Track data mapping system for processing of payment transaction data

A method of processing a payment transaction, comprising:

• receiving an authorization request message for the payment transaction;
• processing the authorization request message to determine an issuer for a payment account used for the payment transaction;
• determining if the issuer is enrolled in a transaction data mapping service;
• if the issuer is enrolled in the transaction data mapping service, then mapping data contained in the authorization request message from a first format in which the data is provided in the authorization request message to a second format;
• and
• providing the authorization request message containing the data in the second format to the issuer.

An apparatus for processing a payment transaction, comprising:

• an electronic processor programmed to execute a set of instructions;
• a data storage device coupled to the processor;
• and
• the set of instructions contained in the data storage device, wherein when the set of instructions are executed by the processor, the apparatus processes the payment transaction by receiving an authorization request message for the payment transaction;
• processing the authorization request message to determine an issuer for a payment account used for the payment transaction;
• determining if the issuer expects to receive data contained in the authorization request message in a Track 2 format;
• providing the authorization request message to the issuer if the issuer expects to receive the data contained in the authorization request message in the Track 2 format and the data is in that format;
• determining if the issuer is enrolled in a transaction data mapping service if the issuer expects to receive the data contained in the authorization request message in the Track 2 format and the data is in a Track1 format;
• declining the transaction if the issuer is not enrolled in the transaction data mapping service;
• mapping the data contained in the authorization request message from the Track 1 format to the Track 2 format if the issuer is enrolled in the transaction data mapping service;
• and
• providing the authorization request message containing the data in the Track 2 format to the issuer.