Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for managing electronic offers comprises: a first logic module adapted to receive a set of recommendation reference data comprising a plurality of items, the plurality of items including at least one product or service, and a plurality of offers; a second logic module adapted to determine a set of association scores for the plurality of items based on the recommendation reference data; a third logic module adapted to determine a universal score for each offer; and a fourth logic module adapted to rank the offers in a recommendation order based on the set of association scores and on the universal scores. In an embodiment, each universal score is based at least in part on a measure of revenue associated with one or more of: activation, recommendation, or redemption of the offer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for managing electronic offers comprises: a first logic module adapted to receive a set of target definition data, a targeted offer associated with the target definition data, a recommended offer, a set of offer data relating to the targeted offer, and a set of offer data relating to the recommended offer; and a second logic module adapted to take an action with respect to the targeted offer and a different action with respect to the recommended offer based on the target definition data and on the two sets of offer data. In an embodiment, the system is adapted to distribute either or both of the targeted offer and the recommended offer in manners such as placing the targeted offer and the recommended offer in different sections of a transaction receipt provided to a customer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for facilitating consumer identity resolution comprises: a memory storing a plurality of consumer records, each record comprising historical transaction records obtained from at least two different sources; a first logic module adapted to receive a request, the request including consumer credential information that potentially relates to each of the consumer records and a set of contextual transaction data; and a second logic module adapted to select one of the consumer records based on the consumer credential information, contextual transaction data, and historical transaction records. In an embodiment, at least one recommended electronic offer is selected by mapping the credential information to one of the consumer records. In an embodiment, the electronic offer is selected in response to a request for a receipt. In an embodiment, the electronic offer is included in a transaction receipt transmitted to a customer data processing system.

Abstract: A data processing system for managing electronic offers, the system comprising: a first logic module adapted to receive a set of recommendation reference data comprising a plurality of items, the plurality of items including at least one product or service, and at least one offer; a second logic module adapted to determine a set of association scores for the plurality of items based on the recommendation reference data; and a third logic module adapted to select a recommended offer based on at least one association score. In an embodiment, the recommended offer is distributed in response to a request for a receipt. In an embodiment, the recommended offer is included in a transaction receipt transmitted to a customer data processing system. In an embodiment, at least one weight is modified based on feedback from an offer redemption, an offer activation, or a purchase.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for managing electronic offers comprises: a memory storing a set of historical transaction records pertaining to past consumer transactions and a set of offer data relating to an offer provider; and a logic module adapted to automatically suggest an offer to the offer provider based on at least a subset of the historical transaction records and at least a subset of the offer data, the offer being targeted at a consumer. In an embodiment, the electronic offer is suggested in response to a request for a receipt made by the consumer. In an embodiment, the electronic offer is automatically approved by the offer provider and is included in a transaction receipt transmitted to a data processing system associated with the consumer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for managing electronic transactions comprises: a first logic module adapted to receive a set of historical transaction records relating to a consumer and a dynamic offer record including a set of offer attributes; a second logic module adapted to produce an electronic dynamic offer by modifying at least one offer attribute based on at least a subset of the historical transaction records. In an embodiment, the dynamic offer is distributed to a consumer in response to a request for a receipt. In an embodiment, the data processing system is adapted to include the dynamic offer in a transaction receipt transmitted to a consumer, or in another message transmitted to a consumer. In an embodiment, the first logic module receives contextual transaction data, and the dynamic offer is generated by also modifying at least one offer attribute based on the contextual transaction data.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for assisting an offer distributor to manage electronic offers comprises: a first logic module adapted to receive two electronic offers from different offer providers, a first set of offer data relating to the first offer, and a second set of offer data relating to the second offer; and a second logic module adapted to select one of the two offers for distribution to a consumer, the selection being based on the first set of offer data and the second set of offer data. In an embodiment, the selected offer is distributed in response to a request for a receipt. In an embodiment, the selected offer is included in a transaction receipt transmitted to a customer data processing system. In an embodiment, the selection is made in response to a set of events, or is further based on a set of events.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for facilitating consumer identity resolution comprises: a first logic module adapted to receive at least two collections of consumer records from at least two different sources; a second logic module adapted to compute first trust scores for first data fields of the first collection and second trust scores for second data fields of the second collection; a third logic module adapted to generate a master collection of consumer records comprising at least one master consumer record that is correlated to a record from the first collection and a record from the second collection, the correlation being based on at least on the trust scores; and a fourth logic module adapted to receive a set of contextual transaction data. The data processing system is adapted to identify a consumer based on the contextual transaction data and the master collection of consumer records.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for facilitating an electronic transaction comprises: a first logic module adapted to receive a set of historical transaction records; a second logic module adapted to receive a request for an electronic offer recommendation, the request including contextual transaction data associated with a customer; a third logic module adapted to select at least one recommended electronic offer from a set of available offers based on at least one historical transaction record and at least a portion of the contextual data; and a fourth logic module adapted to transmit the selected electronic offer to a data processing system associated with the customer. In an embodiment, the request for an electronic offer recommendation consists of, includes, or is deduced from, a request for a receipt. The recommended electronic offer may be in a transaction receipt transmitted to the data processing system associated with the customer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a data processing system for recommending offers to an offer provider comprises: a memory storing a set of historical transaction records pertaining to past consumer transactions and a set of offer data relating to an offer provider; and a logic module adapted to automatically recommend an offer to the offer provider based on at least a subset of the historical transaction records and at least a subset of the offer data. In an embodiment, upon selection by the offer provider, the electronic offer is included in an electronic receipt transmitted to a data processing system associated with a consumer. In an embodiment, the offer is recommended to the offer provider based on a trend identified with respect to a set of products or offers. In an embodiment, the recommendation of the offer includes the automatic determination of terms or campaign parameters for the recommended offer.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.

Abstract: Coupon information is provided electronically in association with receipts for transactions at physical stores and/or online stores. A retailer causes performance of a transaction in which one or more items are purchased. An interface configured to accept input indicating a customer identifier, such as an email address, associated with the transaction is provided. When input has been received via the interface, it is determined whether the identifier is associated with a known customer identity. If the customer identifier is associated with a known identity, digital coupons associated with that identity are applied against the transaction. An electronic receipt is further provided for the transaction via, for instance, the provided email address or a web-based application in which a session is established in connection with the identity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.

Abstract: Coupon information is provided electronically in association with receipts for transactions at physical stores and/or online stores. Input is received specifying one or more items for purchase by a customer. Based on the input, a transaction is completed in which the one or more items are purchased. An interface configured to accept input indicating a customer identifier associated with the transaction is provided. When input has been received via the interface, it is determined whether the customer identifier is associated with an electronic address of the customer, such as an email. If the customer identifier is associated with an electronic address, coupon information is provided via the electronic address, the coupon information identifying or linking to one or more coupon offers for which the customer is eligible. The coupon information may be provided in an electronic receipt for the transaction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided that include techniques for searching a database. One method includes receiving one or more input search terms and providing a database. The database maps at least one search term to at least one coupon. The method further includes identifying one or more coupons in the database based on the received input search terms. The method further includes selecting one or more coupons from the identified coupons. A given coupon can be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously printed. A given coupon can also be selected based on a number of times the given coupon has been previously redeemed. The method further includes presenting one or more coupons to the user where the presented one or more coupons include the selected one or more coupons.

Abstract: Users may save coupon offers in association with account identifiers tied to user accounts, such as identifiers for customer loyalty cards, phones, or personal computing devices. Users may present the account identifiers, or physical items associated with the account identifier, while completing transactions. Retailers may utilize the account identifiers to determine which coupon offers have been saved in association with the corresponding user accounts. The saved coupon offers may then be applied against the transactions. Coupon offers saved in this manner may be counted as distributed for the purposes of producing a distribution count for reports or for applying distribution limits. For example, a user's request to print a coupon for a coupon offer may be denied if the coupon offer is saved in association with an account identifier associated with the user.

Abstract: Users may save coupon offers in association with account identifiers tied to user accounts, such as identifiers for customer loyalty cards, phones, or personal computing devices. Users may present the account identifiers, or physical items associated with the account identifier, while completing transactions. Retailers may utilize the account identifiers to determine which coupon offers have been saved in association with the corresponding user accounts. The saved coupon offers may then be applied against the transactions. Coupon offers saved in this manner may be counted as distributed for the purposes of producing a distribution count for reports or for applying distribution limits. For example, a user's request to print a coupon for a coupon offer may be denied if the coupon offer is saved in association with an account identifier associated with the user.