Method and system for merchant processing of purchase card transactions with expanded card type acceptance

Abstract

Systems and methods for merchant processing of purchase card transactions with expanded card type acceptance are provided. For each merchant, a record is maintained of each card type that the merchant accepts, and merchant-specific transaction processing parameters are associated with each card type. During transaction processing, a card type for the transaction is identified from transaction data submitted by the merchant, and the merchant-specific transaction processing parameters associated with the identified card type are used to control transaction processing.

1 - 42 . (canceled)  
     
     
         43 . A system for processing purchase card transactions for a plurality of merchants, comprising: 
 an interface configured to receive transaction data to be processed;    a server configured to perform a transaction processing operation using the transaction data;    a card product data store containing a master card product list, the master card product list defining a plurality of card types and associated merchant-independent processing parameters; and    a merchant master data store containing a merchant card type list for each of the plurality of merchants, each merchant card type list including at least one of the plurality of card types and associated merchant-specific processing parameters,    wherein the server is further configured to use a merchant card type list for a merchant to identify a card type for a purchase card transaction submitted by the merchant and to use the merchant-independent and merchant-specific processing parameters associated with the identified card type to control the transaction processing operation.    
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the merchant-independent processing parameters include: 
 a routing destination parameter identifying a routing destination for transactions; and    a settlement parameter indicating whether an acquirer reimburses merchants for transactions.    
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the merchant-specific transaction processing parameters include: 
 a transaction types parameter indicating which transaction types the merchant is authorized to accept; and    a reimbursement parameter indicating how the merchant is paid for transactions.    
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the master card product list is maintained by an acquirer.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the master card product list is maintained by a third-party provider that provides transaction processing services to a plurality of acquirers, and wherein each merchant is associated with one of the plurality of acquirers.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the card product data store further contains: 
 an acquirer card product list for each acquirer, each acquirer card product list including a subset of the plurality of card types defined in the master card product list.    
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the master card product list includes a first card type and a second card type each corresponding to the same set of purchase cards, the first card type having a first value for the routing destination parameter and the second card type having a second value for the routing destination parameter, the second value being different from the first value.  
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein a first acquirer-level card product list of a first acquirer includes the first card type and not the second card type, and a second acquirer-level card product list of a second acquirer includes the second card type and not the first card type.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the merchant card type list for each merchant includes only card types from the acquirer card product list for the acquirer with which the merchant is associated.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein: 
 the master card product list includes a private label card type corresponding to a private label purchase card issued on behalf of an issuing retailer; and    a first merchant card type list for a first one of the merchants includes the private label card type, wherein the first merchant is not an outlet of the issuing retailer.    
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein a second merchant card type list for a second one of the merchants includes the private label card type, the second merchant being an outlet of the issuing retailer.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 52 , wherein the issuing retailer is associated with a first acquirer and the first merchant is not associated with the first acquirer.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein: 
 at least two of the plurality of card types each correspond to a purchase card, each of the at least two card types having associated therewith a different value for at least one of the merchant-independent transaction processing parameters;    a first merchant card type list for a first one of the plurality of merchants includes a first one of the at least two card types; and    a second merchant card type list for a second one of the plurality of merchants includes a second one of the at least two card types.    
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the purchase card bears a first badge associated with a first card issuing entity and a second badge associated with a second card issuing entity;    the first one of the at least two card types has associated values for the merchant-independent transaction processing parameters that cause the transaction to be processed as a transaction for a card product of the first card issuing entity; and    the second one of the at least two card types has associated values for the merchant-independent transaction processing parameters that cause the transaction to be processed as a transaction for a card product of the second card issuing entity.    
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the card product data store further contains: 
 a default card type list including at least one of the plurality of card types defined in the master card product list, the default card type list further including default values for the merchant-specific processing parameters,    wherein a merchant card type list for a first one of the merchants automatically, includes each card type in the default card type list.    
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the merchant master data store contains a merchant record for each merchant, the merchant record for each merchant including a flag, 
 wherein when the flag is set in the merchant record for a second one of the merchants, the merchant card type list for the second merchant is constructed from card types included in the merchant record without automatically including any card types from the default card type list.    
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the card product data store further includes a plurality of default card type lists and each merchant is associated with one of the plurality of default card type lists.  
     
     
         60 . (canceled)