Abstract: A method for authenticating a user includes receiving an authorization request for a transaction from an account. A plurality of authentication questions each having a corresponding correct answer are associated with the account. A first set of authentication questions of the plurality of authentication questions is transmitted to a communication device by way of an interactive voice response (IVR) call. A first set of user-generated answers corresponding to the first set of authentication questions is received from the communication device. The method further includes determining whether the user is an account holder of the account based on at least the first set of user-generated answers. The transaction is processed based on the determination that the user is the account holder of the account, thereby authenticating the user.

Abstract: A verification computing system for verifying operation of a payment terminal and a payment processing network linking the payment terminal to a payment processor is provided. The verification computing system includes at least one verification computing module including at least one processor. The verification computing module is programmed to receive a test request message corresponding to a test payment card transaction from the payment terminal, identify a void flag included in the test request message, and bypass a settlement process for the test payment card transaction based on the identified void flag. The verification computing module is further configured to determine an operating status of the payment terminal and the payment processing network, generate a test response message based upon the determination, and transmit the test response message to the payment terminal for notifying a user.

Abstract: A verification computing system for verifying operation of a payment terminal and a payment processing network linking the payment terminal to a payment processor is provided. The verification computing system includes at least one verification computing module including at least one processor. The verification computing module is programmed to receive a test request message corresponding to a test payment card transaction from the payment terminal, identify a void flag included in the test request message, and bypass a settlement process for the test payment card transaction based on the identified void flag. The verification computing module is further configured to determine an operating status of the payment terminal and the payment processing network, generate a test response message based upon the determination, and transmit the test response message to the payment terminal for notifying a user.

Abstract: A method for processing an electronic payment transaction includes: storing an account profile including a plurality of account numbers; receiving a first authorization request for a payment transaction that includes a first account number of the plurality of account numbers, a first time, and a first location; processing the first payment transaction; receiving a second authorization request for a different transaction including a second primary account number of the plurality of account numbers, a second time, and a second location, where the second account number is associated with a different issuer than the first account number; determining a likelihood of fraud based on the first time and location and the second time and location; and forwarding the second authorization request to the different issuer if the likelihood of fraud is below a threshold, or transmitting an authorization response indicating decline if the likelihood of fraud is above the threshold.

Abstract: A method for processing an electronic payment transaction includes: storing an account profile including a plurality of account numbers; receiving a first authorization request for a payment transaction that includes a first account number of the plurality of account numbers, a first time, and a first location; processing the first payment transaction; receiving a second authorization request for a different transaction including a second primary account number of the plurality of account numbers, a second time, and a second location, where the second account number is associated with a different issuer than the first account number; determining a likelihood of fraud based on the first time and location and the second time and location; and forwarding the second authorization request to the different issuer if the likelihood of fraud is below a threshold, or transmitting an authorization response indicating decline if the likelihood of fraud is above the threshold.

Abstract: A method for opening a secured lockbox through a digital signature includes: storing, in a memory of a computing device in a lockbox, a public key of a cryptographic key pair; receiving, by an input device of the computing device, a digital signature from an external communication device; validating, by a processing device of the computing device, the digital signature using the public key of the cryptographic key pair; and transmitting, by a transmitter of the computing device, a signal to an electronic locking mechanism of the lockbox interfaced with the computing device; and opening, by the electronic locking mechanism of the lockbox, an electronic lock granting access to contents of the lockbox upon receipt of the signal.

Abstract: A token/alert service system has a database and server. The server is programed to receive a transaction message from a merchant. The message corresponds to a transaction associated with a payment card of a consumer. The server determines whether the message is an authorization request message and, based on the determination that the electronic transaction message is an authorization request message, extracts the primary account number from the message. The server transmits a transaction alert message to the consumer. The alert message includes a request that the consumer respond to the alert message approving or rejecting the transaction. The server receives a response from the consumer and, if the response approves the transaction, transmits a token request message to a card issuer of the payment card. The server generates a token, transmits the token to the merchant, and receives from the merchant, a second authorization request message using the token.

Abstract: A verification computing system for verifying operation of a payment terminal and a payment processing network linking the payment terminal to a payment processor is provided. The verification computing system includes at least one verification computing module including at least one processor. The verification computing module is programmed to receive a test request message corresponding to a test payment card transaction from the payment terminal, identify a void flag included in the test request message, and bypass a settlement process for the test payment card transaction based on the identified void flag. The verification computing module is further configured to determine an operating status of the payment terminal and the payment processing network, generate a test response message based upon the determination, and transmit the test response message to the payment terminal for notifying a user.

Abstract: A method for opening a secured lockbox through a digital signature includes: storing, in a memory of a computing device in a lockbox, a public key of a cryptographic key pair; receiving, by an input device of the computing device, a digital signature from an external communication device; validating, by a processing device of the computing device, the digital signature using the public key of the cryptographic key pair; and transmitting, by a transmitter of the computing device, a signal to an electronic locking mechanism of the lockbox interfaced with the computing device; and opening, by the electronic locking mechanism of the lockbox, an electronic lock granting access to contents of the lockbox upon receipt of the signal.

Abstract: A method for determining product genuineness includes: storing blockchain data for a blockchain, wherein the blockchain data includes a plurality of blockchain data values, each blockchain data value including at least a unique identifier and a genuineness flag; receiving a genuineness request, wherein the genuineness request includes at least a specific identifier associated with a product available for purchase; identifying a specific blockchain data value of the plurality of blockchain data values where the included unique identifier corresponds to the specific identifier; determining genuineness of the product available for purchase based on at least the genuineness flag included in the specific blockchain data value; and transmitting the determined genuineness of the product.

Abstract: When a consumer makes a purchase at a retail location, a communication device associated with the consumer receives information specifying the type of product purchased. This may be done by the consumer entering the information manually, by the communication device receiving a data file over an interface, or by a camera of the communication device capturing a picture of a receipt. The information may be, or may be converted into, stock-keeping unit (SKU) data. The data can be analyzed to derive consumer spending patterns and to suggest product offers to the consumer.

Abstract: A method for processing an electronic payment transaction includes: storing an account profile including a plurality of account numbers; receiving a first authorization request for a payment transaction that includes a first account number of the plurality of account numbers, a first time, and a first location; processing the first payment transaction; receiving a second authorization request for a different transaction including a second primary account number of the plurality of account numbers, a second time, and a second location, where the second account number is associated with a different issuer than the first account number; determining a likelihood of fraud based on the first time and location and the second time and location; and forwarding the second authorization request to the different issuer if the likelihood of fraud is below a threshold, or transmitting an authorization response indicating decline if the likelihood of fraud is above the threshold.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, there is provided a digital wallet storage facilitator comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory including computer program code; an input port coupled to the processor; and an output port coupled to the processor; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the digital wallet storage facilitator at least to: receive, through the input port, a request from a digital wallet application to store a virtual card account number, the virtual card account number being generated from an originating account number to which the virtual card account number is linked; identify an issuer of the originating account number; transmit, through the output port, a query to the issuer to verify the linkage of the virtual card account number to the originating account number; acquire, through the input port, a verification result from the issuer; and convey, through the output port, the verification result to the digital wal

Abstract: A method for authenticating a user includes receiving an authorization request for a transaction from an account. A plurality of authentication questions each having a corresponding correct answer are associated with the account. A first set of authentication questions of the plurality of authentication questions is transmitted to a communication device by way of an interactive voice response (IVR) call. A first set of user-generated answers corresponding to the first set of authentication questions is received from the communication device. The method further includes determining whether the user is an account holder of the account based on at least the first set of user-generated answers. The transaction is processed based on the determination that the user is the account holder of the account, thereby authenticating the user.

Abstract: A method for an offline data exchange for an electronic transaction includes: storing, in a memory of a computing device, at least an available balance and an account identifier; receiving, by an input device of the computing device, a user instruction including at least a transaction amount less than or equal to the available balance; establishing, by a communication interface of the computing device, a communication channel with a point of sale device using a first communication method; receiving, by a receiving device of the computing device, a merchant identifier using the first communication method; generating, by a generation module of the computing device, a data message including at least the transaction amount, the account identifier, and the merchant identifier; and electronically transmitting, by a transmitting device of the computing device, the generated data message to an external computing system using a second communication method.

Abstract: When a consumer makes a purchase at a retail location, a communication device associated with the consumer receives information specifying the type of product purchased. This may be done by the consumer entering the information manually, by the communication device receiving a data file over an interface, or by a camera of the communication device capturing a picture of a receipt. The information may be, or may be converted into, stock-keeping unit (SKU) data. The data can be analyzed to derive consumer spending patterns and to suggest product offers to the consumer.

Abstract: A software application is installed in a mobile communication device. A consumer at a retail location carries the communication device. As the consumer selects items for purchase, product information is successively entered into the communication device to notify the application of the products which the consumer selects. The application uploads the product information to a server of the merchant which operates the retail location. The communication functionality of the communication device is used to notify the consumer of product offers, and/or communicate to the consumer reward information relating to consumer rewards offered to the consumer for making the purchases.

Abstract: A method for changing an amount of a first denomination at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) includes the steps of authenticating a user based on identification data received from the user at the ATM; receiving, at the ATM, an item in the first denomination when the user is authenticated; determining, at the ATM, the amount of the item received in the first denomination; and determining, at the ATM, at least one second denomination that relates to the determined amount. The at least one second denomination is different from the first denomination. At the ATM, the determined amount of the received item is dispensed in the at least one second denomination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are proposed for identifying a segment of a population of individuals to target in an advertising campaign. A database of payment transactions made by the population of individuals and a database of demographic and/or location data for the corresponding individuals, are used to develop a predictive model for predicting the likelihood that a candidate individual in the population will make a charitable donation. Once the model is developed, the predictive model is used to identify the segment of the population of individuals for whom, according to the model, the likelihood of making a charitable donation is high, and then individuals in that segment of the population are solicited for donations.

Abstract: A financial transaction system has a processing unit, a database unit and input-output interface. The system receives data from a mobile input-output device operated by a traffic law enforcement officer. That received data comprises data about a driver's licence which is linked (within the system) with a payment card. The system processes the input data so that financial penalties imposed for traffic violations are charged against the linked payment card.