Point of sale system interface for processing of transactions at a secondary transaction payment network

• US 7,725,351 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rbs Lynk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rbs Lynk, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Karmis; Stefanos
• Application Number:
  US11/380,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/26, 705/35, 705/39, 705/42, 705/38, 235/7.R
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

An interface for an integrated POS solution that allows a merchant to process card payment transactions through a secondary transaction payment processing network. The interface of the present invention expands the functionality of POS system by expanding the scope of use of a secondary port in the POS system. A primary POS port connects to a primary transaction payment processing network and a secondary POS port connects via an interface to an Internet payment gateway and then to a secondary transaction payment processing network. The interface converts the secondary port message formats into a message format for processing through an Internet payment gateway and secondary transaction payment processing network. The interface also performs additional reasonability and security checks typically not performed by a secondary port on cardholder track data. The improved processing of track data results in fewer declines so that transactions are processed more efficiently and accurately.

Claims

1. An interface for processing a financial transaction comprising:

a point of sale system for processing financial card transactions from a plurality of point of purchase devices comprising;

(a) a primary port for processing financial transactions from a first category of financial card transactions at a primary transaction payment processing network; and

(b) a secondary port for processing financial transactions from a second category of financial card transactions at a secondary transaction payment processing network;

a first connection for connecting said interface to said secondary port of said point of sale system;

a second connection for connecting said interface to said secondary transaction payment processing network;

a host computer in communication with said secondary transaction payment processing network for receiving and analyzing formatted financial transaction data and returning action codes in response to said formatted financial transaction data; and

at least one software component at said interface for processing said financial transaction by;

(a) receiving from said secondary port at said point of sale system financial transaction data for said financial transaction, said financial transaction data originating at a point of purchase device in communication with said point of sale system;

(b) formatting said financial transaction data from said point of sale system for processing at said host computer in communication with said secondary transaction payment processing network;

(c) transmitting said formatted financial transaction data to said secondary transaction payment processing network for processing;

(d) receiving from said secondary transaction payment processing network an action code returned by said host computer in communication with said secondary transaction payment processing network; and

(e) transmitting to said point of purchase device in communication with said point of sale system a message corresponding to said action code from said host computer to complete said financial transaction.

2. The interface of claim 1 wherein said financial transaction is an outside financial transaction.

3. The interface of claim 1 wherein said financial transaction is an inside financial transaction.

4. The interface of claim 1 wherein said second connection is selected from the group consisting of Internet payment gateway connections and modem connections.

5. The interface of claim 1 wherein said financial transaction is selected from the group consisting of major credit card financial transactions, gift card financial transactions, and proprietary card financial transactions.

6. The interface of claim 1 wherein said financial transaction is selected from the group consisting of outside transaction authorizations and captures, inside sales, transaction voids, and administrative transactions related to settling batch transactions.

7. A method for processing a financial transaction at a point of sale system comprising (a) a primary port for processing a first category of financial card transactions at a primary transaction payment processing network and (b) a secondary port for processing a second category of financial card transactions at a secondary transaction payment processing network, said method comprising:

(a) receiving from said secondary port at said point of sale system at an interface financial transaction data for said financial transaction, said financial transaction data originating at a point of purchase device in communication with said point of sale system;

(b) formatting said financial transaction data from said point of sale system for processing at a host computer in communication with said secondary transaction payment processing network;

(c) transmitting from said interface to said secondary transaction payment processing network for processing at said host computer said formatted financial transaction data;

(d) receiving at said interface from said secondary transaction payment processing network an action code returned by said host computer in communication with said secondary transaction payment processing network;

(e) transmitting from said interface to said point of purchase device in communication with said point of sale system a message corresponding to said action code from said host computer to complete said financial transaction.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said financial transaction is an outside financial transaction.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said financial transaction is an inside financial transaction.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said second connection is selected from the group consisting of Internet payment gateway connections and modem connections.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said financial transaction is selected from the group consisting of major credit card financial transactions, gift card financial transactions, and fleet card financial transactions.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said financial transaction is selected from the group consisting of outside transaction authorizations and captures, inside sales, transaction voids, and administrative transactions related to settling batch transactions.

13. A method for processing point of sale system financial transactions comprising (1) a primary port for processing financial transactions from a first category of financial card transactions at a primary transaction payment processing network and (2) a secondary port for processing financial transactions from a second category of financial card transactions at a secondary transaction payment processing network, said method comprising:

(a) transmitting from said secondary port at said point of sale system to an interface device financial transaction data for at least one financial transaction, said financial transaction data originating at a point of purchase device in communication with said point of sale system;

(b) formatting at said interface device said financial transaction data for processing at a secondary host computer;

(c) transmitting from said interface device to said secondary transaction payment processing network said formatted financial transaction data;

(d) transmitting from said secondary transaction payment processing network to said second host computer said formatted financial transaction data;

(e) receiving at said secondary transaction payment processing network an action code returned by said secondary host computer;

(f) receiving at said interface device from said secondary transaction payment processing network said action code returned by said secondary host computer;

(g) transmitting from said interface to said point of purchase device in communication with said point of sale system a message corresponding to said action code from said host computer to complete said financial transaction.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said financial transaction is an outside financial transaction.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said financial transaction is an inside financial transaction.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said second connection is selected from the group consisting of Internet payment gateway connections and modem connections.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one financial transaction is selected from the group consisting of major credit card financial transactions, gift card financial transactions, and proprietary card financial transactions.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one financial transaction is selected from the group consisting of outside transaction authorizations and captures, inside sales, transaction voids, and administrative transactions related to settling batch transactions.