System for personal authorization control for card transactions

Abstract

An authorization system allows for cardholder-provided parameters to a personal authorization subsystem. The parameters can be selected by the cardholder to limit the authorizations that would otherwise be granted on the card. The parameters can indicate limits by frequency, dollar amount, merchant, geographic location, time of day, combinations thereof, or the like. Authorization for a given transaction, even where authorized by an issuer and a network operator, might be denied based on self-constraints set by the cardholder. In some variations, messages are sent to the cardholder based on constraints set by the cardholder and transactions might be approved and messaged, or denied and messaged.

1 .- 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A system comprising:
 an subprocessor configured to send a message to a user based on user selected parameters corresponding to constraints that indicate a limit by a combination of a time period, merchant or a merchant type, and a dollar amount;   a parameter table database coupled to the authorization subprocessor; and   an interface coupled to the parameter table database, wherein the interface allows the user to select the authorization parameters associated with the constraints, wherein the selected authorization parameters are used by the subprocessor to determine whether or not a transaction falls within the user selected parameters of the constraints.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the subprocessor is further configured to send the message in combination to denying the transaction. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the subprocessor is further configured to send the message in lieu of denying the transaction. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the message is at least one of a pager message, email message or instant message. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the transaction is a credit card transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the time period corresponds to a monthly limit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the time period corresponds to a daily limit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the subprocessor is further configured to send an additional message based on approaching the limit indicated by the constraints, wherein the additional message includes a balance against at least one of the parameters. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving user selections of parameters corresponding to constraints that indicate a limit by a combination of a time period, a merchant or a merchant type, and a dollar amount;   storing the user selected parameters in a parameters table; and   sending the message to a prespecified location based on a transaction falling within the user selected parameters of the constraints.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the message is sent in combination to denying the transaction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the message is sent in lieu of denying the transaction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the message is at least one of a pager message, email message or instant message. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the transaction is a credit card transaction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the time period corresponds to a monthly limit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the time period corresponds to a daily limit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising sending an additional message based on approaching the limits indicated by the constraints, wherein the additional message includes a balance against at least one of the parameters. 
     
     
         19 . A computer readable medium storing commands for causing a processor to implement the method of  claim 11 .