Patent attributes
Methods and apparatus for operating a virtual wallet system are described. In an embodiment, the process includes receiving, at a virtual wallet server, a virtual wallet account number and payment transaction details that includes a payment amount, and then mapping the virtual wallet account number to at least one funding account associated with a consumer. The method also includes validating the consumer and the payment transaction details, generating a standard purchase authorization request message and routing it to an issuer of the at least one funding account, and receiving an authorization response approving the payment transaction. The process further includes loading the consumer's virtual wallet account in real time to match the payment amount, and routing an authorization approval message to an originating acquirer. Such a virtual wallet system with automatic-loading capabilities substantially improves the operation of decoupled debit payment account schemes. In addition, the use of a virtual wallet account assigned to a consumer by virtue of a virtual wallet account number (which can be described as a pseudo-primary account number (pseudo-PAN)) allows the consumer to fund payments for multiple PSP accounts from a single funding account while simultaneously protecting personal data and protecting against identity theft.
