System and method for processing microtransactions
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for processing microtransactions, the method comprising:
- receiving, by at least one processor, a request from a customer for an attempted transaction with a merchant, the request comprising identifying information associated with a transaction account and a transaction amount, the transaction account provided by a payment enabler;
classifying, by at least one processor, the attempted transaction as a microtransaction if the transaction amount is below a predetermined monetary amount, and otherwise classifying the attempted transaction as a non-microtransaction;
submitting, via a communication interface, the transaction request for authorization by the payment enabler according to a first protocol for non-microtransactions, if the attempted transaction is a non-microtransaction;
determining, by at least one processor, an authorization requirement for the customer, andif the authorization requirement indicates no authorization needed, approving the attempted transaction without submitting the transaction request for further authorization by the payment enabler,otherwise, submitting the transaction request for authorization by the payment enabler according to either a second protocol for microtransactions or the first protocol for non-microtransactions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems of the invention provide a variety of techniques for processing microtransactions. In accordance with the invention, the method starts with a customer initiating a purchase through interaction with a merchant. The purchase is associated with purchase information, which includes the particulars of the purchase, such as the purchase price. In the purchase, the customer uses a transaction account, obtained from a payment enabler. The purchase is classified as a microtransaction, if the purchase price is below a predetermined monetary amount. Thereafter, the purchase information is forwarded for processing based on the classifying, i.e., either as a regular transaction or as a microtransaction. Then, upon receipt of the purchase information by an appropriate recipient, such as an interchange entity or an alternate interchange entity, the purchase information is processed to effect the microtransaction, if so classified, between the customer and the merchant.
137 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for processing microtransactions, the method comprising:
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receiving, by at least one processor, a request from a customer for an attempted transaction with a merchant, the request comprising identifying information associated with a transaction account and a transaction amount, the transaction account provided by a payment enabler; classifying, by at least one processor, the attempted transaction as a microtransaction if the transaction amount is below a predetermined monetary amount, and otherwise classifying the attempted transaction as a non-microtransaction; submitting, via a communication interface, the transaction request for authorization by the payment enabler according to a first protocol for non-microtransactions, if the attempted transaction is a non-microtransaction; determining, by at least one processor, an authorization requirement for the customer, and if the authorization requirement indicates no authorization needed, approving the attempted transaction without submitting the transaction request for further authorization by the payment enabler, otherwise, submitting the transaction request for authorization by the payment enabler according to either a second protocol for microtransactions or the first protocol for non-microtransactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-implemented system for processing microtransactions, the system comprising:
at least one processor, at least one storage device, and at least one communication interface, which are configured to perform the following; receiving a request from a customer for an attempted transaction with a merchant, the request comprising identifying information associated with a transaction account and a transaction amount, the transaction account provided by a payment enabler; classifying the attempted transaction as a microtransaction if the transaction amount is below a predetermined monetary amount, and otherwise classifying the attempted transaction as a non-microtransaction; submitting the transaction request for authorization by the payment enabler according to a first protocol for non-microtransactions, if the attempted transaction is a non-microtransaction; determining, by at least one processor, an authorization requirement for the customer, and if the authorization requirement indicates no authorization needed, approving the attempted transaction without submitting the transaction request for further authorization by the payment enabler, otherwise, submitting the transaction request for authorization by the payment enabler according to either a second protocol for microtransactions or the first protocol for non-microtransactions. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-implemented method for processing microtransactions, the method comprising:
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receiving, by at least one processor, a request from a customer for an attempted transaction with a merchant, the request comprising identifying information associated with a transaction account and a transaction amount, the transaction account provided by a payment enabler; classifying, by at least one processor, the attempted transaction as a microtransaction if the transaction amount is below a predetermined monetary amount, and otherwise classifying the attempted transaction as a non-microtransaction; submitting, via a communication interface, the transaction request for authorization by the payment enabler according to a first protocol for non-microtransactions, if the attempted transaction is a non-microtransaction; determining, by at least one processor, an authorization requirement for the customer, and if the authorization requirement indicates no authorization needed, submitting the transaction request for authorization according to a second protocol for microtransactions, otherwise, submitting the transaction request for authorization according to the first protocol for non-microtransactions.
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Specification