Integrated prepaid system and method
View Patent ↗An integrated prepaid system is provided. The integrated prepaid system includes a communication interface configured to receive a prepaid card transaction. The integrated prepaid system further includes a processing system configured to translate the prepaid card transaction, validate the prepaid card transaction, select an appropriate transaction rule set, and select an appropriate processing routine. The processing system can perform a PIN sponsor prepaid card refresh, perform a PIN gratis prepaid card refresh, perform a PIN suspension, perform a prepaid card expiration date inquiry, and perform a prepaid card expiration date extension.
1. An integrated prepaid system, comprising:
a communication interface configured to receive a prepaid card transaction in two or more protocols; and
a processing system configured to translate the prepaid card transaction into a predetermined protocol, validate the prepaid card transaction, select an appropriate transaction rule set for the prepaid card transaction, select an appropriate processing routine as determined by the transaction rule set, perform a PIN sponsor prepaid card refresh if specified by the transaction rule set, perform a PIN gratis prepaid card refresh for promotional purposes if specified by the transaction rule set, perform a PIN suspension if specified by the transaction rule set, perform a prepaid card expiration date inquiry if specified by the transaction rule set, and perform a prepaid card expiration date extension if specified by the transaction rule set;
wherein the transaction rule set comprises rules specifying how transactions are to be processed by the processing system.
2. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , with the integrated prepaid system being configured to be accessed by a prepaid card cardholder, a prepaid card sponsor, or a prepaid card account provider.
3. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a computer network.
4. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a telephone network.
5. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a telephone network and with a voice recognition unit (VRU) resident in the telephone network.
6. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a POS terminal.
7. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a service processor in communication with a plurality of POS terminals.
8. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a PIN activation and a PIN deactivation.
9. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a PIN in-store refresh.
10. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a PIN in-store refresh refund.
11. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a balance inquiry.
12. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , wherein the integrated prepaid system is configured to receive and perform a hybrid prepaid card account transaction comprising two or more prepaid card account actions.
13. The integrated prepaid system of claim 1 , with the processing system further comprising:
a protocol-to-protocol handler that is configured to receive the prepaid card transaction in a first protocol;
a translation utility in communication with the protocol-to-protocol handler, with the translation utility being configured to translate the prepaid card transaction from the first protocol into a predetermined protocol;
a processing server in communication with the translation utility, with the processing server being configured to receive the incoming, translated prepaid card transaction, determine an appropriate transaction rule set for the prepaid card transaction, retrieve the transaction rule set from a rules database, process the prepaid card transaction with the transaction rule set, generate one or more prepaid card account actions to be performed, and communicate the one or more prepaid card account actions to a forwarding server; and
the forwarding server in communication with the processing server, with the forwarding server being configured to communicate the one or more prepaid card account actions to one or more prepaid card processing entities which perform the one or more prepaid card account actions.
14. An integrated prepaid system method, comprising:
receiving a prepaid card transaction in an integrated prepaid system in two or more protocols;
translating the prepaid card transaction into a predetermined protocol;
validating the prepaid card transaction;
selecting an appropriate transaction rule set for the prepaid card transaction;
selecting an appropriate processing routine as determined by the transaction rule set;
performing a PIN sponsor prepaid card refresh if specified by the transaction rule set;
performing a PIN gratis prepaid card refresh for promotional purposes if specified by the transaction rule set;
performing a PIN suspension if specified by the transaction rule set;
performing a prepaid card expiration date inquiry if specified by the transaction rule set; and
performing a prepaid card expiration date extension if specified by the transaction rule set;
wherein the transaction rule set comprises rules specifying how transactions are to be processed by the processing routine.
15. The method of claim 14 , with the integrated prepaid system being configured to be accessed by a prepaid card cardholder, a prepaid card sponsor, or a prepaid card account provider.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a computer network.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a telephone network.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a telephone network and with a voice recognition unit (VRU) resident in the telephone network.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a POS terminal.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a service processor in communication with a plurality of POS terminals.
21. The method of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a PIN activation and a PIN deactivation.
22. The method of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a PIN in-store refresh.
23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a PIN in-store refresh refund.
24. The method of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is further configured to perform a balance inquiry.
25. The method of claim 14 , wherein the integrated prepaid system is configured to receive and perform a hybrid prepaid card account transaction comprising two or more prepaid card account actions.