US 9,852,414 B2Granted

System for processing, activating and redeeming value added prepaid cards

AssigneeBlackhawk Network, Inc.

InventorTeri Llach

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Abstract

A computer implemented method for adding value to a stored value card in excess of the purchase price for the stored value card is provided. In one embodiment a stored value card transaction processor receives an activation or redemption request for a stored value card from a point of sale terminal. The activation or redemption request comprises at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a merchant identification, and a time of activation which is compared to data stored in a stored value card datastore to determine if the stored value card to be activated is eligible for a value added award. The processor then determines the value added award and modifies the request to include the value added award. The processor then transmits the modified request to the card issuer authorization system and receives a response which is forwarded to the point of sale terminal.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A computer implemented method for conducting a stored value card transaction, the method being performed on a stored value card transaction computer having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which cause the stored value card transaction computer to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving, by the stored value card transaction computer, a transaction request comprising a stored value card activation request for a stored value card from a point of sale terminal, wherein the store value card activation request comprises a time of the stored value card activation request and at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, and a merchant identification;
determining, by the stored value card transaction computer, the stored value card is eligible for a value differentiation by comparing the time of the stored value card activation request and at least one of the card identification, the point of sale terminal identification, the vendor identification, and the merchant identification to stored data in a stored value card datastore;
determining, by the stored value card transaction computer, based on the time of the stored value card activation request, the value differentiation to be attributed to an account associated with the stored value card when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation, the value differentiation comprising a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card;
modifying, by the stored value card transaction computer, the stored value card activation request to include the value differentiation when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation;
transmitting, by the stored value card transaction computer, a modified activation request to a card issuer authorization system, wherein the modified activation request comprises the value differentiation and wherein the card issuer authorization system will activate the stored value card based on the modified activation request;
receiving, by the stored value card transaction computer, a response from the card issuer authorization system that the stored-value card is activated and includes the value differentiation;
and
transmitting, by the stored value card transaction computer, the response to the point of sale terminal.

5 more elements

A stored value card transaction system comprising:

a datastore maintaining account information for a plurality of stored value cards, conditions for receiving a value differentiation, and conditions for redeeming the value differentiation;
and
a stored value card transaction computer coupled to the datastore and having a processor and non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which cause the stored value card transaction computer to function as:
a point of sale interface for receiving and transmitting a transaction message comprising a stored value card activation message for a stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards with a point of sale terminal;
a value added determination component to determine, based on a time of the stored value card activation message in comparison with at least one of the card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, and a merchant identification, a stored value card is eligible for a value differentiation and a type of value differentiation to be awarded to an account associated with the stored value card when the stored value card is eligible for the value differentiation, the value differentiation comprising a monetary redemption value amount for the stored value card that differs from a purchase price of the stored value card;
a message modification component for modifying the stored value card activation message to a modified activation message which includes the value differentiation when the stored value card is determined to be eligible for the value differentiation and wherein a card issuer system will activate the stored value card based on the modified activation message;
a card issuer system interface for transmitting the modified activation message to, and receiving a response to the modified activation message from, the card issuer system;
and
an authorization component for authorizing a stored value card transaction.

6 more elements

A stored value card transaction system for activating and redeeming stored value cards with value added bonuses, comprising:

a datastore maintaining account information for a plurality of stored value cards, conditions for receiving a value added bonus, and conditions for redeeming the value added bonus;
and
a stored value card transaction computer coupled to the datastore having a processor and non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor executing programming and/or executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable memory which cause the stored value card transaction computer to function as:
a point of sale interface for receiving and transmitting stored value card activation and redemption messages with a point of sale terminal;
a value added determination component to determine, based on a time of the stored value card activation message for a stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards in comparison with at least one of a card identification, a point of sale terminal identification, a vendor identification, and a merchant identification, the stored value card of the plurality of stored value cards is eligible for the value added bonus and a type of value added bonus to be awarded to an account associated with the stored value card which is eligible for the value added bonus, the value added bonus comprising an additional monetary value credited to the account associated with the stored value card;
a card issuer system interface for transmitting and receiving messages with a card issuer system;
a message modification component for modifying the stored value card activation message received from the point of sale terminal to a modified activation message and to associate the value added bonus with an activation of the stored value card, wherein the modified activation message comprises the value added bonus and wherein the card issuer system will activate the stored value card based on the modified activation message;
and
an authorization component for authorizing the activation of the stored value card to include the value added bonus.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/520,849Filed 7 Jan 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 Jan 2010
Published: US 2013/0041768 A114 Feb 2013
Granted: 26 Dec 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06Q 20/28
Payment schemes or models: pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
G06Q 20/20
Payment architectures: point-of-sale [POS] network systems
G06Q 20/354
Using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards: card activation or deactivation
G06Q 20/355
Using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards: personalisation of cards for use