System for Processing, Activating and Redeeming Value Added Prepaid Cards

• US 20140214567A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• 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, Milner, J. DuWayne
• Granted Patent: US 10,296,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/349 Rechargeable cards
• 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 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates

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 comprising:

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

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

determining 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;

transmitting the transaction request to the card issuer authorization system;

receiving a response from the card issuer authorization system; and

transmitting 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 transaction request further comprises an activation request.

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, further comprising:

modifying the transaction request to include the value differentiation when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation; and

transmitting a modified transaction request to the card issuer authorization system.

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

6. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 1, wherein the value differentiation comprises a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card.

7. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 6, wherein the monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card exceeds the purchase price of the stored value card.

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

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

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

11. The computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction of claim 10, wherein the card transaction interested parties comprise card vendors, card merchants, card issuers, a stored value card transaction system administrator, and combinations thereof.

12. A stored value card transaction system comprising:

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

an interface for receiving and transmitting a transaction message;

a value added determination component to determine whether a card is eligible for value differentiation and a type of value differentiation to be awarded to an account associated with a card when the card is eligible for the value differentiation;

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

an authorization component for authorizing the card transaction.

13. The stored value card transaction system of claim 12, wherein the system includes one or more processors for executing computer executable instructions stored on a tangible computer readable storage medium, said instructions comprising:

responsive to receiving a transaction message from a merchant for a particular transaction for a particular purchase amount using a card, instructions for approving the particular transaction when the merchant is an authorized merchant and when the particular purchase amount is less than or equal to the remaining funds in the corresponding account;

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for reducing the funds of the activated account by the particular purchase amount of the particular transaction;

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for transferring a discount amount of the funds in the activated account to an administrator of the account;

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for transferring a settlement amount (ROC) of the funds in the activated account to the merchant; and

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for transferring a net discount of the discount amount to an account of the client or the merchant.

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

15. The stored value card transaction system of claim 12, further comprising a message modification component for modifying messages to at least one of the point of sale terminal and the card issuer system to indicate information about the value differentiation associated with a stored value card transaction.

16. The stored value card transaction system of claim 12, wherein the response comprises a reference to the value differentiation.

17. The stored value card transaction system of claim 12, wherein the value differentiation comprises a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card.

18. The stored value card transaction system of claim 17, wherein the monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card exceeds the purchase price of the stored value card.

19. The stored value card transaction system of claim 17, wherein the purchase price of the stored value card is less than the monetary redemption value for the stored value card.

20. A system for use by a client to implement transactions between a buyer and merchants providing a discount to the client, wherein the transactions are funded by the client, said system comprising:

one or more processors for executing computer executable instructions stored on a tangible computer readable storage medium, said instructions comprising;

responsive to input from the client, instructions for activating an account with funds for use in transactions for the client;

responsive to receiving an authorization request from a merchant for a particular transaction for a particular purchase amount using the activated account, instructions for approving the particular transaction when the merchant is an authorized merchant and when the particular purchase amount is less than or equal to the remaining funds in the activated account;

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for reducing the funds of the activated account by the particular purchase amount of the particular transaction;

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for transferring a discount amount of the funds in the activated account to an administrator of the account;

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for transferring a settlement amount (ROC) of the funds in the activated account to the merchant; and

responsive to the approved particular transaction, instructions for transferring a net discount of the discount amount to an account of the client or the merchant.