System and apparatus for credit data transmission

Abstract

A system for transmitting credit transaction data, such as an authorization request, is provided. The system includes a remote hub system that is connected to a communications medium, such as the Internet. The remote hub system receives credit transaction data, such as an authorization request, a credit card number, and a transaction amount, from one or more point of sale systems, such as credit card authorization terminals. The remote hub system then encrypts the credit transaction data, and transmits the encrypted credit transaction data over the Internet to a gateway system. The gateway system decrypts the encrypted credit transaction data and transmits the credit transaction data to an authorization system.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for transmitting credit transaction data over a communications medium comprising: 
 a protocol translator for receiving the credit transaction data from two or more point of sale systems according to two or more different transmission protocols, each transmission protocol associated with a different credit authorization system, and forming a credit transaction data message; and    means for receiving the credit transaction data message from the protocol translator and encrypting the credit transaction data message.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a device router for transmitting authorization data received in response to the credit transaction data message to one of the two or more point of sale systems.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a management system interface for storing a protocol module to the protocol translator.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a management system interface for storing an encryption module to an encryption system.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising: 
 a gateway system receiving and decrypting the encrypted credit transaction data message;    a first authorization system interface coupled to the gateway system;    a second authorization system interface coupled to the gateway system; and    wherein the gateway system transmits the credit transaction data message to the first or second authorization system based upon the credit transaction data message.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the point-of-sale systems include one or more pre-existing point of sale systems that are configured to communicate using a public switched telephone network telephone line.  
     
     
         29 . The system of claim  28  further comprising a telephone backup system coupled to one of the two or more of the point of sale systems, wherein one of the two or more point of sale systems uses the telephone backup system when a network communications medium is unavailable.  
     
     
         30 . A method for transmitting credit transaction data over a communications medium comprising: 
 receiving credit transaction data from two or more point of sale devices;    determining a point-of-sale device data transmission protocol to use to assemble the credit transaction data into an authorization request;    transmitting the authorization request over the communications medium;    determining which of two or more authorization systems is an appropriate authorization system to provide the authorization request to; and    transmitting the authorization request to the appropriate authorization system.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein receiving the credit transaction data from the point of sale device comprises receiving the credit transaction data in accordance with one or more of an ISO 8583 protocol or a Visa-K protocol.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising encrypting the credit transaction data using an encryption module received from a hub manager.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein transmitting the authorization request over the communications medium comprises transmitting encrypted data in an HTTP format.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for transmitting credit transaction data over a communications medium comprising: 
 means for receiving the credit transaction data from two or more point of sale systems according to two or more different transmission protocols, each transmission protocol associated with a different credit authorization system, and forming a credit transaction data message; and    an encryption system receiving the credit transaction data message and encrypting the credit transaction data message.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a device router for transmitting authorization data received in response to the credit transaction data message to one of the two or more point of sale systems.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a management system interface for storing a protocol module to a protocol translator.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a management system interface for storing an encryption module to the encryption system.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising: 
 a gateway system receiving and decrypting the encrypted credit transaction data message;    a first authorization system interface coupled to the gateway system;    a second authorization system interface coupled to the gateway system; and    wherein the gateway system transmits the credit transaction data message to the first or second authorization system based upon the credit transaction data message.    
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the point-of-sale systems include one or more pre-existing point of sale systems that are configured to communicate using a public switched telephone network telephone line.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 34  further comprising a telephone backup system coupled to one of the two or more of the point of sale systems, wherein one of the two or more point of sale systems uses the telephone backup system when a network communications medium is unavailable.