Systems and methods for determining a need for authorization

Abstract

Authorization verification systems and methods are described that determine whether an authorization check is to be performed at a point of sale or other point of control, and, if the authorization check is to be performed, that check the authorization and that store a retrievable record of the authorization check. The system receives authorization information for an individual that is indicative of the individual's authorization to purchase a product or service, to enter a location, to attend an event, or to otherwise participate in an encounter whose access is limited to authorized individuals. In one embodiment, authorization for making a purchase is limited to individuals above an age threshold, and the authorization verification system receives information relating to the individual's age via an electronic scanning of a driver's license or other identification card, or by other methods, and uses the birth date information to calculate the customer's current age. The current age can be displayed on an existing display of a point-of-sale device or other display. A record of the authorization can be stored and can subsequently be retrieved to verify that an authorization check for the encounter was carried out.

1 . A method for performing an authorization check for an item that a purchaser is attempting to purchase, the method comprising: 
 identifying an age-related authorization threshold associated with an item a purchaser is attempting to purchase;    calculating the age of the purchaser; and    using the calculated age of the purchaser and the identified age-related authorization threshold to determine whether to authorize at least a portion of the purchase.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the age of the purchaser comprises: 
 obtaining birth date identification information about the purchaser;    obtaining the current date; and    calculating the age of the purchaser using the current date and the birth date information.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing in a memory a record indicative of the purchase and of the calculated age of the purchaser.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purchase comprises an online purchase.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 identifying the age-related authorization threshold for each item the purchaser is attempting to purchase; and    selecting one from a group of identified age-related authorization thresholds to be the authorization threshold for the online purchase.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein identifying the age-related authorization threshold associated with the item the purchaser is attempting to purchase online comprises accessing stored data associated with the item, the stored data indicating whether an authorization check based on an age threshold is associated with the item.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein calculating the age of the purchaser comprises calculating the age of the purchaser if the authorization check based on the age threshold is associated with the item.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 storing in a memory a record indicative of the online purchase; and    storing in the memory a record indicative of the calculated age of the purchaser if the authorization check based on the age threshold is associated with the item.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for performing an authorization check for an item that a purchaser is attempting to purchase, the apparatus comprising: 
 a memory configured to store at least one age-related authorization threshold associated with an item a purchaser is attempting to purchase; and    a processor associated with the memory, the processor configured to access the memory to identify the age-related authorization threshold associated with the item, the processor further configured to calculate the age of the purchaser, and the processor further configured to use the calculated age of the purchaser and the identified age-related authorization threshold to determine whether to authorize at least a portion of the purchase.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to obtain birth date identification information about the purchaser, to obtain the current date, and to calculate the age of the purchaser using the current date and the birth date information.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further wherein the processor is further configured to store in the memory a record indicative of the purchase and of the calculated age of the purchaser.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the purchase comprises an online purchase.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify the age-related authorization threshold for each item the purchaser is attempting to purchase, and to select one from a group of identified age-related authorization thresholds to be the authorization threshold for the online purchase.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to access stored data associated with the item, the stored data indicating whether an authorization check based on an age threshold is associated with the item.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate the age of the purchaser if the authorization check based on the age threshold is associated with the item.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , the processor is further configured to storing in the memory a record indicative of the online purchase, and to store in the memory a record indicative of the calculated age of the purchaser if the authorization check based on the age threshold is associated with the item.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for performing an authorization check for an item that a purchaser is attempting to purchase, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for identifying an age-related authorization threshold associated with an item a purchaser is attempting to purchase;    means for obtaining birth date identification information about the purchaser;    means for obtaining the current date;    means for calculating the age of the purchaser using the current date and the birth date information; and    means for using the calculated age of the purchaser and the identified age-related authorization threshold to determine whether to authorize at least a portion of the purchase.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a means for storing in a memory a record indicative of the purchase and of the calculated age of the purchaser.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 means for identifying the age-related authorization threshold for each item the purchaser is attempting to purchase, wherein the purchase comprises an online purchase; and    means for selecting one from a group of identified age-related authorization thresholds to be the authorization threshold for the online purchase.    
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the purchase comprises an online purchase, the apparatus further comprising: 
 means for accessing stored data associated with the item, the stored data indicating whether an authorization check based on an age threshold is associated with the item;    means for calculating the age of the purchaser if the authorization check based on the age threshold is associated with the item;    means for storing in a memory a record indicative of the online purchase; and    means for storing in the memory a record indicative of the calculated age of the purchaser if the authorization check based on the age threshold is associated with the item.