Machine, methods, and program product for electronic inventory tracking
First Claim
1. A method to facilitate electronic inventory management of a plurality of products provided by a plurality of different product providers, the method comprising:
- generating, by a computer associated with a financial institution to define a financial institution computer, a plurality of universal product transaction identifiers adapted to be positioned on a plurality of product apparatuses to facilitate electronic inventory management of a plurality of different products provided by each of the plurality of different product providers, each of the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers associated with the financial institution and including a bank identifier number (BIN) issued by the financial institution and a product identifier, the BIN being compatible with an electronic financial payment network to thereby enable the electronic financial payment network to identify the financial institution as the issuer of the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers;
determining, by the financial institution computer, receipt of one or more first transaction messages including one or more of the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers and a flag indicating a capability of a payment interface associated with one of a plurality of merchants to support partial-authorization messaging, the one or more first transaction messages being sent through the electronic financial payment network from one or more of a plurality of merchant acquirer computers responsive to one or more purchase requests of one or more of the plurality of different products;
sending, by the financial institution computer via the electronic financial payment network responsive to the determining receipt of the one or more first transaction messages, partial-authorization approval data to the one or more of the plurality of merchant acquirer computers to indicate a requirement to tender funds to complete the one or more purchase requests of the one or more of the plurality of different products to thereby use the partial authorization messaging to facilitate communication of product inventory data using the electronic financial payment network;
determining receipt of one or more second transaction messages sent through the electronic financial payment network from the one or more of the plurality of merchant acquirer computers, the one or more second transaction messages indicating a purchase acknowledgement, wherein the one or more second transaction messages is responsive to the one of the plurality of merchant acquirer computers receiving authorization of a transaction card issued being used as a method of payment for the one or more of the plurality of different products; and
notifying, by the financial institution computer responsive to determining receipt of the one or more second transaction messages, at least one of the plurality of product providers of one or more product provider transaction messages, the one or more product provider transaction messages including inventory data regarding one or more the plurality of different products provided by the at least one of the plurality of different product providers to the one of the plurality of merchants.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Machine, methods, and program product for facilitating electronic inventory tracking and management of products through messaging over a payment network, are provided. An example includes an inventory management computer in communication with a merchant POS apparatus or terminal over an existing financial services payment network and configured to receive and process purchase transaction data associated with a product being purchased, for use by a product provider. The computer can include electronic inventory management program product configured to perform various operations including receiving a purchase transaction message sent through the payment network, storing purchase transaction data, and notifying a product provider of the purchase transaction data. The purchase transaction message can include a financial services electronic payment network compatible universal product-transaction identifier, which can be received through the POS terminal in response to a consumer or merchant interfacing the product'"'"'s container, or an associated purchase ticket or slip storing the transaction identifier, with the POS terminal.
447 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method to facilitate electronic inventory management of a plurality of products provided by a plurality of different product providers, the method comprising:
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generating, by a computer associated with a financial institution to define a financial institution computer, a plurality of universal product transaction identifiers adapted to be positioned on a plurality of product apparatuses to facilitate electronic inventory management of a plurality of different products provided by each of the plurality of different product providers, each of the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers associated with the financial institution and including a bank identifier number (BIN) issued by the financial institution and a product identifier, the BIN being compatible with an electronic financial payment network to thereby enable the electronic financial payment network to identify the financial institution as the issuer of the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers; determining, by the financial institution computer, receipt of one or more first transaction messages including one or more of the plurality of universal product transaction identifiers and a flag indicating a capability of a payment interface associated with one of a plurality of merchants to support partial-authorization messaging, the one or more first transaction messages being sent through the electronic financial payment network from one or more of a plurality of merchant acquirer computers responsive to one or more purchase requests of one or more of the plurality of different products; sending, by the financial institution computer via the electronic financial payment network responsive to the determining receipt of the one or more first transaction messages, partial-authorization approval data to the one or more of the plurality of merchant acquirer computers to indicate a requirement to tender funds to complete the one or more purchase requests of the one or more of the plurality of different products to thereby use the partial authorization messaging to facilitate communication of product inventory data using the electronic financial payment network; determining receipt of one or more second transaction messages sent through the electronic financial payment network from the one or more of the plurality of merchant acquirer computers, the one or more second transaction messages indicating a purchase acknowledgement, wherein the one or more second transaction messages is responsive to the one of the plurality of merchant acquirer computers receiving authorization of a transaction card issued being used as a method of payment for the one or more of the plurality of different products; and notifying, by the financial institution computer responsive to determining receipt of the one or more second transaction messages, at least one of the plurality of product providers of one or more product provider transaction messages, the one or more product provider transaction messages including inventory data regarding one or more the plurality of different products provided by the at least one of the plurality of different product providers to the one of the plurality of merchants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification