Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INITIATING A TRANSFER OF RESOURCES
l'ECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to systems and methods for
initiating a transfer of
resources.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Transfers of resources are often performed at a high rate and
occupy a significant
amount of bandwidth on a network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] Embodiments are described in detail below, with reference to the
following
drawings:
[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic operation diagram illustrating an operating
environment of an
example embodiment;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram showing components of a
computing
device;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a high-level schematic diagram of an example computer
device;
[0007] FIG. 4 shows a simplified organization of software components
stored in a memory
of the example computer device of FIG. 3;
[0008] FIG. 5 is an example white-label stored-value card template
according to an
embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operations performed by a server
computer system
in creating a stored-value card according to an embodiment;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0010] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operations performed by a server
computer system
in creating a digital representation of the stored-value card according to an
embodiment; and
[0011] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operations performed by a server
computer system
in initiating a transfer of resources according to an embodiment.
[0012] Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like
elements and
features.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided a server computer
system comprising
a communications module; a processor coupled with the communications module;
and a memory
coupled to the processor and storing processor-executable instructions which,
when executed by
the processor, configure the processor to obtain, via the communications
module, data; analyze the
data to identify a stored-value card and an amount for the stored-value card;
update a data record
associated with the stored-value card based on the amount for the stored-value
card; transfer
resources to a network restricted data record based on the amount for the
stored-value card;
determine a trigger condition; and responsive to determining the trigger
condition, initiate a
transfer of resources from the network restricted data record to a network
unrestricted data record.
[0014] In one or more embodiments, determining the trigger condition
includes
determining that a total amount of resource stored in the network restricted
data record is greater
than a threshold.
[0015] In one or more embodiments, determining the trigger condition
includes
determining that an amount of network traffic is less than a threshold.
[0016] In one or more embodiments, the network traffic includes payment
rail network
traffic.
[0017] In one or more embodiments, the processor-executable instructions,
when executed
by the processor, further configure the processor to receive, from a computing
device, a request
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
for the stored-value card; generate a stored-value card identifier for the
stored-value card; and
create the data record associated with the stored-value card, the data record
including the stored-
value card identifier.
[0018] In one or more embodiments, the processor-executable instructions,
when executed
by the processor, further configure the processor to retrieve, from a
database, a white-label stored-
value card template; obtain an image for the stored-value card; generate a
machine-readable code
for the stored-value card; and create a digital representation of the stored-
value card by populating
a first interface element of the white-label stored-value card template to
include the image for the
stored-value card and a second interface element of the white-label stored-
value card template to
include the machine-readable code for the stored-value card.
[0019] In one or more embodiments, the processor-executable instructions,
when executed
by the processor, further configure the processor to provision a mobile wallet
resident on the
computing device with the digital representation of the stored-value card.
[0020] In one or more embodiments, the processor-executable instructions,
when executed
by the processor, further configure the processor to store the digital
representation of the stored-
value card in a database in association with an account that is accessible via
a mobile application
resident on the computing device.
[0021] In one or more embodiments, the network restricted data record
tracks a total
amount of resources based on stored-value cards used to complete transactions
at a merchant.
[0022] In one or more embodiments, the processor-executable instructions,
when executed
by the processor, further configure the processor to transfer resources from a
network restricted
data record that tracks a total amount of resources based on stored-value
cards purchased for the
merchant to the network restricted data record that tracks the total amount of
resources based on
stored-value cards used to complete transactions at the merchant.
[0023] According to another aspect there is provided a computer-
implemented method
comprising obtaining, via a communications module, data; analyzing the data to
identify a stored-
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
value card and an amount for the stored-value card; updating a data record
associated with the
stored-value card based on the amount; transfer resources to a network
restricted data record based
on the amount for the stored-value card; determining a trigger condition; and
responsive to
determining the trigger condition, initiating a transfer of resources from the
network restricted data
record to a network unrestricted data record.
[0024] In one or more embodiments, determining the trigger condition
includes
determining that a total amount of resource stored in the network restricted
data record is greater
than a threshold.
[0025] In one or more embodiments, determining the trigger condition
includes
determining that an amount of network traffic is less than a threshold.
[0026] In one or more embodiments, the network traffic includes payment
rail network
traffic.
[0027] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises receiving,
from a
computing device, a request for the stored-value card; generating a stored-
value card identifier for
the stored-value card; and creating the data record associated with the stored-
value card, the data
record including the stored-value card identifier.
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises
retrieving, from a
database, a white-label stored-value card template; obtaining an image for the
stored-value card;
generating a machine-readable code for the stored-value card; and creating a
digital representation
of the stored-value card by populating a first interface element of the white-
label stored-value card
template to include the image for the stored-value card and a second interface
element of the white-
label stored-value card template to include the machine-readable code for the
stored-value card.
[0029] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises
provisioning a mobile
wallet resident on the computing device with the digital representation of the
stored-value card.
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[0030] In one or more embodiments, the method further comprises storing
the digital
representation of the stored-value card in a database in association with an
account that is
accessible via a mobile application resident on the computing device.
[0031] In one or more embodiments, the network restricted data record
tracks a total
amount of resources based on stored-value cards used to complete transactions
at a merchant.
[0032] According to another aspect there is provided a non-transitory
computer readable
storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions which, when
executed, configure a
processor to obtain, via a communications module, data; analyze the data to
identify a stored-value
card and an amount for the stored-value card; update a data record associated
with the stored-value
card based on the amount for the stored-value card; transfer resources to a
network restricted data
record based on the amount for the stored-value card; determine a trigger
condition; and responsive
to determining the trigger condition, initiate a transfer of resources from
the network restricted
data record to a network unrestricted data record.
[0033] Other aspects and features of the present application will be
understood by those of
ordinary skill in the art from a review of the following description of
examples in conjunction with
the accompanying figures.
[0034] In the present application, the term "and/or" is intended to cover
all possible
combinations and sub-combinations of the listed elements, including any one of
the listed elements
alone, any sub-combination, or all of the elements, and without necessarily
excluding additional
elements.
[0035] In the present application, the phrase "at least one of ...or..."
is intended to cover
any one or more of the listed elements, including any one of the listed
elements alone, any sub-
combination, or all of the elements, without necessarily excluding any
additional elements, and
without necessarily requiring all of the elements.
[0036] In the present application, aspects of the disclosure transform a
computer into a
special-purpose computing device when configured to execute the instructions
described herein.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic operation diagram illustrating an operating
environment of an
example embodiment. As shown, the system 100 includes a computing device 110
and a server
computer system 120 coupled to one another through a network 130, which may
include a public
network such as the Internet and/or a private network. The computing device
110 and the server
computer system 120 may be in geographically disparate locations. Put
differently, the computing
device 110 and the server computer system 120 may be located remote from one
another.
[0038] The computing device 110 may be a laptop computer as shown in FIG.
1. However,
the computing device 110 may be a computing device of another type such as for
example a
smartphone, personal computer, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a hand-
held computer, a
personal digital assistant, a portable navigation device, a mobile phone, a
wearable computing
device (e.g., a smart watch, a wearable activity monitor, wearable smart
jewelry, and glasses and
other optical devices that include optical head-mounted displays), an embedded
computing device
(e.g., in communication with a smart textile or electronic fabric), and any
other type of computing
device that may be configured to store data and software instructions, and
execute software
instructions to perform operations consistent with disclosed embodiments.
[0039] The server computer system 120 is a computer server system. A
computer server
system may, for example, be a mainframe computer, a minicomputer, or the like.
In some
implementations thereof, a computer server system may be formed of or may
include one or more
computing devices. A computer server system may include and/or may communicate
with
multiple computing devices such as, for example, database servers, computer
servers, and the like.
Multiple computing devices such as these may be in communication using a
computer network
and may communicate to act in cooperation as a computer server system. For
example, such
computing devices may communicate using a local-area network (LAN). In some
embodiments,
a computer server system may include multiple computing devices organized in a
tiered
arrangement. For example, a computer server system may include middle tier and
back-end
computing devices. In some embodiments, a computer server system may be a
cluster formed of
a plurality of interoperating computing devices.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0040] The network 130 is a computer network. In some embodiments, the
network 130
may be an internetwork such as may be formed of one or more interconnected
computer networks.
For example, the network 130 may be or may include an Ethernet network, an
asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network,
or the like.
[0041] The computing device 110 may be associated with a merchant and
exchange data
with the server computer system 120. The data may include transaction data
and/or stored-value
card management data.
[0042] The server computer system 120 may be a financial institution
server and may
maintain a database 140 that includes various data records. At least some of
the data records may
be associated with stored-value cards. For example, a data record may be
associated with a stored-
value card and may include, for example, a stored-value card identifier for
the stored-value card,
a balance of the stored-value card, etc. The server computer system 120 may
communicate with
the database 140 directly or through the network 130.
[0043] The system 100 may additionally include a computing device 150 that
may be
associated with a customer or a purchaser of one or more stored-value cards.
The computing
device 150 may be, for example, a laptop, a smartphone, personal computer, a
tablet computer, a
notebook computer, a hand-held computer, a personal digital assistant, a
portable navigation
device, a mobile phone, a wearable computing device (e.g., a smart watch, a
wearable activity
monitor, wearable smart jewelry, and glasses and other optical devices that
include optical head-
mounted displays), an embedded computing device (e.g., in communication with a
smart textile or
electronic fabric), and any other type of computing device that may be
configured to store data and
software instructions, and execute software instructions to perform operations
consistent with
disclosed embodiments. The computing device 150 may communicate with the
computing device
110 and/or the server computer system 120 to purchase, store and redeem one or
more stored-value
cards.
[0044] As will be described in more detail below, the server computer
system 120 may
provide a stored-value card management tool that may be accessed by a merchant
operating the
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
computing device 110 to manage stored-value cards and/or a customer operating
the computing
device 150 to purchase, store and redeem one or more stored-value cards.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram showing components of an
exemplary
computing device 200. The computing device 110 and the computing device 150
may be of the
same type as computing device 200. The computing device 200 may include
modules including,
as illustrated, for example, one or more displays 210, an image capture module
220, a sensor
module 230, and a computer device 240.
[0046] The one or more displays 210 are a display module. The one or more
displays
210 are used to display screens of a graphical user interface that may be
used, for example, to
communicate with the server computer system 120 (FIG. 1). The one or more
displays 210 may
be internal displays of the computing device 200 (e.g., disposed within a body
of the computing
device).
[0047] The image capture module 220 may be or may include a camera. The
image
capture module 220 may be used to obtain image data, such as images. The image
capture
module 220 may be or may include a digital image sensor system as, for
example, a charge
coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal¨oxide¨semiconductor (CMOS) image
sensor.
[0048] The sensor module 230 may be a sensor that generates sensor data
based on a
sensed condition. By way of example, the sensor module 230 may be or include a
location
subsystem which generates location data indicating a location of the computing
device 200. The
location may be the current geographic location of the computing device 200.
The location
subsystem may be or include any one or more of a global positioning system
(GPS), an inertial
navigation system (INS), a wireless (e.g., cellular) triangulation system, a
beacon-based location
system (such as a Bluetooth low energy beacon system), or a location subsystem
of another type.
[0049] The computer device 240 is in communication with the one or more
displays 210,
the image capture module 220, and the sensor module 230. The computer device
240 may be or
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
may include a processor which is coupled to the one or more displays 210, the
image capture
module 220, and/or the sensor module 230.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 3, a high-level operation diagram of an
example computer
device 300 is shown. In some embodiments, the computer device 300 may be
exemplary of the
computer device 240 (FIG. 2) and/or server computer system 120.
[0051] The example computer device 300 includes a variety of modules. For
example, as
illustrated, the example computer device 300 may include a processor 310, a
memory 320, a
communications module 330, and/or a storage module 340. As illustrated, the
foregoing
example modules of the example computer device 300 are in communication over a
bus 350.
[0052] The processor 310 is a hardware processor. The processor 310 may,
for example,
be one or more ARM, Intel x86, PowerPC processors or the like.
[0053] The memory 320 allows data to be stored and retrieved. The memory
320 may
include, for example, random access memory, read-only memory, and persistent
storage.
Persistent storage may be, for example, flash memory, a solid-state drive or
the like. Read-only
memory and persistent storage are non-transitory computer-readable storage
mediums. A
computer-readable medium may be organized using a file system such as may be
administered
by an operating system governing overall operation of the example computer
device 300.
[0054] The communications module 330 allows the example computer device
300 to
communicate with other computer or computing devices and/or various
communications
networks. For example, the communications module 330 may allow the example
computer
device 300 to send or receive communications signals. Communications signals
may be sent or
received according to one or more protocols or according to one or more
standards. For
example, the communications module 330 may allow the example computer device
300 to
communicate via a cellular data network, such as for example, according to one
or more
standards such as, for example, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),
Code
Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO), Long-term
Evolution
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
(LTE) or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the communications module
330 may allow the
example computer device 300 to communicate using near-field communication
(NFC), via Wi-Fi
(TM), using Bluetooth (TM) or via some combination of one or more networks or
protocols. In
some embodiments, all or a portion of the communications module 330 may be
integrated into a
component of the example computer device 300. For example, the communications
module may
be integrated into a communications chipset. In some embodiments, the
communications
module 330 may be omitted such as, for example, if sending and receiving
communications is
not required in a particular application.
[0055] The storage module 340 allows the example computer device 300 to
store and
retrieve data. In some embodiments, the storage module 340 may be formed as a
part of the
memory 320 and/or may be used to access all or a portion of the memory 320.
Additionally or
alternatively, the storage module 340 may be used to store and retrieve data
from persisted
storage other than the persisted storage (if any) accessible via the memory
320. In some
embodiments, the storage module 340 may be used to store and retrieve data in
a database. A
database may be stored in persisted storage. Additionally or alternatively,
the storage module
340 may access data stored remotely such as, for example, as may be accessed
using a local area
network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), personal area network (PAN), and/or a
storage area
network (SAN). In some embodiments, the storage module 340 may access data
stored remotely
using the communications module 330. In some embodiments, the storage module
340 may be
omitted and its function may be performed by the memory 320 and/or by the
processor 310 in
concert with the communications module 330 such as, for example, if data is
stored remotely.
The storage module may also be referred to as a data store.
[0056] Software comprising instructions is executed by the processor 310
from a
computer-readable medium. For example, software may be loaded into random-
access memory
from persistent storage of the memory 320. Additionally or alternatively,
instructions may be
executed by the processor 310 directly from read-only memory of the memory
320.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0057] FIG. 4 depicts a simplified organization of software components
stored in the
memory 320 of the example computer device 300 (FIG. 3). As illustrated, these
software
components include an operating system 400 and an application 410.
[0058] The operating system 400 is software. The operating system 400
allows the
application 410 to access the processor 310 (FIG. 3), the memory 320, and the
communications
module 330 of the example computer device 300 (FIG. 3). The operating system
400 may be,
for example, Google (TM) Android (TM), Apple (TM) iOS (TM), UNIX (TM), Linux
(TM),
Microsoft (TM) Windows (TM), Apple OSX (TM) or the like.
[0059] The application 410 adapts the example computer device 300, in
combination
with the operating system 400, to operate as a device performing a particular
function. For
example, the application 410 may cooperate with the operating system 400 to
adapt a suitable
embodiment of the example computer device 300 to operate as the computer
device 240 (FIG. 2)
and/or the server computer system 120.
[0060] While a single application 410 is illustrated in FIG. 3, in
operation the memory
320 may include more than one application 410 and different applications 410
may perform
different operations. For example, in at least some embodiments in which the
computer device
300 is functioning as the computing device 110, the applications 410 may
include a stored-value
card management application. The stored-value card management application may
be provided
as a web application and/or a mobile application. The stored-value card
management application
may be configured to present one or more graphical user interfaces on a
display of the computing
device 110 and/or the computing device 150 and may provide various stored-
value card
management functions.
[0061] The stored-value card management application may require
authentication. For
example, the stored-value card management application may be accessed on the
computing
device 110 and/or the computing device 150 via an internet web browser and may
require
creation of an account such as for example a merchant account or a customer
account. Account
creation may require the submission of credentials to be used for
authentication such as for
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
example a username and a password. The username may include an email address.
It will be
appreciated that in one or more embodiments the stored-value card may be
downloaded or
resident on the computing device 110 and/or the computing device 150 and thus
may be accessed
directly thereon.
[0062] To access the incentive management application on the computing
device 110
and/or the computing device 150, the user may be prompted to enter the
credentials submitted
during the account creation. For example, the user may be prompted to submit a
username and a
password associated with their account. In response to receiving the
credentials, the server
computer system 120 may authenticate the computing device 110 and/or the
computing device
150 (or user) and may identify an account associated therewith. As mentioned,
the account may
be a merchant account or a customer account.
[0063] Within the stored-value card management application, a merchant may
operate the
computing device 110 to communicate with the server computer system 120 to
perform stored-
value card management operations. The stored-value card management functions
may include
defining merchant information such as for example a merchant name, merchant
address, etc. The
stored-value card management functions may additionally or alternatively
include defining one
or more parameters for stored-value cards to be offered for purchase within
the stored-value card
management application. The one or more parameters may include defining
denominations of
stored-value cards that the merchant would like to offer for sale. The
denominations may be, for
example, $5, $10, $25, $50, etc.
[0064] The stored-value card management operations may include selecting
one or more
white-label stored-value card templates. In one or more embodiments, within
the stored-value
card management application, the server computer system 120 may provide a
graphical user
interface for display on the computing device 110 that includes one or more
white-label stored-
value card templates that may be selected by, for example, performing a tap
gesture on a display
screen of the computing device 110 at a location that corresponds to the
location of one of the
white-label stored-value card templates.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0065] The white-label stored-value card templates may include stored-
value card
templates that were previously configured. The white-label stored-value card
templates may be
used to generate digital representation of a stored-value card for the
merchant. An example white-
label stored-value card template 500 is shown in FIG. 5. In this example, the
white-label stored-
value card template 500 includes a first interface element 505 and a second
interface element 510.
The interface elements are fixed in position relative to one another. In one
or more embodiments,
the first interface element 505 may be populated using an image associated
with the merchant and
the second interface element 510 may be populated using a machine-readable
code generated by
the server computer system 120.
[0066] It will be appreciated that different white-label stored-value card
templates may
have additional or alternative interface elements compared to that shown in
FIG. 5. Further,
different white-label stored-value card templates may include different
orientations of interface
elements. Still further, different white-label stored-value card templates may
require different
types of data to populate the interface elements such as for example the
stored-value card identifier,
the denomination of the stored-value card, text identifying the merchant, etc.
Further, different
white-label stored-value card templates may have different appearances such as
for example
different colours, skins, etc.
[0067] As mentioned, in one or more embodiments, the white-label stored-
value card
template may include a first interface element that may be populated using an
image associated
with the merchant. As such, the stored-value card management operations may
include providing
an image to be used to populate the white-label stored-value card template. In
one or more
embodiments, the server computer system 120 may provide a graphical user
interface for display
on the computing device 110 that includes a selectable interface element for
uploading the image.
Responsive to selection of the selectable interface element, the server
computer system 120 may
request access to an image library resident on the computing device 110. The
user may select an
image from the image library and in this manner the image may be obtained.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0068] It will be appreciated that the image may be obtained in other
manners. For
example, the user may perform operations to cause the computing device 110 to
navigate to a
particular file folder or website that may include the image to be provided to
the server computer
system 120.
[0069] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 may
obtain the image
automatically by engaging an application programming interface (API) such as
for example
Google (TM) Images (TM) API. In this example, the server computer system 120
may engage the
API to identify or obtain an image using criteria such as for example the name
of the merchant.
[0070] In one or more embodiments, one or more images obtained by the
server computer
system 120 may be stored in a database in association with the merchant. As
will be described in
more detail below, the selected white-label stored-value card template and/or
the one or more
images obtained by the server computer system 120 may be used to create a
digital representation
of a stored-value card.
[0071] The stored-value card management operations may additionally
include defining
criteria to enable or allow a customer to locate or identify the merchant
within the stored-value
card management application. For example, the merchant may be a pizza place
located in New
York City and as such the merchant may define hashes "I/pizza" and "#NYC".
[0072] It will be appreciated that in one or more embodiments, the server
computer system
120 may define at least some of the criteria. For example, the merchant may
have previously
provided their address and as such the server computer system 120 may use the
address to define
the criteria to enable or allow a customer to locate or identify the merchant
within the stored-value
card management application.
[0073] It will be appreciated that the criteria may be used to obtain the
image that may be
used to populate an interface element of a white-label stored-value card
template. For example,
the merchant may define the hash "#pizza" and as such the server computer
system 120 may
engage an API to obtain an image associated with "#pizza".
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0074] The stored-value card management application may be accessed by a
customer to
locate merchants that offer stored-value cards for purchase. Put another way,
within the stored-
value card management application, a customer may operate the computing device
150 to
communicate with the server computer system 120 to purchase, store, track and
redeem stored-
value cards.
[0075] The server computer system 120 may generate recommendations for
merchants
that offer digital stored-value cards for purchase within the stored-value
card management
application. The server computer system 120 may cause the recommendations to
be displayed
on the computing device 150 within the stored-value card management
application. The
recommendations may be based on, for example, a location of the customer and
this may be
based on location data received from the computing device 150. In one or more
embodiments,
within the stored-value card management application, a search bar may be
displayed that may
allow the customer to enter one or more search terms to locate or identify a
merchant. For
example, a merchant may have defined the hash "I/pizza". A customer may search
for the hash
"#pizza" and the server computer system 120 may cause the computing device 150
to display
any merchants associated with the hash "#pizza" that are located within a
threshold distance of
the computing device 150 that have stored-value cards available for purchase.
[0076] The customer may select a particular merchant and may purchase a
stored-value
card therefrom. The customer may select a denomination for the stored-value
card and this may
be based on criteria defined by the merchant. For example, a merchant may wish
to only offer
stored-value cards of the denominations $25 and $50 and as such the customer
may be prompted
to select $25 or $50 (or multiples thereof) as the denomination for the stored-
value card.
[0077] It will be appreciated that to complete a purchase of the stored-
value card, the
customer may be required to enter payment information such as for example
credit card
information. In one or more embodiments, the stored-value card management
application may
display input fields for manually entering the payment information. In one or
more
embodiments, the stored-value card management application may display a
selectable option
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
that, when selected, displays a mobile or digital wallet resident on the
computing device 150 and
allows the customer to purchase the stored-value card using Apple (TM) Pay,
Google (TM) Pay,
etc. The server computer system 120 may perform operations to complete the
purchase of the
stored-value card and to create the stored-value card.
[0078] Reference is made to FIG. 6, which illustrates, in flowchart form,
a method 600
for creating a stored-value card. The method 600 may be implemented by a
computing device
having suitable processor-executable instructions for causing the computing
device to carry out
the described operations. The method 600 may be implemented, in whole or in
part, by the
server computer system 120. The server computer system 120 may offload some of
the
operations to the computing device 150, for example.
[0079] The method 600 includes receiving a request for a stored-value card
(step 610).
[0080] In one or more embodiments, the request for the stored-value card
may be
received from the computing device 150. For example, within the stored-value
card
management application, a customer may purchase a stored-value card for a
particular merchant
and in response the server computer system 120 may receive the request for the
stored-value
card. The request may define criteria for the stored-value card such as for
example the merchant
associated with the stored-value card, the denomination of the stored-value
card, etc. The
request may also identify the customer or the account used to purchase the
stored-value card.
[0081] The method 600 includes generating a stored-value card identifier
(step 620).
[0082] Responsive to receiving the request for the stored-value card, the
server computer
system 120 may generate a stored-value card identifier.
[0083] In one or more embodiments, the stored-value card identifier may be
generated
using a software module such as for example a random number generator. For
example, the
server computer system 120 may engage a random number generator to generate a
random
sixteen (16) digit number and the sixteen (16) digit number may be the stored-
value card
identifier.
16
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0084] In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the stored-value
card identifier
may be fixed. For example, the first four (4) digits of the sixteen (16) digit
number may be fixed
and this may be used, for example, to identify a merchant. The remaining
twelve (12) digits may
be generated by engaging a random number generator.
[0085] In one or more embodiments, the stored-value card identifier may
follow a
sequence of identifiers. For example, a stored-value card identifier may end
with one or more
digits and the one or more digits may be incremented by a set amount, such as
for example one
(1) digit, each time a new stored-value card identifier is to be generated.
[0086] The method 600 includes creating a data record associated with the
stored-value
card (step 630).
[0087] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 may
create a data
record associated with the stored-value card in a database such as for example
the database 140.
The data record may be associated with the customer and this may be done
using, for example,
authentication provided by the customer when logging into the stored-value
card management
application. The data record may additionally be associated with or may
include the stored-value
card identifier. The data record may additionally include an amount of the
stored-value card.
The amount of the stored-value card may be maintained and updated by the
server computer
system 120 as will be described in more details below. In this manner, the
stored-value card may
be generated or created by the server computer system 120.
[0088] Once the stored-value card has been created, the server computer
system 120 may
perform operations to generate or create a digital representation of the
stored-value card.
Reference is made to FIG. 7, which illustrates, in flowchart form, a method
700 for creating a
digital representation of the stored-value card. The method 700 may be
implemented by a
computing device having suitable processor-executable instructions for causing
the computing
device to carry out the described operations. The method 700 may be
implemented, in whole or
in part, by the server computer system 120. The server computer system 120 may
offload some of
the operations to the computing device 150, for example.
17
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0089] The method 700 includes retrieving, from a database, the white-
label stored-value
card template (step 710).
[0090] As mentioned, the particular merchant associated with the stored-
value card may
have selected or defined a particular white-label stored-value card template
for the stored-value
card. As such, the server computer system 120 may retrieve, from the database,
the white-label
stored-value card template that was selected or defined.
[0091] The method 700 includes obtaining an image for the stored-value
card (step 720).
[0092] As mentioned, within the stored-value card management application,
the merchant
may perform stored-value card management operations that may include providing
an image to be
used to populate the white-label stored-value card template. As such, in one
or more embodiments,
the image for the stored-value card may be retrieved from the database 140.
For example, as
mentioned, the merchant may have uploaded or provided the image that is to be
used for the digital
representation of the stored-value card and as such the server computer system
120 may be
retrieved from the database 140.
[0093] The method 700 includes generating a machine-readable code for the
stored-value
card (step 730).
[0094] As mentioned, the white-label stored-value card template 500 may
include a
second interface element 505 that may be populated using a machine-readable
code generated by
the server computer system 120.
[0095] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 may
engage an
application programming interface (API) such as for example a quick response
(QR) code
generator API that may be used to generate the machine-readable code.
[0096] The machine-readable code may include information identifying the
stored-value
card. For example, the server computer system 120 may generate the machine-
readable code
based on the stored-value card identifier of the stored-value card.
18
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0097] The method 700 includes creating a digital representation of the
stored-value card
(step 740).
[0098] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 creates
a digital
representation of the stored-value card by populating the first interface
element of the white-label
stored-value card template using the image obtained during step 720 and by
populating the
second interface element of the white-label stored-value card template using
the machine-
readable code generated during step 730. In this manner, the server computer
system 120 creates
a digital representation of a stored-value card.
[0099] The server computer system 120 provides the digital representation
of the stored-
value card to the computing device 150 (step 750).
[0100] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 may
provision a
mobile or digital wallet resident on the computing device 150 with the digital
representation of
the stored-value card. The customer may open the mobile or digital wallet on
the computing
device 150 to cause the computing device 150 to display the digital
representation of the stored-
value card. It will be appreciated that displaying the digital representation
of the stored-value
card may include displaying the machine-readable code. The machine-readable
code may be
scanned by a scanning device to redeem or otherwise use the stored-value card.
[0101] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 may
store the
digital representation of the stored-value card in association with the
account of the customer. In
these embodiments, the customer may open the stored-value card management
application on the
computing device 150 and may select an interface element that may cause the
server computer
system 120 to retrieve the digital representation of the stored-value card and
provide it for
display on the display screen of the computing device 150. It will be
appreciated that displaying
the digital representation of the stored-value card may include displaying the
machine-readable
code. The machine-readable code may be scanned by a scanning device to redeem
or otherwise
use the stored-value card.
19
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0102] In one or more embodiments, within the stored-value card management
application, the customer may select an interface element to view all purchase
stored-value cards
and in response the server computer system 120 may cause the computing device
150 to display
all of the stored-value cards associated with the customer. In one or more
embodiments, only
stored-value cards that have a remaining balance or a balance over $0 may be
displayed and any
stored-value cards that do not have a balance may be accessed in a history
page within the
stored-value card management application.
[0103] The customer may redeem or otherwise use the stored-value card to
offset or
reduce a transaction amount of a purchase made at the merchant. For example,
the customer
may visit a particular merchant and may present the stored-value card. The
merchant may
operate a computing device such as for example the computing device 110 and/or
a point-of-sale
device to scan or enter the stored-value card identifier. As another example,
the customer may
enter the stored-value card identifier on a web site or web page associated
with the merchant and
this may be done, for example, during checkout.
[0104] The computing device may communicate the stored-value card
identifier as part
of transaction data to the server computer system 120. The server computer
system 120 may
perform operations to update a balance of the stored-value card and to
initiate a transfer of
resources.
[0105] Reference is made to FIG. 8, which illustrates, in flowchart form,
a method 800 for
initiating a transfer of resources. The method 800 may be implemented by a
computing device
having suitable processor-executable instructions for causing the computing
device to carry out
the described operations. The method 800 may be implemented, in whole or in
part, by the server
computer system 120. The server computer system 120 may offload some of the
operations to the
computing device 110 and/or the computing device 150, for example.
[0106] The method 800 includes obtaining data (step 810).
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0107] In one or more embodiments, the data may include transaction data
and the server
computer system 120 may obtain the transaction data from a computing device
associated with
the merchant. The computing device may include the computing device 110, a
point-of-sale
terminal, or another type of computing device associated with the merchant.
[0108] The transaction data may include a transaction identifier that may
be unique to
that particular transaction. The transaction data may include a transaction
amount, payment
information such as for example credit card information, a stored-value card
identifier and a
transaction amount for the stored-value card, etc.
[0109] It will be appreciated in one or more embodiments that the server
computer
system 120 may be responsible for processing the transaction and as such the
server computer
system 120 may receive a request to complete a transaction and may perform
operations to
complete the transaction. The request to complete the transaction data may
include the
transaction data described herein.
[0110] The method 800 includes analyzing the data to identify a stored-
value card and an
amount for the stored-value card (step 820).
[0111] As mentioned, in one or more embodiments, the data may include
transaction
data. The server computer system 120 may analyze the transaction data to
identify a stored-
value card used for a transaction and a transaction amount for the stored-
value card. The stored-
value card may be identified using the stored-value card identifier. The
transaction amount is the
amount of the stored-value card used for the purchase.
[0112] In one or more embodiments, the transaction amount for the stored-
value card
may be less than a balance of the stored-value card. For example, a stored-
value card may have
a balance of $50 and the transaction data may identify that the amount of the
transaction is $35.
In this example, the transaction data identifies that the transaction amount
for the stored-value
card is $35.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0113] In one or more embodiments, the transaction amount for the stored-
value card
may be equal to a balance of the stored-value card. For example, a stored-
value card may have a
balance of $50 and the transaction data may identify that the amount of the
transaction is $50. In
this example, the transaction data identifies that the transaction amount for
the stored-value card
is $50.
[0114] In one or more embodiments, the transaction amount for the stored-
value card
may be greater than a balance of the stored-value card. For example, a stored-
value card may
have a balance of $50 and the transaction data may identify that the amount of
the transaction is
$75. In this example, the transaction data identifies that the transaction
amount for the stored-
value card is $50. The transaction data may also identify that the outstanding
amount of the
transaction ($25) was paid using a credit card, cash, etc. In embodiments
where the server
computer system 120 is responsible for processing the transaction, the server
computer system
120 may perform operations to complete the payment using the credit card, for
example.
[0115] The method 800 includes updating a data record associated with the
stored-value
card based on the amount (step 830).
[0116] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120
communicates with
the database to update the data record associated with the stored-value card.
The data record
may be updated based on the amount for the stored-value card which may include
a transaction
amount.
[0117] In one or more embodiments, updating the data record may include
subtracting
the transaction amount for the stored-value card from a current balance of the
stored-value card.
For example, the stored-value card may have a balance of $50 and the
transaction data may
identify that the amount of the transaction for the stored-value card is $35.
As such, the server
computer system 120 may update the data record to update the balance of the
stored-value card
to $15. As another example, the stored-value card may have a balance of $50
and the transaction
data may identify that the amount of the transaction for the stored-value card
is $50. As such, the
22
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
server computer system 120 may update the data record to update the balance of
the stored-value
card to $0.
[0118] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 may
determine that
the updated balance of the stored-value card is equal to $0 and in response
the server computer
system 120 may perform operations to remove or delete the stored-value card.
For example, the
server computer system 120 may delete the data record associated with the
stored-value card or
may perform operations to deactivate or archive the data record associated
with the stored-value
card. Further, the server computer system 120 may perform operations to remove
the digital
representation of the stored-value card from the computing device 150. For
example, the server
computer system 120 may communicate with the computing device 150 to remove
the stored-
value card from the digital or mobile wallet resident thereon. As another
example, the server
computer system 120 may remove the stored-value card from the stored-value
card management
application such that it is no longer visible when the customer is logged into
the stored-value
card management application. As yet another example, the server computer
system 120 may
update a status of the stored-value card within the stored-value card
management application
such that it is no longer active or visible but may be viewed from a history
page that may be
available within the stored-value card management application.
[0119] The method 800 includes transferring resources to a network
restricted data
record based on the transaction amount for the stored-value card (step 840).
[0120] The server computer system 120 may maintain one or more data
records that are
network restricted. In one or more embodiments, the network restricted data
record may include
a data record that is associated with the merchant but is not accessible by
the merchant. In one or
more embodiments, a data record that is not accessible by the merchant may
include a data
record that the merchant has read-only access to. In one or more embodiments,
a data record that
is not accessible by the merchant may include a data record that the merchant
cannot access. The
one or more network restricted data records may store data that reflect an
amount of resources.
At least a first one of the data records may track a total amount of resources
based on stored-
23
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
value cards purchased for the merchant and at least a second one of the data
records may track a
total amount of resources based on stored-value cards used to complete
transactions at the
merchant.
[0121] In one or more embodiments, each time a stored-value card is
purchased for the
merchant, the server computer system 120 may update the first data record. For
example, a
customer may purchase a stored-value card for a particular merchant for $25
and in response the
server computer system 120 may complete a transaction for the purchase and may
update the
first data record to include the $25.
[0122] In one or more embodiments, each time a stored-value card is used
to complete a
purchase at the merchant, the server computer system 120 may update the second
data record.
For example, a customer may redeem $25 from a stored-value card for a
transaction at a
particular merchant and in response the server computer system 120 may update
the second data
record to include the $25. It will be appreciated that in one or more
embodiments the server
computer system 120 may transfer the $25 from the first data record to the
second data record.
[0123] It will be appreciated that in one or more embodiments, an
input/output modifier
may be applied to the resource prior to be transferred into the first data
record and/or the second
data record and the input/output modifier may be a set fee such as for example
a $1 fee for
managing stored-value cards for the merchant.
[0124] The method 800 includes determining a trigger condition (step 850).
[0125] In one or more embodiments, the trigger condition may be associated
with the
first or second data record associated with the merchant. For example, the
trigger condition may
be associated with the second data record associated with the merchant. In
these embodiments,
the trigger condition may include determining that a total amount of resources
in the second data
record is greater than a threshold. For example, the threshold may be $500 and
as such
responsive to determining that the total amount of resources stored in the
second data record is
greater than $500, the trigger condition may be determined.
24
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0126] In one or more embodiments, the trigger condition may include
determining that
an amount of network traffic is less than a threshold. In these embodiments,
the network traffic
may include payment rail network traffic. The server computer system 120 may
engage a
network analyzer to monitor network traffic on a particular payment rail. The
server computer
system 120 may determine that the network traffic is less than a threshold and
in response, the
trigger condition may be determined.
[0127] The method 800 includes initiating a transfer of resources from the
network
restricted data record to a network unrestricted data record (step 860).
[0128] Responsive to determining the trigger condition, the server
computer system 120
may initiate a transfer of resources. The transfer of resources may be from a
network restricted
data record to a network unrestricted data record.
[0129] In one or more embodiments, responsive to determining that the
total amount of
resources stored in the second data record is greater than $500, the server
computer system 120
may initiate a transfer of resources to a network unrestricted data record. In
this manner, only
once a predefined amount of resources have been redeemed using stored-value
cards for the
merchant does the merchant actually have access to the resources. As such, the
amount of
transfers from the network restricted data record to the network unrestricted
data record is
reduced and as a result the overall reliance on the network is reduced.
[0130] In one or more embodiments, responsive to determining that the
network traffic
on a particular network, such as for example a payment rail network, is less
than a threshold, the
server computer system 120 may initiate a transfer of resources to the network
unrestricted data
record. As such, only when a particular network has sufficient bandwidth to
handle the transfer
does the server computer system 120 perform operations to initiate the
transfer of resources.
[0131] In manners described herein, the server computer system 120
maintains all
resources used to purchase stored-value cards and all resources redeemed using
the purchased
stored-value cards on behalf of the merchant. As mentioned, the merchant may
not access the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
data records used to store the resources. This may ensure that the merchant
(or a computing
device of the merchant) does not occupy bandwidth on the network to access the
data records.
Only once a trigger condition has been determined does the server computer
system 120 perform
operations to initiate a transfer of resources to a network unrestricted data
record. In this
manner, the overall reliance on the network is reduced and bandwidth of the
network is freed up
for other operations that may require network usage.
[0132] In one or more embodiments described herein, a PIN may be required
to redeem a
stored-value card. The PIN may be generated by the server computer system 120
and/or may be
defined by the customer purchasing the stored-value card. The PIN may be
stored in association
with the stored-value card identifier and may be required to redeem the stored-
value card.
[0133] In one or more embodiments, the server computer system 120 may
generate the
PIN at the same time as generating the stored-value card identifier. The PIN
may be provided to
the customer purchasing the stored-value card within the stored-value card
management
application. The PIN may additionally or alternatively be communicated to the
computing
device 150 via text message or email.
[0134] In one or more embodiments, within the stored-value management
application,
the customer may pre-define a PIN that may be used for all stored-value cards
purchased within
the stored-value card management application. For example, the customer may
define a PIN of
"1234" within the stored-value card management application. Any stored-value
cards purchased
by the customer within the stored-value card management application may
automatically be
assigned the PIN of "1234" and this PIN may be stored in association with the
stored-value card
identifier.
[0135] It will be appreciated that in one or more embodiments described
herein, the
stored-value card identifier may be stored in the database in association with
identifying
information of the customer such as for example an email address of the
customer. As such, the
customer may request to retrieve any purchased stored-value cards maintained
by the server
computer system 120 using their email address. It will be appreciated that in
embodiments
26
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
where a PIN is required to redeem a stored-value card, the server computer
system 120 may
require the customer to provide the PIN prior to retrieving the stored-value
card from the
database.
[0136] Although in embodiments described herein, for example with
reference to the
method 600 shown in FIG. 6, a stored-value card is generated once it has been
purchased by a
customer, it will be appreciated that the stored-value cards may be generated
prior to be
purchased. For example, within the stored-value card management application,
the merchant
may be provided with a selectable interface element to pre-generate a
predefined number of
stored-value cards for one or more particular denominations. Responsive to
selection of the
selectable interface element, the server computer system 120 may generate the
predefined
number of stored-value cards in manners similar to that described herein. The
pre-generated
stored-value cards may be stored in the database in association with the
merchant. A customer
may purchase one of the stored-value cards and one of the pre-generated stored-
value cards may
be assigned automatically to the customer. In this manner, the merchant may
control or limit the
amount of stored-value cards that can be purchased by customers within the
stored-value card
management application.
[0137] It will be appreciated that in one or more embodiments, the server
computer
system 120 may store at least some of the details of a transaction in the
database on behalf of the
merchant. For example, responsive to obtaining transaction data (such as for
example during
step 810 of the method 800), the server computer system 120 may obtain the
transaction
identifier and may store the transaction identifier in the database in
association with the stored-
value card identifier. As another example, the server computer system 120 may
store all of the
transaction data in the database in association with the stored-value card
identifier. In this
manner, the merchant may track and manage what stored-value cards were used
for what
transactions and this may be done within the stored-value card management
application.
[0138] The methods described herein may be modified and/or operations of
such methods
combined to provide other methods.
27
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
[0139] Example embodiments of the present application are not limited to
any particular
operating system, system architecture, mobile device architecture, server
architecture, or computer
programming language.
[0140] It will be understood that the applications, modules, routines,
processes, threads, or
other software components implementing the described method/process may be
realized using
computer programming techniques and languages. The present application is not
limited to
particular processors, computer languages, computer programming conventions,
data structures,
or other such implementation details. Those skilled in the art will recognize
that the described
processes may be implemented as a part of computer-executable code stored in
volatile or non-
volatile memory, as part of an application-specific integrated chip (ASIC),
etc.
[0141] As noted, certain adaptations and modifications of the described
embodiments can
be made. Therefore, the herein discussed embodiments are considered to be
illustrative and not
restrictive.
28
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-16
