Electronic system for selecting the best card from a collection of consumer credit, debit, and discount cards

A method, system and computer program product for enabling completion of purchase transactions by retrieving purchase card information from an electronic database of consumer cards and applying the appropriate card to the transaction. The database, managed by a central card authority, stores client account information for cards such as debit, credit, phone, and discount cards, which are accessible via a unique, secure login/access credential, such as a username and password combination. During registration with the central card authority, a client classifies key/important factors to consider when performing purchases. The central card authority is accessed by the client during purchases from a retail facility and/or other purchasing environment. The central card authority automatically selects the best card to utilize during a purchase, after weighing the important purchasing factors related to the credit, debit, phone, and discount cards registered with the central card authority.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to computer systems and in particular to a computer system and associated electronic database for completing consumer transactions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Each day billions of dollars are spent in retail purchases. Department stores, gas stations, online retailers, and grocery stores are primary recipients of these consumer dollars. Recently, perhaps due to personal convenience, safety, and security, a large number of consumers have transitioned away from (or reduced) their use of cash to conduct retail purchases and have increased their use of credit cards and debit cards. Many of these consumers have and utilize multiple different cards in the various retail environments in which these cards may be utilized. These consumers must often juggle the large number of cards and indiscriminately select one card to utilize. Oftentimes, the consumer's selection of a particular card may be made with the consumer completely unaware of the annual percentage rate (APR), monthly interest rates, reward point accumulation, available credit, credit limit, and/or checking account balance (if using a debit card) associated with the card(s) being utilized. Credit cards vary in the interest rate and available credit. Inadvertently spending over the available credit limit or making major purchases with a high interest rate card may be detrimental to the consumer's credit rating or extremely costly in the near future.

In addition to the increased use of credit and debit cards, discount cards and/or store cards are often offered to attract consumers. When utilizing discount cards, the consumer may receive promotional prices, frequent shopper points, and/or coupons for future purchases. Discount cards, also known as shopping/store cards, are distributed by a range of stores such as cosmetic stores, pet stores, grocery stores, whole food stores, etc. Similar to credit cards, discount cards are often small, plastic cards issued by the retailer, and much like regular credit and debit cards, these discount cards are often utilized with the consumer being unaware of specific characteristics of the card, which may be helpful when determining whether or not to utilize the card to complete a retail transaction.

There are several problems associated with or that may arise from the use of credit, debit, and discount cards. For example, consumers typically carry a large number of their credit, debit, and discount cards with them, which makes for a cumbersome wallet/purse. Carrying multiple cards may increase the possibility that a consumer may utilize the wrong card leading to higher interest rates on purchases or perhaps a fee for going over the credit limit. Additionally, carrying credit cards and discount cards on one's person makes the cards more likely to be lost or stolen, providing an opportunity for person finding or stealing the card to make unauthorized purchases until the loss/theft is discovered and reported by the consumer. Further, once the loss/theft occurs, the consumer is left without a mechanism to make purchases, particularly when the consumer does not have any cash or access to a bank account. Also, carrying multiple cards may increase the chance of losing one of the cards without realizing that the card has been lost or misplaced. Again, when a card is misplaced or lost without the knowledge of the consumer, the card may be found and utilized by an unauthorized party.

SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Disclosed are a method, system and computer program product for enabling completion of financial purchase transactions by retrieving purchase card information from an electronic database of consumer cards and applying the appropriate card to the transaction. The database, managed by a central card authority, stores client account information for cards such as debit, credit, phone, and discount cards, which are accessible via a unique, secure login/access credential, such as a username and password combination. During registration with the central card authority, a client (e.g., a card owner) classifies key/important factors to consider when performing purchases. The central card authority is accessed by the client during purchases from a retail facility and/or other purchasing environment (e.g., the Internet, doctor's office, movie theatre, etc.). The central card authority automatically selects the best card to utilize during a purchase, after weighing the important purchasing factors related to the credit, debit, phone, and discount cards registered with the central card authority.

In one embodiment, a consumer's credit, debit, and discount cards are registered with the central card authority. A questionnaire is completed, which allows the consumer to select the most important factors for consideration during credit card use, ranging from least importance to greatest importance. For instance, the consumer may select the credit card interest rate as the most important factor in card usage, while the consumer selects the accumulation of reward points as the least important factor in card usage.

In one embodiment, the consumer utilizes a form of identification (identification card, finger print, pin number, etc.) that is required to access the consumer database and retrieve card information from the database. The consumer database may exist on a server controlled by the central card authority. When completing a purchase transaction, the consumer submits the unique credential information as the consumer's identification to a local computer system, and the local computer system then retrieves the credit or debit card information from the central card authority server. A software application executing at the server automatically selects the best card for the purchase, according to information previously submitted.

In one embodiment, the consumer has the option of overriding the use of the card selected by the card authority. When the consumer is presented the “best” card for utilization during the purchase (in progress), the consumer may refuse to utilize the card and select a different purchasing card from the cards that have been previously registered with the central card authority. Each of the relevant cards (credit, debit, phone, discount, etc.) registered with the central card authority by the customer are displayed within a graphical user interface. The customer may then select from among the displayed cards, overriding the automatically selected purchasing card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The illustrative embodiments provide a method, system and computer program product for enabling completion of financial purchase transactions by retrieving purchase card information from an electronic database of consumer cards and applying the appropriate card to the transaction. The database, managed by a central card authority, stores client account information for cards such as debit, credit, phone, and discount cards, which are accessible via a unique, secure login/access credential, such as a username and password combination. During registration with the central card authority, a client (e.g., a card owner) classifies key/important factors to consider when performing purchases. The central card authority is accessed by the client during purchases from a retail facility and/or other purchasing environment (e.g., the Internet, doctor's office, movie theatre, etc.). The central card authority automatically selects the best card to utilize during a purchase, after weighing the important purchasing factors related to the credit, debit, phone, and discount cards registered with the central card authority.

Within the descriptions of the figures, similar elements are provided similar names and reference numerals as those of the previous figure(s). Where a later figure utilizes the element in a different context or with different functionality, the element is provided a different leading numeral representative of the figure number (e.g.,1xxforFIGS. 1 and 2xxforFIG. 2). The specific numerals assigned to the elements are provided solely to aid in the description and not meant to imply any limitations (structural or functional) on the invention.

With reference now to the figures,FIG. 1depicts a block diagram representation of a data processing system (and connected network), which may provide the functionality of a central card authority or a client device utilized to access the central card authority, depending on the software being executed thereon. Data processing system (DPS)100comprises at least one processor or central processing unit (CPU)105connected to system memory115via system interconnect/bus110. Also connected to system bus110is I/O controller120, which provides connectivity and control for input devices, of which pointing device (or mouse)125and keyboard127are illustrated, and output devices, of which display129is illustrated. Additionally, a multimedia drive128(e.g., CDRW or DVD drive) and USB (universal serial bus) hub126are illustrated, coupled to I/O controller120. Multimedia drive128and USB hub126may operate as both input and output (storage) mechanisms.

DPS100also comprises storage117, within which data/instructions/code may be stored. Database180is maintained within storage117. In one embodiment, database180may be a separate device that is not associated with storage117. DPS100is also illustrated with a network interface device (NID)150, with which DPS100connects to one or more servers165or distributed client devices195via an access network170, such as the Internet. Network170may provide connection to distributed client devices195, which may be individual, location-fixed or portable computer devices utilized to register consumers to central card authority or manage consumer accounts hosted at the central card authority or access consumer information at the central card authority during a purchasing transaction.

In the described embodiments, network170may be a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that utilize the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. Of course, network access may also be provided via a number of different types of networks, such as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), or other wide area network (WAN) other than the Internet, for example.

Notably, in addition to the above described hardware components of DPS100, various features of the invention are completed via software (or firmware) code or logic stored within system memory115or other storage (e.g., storage117) and executed by CPU105. Thus, illustrated within memory115are a number of software/firmware components, including operating system (OS) 130 (e.g., Microsoft Windows®, a trademark of Microsoft Corp, GNU®/Linux®, registered trademarks of the Free Software Foundation and The Linux Mark Institute, or Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX)®, a registered trademark of IBM), applications135, and customer card selection (CCS) utility140. In actual implementation, applications135and CCS utility140may be combined as a single application collectively providing the various functions of each individual software component when the corresponding code is executed by the CPU105. For simplicity, CCS utility140is illustrated and described as a stand alone or separate software/firmware component, which provides specific functions, as described below.

CPU105executes CCS utility140as well as OS130, which supports the user interface features of CCS utility140. In the illustrative embodiment, CCS utility140generates/provides several graphical user interfaces (GUI) to enable user interaction with, or manipulation of, the functional features of the utility (140). Among the software code/instructions provided by CCS utility140, and which are specific to the invention, are: (a) code for creating and maintaining a database (180) of consumer card information linked to a central card authority; (b) code for enabling consumer setup and/or update of user accounts with unique login credential data and relevant card selection information; (c) code for receiving requests for completing a financial transaction (e.g., purchasing) using the central card authority; (d) code for authenticating a customer and retrieving relevant customer information to select a best card for completing the financial transaction; (e) code for finalizing purchases utilizing the central card authority; (f) code for activating a distress-call response. For simplicity of the description, the collective body of code that enables these various features is referred to herein as CCS utility140. According to the illustrative embodiment, when CPU105executes CCS utility140, DPS100initiates a series of functional processes that enable the above functional features as well as additional features/functionality, which are described below within the description ofFIGS. 2-8.

As further provided herein, certain features of the invention are implemented at a server-level central card authority that is accessed by local customer devices (such as in a retail establishment) via a network, such as the internet. These local customer devices support the user interface features by which the consumer interacts with the central card authority. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the central card authority is a local server or computer that displays a user interface that is generated by the local execution of CCS utility on the server/computer.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware and basic configuration depicted inFIG. 1may vary. For example, other devices/components may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with respect to the present invention. The data processing system depicted inFIG. 1may be, for example, an IBM eServer pSeries system, a product of International Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the AIX operating system or LINUX operating system.

With reference now toFIG. 2, there is illustrated a network220having a plurality of network-connected servers, including central card authority server200, retail server230, and local server240, each connected to Internet212. Several distributed computer systems may exist in network220, including client computer218, client laptop208, and retail computer228, as well as network computers210. Customer ID recognition unit216is linked to client computers228and network computers210. Customer ID recognition unit216may be connected via an external connection point such as an application programming interface (API). The API permits a small hand held scanner (such as customer ID recognition unit216) to be plugged in or wirelessly linked to client computers228and network computers210. Network220also includes portable handheld computer207, such as a Palm Pilot (manufactured by 3 Com) or a smart phone, which may be linked to local server240. Customer ID recognition unit216may also be connected to a portable device, such as client laptop208and/or portable handheld computer207.

In one embodiment, central card authority server200may exist at the credit card authority company site. At the credit card authority site, a computer, similar to DPS100(FIG. 1), is utilized to register consumers, and the consumer's credit card information is entered into a database (180). Database180of central card authority server200operates as the primary storage location for the database of the consumer's card information and other information utilized in selecting a best card for use in a particular environment.

Retail server230may retrieve information from central card authority server200via Internet212when requested by a customer. Retail server230is located within a retail environment, such as a department store, grocery store, etc., in which customers purchase items. Retail environments contain retail computer228and/or network computers210, which are computerized purchasing registers. Retail computer228and network computers210may be equipped with customer ID recognition unit216for accessing a customer's credit, debit, phone, and/or discount card information or for triggering a distress call.

In one embodiment, a customer is identified utilizing customer ID recognition unit216connected to retail computer228. Retail computer228receives the authorized credential (and/or identification) of the customer, such as a fingerprint, scan card, pin number, and identifier (ID) and password combination input, for example, obtained via customer ID recognition unit216. The customer identification and/or credential is transmitted to retail server230, and then forwarded to main network server (200). When the customer's identification is verified, the requested information is downloaded to retail server230. A GUI is dynamically displayed on customer ID recognition unit216. The GUI allows the customer to utilize the credit card (or other payment method) automatically selected by the credit card authority (i.e., CCS utility) or to select another card that is registered with the customer's identification in the central card authority database.

As illustrated, local server240may obtain access to central card authority server200via Internet212. In one embodiment, client computer218, client laptop208, and/or portable handheld device207are utilized to access central card authority server200via local server240and Internet212to upload customer information. When shopping in a web-based retail environment, Internet212displays a secure website for purchasing items. A web browser GUI, provided by central card authority server200of the central card authority, is displayed. The customer may enter a form of identification and/or password to obtain access to the purchasing information on the database of central card authority server200. Following validation of the entered identification, the customer gains access to the customer profile linked to the entered identification. A card, which is selected by the central card authority according to information provided by the customer (via a registration and update process described below), is displayed on customer ID recognition unit216. The customer may then utilize the selected card, or override the automated selection, as described below.

FIG. 3illustrates consumer card selection GUI300. Consumer card selection GUI300allows a consumer to enter registration information for each of multiple cards and rank the most important factors in credit, debit, phone, and discount card usage. Prior to ranking the card factors, a consumer may register personal information. To enter personal information, consumer card selection GUI300comprises the fields of customer name entry302, card account entries304, user ID entry306, and password entry308. Consumer card selection GUI300also includes ranking number303, which may be a drop down menu of numbers that link to specific, named card factors330a-f. Card factors330a-fare features of credit, debit, and/or phone cards to consider when deciding whether to utilize the particular card. When the factors have been ranked to the consumer's satisfaction, the consumer engages save313to store the results in the customer database. Additional selections are provided to the user within consumer card selection GUI300. Edit315allows the consumer to revise any previously saved information. Help319may be engaged to further explain card factors330, and exit317is utilized to close consumer card selection GUI300before and/or after saving.

In one embodiment, a client registers online with a central card authority or registers at a central card authority site. When registering, the client completes the fields of name entry302, card account entry304, user ID entry306, and password entry308. Card account entry304, allows a client to input information regarding the purchasing card or discount card, that will link the central card authority system to the card company. CCS utility140(FIG. 1) is then capable of tracking interest rates, credit limits, available credit, reward points, current account balance, and other information associated with the specific card(s). Tracking account information allows CCS utility140to consider each of these factors when automatically selecting the “best” card to utilize for customer purchases.

In one embodiment, to automatically select the best card for completing a purchase, CCS utility140makes a number of comparisons. The comparisons are dependent on the client classification of card factors330. In the illustrative embodiment, the client orders card factors330a-ffrom least important to most important from consumer card selection GUI300. For each purchase or financial transaction that utilizes the central card authority, CCS utility140analyzes the classified factors for each purchasing card, and makes the best selection based on the analysis of ordered card factors330a-f. Other factors or classification techniques may be provided in other embodiments, and the classifications may be ties to the type of financial transaction that is being undertaken at the time. For example, a credit card may be selected above a debit card at a doctor's office. Also a first debit/credit card is selected at a particular retailer (e.g., AMEX card at COSTCO), and a second debit/credit card is selected at a cash disbursement machine (perhaps one without fees for cash withdrawal transactions).

Cards registered with the central card authority may be utilized to make purchases, withdraw money, apply discounts, and other such transactions.FIG. 4illustrates one embodiment in which CCS purchasing GUI400provides a selection of best card402(i.e., the card that is dynamically selected by CCS utility140) from among the multiple additional cards410-418. CCS purchasing GUI400also comprises selections override404, proceed406, and cancel408. Within CCS purchasing GUI400, credit card410, override card412, panic card414, discount card416, store card418, and second credit card420may be selected during a purchase if override404is engaged by the client. In one embodiment, discount card416is displayed with a shaded background, illustrating the discount is automatically applied, unless otherwise instructed by the client.

In one embodiment, best card402is automatically selected by CCS utility140. Override404is engaged by the client to overrule the card selection. After override404is engaged, the client may manually select the card of preference. Each card registered with the card authority is displayed; however, only the card name is displayed to identify the card. In one embodiment, panic card414may be selected to dynamically alert the police or security authorities when a client is in a panic situation, such as when being forced to make a purchase or withdraw money. After the card of interest has been selected, proceed406may be engaged to continue the purchasing process.

FIG. 5illustrates final purchasing GUI500. In one embodiment, final purchasing GUI500displays the cards selected for purchasing, namely override card512and discount card516. The client may complete the purchase by engaging Yes522. If No524is engaged, the display will return to CCS purchasing GUI400, without completing the purchase. Cancel508terminates the purchase without completing the process.

FIGS. 6-8are flow charts illustrating various methods by which the above processes of the illustrative embodiments are completed. Specifically, the method ofFIG. 6relates to information provided byFIG. 3. The method ofFIG. 7relates to the process of retrieving customer information from the central card authority prior to a purchase.FIG. 8illustrates the process of retrieving customer information from the central card authority during a purchase request. Although the methods illustrated inFIGS. 6-8may be described with reference to components shown inFIGS. 1-5, it should be understood that this is merely for convenience and alternative components and/or configurations thereof can be employed when implementing the various methods. Key portions of the methods may be completed by CCS utility140executing within DPS100(FIG. 1) and controlling specific operations on DPS100which is an example central card authority server (200), and the methods are thus described from the perspective of both CCS utility140and DPS100or central card authority server200.

The process ofFIG. 6begins at initiator block600and proceeds to block602, at which the consumer registration is initiated. Initiating consumer registration with the central card authority may consist of displaying a GUI such as consumer card selection GUI300(FIG. 3). At block604the client's name, user ID, and password are received by CCS utility140(FIG. 3). Card information such as account number and account information is inputted for each card to be available through the central card authority, at block606. At block608, the classification of important factors to consider is received. Prior to storing the client registration information, the client data is protected, at block610, possibly through encryption. The information is then stored on a customer database at block614. The customer database is linked to a central server (central card authority server) at block614, to be accessed by the client during purchasing. The process ends at block616.

TheFIG. 7flow chart begins with block700where an attempt is made to access the central card authority server. The user's login credentials (e.g., user ID and password) are received at block702. Before access to a client's account is granted, the user ID and password is validated. Therefore a decision is made at block704, whether the user ID and password entered are valid. If the user ID and password are not valid, the process returns to block702, where the user ID and password may be re-entered or blocked after a certain number of tries, to protect the customer database against forced cracking via trial and error. If the user ID and password are valid, the process continues to block706. At block706, the customer information is retrieved from the central card authority server.

After accessing the customer information from the central card authority server at block706, the customer's purchasing information is linked with the retail store (or retail environment) at block708. Linking the customer information with the retail store or retail environment is necessary in case a particular card should not be utilized with a particular store or environment, or if discounts are available at the retail store through a customer's stored discount cards. At block710, a decision is made whether a discount card is available within the customer's account (at the central card authority server). If the discount card is available, the discount card is applied. Otherwise the process continues toFIG. 8, as indicated at block714.

The process ofFIG. 8begins at block800. At block802the automated purchasing card selection is performed by CCS utility140on the central card authority server. The selected purchasing card is displayed, at block804, within CCS purchasing GUI400(FIG. 4). A decision is made at block806, whether the customer selects the option to proceed with the purchasing process. If an input is received to proceed, the purchase is completed at block820. If an input is not received to proceed, a decision is made at block808, whether the user has selected the override option to override the choice for “best” purchasing card made by CCS utility140. If a decision to override is not received, then a decision is made at block809whether to cancel the transaction. If the decision to cancel is selected, the process is cancelled at block810, and the process ends at block812.

If the decision to cancel is not selected, the graphical user interface continues to display the account information. However, the account access may time out after an specified period of time has elapsed without user input.

If an input is received to override the automated purchasing card selection, then the process continues to block814at which a manual card selection is received. At block816, a decision is made whether the manual card selection received is a panic card. If the card selection received at block814is a panic card, the CCS utility triggers the generation of an alert at block818. In one embodiment, the alert is forwarded to pre-programmed authorities (retail security team, police, etc.), who are alerted of the location of the panic card selection, customer name, and other relevant information. If a panic card is not selected, the process continues to block820where the purchase is completed utilizing the card selected. Then the process ends at block812.

In the flow charts above, one or more of the methods are embodied in a computer readable medium containing computer readable code such that a series of steps are performed when the computer readable code is executed on a computing device. In some implementations, certain steps of the methods are combined, performed simultaneously or in a different order, or perhaps omitted, without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, while the method steps are described and illustrated in a particular sequence, use of a specific sequence of steps is not meant to imply any limitations on the invention. Changes may be made with regards to the sequence of steps without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Use of a particular sequence is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

As will be further appreciated, the processes in embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using any combination of software, firmware or hardware. As a preparatory step to practicing the invention in software, the programming code (whether software or firmware) will typically be stored in one or more machine readable storage mediums such as fixed (hard) drives, diskettes, optical disks, magnetic tape, semiconductor memories such as ROMs, PROMs, etc., thereby making an article of manufacture in accordance with the invention. The article of manufacture containing the programming code is used by either executing the code directly from the storage device, by copying the code from the storage device into another storage device such as a hard disk, RAM, etc., or by transmitting the code for remote execution using transmission type media such as digital and analog communication links. The methods of the invention may be practiced by combining one or more machine-readable storage devices containing the code according to the present invention with appropriate processing hardware to execute the code contained therein. An apparatus for practicing the invention could be one or more processing devices and storage systems containing or having network access to program(s) coded in accordance with the invention.

Thus, it is important that while an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is described in the context of a fully functional computer (server) system with installed (or executed) software, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the software aspects of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of media used to actually carry out the distribution. By way of example, a non exclusive list of types of media, includes recordable type (tangible) media such as floppy disks, thumb drives, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, DVDs, and transmission type media such as digital and analogue communication links.