Method and System for Providing a Distributed Adaptive Rules Based Dynamic Pricing System

Abstract

A system for providing distributed control to process transactions is disclosed, including a service provider system, a point of service device, and a portable device. The service provider system, point of service (POS) device, and portable device each have a plurality of rules and a number of meta-rules. The portable device is used with the POS device to conduct a transaction. If the portable device is unable to determine the outcome for the transaction, the portable device determines whether its rules may be altered locally to determine the outcome, or request the POS device to help determine the outcome. If the POS device is unable to determine the outcome, the POS device determines whether its rules can be altered locally in order to determine the outcome, or request the service provider system to help determine the outcome using the rules and meta-rules associated with the service provider system.

1 .- 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A method comprising:
 initiating a transaction, by a portable device having a plurality of rules and a plurality of meta-rules, wherein the portable device communicates with a point of service device having a plurality of rules and a plurality of meta-rules; and   using at least some of the plurality of rules and the plurality of meta-rules in the portable device to determine an outcome for the transaction; and   wherein when the portable device and the point of service device are unable to determine an outcome for the transaction, the point of service device uses its plurality of meta-rules to either determine whether one or more of the plurality of rules in either the portable device or the point of service device can be altered locally in order to determine the outcome, or request a network gateway or a service provider system to help determine the outcome using the plurality of rules and the plurality of meta-rules in the network gateway or the service provider system.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the transaction is initiated by issuing a transaction request from the portable device to the point of service device. 
     
     
         60 . The portable device of  claim 58  wherein the portable device is a payment card. 
     
     
         61 . The portable device of  claim 58 , wherein the portable device is a phone. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the point of service device communicates with the portable device using radio frequency communication. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the portable device and the point of sale device mutual authenticate each other during the transaction. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the point of service device receives an administrative request from the service provider system, wherein the administrative request includes an update to the plurality of rules and an update to the plurality of meta-rules associated with the point of service device, and a time to perform the update. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the point of service device uses historical transaction information to locally alter the plurality of rules and plurality of meta-rules associated with the point of service device. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the point of service device measures environmental information, including time, temperature, weather, or geographical location. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the point of service device uses the environmental information to update the plurality of rules and plurality of meta-rules associated with the point of service device. 
     
     
         68 . A portable device, comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code executable by the processor to implement a method associated with the portable device and a point of service device, the method comprising:   initiating a transaction, by the portable device having a plurality of rules and a plurality of meta-rules, wherein the portable device communicates with the point of service device having a plurality of rules and a plurality of meta-rules; and   using at least some of the plurality of rules and the plurality of meta-rules in the portable device to determine an outcome for the transaction; and   wherein when the portable device and the point of service device are unable to determine an outcome for the transaction, the point of service device uses its plurality of meta-rules to either determine whether one or more of the plurality of rules in either the portable device or the point of service device can be altered locally in order to determine the outcome, or request a network gateway or a service provider system to help determine the outcome using the plurality of rules and the plurality of meta-rules in the network gateway or the service provider system.   
     
     
         69 . The portable device of  claim 68 , wherein in the method, the transaction is initiated by issuing a transaction request from the portable device to the point of service device. 
     
     
         70 . The portable device of  claim 68  wherein the portable device is a card. 
     
     
         71 . The portable device of  claim 68 , wherein the portable device is a phone. 
     
     
         72 . The portable device of  claim 68 , wherein the portable device is configured to communicate with the point of service using radio frequency communication. 
     
     
         73 . The portable device of  claim 68 , wherein the portable device is configured to mutually authenticate with the point of service terminal.