Patents by Inventor Bruce C. Rhoads

Bruce C. Rhoads has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6332126
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a computer based targeted payment system discount program. Consumer information from consumer payment system institutions is used to match qualified consumers to targeted merchant discount offers. Offers are automatically prioritized based on their expected value to consumers and consumers receive the highest priority offers for which they qualify. The default prioritization can be altered or overridden by the consumer's payment systems institution. Discounts are automatically applied during the processing of the qualifying purchase without the need for coupons or additional actions by either the merchant or consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Roger L. Peirce, Bruce C. Rhoads, John Duncan, Scott J. Loftesness, Kurt W. Johnson, Mary K. Dobbs, Dan Mayes
  • Patent number: 5231569
    Abstract: A system for performing transaction from an account such as a checking account which adds a measure of assurance of payment to the account issuer is provided. The system includes a remote transaction terminal located at the point of the transaction. The terminal reads data on a card which identifies the card holder. The amount and type of the transaction are inputted into the transaction terminal. A transaction processor is provided which accesses two negative data files. One of the negative data files is compiled by the account issuer and the other of the negative data files is compiled by a number of account issuers such as by a number of different merchants. The data identifying the card holder is compared to the data in both of the negative files and an authorization or denial signal is generated in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Sears Payment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry H. Myatt, Bruce C. Rhoads