Service fee-based payment processing

• US 8,131,619 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veselka Family Partnership LLLP
• Original Assignee: Randall D. Veselka
• Inventors: Veselka, Randall D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, John
• Application Number:
  US13/076,562
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/35
• 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 20/207 Tax processing

Abstract

A computing device that includes a processor and a memory receives inputs including indications of a transaction amount and a type of transaction. It is determined whether the transaction amount exceeds a predetermined threshold. Further, it is determined whether the type of transaction is one of a cash transaction and a payment card transaction. If the type of transaction is a cash transaction and the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, a predetermined service fee is added to the transaction amount, and a predetermined discount is subtracted from the transaction amount.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a computing device that includes a processor and a memory, inputs including indications of a transaction amount and a type of transaction;

determining whether the transaction amount exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining the type of transaction to be one of a cash transaction and a payment card transaction; and

if the type of transaction is a cash transaction and not a payment card transaction, and if the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, adding to the transaction amount a predetermined service fee, and subtracting from the transaction amount, and not from the service fee, a predetermined discount.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the type of transaction is a payment card transaction and not a cash transaction, and if the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, adding to the transaction amount the predetermined service fee without subtracting the predetermined discount from the transaction amount.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising paying a percentage-based fee to a card association based on the payment card transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the transaction amount does not exceed the threshold, processing the transaction without applying the service fee regardless of the type of transaction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the discount exceeds the service fee.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, in the computing device, a report that includes a total amount of service fees charged, and a total amount of discounts provided, in a given time period.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the transaction amount does not exceed the threshold, and the transaction is a cash transaction, processing the transaction without applying the discount.

8. A computer-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions including instructions for:

receiving inputs including indications of a transaction amount and a type of transaction;

determining whether the transaction amount exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining the type of transaction to be one of a cash transaction and a payment card transaction; and

if the type of transaction is a cash transaction and not a payment card transaction, and if the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, adding to the transaction amount a predetermined service fee, and subtracting from the transaction amount, and not from the service fee, a predetermined discount.

9. The medium of claim 8, the instructions further including instructions for, if the type of transaction is a payment card transaction and the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, adding to the transaction amount the predetermined service fee.

10. The medium of claim 9, the instructions further including instructions for paying a percentage-based fee to a card association based on the payment card transaction.

11. The medium of claim 8, the instructions further including instructions for, if the transaction amount does not exceed the threshold, processing the transaction without applying the service fee regardless of the type of transaction.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the discount exceeds the service fee.

13. The medium of claim 8, the instructions further including instructions for generating a report that includes a total amount of service fees charged, and a total amount of discounts provided, in a given time period.

14. The medium of claim 8, the instructions further including instructions for, if the transaction amount does not exceed the threshold, and the transaction is a cash transaction, processing the transaction without applying the discount.

15. A computing device having a processor and a memory, the device being configured to:

receive inputs including indications of a transaction amount and a type of transaction;

determine whether the transaction amount exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determine the type of transaction to be one of a cash transaction and a payment card transaction; and

if the type of transaction is a cash transaction and not a payment card transaction, and if the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, adding to the transaction amount a predetermined service fee, and subtracting from the transaction amount, and not from the service fee a predetermined discount.

16. The device of claim 15, further configured to, if the type of transaction is a payment card transaction and not a cash transaction, and if the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, adding to the transaction amount the predetermined service fee without subtracting the predetermined discount from the transaction amount.

17. The device of claim 16, further configured to pay a percentage-based fee to a card association based on the payment card transaction.

18. The device of claim 15, further configured to, if the transaction amount does not exceed the threshold, process the transaction without applying the service fee regardless of the type of transaction.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the discount exceeds the service fee.

20. The device of claim 15, further configured to generate, in the device, a report that includes a total amount of service fees charged, and a total amount of discounts provided, in a given time period.

21. The device of claim 15, further configured to, if the transaction amount does not exceed the threshold, and the transaction is a cash transaction, process the transaction without applying the discount.

22. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a computing device that includes a processor and a memory, inputs including indications of a transaction amount and a type of transaction;

determining whether the transaction amount exceeds a predetermined threshold;

determining the type of transaction to be one of a cash transaction and a payment card transaction; and

if the type of transaction is a cash transaction and not a payment card transaction, and if the transaction amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, adding to the transaction amount a predetermined service fee, and subtracting from the transaction amount, and not from the service fee, a predetermined discount;

wherein the discount exceeds the service fee.