Transaction flows and transaction processing for bridged payment systems

Abstract

In operating a payment card account transaction acquirer computer, a transaction request message is received from a merchant. The message represents a purchase transaction accepted by the merchant. The transaction request message is in a format required by a payment card account system. The message includes an indication that funds corresponding to the purchase transaction are to be transferred to a bank account to benefit the merchant via an EFT system. The indication is detected by the payment card account transaction acquirer computer. That computer stores a record of the purchase transaction. In response to the detection of the indication, a flag is set in the record. The flag indicates that the record is not to be submitted for clearing in the payment card account system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a payment card account transaction acquirer computer, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the payment card account transaction acquirer computer, a transaction request message from a merchant, the transaction request message representing a purchase transaction accepted by the merchant, the transaction request message in a format required by a payment card account system, the transaction request message including an indication that funds corresponding to the purchase transaction are to be transferred to a bank account to benefit the merchant via an EFT (electronic funds transfer) system;   detecting said indication by the payment card account transaction acquirer computer;   storing, by the payment card account transaction acquirer computer, a record of the purchase transaction, said storing including, in response to said detecting step, setting a flag in said record, said flag indicating that the payment card account transaction acquirer computer is not to submit said record for clearing in the payment card account system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EFT system is an ACH (automated clearing house) system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction request message includes a payment token. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the payment token is in a format for payment card account numbers in the payment card account system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the payment token includes a BIN (bank identification number) portion, said BIN portion of the payment token being said indication.   
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a payment card account system, the method comprising:
 receiving, in a payment card account system computer, a transaction request message, the transaction request message related to a purchase transaction performed by a customer and a merchant point of sale;   routing the transaction request message for payment to benefit the merchant from a deposit bank account of the customer via an EFT (electronic funds transfer) system;   receiving confirmation of said payment;   receiving, from a payment card account transaction acquirer computer, a clearing request message, said clearing request message requesting to include said purchase transaction in a payment card account system clearing process; and   excluding said purchase transaction from said payment card account system.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the clearing request message is received by a payment card account system clearing computer; and   in determining to exclude said purchase transaction from said payment card account system clearing process, said payment card account system clearing computer refers to a BIN (bank identification number) portion of an account indicator associated with the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the clearing request message is received by a payment card account system clearing computer; and   in determining to exclude said purchase transaction from said payment card account system clearing process, said payment card account system clearing computer refers to a transaction record stored at a time when said confirmation of said payment was received.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said EFT system is an ACH (automated clearing house) system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 transmitting a message to said payment card account transaction acquirer computer to indicate that said purchase transaction has been excluded from said payment card account system clearing process.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said payment to benefit the merchant is routed via the EFT system to a bank account owned by the merchant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said payment to benefit the merchant is routed via the EFT system to a pooled account at an acquirer bank that provides services to the merchant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said payment to benefit the merchant is routed via an EFT system switch. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 initiating a transaction at a card acceptance terminal, said initiating including receipt of payment credentials;   evaluating the payment credentials at a merchant system;   determining an originator payment services provider (O-PSP) at the merchant system;   building a transaction request message at the merchant system;   submitting the transaction request message from the merchant system to the O-PSP;   evaluating the transaction request message at the O-PSP;   authenticating consumer credentials at the O-PSP;   debiting a consumer's account in response to the O-PSP;   determining a transaction routing path at a payment network;   routing a transaction message from the payment network to a beneficiary payment services provider (B-PSP);   evaluating the transaction message at the B-PSP;   checking validity of a beneficiary account at the B-PSP;   posting the transaction against the beneficiary account;   returning a response message from the B-PSP to the O-PSP via the payment network; and   returning the response message from the O-PSP to at least one of the merchant system and the card acceptance terminal.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the payment network is an EFT (electronic funds transfer) network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the payment network is an ACH (automated clearing house) network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the card acceptance terminal is a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the initiating of the transaction includes reading a payment card account system card at the POS terminal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the response message is returned to the POS terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the response message is returned to the merchant system.