Transaction notification and authorization method

• US 8,783,564 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calabrese Stemer LLC
• Original Assignee: Calabrese Stemer LLC
• Inventors: Stemer, Werner, Calabrese, Gerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US13/974,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20130346312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/379, 705/77
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• 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 20/42 Confirmation, e.g. check or permission by the legal debtor of payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

An added level of security is provided for charge transactions. Upon presenting a charge card number for a purchase, for example, the cardholder receives a message (e.g., SMS) on his cell phone or PDA that a charge authorization request has been received. The message may include the merchant, a charge amount, and a time and date.

Claims

1. A method for processing a transaction, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for authorizing a transaction for an account, said request received via a first transmission channel, said request including at least an identification of the customer'"'"'s account;

determining whether or not the account includes a request for notification to the customer of any transactions;

notifying the customer via a second transmission channel only if the account includes a request for notification of any transactions;

the second transmission channel being distinct from the first transmission channel; and

authorizing the transaction without requiring a response from the customer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the notifying step comprises sending an SMS message to the customer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is from the group consisting of a customer, an account holder, an authorized person, and an unauthorized person .

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is provided from the group consisting of an ATM, a POS terminal, a telephone and a device for virtual communication.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is a virtual request provided via the Internet.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction is selected from the group consisting of credit card, debit card, charge card, and ATM.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission channel is selected from the group consisting of wireless and landline channels.

8. The method according to claim 1, which comprises receiving the request at a remote processing facility.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said steps of notifying and authorizing are performed substantially concurrently.

10. A method for processing a transaction, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving a request for authorizing a transaction for an account, said request received via a first transmission channel, said request including at least an identification of the customer'"'"'s account;

b. determining if the account includes a request for notification to the customer of any transactions;

c. sending a notification to the customer via a second transmission channel only if the account includes a request for notification of at least one form of transaction;

d. the second transmission channel being distinct from the first transmission channel;

e. receiving a response to the notification; and

f. authorizing the transaction only if the response is proper.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the request is from the group consisting of a customer and an authorized person.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the request is provided from the group consisting of an ATM, a POS terminal, a telephone and virtual.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transaction is selected from the group consisting of credit card, debit card, charge card, and ATM.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first transmission channel is selected from the group consisting of wireless and landline channels.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transaction is selected from the group consisting of credit cards, debit cards and ATM cards.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first and second transmission channels are both wireless channels.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the request for authorizing a transaction is received from a merchant.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the request for authorizing a transaction is received from the group consisting of a merchant and a customer.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the response is selected from the group consisting of a reply to an SMS message, a key depressed during a telephone call, a PIN, a password, and a voice reply.