Stored value transaction system including an integrated database server

• US 7,840,446 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Belczynski, Mari, Berry, Robert, Blandina, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Zurita, James
• Application Number:
  US12/240,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• 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 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• 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 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

An integrated database and information server are provided that efficiently share information and tasks between various stored value programs. A server is configured to provide reusable objects and data structures that are suitably shared between various stored value products. A database at the server allows data to be shared between various programs so that each consumer associates with only one database record even though that consumer may use multiple shared value products. By integrating modules and avoiding duplicate records, the record communicates with all stored value programs, so the information does not need to be repeatedly entered into the database. Moreover, new stored value products are quickly and easily created through selection and arrangement of various shared objects preferably maintained within the database.

Claims

1. A computer based system, comprising:

a computer network communicating with a non-transitory memory;

said memory communicating with a processor; and

said processor, when executing a computer program for managing a plurality of stored value products, said system comprising is configured to;

manage a plurality of subsections of a database, wherein each subsection contains a high-level key class of objects and a plurality of secondary classes of objects, wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects define a business unit, and wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects is associated with one of said plurality of stored value products; and

,

manage a plurality of reusable classes from which said high-level key class of objects is derived.

2. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of stored value products includes a device selected from the group consisting of magnetic-stripe cards, smart-cards, ATM cards, and Internet transaction account cards.

3. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said high-level key class of objects relates to a first business unit, and said secondary class of objects relates to a second business unit.

4. The computer based system of claim 3, wherein objects of said first business unit share a common default language and a common default currency.

5. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said high-level key class of objects relates to a first geographical region, and said secondary class of objects relates to a second geographical region.

6. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said high-level key class of objects relates to a first type of stored value product, and said secondary class of objects relates to a second type of stored value product.

7. The computer based system of claim 1, further comprising a firewall which includes software access controls.

8. The computer based system of claim 1, further comprising a firewall which includes router-implemented access restrictions.

9. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects are configured to load monetary values to said plurality of stored value products.

10. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects are configured to deduct monetary values from said plurality of stored value products.

11. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects are configured to activate said plurality of stored value products.

12. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects are configured to create a new account for said stored value products.

13. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects are configured to serve as intermediaries to intermediate classes of objects between other secondary classes of objects.

14. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of secondary classes of objects are derived from said high-level key class of objects.

15. A method of operating a computer based transaction server authorization system comprising:

selecting, by said computer based transaction authorization system, a first plurality of objects from a repository of objects to form a first stored value program product, said first stored value program product corresponding to a first financial product; and

,

selecting, by said computer based transaction authorization system, a second plurality of objects from said repository of objects to form a second stored value program product, said second stored value program product corresponding to a second financial product, wherein said first stored value program product and said second stored value program product interact with a database at said transaction server, and via said first plurality of objects and said second plurality of objects, respectively, to implement said first financial product and said second financial product, respectively, wherein said database comprises consumer information data and merchant information data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a transaction request from a point of sale terminal, said transaction request corresponding to one of said financial products.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining at least one of said first financial product or said second financial product corresponding to said transaction request at said transaction server.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising processing said transaction request in accordance with said first plurality of objects in response to said transaction request corresponding to said first financial product.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising processing said transaction request in accordance with said second plurality of objects in response to said transaction request corresponding to said second financial product.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for implementing a method for operating a transaction authorization system, said plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor, are configured to cause said processor to perform operations, comprising:

selecting a first plurality of objects from a repository of objects to form a first stored value product, said first stored value product corresponding to a first financial product; and

,

selecting a second plurality of objects from said repository of objects to form a second stored value product, said second stored value product corresponding to a second financial product, wherein said first stored value product and said second stored value product interact with a database at said transaction server, and via said first plurality of objects and said second plurality of objects, respectively, to implement said first financial product and said second financial product, respectively, wherein said database comprises consumer data and merchant data.