Method and apparatus for processing uncertain transaction amounts in a payment system

A system for processing uncertain transaction amounts in an ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate transactions between multiple issuers and multiple acquirers, said system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor, coupled to said memory, located at an intermediate node in said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers, and operative to:
• facilitate providing an open solution architecture by connecting at least first and second different external estimation engines with said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers;
• facilitate a first one of said acquirers receiving, via said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers, an ISO 8583 authorization response flagged with a flag, said flag indicating that clearing of a first one of said transactions, associated with said authorization response, is to be suspended, said first transaction initially having an uncertain amount, said first transaction being associated with a first payment account of a first user, said first payment account being associated with a first one of said issuers, said first transaction being flagged responsive to a notification message from said first external estimation engine;
• await subsequent determination of a final certain amount for said first transaction;
• upon determination of said final certain amount, facilitate said first one of said acquirers proceeding with clearing said first transaction, based on said final certain amount;
• and
• repeat said steps of facilitating said ISO 8583 authorization response, awaiting said final certain amount, and facilitating said clearing, for:
• at least a second one of said acquirers, and
• at least a second one of said transactions, associated with a second payment account of a second user, said second payment account in turn being associated with a second one of said issuers, said second transaction being flagged responsive to a notification message from said second external estimation engine;
• wherein;
• said first and second issuers are interconnected with said first and second acquirers by said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers;
• said flag is understandable to said first and second issuers and said first and second acquirers, to facilitate said open solution architecture;
• and
• said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers is configured with timeliness checks requiring clearing completion within a predetermined time after authorization;
• wherein said at least one processor is further operative to bypass said timeliness checks of said ISO 8583 payment network to permit said clearing, responsive to said flagging.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method of processing uncertain transaction amounts in an ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate transactions between multiple issuers and multiple acquirers, said method comprising the steps of:

• facilitating providing an open solution architecture by connecting at least first and second different external estimation engines with said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers;
• facilitating a first one of said acquirers receiving, via said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers, an ISO 8583 authorization response flagged with a flag, said flag indicating that clearing of a first one of said transactions, associated with said ISO 8583 authorization response, is to be suspended, said first transaction initially having an uncertain amount, said first transaction being associated with a first payment account of a first user, said first payment account being associated with a first one of said issuers, said first transaction being flagged responsive to a notification message from said first external estimation engine;
• facilitating awaiting subsequent determination of a final certain amount for said first transaction;
• upon determination of said final certain amount, facilitating said first one of said acquirers proceeding with clearing said first transaction, based on said final certain amount;
• and
• repeating said steps of facilitating said ISO 8583 authorization response, facilitating awaiting said final certain amount, and facilitating said clearing, for:
• at least a second one of said acquirers, and
• at least a second one of said transactions, associated with a second payment account of a second user, said second payment account in turn being associated with a second one of said issuers, said second transaction being flagged responsive to a notification message from said second external estimation engine;
• wherein:
• said steps are carried out by an operator of said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers;
• said flag is understandable to said first and second issuers and said first and second acquirers, to facilitate said open solution architecture;
• and
• said ISO 8583 payment network configured to facilitate said transactions between said multiple issuers and said multiple acquirers is configured with timeliness checks requiring clearing completion within a predetermined time after authorization;
• said method further comprising bypassing said timeliness checks of said ISO 8583 payment network to permit said clearing, responsive to said flagging.