the financial transaction, wherein the location-base device is capable of selecting a receipt format from a plurality of stored receipt formats corresponding to one or more check transaction factors for the check transaction, wherein the plurality of stored receipt formats includes no receipt and generating a receipt associated with the financial transaction;

a financial transaction processing service linked to the location-base device to receive information about the financial transaction and perform an authorization on the financial transaction;

wherein the location-base device automatically determines not to generate a receipt, based on the user input, if the financial transaction occurs in a non-face-to-face manner even if the financial transaction is authorized.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the financial transaction comprises a check transaction.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the location-base device comprises a point-of-sale device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the point-of-sale device converts the check by scanning the check so as to read the check'"'"'s magnetic ink character recognition line and obtain an image of at least a portion of the check.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the point-of-sale device facilitates the determination of whether the check transaction occurred in a non-face-to-face manner by having the merchant select an option that allows processing of non-face-to-face check transactions.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the financial transaction processing service comprises a check processing service.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the check processing service'"'"'s performance of the authorization includes a risk assessment of the check transaction.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the check processing service performs the authorization in a manner that depends at least on a level of service subscribed by the merchant wherein the level of service includes the check processing service guaranteeing or purchasing check transactions it authorizes thereby assuming at least some of the risk associated with the check.

19. A method for processing a payment made to a merchant, the method comprising:

convening the payment into an electronic format that allows at least a portion of subsequent payment processing to be performed electronically;

receiving user input as to a transaction type;

selecting a receipt format from a plurality of stored receipt formats corresponding to one or more check transaction factors for the transaction type wherein the receipt format includes no receipt; and

determining, based on the transaction type user input, whether the payment involves a non-face-to-face transaction, wherein a receipt for the payment is automatically not generated if the payment is a non-face-to-face transaction.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the payment comprises a check.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the check comprises scanning the check so as to read the check'"'"'s magnetic ink character recognition line and obtain an image of at least a portion of the check.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein determining whether the payment involves a face-to-face transaction comprises providing an option for the merchant to select a configuration that allows processing of non-face-to-face cheeks.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising communicating the electronic format of the payment to a payment processing service that performs an authorization process that includes a risk assessment.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the payment processing service comprises a check processing service.

25. A system for conducting a financial transaction involving a merchant, comprising:

a first means for receiving user input as to whether the financial transaction involves a non-face-to-face transaction; and

a second means for selecting a receipt format from a plurality of stored receipt formats corresponding to one or more check transaction factors wherein the plurality of stored receipt formats includes no receipt; and

a third means for automatically determining not to generate a receipt if the financial transaction is a non-face-to-face transaction even if the financial transaction is authorized.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the financial transaction comprises a check transaction.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first means includes a point-of-sale device electronically converts a check by scanning the check so as to read the check'"'"'s magnetic ink character recognition line and obtain an image of at least a portion of the check.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the third means includes an option on the point-of sale device such that, when selected, configures the point-of-sale device for processing of non-face-to-face check transactions.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the point-of-sale device configured for processing non-face-to-face transactions does not generate a receipt.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the third means further comprises having the financial transaction undergo an authorization process that includes a risk assessment.