Patent ID: 7848977
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a purchase card transaction, comprising: receiving a transaction request at a processing system from a point-of-sale device of a first merchant, wherein the processing system is comprised of at least one computer system, at least one storage system, and at least one switch; evaluating, by the processing system, at least a portion of the account identifier; recognizing, by the processing system, that the account identifier relates to the issuer and does not relate to the first merchant; routing the transaction request to a cross-shopping platform of the processing system; standardizing, by the processing system, a format of the transaction request; using, by the processing system, the transaction request to identify rules relating to the first merchant and the issuer; and processing, by the processing system, the transaction request according to the rules; routing, by the processing system, at least a portion of the transaction request to the issuer, wherein routing at least the portion of the transaction request to the issuer comprises sending the transaction request to a processing platform of the issuer, thereby avoiding an interchange network; and facilitating, by the processing system, a payment from the issuer to the first merchant according to terms mutually agreed upon by the issuer and first merchant.