PERSON-2-PERSON SOCIAL NETWORK MARKETING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS
The PERSON-2-PERSON SOCIAL NETWORK MARKETING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“SNM”) transform requests for on-demand and flexible monetization and related services via SNM components into currency transfers, purchase receipt notifications, social networking communications and transaction analytics reports. In some embodiments, the SNM obtains a product purchase request for a product. In some embodiments, the product purchase request may include an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product. The SNM may parse the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product. Also, the SNM may query a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier. In response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request, the SNM may generate a request to provide the account of the user with a credit.
This application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to: U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/455,378 filed Oct. 20, 2010, entitled “SOFTWARE AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURATION OF VIRTUAL CURRENCIES AND VIRTUAL CURRENCY PRICING FOR GLOBAL ONLINE MERCHANTS,” attorney docket no. PS-99007PRV|20270-169PV; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/455,379 filed Oct. 20, 2010, entitled “TRACKING AND DISPLAY METHOD AND SOFTWARE FOR REPRESENTATION OF PAYMENT PROCESSING AND VOLUMES BY GEOGRAPHIC REGION,” attorney docket no. PS-99008PRV|20270-170PV; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/455,383 filed Oct. 20, 2010, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERSON-2-PERSON (P2P) ECOMMERCE AFFILIATE MARKETING UTILIZING SOCIAL NETWORKS,” attorney docket no. PS-99009PRV|20270-171PV; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/455,454 filed Oct. 21, 2010, entitled “DYNAMIC OPTIMIZATION AND DISPLAY OF PAYMENT METHOD FOR GLOBAL, ON-LINE COMMERCE WEBSITES,” attorney docket no. PS-99011PRV|20270-173PV; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/456,118 filed Nov. 2, 2010, entitled “SOFTWARE, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONETIZATION AS A SERVICE,” attorney docket no. PS-99013PRV|20270-174PV; and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/506,425 filed Jul. 11, 2011, entitled “HOSTED ORDER PAGE PAYMENT TYPE SELECTION,” attorney docket no. 15US01|20270-200PV. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
This document describes inventive aspects that include various novel innovations (hereinafter “disclosure”) and contains material that is subject to copyright, mask work, and/or other intellectual property protection. The respective owners of such intellectual property have no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the disclosure by anyone as it appears in published Patent Office file/records, but otherwise reserve all rights.
FIELDThe present innovations generally address apparatuses, methods, and systems for electronic commerce, and more particularly, include PERSON-2-PERSON SOCIAL NETWORK MARKETING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“SNM”).
BACKGROUNDConsumers engaging in transactions typically select a product from a store shelf or website, and then check them out at a checkout counter or webpage. Product information is typically selected from a webpage catalog or entered into a point-of-sale terminal device. The consumer utilizes a payment option, such as cash, check, credit card, or debit card, to pay for the transaction. Once payment is made, the point-of-sale terminal device memorializes the transaction in the merchant's computer system, and a receipt is generated indicating satisfactory consummation of the transaction.
The accompanying appendices and/or drawings illustrate various non-limiting, example, inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure:
The leading number of each reference number within the drawings indicates the figure in which that reference number is introduced and/or detailed. As such, a detailed discussion of reference number 101 would be found and/or introduced in
The PERSON-2-PERSON SOCIAL NETWORK MARKETING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (hereinafter “SNM”) transform requests for on-demand and flexible monetization and related services, via SNM components, into currency transfers, purchase receipt notifications, social networking communications and transaction analytics reports.
Business-to-consumer (B2C) companies may build their customer billing operations through a mix of in-house software development, third-party payment processor integrations and various third-party software products for subscription, fraud management and commerce systems depending on the business models they adopt. As the cost for customer acquisition and retention increases, more and more sophisticated monetization models may be required to drive higher conversion rates and Average Revenue Per User (ARPUs) from paying users.
In some embodiments, the SNM implements a flexible monetization platform based on a completely new way of thinking about how to monetize different types of users at various price points and at different life cycle stages of customers' engagement with the content offered. It calls for a 360-degree view of a customer who is looking to access and consume content across devices, platforms and networks. For example, when a lot of AAA content is available for free, merely setting a $14.99 monthly subscription price point and up-sell buckets may limit revenue generation capabilities. Consumers may want to pay at their own pace and at the price point they can afford. Thus, in some embodiments, the SNM enables a disruptive business model of microtransactions, which unlocks a massive consumer base that could become paying customers. Moreover the operational costs, and overheads with operating customer billing operations inhouse, or through a mix of in-house and third party solutions may become unnecessarily expensive for the B2C companies since their payment volumes do not justify the investment needed. Furthermore, billing teams may not be able to keep up with the need for updates, improvements, or inclusion of new technologies or new payment methods.
In some embodiments, a service provided by the SNM may include, e.g., 206a, the ability to select from a plurality of payment service providers (PSP) for routing the transaction, but from the same user interface, see e.g.,
In some embodiments, a service provided by the SNM may include, e.g., 206b, risk management services for the user and/or merchant, including fraud detection and prevention, identity theft, and/or the like. For example, the SNM may manage risk by using a comprehensive fraud engine to monitor and prevent and minimize the number of fraudulent transactions that occur. The Fraud Engine may gather information from multiple sources such as third party fraud services such as negative file databases, AVS matching services, device fingerprinting services and/or the like. The Fraud Engine may combine these various data points as well as analyzes historical data to create heuristics and rules to prevent fraudulent transactions from occurring. The SNM, in some embodiments, may also provide a number of on-demand reports that help merchants gain insight into the incidence of fraud on their site and tune and configure their detection rules to better prevent fraud while maintaining a positive customer experience.
In some embodiments, a service provided by the SNM may include, e.g., 206c, micro-payment and subscription services. In some embodiments, the SNM may include an electronic wallet that maintains stored value balances for user accounts either in the form of real world balances or virtual currency balances. These balances may be broken down and tracked according to the method of payment made to create the balance such that the merchants can gain visibility into the actual cost basis for any user's balance. The SNM may further include subscription, and recurring billing engines and related features such as automatic entitlement delivery, overdue bill collection and event notifications. As another example, the SNM may include tracking of account balances, spend tracking, billing and/or product subscriptions, product offers and/or recommendations, event notifications, and/or the like.
In some embodiments, a service provided by the SNM may include in-app optimization, e.g., 206d. In order to collect payments, the front end user experience around the presentation of purchasing options may be optimized by the SNM for the individual user in order to maximize the likelihood of a user completing a transaction. One such method that may be used by the SNM in some embodiments is lightbox (pop-up) front end UI that is embedded on the merchants site through the use of for example, javascript. Users who click the Buy button may experience a pop-up window that is seamlessly integrated into the merchant site, with a look and feel that is customized to the merchant site. This lightbox experience may allow the user to stay within the payment window experience and the transaction may be completed within this same experience and not require that the user be redirected to an alternate website to transact a payment. In some embodiments, the Lightbox may have a dynamic user interface that reorders the payment methods in the order that is most likely to have a user complete a transaction based on the users demographic information as well as historic data around users purchasing activity and payment method preferences. For example, users in country A may see payment option X and Y listed first, because those methods convert highly in country A, whereas a user in Country B may see payment options Z listed first because that method converts highly in country B. In general, the SNM may provide features to modify the front-end user experience of a user purchasing a product to maximize the likelihood of the user completing the purchase and/or returning to the merchant's site for additional purchases. For example, the SNM may allow for configuration of the user interface according to the user's demographics, behavior, location, language, payment preferences (either specific to the user, or generally for the user's demographic), and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the SNM may provide storefronts and/or marketplaces for users to browse products for purchase. Before a user can make a payment, they need to see which items they desire to purchase. The SNM may include a presentation layer and front end user interface in the form of a storefronts (app stores/marketplace) where items are presented to users. The SNM may further provide the necessary backend infrastructure to enable storefronts to function such as inventory management modules, catalog and offer management modules, merchandizing modules, coupon code and discount promotion modules, inclusion of virtual currency wallet across games, one-click purchases, recommendation engine, search engine. In general, SNM may provide back-end services for the merchants, including inventory management, product search, advertisement placement, offer managements, consumer purchase incentives such as rewards or discounts, and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the SNM may provide analytics for the merchant based on card transaction data obtained from users purchasing products from the merchant, e.g., 206f. In some embodiments, the SNM may also allow developers to develop third-party apps that may be provided by the SNM to merchants via an application service store for the merchants. For example, the SNM may provide a Developer Console that gives clients the information they need in a unified fashion for all aspects of the MaaS stack. Reports and data include products, pricing or revenue by payment method and/or country, spending patterns, free-to-paid conversion and ARPU metrics.
In some embodiments, the SNM may provide customer support services, such as on-demand live video/text chat, and/or the like services, for the users, e.g., 206g. For example, in some embodiments, the SNM may facilitate a Developer Console that provides role based permissions to allow users of different levels to access different parts of the platform. One such level may be a customer support representative who can gain access to user transaction data to assist them with any issues, but would not gain access to other information such as revenue reports. The customer support tools may include ability for CS reps to issue refunds, look up pending transactions as well as whitelist or black list users.
In some embodiments, the app may be configured to automatically detect, e.g., 312, the presence of a product identifier within an image or video frame grabbed by the device (e.g., via a webcam, in-built camera, etc.). For example, the app may provide a “hands-free” mode of operation wherein the user may move the device to bring product identifiers within the field of view of the image/video capture mechanism of the device, and the app may perform image/video processing operations to automatically detect the product identifier within the field of view. In some embodiments, the app may overlay cross-hairs, target box, and/or like alignment reference markers, e.g., 315, so that a user may align the product identifier using the reference markers to facilitate product identifier recognition and interpretation.
In some embodiments, the detection of a product identifier may trigger various operations to provide products, services, information, etc. for the user. For example, the app may be configured to detect and capture a QR code having embedded merchant and/or product information, and utilize the information extracted from the QR code to process a transaction for purchasing a product from a merchant. As other examples, the app may be configured to provide information on related products, quotes, pricing information, related offers, (other) merchants related to the product identifier, rewards/loyalty points associated with purchasing the product related to the product identifier, analytics on purchasing behavior, alerts on spend tracking, and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the app may include user interface elements to allow the user to manually search, e.g., 313, for products (e.g., by name, brand, identifier, etc.). In some embodiments, the app may provide the user with the ability to view prior product identifier captures (see, e.g., 317a) so that the user may be able to better decide which product identifier the user desires to capture. In some embodiments, the app may include interface elements to allow the user to switch back and forth between the product identification mode and product offer interface display screens (see, e.g., 317b), so that a user may accurately study deals available to the user before capturing a product identifier. In some embodiments, the user may be provided with information about products, user settings, merchants, offers, etc. in list form (see, e.g., 317c) so that the user may better understand the user's purchasing options. Various other features may be provided for in the app (see, e.g., 317d). In some embodiments, the user may desire to cancel product purchasing; the app may provide the user with a user interface element (e.g., 318) to cancel the product identifier recognition procedure and return to the prior interface screen the user was utilizing.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the user may select to conduct the transaction using a one-time anonymized credit card number, see e.g., 323f. For example, the app may utilize a pre-designated anonymized set of card details (see, e.g., “AnonCard1,” “AnonCard2”). As another example, the app may generate, e.g., in real-time, a one-time anonymous set of card details to securely complete the purchase transaction (e.g., “Anon It 1X”). In such embodiments, the app may automatically set the user profile settings such that the any personal identifying information of the user will not be provided to the merchant and/or other entities. In some embodiments, the user may be required to enter a user name and password to enable the anonymization features.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the app may utilize predetermined default settings for a particular merchant, e.g., 331, to process the purchase based on the QR code (e.g., in response to the user touching an image of a QR code displayed on the screen of the user device). However, if the user wishes to customize the payment parameters, the user may activate a user interface element 335 (or e.g., press and continue to hold the image of the QR code 332). Upon doing so, the app may provide a pop-up menu, e.g., 337, providing a variety of payment customization choices, such as those described with reference to
With reference to
For example, a user may go to doctor's office and desire to pay the co-pay for a doctor's appointment. In addition to basic transactional information such as account number and name, the app may provide the user the ability to select to transfer medical records, health information, which may be provided to the medical provider, insurance company, as well as the transaction processor to reconcile payments between the parties. In some embodiments, the records may be sent in a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant data format and encrypted, and only the recipients who are authorized to view such records may have appropriate decryption keys to decrypt and view the private user information.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the SNM may utilize a text challenge procedure to verify the authenticity of the user, e.g., 351b. For example, the SNM may communicate with the user via text chat, SMS messages, electronic mail, Facebook® messages, Twitter™ tweets, and/or the like. The SNM may pose a challenge question, e.g., 352b, for the user. The app may provide a user input interface element(s) (e.g., virtual keyboard 353b) to answer the challenge question posed by the SNM. In some embodiments, the challenge question may randomly selected by the SNM automatically; in some embodiments, a customer service representative 355b may manually communicate with the user. In some embodiments, the user may not have initiated the transaction, e.g., the transaction is fraudulent. In such embodiments, the user may cancel, e.g., 358b, the text challenge. The SNM may then cancel the transaction, and/or initiate fraud investigation procedures on behalf of the user. In some embodiments, the app may provide additional user interface elements, e.g., to display previous session 356b, and provide additional customer support options (e.g., VerifyChat 357b).
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The presentation of the payment options can be displayed to the user on a merchant in a number of ways. In some embodiments, when a merchant wishes to present a user with a payment option, the merchant may send a query or API call to the payment provider that contains certain user demographic information such as age, location, item to be purchased, social networking ID or many others. The payment processing system may then compute, based on its algorithms and historic data, which payment methods are most likely to be the ones that will have the user complete a transaction. In one embodiment, the SNM may generate an API list that the merchant receives for the recommended order list of payment method to display to users. This API can further include graphics such as payment logos, or know payment methods of a user such as for example a Visa Credit card ending with the last 4 digits of ABCD. In another embodiment, the merchant may integrate a payment widget, lightbox, web-redirect or iframe to allow the payment processor to directly optimize the VI and front end user experience of the display of the methods. This could be through a simple list, or through a tabbed based approach. In the tab based approach the tabs selected and the methods that are shown by default may dynamically change based on the users demographic information. In some embodiments, the SNM can further optimize the purchasing experience by adjusting language, price points, currencies, merchandizing (such as promotions or display ads) or the user interface and look and feel of the payment experience for the user. In general, the SNM may tailor the purchasing experience dynamically for each individual user and can optimize and adjust a variety of parameters such as those listed above in order to create an experience that is most likely to have a user complete a transaction.
The SNM can also favor particular payment methods if the merchant desires them to be given prominent placement if there are economic reasons or strategic preferences for favoring particular methods. One method that might be favored is an existing account balance of stored currency that the user already has. By presenting the stored currency as a payment option ahead of other payment options, users can complete the transaction with a simple one click and the merchant can then recognize the revenues from the utilization of the stored balance.
In some embodiments, as shown in
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In some embodiments, the SNM may enable users to view their payments from users on a country-by-country basis, understanding market share for countries, e.g. US is 10% and Canada is 3%, total users, total payments and average payment size. These analytics and insights may give merchants clues that they need to increase revenue streams in their commerce activities. Additionally this data may be provided graphically showing a global heat map with countries having more payments with a darker color and payments with few payments with a lighter color (or no color for no payments). The levels, color contrast and granularity of the map can be configured and may provide merchants with simple and quick ways to visualize the effectiveness of their commerce activities across geographic regions.
In some embodiments, the geographies shown are country maps and the levels of payments are segmented into five spectrums based on an exponential scale such that each darker color level represents twice the payment volume than the next level. In some embodiments, the map may be divided into states, cities or districs and the color gradient can be a linear spectrum from light to dark and normalized to from the lowest paying location to the highest paying location, The graphical display may be populated, in one example, as follows: Each order and payment transaction may be tagged with an IP address and country stamp. Geopayments reports then created by the payment network by filtering all transactions for a given merchant, then aggregated by country, and counting the sum of users and transactions and calculating the country market share and average payment size. Graphic charts may be created by taking a map of the globe, aggregating payment volume and coloring different countries based on the market share of payments in that specific country.
Various analytics facilities may be available for merchants having the payment application integrated with their websites. An example merchant analytics dashboard 610, as shown in
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In some embodiments, the merchant server may utilize the SNM to search through the merchant's inventory to respond to the user's product catalog browse request. The merchant server may provide a product search request, e.g., 714, to a Monetization-as-a-Service (“MaaS”) server, e.g., 704a. For example, the merchant server may generate an application programming interface call to request the MaaS server to provide product catalog search results. For example, the client may provide a product search request to the MaaS server as a HTTP(S) POST message including XML-formatted data. An example listing of a product search request 714, substantially in the form of a HTTP(S) POST message including XML-formatted data, is provided below:
In some embodiments, the MaaS server may utilize a social network service to determine products to recommend for the user. In some embodiments, the MaaS server may request the user 701 to log into the social networking service in order to enable the user social graph search. For example, the MaaS server may request the social networking service to provide information on the user's communications on the social networking service, the user's social graph, and/or the social networking communications of the members of the user's social graph on the social networking service, e.g., 715. For example, the MaaS server may execute a PHP script to generate an application interface programming call to the social network server. An example listing of commands to generate a user social graph search request 715, written substantially in the form of PHP commands, is provided below:
In response, the social networking server may query, e.g., 716, its own database (e.g., social network database 705b), and obtain the requested social search results, e.g., 717, from its database. The social networking server may provide the retrieved information for the MaaS server, e.g., user social graph search results 718. For example, the social networking server may provide a JavaScript Object Notation format (“JSON”)-encoded data structure embodying the requested information. An exemplary JSON-encoded data structure embodying social data (e.g., user ID(s) of friends of the logged-in user) is provided below:
In some embodiments, the MaaS server may query, e.g., 719, its own database, e.g., MaaS database 704b, for products matching the products search request key terms. In some embodiments, the merchant server may obtain product catalog data, e.g., 720, such as product information, product pricing, sales tax, offers, discounts, rewards, and/or other information to process the purchase transaction and/or provide value-added services for the user. For example, the MaaS database may be a relational database responsive to Structured Query Language (“SQL”) commands. The MaaS server may execute a hypertext preprocessor (“PHP”) script including SQL commands to query a database table (such as
In some embodiments, the MaaS server may generate a product search response using the product catalog data and user social graph search results, e.g., 721. The MaaS server may provide the product search response, e.g., 722, to the merchant server as a response to the merchant server's product search request 714. For example, the MaaS server may provide the product search response to the merchant server as a HTTP(S) POST message including XML-formatted data. An example listing of a product search response 722, substantially in the form of a HTTP(S) POST message including XML-formatted data, is provided below:
In some embodiments, the merchant server may provide the product search response, e.g., 723, to the PoS client, which may display, e.g., 724, the product search results to the user. In some embodiments, the user may select a product from among the displayed products for purchase. The user may provide a product selection input, e.g., 725, to indicate the user's desire to obtain the product. The PoS client may generate a product cart request, e.g., 726, and provide the product cart request, e.g., 727, to the merchant server, in response to obtaining the user's product selection input. For example, the PoS client may generate a HTTP(S) POST message similar to the example above, and provide it to the merchant server. The merchant server may query its database, e.g., 728, for prior product cart data, e.g., 729. For example, it may execute a hypertext preprocessor (“PHP”) script including SQL commands to query a database table (such as
In some embodiments, upon obtaining the product cart data, e.g., 729, the merchant server may generate updated product data based on the product cart request, e.g., 730, and store the updated product cart data in the merchant database, e.g., 731. For example, the merchant server may issue PHP/SQL commands to store the data to a database table (such as
In some embodiments, the MaaS server may query its own database for products matching the products search request key terms, e.g., 808. In some embodiments, the merchant server may obtain product catalog data, such as product information, product pricing, sales tax, offers, discounts, rewards, and/or other information to process the purchase transaction and/or provide value-added services for the user. In some embodiments, the MaaS server may generate a product search response using the product catalog data and user social graph search results, e.g., 810. The MaaS server may provide the product search response to the merchant server as a response to the merchant server's product search request.
In some embodiments, the merchant server may provide the product search response to the PoS client, e.g., 811, which may display the product search results to the user, e.g., 812. In some embodiments, the user may select a product from among the displayed products for purchase, e.g., 813. The user may provide a product selection input to indicate the user's desire to obtain the product. The PoS client may generate a product cart request, e.g., 814, and provide the product cart request to the merchant server, in response to obtaining the user's product selection input. In some embodiments, upon obtaining the product cart data, the merchant server may generate updated product data based on the product cart request, e.g., 815-817, and store the updated product cart data in the merchant database, e.g., 818.
In some embodiments, the merchant server may obtain the checkout request from the client, and extract the checkout detail (e.g., XML data) from the checkout request. For example, the merchant server may utilize a parser such as the example parsers described below in the discussion with reference to
In some embodiments, in response to obtaining the product data, the merchant server may generate, e.g., 916, checkout data to provide for the PoS client. In some embodiments, such checkout data, e.g., 917, may be embodied, in part, in a HyperText Markup Language (“HTML”) page including data for display, such as product detail, product pricing, total pricing, tax information, shipping information, offers, discounts, rewards, value-added service information, etc., and input fields to provide payment information to process the purchase transaction, such as account holder name, account number, billing address, shipping address, tip amount, etc. In some embodiments, the checkout data may be embodied, in part, in a Quick Response (“QR”) code image that the PoS client can display, so that the user may capture the QR code using a user's device to obtain merchant and/or product data for generating a purchase transaction processing request. In some embodiments, a user alert mechanism may be built into the checkout data. For example, the merchant server may embed a URL specific to the transaction into the checkout data. In some embodiments, the alerts URL may further be embedded into optional level 3 data in card authorization requests, such as those discussed further below with reference to
In alternate embodiments, the merchant server may invoke a component to generate checkout data, such as the example flexible monetization service component discussed below with reference to
In some embodiments, the MaaS server may, in response to obtaining the flexible monetization service request, determine whether the merchant-user combination is authorized to utilize flexible monetization services. For example, the MaaS server may query, e.g., 1114, a MaaS database, e.g., 1104b, to determine whether the merchant and/or user are authorized to receive its services, e.g., 1115. For example, the MaaS server may utilize PHP/SQL commands similar to those described previously to determine service authorization. In some embodiments, the MaaS server may utilize the service authorization response, e.g., 1115, to identify, e.g., 1116, the services in which the merchant is enrolled which can be provided for the particular user shopping session for which the merchant obtained the flexible monetization service request. Upon determining whether the user-merchant combination is authorized to receive its services, the MaaS server may provide a service authorization confirmation message (or retry message, if the MaaS server determines that the session is not authorized for services), e.g., 1117, to the merchant server.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the MaaS server may provide the checkout widget, e.g., 1124, to the merchant server, which may provide the widget back to the source of the trigger for flexible monetization services.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the SNM may manage ratios. For example, let's say that a game wants to see virtual currency for a ratio of $1 to 100. The SNM may automatically calculate virtual currency amounts, so that if you enter a payment for $5, then 500 points is automatically created.
In some embodiments, the SNM may manage Discreet Pricing. For example, let's say that a game wants to give away more coins for money invested. Discreet pricing allows game developers to enter discreet point packages for different prices points. For example, the user might get 500 coins for $5, but 1,100 coins for $10 (a 100 coin bonus).
In some embodiments, the SNM may utilize Smart Pricing. For example, let's say that a game sets a ratio of $1=1,000 coins. However, the user is in Germany and prefers to pay in Euros. Instead of just doing a simple conversion and showing 1 EUR=793 Coins, Game Developers can round either up or down, from 1-3 significant digits. This means that the user might see 800 coins (rounded up to two significant digits) which is a much better number than 793 (from a consumer marketing perspective). In some embodiments, a setting for each country, merchant, and/or product may specify the number of threshold digits that may be rounded. For example, in the US, aggregate analysis of consumer behavior may show that two-digit rounding to enhance and increase transaction throughput for 4-digit point levels. For example, if a strict conversion ratio for $10 would 1237 virtual coins, having a two-digit rounding for the 4-digit value may result in an amount of 1250 coins, with “50” being the last two digits allowed for threshold rounding.
In some embodiments, the SNM may adapt virtual currencies according to the costs of the payment method employed by the user. As one example, the SNM may manage a high cost payment method such as Mobile Pricing. For example, let's say that a game sets a ratio of $1=1,000 coins for standard payments, e.g. credit card or PayPal. What if the user wants to pay in mobile? Mobile payments tend to charge 50% or more. The game developer can specify different ratios for different payment methods or different payment cost types. In this example, the game developer might want to give the user $1=750 coins (25% less coins) to help cover the economic costs of the mobile payment. As another example, the game developer may utilize different discrete mobile price points across multiple carriers, and set ratios (or discrete points) so that the SNM can automatically calculate a discrete number of price points per carrier for each country and show the appropriate pricing to the user. In general, it is contemplated that a SNM may facilitate dividing up the available price points to maximize the range of payment options provided to the user, and then provide a set number of payment choices, and calculating the applicable virtual currency to display.
In some embodiments, the SNM may accommodate the above mentioned virtual currency use cases as follows: Virtual Currencies may be created by the game developer on a Developer Console. Virtual currencies may be configured with names, like “Coins” and virtual currency codes, which reference the virtual currency during API calls. Once a virtual currency has been created, the game developer may create pricing rules for the virtual currency.
In some embodiments, once a base set of rules is created—the virtual currency is ready for use. The game developer may sell the virtual currency on their service, and when the user clicks on “buy”; then the game developer may also pass a virtual currency code, to let the SNM know that the purchase is for a virtual currency configured in the SNM. The payment interface on the game developer's site may then allow the user to make the payment. The interface may show price packages in drop downs and buttons according to the rules set up in the developer console. When the payment is complete, the SNM may send a postback communication to the game developer that the payment is complete. As part of the payment complete notification, the SNM may also pass the virtual currency code (so the game developer knows to credit the user with virtual currency), as well as the amount of virtual currency to credit. For security both the virtual currency code and the virtual currency amount may be MD5 hashed, so that users can't tamper with or grant themselves extra virtual currency.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the SNM may determine currency exchange rates for the virtual currency configuration based on one or more factors, which may include, but not be limited to: user device platform (e.g., mobile device, online game, eCommerce site, shopping in physical store, etc.), user payment method (e.g., debit, credit, etc.), and/or the like. For example, the SNM may determine the user's platform using communications forwarded to it from the PoS client where the user is engaged in the purchase transaction, e.g., 1305. The SNM may also determine the user payment method being utilized for payment, e.g., using user payment selections made by the user at the PoS client being utilized for the purchase transactions, e.g., 1306. The SNM may determine a currency conversion exchange rate for each of the set of currencies identified as being implicated in the virtual currency configuration. For example, the SNM may select a currency from the identified set of currencies for conversion, e.g., 1307. The SNM may query a database for a conversion algorithm to utilize for the conversion, based on the user platform, payment method, selected currency, and/or the like. For example the SNM may query a database using PHP/SQL commands similar to the example described previously to obtain the conversion algorithm to utilize. Several examples of conversion algorithms are described below. The SNM may utilize any single algorithm, or combinations of the algorithms in any sequence and to any portion of the conversion of the set of currencies, to convert the price from one currency to another
-
- For example, one algorithm, a constant ratio algorithm, may assign a constant exchange rate, regardless of the total value of the purchase price. A discreet pricing algorithm may assign a variable exchange rate depending on the total value of the purchase price. For example, the exchange rate may be lowered (e.g., more beneficial to the user) when the total purchase price is higher than a threshold value, than when it the total purchase price is lower than the threshold value. The discreet pricing algorithm may, in some embodiments, utilize a plurality of thresholds to generate virtual currency conversions. As another example, one algorithm, a smart pricing algorithm, may round the value of any input passed to it to at least one significant digit. The inputs passed to the smart pricing algorithm may, in various embodiments, be the exchange rate calculated by another algorithm, a price calculated by another algorithm, a (portion of a) purchase price of a product, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the SNM may utilize a pre-specified table for performing some of the currency conversions. In such embodiments, the SNM may query a database for a conversion table for the identified currency conversions, using the user platform, payment method and conversion algorithms as keys for the query, e.g., 1309. Using the conversion algorithms and conversion tables, the SNM may compute a conversion currency equivalent of the share of the total purchase price. In some embodiments, the conversion currency equivalent may be rounded using the smart pricing algorithm before being returned as a response to the trigger. The SNM may perform such currency conversions for each currency identified as belonging to the set of currencies implicated in the virtual currency conversion. The SNM may return the conversion currency equivalents in a result data record as a response to the obtained trigger.
In some embodiments, the SNM may query, e.g., 1407, a database for a widget template (e.g., javascript, AJAX lightbox, etc.) using the user device attributes, user location, user location type, and user demographic(s) as key terms in the query. Thus, in some embodiments, the SNM may be able to generate, using a template widget, a customized widget that is optimized based on the user device attributes, user location, user location type, and user demographic(s), among other attributes. The SNM may identify, e.g., 1408, a merchant ID for the merchant, and query a database for merchant-specific customization (e.g., see skins in
In some embodiments, upon authenticating the user for access to virtual wallet features, the user wallet device may provide a transaction authorization input, e.g., 1514, to a point-of-sale (“PoS”) client, e.g., 1502. For example, the user wallet device may communicate with the PoS client via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular communication, one- or two-way near-field communication (“NFC”), and/or the like. In embodiments where the user utilizes a plastic card instead of the user wallet device, the user may swipe the plastic card at the PoS client to transfer information from the plastic card into the PoS client. For example, the PoS client may obtain, as transaction authorization input 1514, track 1 data from the user's plastic card (e.g., credit card, debit card, prepaid card, charge card, etc.), such as the example track 1 data provided below:
In embodiments where the user utilizes a user wallet device, the user wallet device may provide payment information to the PoS client, formatted according to a data formatting protocol appropriate to the communication mechanism employed in the communication between the user wallet device and the PoS client. An example listing of transaction authorization input 1514, substantially in the form of XML-formatted data, is provided below:
In some embodiments, the PoS client may generate a card authorization request, e.g., 1515, using the obtained transaction authorization input from the user wallet device, and/or product/checkout data (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the card authorization request generated by the PoS client may include a minimum of information required to process the purchase transaction. For example, this may improve the efficiency of communicating the purchase transaction request, and may also advantageously improve the privacy protections provided to the user and/or merchant. For example, in some implementations, the card authorization request may include at least a session ID for the user's shopping session with the merchant. The session ID may be utilized by any component and/or entity having the appropriate access authority to access a secure site on the merchant server to obtain alerts, reminders, and/or other data about the transaction(s) within that shopping session between the user and the merchant. In some embodiments, the PoS client may provide the generated card authorization request to the merchant server, e.g., 1516. The merchant server may forward the card authorization request to a MaaS server, e.g., 1504a, for routing the card authorization request to the appropriate payment network for payment processing. For example, the MaaS server may be able to select from payment networks, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Paypal, etc., to process various types of transactions including, but not limited to: credit card, debit card, prepaid card, B2B and/or like transactions. In some embodiments, the merchant server may query a database, e.g., merchant/acquirer database 1503b, for a network address of the payment gateway server, for example by using a portion of a user payment card number, or a user ID (such as an email address) as a keyword for the database query. For example, the merchant server may issue PHP/SQL commands to query a database table (such as
In response, the merchant/acquirer database may provide the requested payment gateway address, e.g., 1518. The merchant server may forward the card authorization request to the MaaS server using the provided address. In some embodiments, upon receiving the card authorization request from the merchant server, the MaaS server may invoke a component to provide one or more service associated with purchase transaction authorization. For example, the MaaS server may invoke components for fraud prevention (see e.g.,
In response, the payment gateway database may provide the requested payment network address, e.g., 1522. The MaaS server may forward the card authorization request to the pay network server using the provided address, e.g., 1523.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the pay network server may generate a query, e.g., 1524, for issuer server(s) corresponding to the user-selected payment options. For example, the user's account may be linked to one or more issuer financial institutions (“issuers”), such as banking institutions, which issued the account(s) for the user. For example, such accounts may include, but not be limited to: credit card, debit card, prepaid card, checking, savings, money market, certificates of deposit, stored (cash) value accounts and/or the like. Issuer server(s), e.g., 1506a, of the issuer(s) may maintain details of the user's account(s). In some embodiments, a database, e.g., pay network database 1505b, may store details of the issuer server(s) associated with the issuer(s). In some embodiments, the pay network server may query a database, e.g., pay network database 505b, for a network address of the issuer(s) server(s), for example by using a portion of a user payment card number, or a user ID (such as an email address) as a keyword for the database query. For example, the merchant server may issue PHP/SQL commands to query a database table (such as
In response to obtaining the issuer server query, e.g., 1524, the pay network database may provide, e.g., 1525, the requested issuer server data to the pay network server. In some embodiments, the pay network server may utilize the issuer server data to generate funds authorization request(s), e.g., 1526, for each of the issuer server(s) selected based on the pre-defined payment settings associated with the user's virtual wallet, and/or the user's payment options input, and provide the funds authorization request(s) to the issuer server(s). In some embodiments, the funds authorization request(s) may include details such as, but not limited to: the costs to the user involved in the transaction, card account details of the user, user billing and/or shipping information, and/or the like. An example listing of a funds authorization request 1526, substantially in the form of a HTTP(S) POST message including XML-formatted data, is provided below:
In some embodiments, an issuer server may parse the authorization request(s), and based on the request details may query a database, e.g., user profile database 1506b, for data associated with an account linked to the user. For example, the merchant server may issue PHP/SQL commands to query a database table (such as
In some embodiments, on obtaining the user account(s) data, e.g., 1528, the issuer server may determine whether the user can pay for the transaction using funds available in the account, 1529. For example, the issuer server may determine whether the user has a sufficient balance remaining in the account, sufficient credit associated with the account, and/or the like. Based on the determination, the issuer server(s) may provide a funds authorization response, e.g., 1530, to the pay network server. For example, the issuer server(s) may provide a HTTP(S) POST message similar to the examples above. In some embodiments, if at least one issuer server determines that the user cannot pay for the transaction using the funds available in the account, the pay network server may request payment options again from the user (e.g., by providing an authorization fail message to the user device and requesting the user device to provide new payment options), and re-attempt authorization for the purchase transaction. In some embodiments, if the number of failed authorization attempts exceeds a threshold, the pay network server may abort the authorization process, and provide an “authorization fail” message to the merchant server, user device and/or client.
In some embodiments, the pay network server may obtain the funds authorization response including a notification of successful authorization, and parse the message to extract authorization details. Upon determining that the user possesses sufficient funds for the transaction, the pay network server may invoke a component to provide value-add services for the user, e.g., 1531. For example, the pay network server may invoke a P2P social network marketing component to post a notification of the user's successful purchase of the product to a social profile of the user hosted by a social networking service. As another example, the pay network server may invoke the P2P social network marketing component to reward a different user whose social post via a social networking service caused the user to engage in the purchase transaction. For example, the pay network server may invoke the example P2P social network marketing component discussed below with reference to
In some embodiments, the pay network server may forward a transaction authorization response, e.g., 1532, to the user wallet device, PoS client, and/or merchant server. The merchant may obtain the transaction authorization response, and determine from it that the user possesses sufficient funds in the card account to conduct the transaction. The merchant server may add a record of the transaction for the user to a batch of transaction data relating to authorized transactions. For example, the merchant may append the XML data pertaining to the user transaction to an XML data file comprising XML data for transactions that have been authorized for various users, e.g., 1533, and store the XML data file, e.g., 1534, in a database, e.g., merchant database 404. For example, a batch XML data file may be structured similar to the example XML data structure template provided below:
In some embodiments, the server may also generate a purchase receipt, e.g., 1533, and provide the purchase receipt to the client, e.g., 1535. The client may render and display, e.g., 1536, the purchase receipt for the user. In some embodiments, the user's wallet device may also provide a notification of successful authorization to the user. For example, the PoS client/user device may render a webpage, electronic message, text/SMS message, buffer a voicemail, emit a ring tone, and/or play an audio message, etc., and provide output including, but not limited to: sounds, music, audio, video, images, tactile feedback, vibration alerts (e.g., on vibration-capable client devices such as a smartphone etc.), and/or the like.
In some embodiments, upon authenticating the user for access to virtual wallet features, the user wallet device may provide a transaction authorization input, e.g., 1604, to a point-of-sale (“PoS”) client. For example, the user wallet device may communicate with the PoS client via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular communication, one- or two-way near-field communication (“NFC”), and/or the like. In embodiments where the user utilizes a plastic card instead of the user wallet device, the user may swipe the plastic card at the PoS client to transfer information from the plastic card into the PoS client. In embodiments where the user utilizes a user wallet device, the user wallet device may provide payment information to the PoS client, formatted according to a data formatting protocol appropriate to the communication mechanism employed in the communication between the user wallet device and the PoS client.
In some embodiments, the PoS client may obtain the transaction authorization input, and parse the input to extract payment information from the transaction authorization input, e.g., 1605. For example, the PoS client may utilize a parser, such as the example parsers provided below in the discussion with reference to
In some embodiments, the PoS client may provide the generated card authorization request to the merchant server. The merchant server may forward the card authorization request to a MaaS server, for routing the card authorization request to the appropriate payment network for payment processing. For example, the MaaS server may be able to select from payment networks, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Paypal, etc., to process various types of transactions including, but not limited to: credit card, debit card, prepaid card, B2B and/or like transactions. In some embodiments, the merchant server may query a database, e.g., 1608, for a network address of the payment gateway server, for example by using a portion of a user payment card number, or a user ID (such as an email address) as a keyword for the database query. In response, the merchant/acquirer database may provide the requested payment gateway address, e.g., 1610. The merchant server may forward the card authorization request to the MaaS server using the provided address. In some embodiments, upon receiving the card authorization request from the merchant server, the MaaS server may invoke a component to provide one or more service associated with purchase transaction authorization. For example, the MaaS server may invoke components for fraud prevention (see e.g.,
With reference to
In response to obtaining the issuer server query, the pay network database may provide, e.g., 1616, the requested issuer server data to the pay network server. In some embodiments, the pay network server may utilize the issuer server data to generate funds authorization request(s), e.g., 1617, for each of the issuer server(s) selected based on the pre-defined payment settings associated with the user's virtual wallet, and/or the user's payment options input, and provide the funds authorization request(s) to the issuer server(s). In some embodiments, the funds authorization request(s) may include details such as, but not limited to: the costs to the user involved in the transaction, card account details of the user, user billing and/or shipping information, and/or the like. In some embodiments, an issuer server may parse the authorization request(s), e.g., 1618, and based on the request details may query a database, e.g., 1619, for data associated with an account linked to the user.
In some embodiments, on obtaining the user account(s) data, e.g., 1620, the issuer server may determine whether the user can pay for the transaction using funds available in the account, e.g., 1621. For example, the issuer server may determine whether the user has a sufficient balance remaining in the account, sufficient credit associated with the account, and/or the like. Based on the determination, the issuer server(s) may provide a funds authorization response, e.g., 1622, to the pay network server. In some embodiments, if at least one issuer server determines that the user cannot pay for the transaction using the funds available in the account, the pay network server may request payment options again from the user (e.g., by providing an authorization fail message to the user device and requesting the user device to provide new payment options), and re-attempt authorization for the purchase transaction. In some embodiments, if the number of failed authorization attempts exceeds a threshold, the pay network server may abort the authorization process, and provide an “authorization fail” message to the merchant server, user device and/or client.
In some embodiments, the pay network server may obtain the funds authorization response including a notification of successful authorization, and parse the message to extract authorization details. Upon determining that the user possesses sufficient funds for the transaction, e.g., 1623, the pay network server may invoke a component to provide value-add services for the user, e.g., 1623. For example, the pay network server may invoke a P2P social network marketing component to post a notification of the user's successful purchase of the product to a social profile of the user hosted by a social networking service. As another example, the pay network server may invoke the P2P social network marketing component to reward a different user whose social post via a social networking service caused the user to engage in the purchase transaction. For example, the pay network server may invoke the example P2P social network marketing component discussed below with reference to
In some embodiments, the pay network server may forward a transaction authorization response to the user wallet device, PoS client, and/or merchant server. The merchant may parse, e.g., 1624, the transaction authorization response, and determine from it that the user possesses sufficient funds in the card account to conduct the transaction, e.g., 1625, option“Yes.” The merchant server may add a record of the transaction for the user to a batch of transaction data relating to authorized transactions. For example, the merchant may append the XML data pertaining to the user transaction to an XML data file comprising XML data for transactions that have been authorized for various users, e.g., 1626, and store the XML data file, e.g., 1627, in a database. In some embodiments, the server may also generate a purchase receipt, e.g., 1628, and provide the purchase receipt to the client. The client may render and display, e.g., 1629, the purchase receipt for the user. In some embodiments, the user's wallet device may also provide a notification of successful authorization to the user. For example, the PoS client/user device may render a webpage, electronic message, text/SMS message, buffer a voicemail, emit a ring tone, and/or play an audio message, etc., and provide output including, but not limited to: sounds, music, audio, video, images, tactile feedback, vibration alerts (e.g., on vibration-capable client devices such as a smartphone etc.), and/or the like.
Thus, in some embodiments, there may be no need for the recommending user profile information to get communicated to the vendor by the Affiliate Server, thus ensuring the privacy of both the recommending user and the referred user. The “Affiliate Server” Rewards module may reward the recommending user on the successful click or action (sale) to the second user (referred user) resulting from the recommending user propagating the vendor offering to the second user, through his/her Social Network communication. The reward may include one or more items selected from a group including a cash value, one or more virtual currency based rewards, or products, offers or coupons. A description of a user interacting with the invention in an example scenario follows: A Facebook user joins the P2P Affiliate program and in so doing grants the Affiliate Server access to the users profile or social graph data. This access could be granted in the form of adding a Facebook Affiliate Application, or through the use of Facebook Connect on a website. The user is now incented to post to hislher social network about any products he/she finds appealing, or can endorse because such posts can not only infoml hislher friends about his/her preferences, but can also lead to affiliate rewards if his/her friends decide to click on the posts. The user posts a link that he/she recently purchased a pair of Levy Jeans. This post gets communicated to hundreds of the user's friends through Facebook's friend feed. Ten users click on the link to browse the Levy Jean's Website. Two of the then users make a jeans purchase of $50 each. Levy has agreed to reward an affiliate with $0.50 for every user who browses their site and 5% of the sales price for any purchase. The Affiliate Server tracks the activity of the referred users on Levy's site and knows to reward the recommending user appropriately with $6.00 in this example. The Affiliate Server may take a percentage of all rewards as a service fee, or may receive a service fee from the merchants independently.
With reference to
In some embodiments, the social networking service may generate a user profile social post command, e.g., 1716, in response to obtaining the user social post request from the MaaS server. The social network server may provide a social post confirmation, e.g., 1717, in response, to the MaaS server.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
In some embodiments, the issuer server may generate a payment command, e.g., 1927. For example, the issuer server may issue a command to deduct funds from the user's account (or add a charge to the user's credit card account). The issuer server may issue a payment command, e.g., 1927, to a database storing the user's account information, e.g., user profile database 1906b. The issuer server may provide an individual payment confirmation, e.g., 1928, to the pay network server, which may forward, e.g., 1929, the funds transfer message to the acquirer server. An example listing of an individual payment confirmation 1928, substantially in the form of a HTTP(S) POST message including XML-formatted data, is provided below:
In some embodiments, the acquirer server may parse the individual payment confirmation, and correlate the transaction (e.g., using the request_ID field in the example above) to the merchant. The acquirer server may then transfer the funds specified in the funds transfer message to an account of the merchant. For example, the acquirer server may query, e.g. 1930, an acquirer database 1907b for payment ledger and/or merchant account data, e.g., 1931. The acquirer server may utilize payment ledger and/or merchant account data from the acquirer database, along with the individual payment confirmation, to generate updated payment ledger and/or merchant account data, e.g., 1932. The acquirer server may then store, e.g., 1933, the updated payment ledger and/or merchant account data to the acquire database.
The pay network server may parse the batch payment request obtained from the acquirer server, and extract the transaction data for each transaction stored in the batch payment request, e.g., 2008. The pay network server may store the transaction data, e.g., 2009, for each transaction in a pay network database. In some embodiments, the pay network server may invoke a component, e.g., 2010, to provide analytics based on the transactions of the merchant for whom purchase transaction are being cleared. For example, the pay network server may invoke a geographic transaction volume analytics component, such as the example component discussed below with reference to
With reference to
In some embodiments, the acquirer server may parse the individual payment confirmation, and correlate the transaction (e.g., using the request_ID field in the example above) to the merchant. The acquirer server may then transfer the funds specified in the funds transfer message to an account of the merchant. For example, the acquirer server may query, e.g. 2019, an acquirer database for payment ledger and/or merchant account data, e.g., 2020. The acquirer server may utilize payment ledger and/or merchant account data from the acquirer database, along with the individual payment confirmation, to generate updated payment ledger and/or merchant account data, e.g., 2021. The acquirer server may then store, e.g., 2022, the updated payment ledger and/or merchant account data to the acquire database.
In some embodiments, the pay network server may parse the obtained trigger for transaction-based analytics, and extract a merchant identifier from the trigger, e.g., 2112. For example, the pay network may extract a ‘merchant_id’ field from transaction data relating to a transaction involving the merchant, embedded in the obtained trigger. The pay network server may attempt to aggregate the transactions of the merchant to service the trigger. For example, the trigger may provide filters, e.g., an indication of the type of transaction, time period of transaction, geographical region of transactions, and/or other attributes to be utilized in the transaction-based analytics. The pay network server may utilize the filters provided in the trigger data to query, e.g., 2113, a pay network database, e.g., 2105b, for transactions of the merchant. For example, the pay network server may utilize PHP/SQL commands similar to those described previously to send the merchant transactions query 2113 to the pay network database. In response, the pay network database may provide, e.g., 2114, the merchant transactions data satisfying the filters provided by the trigger obtained by the pay network server. In some embodiments, the pay network server may analyze the aggregated transaction data to generate the analytics. For example, based on the XML-encoded example trigger provided above, the pay network server may engage in an algorithm to provide a heat map of transactions in the US made by consumers using credit cards in an online environment, and provide a heat map, resolved at the level of cities within the US in .JPEG image and .XLS spreadsheet formats to the email address reports@merchant.com. The pay network server may provide, e.g., 2116, the analytics results to the merchant acquirer server according to the instructions provided in the trigger, or using default settings if available. In some embodiments, the merchant/acquirer server may be able to display the analytics results via a display system, and/or store, e.g., 2117, the analytics results to a merchant/acquirer database, e.g., 2103b.
Typically, users, e.g., 2333a, which may be people and/or other systems, may engage information technology systems (e.g., computers) to facilitate information processing. In turn, computers employ processors to process information; such processors 2303 may be referred to as central processing units (CPU). One form of processor is referred to as a microprocessor. CPUs use communicative circuits to pass binary encoded signals acting as instructions to enable various operations. These instructions may be operational and/or data instructions containing and/or referencing other instructions and data in various processor accessible and operable areas of memory 2329 (e.g., registers, cache memory, random access memory, etc.). Such communicative instructions may be stored and/or transmitted in batches (e.g., batches of instructions) as programs and/or data components to facilitate desired operations. These stored instruction codes, e.g., programs, may engage the CPU circuit components and other motherboard and/or system components to perform desired operations. One type of program is a computer operating system, which, may be executed by CPU on a computer; the operating system enables and facilitates users to access and operate computer information technology and resources. Some resources that may be employed in information technology systems include: input and output mechanisms through which data may pass into and out of a computer; memory storage into which data may be saved; and processors by which information may be processed. These information technology systems may be used to collect data for later retrieval, analysis, and manipulation, which may be facilitated through a database program. These information technology systems provide interfaces that allow users to access and operate various system components.
In one embodiment, the SNM controller 2301 may be connected to and/or communicate with entities such as, but not limited to: one or more users from user input devices 2311; peripheral devices 2312; an optional cryptographic processor device 2328; and/or a communications network 2313. For example, the SNM controller 2301 may be connected to and/or communicate with users, e.g., 2333a, operating client device(s), e.g., 2333b, including, but not limited to, personal computer(s), server(s) and/or various mobile device(s) including, but not limited to, cellular telephone(s), smartphone(s) (e.g., iPhone®, Blackberry®, Android OS-based phones etc.), tablet computer(s) (e.g., Apple iPad™, HP Slate™, Motorola Xoom™, etc.), eBook reader(s) (e.g., Amazon Kindle™, Barnes and Noble's Nook™ eReader, etc.), laptop computer(s), notebook(s), netbook(s), gaming console(s) (e.g., XBOX Live™, Nintendo® DS, Sony PlayStation® Portable, etc.), portable scanner(s), and/or the like.
Networks are commonly thought to comprise the interconnection and interoperation of clients, servers, and intermediary nodes in a graph topology. It should be noted that the term “server” as used throughout this application refers generally to a computer, other device, program, or combination thereof that processes and responds to the requests of remote users across a communications network. Servers serve their information to requesting “clients.” The term “client” as used herein refers generally to a computer, program, other device, user and/or combination thereof that is capable of processing and making requests and obtaining and processing any responses from servers across a communications network. A computer, other device, program, or combination thereof that facilitates, processes information and requests, and/or furthers the passage of information from a source user to a destination user is commonly referred to as a “node.” Networks are generally thought to facilitate the transfer of information from source points to destinations. A node specifically tasked with furthering the passage of information from a source to a destination is commonly called a “router.” There are many forms of networks such as Local Area Networks (LANs), Pico networks, Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Networks (WLANs), etc. For example, the Internet is generally accepted as being an interconnection of a multitude of networks whereby remote clients and servers may access and interoperate with one another.
The SNM controller 2301 may be based on computer systems that may comprise, but are not limited to, components such as: a computer systemization 2302 connected to memory 2329.
Computer SystemizationA computer systemization 23o2 may comprise a clock 233o, central processing unit (“CPU(s)” and/or “processor(s)” (these terms are used interchangeable throughout the disclosure unless noted to the contrary)) 2303, a memory 2329 (e.g., a read only memory (ROM) 2306, a random access memory (RAM) 2305, etc.), and/or an interface bus 2307, and most frequently, although not necessarily, are all interconnected and/or communicating through a system bus 2304 on one or more (mother)board(s) 2302 having conductive and/or otherwise transportive circuit pathways through which instructions (e.g., binary encoded signals) may travel to effectuate communications, operations, storage, etc. The computer systemization may be connected to a power source 2386; e.g., optionally the power source may be internal. Optionally, a cryptographic processor 2326 and/or transceivers (e.g., ICs) 2374 may be connected to the system bus. In another embodiment, the cryptographic processor and/or transceivers may be connected as either internal and/or external peripheral devices 2312 via the interface bus I/O. In turn, the transceivers may be connected to antenna(s) 2375, thereby effectuating wireless transmission and reception of various communication and/or sensor protocols; for example the antenna(s) may connect to: a Texas Instruments WiLink WL1283 transceiver chip (e.g., providing 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0, FM, global positioning system (GPS) (thereby allowing SNM controller to determine its location)); Broadcom BCM4329IUB8 transceiver chip (e.g., providing 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, FM, etc.); a Broadcom BCM4750IUB8 receiver chip (e.g., GPS); an Infineon Technologies X-Gold 618-PMB9800 (e.g., providing 2G/3G HSDPA/HSUPA communications); and/or the like. The system clock typically has a crystal oscillator and generates a base signal through the computer systemization's circuit pathways. The clock is typically coupled to the system bus and various clock multipliers that will increase or decrease the base operating frequency for other components interconnected in the computer systemization. The clock and various components in a computer systemization drive signals embodying information throughout the system. Such transmission and reception of instructions embodying information throughout a computer systemization may be commonly referred to as communications. These communicative instructions may further be transmitted, received, and the cause of return and/or reply communications beyond the instant computer systemization to: communications networks, input devices, other computer systemizations, peripheral devices, and/or the like. It should be understood that in alternative embodiments, any of the above components may be connected directly to one another, connected to the CPU, and/or organized in numerous variations employed as exemplified by various computer systems.
The CPU comprises at least one high-speed data processor adequate to execute program components for executing user and/or system-generated requests. Often, the processors themselves will incorporate various specialized processing units, such as, but not limited to: integrated system (bus) controllers, memory management control units, floating point units, and even specialized processing sub-units like graphics processing units, digital signal processing units, and/or the like. Additionally, processors may include internal fast access addressable memory, and be capable of mapping and addressing memory 2329 beyond the processor itself; internal memory may include, but is not limited to: fast registers, various levels of cache memory (e.g., level 1, 2, 3, etc.), RAM, etc. The processor may access this memory through the use of a memory address space that is accessible via instruction address, which the processor can construct and decode allowing it to access a circuit path to a specific memory address space having a memory state. The CPU may be a microprocessor such as: AMD's Athlon, Duron and/or Opteron; ARM's application, embedded and secure processors; IBM and/or Motorola's DragonBall and PowerPC; IBM's and Sony's Cell processor; Intel's Celeron, Core (2) Duo, Itanium, Pentium, Xeon, and/or XScale; and/or the like processor(s). The CPU interacts with memory through instruction passing through conductive and/or transportive conduits (e.g., (printed) electronic and/or optic circuits) to execute stored instructions (i.e., program code) according to conventional data processing techniques. Such instruction passing facilitates communication within the SNM controller and beyond through various interfaces. Should processing requirements dictate a greater amount speed and/or capacity, distributed processors (e.g., Distributed SNM), mainframe, multi-core, parallel, and/or super-computer architectures may similarly be employed. Alternatively, should deployment requirements dictate greater portability, smaller Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) may be employed.
Depending on the particular implementation, features of the SNM may be achieved by implementing a microcontroller such as CAST's R8051XC2 microcontroller; Intel's MCS 51 (i.e., 8051 microcontroller); and/or the like. Also, to implement certain features of the SNM, some feature implementations may rely on embedded components, such as: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”), Digital Signal Processing (“DSP”), Field Programmable Gate Array (“FPGA”), and/or the like embedded technology. For example, any of the SNM component collection (distributed or otherwise) and/or features may be implemented via the microprocessor and/or via embedded components; e.g., via ASIC, coprocessor, DSP, FPGA, and/or the like. Alternately, some implementations of the SNM may be implemented with embedded components that are configured and used to achieve a variety of features or signal processing.
Depending on the particular implementation, the embedded components may include software solutions, hardware solutions, and/or some combination of both hardware/software solutions. For example, SNM features discussed herein may be achieved through implementing FPGAs, which are a semiconductor devices containing programmable logic components called “logic blocks”, and programmable interconnects, such as the high performance FPGA Virtex series and/or the low cost Spartan series manufactured by Xilinx. Logic blocks and interconnects can be programmed by the customer or designer, after the FPGA is manufactured, to implement any of the SNM features. A hierarchy of programmable interconnects allow logic blocks to be interconnected as needed by the SNM system designer/administrator, somewhat like a one-chip programmable breadboard. An FPGA's logic blocks can be programmed to perform the operation of basic logic gates such as AND, and XOR, or more complex combinational operators such as decoders or simple mathematical operations. In most FPGAs, the logic blocks also include memory elements, which may be circuit flip-flops or more complete blocks of memory. In some circumstances, the SNM may be developed on regular FPGAs and then migrated into a fixed version that more resembles ASIC implementations. Alternate or coordinating implementations may migrate SNM controller features to a final ASIC instead of or in addition to FPGAs. Depending on the implementation all of the aforementioned embedded components and microprocessors may be considered the “CPU” and/or “processor” for the SNM.
Power SourceThe power source 2386 may be of any standard form for powering small electronic circuit board devices such as the following power cells: alkaline, lithium hydride, lithium ion, lithium polymer, nickel cadmium, solar cells, and/or the like. Other types of AC or DC power sources may be used as well. In the case of solar cells, in one embodiment, the case provides an aperture through which the solar cell may capture photonic energy. The power cell 2386 is connected to at least one of the interconnected subsequent components of the SNM thereby providing an electric current to all subsequent components. In one example, the power source 2386 is connected to the system bus component 2304. In an alternative embodiment, an outside power source 2386 is provided through a connection across the I/O 2308 interface. For example, a USB and/or IEEE 1394 connection carries both data and power across the connection and is therefore a suitable source of power.
Interface AdaptersInterface bus(ses) 2307 may accept, connect, and/or communicate to a number of interface adapters, conventionally although not necessarily in the form of adapter cards, such as but not limited to: input output interfaces (I/O) 2308, storage interfaces 2309, network interfaces 2310, and/or the like. Optionally, cryptographic processor interfaces 2327 similarly may be connected to the interface bus. The interface bus provides for the communications of interface adapters with one another as well as with other components of the computer systemization. Interface adapters are adapted for a compatible interface bus. Interface adapters conventionally connect to the interface bus via a slot architecture. Conventional slot architectures may be employed, such as, but not limited to: Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Card Bus, (Extended) Industry Standard Architecture ((E)ISA), Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), NuBus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (Extended) (PCI(X)), PCI Express, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), and/or the like.
Storage interfaces 2309 may accept, communicate, and/or connect to a number of storage devices such as, but not limited to: storage devices 2314, removable disc devices, and/or the like. Storage interfaces may employ connection protocols such as, but not limited to: (Ultra) (Serial) Advanced Technology Attachment (Packet Interface) ((Ultra) (Serial) ATA(PI)), (Enhanced) Integrated Drive Electronics ((E)IDE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, fiber channel, Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/or the like.
Network interfaces 2310 may accept, communicate, and/or connect to a communications network 2313. Through a communications network 2313, the SNM controller is accessible through remote clients 2333b (e.g., computers with web browsers) by users 2333a. Network interfaces may employ connection protocols such as, but not limited to: direct connect, Ethernet (thick, thin, twisted pair 10/100/1000 Base T, and/or the like), Token Ring, wireless connection such as IEEE 802.11a-x, and/or the like. Should processing requirements dictate a greater amount speed and/or capacity, distributed network controllers (e.g., Distributed SNM), architectures may similarly be employed to pool, load balance, and/or otherwise increase the communicative bandwidth required by the SNM controller. A communications network may be any one and/or the combination of the following: a direct interconnection; the Internet; a Local Area Network (LAN); a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN); an Operating Missions as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI); a secured custom connection; a Wide Area Network (WAN); a wireless network (e.g., employing protocols such as, but not limited to a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), I-mode, and/or the like); and/or the like. A network interface may be regarded as a specialized form of an input output interface. Further, multiple network interfaces 2310 may be used to engage with various communications network types 2313. For example, multiple network interfaces may be employed to allow for the communication over broadcast, multicast, and/or unicast networks.
Input Output interfaces (I/O) 2308 may accept, communicate, and/or connect to user input devices 2311, peripheral devices 2312, cryptographic processor devices 2328, and/or the like. I/O may employ connection protocols such as, but not limited to: audio: analog, digital, monaural, RCA, stereo, and/or the like; data: Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), IEEE 1394a-b, serial, universal serial bus (USB); infrared; joystick; keyboard; midi; optical; PC AT; PS/2; parallel; radio; video interface: Apple Desktop Connector (ADC), BNC, coaxial, component, composite, digital, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), RCA, RF antennae, S-Video, VGA, and/or the like; wireless transceivers: 802.11a/b/g/n/x; Bluetooth; cellular (e.g., code division multiple access (CDMA), high speed packet access (HSPA(+)), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), long term evolution (LTE), WiMax, etc.); and/or the like. One typical output device may include a video display, which typically comprises a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) based monitor with an interface (e.g., DVI circuitry and cable) that accepts signals from a video interface, may be used. The video interface composites information generated by a computer systemization and generates video signals based on the composited information in a video memory frame. Another output device is a television set, which accepts signals from a video interface. Typically, the video interface provides the composited video information through a video connection interface that accepts a video display interface (e.g., an RCA composite video connector accepting an RCA composite video cable; a DVI connector accepting a DVI display cable, etc.).
User input devices 2311 often are a type of peripheral device 2312 (see below) and may include: card readers, dongles, finger print readers, gloves, graphics tablets, joysticks, keyboards, microphones, mouse (mice), remote controls, retina readers, touch screens (e.g., capacitive, resistive, etc.), trackballs, trackpads, sensors (e.g., accelerometers, ambient light, GPS, gyroscopes, proximity, etc.), styluses, and/or the like.
Peripheral devices 2312 may be connected and/or communicate to I/O and/or other facilities of the like such as network interfaces, storage interfaces, directly to the interface bus, system bus, the CPU, and/or the like. Peripheral devices may be external, internal and/or part of the SNM controller. Peripheral devices may include: antenna, audio devices (e.g., line-in, line-out, microphone input, speakers, etc.), cameras (e.g., still, video, webcam, etc.), dongles (e.g., for copy protection, ensuring secure transactions with a digital signature, and/or the like), external processors (for added capabilities; e.g., crypto devices 2328), force-feedback devices (e.g., vibrating motors), network interfaces, printers, scanners, storage devices, transceivers (e.g., cellular, GPS, etc.), video devices (e.g., goggles, monitors, etc.), video sources, visors, and/or the like. Peripheral devices often include types of input devices (e.g., cameras).
It should be noted that although user input devices and peripheral devices may be employed, the SNM controller may be embodied as an embedded, dedicated, and/or monitor-less (i.e., headless) device, wherein access would be provided over a network interface connection.
Cryptographic units such as, but not limited to, microcontrollers, processors 2326, interfaces 2327, and/or devices 2328 may be attached, and/or communicate with the SNM controller. A MC68HC16 microcontroller, manufactured by Motorola Inc., may be used for and/or within cryptographic units. The MC68HC16 microcontroller utilizes a 16-bit multiply-and-accumulate instruction in the 16 MHz configuration and requires less than one second to perform a 512-bit RSA private key operation. Cryptographic units support the authentication of communications from interacting agents, as well as allowing for anonymous transactions. Cryptographic units may also be configured as part of the CPU. Equivalent microcontrollers and/or processors may also be used. Other commercially available specialized cryptographic processors include: the Broadcom's CryptoNetX and other Security Processors; nCipher's nShield, SafeNet's Luna PCI (e.g., 7100) series; Semaphore Communications' 40 MHz Roadrunner 184; Sun's Cryptographic Accelerators (e.g., Accelerator 6000 PCIe Board, Accelerator 500 Daughtercard); Via Nano Processor (e.g., L2100, L2200, U2400) line, which is capable of performing 500+ MB/s of cryptographic instructions; VLSI Technology's 33 MHz 6868; and/or the like.
MemoryGenerally, any mechanization and/or embodiment allowing a processor to affect the storage and/or retrieval of information is regarded as memory 2329. However, memory is a fungible technology and resource, thus, any number of memory embodiments may be employed in lieu of or in concert with one another. It is to be understood that the SNM controller and/or a computer systemization may employ various forms of memory 2329. For example, a computer systemization may be configured wherein the operation of on-chip CPU memory (e.g., registers), RAM, ROM, and any other storage devices are provided by a paper punch tape or paper punch card mechanism; however, such an embodiment would result in an extremely slow rate of operation. In a typical configuration, memory 2329 will include ROM 2306, RAM 2305, and a storage device 2314. A storage device 2314 may be any conventional computer system storage. Storage devices may include a drum; a (fixed and/or removable) magnetic disk drive; a magneto-optical drive; an optical drive (i.e., Blueray, CD ROM/RAM/Recordable (R)/ReWritable (RW), DVD R/RW, HD DVD R/RW etc.); an array of devices (e.g., Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)); solid state memory devices (USB memory, solid state drives (SSD), etc.); other processor-readable storage mediums; and/or other devices of the like. Thus, a computer systemization generally requires and makes use of memory.
Component CollectionThe memory 2329 may contain a collection of program and/or database components and/or data such as, but not limited to: operating system component(s) 2315 (operating system); information server component(s) 2316 (information server); user interface component(s) 2317 (user interface); Web browser component(s) 2318 (Web browser); database(s) 2319; mail server component(s) 2321; mail client component(s) 2322; cryptographic server component(s) 232o (cryptographic server); the SNM component(s) 2335; and/or the like (i.e., collectively a component collection). These components may be stored and accessed from the storage devices and/or from storage devices accessible through an interface bus. Although non-conventional program components such as those in the component collection, typically, are stored in a local storage device 2314, they may also be loaded and/or stored in memory such as: peripheral devices, RAM, remote storage facilities through a communications network, ROM, various forms of memory, and/or the like.
Operating SystemThe operating system component 2315 is an executable program component facilitating the operation of the SNM controller. Typically, the operating system facilitates access of I/O, network interfaces, peripheral devices, storage devices, and/or the like. The operating system may be a highly fault tolerant, scalable, and secure system such as: Apple Macintosh OS X (Server); AT&T Plan 9; Be OS; Unix and Unix-like system distributions (such as AT&T's UNIX; Berkley Software Distribution (BSD) variations such as FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and/or the like; Linux distributions such as Red Hat, Ubuntu, and/or the like); and/or the like operating systems. However, more limited and/or less secure operating systems also may be employed such as Apple Macintosh OS, IBM OS/2, Microsoft DOS, Microsoft Windows 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millenium/NT/Vista/XP (Server), Palm OS, and/or the like. An operating system may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or the like. Most frequently, the operating system communicates with other program components, user interfaces, and/or the like. For example, the operating system may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses. The operating system, once executed by the CPU, may enable the interaction with communications networks, data, I/O, peripheral devices, program components, memory, user input devices, and/or the like. The operating system may provide communications protocols that allow the SNM controller to communicate with other entities through a communications network 2313. Various communication protocols may be used by the SNM controller as a subcarrier transport mechanism for interaction, such as, but not limited to: multicast, TCP/IP, UDP, unicast, and/or the like.
Information ServerAn information server component 2316 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. The information server may be a conventional Internet information server such as, but not limited to Apache Software Foundation's Apache, Microsoft's Internet Information Server, and/or the like. The information server may allow for the execution of program components through facilities such as Active Server Page (ASP), ActiveX, (ANSI) (Objective−) C (++), C# and/or .NET, Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts, dynamic (D) hypertext markup language (HTML), FLASH, Java, JavaScript, Practical Extraction Report Language (PERL), Hypertext Pre-Processor (PHP), pipes, Python, wireless application protocol (WAP), WebObjects, and/or the like. The information server may support secure communications protocols such as, but not limited to, File Transfer Protocol (FTP); HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP); Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), messaging protocols (e.g., America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger (AIM), Application Exchange (APEX), ICQ, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Microsoft Network (MSN) Messenger Service, Presence and Instant Messaging Protocol (PRIM), Internet Engineering Task Force's (IETF's) Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), open XML-based Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) (i.e., Jabber or Open Mobile Alliance's (OMA's) Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), Yahoo! Instant Messenger Service, and/or the like. The information server provides results in the form of Web pages to Web browsers, and allows for the manipulated generation of the Web pages through interaction with other program components. After a Domain Name System (DNS) resolution portion of an HTTP request is resolved to a particular information server, the information server resolves requests for information at specified locations on the SNM controller based on the remainder of the HTTP request. For example, a request such as http://123.124.125.126/myInformation.html might have the IP portion of the request “123.124.125.126” resolved by a DNS server to an information server at that IP address; that information server might in turn further parse the http request for the “/myInformation.html” portion of the request and resolve it to a location in memory containing the information “myInformation.html.” Additionally, other information serving protocols may be employed across various ports, e.g., FTP communications across port 21, and/or the like. An information server may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the information server communicates with the SNM database 2319, operating systems, other program components, user interfaces, Web browsers, and/or the like.
Access to the SNM database may be achieved through a number of database bridge mechanisms such as through scripting languages as enumerated below (e.g., CGI) and through inter-application communication channels as enumerated below (e.g., CORBA, WebObjects, etc.). Any data requests through a Web browser are parsed through the bridge mechanism into appropriate grammars as required by the SNM. In one embodiment, the information server would provide a Web form accessible by a Web browser. Entries made into supplied fields in the Web form are tagged as having been entered into the particular fields, and parsed as such. The entered terms are then passed along with the field tags, which act to instruct the parser to generate queries directed to appropriate tables and/or fields. In one embodiment, the parser may generate queries in standard SQL by instantiating a search string with the proper join/select commands based on the tagged text entries, wherein the resulting command is provided over the bridge mechanism to the SNM as a query. Upon generating query results from the query, the results are passed over the bridge mechanism, and may be parsed formatting and generation of a new results Web page by the bridge mechanism. Such a new results Web page is then provided to the information server, which may supply it to the requesting Web browser.
Also, an information server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.
User InterfaceComputer interfaces in some respects are similar to automobile operation interfaces. Automobile operation interface elements such as steering wheels, gearshifts, and speedometers facilitate the access, operation, and display of automobile resources, and status. Computer interaction interface elements such as check boxes, cursors, menus, scrollers, and windows (collectively and commonly referred to as widgets) similarly facilitate the access, capabilities, operation, and display of data and computer hardware and operating system resources, and status. Operation interfaces are commonly called user interfaces. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) such as the Apple Macintosh Operating System's Aqua, IBM's OS/2, Microsoft's Windows 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/Millenium/NT/XP/Vista/7 (i.e., Aero), Unix's X-Windows (e.g., which may include additional Unix graphic interface libraries and layers such as K Desktop Environment (KDE), mythTV and GNU Network Object Model Environment (GNOME)), web interface libraries (e.g., ActiveX, AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH, Java, JavaScript, etc. interface libraries such as, but not limited to, Dojo, jQuery(UI), MooTools, Prototype, script.aculo.us, SWFObject, Yahoo! User Interface, any of which may be used and) provide a baseline and means of accessing and displaying information graphically to users.
A user interface component 2317 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. The user interface may be a conventional graphic user interface as provided by, with, and/or atop operating systems and/or operating environments such as already discussed. The user interface may allow for the display, execution, interaction, manipulation, and/or operation of program components and/or system facilities through textual and/or graphical facilities. The user interface provides a facility through which users may affect, interact, and/or operate a computer system. A user interface may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the user interface communicates with operating systems, other program components, and/or the like. The user interface may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.
Web BrowserA Web browser component 2318 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. The Web browser may be a conventional hypertext viewing application such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Secure Web browsing may be supplied with 128 bit (or greater) encryption by way of HTTPS, SSL, and/or the like. Web browsers allowing for the execution of program components through facilities such as ActiveX, AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH, Java, JavaScript, web browser plug-in APIs (e.g., FireFox, Safari Plug-in, and/or the like APIs), and/or the like. Web browsers and like information access tools may be integrated into PDAs, cellular telephones, and/or other mobile devices. A Web browser may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the Web browser communicates with information servers, operating systems, integrated program components (e.g., plug-ins), and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses. Also, in place of a Web browser and information server, a combined application may be developed to perform similar operations of both. The combined application would similarly affect the obtaining and the provision of information to users, user agents, and/or the like from the SNM enabled nodes. The combined application may be nugatory on systems employing standard Web browsers.
Mail ServerA mail server component 2321 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU 2303. The mail server may be a conventional Internet mail server such as, but not limited to sendmail, Microsoft Exchange, and/or the like. The mail server may allow for the execution of program components through facilities such as ASP, ActiveX, (ANSI) (Objective−) C (++), C# and/or .NET, CGI scripts, Java, JavaScript, PERL, PHP, pipes, Python, WebObjects, and/or the like. The mail server may support communications protocols such as, but not limited to: Internet message access protocol (IMAP), Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI)/Microsoft Exchange, post office protocol (POP3), simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), and/or the like. The mail server can route, forward, and process incoming and outgoing mail messages that have been sent, relayed and/or otherwise traversing through and/or to the SNM.
Access to the SNM mail may be achieved through a number of APIs offered by the individual Web server components and/or the operating system.
Also, a mail server may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, information, and/or responses.
Mail ClientA mail client component 2322 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU 2303. The mail client may be a conventional mail viewing application such as Apple Mail, Microsoft Entourage, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, Mozilla, Thunderbird, and/or the like. Mail clients may support a number of transfer protocols, such as: IMAP, Microsoft Exchange, POP3, SMTP, and/or the like. A mail client may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the mail client communicates with mail servers, operating systems, other mail clients, and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, information, and/or responses. Generally, the mail client provides a facility to compose and transmit electronic mail messages.
Cryptographic ServerA cryptographic server component 232o is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU 2303, cryptographic processor 2326, cryptographic processor interface 2327, cryptographic processor device 2328, and/or the like. Cryptographic processor interfaces will allow for expedition of encryption and/or decryption requests by the cryptographic component; however, the cryptographic component, alternatively, may run on a conventional CPU. The cryptographic component allows for the encryption and/or decryption of provided data. The cryptographic component allows for both symmetric and asymmetric (e.g., Pretty Good Protection (PGP)) encryption and/or decryption. The cryptographic component may employ cryptographic techniques such as, but not limited to: digital certificates (e.g., X.509 authentication framework), digital signatures, dual signatures, enveloping, password access protection, public key management, and/or the like. The cryptographic component will facilitate numerous (encryption and/or decryption) security protocols such as, but not limited to: checksum, Data Encryption Standard (DES), Elliptical Curve Encryption (ECC), International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA), Message Digest 5 (MD5, which is a one way hash operation), passwords, Rivest Cipher (RC5), Rijndael, RSA (which is an Internet encryption and authentication system that uses an algorithm developed in 1977 by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman), Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTPS), and/or the like. Employing such encryption security protocols, the SNM may encrypt all incoming and/or outgoing communications and may serve as node within a virtual private network (VPN) with a wider communications network. The cryptographic component facilitates the process of “security authorization” whereby access to a resource is inhibited by a security protocol wherein the cryptographic component effects authorized access to the secured resource. In addition, the cryptographic component may provide unique identifiers of content, e.g., employing and MD5 hash to obtain a unique signature for an digital audio file. A cryptographic component may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. The cryptographic component supports encryption schemes allowing for the secure transmission of information across a communications network to enable the SNM component to engage in secure transactions if so desired. The cryptographic component facilitates the secure accessing of resources on the SNM and facilitates the access of secured resources on remote systems; i.e., it may act as a client and/or server of secured resources. Most frequently, the cryptographic component communicates with information servers, operating systems, other program components, and/or the like. The cryptographic component may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.
The SNM DatabaseThe SNM database component 2319 may be embodied in a database and its stored data. The database is a stored program component, which is executed by the CPU; the stored program component portion configuring the CPU to process the stored data. The database may be a conventional, fault tolerant, relational, scalable, secure database such as Oracle or Sybase. Relational databases are an extension of a flat file. Relational databases consist of a series of related tables. The tables are interconnected via a key field. Use of the key field allows the combination of the tables by indexing against the key field; i.e., the key fields act as dimensional pivot points for combining information from various tables. Relationships generally identify links maintained between tables by matching primary keys. Primary keys represent fields that uniquely identify the rows of a table in a relational database. More precisely, they uniquely identify rows of a table on the “one” side of a one-to-many relationship.
Alternatively, the SNM database may be implemented using various standard data-structures, such as an array, hash, (linked) list, struct, structured text file (e.g., XML), table, and/or the like. Such data-structures may be stored in memory and/or in (structured) files. In another alternative, an object-oriented database may be used, such as Frontier, ObjectStore, Poet, Zope, and/or the like. Object databases can include a number of object collections that are grouped and/or linked together by common attributes; they may be related to other object collections by some common attributes. Object-oriented databases perform similarly to relational databases with the exception that objects are not just pieces of data but may have other types of capabilities encapsulated within a given object. If the SNM database is implemented as a data-structure, the use of the SNM database 2319 may be integrated into another component such as the SNM component 2335. Also, the database may be implemented as a mix of data structures, objects, and relational structures. Databases may be consolidated and/or distributed in countless variations through standard data processing techniques. Portions of databases, e.g., tables, may be exported and/or imported and thus decentralized and/or integrated.
In one embodiment, the database component 2319 includes several tables 2319a-o. A Users table 2319a may include fields such as, but not limited to: user_id, ssn, dob, first_name, last_name, age, state, address_firstline, address_secondline, zipcode, devices_list, contact_info, contact_type, alt_contact_info, alt_contact_type, and/or the like. The Users table may support and/or track multiple entity accounts on a SNM. A Devices table 2319b may include fields such as, but not limited to: device_ID, device_name, device_IP, device_MAC, device_type, device_model, device_version, device_OS, device_apps_list, device_securekey, wallet_app_installed_flag, and/or the like. An Apps table 2319c may include fields such as, but not limited to: app_ID, app_name, app_type, app_dependencies, and/or the like. An Accounts table 2319d may include fields such as, but not limited to: account_number, account_security_code, account_name, issuer_acquirer_flag, issuer_name, acquirer_name, account_address, routing_number, access_API call, linked_wallets_list, and/or the like. A Merchants table 2319e may include fields such as, but not limited to: merchant_id, merchant_name, merchant_address, ip_address, mac_address, auth_key, port_num, security_settings_list, and/or the like. An Issuers table 2319f may include fields such as, but not limited to: issuer_id, issuer_name, issuer_address, ip_address, mac_address, auth_key, port_num, security_settings_list, and/or the like. An Acquirers table 2319g may include fields such as, but not limited to: account_firstname, account_lastname, account_type, account_num, account_balance_list, billingaddress_line1, billingaddress_line2, billing_zipcode, billing_state, shipping_preferences, shippingaddress_line1, shippingaddress_line2, shipping_zipcode, shipping_state, and/or the like. A Pay Gateways table 2319h may include fields such as, but not limited to: service_type, service_list, secure_ley, access_API_list, API_template_array, paygate_id, paygate_address, paygate_URL, paygate_name, payNET_id, payNET_address, payNET_URL, payNET_name, and/or the like. A Transactions table 2319i may include fields such as, but not limited to: order_id, user_id, timestamp, transaction_cost, purchase_details_list, num_products, products_list, product_type, product_params_list, product_title, product_summary, quantity, user_id, client_id, client_ip, client_type, client_model, operating_system, os_version, app_installed_flag, user_id, account_firstname, account_lastname, account_type, account_num, account_priority_account_ratio, billingaddress_line1, billingaddress_line2, billing_zipcode, billing_state, shipping_preferences, shippingaddress_line1, shippingaddress_line2, shipping_zipcode, shipping_state, merchant_id, merchant_name, merchant_auth_key, and/or the like. A Batches table 2319j may include fields such as, but not limited to: batch_id, transaction_id_list, timestamp_list, cleared_flag_list, clearance_trigger_settings, and/or the like. A Ledgers table 2319k may include fields such as, but not limited to: request_id, timestamp, deposit_amount, batch_id, transaction_id, clear_flag, deposit_account, transaction_summary, payor_name, payor_account, and/or the like. A Products table 2319l may include fields such as, but not limited to: product_ID, product_title, product_attributes_list, product_price, tax_info_list, related_products_list, offers_list, discounts_list, rewards_list, merchants_list, merchant_availability_list, and/or the like. An Offers table 2319m may include fields such as, but not limited to: offer_ID, offer_title, offer_attributes_list, offer_price, offer_expiry, related_products_list, discounts_list, rewards_list, merchants_list, merchant_availability_list, and/or the like. A Behavior Data table 2319n may include fields such as, but not limited to: user_id, user_name, user_gaming_times_hist, user_gaming_list, user_product_purchase_categories_list, and/or the like. An Analytics table 2319o may include fields such as, but not limited to: merchant_id, timestamp, report_type, report_criterion_list, algorithm_list, results_array, and/or the like. A Social Graph table 2319p may include fields such as, but not limited to: user_id, user_name, user_graph_list, graph_weight_list, user_friend_list, user_enemy_list, user_posts_list, and/or the like. A Recommendations table 2319q may include fields such as, but not limited to: recommendation_id, recommendation_name, recommendsation_type, user_id, products_list, pricing_list, expriry_date, tax_info, and/or the like. A Currency Exchange table 2319r may include fields such as, but not limited to: currency_id, currency_name, currency_type, algorithm_pref_list, threshold_values, base_currency, and/or the like. A Geographical Customizations table 2319s may include fields such as, but not limited to: geo_id, geo_name, geo_UI_customizations_list, geo_currnecy_customizations_list, and/or the like.
In one embodiment, the SNM database may interact with other database systems. For example, employing a distributed database system, queries and data access by search SNM component may treat the combination of the SNM database, an integrated data security layer database as a single database entity.
In one embodiment, user programs may contain various user interface primitives, which may serve to update the SNM. Also, various accounts may require custom database tables depending upon the environments and the types of clients the SNM may need to serve. It should be noted that any unique fields may be designated as a key field throughout. In an alternative embodiment, these tables have been decentralized into their own databases and their respective database controllers (i.e., individual database controllers for each of the above tables). Employing standard data processing techniques, one may further distribute the databases over several computer systemizations and/or storage devices. Similarly, configurations of the decentralized database controllers may be varied by consolidating and/or distributing the various database components 2319a-o. The SNM may be configured to keep track of various settings, inputs, and parameters via database controllers.
The SNM database may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the SNM database communicates with the SNM component, other program components, and/or the like. The database may contain, retain, and provide information regarding other nodes and data.
The SNMsThe SNM component 2335 is a stored program component that is executed by a CPU. In one embodiment, the SNM component incorporates any and/or all combinations of the aspects of the SNM discussed in the previous figures. As such, the SNM affects accessing, obtaining and the provision of information, services, transactions, and/or the like across various communications networks.
The SNM component may transform requests for on-demand and flexible monetization and related services via SNM components into currency transfers, purchase receipt notifications, social networking communications and transaction analytics reports, and/or the like and use of the SNM. In one embodiment, the SNM component 2335 takes inputs (e.g., catalog browsing input 711, product cart data 729, product catalog 720, social search results 717, product selection input 725, checkout request input 911, product data 915, service authorization response 1115, service data 1121, wallet access input 1511, transaction authorization input 1514, payment gateway address 1518, payment network address 1522, issuer server address(es) 1525, user account(s) data 1528, user profile data 1713, batch data 1912, payment network address 1916, issuer server address(es) 1924, payment ledger, merchant account data 1931, merchant transactions data 2114, and/or the like) etc., and transforms the inputs via various components (e.g., UPC 2341, PTA 2342, PTC 2343, PCB 2344, FMS 2345, VCC 2346, DPO 2347, P2P-SNM 2348, GTVA 2349, and/or the like), into outputs (e.g., product search response 723, display 724, updated product cart data 731, checkout data 917, display 918, service authorization confirmation/retry message 1117, flexible monetization service request 1113, checkout widget 1124, card authorization request 1516, 1519, 1523, batch append data 1534, purchase receipt 1535, social post confirmation 1717, user account credit command 1723, social marketing credit notification 1724, display credit notification 1725, batch payment request 1914, 1918, transaction data 1920, payment command 1927, individual payment confirmation 1928, 1929, updated payment ledger, merchant account data 1933, analytics results 2116, 2117, and/or the like).
The SNM component enabling access of information between nodes may be developed by employing standard development tools and languages such as, but not limited to: Apache components, Assembly, ActiveX, binary executables, (ANSI) (Objective−) C (++), C# and/or .NET, database adapters, CGI scripts, Java, JavaScript, mapping tools, procedural and object oriented development tools, PERL, PHP, Python, shell scripts, SQL commands, web application server extensions, web development environments and libraries (e.g., Microsoft's ActiveX; Adobe AIR, FLEX & FLASH; AJAX; (D)HTML; Dojo, Java; JavaScript; jQuery(UI); MooTools; Prototype; script.aculo.us; Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP); SWFObject; Yahoo! User Interface; and/or the like), WebObjects, and/or the like. In one embodiment, the SNM server employs a cryptographic server to encrypt and decrypt communications. The SNM component may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the SNM component communicates with the SNM database, operating systems, other program components, and/or the like. The SNM may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses.
Distributed SNMsThe structure and/or operation of any of the SNM node controller components may be combined, consolidated, and/or distributed in any number of ways to facilitate development and/or deployment. Similarly, the component collection may be combined in any number of ways to facilitate deployment and/or development. To accomplish this, one may integrate the components into a common code base or in a facility that can dynamically load the components on demand in an integrated fashion.
The component collection may be consolidated and/or distributed in countless variations through standard data processing and/or development techniques. Multiple instances of any one of the program components in the program component collection may be instantiated on a single node, and/or across numerous nodes to improve performance through load-balancing and/or data-processing techniques. Furthermore, single instances may also be distributed across multiple controllers and/or storage devices; e.g., databases. All program component instances and controllers working in concert may do so through standard data processing communication techniques.
The configuration of the SNM controller will depend on the context of system deployment. Factors such as, but not limited to, the budget, capacity, location, and/or use of the underlying hardware resources may affect deployment requirements and configuration. Regardless of if the configuration results in more consolidated and/or integrated program components, results in a more distributed series of program components, and/or results in some combination between a consolidated and distributed configuration, data may be communicated, obtained, and/or provided. Instances of components consolidated into a common code base from the program component collection may communicate, obtain, and/or provide data. This may be accomplished through intra-application data processing communication techniques such as, but not limited to: data referencing (e.g., pointers), internal messaging, object instance variable communication, shared memory space, variable passing, and/or the like.
If component collection components are discrete, separate, and/or external to one another, then communicating, obtaining, and/or providing data with and/or to other components may be accomplished through inter-application data processing communication techniques such as, but not limited to: Application Program Interfaces (API) information passage; (distributed) Component Object Model ((D)COM), (Distributed) Object Linking and Embedding ((D)OLE), and/or the like), Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), Jini local and remote application program interfaces, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), Remote Method Invocation (RMI), SOAP, process pipes, shared files, and/or the like. Messages sent between discrete component components for inter-application communication or within memory spaces of a singular component for intra-application communication may be facilitated through the creation and parsing of a grammar. A grammar may be developed by using development tools such as lex, yacc, XML, and/or the like, which allow for grammar generation and parsing capabilities, which in turn may form the basis of communication messages within and between components.
For example, a grammar may be arranged to recognize the tokens of an HTTP post command, e.g.:
-
- w3c -post http:// . . . Value1
where Value1 is discerned as being a parameter because “http://” is part of the grammar syntax, and what follows is considered part of the post value. Similarly, with such a grammar, a variable “Value1” may be inserted into an “http://” post command and then sent. The grammar syntax itself may be presented as structured data that is interpreted and/or otherwise used to generate the parsing mechanism (e.g., a syntax description text file as processed by lex, yacc, etc.). Also, once the parsing mechanism is generated and/or instantiated, it itself may process and/or parse structured data such as, but not limited to: character (e.g., tab) delineated text, HTML, structured text streams, XML, and/or the like structured data. In another embodiment, inter-application data processing protocols themselves may have integrated and/or readily available parsers (e.g., JSON, SOAP, and/or like parsers) that may be employed to parse (e.g., communications) data. Further, the parsing grammar may be used beyond message parsing, but may also be used to parse: databases, data collections, data stores, structured data, and/or the like. Again, the desired configuration will depend upon the context, environment, and requirements of system deployment.
For example, in some implementations, the SNM controller may be executing a PHP script implementing a Secure Sockets Layer (“SSL”) socket server via the information server, which listens to incoming communications on a server port to which a client may send data, e.g., data encoded in JSON format. Upon identifying an incoming communication, the PHP script may read the incoming message from the client device, parse the received JSON-encoded text data to extract information from the JSON-encoded text data into PHP script variables, and store the data (e.g., client identifying information, etc.) and/or extracted information in a relational database accessible using the Structured Query Language (“SQL”). An exemplary listing, written substantially in the form of PHP/SQL commands, to accept JSON-encoded input data from a client device via a SSL connection, parse the data to extract variables, and store the data to a database, is provided below:
Also, the following resources may be used to provide example embodiments regarding SOAP parser implementation:
and other parser implementations:
all of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. As noted in
Additional non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the SNM highlighting numerous further advantageous aspects include:
1. A virtual currency configuration processor-implemented method embodiment, comprising:
-
- obtaining a request to convert a sale price provided in a real currency into a sale price in a virtual currency;
- accessing a database to obtain at least one virtual currency management rule provided by a merchant;
- identifying one among the at least one obtained virtual currency management rule to apply for converting the sale price provided in the real currency into the sale price in the virtual currency;
- calculating, via a processor, the sale price in the virtual currency from the sale price provided in the real currency using the identified virtual currency management rule; and
- providing the calculated sale price in the virtual currency in response to the request.
2. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a discrete pricing rule that specifies a higher virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for larger amounts of the real currency.
3. The method of embodiment 2, wherein the discrete pricing rule includes pre-specified minimum and maximum virtual currency sale price points, and discrete price points between the minimum and maximum virtual currency sale price points.
4. The method of embodiment 3, wherein the price points are configurable by the merchant.
5. The method of embodiment 3, wherein the discrete price points are optimized to maximize user purchasing behavior using analytics on prior user purchase transactions.
6. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a smart pricing rule that specifies that the calculated sale price in the virtual currency be rounded to at least one significant digit.
7. The method of embodiment 6, wherein the smart pricing rule specifies that the virtual-to-real currency exchange rate be rounded to at least one significant digit.
8. The method of embodiment 6, wherein the smart pricing rule is configured to provide a rounded virtual currency sale price that maximizes user purchasing behavior.
9. The method of embodiment 8, wherein the smart pricing rule is configured using analytics on prior user purchase transactions.
10. The method of embodiment 6, wherein the virtual currency is rounded within pre-determined upper and lower bounds.
11. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the sale price in the virtual currency is calculated from the sale price provided in the real currency using a plurality of virtual currency management rules.
12. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a linear pricing rule that specifies a first constant virtual-to-real currency exchange rate up to a threshold sale price in the real currency, and a second constant virtual-to-real currency exchange rate above the threshold sale price in the real currency.
13. The method of embodiment 11, wherein the plurality of virtual currency management rules includes a discrete pricing rule that specifies a higher virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for larger amounts of the real currency, and a smart pricing rule.
14. The method of embodiment 1, wherein a virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for calculating the sale price in the virtual currency from the sale price provided in the real currency depends on a payment mechanism.
15. The method of embodiment 11, wherein calculating the sale price in the virtual currency includes rounding both the sale price provided in the real currency and a virtual-to-real currency exchange rate.
16. The method of embodiment 15, wherein the virtual-to-real currency exchange rate varies with a cost of the payment mechanism.
17. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the request is obtained via an application programming interface call.
18. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the at least one virtual currency management rule can be modified by the merchant via a user interface.
19. The method of embodiment 18, wherein the merchant can create a plurality of virtual currencies for purchases from the merchant, and specify rules for currency conversion between the plurality of virtual currencies, wherein the plurality of currency management rules may be included in a virtual currency bundle, and wherein a discount level for any virtual currency bundle may vary based on a user-selected payment method and a device type from where the user procures the virtual currency bundle.
20. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the custom virtual currency is configured to be utilized only for user purchases from the merchant.
21. A virtual currency configuration system embodiment, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to:
-
- obtain a request to convert a sale price provided in a real currency into a sale price in a virtual currency;
- access a database to obtain at least one virtual currency management rule provided by a merchant;
- identify one among the at least one obtained virtual currency management rule to apply for converting the sale price provided in the real currency into the sale price in the virtual currency;
- calculate the sale price in the virtual currency from the sale price provided in the real currency using the identified virtual currency management rule; and
- provide the calculated sale price in the virtual currency in response to the request.
22. The system of embodiment 21, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a discrete pricing rule that specifies a higher virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for larger amounts of the real currency.
23. The system of embodiment 22, wherein the discrete pricing rule includes pre-specified minimum and maximum virtual currency sale price points, and discrete price points between the minimum and maximum virtual currency sale price points.
24. The system of embodiment 23, wherein the price points are configurable by the merchant.
25. The system of embodiment 23, wherein the discrete price points are optimized to maximize user purchasing behavior using analytics on prior user purchase transactions.
26. The system of embodiment 21, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a smart pricing rule that specifies that the calculated sale price in the virtual currency be rounded to at least one significant digit.
27. The system of embodiment 26, wherein the smart pricing rule specifies that the virtual-to-real currency exchange rate be rounded to at least one significant digit.
28. The system of embodiment 26, wherein the smart pricing rule is configured to provide a rounded virtual currency sale price that maximizes user purchasing behavior.
29. The system of embodiment 28, wherein the smart pricing rule is configured using analytics on prior user purchase transactions.
30. The system of embodiment 26, wherein the virtual currency is rounded within pre-determined upper and lower bounds.
31. The system of embodiment 21, wherein the sale price in the virtual currency is calculated from the sale price provided in the real currency using a plurality of virtual currency management rules.
32. The system of embodiment 21, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a linear pricing rule that specifies a first constant virtual-to-real currency exchange rate up to a threshold sale price in the real currency, and a second constant virtual-to-real currency exchange rate above the threshold sale price in the real currency.
33. The system of embodiment 31, wherein the plurality of virtual currency management rules includes a discrete pricing rule that specifies a higher virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for larger amounts of the real currency, and a smart pricing rule.
34. The system of embodiment 21, wherein a virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for calculating the sale price in the virtual currency from the sale price provided in the real currency depends on a payment mechanism.
35. The system of embodiment 34, wherein calculating the sale price in the virtual currency includes rounding both the sale price provided in the real currency and a virtual-to-real currency exchange rate
36. The system of embodiment 35, wherein the virtual-to-real currency exchange rate varies with a cost of the payment mechanism.
37. The system of embodiment 21, wherein the request is obtained via an application programming interface call.
38. The system of embodiment 21, wherein the at least one virtual currency management rule can be modified by the merchant via a user interface.
39. The system of embodiment 38, wherein the merchant can create a plurality of virtual currencies for purchases from the merchant, and specify rules for currency conversion between the plurality of virtual currencies, wherein the plurality of currency management rules may be included in a virtual currency bundle, and wherein a discount level for any virtual currency bundle may vary based on a user-selected payment method and a device type from where the user procures the virtual currency bundle.
40. The system of embodiment 39, wherein the custom virtual currency is configured to be utilized only for user purchases from the merchant.
41. A processor-readable tangible medium embodiment storing processor-executable virtual currency configuration instructions to:
-
- obtain a request to convert a sale price provided in a real currency into a sale price in a virtual currency;
- access a database to obtain at least one virtual currency management rule provided by a merchant;
- identify one among the at least one obtained virtual currency management rule to apply for converting the sale price provided in the real currency into the sale price in the virtual currency;
- calculate the sale price in the virtual currency from the sale price provided in the real currency using the identified virtual currency management rule; and
- provide the calculated sale price in the virtual currency in response to the request.
42. The medium of embodiment 41, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a discrete pricing rule that specifies a higher virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for larger amounts of the real currency.
43. The medium of embodiment 42, wherein the discrete pricing rule includes pre-specified minimum and maximum virtual currency sale price points, and discrete price points between the minimum and maximum virtual currency sale price points.
44. The medium of embodiment 43, wherein the price points are configurable by the merchant.
45. The medium of embodiment 43, wherein the discrete price points are optimized to maximize user purchasing behavior using analytics on prior user purchase transactions.
46. The medium of embodiment 41, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a smart pricing rule that specifies that the calculated sale price in the virtual currency be rounded to at least one significant digit.
47. The medium of embodiment 46, wherein the smart pricing rule specifies that the virtual-to-real currency exchange rate be rounded to at least one significant digit.
48. The medium of embodiment 46, wherein the smart pricing rule is configured to provide a rounded virtual currency sale price that maximizes user purchasing behavior.
49. The medium of embodiment 48, wherein the smart pricing rule is configured using analytics on prior user purchase transactions.
50. The medium of embodiment 46, wherein the virtual currency is rounded within pre-determined upper and lower bounds.
51. The medium of embodiment 41, wherein the sale price in the virtual currency is calculated from the sale price provided in the real currency using a plurality of virtual currency management rules.
52. The medium of embodiment 41, wherein the identified virtual currency management rule includes a linear pricing rule that specifies a first constant virtual-to-real currency exchange rate up to a threshold sale price in the real currency, and a second constant virtual-to-real currency exchange rate above the threshold sale price in the real currency.
53. The medium of embodiment 51, wherein the plurality of virtual currency management rules includes a discrete pricing rule that specifies a higher virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for larger amounts of the real currency, and a smart pricing rule.
54. The medium of embodiment 41, wherein a virtual-to-real currency exchange rate for calculating the sale price in the virtual currency from the sale price provided in the real currency depends on a payment mechanism.
55. The medium of embodiment 54, wherein calculating the sale price in the virtual currency includes rounding both the sale price provided in the real currency and a virtual-to-real currency exchange rate.
56. The medium of embodiment 55, wherein the virtual-to-real currency exchange rate varies with a cost of the payment mechanism.
57. The medium of embodiment 41, wherein the request is obtained via an application programming interface call.
58. The medium of embodiment 41, wherein the at least one virtual currency management rule can be modified by the merchant via a user interface.
59. The medium of embodiment 58, wherein the merchant can create a plurality of virtual currencies for purchases from the merchant, and specify rules for currency conversion between the plurality of virtual currencies, wherein the plurality of currency management rules may be included in a virtual currency bundle, and wherein a discount level for any virtual currency bundle may vary based on a user-selected payment method and a device type from where the user procures the virtual currency bundle.
60. The medium of embodiment 59, wherein the custom virtual currency is configured to be utilized only for user purchases from the merchant.
61. A geographically-resolved transaction volume analytics processor-implemented method embodiment, comprising:
-
- obtaining a merchant identifier of a merchant;
- aggregating data records of purchase transactions of users with the merchant;
- parsing the aggregated data records to extract location identifying information of the users when engaging in the purchase transactions with the merchant;
- generating, via a processor, a calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations based on the extracted location identifying information and the aggregated data records; and
- generating a graphical representation of the calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations.
62. The method of embodiment 61, wherein the location identifying information extracted from the aggregated data records are computer network addresses.
63. The method of embodiment 61, wherein generating a calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations includes generating a histogram of volume of transactions against geographical locations.
64. The method of embodiment 61, wherein the graphical representation is a geographical heat map.
65. The method of embodiment 64, wherein the geographical heat map is of one or more countries.
66. The method of embodiment 65, wherein transaction volume is represented in the geographical heat map by varying a size of one or more countries on the heat map according to transaction volumes associated with the one or more countries.
67. The method of embodiment 64, wherein the graphical representation includes dynamic scaling to utilize a spectrum of colors to represent the histogram of volume of transactions.
68. The method of embodiment 61, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as one of: a number of aggregated transactions; and a total sale price of aggregated transactions.
69. The method of embodiment 61, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as a ratio of users transacting with the merchant to users visiting a website of the merchant.
70. The method of embodiment 61, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as a number of aggregated transactions via a particular payment mechanism.
71. The method of embodiment 61, further comprising:
-
- obtaining a geographical transaction volume analytics request from a merchant;
- determining that the merchant providing the geographical transaction volume analytics request has the same identifier as the merchant enrolled in the geographically-resolved purchase transaction volume analytics service; and
- providing the generated graphical representation of the histogram of volume of transactions against geographical locations to the merchant.
72. The method of embodiment 71, further wherein the generated graphical representation is provided via an online merchant console interface.
73. The method of embodiment 71, wherein the geographical transaction volume analytics request is obtained via an application programming interface call from the merchant.
74. A geographically-resolved transaction volume analytics system embodiment, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to:
-
- obtain a merchant identifier of a merchant;
- aggregate data records of purchase transactions of users with the merchant;
- parse the aggregated data records to extract location identifying information of the users when engaging in the purchase transactions with the merchant;
- generate a calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations based on the extracted location identifying information and the aggregated data records; and
- generate a graphical representation of the calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations.
75. The system of embodiment 74, wherein the location identifying information extracted from the aggregated data records are computer network addresses.
76. The system of embodiment 74, wherein generating a calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations includes generating a histogram of volume of transactions against geographical locations.
77. The system of embodiment 74, wherein the graphical representation is a geographical heat map.
78. The system of embodiment 77, wherein the geographical heat map is of one or more countries.
79. The system of embodiment 78, wherein transaction volume is represented in the geographical heat map by varying a size of one or more countries on the heat map according to transaction volumes associated with the one or more countries.
80. The system of embodiment 77, wherein the graphical representation includes dynamic scaling to utilize a spectrum of colors to represent the histogram of volume of transactions.
81. The system of embodiment 74, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as one of: a number of aggregated transactions; and a total sale price of aggregated transactions.
82. The system of embodiment 74, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as a ratio of users transacting with the merchant to users visiting a website of the merchant.
83. The system of embodiment 74, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as a number of aggregated transactions via a particular payment mechanism.
84. The system of embodiment 74, the memory further storing instructions to:
-
- obtain a geographical transaction volume analytics request from a merchant;
- determine that the merchant providing the geographical transaction volume analytics request has the same identifier as the merchant enrolled in the geographically-resolved purchase transaction volume analytics service; and
- provide the generated graphical representation of the histogram of volume of transactions against geographical locations to the merchant.
85. The system of embodiment 84, further wherein the generated graphical representation is provided via an online merchant console interface.
86. The system of embodiment 84, wherein the geographical transaction volume analytics request is obtained via an application programming interface call from the merchant.
87. A processor-readable tangible medium embodiment storing processor-executable geographically-resolved transaction volume analytics instructions to:
-
- obtain a merchant identifier of a merchant;
- aggregate data records of purchase transactions of users with the merchant;
- parse the aggregated data records to extract location identifying information of the users when engaging in the purchase transactions with the merchant;
- generate a calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations based on the extracted location identifying information and the aggregated data records; and
- generate a graphical representation of the calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations.
88. The medium of embodiment 87, wherein the location identifying information extracted from the aggregated data records are computer network addresses.
89. The medium of embodiment 87, wherein generating a calculation of volume of transactions against geographical locations includes generating a histogram of volume of transactions against geographical locations.
90. The medium of embodiment 87, wherein the graphical representation is a geographical heat map.
91. The medium of embodiment 90, wherein the geographical heat map is of one or more countries.
92. The medium of embodiment 91, wherein transaction volume is represented in the geographical heat map by varying a size of one or more countries on the heat map according to transaction volumes associated with the one or more countries.
93. The medium of embodiment 90, wherein the graphical representation includes dynamic scaling to utilize a spectrum of colors to represent the histogram of volume of transactions.
94. The medium of embodiment 87, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as one of: a number of aggregated transactions; and a total sale price of aggregated transactions.
95. The medium of embodiment 87, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as a ratio of users transacting with the merchant to users visiting a website of the merchant.
96. The medium of embodiment 87, wherein the volume of transactions is defined as a number of aggregated transactions via a particular payment mechanism.
97. The medium of embodiment 87, further storing instructions to:
-
- obtain a geographical transaction volume analytics request from a merchant;
- determine that the merchant providing the geographical transaction volume analytics request has the same identifier as the merchant enrolled in the geographically-resolved purchase transaction volume analytics service; and
- provide the generated graphical representation of the histogram of volume of transactions against geographical locations to the merchant.
98. The medium of embodiment 97, further wherein the generated graphical representation is provided via an online merchant console interface.
99. The medium of embodiment 97, wherein the geographical transaction volume analytics request is obtained via an application programming interface call from the merchant.
100. A person-to-person social network marketing processor-implemented method embodiment, comprising:
-
- obtaining a product purchase request for a product, the product purchase request including an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product;
- parsing, via a processor, the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product;
- querying a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier; and
- generating a request to provide the account of the user with a credit in response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request.
101. The method of embodiment 100, wherein the communication was made in one of: an online public forum; and a social networking site.
102. The method of embodiment 101, wherein the user is a member of a social graph of a consumer on whose behalf the product purchase request is obtained.
103. The method of embodiment 102, further comprising:
-
- obtaining a social networking service identifier for the consumer; and
- providing a notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service, using the social networking service identifier for the consumer.
104. The method of embodiment 103, further comprising:
-
- obtaining a set of members of the consumer's social graph by querying the social networking service using the social networking service identifier for the consumer;
- identifying a successfully completed purchase transaction of one of the set of members of the consumer's social graph that is related to the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request provided to the social networking service;
- querying a database for an account of the consumer; and
- generating a request to provide the account of the consumer with a credit.
105. The method of embodiment 100, wherein the credit includes one of: cash value; a virtual currency reward; a product; an offer for purchase of a product; and a coupon.
106. The method of embodiment 100, wherein the account of the user is a social networking service account.
107. The method of embodiment 100, wherein the credit includes a cash value and a non-cash value.
108. The method of embodiment 103, wherein the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service includes a link to generate a new product purchase request.
109. The method of embodiment 100, further comprising:
-
- identifying a product category associated with the user product purchase request;
- querying a database for products or offers related to the identified product category;
- generating a communication using the products or offers related to the identified product category; and
- providing the generated communication for publication.
110. A person-to-person social network marketing system embodiment, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to:
-
- obtain a product purchase request for a product, the product purchase request including an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product;
- parse, via the processor, the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product;
- query a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier; and
- generate a request to provide the account of the user with a credit in response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request.
111. The system of embodiment 110, wherein the communication was made in one of: an online public forum; and a social networking site.
112. The system of embodiment 111, wherein the user is a member of a social graph of a consumer on whose behalf the product purchase request is obtained.
113. The system of embodiment 112, the memory further storing instructions to:
-
- obtain a social networking service identifier for the consumer; and
- provide a notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service, using the social networking service identifier for the consumer.
114. The system of embodiment 113, the memory further storing instructions to:
-
- obtain a set of members of the consumer's social graph by querying the social networking service using the social networking service identifier for the consumer;
- identify a successfully completed purchase transaction of one of the set of members of the consumer's social graph that is related to the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request provided to the social networking service;
- query a database for an account of the consumer; and
- generate a request to provide the account of the consumer with a credit.
115. The system of embodiment 110, wherein the credit includes one of: cash value; a virtual currency reward; a product; an offer for purchase of a product; and a coupon.
116. The system of embodiment 110, wherein the account of the user is a social networking service account.
117. The system of embodiment 110, wherein the credit includes a cash value and a non-cash value.
118. The system of embodiment 113, wherein the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service includes a link to generate a new product purchase request.
119. The system of embodiment 110, the memory further storing instructions to:
-
- identify a product category associated with the user product purchase request;
- query a database for products or offers related to the identified product category;
- generate a communication using the products or offers related to the identified product category; and
- provide the generated communication for publication.
120. A processor-readable tangible medium embodiment storing processor-executable person-to-person social network marketing instructions to:
-
- obtain a product purchase request for a product, the product purchase request including an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product;
- parse, via the processor, the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product;
- query a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier; and
- generate a request to provide the account of the user with a credit in response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request.
121. The medium of embodiment 120, wherein the communication was made in one of: an online public forum; and a social networking site.
122. The medium of embodiment 121, wherein the user is a member of a social graph of a consumer on whose behalf the product purchase request is obtained.
123. The medium of embodiment 122, further storing instructions to:
-
- obtain a social networking service identifier for the consumer; and
- provide a notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service, using the social networking service identifier for the consumer.
124. The medium of embodiment 123, further storing instructions to:
-
- obtain a set of members of the consumer's social graph by querying the social networking service using the social networking service identifier for the consumer;
- identify a successfully completed purchase transaction of one of the set of members of the consumer's social graph that is related to the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request provided to the social networking service;
- query a database for an account of the consumer; and
- generate a request to provide the account of the consumer with a credit.
125. The medium of embodiment 120, wherein the credit includes one of: cash value; a virtual currency reward; a product; an offer for purchase of a product; and a coupon.
126. The medium of embodiment 120, wherein the account of the user is a social networking service account.
127. The medium of embodiment 120, wherein the credit includes a cash value and a non-cash value.
128. The medium of embodiment 123, wherein the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service includes a link to generate a new product purchase request.
129. The medium of embodiment 120, further storing instructions to:
-
- identify a product category associated with the user product purchase request;
- query a database for products or offers related to the identified product category;
- generate a communication using the products or offers related to the identified product category; and
- provide the generated communication for publication.
130. A dynamic payment optimization processor-implemented method embodiment, comprising:
-
- obtaining a user product purchase request for a user engaged in an online experience at a point of sale device;
- identifying at least one attribute of at least one of: the user; the online experience; and the point of sale device via parsing the user product purchase request;
- customizing, via a processor, one or more properties of a user interface for initiating a purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request, according to the identified at least one attribute of the user, the online experience or the point of sale device; and
- providing the customized user interface.
131. The method of embodiment 130, wherein the at least one attribute of the user is at least one of: the user's age; an approximate location of the user; an experience level of the user with the online experience; and a prior behavioral pattern of the user.
132. The method of embodiment 130, wherein the at least one attribute of the online experience is at least one of: an online experience type, an online experience genre; and an online experience game level.
133. The method of embodiment 130, wherein the at least one attribute of the point of sale device is at least one of: an approximate location of the point of sale device; a type of the point of sale device; a display attribute of the point of sale device; an orientation of the point of sale device; and a default language setting associated with the point of sale device.
134. The method of embodiment 130, wherein customizing one or more properties of the user interface includes customizing a number of displayed user interface element within the user interface display.
135. The method of embodiment 130, wherein customizing one or more properties of the user interface includes modifying a set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request.
136. The method of embodiment 135, wherein modifying the set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request includes modifying an order of display of the set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request.
137. The method of embodiment 130, wherein the customized user interface is a user interface overlaid on top of the online experience.
138. The method of embodiment 136, wherein modifying the set of payment options is performed based on historic purchasing data on payment options utilized by one or more users.
139. The method of embodiment 138, wherein the one or more users are randomly segmented from a population of users for dynamic payment optimization testing.
140. The method of embodiment 130, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a language utilized in the user interface display.
141. The method of embodiment 130, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a currency utilized for the user product purchase request.
142. The method of embodiment 130, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing an ordering of payment options provided within the user interface.
143. The method of embodiment 130, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a logo displayed within the user interface.
144. The method of embodiment 130, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing offer and product pricing displayed within the user interface.
145. The method of embodiment 130, wherein the point of sale device is a user device.
146. A dynamic payment optimization system embodiment, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to:
-
- obtain a user product purchase request for a user engaged in an online experience at a point of sale device;
- identify at least one attribute of at least one of: the user; the online experience; and the point of sale device via parsing the user product purchase request;
- customize one or more properties of a user interface for initiating a purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request, according to the identified at least one attribute of the user, the online experience or the point of sale device; and
- provide the customized user interface.
147. The system of embodiment 146, wherein the at least one attribute of the user is at least one of: the user's age; an approximate location of the user; an experience level of the user with the online experience; and a prior behavioral pattern of the user.
148. The system of embodiment 146, wherein the at least one attribute of the online experience is at least one of: an online experience type, an online experience genre; and an online experience game level.
149. The system of embodiment 146, wherein the at least one attribute of the point of sale device is at least one of: an approximate location of the point of sale device; a type of the point of sale device; a display attribute of the point of sale device; an orientation of the point of sale device; and a default language setting associated with the point of sale device.
150. The system of embodiment 146, wherein customizing one or more properties of the user interface includes customizing a number of displayed user interface element within the user interface display.
151. The system of embodiment 146, wherein customizing one or more properties of the user interface includes modifying a set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request.
152. The system of embodiment 151, wherein modifying the set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request includes modifying an order of display of the set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request.
153. The system of embodiment 146, wherein the customized user interface is a user interface overlaid on top of the online experience.
154. The system of embodiment 152, wherein modifying the set of payment options is performed based on historic purchasing data on payment options utilized by one or more users.
155. The system of embodiment 154, wherein the one or more users are randomly segmented from a population of users for dynamic payment optimization testing.
156. The system of embodiment 146, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a language utilized in the user interface display.
157. The system of embodiment 146, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a currency utilized for the user product purchase request.
158. The system of embodiment 146, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing an ordering of payment options provided within the user interface.
159. The system of embodiment 146, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a logo displayed within the user interface.
160. The system of embodiment 146, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing offer and product pricing displayed within the user interface.
161. The system of embodiment 146, wherein the point of sale device is a user device.
162. A processor-readable tangible medium embodiment storing processor-executable dynamic payment optimization instructions to:
-
- obtain a user product purchase request for a user engaged in an online experience at a point of sale device;
- identify at least one attribute of at least one of: the user; the online experience; and the point of sale device via parsing the user product purchase request;
- customize one or more properties of a user interface for initiating a purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request, according to the identified at least one attribute of the user, the online experience or the point of sale device; and
- provide the customized user interface.
163. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein the at least one attribute of the user is at least one of: the user's age; an approximate location of the user; an experience level of the user with the online experience; and a prior behavioral pattern of the user.
164. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein the at least one attribute of the online experience is at least one of: an online experience type, an online experience genre; and an online experience game level.
165. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein the at least one attribute of the point of sale device is at least one of: an approximate location of the point of sale device; a type of the point of sale device; a display attribute of the point of sale device; an orientation of the point of sale device; and a default language setting associated with the point of sale device.
166. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein customizing one or more properties of the user interface includes customizing a number of displayed user interface element within the user interface display.
167. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein customizing one or more properties of the user interface includes modifying a set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request.
168. The medium of embodiment 167, wherein modifying the set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request includes modifying an order of display of the set of payment options displayed as available for initiating the purchase transaction related to the user product purchase request.
169. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein the customized user interface is a user interface overlaid on top of the online experience.
170. The medium of embodiment 168, wherein modifying the set of payment options is performed based on historic purchasing data on payment options utilized by one or more users.
171. The medium of embodiment 170, wherein the one or more users are randomly segmented from a population of users for dynamic payment optimization testing.
172. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a language utilized in the user interface display.
173. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a currency utilized for the user product purchase request.
174. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing an ordering of payment options provided within the user interface.
175. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing a logo displayed within the user interface.
176. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein customizing one or more properties of a user interface includes customizing offer and product pricing displayed within the user interface.
177. The medium of embodiment 162, wherein the point of sale device is a user device.
178. A flexible monetization service processor-implemented method embodiment, comprising:
-
- obtaining a request from a computing device of a merchant to process a user purchase checkout by a user from a point of sale device, the request including a merchant identifier;
- determining that the merchant is authorized to obtain servicing of the request to process the user purchase checkout, by querying a database using the merchant identifier;
- generating, via a processor, a user interface customized to the merchant and the point of sale device, upon determining that the merchant is authorized to obtain the service of the request; and
- providing the customized user interface to process the user purchase checkout by the user.
179. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface is a widget.
180. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the request from the computing device of the merchant is encrypted via a hash algorithm.
181. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface is configured to provide a purchase transaction processing service for the user at the point of sale device by communicating directly with the point of sale device, bypassing the computing device of the merchant.
182. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface is configured to provide one or more services to conduct electronic transactions.
183. The method of embodiment 182, wherein the one or more services to conduct electronic transactions include at least one of: payment service provider transaction routing; risk management; micro-payment; subscription management; in-app optimization; storefronts and marketplaces; analytics; developer applications; virtual currency management; and customer support.
184. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the request to process a user purchase checkout is obtained via an application programming interface call by the merchant.
185. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface is configured to facilitate user purchase checkout via a plurality of payment methods.
186. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface is optimized to maximize a likelihood of the user completing the user purchase checkout from the point of sale device.
187. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface includes a skin to match the appearance of an online experience provided by the merchant to the user at the point of sale device.
188. The method of embodiment 187, wherein the customized user interface is configured to display as an overlay over the online experience provided by the merchant to the user at the point of sale device.
189. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the point of sale device is a user device.
190. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the computing device of the merchant is the point of sale device at which the user purchase checkout is initiated.
191. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface is designed for implementation within a web browser environment executing on the point of sale device.
192. The method of embodiment 178, wherein the customized user interface is a javascript module.
193. A flexible monetization service system embodiment, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to:
-
- obtain a request from a computing device of a merchant to process a user purchase checkout by a user from a point of sale device, the request including a merchant identifier;
- determine that the merchant is authorized to obtain servicing of the request to process the user purchase checkout, by querying a database using the merchant identifier;
- generate, via the processor, a user interface customized to the merchant and the point of sale device, upon determining that the merchant is authorized to obtain the service of the request; and
- provide the customized user interface to process the user purchase checkout by the user.
194. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface is a widget.
195. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the request from the computing device of the merchant is encrypted via a hash algorithm.
196. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface is configured to provide a purchase transaction processing service for the user at the point of sale device by communicating directly with the point of sale device, bypassing the computing device of the merchant.
197. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface is configured to provide one or more services to conduct electronic transactions.
198. The system of embodiment 197, wherein the one or more services to conduct electronic transactions include at least one of: payment service provider transaction routing; risk management; micro-payment; subscription management; in-app optimization; storefronts and marketplaces; analytics; developer applications; virtual currency management; and customer support.
199. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the request to process a user purchase checkout is obtained via an application programming interface call by the merchant.
200. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface is configured to facilitate user purchase checkout via a plurality of payment methods.
201. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface is optimized to maximize a likelihood of the user completing the user purchase checkout from the point of sale device.
202. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface includes a skin to match the appearance of an online experience provided by the merchant to the user at the point of sale device.
203. The system of embodiment 202, wherein the customized user interface is configured to display as an overlay over the online experience provided by the merchant to the user at the point of sale device.
204. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the point of sale device is a user device.
205. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the computing device of the merchant is the point of sale device at which the user purchase checkout is initiated.
206. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface is designed for implementation within a web browser environment executing on the point of sale device.
207. The system of embodiment 193, wherein the customized user interface is a javascript module.
208. A processor-readable tangible medium embodiment storing processor-executable flexible monetization service instructions to:
-
- obtain a request from a computing device of a merchant to process a user purchase checkout by a user from a point of sale device, the request including a merchant identifier;
- determine that the merchant is authorized to obtain servicing of the request to process the user purchase checkout, by querying a database using the merchant identifier;
- generate, via a processor, a user interface customized to the merchant and the point of sale device, upon determining that the merchant is authorized to obtain the service of the request; and
- provide the customized user interface to process the user purchase checkout by the user.
209. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface is a widget.
210. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the request from the computing device of the merchant is encrypted via a hash algorithm.
211. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface is configured to provide a purchase transaction processing service for the user at the point of sale device by communicating directly with the point of sale device, bypassing the computing device of the merchant.
212. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface is configured to provide one or more services to conduct electronic transactions.
213. The medium of embodiment 212, wherein the one or more services to conduct electronic transactions include at least one of: payment service provider transaction routing; risk management; micro-payment; subscription management; in-app optimization; storefronts and marketplaces; analytics; developer applications; virtual currency management; and customer support.
214. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the request to process a user purchase checkout is obtained via an application programming interface call by the merchant.
215. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface is configured to facilitate user purchase checkout via a plurality of payment methods.
216. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface is optimized to maximize a likelihood of the user completing the user purchase checkout from the point of sale device.
217. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface includes a skin to match the appearance of an online experience provided by the merchant to the user at the point of sale device.
218. The medium of embodiment 217, wherein the customized user interface is configured to display as an overlay over the online experience provided by the merchant to the user at the point of sale device.
219. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the point of sale device is a user device.
220. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the computing device of the merchant is the point of sale device at which the user purchase checkout is initiated.
221. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface is designed for implementation within a web browser environment executing on the point of sale device.
222. The medium of embodiment 208, wherein the customized user interface is a javascript module.
In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this application for PERSON-2-PERSON SOCIAL NETWORK MARKETING APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (including the Cover Page, Title, Headings, Field, Background, Summary, Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, Claims, Abstract, Figures, Appendices and/or otherwise) shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed innovations may be practiced. The advantages and features of the application are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed principles. It should be understood that they are not representative of all claimed innovations. As such, certain aspects of the disclosure have not been discussed herein. That alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the innovations or that further undescribed alternate embodiments may be available for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. It will be appreciated that many of those undescribed embodiments incorporate the same principles of the innovations and others are equivalent. Thus, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and functional, logical, operational, organizational, structural and/or topological modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. As such, all examples and/or embodiments are deemed to be non-limiting throughout this disclosure. Also, no inference should be drawn regarding those embodiments discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than it is as such for purposes of reducing space and repetition. For instance, it is to be understood that the logical and/or topological structure of any combination of any program components (a component collection), other components and/or any present feature sets as described in the figures and/or throughout are not limited to a fixed operating order and/or arrangement, but rather, any disclosed order is exemplary and all equivalents, regardless of order, are contemplated by the disclosure. Furthermore, it is to be understood that such features are not limited to serial execution, but rather, any number of threads, processes, services, servers, and/or the like that may execute asynchronously, concurrently, in parallel, simultaneously, synchronously, and/or the like are contemplated by the disclosure. As such, some of these features may be mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of the innovations, and inapplicable to others. In addition, the disclosure includes other innovations not presently claimed. Applicant reserves all rights in those presently unclaimed innovations, including the right to claim such innovations, file additional applications, continuations, continuations in part, divisions, and/or the like thereof. As such, it should be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functional, features, logical, operational, organizational, structural, topological, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims. It is to be understood that, depending on the particular needs and/or characteristics of a SNM individual and/or enterprise user, database configuration and/or relational model, data type, data transmission and/or network framework, syntax structure, and/or the like, various embodiments of the SNM may be implemented that enable a great deal of flexibility and customization. For example, aspects of the SNM may be adapted for electronic service management, crowd-source management, order processing, and/or the like. While various embodiments and discussions of the SNM have been directed to electronic commerce, however, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein may be readily configured and/or customized for a wide variety of other applications and/or implementations.
Claims
1. A person-to-person social network marketing processor-implemented method, comprising:
- obtaining a product purchase request for a product, the product purchase request including an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product;
- parsing, via a processor, the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product;
- querying a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier; and
- generating a request to provide the account of the user with a credit in response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication was made in one of: an online public forum; and a social networking site.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user is a member of a social graph of a consumer on whose behalf the product purchase request is obtained.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
- obtaining a social networking service identifier for the consumer; and
- providing a notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service, using the social networking service identifier for the consumer.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
- obtaining a set of members of the consumer's social graph by querying the social networking service using the social networking service identifier for the consumer;
- identifying a successfully completed purchase transaction of one of the set of members of the consumer's social graph that is related to the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request provided to the social networking service;
- querying a database for an account of the consumer; and
- generating a request to provide the account of the consumer with a credit.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the credit includes one of: cash value; a virtual currency reward; a product; an offer for purchase of a product; and a coupon.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the account of the user is a social networking service account.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the credit includes a cash value and a non-cash value.
9. The method of claim 4, wherein the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service includes a link to generate a new product purchase request.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- identifying a product category associated with the user product purchase request;
- querying a database for products or offers related to the identified product category;
- generating a communication using the products or offers related to the identified product category; and
- providing the generated communication for publication.
11. A person-to-person social network marketing system, comprising:
- a processor; and
- a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions to: obtain a product purchase request for a product, the product purchase request including an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product; parse, via the processor, the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product; query a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier; and generate a request to provide the account of the user with a credit in response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication was made in one of: an online public forum; and a social networking site.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user is a member of a social graph of a consumer on whose behalf the product purchase request is obtained.
14. The system of claim 13, the memory further storing instructions to:
- obtain a social networking service identifier for the consumer; and
- provide a notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service, using the social networking service identifier for the consumer.
15. The system of claim 14, the memory further storing instructions to:
- obtain a set of members of the consumer's social graph by querying the social networking service using the social networking service identifier for the consumer;
- identify a successfully completed purchase transaction of one of the set of members of the consumer's social graph that is related to the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request provided to the social networking service;
- query a database for an account of the consumer; and
- generate a request to provide the account of the consumer with a credit.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the credit includes one of: cash value; a virtual currency reward; a product; an offer for purchase of a product; and a coupon.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the account of the user is a social networking service account.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the credit includes a cash value and a non-cash value.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service includes a link to generate a new product purchase request.
20. The system of claim 11, the memory further storing instructions to:
- identify a product category associated with the user product purchase request;
- query a database for products or offers related to the identified product category;
- generate a communication using the products or offers related to the identified product category; and
- provide the generated communication for publication.
21. A processor-readable tangible medium storing processor-executable person-to-person social network marketing instructions to:
- obtain a product purchase request for a product, the product purchase request including an identifier of a user who made a communication about the product;
- parse, via the processor, the product purchase request to extract the identifier of the user who made the communication about the product;
- query a database for an account of the user using the extracted identifier; and
- generate a request to provide the account of the user with a credit in response to successful completion of processing of the product purchase request.
22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the communication was made in one of: an online public forum; and a social networking site.
23. The medium of claim 22, wherein the user is a member of a social graph of a consumer on whose behalf the product purchase request is obtained.
24. The medium of claim 23, further storing instructions to:
- obtain a social networking service identifier for the consumer; and
- provide a notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service, using the social networking service identifier for the consumer.
25. The medium of claim 24, further storing instructions to:
- obtain a set of members of the consumer's social graph by querying the social networking service using the social networking service identifier for the consumer;
- identify a successfully completed purchase transaction of one of the set of members of the consumer's social graph that is related to the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request provided to the social networking service;
- query a database for an account of the consumer; and
- generate a request to provide the account of the consumer with a credit.
26. The medium of claim 21, wherein the credit includes one of: cash value; a virtual currency reward; a product; an offer for purchase of a product; and a coupon.
27. The medium of claim 21, wherein the account of the user is a social networking service account.
28. The medium of claim 21, wherein the credit includes a cash value and a non-cash value.
29. The medium of claim 24, wherein the notification of successful completion of processing of the product purchase request to the social networking service includes a link to generate a new product purchase request.
30. The medium of claim 21, further storing instructions to:
- identify a product category associated with the user product purchase request;
- query a database for products or offers related to the identified product category;
- generate a communication using the products or offers related to the identified product category; and
- provide the generated communication for publication.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 20, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2012
Inventors: Kaushal N. Mehta (Fremont, CA), Peruvemba Subramanian (Santa Clara, CA), Lex N. Bayer (Menlo Park, CA)
Application Number: 13/278,169
International Classification: G06Q 30/02 (20120101);
