Method and system for loading and reloading portable consumer devices

• US 20070125842A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Britt, Chris, Antoo, Nizam
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0658 e-cash managed locally
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method is disclosed. The method includes providing tender at a point of service terminal operated by a load agent, the point of service terminal being in operative communication with a payment processing network. The point of service terminal thereafter sends a transaction authorization request to an issuer of a portable consumer device to be used by a user. The issuer then authorizes or does not authorize the transaction authorization request. If the transaction authorization request is approved, the portable consumer device is either initially loaded or reloaded with an amount associated with the tender provided at the point of service terminal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing tender at a point of service terminal operated by a load agent, the point of service terminal being in operative communication with a payment processing network, wherein the point of service terminal thereafter sends a transaction authorization request to an issuer of a portable consumer device to be used by a user and wherein the issuer thereafter authorizes or does not authorize the transaction authorization request;

receiving at the point of service terminal, an indication that the transaction authorization request has been approved or not approved; and

if the transaction authorization request has been approved, the portable consumer device is either initially loaded or reloaded with an amount associated with the tender provided at the point of service terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction authorization request is an initial load authorization request.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction authorization request is a reload authorization request.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the load agent is one of a plurality of load agents operating various point of service terminals, wherein the point of service terminals are in operative communication with the payment processing network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the transaction authorization request is a reload authorization request.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the portable consumer device is a prepaid card, and wherein the payment processing network is adapted to process debit or credit card transactions.

7. A method comprising:

sending a transaction authorization request to an issuer of a portable consumer device to be used by a user from a point of service terminal operated by a load agent after receiving tender from a user, wherein the issuer thereafter authorizes or does not authorize the transaction authorization request, and wherein the point of service terminal is in operative communication with a payment processing network;

receiving at the point of service terminal, an indication that the transaction authorization request has been approved or not approved; and

if the transaction authorization request has been approved, the portable consumer device is either initially loaded or reloaded with an amount associated with the tender provided at the point of service terminal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the transaction authorization request is an initial load authorization request or a reload authorization request.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the transaction authorization request is a reload authorization request.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the load agent is one of a plurality of load agents operating point of service terminals, wherein the point of service terminals are in operative communication with the payment processing network, and wherein the payment processing network is adapted to process debit or credit card transactions.

11. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 7, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a transaction authorization request associated with a portable consumer device to be used by a user from a point of service terminal operated by a load agent after receiving tender from the user, wherein an issuer of the portable consumer device thereafter authorizes or does not authorize the transaction authorization request, and wherein the point of service terminal is in operative communication with a payment processing network; and

sending a transaction response message to the point of service terminal, wherein the transaction response message indicates whether or not the transaction authorization request is approved or not approved.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the transaction authorization request is an initial load authorization request or a reload authorization request.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the load agent is one of a plurality of load agents operating point of service terminals, wherein the point of service terminals are in operative communication with the payment processing network, wherein the payment processing network is adapted to process debit or credit card transactions.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 12, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor.

16. A server comprising the computer readable medium of claim 15.

17. A method comprising:

receiving tender associated with a portable consumer device at a point of service; and

at the point of service, loading or reloading the portable consumer device with an amount associated with the presented tender using a payment processing network, the payment processing network being adapted to process debit or credit card transactions, the payment processing network being in communication with an issuer of the portable consumer device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

aggregating tenders from various consumers; and

sending an amount associated with the aggregated tenders to an acquirer related to a load agent receiving the tenders, wherein the acquirer thereafter participates in a clearing and settlement process.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the portable consumer device is a prepaid card.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the portable consumer device is a payroll card.

21. A system comprising:

a portable consumer device;

a point of service terminal, the portable consumer device adapted to interface with the point of service terminal;

a payment processing network in communication with the plurality of point of service terminals; and

a server computer residing in or in communication with the payment processing network, wherein the server computer is configured to load or reload the portable consumer device with an amount associated with a tender presented by a user of the portable consumer device, after responding to an authorization request to load or reload the portable consumer device.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the portable consumer device is a prepaid card or a payroll card.

23. A method comprising:

receiving amounts associated with aggregated tenders associated with loading or reloading portable consumer devices at various load agents; and

participating in clearing and settlement process, wherein in the clearing and settlement process, amounts owed to the issuers of the portable consumer devices are sent to the issuers.