Methods and systems for enabling data exchange between computing devices lacking a shared data exchange protocol

A computer-based method for enabling data exchange between first and second computing devices lacking a shared data exchange protocol, said method performed using an interchange network operating under a set of proprietary communications standards promulgated by the interchange network for the exchange of financial transaction data and settlement funds between financial institutions, said method comprising:

• receiving, at the first computing device, bill pay data submitted by a consumer via a communication channel other than the interchange network, the bill pay data including data representing a billed amount to be paid to a biller and a pre-paid transaction card account associated with the consumer to be used for paying the billed amount;
• generating, by an acquirer/processor module of the first computing device, an authorization message requesting authorization to pay the billed amount using funds from the pre-paid transaction account;
• transmitting, from the acquirer/processor module to the second computing device via the interchange network using the set of proprietary communication standards, the authorization message;
• receiving, by the acquirer/processor module from the second computing device via the interchange network using the set of proprietary communication standards, an approval message confirming that the pre-paid transaction card account includes sufficient funds to pay the billed amount;
• and
• in response to receiving the approval message at the acquirer/processor module, forwarding, by the first computer system, the bill pay data to the biller via a remote payment system.

A first computing device enabled for data exchange with a second computing device lacking a shared data exchange protocol, said first computing device programmed to:

• execute an acquirer/processor module programmed to communicate with an interchange network operating under a set of proprietary communications standards promulgated by the interchange network for the exchange of financial transaction data and settlement funds between financial institutions;
• receive bill pay data submitted by a consumer via a communication channel other than the interchange network, the bill pay data including data representing a billed amount to be paid to a biller and a pre-paid transaction card account associated with the consumer to be used for paying the billed amount;
• generate, by the acquirer/processor module, an authorization message requesting authorization to pay the billed amount using funds from the pre-paid transaction account;
• transmit, from the acquirer/processor module to the second computing device via the interchange network using the set of proprietary communication standards, the authorization message;
• receive, by the acquirer/processor module from the second computing device via the interchange network using the set of proprietary communication standards, an approval message confirming that the pre-paid transaction card account includes sufficient funds to pay the billed amount;
• and
• in response to receiving the approval message at the acquirer/processor module, forward, the bill pay data to the biller via a remote payment system.

A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium for paying a bill using a pre-paid transaction card account, said program comprising instructions that, when executed by a first computing system, cause the first computing system to:

• execute an acquirer/processor module programmed to communicate with an interchange network operating under a set of proprietary communications standards promulgated by the interchange network for the exchange of financial transaction data and settlement funds between financial institutions;
• receive bill pay data submitted by a consumer via a communication channel other than the interchange network, the bill pay data including data representing a billed amount to be paid to a biller and a pre-paid transaction card account associated with the consumer to be used for paying the billed amount;
• generate, by the acquirer/processor module, an authorization message requesting authorization to pay the billed amount using funds from the pre-paid transaction account;
• transmit, from the acquirer/processor module to a second computing device via the interchange network using the set of proprietary communication standards, the authorization message;
• receive, by the acquirer/processor module from the second computing device via the interchange network using the set of proprietary communication standards, an approval message confirming that the pre-paid transaction card account includes sufficient funds to pay the billed amount;
• and
• in response to receiving the approval message at the acquirer/processor module, forward, the bill pay data to the biller via a remote payment system.