Method and system for merchant debit routing table change detection

Abstract

A method for identifying a merchant debit routing table includes: storing a plurality of transaction data entries, each entry including a first and second debit network, a utilized network, a merchant identifier, and a transaction date, the utilized network being the first or second debit network; receiving a routing identification request, the request including a merchant identification; identifying a merchant transaction group, the group including entries where the merchant identifier corresponds to the merchant identification; identifying a plurality of network subgroups in the group, each subgroup including entries including a common first and second debit network; identifying, for each subgroup, a preferred network based on the utilized network for each entry in the subgroup where the transaction date is a specific date; and identifying a routing table for a merchant associated with the merchant identifier based on the preferred network and the first and second debit network for each subgroup.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying a merchant debit routing table, comprising:
 storing, in a database, a plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry includes data related to a payment transaction and includes at least a first debit network, a second debit network, a utilized debit network, and a merchant identifier, the utilized debit network being the first debit network or the second debit network;   identifying, by a processing device, a subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry in the subset includes a specific merchant identifier;   identifying, by the processing device, a plurality of network subgroups in the subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset includes a common first debit network and a common second debit network;   identifying, for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups, a preferred debit network based on the utilized debit network for each transaction data entry in the network subgroup; and   identifying, by the processing device, a routing table for a merchant associated with the specific merchant identifier based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network and the second debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the merchant identifier is a merchant identification number (MID). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a transaction amount category of a plurality of transaction amount categories, and   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common transaction amount category.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the merchant associated with the merchant identifier for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a third debit network,   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common third debit network, and   identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network, the second debit network, and the third debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups.   
     
     
         6 . A method for identifying a change in a merchant routing table, comprising:
 storing, in a database, a plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry includes data related to a financial transaction and includes at least a first debit network, a second debit network, a utilized debit network, a merchant identifier, and a transaction date, the utilized debit network being the first debit network or the second debit network;   identifying, by a processing device, a subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry in the subset includes a specific merchant identifier;   identifying, by the processing device, a plurality of network subgroups in the subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset includes a common first debit network and a common second debit network;   identifying, for each date of a predetermined range of dates, a preferred debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups based on the utilized debit network for each transaction data entry in the respective network subgroup where the transaction date corresponds to the respective date in the predetermined range of dates;   identifying, for each date of the predetermined range of dates, a routing table for a merchant associated with the specific merchant identifier based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network and the second debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups for the respective date of the predetermined range of dates; and   identifying, by the processing device, a change in debit routing for the merchant based on the routing table for the merchant for each date of the predetermined range of dates.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the routing identification request further includes the predetermined range of dates. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the merchant identifier  310  is a merchant identification number (MID). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a transaction amount category of a plurality of transaction amount categories, and   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common transaction amount category.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the merchant associated with the specific merchant identifier for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein identifying a change in debit routing for the merchant includes identifying a change in debit routing for the merchant based on the routing table for the merchant for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories for each date of the predetermined range of dates 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a third debit network,   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common third debit network, and   identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network, the second debit network, and the third debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups.   
     
     
         13 . A method for identifying a merchant debit routing table, comprising:
 storing, in a database, a plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry includes data related to a payment transaction involving a common merchant and includes at least a first debit network, a second debit network, and a utilized debit network, the utilized debit network being the first debit network or the second debit network;   identifying, by a processing device, a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network and a common second debit network; and   
       identifying, by the processing device, a routing table for the common merchant based on a preferred debit network for each of the plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries based on the utilized debit network and the common first debit network and common second debit network for each transaction data entry included in each of the respective subsets. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a transaction amount category of a plurality of transaction amount categories, and   identifying a plurality of subsets further includes identifying a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries where each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common transaction amount category.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the common merchant for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a third debit network,   identifying a plurality of subsets further includes identifying a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries where each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common third debit network, and   identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the common merchant based on a preferred debit network for each of the plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries based on the utilized debit network and the common first debit network, common second debit network, and common third debit network for each transaction data entry included in each of the respective subsets.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a specific date of a predetermined range of dates, and   identifying a plurality of subsets further includes identifying a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries where each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common specific date.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the common merchant for each specific date of the predetermined range of dates. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 identifying, by the processing device, a change in debit routing for the common merchant based on the identified routing table for each specific date of the predetermined range of dates.   
     
     
         20 . A system for identifying a merchant debit routing table, comprising:
 a database configured to store a plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry includes data related to a payment transaction and includes at least a first debit network, a second debit network, a utilized debit network, and a merchant identifier, the utilized debit network being the first debit network or the second debit network; and   a processing device configured to
 identify a subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry in the subset includes a specific merchant identifier, 
 identify a plurality of network subgroups in the subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset includes a common first debit network and a common second debit network, 
 identify, for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups, a preferred debit network based on the utilized debit network for each transaction data entry in the network subgroup, and 
 identify a routing table for a merchant associated with the specific merchant identifier based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network and the second debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups. 
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the merchant identifier is a merchant identification number (MID). 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a transaction amount category of a plurality of transaction amount categories, and   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common transaction amount category.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the merchant associated with the merchant identifier for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a third debit network,   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common third debit network, and   identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network, the second debit network, and the third debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups.   
     
     
         25 . A system for identifying a change in a merchant routing table, comprising:
 a database configured to store a plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry includes data related to a financial transaction and includes at least a first debit network, a second debit network, a utilized debit network, a merchant identifier, and a transaction date, the utilized debit network being the first debit network or the second debit network; and   a processing device configured to
 identify a subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry in the subset includes a specific merchant identifier, 
 identify a plurality of network subgroups in the subset of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset includes a common first debit network and a common second debit network, 
 identify, for each date of a predetermined range of dates, a preferred debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups based on the utilized debit network for each transaction data entry in the respective network subgroup where the transaction date corresponds to the respective date in the predetermined range of dates, 
 identify, for each date of the predetermined range of dates, a routing table for a merchant associated with the specific merchant identifier based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network and the second debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups for the respective date of the predetermined range of dates, and 
 identify a change in debit routing for the merchant based on the routing table for the merchant for each date of the predetermined range of dates. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the routing identification request further includes the predetermined range of dates. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the merchant identifier is a merchant identification number (MID). 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a transaction amount category of a plurality of transaction amount categories, and   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common transaction amount category.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the merchant associated with the specific merchant identifier for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein identifying a change in debit routing for the merchant includes identifying a change in debit routing for the merchant based on the routing table for the merchant for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories for each date of the predetermined range of dates 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a third debit network,   identifying a plurality of network subgroups further includes identifying a plurality network subgroups where each network subgroup includes transaction data entries included in the subset including a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common third debit network, and   identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table based on the preferred debit network and the first debit network, the second debit network, and the third debit network for each network subgroup of the plurality of network subgroups.   
     
     
         32 . A system for identifying a merchant debit routing table, comprising:
 a database configured to store a plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry includes data related to a payment transaction involving a common merchant and includes at least a first debit network, a second debit network, and a utilized debit network, the utilized debit network being the first debit network or the second debit network; and   a processing device configured to
 identify a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries, wherein each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network and a common second debit network, and 
   identify, a routing table for the common merchant based on a preferred debit network for each of the plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries based on the utilized debit network and the common first debit network and common second debit network for each transaction data entry included in each of the respective subsets.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a transaction amount category of a plurality of transaction amount categories, and   identifying a plurality of subsets further includes identifying a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries where each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common transaction amount category.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the common merchant for each transaction amount category of the plurality of transaction amount categories. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a third debit network,   identifying a plurality of subsets further includes identifying a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries where each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common third debit network, and   identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the common merchant based on a preferred debit network for each of the plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries based on the utilized debit network and the common first debit network, common second debit network, and common third debit network for each transaction data entry included in each of the respective subsets.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein
 each transaction data entry further includes a specific date of a predetermined range of dates, and   identifying a plurality of subsets further includes identifying a plurality of subsets of the plurality of transaction data entries where each transaction data entry included in each respective subset includes a common first debit network, a common second debit network, and a common specific date.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein identifying a routing table includes identifying a routing table for the common merchant for each specific date of the predetermined range of dates. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 identifying, by the processing device, a change in debit routing for the common merchant based on the identified routing table for each specific date of the predetermined range of dates.