초록 ▼

A central controller receives from a POS terminal a purchase price and a financial account identifier. The financial account identifier specifies a financial account, such as a credit card account. The central controller, in turn, generates one or more installment plan identifiers defining installme

A central controller receives from a POS terminal a purchase price and a financial account identifier. The financial account identifier specifies a financial account, such as a credit card account. The central controller, in turn, generates one or more installment plan identifiers defining installment plans for payment of the purchase price. The installment plan identifiers are based on the purchase price and/or the financial account identifier. For example, certain accounts or certain high purchase prices may merit preferred installment plans. The installment plan identifiers are transmitted to the POS terminal. A purchaser at the POS terminal selects whether he would like to pay for his purchase in installments and, if so, using which installment plan. The POS terminal generates a selection signal indicative of whether to accept any of the installment plans, and transmits the selection signal to the central controller. The central controller receives the selection signal. If the selection signal indicates acceptance of any installment plan, use of the accepted installment plan for the financial account is authorized. Thereafter, bills are generated which reflect installment charges to be paid.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for providing installment plan options, comprising:receiving a purchase price and a financial account identifier, the financial account identifier specifying a financial account;generating an installment plan identifier defining an installment plan for payment of

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for providing installment plan options, comprising:receiving a purchase price and a financial account identifier, the financial account identifier specifying a financial account;generating an installment plan identifier defining an installment plan for payment of the purchase price, the installment plan identifier being based on at least one of the purchase price and the financial account identifier; andtransmitting the installment plan identifier.