Methods and systems for using an interface and protocol extensions to perform a financial transaction

A system for processing a financial transaction using an enhanced protocol, said system comprising:

• an interchange network computer system;
• and
• an interface module in communication with a merchant computer system, a cardholder input terminal, and the interchange network computer system, the interface module being further configured for direct communication with the merchant computer system and the cardholder input terminal,
• wherein the cardholder input terminal is configured to access a merchant website by communicating with the merchant computer system to enable a cardholder to initiate the financial transaction using a transaction card, and
• wherein the interface module is a computer module separate from the merchant computer, and wherein the interface module is configured to process the financial transaction by communicating with the interchange network computer system using an enhanced protocol.

An interchange network computer for processing a financial transaction using an enhanced protocol, the financial transaction initiated by a cardholder with a merchant using a transaction card, said interchange network computer comprising:

• an interchange processor;
• and
• an interface module in communication with a merchant computer system, a cardholder input terminal, and the interchange processor, the interface module being further configured for direct communication with the merchant computer system and the cardholder input terminal, the interface module programmed to:
• receive initial identification (ID) data directly from the merchant computer system in response to the initiated financial transaction;
• generate a first verification enrollment request (VEReq) message based on the initial ID data, the first VEReq message including at least one of a merchant identifier and an account number used to verify the enrollment of the merchant in an express check out program;
• transmit the first VEReq message to the interchange processor;
• receive a verification enrollment response (VERes) message from the interchange processor, the VERes message affirmatively verifies enrollment of the merchant in the express check out program;
• and
• generate a payer authentication request (PAReq) message using the enhanced protocol, the enhanced protocol defining a first set of data field extensions associated with the PAReq message.

A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for communicating financial transaction data between a plurality of computer devices using an interface module and an enhanced protocol, the financial transaction initiated by a cardholder at an input terminal using a transaction card for completing a purchase from a merchant, said program comprises at least one code segment executable by the interface module to instruct the interface module to:

• receive initial identification (ID) data from a computer associated with the merchant, the interface module being a computer module separate from the merchant computer, the interface module being further configured for direct communication with the merchant computer and the cardholder input terminal;
• generate a first verification enrollment request (VEReq) message based on the initial ID data, the first VEReq message including at least one of a merchant identifier and an account number;
• transmit the first VEReq message to an interchange network computer system;
• receive a verification enrollment response (VERes) message from the interchange network computer system, the VERes message affirmatively verifying enrollment of the merchant in an express check out program;
• and generate a payer authentication request (PAReq) message using the enhanced protocol, the enhanced protocol defining a first set of data field extensions associated with the PAReq message.