Abstract: A credit card that enables card-holders to pay for premiums on the insurance product using the credit card, while avoiding the need to pay deductibles on the insurance product (which may be used to cover auto, home, liability or health). Entities such as those underwriting the insurance product, self-insuring credit card issuers, or third-party financial institutions, may pay the deductibles. A method for using the credit card also forms a part of the invention. A website may be provided to enable card-holders to select among various insurance products, and to facilitate credit card payments by the card-holders. Computers may be used by the various involved parties to compute break-even profit points, deductibles, lowered credit card interchange fees, etc.

Abstract: A hybrid credit card transaction system that processes transactions as either virtual standard transactions directed through a clearinghouse or as virtual closed loop transactions bypassing the clearinghouse, is disclosed. The system includes a logic enabled merchant that detects virtual closed loop transactions and directs them to an affiliated acquiring entity which acquires the virtual closed loop transactions and routes them directly to an affiliated card issuing entity so as to bypass the clearinghouse. The affiliated card issuing entity debits virtual standard transactions to a credit card account and virtual closed loop transactions to a private label account. The logic enabled merchant, associated acquiring entity and the associated card entity may be affiliated by participation in an Internet site that promotes transactions between small businesses and merchants selling wholesale goods.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for redeeming a closed loop card/code funded with an amount of money. The system receives from a merchant point of sale an indication of use of a closed loop card/code not issued by the merchant and presented by a consumer, queries and receives a confirmation of an amount of money in an account associated with the closed loop card/code, presents the consumer with an offer to buy the closed loop card/code at a discount price, and upon accepting the offer, closes out the closed loop card/code and pays the discount price to the consumer. Paying the discount price can include applying the discount price to a purchase by the consumer at the merchant. The merchant can provide cash back to the consumer for excess value of the discount price over the consumer's purchase. Merchants can apply more than the discount price.

Abstract: A method for conducting a business transaction using a payment processing network is disclosed. The method includes sending an authorization request message including an authorization request to an issuer, where the authorization request message originates from a business consumer purchasing goods or services from an oligopolistic business entity. The issuer sends an authorization response message indicating that the authorization request is approved or not approved. Economic incentives associated with the business transaction is provided to the oligopolistic business entity or the business consumer for conducting the business transaction, wherein the incentive would not be available in a transaction between a non-oligopolistic business entity and the business consumer.

Abstract: An online system presents remote users with static incentives, dynamic incentives and the ability to create and submit customizable incentives related to goods or services of interest to the user. By using the incentive delivery system, the user can research goods or services of interest and in an interactive fashion create an incentive package most desirable to the user and submit same to a central location. The systems performs decisioning routines on submitted incentive requests and makes such requests available for review. Ultimately, the submitted requests may be accepted or rejected or a counter-incentive may be issued to the user for consideration. A manufacturer, such as an automobile manufacturer, can offer incentives direct to its consumers and enter into an electronic dialogue with its customers to help drive profits and sales in the most efficient manner.

Abstract: A system for providing an offer from multiple sources to a user promoting a reward upon satisfying conditions of the offer. The system electronically receives data indicating that a user has selected an offer to receive a reward from an issuer of stock or an intermediary based on stock ownership. Upon identifying the conditions of the offer, the system determines whether the conditions of the offer are satisfied using stock ownership and/or purchase data associated with the user stored in a shareholder database that aggregates ownership information from multiple sources. The stock purchase data stored in the shareholder database represents stock ownership records that are based on multiple sources including among others: purchases made by the user via one or more investment accounts, gifts or grants of stock or convertible instruments, and stock purchased by the user directly from an issuer of stock or on the open-market through the system.

Abstract: A system and methods for delivering targeted marketing offers to consumers during a session with an online (web-based) Internet portal, particularly suitable for online banking portals of financial institutions. An offer management system receives information corresponding to an advertising campaign of an advertiser corresponding to terms of a targeted marketing offer to be provided to a consumer accessing the online portal, and provides advertising campaign data corresponding to the targeted marketing offer and to an offer-triggering event to an offer placement system. An offer placement system receives the advertising campaign data, determines the occurrence of the offer-triggering event by a consumer during an online session with the online portal, and delivers information corresponding to the targeted marketing offer to the consumer.

Abstract: A consumer-to-consumer rewards program that consumers can utilize to incentivize consumer sale or lease of goods to other consumers, such as real estate. Also disclosed herein is a universal rewards card in which a consumer can earn and spend points at any preferred retailer.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a payment incentive for distributing digital files over a network are provided. The method and system allow a publisher, distributor(s), and/or users to receive a payment incentive for downloading digital files on the Internet. The present disclosure creates a method and system where every party along the distribution chain will have an incentive for further distribution of the digital content file. The method includes the steps receiving by a server of a file agent at least one digital content file from a content provider; presenting the at least one digital content file for purchase; downloading the at least one digital content file to at least one user for a transaction amount; distributing a first distribution amount of the transaction amount to the content provider; and distributing a second distribution amount of the transaction amount to the at least one user.

Abstract: This description provides tools and techniques for dynamically and predictively updating mobile devices as mobile users pass through projected locations. These tools may provide methods that include defining thresholds applicable to at least portions of travel itineraries on which mobile users are traveling. The methods may also identify advertisements to send to mobile devices associated with the mobile users, upon meeting the threshold. The methods may also send the selected advertisements, as associated with corresponding advertisers, to the mobile devices.

Abstract: A purchase-transaction-settled online consumer referral and reward system and method using real-time specific merchant sales information is provided for the advertising publishing industry. The system provides a pay per transaction platform that allows advertising publishers to monetize interactive and/or broadcast media advertising by tracking and linking ad acceptance events to consummated consumer purchases.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention comprise systems and methods for design and use of web-based applications for account management. Some embodiments may comprise a virtual agent or avatar as part of an account collection or management web application. Some embodiments may comprise applications, utilities and tools for account-related web resource design.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating and encouraging micro-donations is described. A donation facilitator serves as a centralized system for providing promotion, banking, and donation acceptance for non-profit organizations of all sizes. One embodiment accepts donations from donors via mobile devices such as smartphones. The embodiment also allows the donors to submit multimedia files such as pictures along with their donation, which are then combined into a group image that is displayed on a large-format video screen, such as a video screen at a concert or sporting event.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit. The task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant. The method also includes providing the offer to the customer, receiving the security deposit, applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task, and returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task. For example, a subsidy provider may offer to apply a subsidy amount to a transaction involving the purchase of a lawn mower in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer such as test driving a new car.

Abstract: A system and means for transacting business utilizing remote and central locations. Each of the locations has an array of electronic communications equipment for communicating information about goods and services comprising audio, video, and data between the central location and a customer at the remote location.

Abstract: DRM support for metering in advertising scenarios is provided by an arrangement in which metering requests are included along with usage policies in licenses that grant rights to a presentation that comprises multiple pieces of metered media content that are sourced from different providers. A DRM runtime environment on a computing device such as a PC or mobile device will report metering data to locations specified in the metering requests while also enforcing the policies. The metering requests passed in the license enable each piece of media content in the presentation to be individually metered and the metering data sent to different entities at different locations. The DRM runtime environment on the computing device can prevent third parties from requesting that metering data be sent to other locations. The policies may be configured to block or restrict playback of media content if metering data is not submitted.

Abstract: A method of exchanging assets within a wagering establishment computer-based marketplace layer including the acts of accessing a wagering establishment marketplace layer using a peripheral device, offering a first asset for exchange in the wagering establishment marketplace layer to all participants in the wagering establishment marketplace layer. The method also includes the acts of receiving an offer to exchange a second asset for the first asset from an anonymous one of the participants in the wagering establishment marketplace layer, accepting the offer to exchange the second asset for the first asset from the anonymous one of the participants in the wagering establishment marketplace layer, and transferring the first asset in exchange for the second asset.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing a transaction instrument is disclosed. The method may include receiving rebate parameters from a merchant; associating the rebate parameters with a transaction instrument; distributing the transaction instrument to a merchant; and activating and/or loading the transaction instrument in response to a request from the merchant thus enabling the use of the transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be, for example, an open rebate card. The distribution of the transaction instrument may also include sending a message, in substantially real time, causing the pre-paid transaction instrument to be funded but not activated until later through an interactive voice response system, for example. In one example, an associated transaction account may be funded and activated at the time that the merchant requests activation. Furthermore, an issuer system may be suitably configured to leverage existing Travelers Cheque infrastructure for inventory and related processes.

Abstract: Trading methods and systems for promoting trade credit transactions between and among Trade Credit Exchanges and other users such as non-commercial consumers are described

Abstract: Time is of the essence when advertising to new homeowners. The present invention is an advertising technique that enables advertisers to reach new homeowners at the time of closing of the new homeowner's home purchase. Hence, advertisers advertising via the present invention are able to reach potential customers at least several days, even weeks, if not months, before other advertisers using conventional approaches.

Abstract: A method and portable apparatus for settling a transaction are provided, in which the portable apparatus may be used as a card substitute payment device for settling a transaction. Information to conduct a settlement may be stored in the portable apparatus. The portable apparatus may be, for example, a portable phone or a PDA. A transaction inquiry machine may read or receive the information from the portable apparatus, similar to that of a card reader reading a magnetic card, and transmit the information to a VAN company server or a card company server, to then request for an approval to settle the transaction.