Mastercard Incorporated
Systems and methods for pre-processing network messages to optimize routing

Abstract:

A message routing and pre-processing (MRP) computing device is described herein. The MRP computing device is configured to receive an authorization request message associated with a transaction initiated by a cardholder with a merchant, the authorization request message including authorization parameters of the transaction, and retrieve a plurality of potential authorization routes for the authorization request message. Each potential authorization route includes routing parameters and is associated with a respective transaction processing network (TPN). The MRP computing device is also configured to compare the authorization parameters to the routing parameters of each potential authorization route to determine an optimized authorization route for the authorization request message. The optimized authorization route includes routing parameters that most closely match the authorization parameters. The optimized authorization route is associated with a first TPN. The MRP computing device is further configured to route the authorization request message to the first TPN for authorization processing.