Abstract: A system includes a digital camera coupled with or integrated within a transaction terminal to capture an image during authorization of a transaction initiated at the transaction terminal. The system further includes a portal configured to receive the image and transmit the image to a communication reference associated with the account information of an account in which the transaction is made, based on a security preference associated with the account information. The image may be optionally analyzed to detect fraudulent use of the account.

Abstract: A user interface is provided to present offers via icons displayed near the location of the user on a map. Offers presented on the map may include active offers previously selected by the user and currently associated with the consumer account of the user for active participation, matching offers that have a set of targeting criteria which the user meets, and location-based offers that target locations in the vicinity of the location of the user. Icons for the location-based offers are presented at their respective targeting locations; and the active offers and matching offers are presented around the location of the user on the map for convenient access. A user interface allows the user to explore available offers, view information associated with the respective offers, and select offers in which to participate.

Abstract: A system includes a transaction handler, a data warehouse to store transaction data recording transactions processed at the transaction handler and to store account data identifying an account of a user, and a portal to receive a user selection of a first portion of an announcement of a reward. The portal tracks user interactions associated with the announcement to determine whether the user is qualified for the reward. Upon a determination that the user has completed the user interactions for the reward, the transaction handler provides the reward to the account of the user via statement credit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for determining the products involved in a transaction conducted with a subsidiary user of a payment account, and transmitting messages containing product specific information. Systems may be implemented to transmit product identifiers during payment processing. The product specific information may be included in alert messages sent to an account holder.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer implemented method is provided for the provision, on a computing apparatus, of a user interface configured via a portal to permit a merchant to define an offer campaign. The offer has a plurality of milestones required to be met in order to provide a benefit to a user. The computing apparatus may be further configured to associate the offer with a user, detect the progress of the user toward the milestone, and transmit a message to the user regarding the user's progress toward the milestone.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for determining the products involved in a transaction conducted with a subsidiary user of a payment account, and transmitting messages containing product specific information. Systems may be implemented to transmit product identifiers during payment processing. The product specific information may be included in alert messages sent to an account holder.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer implemented method is provided for the provision, on a computing apparatus, of a user interface configured via a portal to permit a merchant to define an offer campaign. The offer has a plurality of milestones required to be met in order to provide a benefit to a user. The computing apparatus may be further configured to associate the offer with a user, detect the progress of the user toward the milestone, and transmit a message to the user regarding the user's progress toward the milestone.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein include systems and methods for sending merchant alert messages. The merchant can specify criteria indicating the types of customers for which he desires to receive alerts. Merchant alert messages can be sent based on characteristics of a customer, including the customer's proximity to the merchant. The merchant can use the alert message to provide better service to the customer or prevent the customer from engaging in transactions, depending on the contents of the merchant alert message.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events, and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are processed independently from each other and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the requirements for the detection of the events are specified based on predetermined types of events, including a first type for an event specified for interaction with a first user when the first user performs an action as a result of a referral from a second user, and a second type for an event specified for interaction with the second user in response to the first user performing the action.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for route prediction. A method includes generating a route dictionary comprising a plurality of routes, generating a route prediction for a route partially traversed by a user based on the route dictionary and a context of the user, generating at least one location of interest based on the route prediction, monitoring an actual route of the user continuing from the route partially traversed, recording an accuracy of the route prediction based on the actual route of the user, determining that the actual route does not match the route prediction based on the accuracy, in response to determining that the actual route does not match the route prediction, determining if the actual route matches an existing route stored in the route dictionary, in response to determining that the actual route matches the existing route, and updating a count associated with the existing route.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured with a configurable, generic, data-driven model, in which properties of social networking sites/applications are stored and used in communicating offer-related messages via social networking sites.

Abstract: An advertised incentive system receives advertised incentive configuration information provided by a merchant. The advertised incentive configuration information defines the content of advertised incentive banners. The advertised incentive banners are provided as needed to merchants to display on the merchant's website. Advertised incentive registration information is received from an account holder after the account holder interacts with the advertised incentive banner. Transaction information is received that contains a qualified purchase made by the account holder. The advertised incentive registration and the qualified purchase are matched. A statement credit is issued against the account holder's account and a debit is issued against the merchant's account in the amount of the statement credit.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to allow merchants to initiate offers in an offer campaign based on a spending pattern specified by the merchant, such as the lack of transactions in a predetermined period of time of the day, in a recent time period, and/or in a particular merchant category. The offer campaign can be adjusted between offer delivery/announcement and fulfillment for a limited time period. The benefit of a further purchase may be announced via a message scheduled to be transmitted in response to an event identifying the arrival of a particular time instance, in response to a qualification notification of a transaction satisfying the requirements of a purchase event required in the offer campaign, or in response to the detection of a required spending pattern.

Abstract: A system, configured to integrate the processing of transactions and offers applicable to the transactions, includes: a data warehouse storing an offer in association with a financial payment account; a gateway configured to receive an authorization request that is transmitted from a transaction terminal without going through an acquirer processor, the gateway coupled with the data warehouse to determine whether the offer is applicable to the authorization request and if so, apply a benefit of the offer to the authorization request; and a transaction handler coupled with the gateway to process the authorization request submitted from the gateway, provide an authorization response corresponding to the authorization request, and communicate with the acquirer processor to credit funds according to the authorization request to a merchant account associated with the transaction terminal.

Abstract: A system includes a transaction handler configured to split a transaction, initiated between an acquirer processor representing a merchant and an issuer processor representing an account holder, into separate transactions with the issuer processor and at least one sponsor processor that is configured to provide the benefit of offers to applicable transactions. A portal is configured to notify the account holder of the award/redemption of the benefit of an offer using a communication channel separate from the transaction terminal that initiates and approves the transaction between the account holder and the merchant.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured with a configurable, generic, data-driven model, in which properties of social networking sites/applications are stored and used in communicating offer-related messages via social networking sites.

Abstract: Selection of offers, locations or merchants based on their distances from a portion of a user's route and their affinity for the user is disclosed. A route employed by a user for travelling to a destination is obtained and segmented at identified vertices. Locations that are proximate to the route segments are determined. The proximate locations are further analyzed to obtain their specific distances from a selected portion such as the user's origin or destination or any route segment. Location based services are associated with those proximate locations that are closest to the selected portion on the user's route or those with the better utility.

Abstract: An advertised incentive system receives advertised incentive configuration information provided by a merchant. The advertised incentive configuration information defines the content of advertised incentive banners. The advertised incentive banners are provided as needed to merchants to display on the merchant's website. Advertised incentive registration information is received from an account holder after the account holder interacts with the advertised incentive banner. Transaction information is received that contains a qualified purchase made by the account holder. The advertised incentive registration and the qualified purchase are matched. A statement credit is issued against the account holder's account and a debit is issued against the merchant's account in the amount of the statement credit.

Abstract: A system includes a transaction terminal that is configured to examine an authorization response for an indicator, which, when set, causes the transaction terminal to communicate with a portal to obtain content relevant to the receipt for the transaction approved by the authorization response. The content may identify the benefit of an offer applied to the transaction, which is not reflected in the authorization response. The content may direct the user to select an option regarding the delivery of the receipt. Options presented for selection include suppression of the printing of the paper receipt in favor of an electronic receipt transmitted to a communication reference of the user, printing a mini paper receipt in addition to transmitting an electronic receipt, and/or printing the full paper receipt at the transaction terminal.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are independent from each other in processing and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. The computing apparatus is configured to store data indicating the completion statuses of the events and process the events, including the scheduled actions, if any, in an atomic way. Thus, the offer rules can be changed on-the-fly during run time execution by the computing apparatus.