HK1172724A

HK1172724A - Coupon bearing sponsor account transaction authorization

Info

Publication number: HK1172724A
Application number: HK12113463.7A
Authority: HK
Inventors: K．L．科尔温卡; M．T．泰勒; G．D．马
Original assignee: 维萨美国公司
Priority date: 2009-08-24
Filing date: 2010-08-23
Publication date: 2013-04-26

Description

Coupon with sponsor account transaction authorization

Cross reference to related applications

The priority of U.S. provisional application serial No.61/236,455 entitled "coupling Bearing Account For Processing System retrieval" filed 24.2009 of the present application, and U.S. application serial No.12/860,578 entitled "coupling Bearing acceptor Transaction Authorization" filed 20.2010, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to transactions between merchants and consumers, and more particularly to discounts in such transactions, and even more particularly to the presentation of coupons by consumers to merchants to obtain discounts when conducting transactions.

Background

Merchants and vendors distribute coupons that give consumers incentives to purchase their goods and services by applying discounts, typically at the point of sale. Consumers obtain paper coupons in a variety of ways. They may be cut from newspapers or obtained at a point of service (POS) terminal when shopping. Sometimes, paper coupons are addressed to consumers by the sponsor of the coupon or its agents. When a consumer uses a coupon with a merchant, the merchant discounts the consumer when purchasing goods or services. Thereafter, the merchant seeks compensation for the discount from one or more sponsors of the coupon. The process by which merchants are compensated is cumbersome and there is a long wait time when paid back. Typically, the merchant, or its agent, collects all coupons received from consumers, sorts them by the corresponding sponsor, and then sends them to each sponsor in bulk. The sponsor then reimburses the merchant, but waits until the sponsor checks and verifies that the submitted coupon meets the terms and conditions of the coupon and its discount.

One advantage in the related art of providing coupons, and the processes for their use, may be to make the compensation process more efficient for merchants, for sponsors of coupons, and for consumers.

Disclosure of Invention

In one implementation, a coupon authorization request message is received from a merchant identifying a sponsor account and a coupon for an item purchased by a consumer in a transaction with the merchant. The coupon authorization request message is sent to an issuer of the sponsor account. Receiving, in response to the coupon authorization request message, a coupon authorization response message containing eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing an item in a transaction with a merchant. A coupon authorization response message is sent to the merchant. A consumer authorization request message is received from a merchant identifying a consumer account on which a transaction with the merchant is to be performed. The consumer authorization request message is sent to an issuer of the consumer account. In response to the consumer authorization request message, a consumer authorization response message is received from an issuer of the consumer account, wherein the consumer authorization response message identifies eligibility of the consumer account to conduct the transaction with the merchant. A consumer authorization response message is sent to the merchant. In this implementation for a transaction, multiple coupons may be processed.

In another implementation, an authorization request message originating from the merchant's address is received from the address of the transaction processing facility at the address of the issuer corresponding to the sponsor account via the address of the acquirer for the merchant that is conducting the transaction with the consumer. The authorization request message includes information sufficient to identify the sponsor account and the coupon for the item purchased by the consumer in the transaction with the merchant. Coupon eligibility data relating to the sponsor account and the coupon is retrieved using information in the authorization request message. Using coupon eligibility data, a determination is made as to the eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing an item in a transaction with a merchant. In response to the authorization request message, an authorization response message is sent for transmission to the address corresponding to the merchant via the addresses corresponding to the transaction processing device and the acquirer for the merchant, respectively. The authorization response message includes a qualification corresponding to the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing an item in a transaction with a merchant.

In the foregoing implementations, the retrieved coupon eligibility data is sufficient to determine various eligibility criteria, including: (i) whether the time of the transaction is within a predetermined time that the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; (ii) whether the location at which the transaction occurred is within a predetermined geographic location at which the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; (iii) whether the jurisdiction in which the transaction occurred is within a predetermined jurisdiction in which the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; (iv) whether the merchant is in a predetermined group of merchants from which the coupon is eligible to purchase items; (v) and so on.

In yet another implementation, an authorization request message is received from the address of the transaction processing facility at an address corresponding to an issuer of the sponsor account via an address of an acquirer for a merchant that is conducting a transaction with the consumer. The authorization request message includes a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) sufficient to identify the sponsor account and the coupon for the item purchased by the consumer in the transaction with the merchant. Using the information in the authorization request message, a predetermined set of conditions for the coupon to purchase the item in a transaction with the merchant and a monetary available balance of the sponsor account are retrieved. Using the retrieved coupon for the predetermined set of conditions for the purchase of the item in the transaction with the merchant and the retrieved currency available balance of the sponsor account, a determination is made as to eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in the purchase of the item in the transaction with the merchant. In response to the authorization request message, an authorization response message is sent for transmission to the address corresponding to the merchant via the addresses corresponding to the transaction processing device and the acquirer for the merchant, respectively. The authorization response message includes an identifier corresponding to eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing an item in a transaction with a merchant.

In the foregoing implementations, the information in the authorization request message includes data sufficient to derive various qualification criteria, including: (i) whether the time of the transaction is within a time that the coupon is eligible to purchase the predetermined set of conditions for the item; (ii) whether the location at which the transaction occurred is within the geographic location of the predetermined set of conditions under which the coupon is eligible to purchase the item; (iii) whether the jurisdiction in which the transaction occurred is within a jurisdiction in which the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; (iv) whether the merchant is in the group of merchants from which the coupon is eligible to purchase items; (v) and so on.

Drawings

The invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements bear like reference numerals.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a coupon and a mode of transmission for use of the coupon by a consumer;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an electronic coupon and a mode of request and delivery to a consumer using a portable electronic communication device;

FIG. 3 depicts one environment within the environment of the payment processing network of FIG. 5 in which a coupon may be used by a consumer to obtain a discount on a good or service from a merchant, who is compensated for the discount from an account visually identified on the coupon;

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method in which a discount is obtained from a merchant at a point of service terminal (POS) of the merchant when purchasing goods or services by a consumer, wherein the merchant is to be compensated for the discount from an account identified by data read from a surface of a coupon by an optical scanner in communication with the POS;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary payment processing network; and

fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a coupon.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments disclosed include coupons, soft or hard copy, data that is visually displayed having encoded thereon an identifier corresponding to an account opened to a sponsor financially responsible for compensation of a merchant receiving the coupon from the consumer and giving the consumer a discount on the purchase of an item or service from the merchant. The visually displayed data encoding the identifier corresponding to the account may be a bar code that may be read by an optical scanner. After authorizing use of the account through the payment processing system, the merchant is compensated from the account through clearing and settlement in the payment processing system. The identified accounts may correspond to one or more sponsors financially responsible for compensating the merchant for discounts on goods or services offered to the consumer. In this manner, a discount on the cost of goods or services offered to the consumer, and its guaranteed compensation to the merchant, may be provided in real-time by the payment processing system.

Coupons may be used by consumers to receive discounts from merchants when purchasing goods or services. The surface of the coupon carries an identifier of the account from which the merchant will be compensated for the discount. In various embodiments, the issuer of the account cooperates with a sponsor that will be financially responsible for compensating the merchant for the discount. The account will provide the merchant with funds supplied by one or more sponsors to compensate them for the discount they use to give to the consumer, and receive valid coupons from the consumer according to any qualifying terms and conditions. The coupon will have indicia carried on its surface that can be captured by the optical scanner (one-dimensional, matrix, or two-dimensional bar codes, other symbols that map data to the symbol, etc.) the visual image captured by the optical scanner can be analyzed to derive therefrom an identifier of one or more sponsor's account. The derived account identifier is used to facilitate authorization, clearing, and settlement. Authorization, clearing, and settlement may be typical of systems and processes such merchants will typically use for other transactions with a consumer-account holder (executing transactions on accounts processed by a payment processing network).

The indicia carried on the surface of the coupon may be scanned by an optical scanner communicating with a point of service terminal (POS) of the merchant, a digital photograph of the indicia captured by the camera function of the consumer's cell phone, or scanned by another optical scanning device. In any case, an account identifier is derived from the captured image for communication to the merchant's acquirer to facilitate authorization, clearing, and settlement. The communication of the account identifier to the acquirer can be by any known telecommunications capability.

FIG. 1 shows a coupon 102 at reference numeral 100 along with various transmission method symbols 104 and 118. Coupon 102 has item identifiers from 1 to I. Each item identifier (i) visually identifies a good or service by information such as a logo and/or trademark. Each item identifier (i) also identifies the good or service by data encoded with a visible indicia that can be read by scanning by an optical scanner in communication with a point of service terminal (POS). The digital image of the coupon read by the optical scanner may be analyzed to derive therefrom an identifier of the item. The identifier of an item may be a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), a Universal Product Code (UPC), a pharmaceutical product code, a serial number or other Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) of the item from other such items, and so forth. The digital image of each identifier read (i.e., item identifier (i)) and analyzed to obtain each item may be a bar code, as seen on coupon 102 in FIG. 1.

The coupon 102 has a sponsor identifier from 1 to N. Each sponsor identifier (n) visually identifies the sponsor or agent thereof that is financially responsible for compensating the merchant that received the coupon 102 for the purchase of the good or service. Sponsors, or their agents, are identified by information such as logos and/or trademarks. Each sponsor identifier (n) also identifies an identifier of an account used to compensate the merchant for the discount that the merchant gives to the consumer. The account's identifier is encoded in the sponsor identifier (n), as shown in the coupon 102 by the visible indicia. This visual indicia may be optically scanned by an optical scanner in communication with the POS. The digital image of the coupon read by the optical scanner may be analyzed to derive therefrom an identifier of the sponsor's account. The identifier of the sponsor's account may be a Bank Identification Number (BIN), a code or alphanumeric sequence, or a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) to distinguish the account from other such accounts. The digital image of each identifier read and analyzed to obtain each account of the sponsor may be a bar code, as shown on coupon 102 in FIG. 1.

Each sponsor account/GUID/barcode # (n) may also encode a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) to distinguish the coupon from other coupons. From the coupon GUID (n), a predetermined set of conditions may be accessed and/or retrieved. The set of predetermined conditions may be used to specify the eligibility of the coupon for a discount or other terms or conditions for purchasing a corresponding item in a transaction between the holder of the coupon and the merchant. The set of predetermined conditions may include: (i) a time when the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; (ii) the coupon is eligible for a geographic location for purchasing the item; (iii) the coupon is eligible for a jurisdiction where the item is purchased; (iv) the coupon is eligible for a group of the merchants from which items are purchased; (v) the number of items for which a coupon is available to apply; (vi) and so on. Coupon guid (n), which may also be used to access and/or retrieve stored usage counters for previous coupons and predetermined maximum usage counters for coupons. The latter counter may be compared to the former counter to determine eligibility of the coupon for purchase of the item. If qualified, a previous counter may be maintained for use of the coupon.

The coupon 102, as shown in FIG. 1, shows an "I" discount for goods and services, where "I" may be a large integer from 1 to a large integer. The merchant receiving the coupon 102 from the consumer may give the consumer up to an "I" discount. Merchants may then be compensated from up to "N" sponsor accounts, where "N" may be a large integer from 1 to a large integer.

The coupon 102 may be delivered to the consumer through the newspaper 104, or through a hardcopy printed by the printer 106, if desired, through the use of a computing device 108 in communication with a database (not shown) containing data representing the coupon 102. The coupon 102 may also be received by post 118. A soft copy of the coupon 102 may be presented on a display in communication with the devices 110, 116 by request from a mobile consumer telecommunication device, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)110 or a cellular telephone 116. Through operation of the user interface of the devices 110, 116, the presented image can be scrolled horizontally or vertically (112, 114) to show the entire presented portion of the soft copy of the coupon 102, e.g., each barcode read by the optical scanner associated with the POS.

Coupons 102 are optically scanned by an optical scanner in communication with the POS. The digital image read by the optical scanner is analyzed to derive each barcode therefrom. Each barcode may then be further analyzed to determine the identifier encoded by the barcode. These identifiers may include: (i) those that identify goods or services; (ii) those identifiers that identify discounts to be given to consumers who purchased items or services from merchants that are in compliance with the terms and conditions of the coupons; and (iii) those identifiers that identify the account from which the merchant is to be compensated as an answer to the consumer's discount. The merchant uses the derived identifier to receive discount compensation from the sponsor's account through the process of clearing and settlement following the compensation transaction through a payment processing system as described below.

The environment 200 shown in fig. 2 illustrates a consumer 202 using a mobile consumer telecommunication device (which may also be a cellular telephone) such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) 204. Consumer 202 operates PDA204 while viewing sign 212a in a store operated by merchant 212 b. Signboard 212a makes an offer to provide consumer 202 with an electronic coupon in exchange for the action of consumer 202 sending a text message to a specific address including code "73774" using PDA 204. In transmitting the requested text message from PDA204, the transmission is passed through a cellular telephone path and/or a local area network path, including devices and systems such as seen at reference numeral 206, for receipt by Mobile Network Operator (MNO) 208.

The MNO 208 passes the request for the electronic coupon to the mobile coupon manager 210. The mobile coupon manager 210 accesses the network database device 216. The network database device 216 stores one or more databases such as: (i) a database of account holders registered for electronic coupons for transmission to mobile devices; (ii) a database of mobile coupon providers and electronic coupon content provided by them; (iii) a database of merchants participating in one or more mobile coupon advertising campaigns; (iv) a database of accounts opened by the issuer to sponsors who will compensate for merchants accepting the electronic coupons and giving corresponding discounts; (v) other databases that facilitate content, control, and transmission of electronic coupons, as desired. The sponsor 214, or their agent, to whom the sponsor account was opened by the issuer, may communicate with the mobile coupon manager and merchant 212b to facilitate the content, control, transmission of the electronic coupon and compensation to the merchant 2121b for the discount given to the consumer by the merchant 2121 b.

The mobile coupon manager 210 returns a response to the request for the electronic coupon for transmission to the MNO 208, where the response may include information sufficient to present the requested electronic coupon on the PDA 204. MNO 208 passes the response to consumer 202 via telecommunication path 206 for presentation on PDA 204.

The requested electronic coupon, as presented on the display of PDA204, includes a plurality of bar codes that can be read by an optical scanner in communication with the POS of merchant 212 b. Each bar code may encode various information. By way of example, but not by way of limitation, the encoded information in the barcode may include: (i) product identifiers of Acme, Inc. cookies advertised by merchant 212b (Bob's store, Inc.) by way of sign 212 a; (ii) amount of discount on Acme, inc. cookies advertised for purchase; (iii) one or more account identifiers corresponding to accounts opened to sponsor 214 from which merchant 212b will be compensated for discounts given to consumer 202 due to consumer 202 purchase of the advertised Acme, inc. And (iv) other information as needed.

Fig. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of a coupon 602, the coupon 602 carrying a visible bar code 604, the visible bar code 604 encoding an identifier of a sponsor account issued by an issuer in a payment processing system, as shown in fig. 5 and described below. When the consumer uses coupon 600 to purchase a twelve ounce package of "Acme, inc. cookies," identified by the data encoded in bar code 602, the consumer will receive a $1.00 discount from the merchant. The merchant may then be compensated for the $1.00 discount from the sponsor account through a clearing and settlement process through the payment processing system. Optionally, authorization requests to give the consumer discounts, and responses thereto, may also be routed by the merchant through the payment processing system between the merchant and the issuer of the sponsor's account.

Within the exemplary payment processing system depicted in fig. 5, discussed below, fig. 3 illustrates an example of an environment in which coupons 352 may be processed as described with reference to fig. 1-2, which is used by a consumer 302 to obtain a discount for the purchase of goods or services from a merchant (m)310 having a point of service terminal (POS) (m) 310. Pos (m)310 has optical scanners, payment card readers, and user interfaces for performing transactions with consumers on accounts 304 opened to those consumers, and for performing compensation transactions on coupon sponsor accounts 312 opened to sponsors of coupons.

At POS (m)310, consumer 302 presents coupon 352 to merchant (m)310, via soft or hard copy, along with the item consumer 302 wishes to purchase. Merchant (m)310 uses a bar code scanner associated with pos (m)310 to read a bar code on coupon 352, including an account identifier associated with account 312 opened to one or more sponsors of the coupon. In certain embodiments, the bar code on coupon 352 is scanned by the optical scanner of POS (m)310 to obtain an identifier from items and services purchased by consumer 302 at a discounted price from merchant (m) 310.

In certain embodiments, other information is also read from the coupon 352 by the optical scanner, such as, by way of example and not limitation, coupon expiration date, amount of discount, number of goods and services available for the corresponding discount, and the like. In some embodiments, POS (m)310 may determine whether the coupon is valid for the good or service requested by consumer 302. This may be done, by way of example and not limitation, by comparing the current date to the coupon's expiration date. Alternatively, POS (m)310 may determine whether consumer 302 requested the desired number of products or services as required and specified by the data on the coupon.

In some embodiments, the merchant (m)310 may additionally enter into the POS (m)310 the full amount of the goods or services prior to the discount. In such embodiments, the amount may also be visually displayed on the coupon 352 (e.g., as the maximum approved amount). In other embodiments, the amount is read from the coupon 352 (e.g., as a maximum approved amount) by the optical scanner associated with the pos (m) 310. In some embodiments, POS (m)310 calculates a maximum approval amount for the discount. This may occur, by way of example and not limitation, where the amount of shopping by consumer 302 exceeds the availability of a discount and/or where consumer 302 is also making other, non-discounted purchases from merchant (m) 310.

Upon receiving the coupon 352, the transaction is processed similar to the method described below with reference to the environment 500 depicted in FIG. 5. Merchant (m)310 submits an authorization request to charge the coupon's discount amount from the coupon sponsor account. Merchant (m)310 sends an authorization request to acquirer(s) 308 through POS (m) 310. Preferably, the authorization request will include the account identifier of the sponsor account read by the optical scanner of pos (m)310 from the barcode on coupon 352.

In some embodiments, the second authorization request may additionally include an account identifier for an account opened by consumer account issuer (i)304 to consumer 302. In such an embodiment, consumer 302 will pay the amount of the transaction, minus the discount, from the consumer's account using the consumer's credit card, debit card, or other portable consumer payment device (e.g., as shown at reference numeral 350). Of course, other forms of reimbursement 354 may be used by consumer 302 to pay the amount of the merchant (m)310 transaction, less the discount.

In the event that the acquirer(s) 308 is not the same entity as the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312, the acquirer(s) 308 forwards the transaction information for the coupon to the transaction handler (u)306, which in turn forwards it to the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 to verify that the account associated with the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 contains sufficient funds and/or credit to compensate the merchant (m)310 for the discount provided to the consumer line 302. Of course, if consumer 302 also uses other accounts for other payments, other authorization requests are sent to the corresponding consumer account issuer (i)304 of the consumer account.

Upon receiving an authorization response to the authorization request from the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312, the transaction processing device (u)306 forwards the authorization response to the acquirer(s) 308, which acquirer(s) 308 forwards it to the POS (m)310 of the merchant (m) 310. Where the authorization response includes approval for use of the coupon, consumer 302 may receive a discount from merchant (m)310 at the time of the purchase of the good or service, the balance of the amount of the transaction being redeemed by consumer 302 (350, 354). The consumer's reimbursement may take the form of cash or other transferable currency, or may be by offer to conduct a transaction among: (i) a debit card account issued by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent; (ii) a credit card account opened by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent; (iii) a pre-deposited account opened by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent; (iv) an automated clearing System (ACH) account opened by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent; (v) a checking account issued by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent; (vi) and so on.

For multiple coupons used in a transaction, multiple sponsor account authorization requests and corresponding sponsor account authorization responses will be sent from and received by pos (m)310, respectively, where multiple identifiers for multiple sponsor accounts are read by the optical scanner for one or more coupons at pos (m) 310. Multiple consumer account authorization requests and corresponding consumer account authorization responses for the same transaction will be sent from and received by pos (m)310, respectively, where multiple consumer accounts are used by the consumer to pay the balance of the transaction, minus the discount obtained for the multiple coupons, at pos (m) 310.

In some embodiments, the merchant (m)310 uses the POS (m)310 to invalidate the coupon 352 or delete the coupon 352 once the discount is applied. In some embodiments, the coupon 352 may be a one-time-use card. In such an embodiment, merchant (m)310 may forego returning coupon 352 to consumer 302. In other embodiments, coupon 352 may be used to store subsequent other unused discounts for other goods and services, and thus coupon 353 will be returned to consumer 302 for future use.

In some embodiments, approval of the transaction to compensate the merchant for the discount given to the consumer may be more involved. In such embodiments, the authorization request includes additional information, by way of example and not limitation, the item, item type, and/or sponsor of the coupon. In some embodiments, this information is forwarded by the transaction processing device (u)306 to a third party (not shown) for authentication and/or other processing. In one embodiment, one or more databases 316- "324 may be accessible to one or more entities for verifying, by way of example and not limitation, that the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 issued the authorization process may include a comparison, performed by a third party (not shown), of the provided additional information against information stored in the one or more databases 316-" 324. In other embodiments, once the coupon 352 is used by the consumer 202, a third party (not shown) adds a symbol to the identifier of the coupon 352 stored in one or more of the databases 316 and 324, thereby preventing its use beyond a predetermined number of times. The third party (not shown) may have direct access to one or more of the databases 316 and 324 or may have such access through the transaction processing device (u)306 or other entity in FIG. 3.

In other embodiments, a third party (not shown), which may be an agent of the coupon sponsor, accesses and uses one or more databases 316 and 324 to maintain a count of the coupons used by the consumer 302. In such embodiments, this information is used by the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 to determine future coupons to issue or to identify specific consumers 302 for targeted advertising. In other embodiments, the additional information includes identifiers of one or more advertisements that will be (or were) presented to consumer 302 at the time coupon 352 was used by consumer 302. In such an embodiment, the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 may charge a fee to another entity for each display of the advertisement to the consumer 302 after the information is stored by the third party in one or more databases 316- & 324. Alternatively, the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 can change the advertisement associated with the coupon 352 after a given number of times the advertisement is presented with the coupon 352.

In other embodiments, one or more databases 316-324 may contain information about the accounts opened to each coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312, where the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 is one of the coupon sponsors. In such embodiments, a third party (not shown) uses one or more databases 316 and 324 to verify that the account identifier read from the coupon 352 is associated with one of the coupon sponsors. One or more databases 316-324 may additionally be used to verify that the associated account contains sufficient funds to compensate merchant (m)310 for the applied discount. In some embodiments, the third party (not shown) as previously described is the same entity as the transaction processing device (u) 306. In other embodiments, the third party (not shown) as previously described is a separate entity from the transaction processing device (u) 306.

When merchant (m)310 submits a discount compensation transaction to payment processing system 300 for clearing and settlement through pos (m)310, the account of coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 is debited (e.g., decremented) for the amount of the discount. Specifically, merchant (m)310 submits a request for payment to acquirer(s) 308. In the event that the acquirer(s) 308 is not the same entity as the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312, the acquirer(s) 308 forwards the request to the transaction processing device (u) 306. The transaction processing device (u)306, in turn, requests payment for the discount from a coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312, where the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 is the issuer of the account associated with the sponsor of the discount on the coupon. The coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312debits the account and forwards the payment to the transaction processing facility (u)306, which transaction processing facility (u)306 forwards the payment to the acquirer(s) 308. Finally, acceptance bank(s) 308 increments the account of merchant (m)310 with the amount credits for the discount offered to consumer 302.

In some embodiments, the clearing and settlement process may involve a third party (not shown). In such an embodiment, the third party may, by way of example and not limitation, record each coupon 352 that is cleared and settled. This data may be maintained in one or more databases 316-324. Alternatively or additionally, a third party may verify that the coupon 352 is for use in a cleared and settled transaction. In other embodiments, a third party may determine an account associated with the sponsor of the discount on the coupon, so that the transaction processing device (u)306 may request the coupon sponsor account issuer (t)312 to debit (reduce) money in the sponsor's corresponding account. In such embodiments, the third party may access one or more of the databases 316 and 324.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the process described with reference to fig. 3 is equally applicable to the case: the consumer uses a coupon having stored thereon a plurality of discounts and corresponding sponsor accounts via bar code coding (or other symbols) such that the coupon is not a single use coupon, but rather can be used to receive a plurality of discounts for a plurality of different goods and services (e.g., one or more discounts for each of a plurality of chronological purchases for one or more goods and/or services up to a predetermined number of discounts). In such a case, the coupon may be a collaboration of different coupon sponsors, each having a coupon compensation account issued by a different issuer. For example, coupon 352 may show a bar code that identifies one or more sponsor accounts whose attributes, when processed for their respective issuer, will be determined for a discount based on a predetermined collaboration agreement between the sponsors. Further, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that coupons may have many different types of discounts for goods and services encoded by bar codes applied to their surfaces, where each coupon is valid only at a respectively different merchant, each merchant having a different acquirer.

Turning now to fig. 4, a flow diagram of an exemplary method 400 is shown. As indicated by block 402, the issuer will collaborate with retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, nonprofit agencies, and/or government agencies to issue coupons, wherein each partner will sponsor the cost of the discount. The coupon will be used by the consumer to obtain a discount from the participating merchant on the goods or services identified by the coupon. The coupon carries one or more bar codes on its surface, each of which can be read by an optical scanner. One such bar code encodes an identifier of an account opened to a sponsor from which the merchant will be compensated for a discount given to a consumer who uses the coupon to purchase goods or services.

At block 404, distribution to consumers is made with respect to coupons that have been bar coded for the item and sponsor, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1-2. At block 408, the consumer arrives at the merchant, selects the coupon-discounted good or service, and presents the coupon and the items in the coupon in the consumer's shopping cart at the merchant's point of service terminal (POS). At the POS, each barcode in the coupon is optically scanned. The image retrieved from the optical scan may be digitized for an item purchased by the consumer in a transaction with the merchant, from which is derived sufficient to identify: (i) one or more sponsor accounts issued by the issuer to sponsors corresponding to discounts for the coupons; and (ii) a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) of the coupon. The items identified by the coupon and the corresponding items in the shopping cart may be verified at the POS for compliance with the terms and conditions of the coupon.

The POS sends an authorization request message over a payment processing network such as that shown in fig. 5. At block 410, the payment processing network routes the authorization request message to the sponsor's issuer. At block 412, the account issuer of the account identified on the coupon is validated against qualification criteria, if not completed at the POS, or other validity is validated against conditions that are not validated at the POS. The sponsor's issuer sends an authorization response message to the POS at the merchant over the payment processing network.

The validation of the coupon related to the purchased item against eligibility criteria may include retrieving and/or accessing a predetermined set of conditions for using the coupon when purchasing the item in a transaction between a consumer and a merchant carrying the coupon. The predetermined set of conditions may include comparing data relating to the coupon to transactions between the consumer and the merchant. These comparisons may include: (i) a time when the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; (ii) the coupon is eligible for a geographic location for purchasing the item; (iii) the coupon is eligible for a jurisdiction where the item is purchased; (iv) the coupon is eligible for a particular set of merchants from which items are purchased; (v) and so on. Additionally, or alternatively, the monetary available balance of the sponsor account may be accessed and retrieved to determine, in real time, at the POS, whether the funds stored are sufficient to extend the discount to the holder of the corresponding coupon.

At block 414, the POS receives and processes the authorization response message, and if approved, the merchant provides the consumer with the purchased item discounted by the coupon amount in exchange for the consumer providing the merchant with the full amount of the transaction minus the reimbursement of the discount. At block 416, if the coupon has been determined to be unique (i.e., a "one-time-use type coupon"), once the particular coupon has been used for an eligible purchase (e.g., such as by accessing and maintaining a GUID stored in one or more of the databases 316 and 324 in FIG. 3), the sponsor's issuer may automatically deactivate the sponsor's account with respect to the Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) associated with the particular coupon.

At block 418, the merchant may, in some embodiments, automatically receive payment for discounts given to the consumer's purchasing behavior, as well as all other payment processing network transactions (e.g., by clearing and settlement). In clearing and settlement of the transaction enjoying the discount, there will be a crediting (decrementing) of the account of the sponsor of the coupon and a corresponding debiting (incrementing) of the account of the merchant.

In one embodiment, the coupon may be associated with a toolThere is associated with it an account number of a sponsor of a Bank Identification Number (BIN) that corresponds to a particular transaction processing device (e.g., issued by Visa inc., American Express, MasterCard, or other transaction processing device). For example, the account number for the coupon sponsor may begin with the number "4". In other embodiments, the coupon may have a physical plastic card design, may contain a bar code conveying identifiers for: (i) the amount of the discount; (ii) discounted products or services; (iii) a merchant offering a discount; (iv) the amount of goods or services to which the discount may be applied; (v) an expiration date of the coupon; (vi) and so on. In other embodiments, the discount will not be allowed to be combined by the merchant with the purchase of any other goods or services. In other embodiments, private label services for the payment processing network may be used, such as for the issuer of the discount sponsor or for the verification of specific transaction processing equipment (i.e.; operated by Visa Inc.)Network): (i) is redeeming the coupon from an authorized or participating location and/or merchant (i.e., merchant); (ii) reserving the sponsor's funds at the sponsor's issuer for discounts that have not been redeemed; and (iii) the coupon is still valid when used by the holder of the coupon. The payment processing network clearing and settlement system may be used to move funds between the respective accounts of the coupon sponsor's funds provider and the party to which the discount is to be redeemed (e.g., the merchant and/or its location that gives the discount and goods or services to the consumer).

Examples of payment processing networks contemplated for use in the various embodiments disclosed herein, in addition to payment networks such as PayPal that can settle through ACH, include: MasterCard, AMEX, Discover, JCB, STAR, NYCE, Pulse, Accel, AFFN, CU24, Maestro, Interlink, Shazam, and automatic clearing System (ACH).

In certain embodiments, individual blocks described above with respect to fig. 4 may be combined, eliminated, or reordered. Further, in certain embodiments, instructions (e.g., software) are encoded in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein those instructions are executed by a computing device (e.g., hardware) processor to perform one or more of the blocks of fig. 4. In other embodiments, instructions reside in any other computer program product, where those instructions are executed by a computer external to, or internal to, the computing system to perform one or more of the blocks in FIG. 4. In either case, the instructions may be encoded in a computer-readable medium comprising, for example, a magnetic information storage medium, an optical information storage medium, an electronic information storage medium, and the like. "electronic storage media" may represent, for example, but not limited to, one or more devices such as, but not limited to, PROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, flash PROMs, CompactFlash, smart media, and the like.

Exemplary transaction processing System/Payment processing network

Referring to fig. 5, a transaction processing system 500 is viewed as an environment in which the method 400 in fig. 4 may be performed, and as a general example of the payment processing system 300 in fig. 3. The general environment of fig. 5 includes a merchant (m)510, such as a merchant that may perform a transaction for goods and/or services with an account user (au) (e.g., a consumer) on an account opened by an issuer (i)504 to an account holder (a)508, where the process of payment and being paid for the transaction is coordinated by at least one transaction processing device (th)502 (e.g., a transaction processing device) (collectively "users"). The transaction includes participation from different entities, each of which is a component of the transaction processing system 500.

The transaction processing system 500 may have at least one of a plurality of transaction processing devices (TH)502 including a transaction processing device (1)502 to a transaction processing device (TH)502, where TH may be up to and greater than an eight-bit integer.

The transaction processing system 500 has a plurality of merchants (M)510 including merchant (1)510 through merchant (M)510, where M may be up to and greater than an eight-bit integer. Merchant (m)510 may be a person or entity that sells goods and/or services. The merchant (m)510 may also be, for example, may inject a controlled substance (e.g., a drug) to the consumer in a form of a discount, such as an influenza injection or nasal inhalation process. In the B2B environment, the account holder (a)508 may be a second merchant (m)510 making a purchase from another merchant (m) 510.

The transaction processing system 500 includes account users (1)508 through Account Users (AUs) 508, where the AUs may be as large as ten digit integers or greater. Each account user (au) performs transactions for goods and/or services with a merchant (m)510 using an account opened by issuer (i)504 to a corresponding account holder (a) 508. Data from transactions on the account is collected by the merchant (m)510 and forwarded to the corresponding acquirer (a) 506. The acquirer (a)506 forwards the data to the transaction processing device (th)502, which transaction processing device (th)502 facilitates payment for the transaction from the account opened by the issuer (i)504 to the account holder (a) 508.

The transaction processing system 500 has a plurality of acceptance lines (q) 506. Each of the entries (Q)506 may be facilitated by a corresponding agent entry (AQ)506 to process one or more transactions, where "Q" may be an integer from 1 to Q, where "AQ" may be an integer from 1 to AQ, where Q and AQ may be as large as an eight-bit integer or greater.

Transaction processing device (th)502 may process multiple transactions within transaction processing system 500. Transaction processing device (th)502 may include one or more networks and switches (ns) 502. Each network/switch (NS)502 may be a mainframe computer located in a different geographical location than the other networks/switches (NS)502, where "NS" is an integer from 1 to NS, where NS may be as large as a four-digit integer or greater.

Private communication systems 520, 522 (e.g., private communication networks) facilitate communication between the transaction processing device (th)502 and each issuer (i)504 and each acquirer (a) 506. The network 512, via email, world wide web, cell phone, and/or other optional public and private communication systems, may facilitate communications 522a-622e between each issuer (i)504, each acquirer (a)506, each merchant (m)510, each account holder (a)508, and the transaction processing device (th) 502. Alternatively and optionally, one or more proprietary communication systems 524, 526, and 528 may facilitate respective communications between each acquirer (a)506 and each merchant (m)510, each merchant (m)510 and each account holder (a)508, and each issuer (i)504, respectively.

Network 512 may represent any of a variety of suitable devices for exchanging data, such as: the internet, an intranet, an extranet, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a virtual private network, a satellite communication network, an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) network, an interactive television network, or any combination of the preceding. The network 512 may contain any one of wired and wireless connections for transmitting signals including electrical, magnetic, and combinations thereof. Examples of such connections are known in the art and include: radio frequency connections, optical connections, and the like. To illustrate, the connection for transmitting signals may be a telephone link, a digital subscriber line, or a cable link. Further, the network 512 may use any of a variety of communication protocols, such as, for example, transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). Within the network 512, there may be multiple nodes, each of which may perform some level of processing on data transmitted within the transaction processing system 500.

Users of the transaction processing system 500 may interact with each other using any of a variety of communication devices or receive data about each other within the transaction processing system 500. The communication device may have a processing unit operatively connected to a display and a memory such as a random access memory ("RAM") and/or a read only memory ("ROM"). The communication device may be a combination of hardware and software that enables input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, stylus, and touch screen, among others.

For example, use of the transaction processing system 500 by the account holder (a)508 may include use of a Portable Consumer Device (PCD). The PCD may be one of the communication devices, or may beFor use with or as part of a communication device. The PCD may be: cards (e.g., bank cards, payment cards, financial cards, credit cards, debit cards, credit cards, gift cards, transit tickets, smart cards, currency cards, payroll cards, social security cards, health care cards, or phone cards), badges, watches, wristbands, keyrings, key fobs (e.g., marketed by ExxonMobil Corporation)) A machine-readable medium containing account information, a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a digital audio player, a computer (e.g., a laptop computer), a set-top box, a portable workstation, a minicomputer, or a combination thereof. PCDs may have near field or far field communication capabilities (e.g., satellite communications or communications to cell sites of a cellular network) for telephony or data transfer, such as communications with the Global Positioning System (GPS). PCDs can support several services, such as SMS for text messaging, and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) for transmitting photos and videos, email (email access).

The PCD may include a computer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium, such as a memory or chip set of a magnetic stripe or chip, may include volatile, non-volatile, read-only, or programmable memory that stores data such as an account identifier, a consumer identifier, and/or an expiration date. The computer readable medium may include executable instructions that when executed by a computer will cause the computer to perform the method. For example, the computer readable memory may include information such as the account number or name of the account holder (a) 508.

Examples of PCDs with memory and executable instructions include: a smart card, a personal digital assistant, a digital audio player, a cellular telephone, a personal computer, or a combination thereof. To illustrate, the PCD may be a financial card that may be used by a consumer to perform a contactless transaction with a merchant, where the financial card includes a microprocessor, a programmable memory, and a transponder (e.g., a transmitter or receiver). The financial card may have near field communication capabilities, such as through one or more radio frequency communications, such as used in the "bluetooth" communication wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating a personal area network.

Merchant (m)510 may use at least one POI terminal (e.g., a service point or browser enabled consumer cell phone) that may communicate with account user (au)508, acquirer (a)506, transaction processing device (th)502, or issuer (i) 504. A point of interaction (POI) may be a physical or virtual communication medium that provides an opportunity to interface with a consumer through any channel to provide an opportunity for content, messaging, or other communication directly or indirectly related to the facilitation or performance of a transaction between merchant (m)510 and the consumer. Examples of POIs include: a physical or virtual point of service (POS) terminal, a consumer's PCD, a portable digital assistant, a cellular telephone, paper mail, email, an Internet website rendered by a browser executing on a computing device, or a combination of the foregoing. In this manner, the POI terminal is in operable communication with the transaction processing system 500.

The PCD may connect with the POI terminal using a mechanism that includes any suitable electrical, magnetic or optical connection system, such as a contactless system using radio frequencies, or a magnetic field recognition system or contact system such as a magnetic stripe reader. To illustrate, a POI may have a magnetic stripe reader that contacts the magnetic stripe of a consumer's credit card, or healthcare card (e.g., a flexible savings account card). As such, the data encoded in the magnetic stripe on the consumer's card is read and transferred to the POI at merchant (m) 510. These data may include account identifiers for accounts issued by the issuer to the consumer. In another example, the POI may be a consumer's PCD, such as a consumer's cell phone, where merchant (m)510 or its agent receives the consumer's account identifier through a Web page of a browser-rendered interactive website executing on a world Wide Web (Web) -enabled PCD.

Generally, a transaction begins with an account user (au)508 presenting a portable consumer device to a merchant (m)510 to initiate an exchange of resources (e.g., goods or services). The portable consumer device may be associated with an account (e.g., a credit card account) of an account holder (a)508 issued by issuer (i)504 to account holder (a) 508.

Merchant (m)510 may use the POI terminal to obtain account information, such as the account number of account holder (a)508, from the portable consumer device. The portable consumer device may connect with the POI terminal using a mechanism that includes any suitable electrical, magnetic or optical connection system, such as a contactless system using radio frequency, or a magnetic field identification system or contact system, such as a magnetic stripe reader. The POI terminal sends a transaction authorization request to issuer (i)504 of the account associated with the PCD. Alternatively, or in combination, the PCD may communicate with an issuer (i)504, a transaction processing device (th)502, or an acquirer (a) 506.

The issuer (i)504 may authorize the transaction and forward the authorization to the transaction processing device (th) 502. The transaction processing device (th)502 may also clear the transaction. Authorization includes an opening bank (i)504, a transaction processing device (th)502 representing the opening bank (i)504 authorizing the transaction, such as by using business rules, with reference to the instructions of opening bank (i) 504. The business rules may include instructions or guidelines from the transaction processing facility (th)502, the account holder (a)508, the merchant (m)510, the acquirer (a)506, the issuer (i)504, the associated financial institution, or a combination thereof. The transaction processing device (th)502 may, but need not, maintain a log or history of authorized transactions. Once approved, the merchant (m)510 may record the authorization, allowing the account user (au)508 to receive goods or services from the merchant (m) or its agents.

Merchant (m)510 may submit a list of authorized transactions or other transaction-related data to acceptance bank (a)506 for processing by transaction processing system 500 at a discrete time period, such as the end of the day. Transaction processing device (th)502 may compare the optionally submitted authorized transaction list with its own log of authorized transactions. Transaction processing device (th)502 may authorize the transfer of transaction amount requests from corresponding acquirer (a)506 to corresponding issuer (i)504 for participation in each transaction. Once acquirer (a)506 receives payment for the authorized transaction from issuer (i)504, acquirer (a)506 may forward the payment to merchant (m)510, minus any transaction costs, such as fees for processing the transaction. If the transaction involves a credit or prepaid card, then acquirer (a)506 may choose not to wait for issuer (i)504 to forward payment before paying merchant (m) 510.

There may be steps of interruption in the preceding process, some of which may occur simultaneously. For example, acquirer (a)506 may initiate a clearing and settlement process, which may result in payment of the amount of the transaction to acquirer (q) 506. The acquirer (a)506 may request clearing and settlement of the transaction from the transaction handler (th) 502. Clearing includes the exchange of financial information between the issuer (i)504 and the acquirer (a)506, while settlement includes the exchange of funds. The transaction processing device (th)502 may provide services related to settlement of transactions. Settlement of the transaction involves storing the amount of settlement of the transaction from a settlement place, such as a settlement bank, typically selected by the transaction processing device (th)502 to a clearing place, such as a clearing bank, typically selected by the acquirer (a) 506. The issuer (i)504 stores the same amount of money from a clearing house, such as a clearing bank, normally selected by the issuer (i)504 to the clearing house. As such, a typical transaction involves various entities to request, authorize, and complete processing of the transaction.

Preferably, the transaction processing system 500 will have network components adapted to scale the number and data payload size of transactions that can be authorized, cleared, and settled in real-time and batch processing. These include hardware, software, data elements, and storage network devices for the former. Examples of the transaction processing system 500 include, at least in part, a transaction processing system implemented by American Express transformed Services Company, Inc; master Card International, Inc.; discover Financial Services, inc; first Data Corporation; DinersClub International, LTD; and Visa inc. and those operated by agents of the aforementioned companies.

Each network/switch (ns)502 may include one or more data centers for processing transactions, where each transaction may include up to 100 kilobytes of data or more. The data corresponding to the transaction may include information about the type and quantity of goods and services in the transaction, information about account holders (a)508, account users (au)508, merchants (m)510, incentive deals for goods and services and taxes, coupons, rebates, rewards, loyalty, discounts, returns, exchanges, cash back transactions, and so forth.

By way of example, network/switch (ns)502 may include one or more mainframe computers (e.g., one or more IBM mainframe computers) for one or more server farms (i.e., one or more Sun UNIX super servers), where the mainframe computers and server farms may be located in different geographic locations.

Each account opening group (i)504 (or its proxy account opening group (ai)504) and each accept group (q)506 (or its proxy accept group (aq)506) can use one or more routers/switches (i.e., Cisco;)^TMRouters/switches) to communicate with each network/switch (ns)502 over a private communication system, respectively.

The transaction processing device (th)502 may store information about transactions processed by the transaction processing system 500 in a data repository, such as may be incorporated as part of multiple networks/switches 502. This information may be data mined. Data mining transaction research and modeling may be used for advertising, account holder and merchant loyalty incentives and rewards, fraud detection and prediction, developing tools that demonstrate the potential savings and efficiencies achieved through the use of the transaction processing system 500 over the use of cash payments and paid or other conventional payment mechanisms.

Fig. 5 includes a transaction processing device 502 in communication with an acquirer 506 and an issuer 504 via access points 530, 532. Other entities, such as bill payment lines and third party authorized agents, may also be connected to the network through access points 530, 532. Access points 530, 532 are typically comprised of small computer systems located in a data processing center connected between a host computer of the data processing center and a switching center. The access point facilitates the transfer of messages and files between the host and a clearinghouse that supports authorization, clearing, and settlement of transactions. The telecommunications links between the admission line (q)506 and its access point 532, and between the access point 530 and the accounting line (i)504 are typically local links within the center, and use proprietary message formats preferred by the center.

As mentioned above, access points 530, 532 are typically located in a data processing center connected between a host computer of the data processing center and a switching center. A switching center is a data processing center that can be located anywhere in the world. In one embodiment, there are two in the united states, one in the uk and japan. Each switching center hosts a computer system that performs network transaction processing. The switching center acts as a control point for the communication facilities of the network, including high speed leased line or satellite connections based on the IBM SNA protocol. Preferably, the communication line connecting the switching center (transaction processing facility 502) with the remote entity uses a dedicated high bandwidth telephone line or satellite connection based on the IBM SNA-LU0 communication protocol. Messages are sent over these lines using any suitable embodiment of the ISO 8583 standard.

A data processing center (e.g., located within an acquirer, issuer, or other entity) hosts processing systems that support merchants and business locations and maintains customer data and billing systems. Preferably, each data processing center is linked to one or two switching centers. The processor is connected to the nearest switching center and if the network experiences an interruption, the network automatically routes the transaction to the secondary switching center. Each switching centre is also linked to all other switching centres. This link allows the processing centers to communicate with each other through one or more switching centers. The processing center may also access a network of other programs through the switching center. In addition, the network ensures that all links have multiple backups. Connections from one point of the network to another are typically not fixed links; instead, the switching center selects the best possible path for any given transmission. The rerouting around any failed link is automated.

The system is an example component of a transaction processing device (th)502 in a transaction processing system 500. At present, the number of the current day,the system is operated in part by Visa inc. By the time of the year 2006,system inc. processes approximately 3 hundred million transactions per day in over one billion accounts used in 170 countries. Financial instruction passing in excess of 16,000The system is connected to approximately 3 million merchants 510. At 2007, byThe system clears and settles approximately 810 transactions of approximately $ 4 million, some of which involve a communication length of approximately 24,000 miles in approximately 2 seconds, with multiple stops being made to process the data in the transaction.

The description of the steps, methods, processes and apparatus together with the embodiments disclosed herein refer to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. While described in terms of the best mode, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will recognize that the description is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents as supported by the following description and drawings. Reference in the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment," or similar language, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Furthermore, in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. There may be other steps and methods which are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method is performed may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A method comprising a plurality of steps, each step being implemented by hardware executing software, wherein the steps comprise:

receiving, from the merchant, a coupon authorization request message identifying a sponsor account and a coupon for an item purchased by the consumer in a transaction with the merchant;

sending a coupon authorization request message to an issuer of the sponsor account;

receiving, in response to the coupon authorization request message, a coupon authorization response message containing eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing an item in a transaction with a merchant;

sending the coupon authorization response message to the merchant;

receiving a consumer authorization request message from the merchant identifying a consumer account on which a transaction is to be conducted with the merchant;

sending the consumer authorization request message to an issuer of the consumer account;

receiving, in response to the consumer authorization request message, a consumer authorization response message from an issuer of the consumer account, wherein the consumer authorization response message identifies eligibility of the consumer account to conduct the transaction with the merchant; and

sending the consumer authorization response message to the merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the issuer of the sponsor account and the issuer of the consumer account are different issuers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving a plurality of said coupon authorization request messages, each of said authorization request messages originating from a merchant, wherein each of said coupon authorization request messages identifies one of said sponsor accounts and one of said coupons for one of said items purchased by a consumer in a transaction with a merchant;

and

for each of the coupon authorization request messages, and prior to receiving the consumer authorization request message:

sending a coupon authorization request message to an issuer of a corresponding one of the sponsor accounts;

receiving a coupon authorization response message from an issuer of one of the sponsor accounts in response to the coupon authorization request message, wherein the coupon authorization response message includes eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing items in a transaction with a merchant; and

and sending the coupon authorization response message to the merchant.

4. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by hardware to implement the method of claim 1.

5. A method comprising a plurality of steps, each step being implemented by hardware executing software, wherein the steps comprise:

receiving an authorization request message from the address of the merchant from the address of the transaction processing facility at an address corresponding to an issuer of a sponsor account via an address of an acquirer for the merchant that is conducting the transaction with the consumer, wherein the authorization request message includes information sufficient to identify the sponsor account and a coupon for an item purchased by the consumer in a transaction with the merchant;

retrieving coupon eligibility data relating to the sponsor account and the coupon using information in the authorization request message;

using the coupon eligibility data, determining eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing an item in a transaction with a merchant; and

in response to the authorization request message, sending an authorization response message for transmission to the address corresponding to the merchant via addresses corresponding to the transaction processing device and the merchant's acquirer, respectively, wherein the authorization response message includes an identifier corresponding to eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing items in a transaction with the merchant.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the retrieved coupon eligibility data is sufficient for the determining step to derive:

whether the time of the transaction is within a predetermined time that the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item;

whether the location at which the transaction occurred is within a predetermined geographic location at which the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item;

whether the jurisdiction in which the transaction occurred is within a predetermined jurisdiction in which the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; and

whether the merchant is in a predetermined group of the merchants from which the coupon is eligible to purchase items.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the item is being purchased by the consumer in the transaction in a transaction amount less a discount amount corresponding to the coupon.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transaction amount minus the discount amount paid by the consumer to the merchant is not paid from a balance of currency in the sponsor account.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the transaction is conducted on a consumer account that is not the sponsor account.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the consumer account is selected from the group consisting of:

a debit card account issued by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent;

a credit card account opened by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent; and

a pre-deposited account opened by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent;

an automated clearing System (ACH) account opened by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent; and

a checking account issued by an issuer to a consumer or a party to whom the consumer is an agent.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by hardware to implement the method of claim 5.

12. A method comprising a plurality of steps, each step being implemented by hardware executing software, wherein the steps comprise:

receiving, from the address of the transaction processing facility, at an address corresponding to an issuer of the sponsor account, an authorization request message originating from an address of a merchant at an address of an acquirer for the merchant that is conducting the transaction with the consumer, wherein the authorization request message includes information sufficient to identify:

the sponsor account; and

a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) for a coupon for an item purchased by the consumer in a transaction with a merchant;

using information in the authorization request message, retrieving:

a predetermined set of conditions of the coupon for purchase of the item in a transaction with a merchant; and

a monetary available balance of the sponsor account;

determining eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing an item in a transaction with a merchant using the retrieved predetermined set of conditions of the coupon for purchasing the item in the transaction with a merchant and the retrieved currency available balance of the sponsor account; and

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the address corresponding to the issuer of the sponsor account corresponds to an agent of the issuer of the sponsor account to perform the determining step.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined set of conditions of the coupon for purchase of the item in a transaction with a merchant is selected from the group consisting of:

a time when the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item;

the coupon is eligible for a geographic location for purchasing the item;

the coupon is eligible for a jurisdiction where the item is purchased; and

the coupon is eligible for a group of the merchants from which items are purchased.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the information in the authorization request message includes data sufficient for the determining step to derive:

whether the time of the transaction is within a time that the coupon is eligible to purchase the predetermined set of conditions for the item;

whether the location at which the transaction occurred is within the geographic location of the predetermined set of conditions under which the coupon is eligible to purchase the item;

whether the jurisdiction in which the transaction occurred is within a jurisdiction in which the coupon is eligible for purchase of the item; and

whether the merchant is in the group of merchants from which the coupon is eligible to purchase items.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by hardware to implement the method of claim 12.

17. A method comprising a plurality of steps, each step being implemented by hardware executing software, wherein the steps comprise:

receiving, at an address corresponding to an issuer of a transaction processing facility, a coupon authorization request message from an address of an acquirer for a merchant that is conducting a transaction with a consumer, the coupon authorization request message originating from the address of the merchant, wherein the coupon authorization request message includes information sufficient to identify a sponsor account and a coupon for an item purchased by the consumer in the transaction with the merchant;

retrieving an address corresponding to an issuer of the sponsor account using the information in the coupon authorization request message;

sending a coupon authorization request message to an address corresponding to an issuer of the sponsor account;

receiving, in response to a coupon authorization request message, a coupon authorization response message from an address of an issuer of the sponsor account, wherein the coupon authorization response message includes an identifier corresponding to eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing items in a transaction with a merchant;

sending the coupon authorization response message through the address of the acquirer for the merchant for transmission to the address corresponding to the merchant;

receiving, at the address corresponding to the transaction processing device, a consumer authorization request message originating from an address of an acquirer for a merchant that is conducting a transaction with the consumer, wherein the consumer authorization request message includes information sufficient to identify a consumer account opened by an issuer to the consumer and on which to conduct the transaction with the merchant;

using the information in the consumer authorization request message, retrieving an address corresponding to an issuer of the consumer account on which the transaction with the merchant is to be conducted;

sending the consumer authorization request message to an address corresponding to an issuer of the consumer account;

receiving, in response to the consumer authorization request message, a consumer authorization response message from an address of an issuer of the consumer account, wherein the consumer authorization response message includes an identifier corresponding to eligibility of the consumer account to conduct a transaction with a merchant; and

sending the consumer authorization response message through the address of the acquirer for the merchant for transmission to the address corresponding to the merchant.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the addresses corresponding to the issuer of the sponsor account and the issuer of the consumer account are different addresses.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving, at said address corresponding to a transaction processing facility, a plurality of said coupon authorization request messages from an address of an acquirer for a merchant that is conducting a transaction with said consumer, each message originating from said address of a merchant, wherein each of said coupon authorization request messages includes one of said coupons sufficient to identify one of said sponsor accounts and one of said items purchased by said consumer in a transaction with a merchant; and

for each of the coupon authorization request messages, and prior to receiving the consumer authorization request message at the address of the transaction processing device:

retrieving an address of an issuer corresponding to said one of said sponsor accounts using said information in a coupon authorization request message;

sending a coupon authorization request message to an address of an issuer corresponding to one of the sponsor accounts;

receiving a coupon authorization response message from an address of an issuer of one of the sponsor accounts in response to the coupon authorization request message, wherein the coupon authorization response message includes an identifier corresponding to eligibility of the coupon for use by the consumer in purchasing items in a transaction with a merchant; and

and sending the coupon authorization response message through the address of the acceptance bank of the merchant for transmission to the address corresponding to the merchant.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by hardware to implement the method of claim 17.