Method and apparatus for processing a charge applied to a financial account

• US 7,536,349 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Van Luchene, Andrew S., Mik, Magdalena, Tedesco, Daniel E., Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akintola, Olabode
• Application Number:
  US09/098,481
• Time in Patent Office: 3,990 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 705/4, 705/30, 705 35- 40
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A billing server receives charge data from a card authorization terminal. The charge data indicates a transaction amount, such as a purchase price, and a first financial account, such as a credit card account. The billing server determines a second financial account that corresponds to the first financial account. For example, the second financial account may be the financial account of an insurance company or other reimbursing party. The billing server also determines a reimbursement amount that corresponds to the first financial account. The second financial account is charged the reimbursement amount. Thus, a portion or all of the transaction amount is paid by a reimbursing party. The second financial account is only charged if a reimbursement rule is satisfied. For example, only purchases made at certain types of merchants may be reimbursed. In addition, the billing server may first request approval before charging the second financial account.

Claims

1. A method for processing a charge applied to a credit card account, the method comprising:

receiving charge data via a card authorization terminal,

in which the charge data includes;

an indication of a transaction amount,

an indication of a merchant, and

an indication of a credit card account of an account holder;

determining, by a billing server in communication with the card authorization terminal, a reimbursement rule that is associated with the credit card account,

in which the reimbursement rule indicates;

a reimbursement condition,

a reimbursing party, and

a period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment;

determining, by the billing server, whether the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule based on the reimbursement condition and the indication of the merchant; and

if the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule, performing by the billing server the following;

determining a reimbursement amount based on the reimbursement rule and the charge data;

determining a first charge amount based on a difference between the transaction amount and the reimbursement amount;

applying the first charge amount to the credit card account;

determining a second charge amount based on the reimbursement amount, determining a financial account of the reimbursing party;

transmitting a billing statement for the financial account to the reimbursing party,

in which the billing statement includes an indication of the second charge amount;

determining whether the reimbursing party has remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment; and

applying the second charge amount to the credit card account if the reimbursing party has not remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment.

2. A method for processing a charge applied to a debit card account, the method comprising:

receiving charge data via a card authorization terminal,

in which the charge data includes;

an indication of a transaction amount,

an indication of a merchant, and

an indication of a debit card account of an account holder;

determining, by a billing server in communication with the card authorization terminal, a reimbursement rule that is associated with the debit card account,

in which the reimbursement rule indicates;

a reimbursement condition,

a reimbursing party, and

a period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment;

determining, by the billing server, whether the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule based on the reimbursement condition and the indication of the merchant; and

if the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule, performing by the billing server the following;

determining a reimbursement amount based on the reimbursement rule and the charge data;

determining a first charge amount based on a difference between the transaction amount and the reimbursement amount;

applying the first charge amount to the debit card account;

determining a second charge amount based on the reimbursement amount, determining a financial account of the reimbursing party;

transmitting a billing statement for the financial account to the reimbursing party,

in which the billing statement includes an indication of the second charge amount;

determining whether the reimbursing party has remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment; and

applying the second charge amount to the debit card account if the reimbursing party has not remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment.

3. A method for processing a charge applied to a credit card account, the method comprising:

receiving charge data via a card authorization terminal,

in which the charge data includes;

an indication of a transaction amount,

an indication of a category of merchant, and

an indication of a credit card account of an account holder;

determining, by a billing server in communication with the card authorization terminal, a reimbursement rule that is associated with the credit card account,

in which the reimbursement rule indicates;

a reimbursement condition,

a reimbursing party, and

a period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment;

determining, by the billing server, whether the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule based on the reimbursement condition and the indication of the category of merchant; and

if the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule, performing by the billing server the following;

determining a reimbursement amount based on the reimbursement rule and the charge data;

determining a first charge amount based on a difference between the transaction amount and the reimbursement amount;

applying the first charge amount to the credit card account;

determining a second charge amount based on the reimbursement amount, determining a financial account of the reimbursing party;

transmitting a billing statement for the financial account to the reimbursing party,

in which the billing statement includes an indication of the second charge amount;

determining whether the reimbursing party has remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment; and

applying the second charge amount to the credit card account if the reimbursing party has not remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment.

4. A method for processing a charge applied to a debit card account, the method comprising:

receiving charge data via a card authorization terminal,

in which the charge data includes;

an indication of a transaction amount,

an indication of a category of merchant, and

an indication of a debit card account of an account holder;

determining, by a billing server in communication with the card authorization terminal, a reimbursement rule that is associated with the debit card account,

in which the reimbursement rule indicates;

a reimbursement condition,

a reimbursing party, and

a period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment;

determining, by the billing server, whether the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule based on the reimbursement condition and the indication of the category of merchant; and

if the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule, performing by the billing server the following;

determining a reimbursement amount based on the reimbursement rule and the charge data;

determining a first charge amount based on a difference between the transaction amount and the reimbursement amount;

applying the first charge amount to the debit card account;

determining a second charge amount based on the reimbursement amount, determining a financial account of the reimbursing party;

transmitting a billing statement for the financial account to the reimbursing party,

in which the billing statement includes an indication of the second charge amount;

determining whether the reimbursing party has remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment; and

applying the second charge amount to the debit card account if the reimbursing party has not remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the period of time for the reimbursing party to remit payment.

5. A method comprising:

receiving charge data, via a card authorization terminal,

in which the charge data includes;

an indication of a transaction amount, and

an indication of a financial account of an account holder;

determining, by a billing server in communication with the card authorization terminal, a reimbursement rule that is associated with the financial account of the account holder,

in which the reimbursement rule indicates;

a reimbursement condition, and

a reimbursing party;

determining, by the billing server, whether the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule based on the reimbursement condition and the charge data; and

if the charge data satisfies the reimbursement rule, performing by the billing server the following;

determining a reimbursement amount based on the reimbursement rule and the charge data;

determining a first charge amount based on a difference between the transaction amount and the reimbursement amount;

applying the first charge amount to the financial account of the account holder;

determining a second charge amount based on the reimbursement amount, determining a financial account of the reimbursing party;

transmitting to the reimbursing party a billing statement for the financial account of the reimbursing party,

in which the billing statement includes an indication of the second charge amount;

determining whether the reimbursing party has remitted a payment of the second charge amount within a predetermined period of time; and

applying the second charge amount to the financial account of the account holder if the reimbursing party has not remitted a payment of the second charge amount within the predetermined period of time.