System for processing, activating and redeeming value added prepaid cards

• US 9,852,414 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Llach, Teri
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayles, Ashford S
• Application Number:
  US13/520,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20130041768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,545 Days
• Field of Search: 705 17, 705 1414
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/354 Card activation or deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/355 Personalisation of cards for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computer implemented method for adding value to a stored value card in excess of the purchase price for the stored value card is provided. In one embodiment a stored value card transaction processor receives an activation or redemption request for a stored value card from a point of sale terminal. The activation or redemption request comprises at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a merchant identification, and a time of activation which is compared to data stored in a stored value card datastore to determine if the stored value card to be activated is eligible for a value added award. The processor then determines the value added award and modifies the request to include the value added award. The processor then transmits the modified request to the card issuer authorization system and receives a response which is forwarded to the point of sale terminal.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction, the method being performed on a stored value card transaction computer having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which cause the stored value card transaction computer to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving, by the stored value card transaction computer, a transaction request comprising a stored value card activation request for a stored value card from a point of sale terminal, wherein the store value card activation request comprises a time of the stored value card activation request and at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, and a merchant identification;

determining, by the stored value card transaction computer, the stored value card is eligible for a value differentiation by comparing the time of the stored value card activation request and at least one of the card identification, the point of sale terminal identification, the vendor identification, and the merchant identification to stored data in a stored value card datastore;

determining, by the stored value card transaction computer, based on the time of the stored value card activation request, the value differentiation to be attributed to an account associated with the stored value card when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation, the value differentiation comprising a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card;

modifying, by the stored value card transaction computer, the stored value card activation request to include the value differentiation when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation;

transmitting, by the stored value card transaction computer, a modified activation request to a card issuer authorization system, wherein the modified activation request comprises the value differentiation and wherein the card issuer authorization system will activate the stored value card based on the modified activation request;

receiving, by the stored value card transaction computer, a response from the card issuer authorization system that the stored-value card is activated and includes the value differentiation; and

transmitting, by the stored value card transaction computer, the response to the point of sale terminal.

2. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the activation request further comprises an activation date.

3. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the transaction request further comprises a redemption request.

4. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the response comprises a reference to the value differentiation.

5. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card is less than the purchase price of the stored value card.

6. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the purchase price of the stored value card is less than the monetary redemption value for the stored value card.

7. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the value differentiation further comprises a non-monetary redemption value.

8. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, further comprising reconciling, by the stored value card transaction computer, accounts of card transaction interested parties.

9. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 8, wherein the card transaction interested parties comprise at least one of card vendors, card merchants, card issuers, and a stored value card transaction system administrator.

19. The computer implemented method for conducting the stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the stored value card transaction request further comprises transaction information for at least two stored value cards.

20. The computer implemented method for conducting the stored value card transaction of claim 19, wherein the value differentiation, when present, is allocated equally between the at least two stored value cards.

21. The computer implemented method for conducting the stored value card transaction of claim 19, wherein the value differentiation, when present, is allocated disproportionately between the at least two stored value cards.

22. The computer implemented method for conducting the stored value card transaction of claim 20 or 21, wherein value differentiation allocation, when performed, is directed by card transaction interested parties, card purchasers, card redeemers, or a combination thereof.

10. A stored value card transaction system comprising:

a datastore maintaining account information for a plurality of stored value cards, conditions for receiving a value differentiation, and conditions for redeeming the value differentiation; and

a stored value card transaction computer coupled to the datastore and having a processor and non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which cause the stored value card transaction computer to function as;

a point of sale interface for receiving and transmitting a transaction message comprising a stored value card activation message for a stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards with a point of sale terminal;

a value added determination component to determine, based on a time of the stored value card activation message in comparison with at least one of the card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, and a merchant identification, a stored value card is eligible for a value differentiation and a type of value differentiation to be awarded to an account associated with the stored value card when the stored value card is eligible for the value differentiation, the value differentiation comprising a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card;

a message modification component for modifying the stored value card activation message to a modified activation message which includes the value differentiation when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation and wherein a card issuer system will activate the stored value card based on the modified activation message;

a card issuer system interface for transmitting the modified activation message to, and receiving a response to the modified activation message from, the card issuer system; and

an authorization component for authorizing a stored value card transaction.

11. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, wherein the activation date is the date of the activation request.

12. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, wherein the transaction message further comprises a redemption request.

13. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, wherein the response comprises a reference to the value differentiation.

14. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, wherein the monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card is less than the purchase price of the stored value card.

15. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, wherein the purchase price of the stored value card is less than the monetary redemption value for the stored value card.

16. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, wherein the value differentiation further comprises a non-monetary redemption value.

17. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, further comprising a reconciliation component for reconciling accounts of card transaction interested parties.

18. The stored value card transaction system of claim 17, wherein the card transaction interested parties comprise at least one of card vendors, card merchants, card issuers, and a stored value card transaction system administrator.

23. The stored value card transaction system of claim 10, wherein the stored value card transaction system comprises a component for allocating, when present, an activation amount, a redemption amount, the value added award, the value differentiation, or combinations thereof across multiple stored value cards.

24. A stored value card transaction system for activating and redeeming stored value cards with value added bonuses, comprising:

a datastore maintaining account information for a plurality of stored value cards, conditions for receiving a value added bonus, and conditions for redeeming the value added bonus; and

a stored value card transaction computer coupled to the datastore having a processor and non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which cause the stored value card transaction computer to function as;

a point of sale interface for receiving and transmitting stored value card activation and redemption messages with a point of sale terminal;

a value added determination component to determine, based on a time of the stored value card activation message for a stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards in comparison with at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, and a merchant identification, the stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards is eligible for the value added bonus and a type of value added bonus to be awarded to an account associated with the stored value card which is eligible for the value added bonus, the value added bonus comprising an additional monetary value credited to the account associated with the stored value card;

a card issuer system interface for transmitting and receiving messages with a card issuer system;

a message modification component for modifying the stored value card activation message received from the point of sale terminal to a modified activation message and to associate the value added bonus with an activation of the stored value card, wherein the modified activation message comprises the value added bonus and wherein the card issuer system will activate the stored value card based on the modified activation message; and

an authorization component for authorizing the activation of the stored value card to include the value added bonus.