Patent Publication Number: US-RE43157-E

Title: System and method for reassociating an account number to another transaction account

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Reissue of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/710,484 (filed Jul. 14, 2004), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,157 (issued Jan. 31, 2006); the &#39;484 application itself is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. Ser. No. 10/242,584, filed on Sep. 12, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,287 issued Oct. 19, 2004, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING A STORED VALUE CARD TO A CREDIT CARD,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, generally, to a system and method for transferring the association of a transaction card number from a first type of account to a second type of account. In particular, this invention allows a customer to transmit an existing card number, such as that embossed on a stored value card, to a host system, and request that the account number be re-associated and/or redefined from a first transaction account (e.g., stored value account) to a second transaction account (e.g., credit card account). 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Stored value cards and credit cards are forms of transaction instruments which provide cash equivalent value that can be used within an existing payment/transaction infrastructure. A difference between the accounts associated with the two types of cards is when the monetary value becomes available for use. Stored value cards are frequently referred to as prepaid or cash cards, in that money is deposited in the account associated with the card before use of the card is allowed. If a customer deposits ten dollars of value into the account associated with the card, the card can be used for payments up to ten dollars. In contrast, credit cards are backed not by cash, but by a line-of-credit that has been issued to the customer by a financial institution. As such, upon use of the credit (or charge) cards, the cash payment from the customer is completed after the purchase from the merchant, namely, when the customer is billed for using the line-of-credit associated with the card. 
     Another difference between the stored value card and the credit/charge card is the revenue generated from the use of the cards. With stored value cards, the monetary value is prepaid and the customer is assessed a fee whenever funds are loaded onto the card, wherein the fee is usually either a flat fee or a small percentage of the amount loaded. In contrast, credit cards represent a line-of-credit issued to the owner, so a finance charge and/or interest is typically assessed on any charged amount that is not paid off at the end of each month (e.g., unpaid balance). The finance charge assessed is usually anywhere from 10-25% of this balance. Therefore, credit cards are often more profitable than stored value cards. However, stored value cards are more easily acquired, so there are more stored value cards issued, funded, and used each day. Moreover, fewer distribution restrictions are placed upon stored value cards. For example, a stored value card with a five dollar monetary value may be distributed to customers by a number of different methods (e.g., shipping with product, promotional distribution, etc). In contrast, credit or charge cards generally may only be shipped to the customer at the customer&#39;s request. Thus, one of the problems faced within the transaction card industry is how to most effectively distribute credit or charge cards to potential customers while still abiding by the distribution restrictions. 
     Another problem with credit or charge cards is that it can take several days or even weeks between the time a credit card application is completed and approved to when the customer receives the transaction card. In contrast, customers can purchase stored value cards at many outlets without waiting. Thus, a system or method is needed that enables a credit card applicant to more expeditiously obtain a transaction instrument corresponding to the customer&#39;s credit card account. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a system and method for converting a first transaction account device (e.g., a card associated with a stored value account) to a second transaction account device (e.g., a card associated with a credit card account) by either re-associating or re-defining a card number from a first transaction account (e.g., stored value account) to a second transaction account (e.g., credit account). 
     An exemplary method of this invention comprises the steps of: establishing a second transaction account, receiving a card number associated with a first transaction account, and then, re-associating said card number to said second transaction account. Another exemplary method of this invention comprises the steps of: establishing a second transaction account, receiving a card number corresponding to a first transaction account, and redefining the first transaction account as said second transaction account, wherein said first transaction account is then closed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and advantages of the present invention are hereinafter described in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and figures, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar system parts and/or method steps in the similar views, and: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an overview of system components comprising an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustrating the process of using a stored value account via a proxy account; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustrating the processes involved in converting the stored value card to a credit card; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating the process of using a card number as a credit card device after conversion. 
     
    
    
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. 
     Rather, the following descriptions are intended to provide convenient illustrations for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by allowing a single card number originally used as a first transaction account device (e.g., stored value card) to be changed to a second transaction account device (e.g., credit card). In an exemplary embodiment, the number on the card (“card number”), which is associated with a first transaction account in a host system, is re-associated to a second transaction account in a host system. In another embodiment, the card number, originally corresponding to, or defined as, a first transaction account is redefined within a host database system as a second transaction account. The card number may be, for example, the same as a stored value account or a credit card account. Or, the card number may be the same as a proxy account number, wherein the proxy account is used as a proxy for one or more accounts. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/800,461, “System For Facilitating a Transaction”, by Breck, et al., and filed on Mar. 7, 2001, describes various transaction processing systems, including the use of secondary transaction numbers (i.e., proxy accounts), the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the system of the present invention allows customers to obtain a credit card device in a substantially real time environment by associating an existing card number to a new or existing credit card account. In particular, the card number embossed on the customer&#39;s first transaction account device (e.g., stored value card), may be re-associated within the host system from a first transaction account (e.g., stored value account) to a second transaction account (e.g., a credit or charge card account), wherein the second transaction account is associated with a line of credit established by the customer. 
     As used herein, a “transaction” includes any exchange or delivery of value, exchange or delivery of data, gifting of value or data, etc. The term “transaction” not only contemplates an exchange of goods or services for value from one party to another, but also the gifting of anything from one party to another. Additionally, transaction account numbers include account numbers that are used to facilitate any type of transaction. As used herein, “card number” includes any device, code, number, letter, symbol, biometric or other identifier/indicia suitably configured to allow the customer to interact or communicate with the system, such as, for example, authorization/access code, personal identification number (PIN), Internet code, other identification code, and/or the like which is optionally located on a rewards card, charge card, credit card, debit card, prepaid card, telephone card, smart card, magnetic stripe card, bar code card, transponder, radio frequency card and/or the like. Although the term “card number” is used throughout, the number need not physically exist on a “card” per se. In other words the card number may be a number communicated to the customer, merchant or host by any means. The card number may be distributed and stored in any form of plastic, electronic, magnetic, radio frequency, wireless, audio and/or optical device capable of transmitting or downloading data from itself to a second device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a host system  10  comprising various systems or sub-systems for processing financial account data. These systems are generally known in the art as systems for processing merchant  50  authorization requests and for facilitating transaction settlements. 
     The host system  10  includes any hardware and/or software suitably configured for processing merchant authorization requests and for facilitating transaction settlements. In an exemplary embodiment of this invention shown in  FIG. 1 , host system  10  comprises one or more interface systems  12  configured to facilitate communication with one or more customers  1  and/or one or more merchants  50 . The interface system  12  is generally configured to route and communicate customer  1  and/or merchant  50  data to a card authorization system (CAS)  20  and/or a new accounts system (NAS)  13 . The host system  10  also comprises server systems and databases for transaction accounts. These server systems may include: a first transaction account system, e.g., stored value account server  14  and database  15 ; a second transaction account system, e.g., credit card account server  18  and database  19 ; and, if desired, a proxy account system, including, e.g., STN server  16  and database  17 . The previously mentioned components may be referred to as “front end processing components” which facilitate transaction authorizations to complete transactions. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, any hardware, software and/or systems discussed herein may be included within one host or distributed among many locations or entities. 
     Backend components of the host system  10  include any hardware and/or software generally configured to facilitate transaction settlement, i.e., payment of merchant  50  and invoicing of customer  1 . These components generally include, for example, a financial capture system (FINCAP)  22  for capturing the merchant&#39;s  50  receipt and summary of charges, an accounts receivable system  24  for adjusting the account and billing customer, and an accounts payable system  26  for paying the merchant  50 . These backend components may be configured to communicate with one or more front end components, e.g. NAS  13 , CAS  20 , etc. In an exemplary financial infrastructure, the accounts receivable system  24  may replace or perform the same function as the credit card system  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an exemplary stored value card system employing a proxy account number, a card number  6  (1234567891234567) embossed on a stored value card  5  is associated with a stored value account (0000000000000000) in a proxy system comprising a STN server  16  and database  17 . When the customer&#39;s card  5  is used for a purchase, the stored value account is accessed and debited. After conversion, the card number  6  (1234567891234567) is then associated within the proxy system with the credit account (9999999999999999), such that when the customer&#39;s card  5  is used, the credit account is charged and the customer is later invoiced for the charges. 
     It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional data net-working, application development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical electronic transaction system. 
     The components of the present invention are described herein in terms of functional block components, flow charts and various processing steps. As such, it should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the present invention may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the software elements of the present invention may be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, or the like, with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, it should be noted that the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like. For a basic introduction of cryptography, please review a text written by Bruce Schneirer which is entitled “Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code In C”, published by John Wiley &amp; Sons (second edition, 1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that a network  8  in  FIG. 1 , for example, may include any system for exchanging data or transacting business, such as the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, WAN, LAN, satellite or wireless communications, and/or the like. 
     Customer  1  may interact with the host system  10  or a merchant  50  via any input device such as a telephone, keyboard, mouse, kiosk, personal digital assistant, touch screen, voice recognition device, transponder, biometrics device, handheld computer (e.g., Palm Pilot®), cellular phone, web TV, web phone, blue tooth/beaming device and/or the like. Similarly, the invention could be used in conjunction with any type of personal computer, network computer, workstation, minicomputer, mainframe, or the like running any operating system. Moreover, although the invention uses protocols such as TCP/IP to facilitate network communications, it will be readily understood that the invention could also be implemented using IPX, Appletalk, IP-6, NetBIOS, OSI or any number of existing or future protocols. Moreover, the system contemplates the use, sale, exchange, transfer, or any other distribution of any goods, services or information over any network having similar functionality described herein. Communication between the parties (e.g., customer  1 , host  10  and/or merchant  50 ) to the transaction and the system of the present invention may be accomplished through any suitable communication means, such as, for example, a telephone network, Intranet, Internet, point of interaction device (point of sale device, personal digital assistant, cellular phone, kiosk, etc.), online communications, off-line communications, wireless communications, and/or the like. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons, any databases, systems, or components of the present invention may consist of any combination of databases or components at a single location or at multiple locations, wherein each database or system includes any of various suitable security features, such as firewalls, access codes, encryption, de-encryption, compression, decompression, and/or the like. 
     The merchant  50  computer and the host  10  computer may be interconnected via a second network, referred to as a payment network. The payment network represents existing proprietary networks that presently accommodate transactions for credit cards, debit cards, and other types of financial/banking cards. The payment network is a closed network that is assumed to be secure from eaves-droppers. Examples of the payment network include the American Express®, VisaNet® and the Veriphone® net-work. 
     As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of both software and hardware. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, flash card memory and/or the like. 
     While an exemplary embodiment of this invention is described in association with a financial transaction system, the invention contemplates any type of networks or transaction systems, including, for example, unsecured networks, public networks, wireless networks, closed networks, open networks, intranets, extranets, and/or the like. 
     As used in the present invention, the term “customer” includes any individual, business, entity, merchant, hardware and/or software who possesses a card number  6  associated with a first transaction account, and desiring to use that card number  6  in association with a second transaction account. In an exemplary embodiment, the customer  1  establishes a new or has an existing relationship or association with a host  10 . For example, in one embodiment, a customer  1  may be an American Express® card member. In another embodiment, a customer may be a participant in a frequent flyer rewards program. In a further embodiment, the customer  1  is a member of any suitable organization that provides transaction products or services. Another embodiment contemplates the customer  1  providing the card number  6  to a second party, such that the card number is utilized as a limited use account number. 
     “Merchant” includes any individual, business, entity, customer, hardware and/or software that receives a card number  6  to facilitate a transaction, whether or not in exchange for goods or services. For example, in one embodiment, a merchant  50  may be an online bookstore such as Amazon.com®. In another embodiment, a merchant  50  may be a local hardware store. Although referred to herein as a “merchant  50 ,” this term contemplates situations where any second party receives a card number  6  and is suitably configured to communicate with the host  10  to process the customer  1  transaction request. 
     Host  10  includes any person, entity, hardware and/or software that facilitates any type of transaction. As contemplated by an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the host  10  establishes and maintains account and/or transaction information for the customer  1 . The host  10  may issue products to the customer  1  and may also provide both the customer  1  and the merchant  50  with the processes to facilitate the transaction system of the present invention. The host  10  includes, for example, banks, credit unions, credit, debit or other transaction-related companies, telephone companies, or any other type of card or account issuing institutions, such as card-sponsoring companies, incentive rewards companies, or third-party providers under contract with financial institutions. Unless otherwise specifically set forth herein, although referred to as “host,” this term should be understood to mean any entity issuing any type of account to facilitate any transaction, exchange or service, and should not be limited to companies possessing or issuing physical cards. In an exemplary system, the host  10  may be any transaction facilitating company such as a charge/credit card provider like American Express®, VISA®, Mastercard®, Discover®, etc. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a proxy account number  4  may be used to facilitate the conversion. Proxy number  4  is any number, code, symbol, indicia, etc., that is associated with, or a proxy for, another number or account that has been designated by the customer  1  or the host  10  as a primary account number. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the proxy number  4  may be the same as the card number  6 . In an exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , the proxy number  4  (1234567891234567) is associated with a stored value account number  2  (0000000000000000) maintained in a stored value account database  15 . When the card number  6  (which corresponds to the proxy number  4 ) is used for a purchase, the associated stored value account number  2  is recognized and the amount of purchase is subtracted from the stored value account balance. 
     After conversion of the stored value card to a credit card, the proxy number  4  (1234567891234567) is thereafter associated with the designated credit card account number  3  (9999999999999999). Thus, when a purchase is made with the card number  6 /proxy number after conversion, the customer&#39;s  1  credit account is accessed and the credit account is adjusted accordingly. In another exemplary embodiment, the proxy account system is not utilized. Rather, the card number  6  corresponds directly with the stored value account number instead of the proxy number  4 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment involving credit, debit or other banking cards, the card number  6  has the same industry standard format that is used for the regular banking cards (e.g., 15 or 16 digit numbers). In one embodiment, the numbers are formatted such that one is unable to differentiate between a card number  6  and a regular physical charge card number. Alternatively, however, the host  10  card provider/product identifier (e.g., BIN range, first 6 digits, etc.) numbers may be different so as to differentiate the card numbers used as proxies from regular charge card numbers. In referencing the card number  6  and other transaction account numbers, it should be appreciated that the number may be, for example, a six-teen-digit credit card account number, although each card provider has its own numbering system, such as the fifteen-digit numbering system used by American Express®. Each company&#39;s card numbers comply with that company&#39;s standardized format such that a company using a sixteen-digit format will generally use four spaced sets of numbers, as represented by the number “0000 0000 0000 0000.” The first five to seven digits are reserved for processing purposes and identify the issuing bank, card type, etc. In this example, the last sixteenth digit is used as a sum check for the sixteen-digit number. The intermediary eight-to-ten digits are used to uniquely identify the customer  1 . The invention contemplates the use of other numbers, indicia, codes or other security steps in addition to the use of the card number  6 . 
     Before discussing the conversion process of the present invention, an understanding of the system and operation of an exemplary stored value account is discussed. The card number  6  on the stored value card may be associated with a stored value account via a proxy system using a proxy server (STN  16 ) and database  17  shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the card number  6  corresponds directly to the stored value account without using a proxy system. Regardless of the system configuration, whenever card number  6  is used, the stored value account is debited for the amount of the transaction. 
     Referencing both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to facilitate use of a stored value card via a proxy number  4  using STN  16 , a customer  1  acquires a pre-funded stored value card  5  (STEP  100 ), from, e.g., a retail store. The customer  1  selects merchandise for purchase (STEP  102 ) from a merchant  50  and presents the card  5  to pay for the purchase (STEP  104 ). This shopping and purchase may occur online over the internet, in-person at a point of sale terminal (POS) and/or via any other transaction interface. The merchant  50  recognizes the card  5  as being issued by particular host  10  and requests the payment be authorized by the host  10  (STEP  106 ). The authorization system CAS  20  accepts the request, recognizes that the card number  6  on card  5  corresponds to a proxy number  4  in the STN  16  system and requests the primary account associated with the proxy number  4  (STEP  108 ). Within STN  16  (and database  17 ), for example, the proxy number  4  is associated with a corresponding stored value account number  2 . STN  16  accesses its profile for the proxy account number  4 , identifies the actual stored value account number and returns the actual account number to CAS  20  (STEP  110 ) for authorization. CAS  20  then recognizes the stored value account and forwards the request to the stored value account system  14  for authorization (STEP  112 ). The stored value system  14  applies its standard rules and conditions and returns an authorization response to CAS  20  for return to the requesting merchant  50  (STEP  114 ). The merchant  50  then completes the transaction with the customer  1 . 
     If the payment was authorized, the merchant  50  will use its existing infrastructure (e.g., settlement system  36 ) to submit the transaction to FINCAP  24  at host  10  for settlement (STEP  116 ), where FINCAP  24  communicates with the stored value system  14  to reduce the balance of the stored value account associated with the proxy account number  4  (corresponding to card number  6 ) (STEP  118 ). Similarly, FINCAP  24  communicates with the accounts payable system  26  (STEP  120 ) to ensure that the merchant  50  is paid for the transaction (STEP  122 ). 
     It should be appreciated that the card number  6  may be the same as the proxy number  4 , which is then associated with other accounts, e.g., stored value account  2  or credit card account  3 . Alternatively, card number  6  may directly correspond to the stored value account  2  or credit card account  3 , in which case the proxy account, e.g., STN  16  system, may not be needed. 
     An exemplary online system and method for establishing a credit card account and converting a stored value card to a credit card is now described. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a customer  1  desiring to convert an existing stored value card to a credit card communicates with host  10  (e.g., host web server  12 ) via any communication means discussed herein and enters a “convert card registration page,” wherein the customer  1  provides the stored value account number to be converted by the system (STEP  200 ). In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , card number  6  corresponds to a proxy account  4  associated with the stored value account  2  maintained in the stored value account database  15 . The customer  1  is then directed to an online application page within the host web server where the customer  1  is requested to complete an application form comprising various fields, e.g., name, address, income, etc. After the customer  1  completes the application page, the application information is forwarded to the host  10  new accounts system  13  (STEP  202 ), wherein the application information is evaluated according to host system  10  rules and processes. Criteria for credit approval may include, inter alia credit rating, debt/income ratio, etc. If the application is approved, a new account is created and assigned to customer  1  (STEP  204 ). A database entry and account is created within the credit card database  19  (STEP  206 ). Although a credit card database  19  and server  18  are shown in  FIG. 3 , it should be appreciated that an accounts receivable system (see FIG. m  1 ) ay be similarly configured. Other host system components (e.g., CAS  20 , A/R  24 ) are updated accordingly. An account conversion instruction set is then sent to the proxy account system, e.g., STN  16 , instructing the proxy account  4  to be reassociated from the stored value account  2  to the newly created credit card account  3  (STEP  208 ). As such, the customer&#39;s card number  6  (corresponding to proxy account  4 ) is thereafter associated with the newly created credit card account  3 . After the conversion, the customer is notified that the card  5  may now be used as a credit card for the newly created credit card account (STEP  210 ). In an exemplary embodiment, the approval and notification process is a substantially real time process occurring over a distributed network, e.g., internet, electronic kiosk, ATM, etc. In other words, the customer  1  may apply for a credit card and convert the stored value card to a credit card in the same online session. For additional information relating to the online or real time acquisition process, please refer to currently pending patent application Ser. No. 10/071,615, entitled “Electronic Acquisition System and Method,” by Stoxen , et al., filed on Feb. 5, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. F 
       FIG. 4  illustrates use of the card number  6  as a second transaction account device (e.g., credit card) that is, after the first transaction account (e.g., stored value account) has been converted to a second transaction account (credit card account). In an exemplary embodiment it should be noted that, except for authorizing the card differently, the flow is similar to that of the stored value card before conversion. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a customer  1  goes online to an online shopping site  32  at a merchant  50  and selects merchandise for purchase (STEP  300 ). During checkout  34 , the customer  1  indicates that the card number(now associated with credit card account will be used to pay for the purchase (STEP  302 ). The merchant  50  requests a standard authorization for the account from the host  10  (STEP  304 ). CAS  20  recognizes the card number  6  as corresponding to a proxy account and forwards the request to the proxy account system, e.g., STN  16  (STEP  306 ). STN  16  identifies the credit card account corresponding to card number  6 , and returns the credit account number  2  (see  FIG. 1 ) to CAS  20  for authorization (STEP  308 ). CAS  20  communicates with the credit card account system, e.g., accounts receivable  24 , to apply authorization rules and conditions (STEP  310 ). An authorization response is then provided to the merchant  50  (STEP  312 ). When approved, the merchant  50  submits the transaction receipt and/or summary of charges using its standard submission method to the FINCAP  24  (STEP  314 ). FINCAP  24  recognizes the card number  6  as corresponding to a proxy number  4  and forwards the transaction to the proxy account system, e.g., STN  16  (STEP  316 ). STN  16  translates the card number  6  into the associated credit account number  2  and returns this credit account number  2  to FINCAP  24  (STEP  318 ). FINCAP  24  forwards the transaction to the appropriate credit card system, e.g., accounts receivable  24 , for customer statementing and billing (STEP  320 ). FINCAP  24  then forwards the transaction to the accounts payable system  26  (STEP  322 ) for merchant  50  payment (STEP  324 ), thus completing a transaction with a card  5  after it has been converted to a credit card. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, no element described herein is required for the practice of the invention unless expressly described as “essential” or “critical.” 
     It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional data net-working, application development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical contract optimization or contract compliance system.