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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for bridging transactions between electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment networks and payment card networks. In an embodiment, a process includes a gateway computer receiving a transaction message that includes a token and content, determining that at least one business rule applies which concerns routing of the transaction, and based on the business rule and the content selecting a routing decision to one of route the transaction to a payment card account system or route the transaction to an electronic funds transfer (EFT) system. The process also includes the gateway computer translating the token into a payment card account number (PAN) when the routing decision is to route the transaction to a payment card system, or translating the token into a bank deposit account number when the routing decision is to route the transaction to an EFT system. A second transaction message is then transmitted to the payment card system that includes the PAN when the payment card system is selected or is transmitted to the EFT system that includes the bank deposit account number when the EFT system is selected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of bridging transactions between electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment networks and payment card networks comprising:
 receiving, by a gateway computer, a transaction message associated with a transaction, wherein the transaction message comprises a token and content, and wherein the content comprises at least a bank identification number (BIN) range, a transaction amount and a merchant identifier;   determining, by the gateway computer based on the merchant identifier, that at least one business rule applies which concerns routing of the transaction;   selecting, by the gateway computer based on the at least one business rule and the content, a routing decision comprising a decision to one of route the transaction to a payment card account system or route the transaction to an electronic funds transfer (EFT) system;   translating, by the gateway computer when the routing decision is to route the transaction to a payment card system, the token into a payment card account number (PAN);   translating, by the gateway computer number when the routing decision is to route the transaction to an EFT system, the token into a bank deposit account number; and   transmitting, by the gateway computer, a second transaction message comprising the PAN to the payment card system when the payment card system is selected or a second transaction message comprising the bank deposit account number to the EFT system when the EFT system is selected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receiving the transaction request message for a transaction:
 receiving, by the gateway computer, at least one business rule concerning routing of transaction request messages; and 
 storing, by the gateway computer, the at least one business rule. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transaction request message is received from one of an acquirer computer or an originator payment services provider (PSP) computer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that minimizes transaction execution time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising, prior to selecting a routing decision:
 receiving, by the gateway computer, data associated with at least one of current conditions and prevailing conditions in the payment card account system and in the EFT system; and   determining, by the gateway computer based on the data, which one of the payment card account system or the EFT system provides faster transaction completion.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that at least one of minimizes merchant transaction fees and that achieves business goals of at least one of account issuers, merchants, and system operators. 
     
     
         7 . A gateway computer comprising:
 a gateway processor;   a communication device operably connected to the gateway processor; and   a storage device operably connected to the gateway processor, wherein the storage device stores processor-executable instructions which when executed cause the gateway processor to:
 receive a transaction message associated with a transaction, wherein the transaction message comprises a token and content, and wherein the content comprises at least a bank identification number (BIN) range, a transaction amount and a merchant identifier; 
 determine, based on the merchant identifier, that at least one business rule applies which concerns routing of the transaction; 
 select, based on the at least one business rule and the content, a routing decision comprising a decision to one of route the transaction to a payment card account system or route the transaction to an electronic funds transfer (EFT) system; 
 translate, when the routing decision is to route the transaction to a payment card system, the token into a payment card account number (PAN); 
 translate, when the routing decision is to route the transaction to an EFT system, the token into a bank deposit account number; and 
 transmit a second transaction message comprising the PAN to the payment card system when the payment card system is selected or a second transaction message comprising the bank deposit account number to the EFT system when the EFT system is selected. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the storage device stores further instructions, prior to the instructions for receiving the transaction request message, which when executed cause the gateway processor to:
 receive at least one business rule concerning routing of transaction request messages; and   store the at least one business rule.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that minimizes transaction execution time. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the storage device stores further instructions, prior to the instructions for selecting a routing decision, which when executed cause the gateway processor to:
 receive data associated with at least one of current conditions and prevailing conditions in the payment card account system and in the EFT system; and   determine, based on the data, which one of the payment card account system or the EFT system provides faster transaction completion.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that at least one of minimizes merchant transaction fees and that achieves business goals of at least one of account issuers, merchants and system operators. 
     
     
         12 . A method of bridging transactions between electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment networks and payment card networks comprising:
 receiving, by a gateway computer, a transaction message associated with a transaction, wherein the transaction message comprises a token and content, and wherein the content comprises at least a bank identification number (BIN) range, a transaction amount and a merchant identifier;   determining, by the gateway computer based on the BIN range, that at least one business rule applies which concerns routing of the transaction;   translating, by the gateway computer, the token into a payment card account number (PAN) and into a bank deposit account number;   selecting, by the gateway computer based on the at least one business rule and the content, a routing decision comprising a decision to one of route the transaction to a payment card system or to route the transaction to an electronic funds transfer (EFT) system; and   transmitting, by the gateway computer, one of a second transaction message comprising the PAN to the payment card system when the payment card system is selected or a second transaction message comprising the bank deposit account number to the EFT system when the EFT system is selected.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising, prior to receiving the transaction request message for a transaction:
 receiving, by the gateway computer, at least one business rule concerning routing of transaction request messages; and 
 storing, by the gateway computer, the at least one business rule. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that minimizes transaction execution time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, prior to selecting a routing decision:
 receiving, by the gateway computer, data associated with at least one of current and prevailing conditions in the payment card account system and in the EFT system; and   determining, by the gateway computer based on the data, which one of the payment card account system or the EFT system provides faster transaction completion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that comprises at least one of minimizing merchant transaction fees and achieving business goals of at least one of account issuers, merchants, and system operators. 
     
     
         17 . A gateway computer comprising:
 a gateway processor;   a communication device operably connected to the gateway processor; and   a storage device operably connected to the gateway processor, wherein the storage device stores processor-executable instructions which when executed cause the gateway processor to:
 receive a transaction message associated with a transaction, wherein the transaction message comprises a token and content, and wherein the content comprises at least a bank identification number (BIN) range, a transaction amount and a merchant identifier; 
 determine, based on the BIN range, that at least one business rule applies which concerns routing of the transaction; 
 translate the token into a payment card account number (PAN) and into a bank deposit account number; 
 select, based on the at least one business rule and the content, a routing decision comprising a decision to one of route the transaction to a payment card system or to route the transaction to an electronic funds transfer (EFT) system; and 
 transmit one of a second transaction message comprising the PAN to the payment card system when the payment card system is selected or a second transaction message comprising the bank deposit account number to the EFT system when the EFT system is selected. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the storage device further comprises instructions, prior to the instructions for receiving the transaction request message for a transaction, which when executed cause the gateway processor to:
 receive at least one business rule concerning routing of transaction request messages; and 
 store the at least one business rule. 
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that minimizes transaction execution time. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the storage device includes further instructions, prior to the instructions for selecting a routing decision, which when executed cause the gateway processor to:
 receive data associated with at least one of current and prevailing conditions in the payment card account system and in the EFT system; and   determine, based on the data, which one of the payment card account system or the EFT system provides faster transaction completion.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the business rule calls for routing the transaction in a manner that comprises at least one of minimizing merchant transaction fees and achieving business goals of at least one of account issuers, merchants, and system operators.