BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

&null;0001&null; This invention relates generally to the field of stored value accounts, and in particular to accounting practices relating to such accounts. More specifically, the invention relates to the management of stored value transactions that occur across multiple business entities.

&null;0002&null; Stored value accounts have gained widespread use in the United States, among other countries. Such stored value accounts are typically associated with a card having an account number, and are often referred to as &null;gift cards.&null; These cards can often be purchased at a retail location for a special amount, e.g., $20. After paying for the card, the account number is read from the card, such as by using a mag stripe reader. The account number is transmitted to a database where the associated account is credited for $20. Each time a purchase is made, the account is debited by the purchase amount.

&null;0003&null; One issue that arises when using such cards to make purchases is how to account for transactions that occur across different business entities. Such situations may arise, for example, when merchants are franchised or have affiliate locations. For example, a franchised organization is often made up of various franchisees that independently own and operate their own store or groups of stores. Such franchisees typically utilize their own accounting systems. As such, if a customer purchases a gift card at one franchise location and then attempts to use the card to make a purchase at another franchise location that is separately owned and/or managed, there is no way to reconcile accounts between the two franchisees. As such, many franchise locations simply refuse to honor gift cards purchased at other locations, thereby reducing their attractiveness to consumers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

&null;0004&null; The invention provides systems and methods for facilitating the settlement of financial accounts across different entities. The invention utilizes a host computer system that tracks financial transactions made at each merchant location or store and uses this information to reconcile accounts across different entities.

&null;0005&null; For example, in one embodiment the host computer periodically performs a net settlement analysis of the transactional data received from each entity's stores. A request is prepared to transfer funds from each entity's bank account having a positive net settlement amount into a central entity bank account. A request is also prepared to transfer funds into each entity's bank account having a negative net settlement amount from the central entity bank account.

&null;0006&null; The net settlement analysis may be performed by subtracting all negative adjustments from all positive adjustments that occurred within a certain time. Examples of negative adjustments include redemptions or purchases made at stores, and examples of positive adjustments include activations or reloads made at stores.

&null;0007&null; Conveniently, the request to transfer funds may be in the form of an ACH file. In this way, the host computer may send the file to the appropriate banks to transfer the funds to and from each entity's bank account.

&null;0008&null; The host computer system may comprise a transaction processor that processes incoming financial transaction data. For example, the transaction processor may process the data to activate new accounts, add value to an existing account, or maintain records of balances of existing accounts. The host computer may also have a settlement engine to perform the settlement analysis based on each of the entity's data.

&null;0009&null; The transaction processor may conveniently receive the transactional data from various point of sale devices that may be located within the stores. Also, various types of presentation instruments may be used to store customer account information that may be read by the point of sale devices.

&null;0010&null; In another embodiment, the host computer may settle the accounts by analyzing each of the transactions to determine the store in which the transaction originated. The host computer may also maintain a record of the transactions that occurred within entities other than where the associated customer account originated. For the transactions that occurred within one of the entities other than where the associated account originated, the host computer periodically prepares a request to transfer funds into or out from the bank accounts of the entities where the transactions occurred, and out from or into the bank accounts of the entities where the associated account originated, depending on whether the associated accounts are to be debited or credited.

&null;0011&null; For example, where the transactions comprise redemptions that occurred within the entities other than where the accounts originated, requests are periodically created to transfer funds into the bank accounts of the entities where the redemption transactions occurred and out of the bank accounts of the entities where the associated accounts originated.

&null;0012&null; As another example, for reload transactions that occurred within the entities other than where the associated accounts originated, requests are periodically prepared to transfer funds from the bank accounts of the entities where the reload transactions occurred and into the bank accounts of the entities where the associated accounts originated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

&null;0013&null; FIG. 1A is a front view of one embodiment of a presentation instrument that may be used in accordance with the invention.

&null;0014&null; FIG. 1B is a rear view of the presentation instrument of FIG. 1A.

&null;0015&null; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a point of sale device that may be used in accordance with the invention.

&null;0016&null; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating both a system and a method for settling accounts across multiple entities according to the invention.

&null;0017&null; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another system and method for settling accounts across multiple entities according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

&null;0018&null; The invention provides for the settlement of financial accounts where the underlying financial transactions occur across multiple different entities. Although useful with essentially any type of financial accounts, the invention will find particular use with stored value accounts.

&null;0019&null; Such accounts typically have an associated identifier that may conveniently be stored on a presentation instrument, such as a card. Such presentation instruments may initially be in an inactive state where no value is associated with the presentation instrument. To associate a value with the account, a consumer may purchase one of the cards for a certain amount, such as fifty dollars. Conveniently, this transaction (referred to as an activation) may be processed at a merchant location. In such cases, the merchant collects a payment, using cash, credit card, debit card or any other acceptable form of payment, and enters this information into a point-of-sale device. The account identifier associated with the presentation instrument is also entered into the point-of-sale device. For example, the identifier may be stored on a magnetic stripe, on a bar code label, or the like. Examples of such point-of-sale devices that may be used to capture and/or transmit such information to a host computer system are described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/116,619, filed Apr. 3, 2002, the complete disclosure which is herein incorporated by reference. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to a specific type of processing/reading device. For example, other ways of transmitting information include by telephone (such as by using an IVR system), by contacting a customer service representative or the like. Reload transactions, where value is added to an existing account, may occur in a similar manner.

&null;0020&null; Such information is transmitted to the host computer system which has a record of the account identifier. Such information may be transmitted across a variety of networks including telephone networks, credit card networks, wide area networks, the Internet, wireless networks, and the like. Further, depending on the type of processing device used to transmit the information, such devices may also be coupled to a financial network, such as a credit card or ATM network, or may have a direct connection to the host computer system. If connected to a financial network, the host computer system may be configured to determine that the transaction is related to a stored value account rather than a traditional credit or debit card and may process the information appropriately.

&null;0021&null; When such information is received at the host computer system, the value that was paid by the consumer is associated with the account identifier. In so doing, the account is activated so that the consumer may then use the presentation instrument for making a subsequent purchase.

&null;0022&null; To redeem part or all of the value associated with the presentation instrument (referred to as a redemption transaction), the consumer simply needs to provide the account identifier at the time of redemption. For example, if a consumer desired to purchase a video, the consumer may simply provide the presentation instrument to the clerk at the time of check out. The identifier may then be read from the presentation instrument using a point-of-sale device and transmitted back to the host computer system. Along with this information, a location of the transaction may also be transmitted. This may be entered and transmitted using any of the techniques previously described. The host computer system is configured to determine the amount of value remaining in the account and to debit the account by the transaction amount if sufficient value exists in the account. Further, information confirming the transaction may be transmitted back to the point-of-sale device.

&null;0023&null; Other information regarding the transaction that may be transmitted back to the point-of-sale device includes the amount debited, the new balance, and the like. This information may be displayed by the point-of-sale device and may optionally be printed to provide a paper receipt.

&null;0024&null; Consumers typically perform transactions, such as redemptions, activations, reloads and the like at merchant locations, such as stores, using the Internet or from some other type of network. These stores may be part of the same business entity or may be separate. For example, a bagel franchise may have stores in California that are owned and operated by one business entity, while the stores in Oregon are owned and operated by another business entity. When transactions are performed, they are transmitted to the host computer system for processing. The host computer system is also used to determine appropriate credits and debits to each entity's bank account based on certain criteria. Periodically, the host computer system may prepare requests to transfer funds into and out from the entities' bank accounts in accordance with the criteria.

&null;0025&null; For example, according to one scheme, each transaction is tracked to determine its location. The transaction location is compared with the entity where the associated account was activated (referred to as the originating entity). Based on the type of transaction and whether the transaction locations is within the originating entity, an entity's bank account may be credited or debited during the next reconciliation cycle.

&null;0026&null; As another example, a central bank account may be used to reconcile each entity's bank account. With such an embodiment, only the location where the transaction originated need be monitored. Periodically, each entity's bank account is brought to a zero balance by transfers to or from the central bank account based on whether the entity has a positive or a negative transaction total for a given period.

&null;0027&null; Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, one embodiment of a presentation instrument 10 that may be used with the invention will be described. In general, the presentation instruments of the invention may be constructed of a wide variety of materials that are capable of storing an identifier that uniquely identifies the associated account. For example, the material may comprise a card 12 (that in turn may be constructed of plastic, cardstock, paper, or the like). Other materials include a computer disk (such as a CD, DVD or the like) or other tangible media. Further, the identifier may be stored in a variety of formats, such as in print, on magnetic media (such as a magnetic stripe 14), in a bar code format 16, in a computer processor (also known as a smart chip) or the like. Appropriate readers may be employed at the point-of-sale to read such formats and then transmit them to the host computer system for processing. Card 12 may also include merchant identification information, such as a name, logo, or the like.

&null;0028&null; Referring now to FIG. 2, a point-of-sale device 20 that may be used will be described in greater detail. In so doing, it will be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited for use with only a specific type of point-of-sale device. Indeed, any type of processing or computing device that may transmit and receive data over a network may be used.

&null;0029&null; Point-of-sale device 20 comprises a housing 22 having a display screen 24 and input devices 26. Conveniently, input device 26 may comprise keys or buttons that may be depressed to enter information into a point-of-sale device 14. Input devices 26 may each be associated with one or more letters or other alpha numeric characters, or may operate as function keys.

&null;0030&null; Point-of-sale device 14 also includes a reader 28 that may be used to read information from mag stripe 14 of presentation instrument 10. Alternatively, reader 28 may be configured to read a variety of other formats such as bar code labels, smart chips, and the like in a manner similar to that previously described.

&null;0031&null; Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, two embodiments of systems and methods that may be used to reconcile accounts across multiple entities will be described. Both embodiments utilize a host computer system 30. A wide variety of information may be stored in computer system 30. Such information may include, for example, account identifiers that uniquely identify each account. Other information that may be associated with each account identifier includes an opening balance, an originating entity, an existing balance, transaction amounts associated with each transaction, including debits to the account, redemption locations, redemption times, redemption amounts, local or transactional currencies used for various transactions for each entity's bank account, exchange rates used in converting currencies, entities for each of the locations, bank account information, and the like. Such a host computer system may be configured as a server computer with an associated database, as a mainframe computer, or the like. One example of such a host computer system is the one utilized by IPS Card Solutions, a division of First Data Corp.

&null;0032&null; Transactions originate from consumers 32 that may use presentation instruments (such as described in connection with FIG. 1) that are read using point of sale devices (such as described in connection with FIG. 2). To perform a transaction (such as an activation, a redemption or a reload) a consumer 32 proceeds to a store (or other transaction location) that can originate the transaction. As shown in FIG. 3, each store is part of a business entity. For convenience of illustration, the stores are consecutively numbered as Stores 1-12 and the business entities are labeled as Entities 1-3. In so doing, it will be appreciated that the invention may be used with other numbers of entities and stores, as well as the number of stores within a particular entity.

&null;0033&null; According to the invention, consumers may perform transactions in a single store, in multiple stores and/or within stores of multiple entities. The transaction information from such transactions is transmitted from the point of sale device in each store to host computer 30 where they are processed using a transaction processor 34. The results produced by host computer 30 are transmitted back to the point of sale device where the transaction originated so that the transaction may be completed.

&null;0034&null; Host computer 30 also performs an analysis of each transaction to determine if the transaction occurred within the entity where the account was originally activated (referred to as the originating entity), or outside of the originating entity. A settlement engine 36 keeps a running total (for each entity) of those transactions that occurred outside of the originating entity. This data is used to generate ACH fund transfers required for a specified time period to reconcile the accounts for each entity. Such reconciliation time periods may be essentially any time, such as hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and the like. Entities 1-3 each have a corresponding bank account, which are respectively referred to as Entity Bank Accounts 1-3.

&null;0035&null; As an example (as illustrated in FIG. 3), for redemption transactions that occur outside of an originating entity, the originating entity may receive a debit. For reloads occurring outside an originating entity, the originating entity may receive a credit. Hence, when a customer activates an account with a certain beginning value, that amount is credited to the specific customer account using host 30 and to the originating entity's bank account. If the consumer makes a redemption with the originating entity, host computer 30 simply debits the consumer's account by the redemption amount and makes a corresponding debit to the originating entity's bank account. For reloads that occur within the originating entity, the consumer's account is credited by the reload amount, and the originating entity's account is also credited.

&null;0036&null; However, if a redemption is made outside of the originating entity (e.g., Entity3), the originating entity (e.g., Entity 1) will at some time send a transfer to the redemption entity bank account (e.g., from Entity 1 Bank Account to Entity 3 Bank Account) for the amount of the redemption. Conversely, for reloads made outside of the originating entity (e.g., Entity 3), the originating entity (e.g., Entity 1) will at some time receive a transfer of funds from the reloading entity (e.g., from Entity 3 Bank Account to Entity 1 Bank Account). Settlement engine 36 is configured to periodically perform such reconciliations, and creates ACH files for the funds transfers between the bank accounts. Such a model thus creates the potential for a fund transfer between each entity. For example, a DDA Authorization Form may be required from each entity bank account to the bank accounts of all other entities. For instance, for 10 entities, up to 100 authorization forms may be required.

&null;0037&null; The embodiment of FIG. 4 utilizes a central bank account 40 to manage the settlement process. With the embodiment of FIG. 4, it is not necessary to track whether a redemption or a reload occurred at an entity other than an originating entity. Rather, on a periodic basis, settlement engine 36 is used to perform a net settlement analysis of all transactional data for each entity. The settlement analysis subtracts all negative adjustments occurring within the entity, (i.e. redemptions) from all positive adjustments (i.e. activations and reloads) occurring within the entity. Such a process may occur hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and the like.

&null;0038&null; If an entity's (e.g., Entity 1) net settlement amount is positive, (e.g., the activation and reload amounts exceed the redemption amounts), the settlement engine 36 prepares an ACH file for a fund transfer from the entity's bank account (e.g., Entity 1 Bank Account) to the central entity bank account 40. For negative net settlement amounts (where the redemption amounts exceed the activation and reload amounts for a given entity), settlement engine 40 prepares an ACH file for a fund transfer from the central entity bank account 40 to the entity's bank account. Hence, funds are transferred to and from central entity bank account 40 as required to zero balance each entity's bank account at the time of net settlement.

EXAMPLES

&null;0039&null; One specific example of settlement processes that may occur using the embodiments described in FIGS. 3 and 4 will now be described in reference to Tables 1-3. Table 1 sets forth the various transactions that occur within different stores and different entities. Tables 2A and 2C illustrate the accounts as they would appear using the embodiment of FIG. 3. As shown in Table 2A, a reload is a positive value for the entity where the reload occurred, regardless of whether the entity was originating or non-originating. For redemptions, the value is negative. Hence, as shown in Table 2B, when the accounts are reconciled, all non-originating transactions (e.g. redemptions and reloads) will involve funds transfers between the originating entity bank accounts. Redemptions require a funds transfer into the bank account entity where the redemption was made, while reloads require a funds transfer to the originating bank account. FIG. 2C illustrates the bank accounts following reconciliation. Alternatively, reloads could be credited to the entity where the reloads occurred so that no funds transfers would be required.

1

TABLE 1

Transactions

Customer &null;

Entity 1

Entity 2

Entity 3

1

$20 A, SN 1

&null;$8 RD, SN6

&null;$12 RD, SN10

$20 RL, SN5

2

&null;$10 RD, SN2

$30 A, SN6

&null;$20 RD, SN7

3

0$10 RD, SN4

&null;$20 RD, SN5

$50 A, SN12

&null;$10 RD, SN12

&null;5 RD, SN11

SN &null; Store Number

A &null; Activation

RD &null; Redemption

RL &null; Reload

&null;0040&null;

2

TABLE 2A

Account Summary Before Reconciliation

(Decentralized Embodiment)

Transaction

Entity 1

Entity 2

Entity 3

Activations

$20

$30

$50

Reloads by Originating Entity

Reloads by Non-Originating Entity

$20

Redemptions by Originating Entity

&null;$20

&null;$15

Redemptions by Non-Originating Entity

&null;$20

&null;$28

&null;$12

0

$2

$23

&null;0041&null;

3

TABLE 2B

Cash Flows During Reconciliation

Entity 1

Entity 2

Entity 3

$10 from Entity 2, RD

$8 from Entity 1, RD

$12 from Entity 1, RD

$10 from Entity 3, RD

$20 from Entity 3, RD

$20 from Entity 2, RL

&null;0042&null;

4

TABLE 2C

Account Summary After Reconciliation

Entity 1

Entity 2

Entity 3

Beginning Balance

&null;0

&null;$2

&null;$23

&null;$10 RD

&null;$10 RD

&null;$10 RD

&null;$10 RD

&null;$20 RL

&null;$20 RL

&null;&null;$8 RD

&null;&null;$8 RD

&null;$20 RD

&null;$20 RD

&null;$12 RD

&null;$12 RD

Ending Balance

&null;$20

&null;0

&null;&null;$5

&null;0043&null; Table 3 below illustrates how the transactions of Table 1 are reconciled using the embodiment of FIG. 4. As shown, each entity's bank account is brought to a zero balance, with Entity 2 Bank Account transferring $2 to central entity bank account 40 and Entity 3 Bank Account transferring $23 to central entity bank account40.

5

TABLE 3

Account Summary After Reconciliation

(Centralized Embodiment)

Entity 1

Entity 2

Entity 3

Beginning Balance

0

$2

$23

Ending Balance

0

0

0

&null;0044&null; The invention has now been described in detail for purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.