Method for passively closing a pre-authorized tab with an associated payment token

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017083902-A1
Application number	US-201615262198-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 17, 2015
Publication date	Mar 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A merchant system for passively closing a patron's pre-authorized tab, with an associated payment token, set up with a computer device in communication with the merchant system, said system including one or more processors in communication with data storage, said processors being configured to execute computer readable instructions stored on said data storage for performing the steps of (a) determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed; (b) if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed, then performing the steps of (i) generating a total amount spent on goods and/or service ordered by the patron; (ii) sending the total amount spent and the payment token associated with the pre-authorized tab to an online service for authentication so as to pay the merchant; and (iii) closing the pre-authorized tab.

First claim

1 . A merchant system for passively closing a patron's pre-authorized tab, with an associated payment token, set up with a computer device in communication with the merchant system, said system including one or more processors in communication with data storage, said processors being configured to execute computer readable instructions stored on said data storage for performing the steps of:
(a) determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed; (b) if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed, then performing the steps of: (h) generating a total amount spent on goods and/or service ordered by the patron;
i. (ii) sending the total amount spent and the payment token associated with the pre-authorized tab to an online service for authentication so as to pay the merchant; and
ii. (iii) closing the pre-authorized tab.

2 . The system claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed includes the step of determining if the patron's computer device is within a virtual perimeter associated with the merchant system.

3 . The system claimed in claim 2 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed is effected by testing whether the patron's computer device is still in communication with the merchant system.

4 . The system claimed in claim 2 , wherein the step of determining if the patron's computer device is within a virtual perimeter is effected by performing the steps of:
(a) sending a request for location data to the patron's device; (b) receiving data representing the location of the patron's device from the patron's device; and (c) determining whether the location of the patron's device is located within said virtual perimeter.

5 . The system claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed involves the step of determining if a current time is within merchant defined operating hours.

6 . The system claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patron's pre-authorized tab includes a patron defined close tab time and said step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed involves the step of determining if the current time is less than the patron defined close tab time.

7 . The system claimed in claim 1 , wherein the patron's pre-authorized tab includes a patron defined amount of time that the tab is to remain open and said step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed involves the step of determining if that amount of time has not run out.

8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying thereon a program of computer readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a patron's portable computer device in communication with a merchant system, cause the device to perform a method for passively closing a pre-authorized tab with an associated payment token, including the steps of:
(a) determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed; (b) if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed, then performing the steps of: (i) generating a total amount spent on goods and/or service ordered by the patron;
i. (ii) sending the total amount spent and the payment token associated with the pre-authorized tab to an online service for authentication so as to pay the merchant; and
ii. (iii) closing the pre-authorized tab.

9 . The storage medium claimed in claim 8 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed includes the step of determining if the patron's computer device is within a virtual perimeter associated with the merchant system.

10 . The storage medium claimed in claim 9 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed is effected by testing whether the patron's computer device is still in communication with the merchant system.

11 . The storage medium in claim 9 , wherein the step of determining if the patron's computer device is within a virtual perimeter is effected by performing the steps of:
(a) generating data representing a location of the patron's device; and (b) determining whether the location of the patron's device is within said virtual perimeter.

12 . The storage medium claimed in claim 11 , wherein the step of generating the data representing a location of the patron's device is performed using location services of the device.

13 . The storage medium claimed in claim 12 , wherein the location services include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in communication with GPS satellites.

14 . The storage medium claimed in claim 8 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed involves the step of determining if a current time is within merchant defined operating hours.

15 . The storage medium claimed in claim 8 , wherein the patron's pre-authorized tab includes a patron defined close tab time and said step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed involves the step of determining if the current time is less than the patron defined close tab time.

16 . The storage medium claimed in claim 8 , wherein the patron's pre-authorized tab includes a patron defined amount of time that the tab is to remain open and said step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed involves the step of determining if that amount of time has not run out.

17 . A merchant system for facilitating a pre-authorized tab for purchasing goods and/or services, said system including one or more processors in communication with data storage, said processors being configured to execute computer readable instructions stored on said data storage for performing the steps of:
(a) receiving a request from a patron's computer device to create a pre-authorized tab, said request including a device identifier; (b) receiving data representing an upper limit for the pre-authorized tab from the patron's device; (c) directing the patron's device to a landing page where the user can sign into an online wallet and select a suitable payment source; (d) receiving a payment token from an online service engaged by said online wallet; (e) generating and storing a user tab token including: (j) a unique merchant identifier;
i. (ii) a device identifier; and
ii. (iii) the payment token;
(f) sending a request for pre-authorization to the online service, the request including the payment token and the data representing the upper limit for the tab; (g) receiving from the online service approval for the requested pre-authorization; (h) determining if the pre-authorized tab should be passively closed; and (i) if the pre-authorized tab should be closed then, performing the steps of: (j) generating a total amount spent on goods and/or services ordered by the patron;
i. (ii) sending the total amount spent and the payment token to the online service for authentication; and
ii. (iii) closing the pre-authorized tab.

18 . The system claimed in claim 17 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be closed involves the step of determining if the patron's device is within a virtual perimeter.

19 . The system claimed in claim 18 , wherein the step of determining if the pre-authorized tab should be closed is effected by testing whether the patron's device is in communication with the merchant's system.

20 . The system claimed in claim 18 , wherein the step of determining if the us

Assignees

• Mastercard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Gilbey Benjamin Charles
• Venugopalan Vijin

Classifications

• G06Q20/40

  Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists · CPC title

• G06Q20/407 Primary

  Cancellation of a transaction · CPC title

• G06Q20/403

  Solvency checks · CPC title

• G06Q20/34 Primary

  using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards · CPC title