FTP device and method for merchant data processing

• US 8,744,998 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hardy-McGee, Linda R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BURKE, JEFF A
• Application Number:
  US12/548,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20100058156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 707/625, 707/692, 707/703, 705/30, 705/35
• US Class Current: 707/625
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method begins by receiving at least a portion of a merchant master file. The method continues, for a merchant data file, by determining whether a corresponding merchant profile record exists within a merchant profile database. The method continues, when the corresponding merchant profile record exists in the merchant profile database, by comparing the merchant data file with the corresponding merchant profile record. The method continues, when an inconsistency exists between the corresponding merchant profile record and the merchant data file, by determining status of the merchant data file with respect to the at least a portion of the merchant master file. The method continues, when the status of the merchant data file is a first status level, by generating an inconsistency message that identifies the inconsistency.

Claims

1. A method comprises:

receiving, by a processor, at least a portion of a merchant master file, wherein the merchant master file includes a plurality of merchant data files;

for a merchant data file of the plurality of merchant data files;

determining, by the processor, whether a corresponding merchant profile record exists within a merchant profile database;

when the corresponding merchant profile record exists in the merchant profile database, comparing, by the processor, the merchant data file with the corresponding merchant profile record;

when an inconsistency exists between the corresponding merchant profile record and the merchant data file, determining, by the processor, a status of the merchant data file with respect to the at least a portion of the merchant master file;

when the status of the merchant data file is a first status level, generating, by the processor, an inconsistency message that identifies the inconsistency, wherein the status of the merchant data file is the first status level if the merchant master file received is an initial file; and

when the status of the merchant data file is a second status level, updating, by the processor, the merchant profile record in accordance with the merchant data file, wherein the status of the merchant data file is the second status level if the merchant master file received is a delta file that includes updated information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

when no inconsistency exists between the merchant profile record and the merchant data file, determining whether each of the merchant data files of the at least a portion of the merchant master file have been processed;

when each of the merchant data files of the at least a portion of the merchant master file has not been processed, processing another merchant data file, wherein the processing includes;

determining whether a second corresponding merchant profile record exists within the merchant profile database for the another merchant data file;

when the second corresponding merchant profile record exists in the merchant profile database, comparing the another merchant data file with the second corresponding merchant profile record;

when a second inconsistency exists between the second corresponding merchant profile record and the another merchant data file, determining status of the another merchant data file with respect to the at least a portion of the merchant master file; and

when the status of the another merchant data file is a first status level, generating a second inconsistency message that identifies the second inconsistency.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

when the corresponding merchant profile record does not exist in the merchant profile database, creating the corresponding merchant profile record based on the merchant data file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the inconsistency message further comprises:

generating a suggested correction for the inconsistency.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

detecting correction of the inconsistency by a merchant device;

recording the correction within the merchant profile record pending approval from an acquirer device;

providing notice of the correction to the acquirer device;

receiving approval of the correction from the acquirer device; and

updating the merchant profile record in accordance with the approval.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

supplementing the merchant profile record with third party data regarding a merchant identified in the merchant profile record.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises at least one of:

supplementing the merchant profile record with tax payer identification number of a merchant identified in the merchant profile record; and

supplementing the merchant profile record with Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) information of the merchant identified in the merchant profile record.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

receiving a plurality of acquirer-merchant files from a plurality of acquirer devices, wherein the plurality of acquirer-merchant files includes at least one of;

a plurality of merchant master files and a plurality of delta merchant master files and wherein the plurality of acquirer-merchant files includes the at least a portion of the merchant master file;

determining whether multiple acquirer-merchant files of the plurality of acquirer-merchant files include a version of the merchant data file;

when the multiple acquirer-merchant files include a version of the merchant data file, for each of the multiple acquirer-merchant files that include a version of the merchant data file;

comparing the version of the merchant data file with the corresponding merchant profile record;

when an inconsistency exists between the corresponding merchant profile record and the version of the merchant data file, determining status of a corresponding one of multiple acquirer-merchant files;

when the status of the corresponding one of multiple acquirer-merchant files is the first status level, generating the inconsistency message that identifies the inconsistency between the corresponding merchant profile record and the version of the merchant data file; and

transmitting the inconsistency message to an acquirer device associated with the corresponding one of the multiple acquirer-merchant files.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving at least the portion of the merchant master file, sending a request for the at least the portion of the merchant master file.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the inconsistency message requests an acquirer or a merchant to verify data in the merchant data file.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the merchant master file is received from an acquirer device.

12. A method comprises:

receiving, by a processor, at least a portion of a merchant master file, wherein the merchant master file includes a plurality of merchant data files;

processing a merchant data file of the plurality of merchant data files by;

accessing, by the processor, a merchant profile database for a corresponding merchant profile record; and

when the corresponding merchant profile record exists, determining, by the processor, whether an inconsistency exists between the merchant data file and the corresponding merchant profile record;

generating, by the processor, a first report that identifies one or more merchant data files of the plurality of merchant data files that have the inconsistency with corresponding merchant profile records;

generating, by the processor, a second report that includes one or more merchant data files of the plurality of merchant data files that do not have the inconsistency with corresponding merchant profile records; and

sending, by the processor, one or more update requests to one or more merchants associated with the one or more merchant data files identified in the first report.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inconsistency comprises at least one of:

the corresponding merchant profile record does not exist; and

at least one field of the corresponding merchant profile record does not match a corresponding field of the merchant data file.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprises:

identifying a merchant profile record of the merchant profile database based on identity of a provider of the at least a portion of the merchant master file that does not have a corresponding merchant data file in the plurality of merchant data files; and

generating another report indicating that the merchant profile record does not have the corresponding merchant data file in the plurality of merchant data files.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprises:

receiving a plurality of at least a portion of merchant master files that include the at least a portion of the merchant master file; and

generating a merchant master repository based on the plurality of at least a portion of the merchant master files and the merchant profile database.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first report and the second report include different merchant data files of the plurality of merchant data files from each other.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the update request includes a suggested correction and informs the merchant of the inconsistency.

18. An apparatus comprises:

an interface;

memory; and

a processing module coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein the processing module is coupled to;

receive, via the interface, at least a portion of a merchant master file, wherein the merchant master file includes a plurality of merchant data files;

for a merchant data file of the plurality of merchant data files;

determine whether a corresponding merchant profile record exists within a merchant profile database;

when the corresponding merchant profile record exists in the merchant profile database, compare the merchant data file with the corresponding merchant profile record;

when an inconsistency exists between the corresponding merchant profile record and the merchant data file, determine a status of the merchant data file with respect to the at least a portion of the merchant master file;

when the status of the merchant data file is a first status level, generate an inconsistency message that identifies the inconsistency, wherein the status of the merchant data file is the first status level if the merchant master file received is an initial file; and

when the status of the merchant data file is a second status level, update the merchant profile record in accordance with the merchant data file, wherein the status of the merchant data file is the second status level if the merchant master file received is a delta file that includes updated information.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to:

when no inconsistency exists between the merchant profile record and the merchant data file, determine whether each of the merchant data files of the at least a portion of the merchant master file have been processed;

when each of the merchant data files of the at least a portion of the merchant master file has not been processed, process another merchant data file, wherein the processing includes;

determining whether a second corresponding merchant profile record exists within the merchant profile database for the another merchant data file;

when the second corresponding merchant profile record exists in the merchant profile database, comparing the another merchant data file with the second corresponding merchant profile record;

when a second inconsistency exists between the second corresponding merchant profile record and the another merchant data file, determining status of the another merchant data file with respect to the at least a portion of the merchant master file; and

when the status of the another merchant data file is a first status level, generating a second inconsistency message that identifies the second inconsistency.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to:

when the corresponding merchant profile record does not exist in the merchant profile database, create the corresponding merchant profile record based on the merchant data file.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to perform at least one of:

supplementing the merchant profile record with third party data regarding a merchant identified in the merchant profile record;

supplementing the merchant profile record with tax payer identification number of a merchant identified in the merchant profile record; and

supplementing the merchant profile record with Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) information of the merchant identified in the merchant profile record.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to:

receive a plurality of acquirer-merchant files from a plurality of acquirer devices, wherein the plurality of acquirer-merchant files includes at least one of;

a plurality of merchant master files and a plurality of delta merchant master files and wherein the plurality of acquirer-merchant files includes the at least a portion of the merchant master file;

determine whether multiple acquirer-merchant files of the plurality of acquirer-merchant files include a version of the merchant data file;

when the multiple acquirer-merchant files include a version of the merchant data file, for each of the multiple acquirer-merchant files that include a version of the merchant data file;

compare the version of the merchant data file with the corresponding merchant profile record;

when an inconsistency exists between the corresponding merchant profile record and the version of the merchant data file, determine status of a corresponding one of multiple acquirer-merchant files;

when the status of the corresponding one of multiple acquirer-merchant files is the first status level, generate the inconsistency message that identifies the inconsistency between the corresponding merchant profile record and the version of the merchant data file; and

transmit the inconsistency message to an acquirer device associated with the corresponding one of the multiple acquirer-merchant files.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to:

identify a merchant profile record of the merchant profile database based on identity of a provider of the at least a portion of the merchant master file that does not have a corresponding merchant data file in the plurality of merchant data files; and

generate another report indicating that the merchant profile record does not have the corresponding merchant data file in the plurality of merchant data files.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to:

receive a plurality of at least a portion of merchant master files that include the at least a portion of the merchant master file; and

generate a merchant master repository based on the plurality of at least a portion of the merchant master files and the merchant profile database.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to:

receive a correction of the inconsistency by a merchant device; and

record the correction in the corresponding merchant profile record.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing module further functions to:

provide notice of the correction to the acquirer device;

in response to determining that a response to the notice has not been received within a threshold time period, reject the correction of the inconsistency; and

in response to determining that the response to the notice has been received within the threshold time period and includes an approval to the correction from the acquirer device, update the merchant profile record in accordance with the approval.

27. An apparatus comprises:

an interface;

memory; and

a processing module coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein the processing module is coupled to;

receive, via the interface, at least a portion of a merchant master file, wherein the merchant master file includes a plurality of merchant data files;

process a merchant data file of the plurality of merchant data files by;

accessing a merchant profile database for a corresponding merchant profile record; and

when the corresponding merchant profile record exists, determining whether an inconsistency exists between the merchant data file and the corresponding merchant profile record;

generate a first report that identifies one or more merchant data files of the plurality of merchant data files that have the inconsistency with corresponding merchant profile records;

generate a second report that includes one or more merchant data files of the plurality of merchant data files that do not have the inconsistency with corresponding merchant profile records; and

send one or more update requests to one or more merchants associated with the one or more merchant data files identified in the first report.