Unit-based prepaid presentation instrument accounts and methods

• US 7,813,982 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Holme, Gary, Martin, Wayne Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P
• Application Number:
  US11/764,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1- 80, 235/381
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• 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 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

Methods and/or systems for providing preauthorization and transaction settlement for a transaction using a prepaid unit-based presentation instrument are disclosed, wherein the presentation instrument includes a unit balance. The method may include receiving a preauthorization request that includes a price-per-unit and a preauthorization amount. The methods and/or systems may then determine whether the unit balance is sufficient to cover the preauthorization amount. If the unit balance is sufficient to cover the preauthorization amount, the presentation instrument is authorized for the transaction. If the unit balance is insufficient to cover the preauthorization amount, a currency balance is determined from the unit balance and the price-per-unit, authorizing the presentation instrument for a transaction up to the currency balance and sending an indication that the currency balance is authorized for the transaction.

Claims

1. A point of sale (POS) device coupled with a gas pump, the POS device comprising:

a user interface comprising at least a card reader;

a network interface in communication with a financial processor; and

computational logic, wherein the computational logic is configured to;

determine whether the account number is associated with a unit-based prepaid as card where a certain number of units of as have been previously paid for at a certain price;

receive an account number associated with a presentation instrument through the card reader;

receive an indication of a gas type from a user through the user interface;

transmit an authorization request through the network interface to the financial processor, the authorization request including the account number, gas type and an indication of a price-per-gallon for the gas type; and

receive an indication from the financial processor through the network interface whether the presentation instrument is approved to purchase gas.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computational logic is further configured to receive an currency-based authorization amount from the financial processor, and limit the transaction to the currency-based authorization amount.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computational logic is further configured to receive an indication of the amount of gas approved for a transaction.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising a gas pump interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the gas pump interface communicates information to the POS selected from the group consisting of the price-per-gallon, the number of gallons, and transaction amount.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the gas pump interface sends an authorization amount to the gas pump through the gas pump interface.