Method and system for loading and reloading portable consumer devices

• US 7,886,969 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): STANFORD, CHRISTOPHER J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Jr.; William M
• Application Number:
  US11/404,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20070125842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 705/1, 705/35, 705/39.41, 705/42, 705/44
• US Class Current: 235/381
• 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 via the payment processing network, wherein the portable consumer device is 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,

wherein the payment processing network is adapted to process debit and credit card transactions,

wherein the transaction authorization request comprises a prepaid load transaction code in a data field that indicates that the transaction being conducted is a prepaid load transaction, instead of a normal debit or a credit card transaction, a network identification code, an acquirer code, and an issuer code,

wherein the transaction authorization request is approved, and the tender and other tenders provided by other consumers are aggregated and an amount associated with the aggregated tenders is sent to an acquirer of the load agent, wherein the acquirer participates in a clearing and settlement process with various issuers including the issuer of the portable consumer device, and wherein the issuer of the portable consumer device receives the amount associated with the tender provided at the point of sale.

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.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the issuer controls or specifies the portable consumer devices that can be loaded or reloaded.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the issuer keeps track of all transactions associated with the portable consumer device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user is provided with a receipt that shows an updated balance associated with the portable consumer device if the transaction authorization request has been approved.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the clearing and settlement process occurs within one day.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the portable consumer device is a payroll card.

12. A method comprising:

sending a transaction authorization request to an issuer of a portable consumer device via a payment processing network, wherein the portable consumer device is to be used by a user from a point of service terminal operated by a load agent after receiving tender from the 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 the 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,

wherein the payment processing network is adapted to process debit and credit card transactions,

wherein the transaction authorization request comprises a prepaid load transaction code in a data field that indicates that the transaction being conducted is a prepaid load transaction, instead of a normal debit or a credit card transaction, a network identification code, an acquirer code, and an issuer code,

wherein after receiving the indication that indicates that the transaction authorization request is approved, the tender and other tenders provided by other consumers are aggregated and an amount associated with the aggregated tenders is sent to an acquirer of the load agent, wherein the acquirer participates in a clearing and settlement process with various issuers including the issuer of the portable consumer device, and wherein the issuer of the portable consumer device receives the amount associated with the tender provided at the point of sale.

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 transaction authorization request is a reload authorization request.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the load agent is one of a plurality of load agents operating point of service terminals, and wherein the point of service terminals are in operative communication with the payment processing network.

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

17. 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 receives the transaction authorization request via a payment processing network, and authorizes or does not authorize the transaction authorization request, and wherein the point of service terminal is in operative communication with the 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,

wherein the payment processing network is adapted to process debit and credit card transactions,

wherein the transaction authorization request comprises a prepaid load transaction code in a data field that indicates that the transaction being conducted is a prepaid load transaction, instead of a normal debit or a credit card transaction, a network identification code, an acquirer code, and an issuer code,

wherein the transaction authorization request is approved, and the tender and other tenders provided by other consumers are aggregated and an amount associated with the aggregated tenders is sent to an acquirer of the load agent, wherein the acquirer participates in a clearing and settlement process with various issuers including the issuer of the portable consumer device, and wherein the issuer of the portable consumer device receives the amount associated with the tender provided at the point of sale.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the transaction authorization request is an initial load authorization request or a reload authorization request.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the load agent is one of a plurality of load agents operating point of service terminals, and wherein the point of service terminals are in operative communication with the payment processing network.

20. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 17, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor.

21. A server comprising the computer readable medium of claim 20.

22. 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 transaction authorization request that passes through a payment processing network, the payment processing network being adapted to process debit and credit card transactions, the payment processing network being in communication with an issuer of the portable consumer device,

wherein the transaction authorization request comprises a prepaid load transaction code in a data field that indicates that the transaction being conducted is a prepaid load transaction, instead of a normal debit or a credit card transaction, a network identification code, an acquirer code, and an issuer code,

wherein the transaction authorization request is approved, and the tender and other tenders provided by other consumers are aggregated and an amount associated with the aggregated tenders is sent to an acquirer of the load agent, wherein the acquirer participates in a clearing and settlement process with various issuers including the issuer of the portable consumer device, and wherein the issuer of the portable consumer device receives the amount associated with the tender provided at the point of sale.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the portable consumer device is a prepaid card.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the portable consumer device is a payroll card.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the acquirer is associated with the acquirer code and specifies the load agents that can participate in loading or reloading the portable consumer device.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the issuer and the acquirer are the same entity.

27. 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 point of service terminal; 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 a transaction authorization request that passes through the payment processing network to load or reload the portable consumer device,

wherein the payment processing network is adapted to process debit and credit card transactions,

wherein the transaction authorization request comprises a prepaid load transaction code in a data field that indicates that the transaction being conducted is a prepaid load transaction, instead of a normal debit or a credit card transaction, a network identification code, an acquirer code, and an issuer code,

wherein the transaction authorization request is approved, and the tender and other tenders provided by other consumers are aggregated and an amount associated with the aggregated tenders is sent to an acquirer of the load agent, wherein the acquirer participates in a clearing and settlement process with various issuers including the issuer of the portable consumer device, and wherein the issuer of the portable consumer device receives the amount associated with the tender provided at the point of sale.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the portable consumer device is a prepaid card or a payroll card.