US7340423B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for defining a relationship between an account and a group
Assignee: First Data Corp
•
Filing: 1999-04-23
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Granted: 2008-03-04
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Expires: 2019-04-23
Abstract
Abstract Defining a relationship between an account and a group. Accounts corresponding to different products are linked together to create a group so that group processing can be performed at the group level while independent processing of the accounts is performed at the account level. The relationship between a dependent account and the group is specified by a dependent strategy. A dependent strategy specifies group level processing options for the account. The relationships between the accounts and the group are flexible to accommodate changes in the status of the group cardholders.
Inventors
- 👤 Lynn Holm Blagg
- 👤 Darren D. Beck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/02; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/102; G06Q20/108; G06Q99/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for defining relationships between accounts and a group to facilitate group processing while maintaining independent processing of the accounts, wherein the group includes a first account corresponding to a first product and a second account corresponding to second product, the method comprising: providing parameters that correspond to group processing options; defining a first relationship between the first account and the group by selecting values for the parameters to define a first set of group processing options; and defining a second relationship between the second account and the group by selecting values for the parameters to define a second set of group processing options that is independent of the first set of group processing options.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for defining relationships between accounts and a group to facilitate group processing while maintaining independent processing of the accounts, wherein the group includes a first account corresponding to a first product and a second account corresponding to second product, the method comprising: providing parameters that correspond to group processing options; defining a first relationship between the first account and the group by selecting values for the parameters to define a first set of group processing options; and defining a second relationship between the second account and the group by selecting values for the parameters to define a second set of group processing options that is independent of the first set of group processing options.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: grouping the first set of group processing options together; and labeling the first set of group processing options as a dependent strategy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of: maintaining a strategy history for the dependent strategy, wherein the strategy history includes any changes in the group processing options associated with the strategy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: modifying the first relationship by modifying the first set of group processing options while maintaining the second relationship.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters include an authorization option.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters identify a liable party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters include a cardholder communication option.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters include a reward pooling option.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a primary owner is associated with the group and a first cardholder is associated with the first account, comprising the step of: modifying ownership of the group so that the first cardholder is a new primary owner by changing a relationship parameter value for the first account from dependent to key.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: maintaining account history for the accounts in the group, wherein the account history for each account includes any changes in the group processing options associated with the account and any changes in the account's membership in the group.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for creating a dependent strategy to customize a relationship between a dependent account and a group, the method comprising: selecting a set of parameters from a plurality of parameters; defining values for the set of parameters to define group processing options; labeling the set of parameters and the values for the set of parameters as the dependent strategy; and associating the dependent strategy with the dependent account to customize the relationship between the dependent account and the group, wherein the group includes at least the dependent account and another account, and wherein and the other account is processed independent from the dependent account.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for creating a dependent strategy to customize a relationship between a dependent account and a group, the method comprising: selecting a set of parameters from a plurality of parameters; defining values for the set of parameters to define group processing options; labeling the set of parameters and the values for the set of parameters as the dependent strategy; and associating the dependent strategy with the dependent account to customize the relationship between the dependent account and the group, wherein the group includes at least the dependent account and another account, and wherein and the other account is processed independent from the dependent account.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of: modifying the dependent strategy by: selecting a parameter from the set of parameters; and modifying the value of the selected parameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the dependent strategy is associated with a plurality of dependent accounts that are associated with a plurality of groups, further comprising the steps of: modifying the dependent strategy by: selecting a parameter from the set of parameters; and modifying the value for the selected parameter so that the relationships between the dependent accounts associated with the dependent strategy and the groups are modified.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of: defining a second set of values for the set of parameters; labeling the set of parameters and the second set of values as a second dependent strategy; and associating the second dependent strategy with a second dependent account to customize the relationship between the second dependent account and the group.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: changing the relationship between the dependent account and the group by: associating the second dependent strategy with the dependent account to change the relationship between the dependent account and the group while maintaining the relationship between the second dependent account and the group.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for defining relationships between accounts in a group to facilitate group level processing while maintaining independent processing of the accounts, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of dependent strategies, each dependent strategy defining a customized relationship to the group; associating a first dependent strategy with a first account to define the relationship between the first account and the group; and associating a second dependent strategy with a second account to define the relationship between the second account and the group.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for defining relationships between accounts in a group to facilitate group level processing while maintaining independent processing of the accounts, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of dependent strategies, each dependent strategy defining a customized relationship to the group; associating a first dependent strategy with a first account to define the relationship between the first account and the group; and associating a second dependent strategy with a second account to define the relationship between the second account and the group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: changing the relationship between the first account and the group by associating a different dependent strategy with the first account so that the relationship between the first account and the group is changed while maintaining the relationship between the second account and the group.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein a primary owner is associated with the group, and wherein the first dependent strategy specifies that a first cardholder associated with the first account is jointly liable for the group.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for maturing a dependent account that is a member of a group into a key account for a second group, comprising the steps of: selecting the dependent account; and modifying a relationship parameter that defines the dependent account's relationship to the group from dependent to key, so that the dependent account is matured into the key account for the second group and a dependent cardholder associated with the dependent account is matured into a primary owner of the second group.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for maturing a dependent account that is a member of a group into a key account for a second group, comprising the steps of: selecting the dependent account; and modifying a relationship parameter that defines the dependent account's relationship to the group from dependent to key, so that the dependent account is matured into the key account for the second group and a dependent cardholder associated with the dependent account is matured into a primary owner of the second group.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of: maintaining account history for the dependent account by associating the account history with the key account for the second group.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the group includes a plurality of dependent accounts, further comprising the steps of: selecting a set of dependent accounts; moving the set of dependent accounts to the second group; and maintaining account histories for the set of dependent accounts.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for maturing a dependent account into a key account for a group, the group including the dependent account and an original key account that corresponds to an original primary owner, wherein the original key account is distinct from the dependent account, the method comprising: selecting the dependent account; modifying a relationship parameter that defines the dependent account's relationship to the group from dependent to key, so that the dependent account is matured into the key account and a dependent cardholder associated with the dependent account is matured into a primary owner of the group; and modifying a relationship parameter that defines the original key account's relationship to the group from key to dependent, so that the original key account is changed to a second dependent account and the original primary owner is changed to a second dependent cardholder.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for maturing a dependent account into a key account for a group, the group including the dependent account and an original key account that corresponds to an original primary owner, wherein the original key account is distinct from the dependent account, the method comprising: selecting the dependent account; modifying a relationship parameter that defines the dependent account's relationship to the group from dependent to key, so that the dependent account is matured into the key account and a dependent cardholder associated with the dependent account is matured into a primary owner of the group; and modifying a relationship parameter that defines the original key account's relationship to the group from key to dependent, so that the original key account is changed to a second dependent account and the original primary owner is changed to a second dependent cardholder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-03-04 | 2011-09-03 | 2012-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-03-04 | 2015-09-03 | 2016-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-03-04 | 2019-09-03 | 2020-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |