US 5,621,201 A · Automated purchasing control system

Abstract

An automated purchasing control system which can be customized for a corporate customer. The system receives an authorization request over the phone lines from a remote point-of-sale terminal and processes the request using unique software. The software has a database customized to a corporate user to establish that company hierarchial structure. Elements of the hierarchial structure are independently reconfigurable, so that a company can specify different hierarchial relationships in the software for authorization, billing and reporting purposes. Different authorization tests can be established for each position in a hierarchy, with a particular position being required to pass not only its own test, but the test of elements higher in the hierarchial tree.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for authorizing transactions for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising the following steps:

generating a plurality of card numbers, each card number including an account number;
creating a database on a central computer having at least a first field for said account number;
assigning an authorization hierarchial position to each of said account numbers in said database;
and
creating a plurality of distinct authorization tests, said authorization tests varying according to the hierarchial position of an individual account number.

2 more elements

A system for authorizing transactions for distributing currency or purchasing goods and services, comprising:

a plurality of cards, each card having a card number, each card number including an account number;
a central computer having a database with at least a first field for said account number, each account number being organized according to an authorization hierarchial position, said central computer having a plurality of distinct authorization tests, said authorization tests varying according to the hierarchial position of an individual account number;
means, in said central computer, for determining, from a received card number, a location of said database;
means, in said central computer, for determining, from the account number in said received card number, the hierarchial authorization tests applicable to said received account number;
and
means, in said central computer, for applying said hierarchial tests to a received debit amount.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated purchasing control system

Life of this patent

Automated purchasing control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14