Abstract: A computer system for recommending merchants to a candidate cardholder is provided. The computer system includes a memory device and a processor. The processor receives transaction information for a plurality of cardholders from a payment network. The transaction information includes data relating to purchases made by the cardholders at a plurality of merchants, where the purchases satisfy a first criteria. The processor also receives candidate cardholder preference information for at least one of the merchants input by the candidate cardholder. The processor further determines a merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and the candidate cardholder preference information, and determines a neutral merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and neutral cardholder preferences of the plurality of cardholders.

Abstract: A computer system for recommending merchants to a candidate cardholder is provided. The computer system includes a memory device in communication with a processor. The processor is programmed to receive transaction information for a plurality of cardholders from a payment network. The transaction information includes data relating to purchases made by the cardholders at a plurality of merchants, the purchases satisfying a first criteria. The processor receives candidate cardholder preference information for at least one of the merchants input by the candidate cardholder. The computer system determines a merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and the candidate cardholder preference information, and determines a neutral merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and neutral cardholder preferences of the plurality of cardholders.

Abstract: A computer-based method for managing a profile for a cardholder is provided. The cardholder having an account associated with a payment card. The method includes electronically receiving, at the computer, transaction information for a cardholder for transactions with at least a first business entity and a second business entity, the transaction information including data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder using the payment card and at least one subdivision within the first business entity, the transaction information further including data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder using the payment card and the second business entity.

Abstract: A method and a recommender computer system are provided. The recommender computer system is programmed to receive payment card transaction information for a payment cardholder from the interchange network. The payment card transaction information includes data relating to a plurality of purchases made by the cardholder at a plurality of different merchants. The recommender computer system is further programmed to receive merchant rating information, receive merchant descriptive information, and determine location information of each of the plurality of different merchants relative to at least one of a predetermined selectable location and a current location of the cardholder.

Abstract: A computer system for recommending merchants to a candidate cardholder is provided. The computer system includes a memory device in communication with a processor. The processor is programmed to receive transaction information for a plurality of cardholders from a payment network. The transaction information includes data relating to purchases made by the cardholders at a plurality of merchants, the purchases satisfying a first criteria. The processor receives candidate cardholder preference information for at least one of the merchants input by the candidate cardholder. The computer system determines a merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and the candidate cardholder preference information, and determines a neutral merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and neutral cardholder preferences of the plurality of cardholders.

Abstract: A computer system for recommending merchants to a candidate cardholder is provided. The computer system includes a memory device in communication with a processor. The processor is programmed to receive transaction information for a plurality of cardholders from a payment network. The transaction information includes data relating to purchases made by the cardholders at a plurality of merchants, the purchases satisfying a first criteria. The processor receives candidate cardholder preference information for at least one of the merchants input by the candidate cardholder, determines a merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and the candidate cardholder preference information, determines a neutral merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and neutral cardholder preferences of the plurality of cardholders, and determines a merchant score for each of the plurality of merchants by comparing the merchant rank to the neutral merchant rank.

Abstract: A computer-based method for managing a profile for a cardholder is provided. The cardholder having an account associated with a payment card. The method includes electronically receiving, at the computer, transaction information for a cardholder for transactions with at least a first business entity and a second business entity, the transaction information including data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder using the payment card and at least one subdivision within the first business entity, the transaction information further including data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder using the payment card and the second business entity.

Abstract: A computer system for recommending potential competitor merchants to a subscriber merchant and/or a market analyst is provided. The computer system includes a memory device in communication with a processor. The processor is programmed to receive transaction information for a plurality of cardholders from a payment network. The transaction information includes data relating to purchases made by the cardholders at a plurality of merchants. The processor may receive subscriber merchant preference information for at least one of the merchants input by the cardholder. The computer system determines a merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and/or the subscriber merchant preference information, and determines a neutral merchant rank and a merchant score for each merchant. After ranking, a ranked list of potential competitor merchants is generated for presentation to a subscriber merchant and/or a market analyst for further analysis.

Abstract: A computer system for recommending merchants to a candidate cardholder is provided. The computer system includes a memory device in communication with a processor. The processor is programmed to receive transaction information for a plurality of cardholders from a payment network. The transaction information includes data relating to purchases made by the cardholders at a plurality of merchants, the purchases satisfying a first criteria. The processor receives candidate cardholder preference information for at least one of the merchants input by the candidate cardholder. The computer system determines a merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and the candidate cardholder preference information, and determines a neutral merchant rank for each merchant based on the received transaction information and neutral cardholder preferences of the plurality of cardholders.

Abstract: A computer-based method for character string matching of a candidate character string with a plurality of character string records stored in a database is described. The method includes performing a clustering operation on at least a portion of the plurality of character string records, the clustering operation generating a plurality of clusters, each cluster comprising a plurality of character strings from the plurality of character string records, the plurality of character strings in each cluster are determined to be similar with respect to each other based on at least one characteristic of the plurality of character strings. The method also includes generating a set of reference character strings that are selected from the plurality of character strings in each cluster, generating an n-gram representation for one of the reference character strings in the set of reference character strings, and generating an n-gram representation for the candidate character string.

Abstract: A computer-based method for managing a redemption profile for a cardholder is provided. The method uses a computer coupled to a database.

Abstract: A method and a recommender computer system are provided. The recommender computer system is programmed to receive payment card transaction information for a payment cardholder from the interchange network. The payment card transaction information includes data relating to a plurality of purchases made by the cardholder at a plurality of different merchants. The recommender computer system is further programmed to receive merchant rating information, receive merchant descriptive information, and determine location information of each of the plurality of different merchants relative to at least one of a predetermined selectable location and a current location of the cardholder.

Abstract: A computer-based method for character string matching of a candidate character string with a plurality of character string records stored in a database is described. The method includes performing a clustering operation on at least a portion of the plurality of character string records, the clustering operation generating a plurality of clusters, each cluster comprising a plurality of character strings from the plurality of character string records, the plurality of character strings in each cluster are determined to be similar with respect to each other based on at least one characteristic of the plurality of character strings. The method also includes generating a set of reference character strings that are selected from the plurality of character strings in each cluster, generating an n-gram representation for one of the reference character strings in the set of reference character strings, and generating an n-gram representation for the candidate character string.

Abstract: A computer-based method for character string matching of a candidate character string with a plurality of character string records stored in a database is described. The method includes a) identifying a set of reference character strings in the database, the reference character strings identified utilizing an optimization search for a set of dissimilar character strings, b) generating an n-gram representation for one of the reference character strings in the set of reference character strings, c) generating an n-gram representation for the candidate character string, d) determining a similarity between the n-gram representations, e) repeating steps b) and d) for the remaining reference character strings in the set of identified reference character strings, and f) indexing the candidate character string within the database based on the determined similarities between the n-gram representation of the candidate character string and the reference character strings in the identified set.

Abstract: A computer-based method for character string matching of a candidate character string with a plurality of character string records stored in a database is described. The method includes a) identifying a set of reference character strings in the database, the reference character strings identified utilizing an optimization search for a set of dissimilar character strings, b) generating an n-gram representation for one of the reference character strings in the set of reference character strings, c) generating an n-gram representation for the candidate character string, d) determining a similarity between the n-gram representations, e) repeating steps b) and d) for the remaining reference character strings in the set of identified reference character strings, and f) indexing the candidate character string within the database based on the determined similarities between the n-gram representation of the candidate character string and the reference character strings in the identified set.

Abstract: A computer-based method for character string matching of a candidate character string with a plurality of character string records stored in a database is provided. The method includes identifying a set of reference character strings in the database wherein the reference character strings are identified utilizing an optimization search for a set of dissimilar character strings and generating an n-gram representation for one of the reference character strings in the set of reference character strings. The method also includes generating an n-gram representation for the candidate character string determining a similarity between the n-gram representations, and indexing the candidate character string within the database based on the determined similarities between the n-gram representation of the candidate character string and the reference character strings in the identified set.

Abstract: A computer-based method for managing a profile for a cardholder is provided. The cardholder having an account associated with a payment card. The method includes electronically receiving, at the computer, transaction information for a cardholder for transactions with at least a first business entity and a second business entity, the transaction information including data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder using the payment card and at least one subdivision within the first business entity, the transaction information further including data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder using the payment card and the second business entity.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system for determining a loyalty profile for a cardholder is provided. The cardholder having an account associated with a payment card. The payment card is issued by an issuer to the cardholder. The method is performed using a computer coupled to a database. The method includes electronically receiving transaction information of the cardholder at the computer wherein the transaction information includes data representing each transaction initiated by the cardholder and associated with the cardholder account, electronically storing the transaction information within the database, and transforming the transaction information at the computer to generate the loyalty profile for the cardholder wherein the loyalty profile represents a pattern of usage of the payment card and the associated account by the cardholder.

Abstract: A computer-based method for character string matching of a candidate character string with a plurality of character string records stored in a database is described. The method includes a) identifying a set of reference character strings in the database, the reference character strings identified utilizing an optimization search for a set of dissimilar character strings, b) generating an n-gram representation for one of the reference character strings in the set of reference character strings, c) generating an n-gram representation for the candidate character string, d) determining a similarity between the n-gram representations, e) repeating steps b) and d) for the remaining reference character strings in the set of identified reference character strings, and f) indexing the candidate character string within the database based on the determined similarities between the n-gram representation of the candidate character string and the reference character strings in the identified set.