Systems and methods for bridging transactions between eft payment networks and payment card networks

Abstract

A method of operating a payment network bridging computer includes receiving a first transaction request message in the payment network bridging computer. The first transaction request message includes a first addressing indicator that represents a funding account. The first addressing indicator is of a type used in a payment card account system. The method also includes translating the first addressing indicator to a second addressing indicator. The second addressing indicator being of a type used in an EFT system. The method further includes transmitting a second transaction request message from the payment network bridging computer. The second transaction request message includes the second addressing indicator. The second addressing indicator represents the funding account.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a payment network bridging computer, the method comprising:
 receiving, in the payment network bridging computer, a first transaction request message, the first transaction request message including a first addressing indicator that represents a funding account, the first addressing indicator being of a first type used in a payment card account system;   translating the first addressing indicator to a second addressing indicator, the second addressing indicator being of a second type used in an EFT (electronic funds transfer) system, the second type in a different format from the first type; and   transmitting, from the payment network bridging computer, a second transaction request message, the second transaction request message including the second addressing indicator, the second addressing indicator representing the funding account.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second transaction request message is transmitted by the payment network bridging computer to the EFT system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first transaction request message is received by the payment network bridging computer from the payment card account system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first addressing indicator is in a format defined for payment card account numbers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second addressing indicator is a bank deposit account number. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the funding account is a bank deposit account owned by the account holder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second transaction request messages relate to a purchase transaction initiated by the account holder at a merchant's point of sale. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first addressing indicator is a payment token that was provisioned to the account holder. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the payment token was provisioned in digital form to a mobile device owned by the account holder. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the payment token was provisioned to the account holder on a plastic payment card. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EFT system is an ACH (automated clearing house) system. 
     
     
         12 . A method of bridging transactions between a payment card account network and an EFT (electronic funds transfer) network, the method comprising:
 converting transaction messages at a presentation layer from a programming language used for payment card account transaction messages to a programming language used in EFT transaction messages;   converting the transaction messages at an application layer between a first standard message format used in payment card account transaction messages to a second standard message format used in EFT transaction messages;   referring to a data dictionary to map business fields from the first standard message format to the second standard message format;   decrypting and encrypting at least some data elements during conversion of the transaction messages; and   managing digital signatures to authenticate converted transaction messages.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the decrypted and encrypted at least some data elements include PIN (personal identification number) blocks in the payment card account transaction messages. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the converting steps, the step of referring to the data dictionary, the decrypting and encrypting step and the step of managing digital signatures are all performed at a gateway computer that is in communication with the payment card account network and the EFT network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the EFT network is an ACH (automated clearing house) network. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a transaction message switching computer, the transaction message switching computer in communication with a payment card account system and an EFT (electronic funds transfer) system, the method comprising:
 storing at least one business rule in the transaction message switching computer;   receiving a transaction request message;   based on (a) content of the received transaction request message and (b) said stored at least one business rule, selecting one of the payment card account system and the EFT system; and   routing the transaction request message to the selected one of the payment card account system and the EFT system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the EFT system is an ACH (automated clearing house) system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the received transaction request message includes a payment token. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 translating the payment token into one of a deposit bank account number and a payment card account number in accordance with a result of the selecting step.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the payment token is in a format defined for payment card account numbers in the payment card account system.