Including Financial Account Patents (Class 705/14.17)
  • Publication number: 20140372190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing digital incentives or financial offsets including the steps of: providing a financial platform operable on a server computer and at least one database in electronic, digital communication over a network, the financial platform operable for financial services transactions; providing a database of profile data for the at least one user; developing a digital incentive program for stimulating financial transactions by at least one user, the digital incentive program including profile factors from the profile data of the at least one user; automatically providing at least one digital incentive to corresponding of the at least one user, the at least one digital incentive available for a redemption by each of the users, wherein the digital incentive has an electronic financial transaction value available for the redemption on any electronic financial transaction media, and wherein the redemption of the electronic financial transaction value of the digital incentive does not occur at
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: EDO INTERACTIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Reuthe, Jonathan Dyke
  • Patent number: 8909542
    Abstract: A system for tracking brand interactions is provided. The system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to receive information defining a plurality of brand interactions, receive a first indication of a first interaction defined within the plurality of brand interactions from a first source system, receive a second indication of a second interaction defined within the plurality of brand interactions from a second source system different from the first source system, and record an association between the brand, the first interaction, the second interaction and the brand enthusiast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Crowdtwist, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Montero, Irving Fain, Joshua Bowen, Joshua Laurito
  • Publication number: 20140358656
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for providing offers for merchant accounts. The disclosed embodiments include, for example, a system for providing offers for accounts associated with a merchant. The system may be configured to receive a product identifier from a consumer, the product identifier identifying a product available from a merchant. The system may also determine whether the consumer has a current financial service account associated with the merchant. Further, the system may determine one or more incentives to offer the consumer, the one or more incentives being based at least in part on the product identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas S. POOLE, David E. KEATING, Drew JACOBS, Janusz M. NICZYPORUK, Luke A. HAMMOCK
  • Patent number: 8898082
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system is operable to: receive a purchase transaction from a purchaser, the purchase transaction including purchase transaction information including a purchaser credit number associated with a purchaser credit account previously established on a payment site, use the purchaser credit number to obtain associated purchaser credit account information maintained at a payment site, receive from the payment site a disposition of the purchase transaction, and receive from the payment site purchaser-specific information to streamline the purchase transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Zhe Chu
  • Publication number: 20140324559
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for rewarding mortgage customers of a financial institution with a reward payment amount. The method includes providing enrollment in a mortgage matching system to eligible mortgage customers, wherein eligibility requirements include the requirement that eligible mortgage customers hold both a mortgage account and a checking account with the financial institution. The method additionally includes enabling the customer to make periodic mortgage payments from the checking account to the mortgage account and monitoring continued compliance with the eligibility requirements and submission of the periodic payments using a monitoring engine implemented by at least one computer processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Pat Sheehy, Lesley R. Corydon, David A. Clifton, George Black, Jay Roth, Panickos Palettas, Elaine Wistar, Julie Shuttlesworth
  • Publication number: 20140316873
    Abstract: An apparatus for issuing a prize to a user includes a prize activity host computer including a prize issuing program, a seller computer, and a user purchase input device. A purchase authorization request is transmitted from the seller computer to the prize activity host computer. User information (including user identification and user account information, obtained from the user purchase input device) is sent to the prize activity host computer. When the prize activity host computer confirms the purchase request, the prize activity host computer also determines when a prize is to be issued to the user, and thereafter issues the prize to the user. The apparatus is particularly useful for issuing prizes to users based on the users' use of a credit account to make a purchase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Randy D. Sines
  • Publication number: 20140310080
    Abstract: A system and method to provide a universal loyalty currency, facilitate exchange of loyalty benefits, and allow payments using loyalty benefits. A method includes: receiving registration information to associate account information of a payment account with at least one loyalty account to enable conversion of first loyalty benefits to second loyalty benefits; receiving, for a transaction, an authorization request identifying the account information and requesting the use of the second loyalty benefits to fund at least a portion of the transaction; and processing the transaction using the second benefits converted from the first loyalty benefits hosted in the loyalty account and funds from the payment account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Diane C. Salmon, Nancy L. Kim, James Alan VonDerheide
  • Publication number: 20140297380
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein may enable a user to add an incentive displayed along with content on a networked television to a digital wallet associated with the user. The user may be capable of selecting the displayed incentive using a remote control in communication with the networked television, or using their mobile device which may be in direct communication with the networked television, or in communication with the networked television over a network. When the user selects the displayed incentive for storage in a digital wallet, the user may be prompted to authenticate to a provider associated with the digital wallet, wherein the authentication may be performed through the networked television using the remote control. The incentive may then be added to the user's digital wallet and may be used or applied when the user performs a transaction using the digital wallet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Wenger, Prashant Jamkhedkar
  • Patent number: 8848025
    Abstract: Real-time interactive broadcast sessions for client devices include: for each client device in the interactive broadcast session, configuring downstream video and audio ports for the interactive broadcast session between a central controller and the client device; receiving from each client device a selected broadcaster corresponding to a broadcaster flow control signal; in response to receiving the selected broadcaster from each client device, sending video and audio streams of the selected broadcaster to each client device over the interactive broadcast session; receiving a request from a given client device on the interactive broadcast session to interact with the selected broadcaster; configuring upstream and downstream video ports for one-to-one video chat session between the central controller and the given client device; and sending the video and audio streams of the given client device, and the video and audio streams of the selected broadcaster, to each client device over the interactive broadcast se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Shah Talukder
  • Publication number: 20140289031
    Abstract: Product offering systems are provided. Product offering systems may include sending an offer to a customer that possesses a mobile computing device and has agreed to receive offers for products via the mobile computing device. Agreeing to receive offers would result in the unique data about the customer being available to offer provider. Unique customer data may include data related to the customers wireless service provider or from a financial account in a financial institution, and collecting customer data about the customer, wherein the customer data comprises financial data and personal data. Product offering systems may further include registering a wireless computing device of the customer to able the device to receive the offer, and determining opportunities to send the offer to the customer by monitoring the customer and the customer data. Product offering systems may also include sending the offer to the customer's registered device based on the determination of opportunities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Comerford, Joseph M. DeFilippo
  • Publication number: 20140278869
    Abstract: A computer system communicates with sponsors, mobile wireless devices, and wireless service providers to present incentives to wireless device users for accepting offers to interact with sponsor content. The incentive offers provide mobile wireless device accounts with credits that are paid by the sponsors. The system generates ACH messages to obtain payment for the credits and transfers the money to the wireless service providers for partial payment of wireless service charges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DATASCAPE.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Richard H. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20140257954
    Abstract: A long term goal oriented incentive learning and feedback award system is disclosed. A kid user, parent, a school, a charity and/or a program provider are enabled to directly interact to provide financial incentives to the kid user to be motivated in a program. A parent, a school, a charity and/or a program provider are also enabled to define any task or content on the system. A kid user is enabled to set up a monetary holding account on the system to accumulate the financial incentives under a long term goal. A charity is enabled to provide direct financial support to any programs registered on the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Jie Tan
  • Publication number: 20140249901
    Abstract: A customer selects a payment source and authorizes payment by sending Short Message Service (SMS) text messages or secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS) requests from the customer's mobile phone or device. A SMS payment software-plugin is installed on a Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminal and launches a price match search and can fetch customer rewards. When a customer requests to pay by SMS, the plugin is activated and the customer's mobile phone number and zip code or POS PIN are entered on the POS terminal. The POS terminal sends a request to a SMS payment system, which sends SMS text messages to the customer's mobile device. The details are discussed. The application on marketplace based on circle of friends and family is also discussed, which connects the people to schools or universities, to support them financially, through Koincloud marketplace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Bahman Qawami, Hossein Abar, Don Kadish, Don McAllister
  • Publication number: 20140249899
    Abstract: A system, computer program product and a method of applying rewards to fees in qualifying accounts of a financial institution are provided. The system, computer program product and method ensure that one or more reward accounts of a single account holder or “household” of account holders at the financial institution are qualified to receive a reward, are entitled to receive income other than the reward amount, that the account holder of the account is enrolled to receive one or more service for a service fees from the financial institution and that the fees are entitled to be automatically offset against income earned by the reward accounts during the predetermined cycle. If so, the system, computer program product and method deduct the fees from the sum of earned reward amount and the income other than the reward amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: BANCVUE, LTD.
    Inventors: Gabriel Michael Krajicek, Gregory Michael Corlin, Diane R. Christensen
  • Patent number: 8825523
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems and media platforms, for use with both mobile and non-mobile systems, to deploy virtual advertising and promotion via the use of electronic coupons, and more particularly a method and system for creating, deploying, transferring, clearing, managing, redeeming and reporting on the use of electronic coupons or virtual electronic rebates (VeeBates) and permitting individuals and groups within one or more social communications networks to participate in and transmit information to others about their activities related to the virtual advertising, incentives, redemption and promotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Transactis, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Gillenson, James Daniel Fornari
  • Patent number: 8825022
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for providing content to a communications device. In an embodiment of the invention, a communications network receives a first content portion from a content provider and sends the first content portion to the communications device. The communications network also sends a second content portion to the communications device, and this second content portion is customized for the user of the communications device based on selected information about the user that the communications network has. In one embodiment, the communications network uses the selected information about the user to customize the second content portion for the user, and sends the customized second content portion to the communications device. In an embodiment, the communications network sends the selected information to the content provider, and the content provider uses the selected information to customize the second content portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dakshi Agrawal, Michael G. Hill, Sihyung Lee, Mudhakar Srivatsa, Dinesh C. Verma, Petros Zerfos, Joseph W. Ziskin
  • Patent number: 8825522
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for redeeming virtual coupons by associating the coupons with a consumer and a payment system associated with the consumer. In some embodiments, the method includes distributing the enabled promotional offers, from one or more source sites, via the electronic contact addresses for the plurality of consumers, such that the promotional offers can be electronically accepted by at least some of the particular consumers with whom they are identified without redeeming the accepted offers. The method further includes electronically receiving a redemption of the promotional offer by means of the consumer's presentment of the associated payment system for purchasing the subject matter of the accepted promotional offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Mankoff
  • Publication number: 20140244514
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a smartphone-based virtual wallet, that manages payment options available to a user. One claim recites portable device comprising: a touch screen display; a video camera; a microphone for capturing ambient audio; memory for storing an image, and for storing components of a virtual wallet; and one or more processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Hugh L. Brunk
  • Patent number: 8818849
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide incentives to deflect callers to websites are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to deflect a caller to a webpage include receiving a call from the caller, offering an incentive to the caller to terminate the call and access the webpage, and providing an address of the webpage to the caller after the caller consents to terminate the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lewis Brandt, Angela Sandoval, Aaron Bangor
  • Patent number: 8799060
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to electronic commerce (e-commerce) methods for the use of systems and media platforms, for use with both mobile and non-mobile systems, to deploy virtual advertising and promotion via the use of electronic coupons, and more particularly a method and system for creating, deploying, transferring, clearing, managing, redeeming and reporting on the use of electronic coupons or virtual electronic rebates (VeeBates) and permitting individuals and groups within one or more social communications networks to participate in and transmit information to others about their activities related to the virtual advertising, incentives, redemption and promotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Transactis, Inc
    Inventors: Amy Gillenson, James Daniel Fornari
  • Patent number: 8799065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing digital incentives or financial offsets including the steps of: providing a financial platform operable on a server computer and at least one database in electronic, digital communication over a network, the financial platform operable for financial services transactions; providing a database of profile data for the at least one user; developing a digital incentive program for stimulating financial transactions by at least one user, the digital incentive program including profile factors from the profile data of the at least one user; automatically providing at least one digital incentive to corresponding of the at least one user, the at least one digital incentive available for a redemption by each of the users, wherein the digital incentive has an electronic financial transaction value available for the redemption on any electronic financial transaction media, and wherein the redemption of the electronic financial transaction value of the digital incentive does not occur at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: edo Interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Reuthe, Jonathan Dyke
  • Publication number: 20140214509
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of effecting a merchant funded reward when a consumer purchases goods and/or services from a merchant using an electronic payment, including a processor executing instruction code causing collection of transaction details of the consumer purchase, processing of the transaction details to calculate any associated reward, and notification of the entire reward to be collected from the merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Paul Adrian Lee, Christian Felix Strauss, Ian McKenzie, David Shane Que, Matthew John Weir, Theodora Keramidas, Simon Paul Sorockyj
  • Publication number: 20140214508
    Abstract: The invention provides a computer-based method of managing electronic transactions. A plurality of merchant accounts with offers are stored in a data store. A card number and a mobile phone number are then stored. Due to registration of the card number at least one of the offers is transmitted to a consumer mobile phone at the mobile phone number. A charge advisory is received after transmitting the offer to the consumer mobile phone. The offer is then applied against an account having a card number that matches a card number in the charge advisory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: BOKU, INC.
    Inventor: Adam Lee
  • Publication number: 20140207547
    Abstract: A social networking system associates a financial account identified by a user with a user profile maintained by the social networking system for the user. The social networking system may compensate the user for associating the financial account with the user profile by crediting the identified financial account by an amount. The credit may be applied to subsequent purchases by the user at a vendor identified by the user. To simplify vendor selection, the social networking system may suggest one or more candidate pages associated with vendors to the user. Information in a transaction history of the financial account and in the user profile may be used to identify the candidate pages, allowing the user to select a vendor with which the user has previously transacted by selecting a candidate page associated with the vendor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Loren Alfred Cheng, Edward Zagat
  • Publication number: 20140207548
    Abstract: A computer system enables a financial institution to award a fixed reward that may include one or more fixed components based on at least one payment criterion when a customer remits a payment in a timely basis. The payment criteria, for example, may include paying a minimum amount for each consecutive billing period in a timely manner over a predetermined calendar interval. When the customer is awarded the fixed reward, the reward may be directed to an account that is designated by the customer. The fixed reward may also include a basic fixed amount for satisfying the at least one payment criterion a well as an additional fixed amount if the customer has a specified relationship (such as a checking and/or a savings account) with the financial institution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Elizabeth L. Basnight, John Livaditis, Faith Hepler, Phyllis Thesing, Erica Geers, Colleen Novielli, Eric Charles Boyd
  • Patent number: 8783561
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for administration of a customer loyalty program at a point of sale terminal. The system, in one embodiment, contains a database of customer records for the loyalty program where each customer record contains information about a customer's payment device and information about a customer's mobile device. The system may locate a customer record in a database based on payment device or mobile device information captured at the point of sale terminal and apply any applicable loyalty program discounts. The system may then forward the payment device information to a third-party payment processor for payment processing. The system may print out a receipt at the point of sale terminal indicating any discounts and containing a promotional message. The system may also send a promotional message to the customer's mobile device using the mobile device information stored in the customer's record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Modiv Media, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Wesley
  • Patent number: 8781892
    Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention are related to a digital media benefit attachment mechanism for generating or attaching revenue rights and other benefits to one or more entities associated with socially distributed media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Martinez, Balaji Ravindran, Chris Kalaboukis
  • Patent number: 8781878
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method that allow sellers to offer goods and services at prices that vary depending on what transpires during the event or service. The final price is determined after the event or service based on the occurrence of certain pre-selected attributes. Candidate attributes are potentially associated with the event or service but the outcome or occurrence of the attribute is not knowable by the buyer and seller with certainty at the time of the original purchase. Using the outcome-based pricing (OBP) and settlement system the seller can set prices to minimize significant deviation from a pre-determined revenue plan, or alternatively build-in an increase or even decrease in gross revenues. The present invention allows for the order, payment and final settlement of the purchase transaction, automatically. The preferred embodiment for the OBP pricing and settlement system is via a computer network that includes the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Jonathan D. Gworek
  • Patent number: 8781961
    Abstract: A system is provided for a stored-value card account to serve as a platform to transfer funds in alternate currency. A prepaid cardholder may transfer to a recipient in a first currency from an account in a second currency. The prepaid cardholder selects the amount to be transferred, the recipient, and the currency to be provided to the recipient. An exchange rate is obtained automatically from a currency exchanger and once the prepaid cardholder authorizes the transfer, funds in the requested currency are transferred to the recipient and the prepaid cardholder account owner's prepaid cardholder account is debited the appropriate amount. Thus, currency conversion and delivery to a recipient is possible in an automated process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Prepaid Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Grotto
  • Patent number: 8781893
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is received, and a second performance target for the financial account is determined based on the transaction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Inventor Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Sanjay K. Jindal, Toby Weir-Jones, Stephen C. Tulley, Michael D. Downs
  • Publication number: 20140195318
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for issuing and settling electronic coupons. A financial service host may receive authorization and settlement information, wherein the authorization and settlement information comprises an account number of the consumer. The account number may be linked to an account of the consumer enrolled in an electronic coupon program. The methods and system may also include transmitting a notification to the consumer that indicates the electronic coupon has been redeemed. A monetary value associated with the electronic coupon may be debited from an account linked to the merchant, and the account of the consumer may be credited with the monetary value associated with the electronic coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Barry F. Pointer, Dominic Morea, Bengt Horsma, Christopher Wuhrer, Jerome Myers, Michelangelo R. Ho, Sarah Owen
  • Patent number: 8775323
    Abstract: Provided are a method and a system for providing a user tailored service using a social network service. The method includes at a user terminal, receiving a transaction approval message from a credit card company server when a customer uses a credit card, and obtaining purchase information of the customer based on the received transaction approval message, and forming a social network for sharing the purchase information of the customer with predetermined persons having a social relationship, wherein the predetermined persons include friends, family members, and colleagues of the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Kang-Yong Lee, Jaecheol Sim, Hwa-Shin Moon, Kee-Seong Cho, Won Ryu
  • Patent number: 8775243
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems and media platforms, for use with both mobile and non-mobile systems, to deploy virtual advertising and promotion via the use of electronic coupons, and more particularly a method and system for creating, deploying, transferring, clearing, managing, redeeming and reporting on the use of electronic coupons or virtual electronic rebates (VeeBates) and permitting individuals and groups within one or more social communications networks to participate in and transmit information to others about their activities related to the virtual advertising, incentives, redemption and promotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Transactis, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Gillenson, James Daniel Fornari
  • Publication number: 20140180783
    Abstract: A system and method for providing socially enabled rewards through a user financial instrument includes gathering transaction data from a user's financial account and analyzing the transaction data for a savings opportunity indication. A savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities is matched to the user based on the savings opportunity indication, wherein the savings opportunity can be shared with other users or a social network. The savings opportunity is displayed in association with a statement of a user's financial account and the user is allowed to share the savings opportunity, wherein sharing causes a shared savings opportunity to be generated. A second user, one who received the shared savings opportunity, can redeem the shared savings opportunity. The sharing and redemption of the shared savings opportunity is tracked, such as to improve targeting users who are influential based on the number of redemptions of the shared savings opportunity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Truaxis, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishna Venkata Satyavolu, Samir Kothari, Shehzad Daredia
  • Publication number: 20140180784
    Abstract: A wellness program is set up for employees of an employer and participation in the program by at least a first one of the employees of the employer is tracked to determine if the at least first one of the employees has earned a reward by virtue of the participation. In response to determining that the reward has been earned, it is determined whether this is the employee's initial earned reward. If such is the case, a reward payment card is created for the employee; an amount associated with the reward payment card is initialized; and the card is provided to the employee. Subsequently-made purchases by the employee with the card are detected. In some cases, based on purchase level data associated with the subsequently-made purchases, it is determined if the employee is eligible for a supplemental award; if this is the case, supplemental award value is associated to the reward payment card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: MasterCard International Incorporated
    Inventors: Lane R. Martin, Alec S. Wilkins, Jennifer W. Vanderwall
  • Publication number: 20140172528
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for managing the distribution of rewards in a purchase offer and reward program. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide for applying a monetary reward to a designated account that is only available to the customer in the future based on occurrence of a triggering event. In specific embodiments of the invention, the triggering event may be a future date or an account amount threshold, such that when the date occurs or when the threshold amount is accumulated in the account, the account becomes accessible to the customer. Moreover, the account may be any type of account, such as a savings account or the like. In specific embodiments, the account is associated with a pre-paid credit card or a similar product, such that once the triggering event occurs the pre-paid credit card is issued to the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Richard M. Korzenko, Matthew Laine Donlan, Ilich Martinez
  • Publication number: 20140172529
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for linking accounts corresponding to different products together to create a group so that group processing can be performed at the group level while independent processing of the accounts is performed at the account level. The method links the accounts into a group by linking a financial record for each account to group master data for the group. The group master data includes information about the group, including group control settings, aggregate data, and a group identifier. A group typically includes a key account and one or more dependent accounts. The relationship between a dependent account and the group is specified by a dependent strategy. A dependent strategy specifies group level processing options for the account. The relationships between the accounts and the group are flexible to accommodate changes in the status of the group cardholders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: First Data Corporation
    Inventor: Lynn Holm Blagg
  • Publication number: 20140164084
    Abstract: A system and method to provide item level purchase incentives directly to consumers are fully disclosed. Item level offers may include brand or product SKU-specific offers and rewards. In some embodiments, incentives may be credited directly to the consumer's card or bank account without any action required from the consumer subsequent to purchasing the product. The platform will evaluate potential offers and incentives according to a rules engine. The platform also maps the brand's authorized dealers by location so that offers can be targeted to consumers shopping at that location or who live within a certain distance of that location, for example, in addition to targeting by demographic, household income, past spending patterns, etc. Typically, the platform integrates directly with credit card issuer's systems sending the validated transaction information to the card issuer with an amount to be credited on that card or account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Brett Battles, Nikita Tovstoles
  • Publication number: 20140164086
    Abstract: Systems and processes are disclosed for assisting and incentivizing a user to save money by avoiding impulsive purchases. In certain embodiments, disclosed embodiments may include mechanisms to receive a user-defined goal for saving money and to receive item identifying information relating to an item not purchased by the user in accomplishing the goal. The disclosed embodiments also include mechanisms that determine the price of the item based on the identifying information and determine the amount of savings based on the price of the item. The disclosed embodiments may also be configured to determine and offer a reward to the user based on the amount of savings and to provide to the user a history record of one or more items not purchased in accomplishing the user's goal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Capital One Financial Corporation
    Inventors: Ben M. COFFMAN, Dennis S. BRENNAN, Richard S. JUST, Joseph O'BRIEN, Katharine Anne SHEA, Bryan FEARSON, Timothy J. AUSTEN, Shaun WEBB
  • Publication number: 20140164083
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for linking a financial payment system to a customer account. A customer account may be created that includes an identifier for a financial payment system, such as a credit or debit card. During a transaction between the customer and a merchant, the identifier may be received by a payment processor. The processor correlated the identifier with a customer using stored customer account information. An electronic message including an incentive offered by the merchant is generated and sent to the customer. The offer may include a condition that the customer must complete in order to receive the incentive. The condition may be, for example, a requirement that the customer provide predetermined information to the merchant or as a posting on a social network. The incentive may be provided to the customer as a refund directly applied to the financial payment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: T. Clay WILKES
  • Publication number: 20140164085
    Abstract: The inventive technology enables the search engine operator to charge the advertisers who place their links on the search engine only if the user uses the search results to visit the advertiser's web portal(s) and generates revenue for the advertiser. This concept is especially attractive to the advertisers because it eliminates the risk, which the advertisers face in conventional search engines, when they are changed by the search engine per user click irrespectively of whether the user's visit resulted in advertiser's revenue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Anchorfree Inc.
    Inventor: David Gorodyansky
  • Patent number: 8751295
    Abstract: The systems and methods of the disclosure allow user from various countries to take advantage of offers when they are traveling internationally. Once the purchase associated with the offer is made, the transaction information may be processed by the system, such that, the credit and debit associated with the purchase are transmitted to the transaction account and the merchant. The transaction information may be further processed to determine whether the particular transaction is eligible for a reward. Where the transaction is eligible for a reward, the credit and debit associated with reward are transmitted to the transaction account and the sponsoring entity. The reward may be provided in any suitable currency or in various currencies based on the parameters governing the reward offer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: America Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Sripriya Tiku, Peter Tully, David Wolf
  • Publication number: 20140156368
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for redeeming coupons to credit a customer's financial service account without sharing the customer's restricted information with merchants. The system and method may include a financial service provider receiving merchant transaction information from a merchant that reflects sale transactions associated with the merchant over a period of time. The financial service provider may compare the merchant transaction information with financial service accounts transaction information associated with financial service accounts provided by the financial service provider. Additionally, the financial service provider may identify a common transaction between the merchant transactions and the financial service accounts transactions based on one or more unique identifiers, determine the common transaction meets a predetermined credit requirement, and identify a customer's financial service account corresponding to the common transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Captial One Financial Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Wen, Matthew Stern
  • Publication number: 20140149195
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for enabling a user to determine whether a transaction qualifies for an offer. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: receive information associated with a transaction; receive information associated with an offer, the offer enabling a user to receive a discount or rebate on a qualifying transaction; and initiate presentation of an indicator indicating whether the transaction qualifies for the offer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert L. Abbott, Matthew Laine Donlan, Thomas E. Durbin, Sean D. Fitzpatrick, Andrew S. Heiman, Dean Lyons Henry, Frederick A. Shahda, Srinath Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 8738435
    Abstract: An apparatus and method use client information to automatically select products appropriate for the client. According to one aspect of the invention, client information, information about the products, ancillary data, and decision criteria pertaining to selection from among the products are stored in a storage device Decision-making logic circuitry use the stored data to select the products. An output device prepares a client communication identifying the selected products and incorporates a portion of the client information and a portion of the product information into the client communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: LPL Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Marc Libman
  • Patent number: 8737993
    Abstract: System and method for selling, configuring, installing, reconfiguring and servicing integrated voice/data communications systems are disclosed. An Internet/web based portal is provided to enable a high level of data to be easily collected. The portal guides the customer or sales persons in the collection of user requirements data indicative of the particular customer's hardware, telephony and network service requirements. Test of the data is performed, ensuring that all required data has been entered. The user requirements data is translated into configuration data in order to configure the system in a manner to satisfy the user requirements data. Configuration data resulting from a user requirements data entry and translation process is coupled with a hardware manufacturing process to produce an integrated system configured for the particular customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: RPX Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Alfred Alves, Adeline Pang, Alan R. Loudermilk
  • Publication number: 20140143037
    Abstract: Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for providing compensation for using a mobile payment service. An exemplary system comprises a processor and a database in communication with the processor. The processor is configured to receive a deposit amount associated with a purchase related to a user. The purchase is made via the mobile payment service. The processor is further configured to receive payment information associated with the user. The payment information is associated with a mobile payment account of the user in the mobile payment service. When the processor receives a notification about a further purchase of the user via the mobile payment service, compensation from the deposit amount is provided. The compensation is proportional to a payment amount associated with the further purchase. The database is configured to store at least the deposit amount and the payment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Tiger T G Zhou, Dylan T X Zhou, Andrew H B Zhou
  • Patent number: 8725563
    Abstract: A search engine, system and method for locating and rating a plurality of electronic mentions of respective ones of a plurality of brands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Steelberg, Chad Steelberg
  • Patent number: 8725639
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for making the value in an online-stored value account accessible through a prepaid debit card. A payment services provider may offer general-purpose reloadable (“GPR”) cards to customers that are co-managed by the payment services provider and a traditional prepaid program manager. An integration is implemented between the payment services provider system hosting the online stored-value account and the program manager system such that the balance of the funds maintained for the online stored-value account may be used for purchases made using the GPR card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Burkhart, Alexander L. Rouse, Ajay Bhutani, Stephen A. Jasper, Mary Katherine Bowman, Matthew W. Hall
  • Patent number: 8725577
    Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online payment transaction through a point of sale device. The method includes receiving input from a user selecting an item for purchase through the point of sale device; calculating a total purchase amount for the item in response to a request from the user to purchase the item; and sending payment authorization for the total purchase amount from the point of sale device to a payment entity, in which the payment authorization is sent to the payment entity via a mobile communication device of the user. The method further includes receiving a result of the payment authorization from the payment entity through the mobile communication device; and completing the payment transaction based on the result of the payment authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Michelle Fisher