Intelligent transaction router and process for handling multi-product point of sale transactions

• US 8,103,548 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Inventors: Economy, Theodore F., Sturm, Gregory R., Uzar, Leslie A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADE, OGER GARCIA
• Application Number:
  US12/466,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20090228364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/208 Use of an ATM as a switch or hub
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0873 Details of the card reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/204 on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/205 by calling a service number, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] or menu

Abstract

A transaction router and corresponding process that enables the point-of-sale activation (POSA) of POSA type devices, such as POSA pre-paid gift cards, debit cards, telephone cards and cellular replenishment cards, while utilizing a standard credit card swipe terminal (reader). The transaction router, during use, receives the output of the reader and allows standard credit and debit card transactions to pass to the financial transaction processing entity that is called by the reader, to allow the financial transaction to be carried out. If the card or device being read by the reader is a POSA type device to be activated, then the router routes the communication initiated by the reader to another processing entity capable of activating the POSA device. The reader is unaware of the existence of the router and operates in its ordinary manner, whether standard credit and debit cards are being processed, or whether a POSA card or other POSA device is being activated. Increasing the value of a previously activated POSA card also may be carried out.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in activating a point-of-sale activation (POSA) product, the apparatus being a router comprising:

a first communication port for communicating with a reader capable of reading identification data from a payment instrument;

a second communication port for communicating with a selected one of;

a first processing entity capable of processing a financial transaction; and

a second processing entity capable of activating a POSA product;

a control system adapted to;

determine if the payment instrument is a POSA product or a non-POSA product;

upon a determination that the payment instrument is a non-POSA product, send a communication initiated by the reader from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate with the first processing entity; and

upon a determination that the payment instrument is a point-of-sale activated product, receive via the first communication port identification data of the payment instrument and transmit via the second communication port to the second processing entity the identification data of the payment instrument to enable the second processing entity to activate the identified payment instrument.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further adapted to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a command code corresponding to an instruction for the reader to supply the identification data of the payment device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is received, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code corresponding to a code encoded to cause the reader to terminate the commenced financial transaction.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is received, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a control code encoded to cause the reader to discontinue the communication initiated by the reader.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further adapted to receive via the first communication port from the reader a monetary value to be placed on the POSA device, and to control the second communication port to transmit to the second processing entity the received monetary value to enable the second processing entity to activate the POSA product to the transmitted monetary value.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an access button coupled to the control system for identifying that the payment instrument is a POSA product so that the router does not permit communication to the first processing entity if the access button is depressed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is further adapted to monitor the communication from the reader to the first communication port and to identify whether the payment instrument is a POSA product or a non-POSA product based on the monitored identification data communicated by the reader.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is adapted to learn a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity, and adapted to extract the identification data from the communication by the reader in accordance with the learned format.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is extracted, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code encoded in accordance with the learned format to cause the reader to terminate the commenced financial transaction.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 in combination with a learn payment device having known, pre-set identification data stored thereon or therein;

wherein the control system is adapted to allow a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate to the first processing entity the pre-set identification data read from the learn payment device;

the control system being adapted to monitor communications between the reader and the first processing entity to ascertain a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity based on the known, pre-set identification data of the learn payment device and the monitored communications.

11. A system, comprising:

a reader adapted to read identification data from a payment instrument and to commence a financial transaction, the reader having a communication port adapted to transmit and receive communications and to commence a communication directed to a first processing entity capable of processing a financial transaction;

a router having first and second communication ports, the first communication port being adapted to supply and receive communications to and from the communication port of the reader, the second communication port adapted to communicate with one or more processing entities, the router adapted to;

determine if the payment instrument is a point-of-sale activated (POSA) product or a non-POSA product;

upon a determination that the payment instrument is a non-POSA product, send a communication initiated by the reader from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate with a first processing entity; and

upon a determination that the payment instrument is a point-of-sale activated product,receive via the first communication port identification data of the payment instrument and to transmit via the second communication port to a second processing entity capable of activating the POSA product the identification data of the payment instrument to enable the second processing entity to activate the identified payment instrument.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein

the router is adapted to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a send identification instruction;

and

the reader is adapted to supply to the router the identification data of the payment instrument upon receiving the send identification instruction.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control system is adapted, after the identification data is received, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code;

and the reader is adapted to terminate the commenced financial transaction upon receiving the transaction rejection code.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the reader is adapted to discontinue communication upon receiving the transaction rejection code.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the reader is adapted to receive a designated monetary value to be placed on the POSA product and to communicate the designated monetary value from the communication port of the reader;

and

the router is adapted to receive from the reader the designated monetary value and to communicate the monetary value to the second processing entity to enable the second processing entity to activate the POSA product to the monetary value.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the router includes an access button to identify that the payment instrument is a POSA product, the router being adapted to block the communication initiated by the reader if the access button is depressed.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the router is adapted to monitor communications from the reader and to identify whether the payment instrument is a POSA product or a non-POSA product based on the monitored communications.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the router is adapted to learn a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity, and to extract the identification data from the communication by the reader in accordance with the learned format.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the router is adapted, after the identification data is extracted, to control the first communication port to supply to the reader a transaction rejection code encoded in accordance with the learned format;

an the reader is adapted to terminate the commenced financial transaction upon receiving the transaction rejection code.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a learn payment device having known, pre-set identification data stored thereon or therein;

wherein the router is adapted to allow a communication initiated by the reader to pass from the first communication port to the second communication port to enable the reader to communicate to the first processing entity the pre-set identification data read from the learn payment device;

the router being adapted to monitor communications between the reader and the first processing entity to ascertain a format of communication between the reader and the first processing entity based on the known, pre-set identification data of the learn payment device and the monitored communications.