Abstract: A system and method are provided that automatically track the use of an instrument used in a financial transaction to determine if any rewards or discounts should be applied. The system and method of the present invention apply the reward or discounts in real-time as part of the transaction authorization process.

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 offering promotional offers to one or more of consumers, such that the promotional offers are associated with one or more source sites and can be electronically accepted by at least some of the particular consumers without redeeming the accepted offers. Upon electronic acceptance of at least one of the promotional offers by one or more consumer, establishing or maintaining an association of the accepted promotional offer with at least one payment system associated with the consumer. Upon purchase of the subject matter of the accepted promotional offer with the at least one payment system, electronically receiving a redemption of the accepted promotional offer.

Abstract: A system for secure transactions receives an authorization request from a mobile device, the mobile device having received the authorization request by scanning a QR code and/or other encoded data. The system processes the authorization request using one or more transaction accounts that are paired to the mobile device, and transmits a response indicating approval or denial of the authorization request.

Abstract: Some described embodiments provide for selecting (e.g., by a server computer from a plurality of transaction records), a transaction record associated with a financial account of an account holder. In one example, the transaction record includes an indication of an amount due, by the account holder, for a previous purchase completed by the account holder with a first merchant. Some embodiments provide further for generating a billing statement for the account holder, the billing statement including an indication of the amount due by the account holder for the previous completed purchase and an indication of an acquisition offer, in which the acquisition offer comprises a promise from a second merchant to pay at least a portion of the amount due by the account holder, and transmitting the billing statement to the account holder.

Abstract: The system provides location based coupon-less offers based upon a location of a card member (CM). A location of a CM may be determined based upon one or more of a travel itinerary, a GPS signal, a proximity of a mobile communication device to a cellular base station, and/or a zip code. An offer from a merchant registered to provide coupon-less offers may be transmitted to a mobile communication device based upon the location. An offer, once accepted by a CM, may be matched to a record of charge associated with a transaction account held by the CM. A credit may be applied to the CM's transaction account and a debit may be applied to a transaction account of the registered merchant. One or more offer categories and/or one or more offer category classes may be transmitted to the mobile communication device based upon the CM's location.

Abstract: A system for an Internet-based retail and investment platform includes a bank application and a retail market platform. All transactions between the bank application and the retail market platform utilize a system specific currency, which is issued by the bank. Customers open bank accounts with funds in the system specific currency and make payments for the purchase of goods and services offered through the retail market platform with the system specific currency. Goods and services are offered at a discounted price by the merchants that subscribe to the retail merchant. The discount is based on the difference between retail price and wholesale price. In return for the discount, the merchants receive access to value-added services. The discounts generate profits that are distributed to the system users as dividends.

Abstract: A system is compatible with money and is usable to settle debts and/or for providing liquidity in a marketplace. The system uses standardized claims on future payment in an administrative process to provide a source for settlement of obligations between parties and to extend the period in which cash is not needed as a tool for commerce. This means of exchange can be established and used to introduce tools to have the circulation of local purchasing power inside the management system or region optimized. Using computer and specific formulas and approach allows tagging monetary flows in order to optimize the use of its potentials.

Abstract: A donation aspect for a website is provided. Amounts of donations are limited and users are given awards based on their donations.

Abstract: In particular, systems and methods are provided for delivering a discount using a virtual currency. Inventive systems and methods offer a high perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. Further, systems and methods for providing a discount are described which impose little or no cost on the service or product provider. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with an amount payable in virtual currency by an end-user of an inventive system. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the virtual currency since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency.

Abstract: Inventive systems and methods offer a high-perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. Further, systems and methods for providing a discount are described which impose little or no cost on the service or product provider. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with virtual currency. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the virtual currency since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency.

Abstract: In particular, systems and methods are provided for delivering a discount using a virtual currency. Inventive systems and methods offer a high perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. Further, systems and methods for providing a discount are described which impose little or no cost on the service or product provider. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with an amount payable in virtual currency by an end-user of an inventive system. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the virtual currency since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency.

Abstract: An electronic advertising system anonymously directs the attention of a user to content provided by an advertiser, in exchange for subsequently permitting the same user to access otherwise restricted desirable content of another part. Such desirable content may include online entertainment media, digital video content, social media, news media, and other privileged services or data. The user accumulates points, or virtual currency, in exchange for viewing the advertisements of vendor affiliates of the present system. The user may then spend previously accumulated points, or virtual currency, in order to access desirable content of redeemer affiliates of the present system. The present system further facilitates financial transactions between the system operator, vendor affiliates, and redeemer affiliates, relative to the movement of virtual currency amongst the various parties.

Abstract: A method for issuing a virtual financial instrument is disclosed, the method comprising receiving user identification information, receiving balance information, generating a financial instrument having a balance indicated by the balance information for a user indicated by the identification information, and providing a notification to the user that the financial instrument has been generated.

Abstract: Some described embodiments provide for selecting (e.g., by a server computer from a plurality of transaction records), a transaction record associated with a financial account of an account holder. In one example, the transaction record includes an indication of an amount due, by the account holder, for a previous purchase completed by the account holder with a first merchant. Some embodiments provide further for generating a billing statement for the account holder, the billing statement including an indication of the amount due by the account holder for the previous completed purchase and an indication of an acquisition offer, in which the acquisition offer comprises a promise from a second merchant to pay at least a portion of the amount due by the account holder, and transmitting the billing statement to the account holder.

Abstract: A payment processing system to provide merchant-specific accounts to consumers that are accessed by payment instruments. In one embodiment, the payment processing system can create and provide a variety of payment methodologies for purchases, such as pay-as-you-go, virtual prepaid, virtual subscription, and post-paid purchases. The merchant may, in some embodiments provide consumers with merchant rewards accounts and an opportunity to earn reward points or other loyalty-based currencies through qualifying purchase transactions. The consumer may access their merchant-specific accounts for purchase payment using a preferred payment instrument, such as a credit or debit card.

Abstract: Products and processes are provided in which information is received for a post relating to an item to be sold via a posting site. A posting payment amount relating to the post is determined. The posting amount is provided as a credit for purchases.

Abstract: In the described systems and methods for information lifecycle cross-system reconciliation, a number of reconciliation indicators for a certain type of data are defined. A first set of values of the reconciliation indicators are calculated at a first computer system based on data stored in a memory of the first computer system. A second set of values of the reconciliation indicators are calculated at a second computer system based on data transferred from the first computer system. The two sets of values are received at reconciliation cockpit and stored in a reconciliation data structure. Further, the reconciliation data structure is examined to identify inconsistency between the data stored in the memory of the first computer system and the data transferred to the second computer system. If such an inconsistency is identified, the data transfer is cancelled. If inconsistency is not identified, the data transfer is confirmed.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of delivering an advertisement to at least one mobile device which includes a software application that is operable on mobile devices. Also provided is a software interface that works in conjunction with the mobile software application. The software interface operates on a network server accessible to a computer network, such as the Internet. The method includes the step of defining a geographic location for delivery of the advertisements. The software interface then transmits the advertisement to at least one mobile device operating the mobile software application which is located within the geographic location. An incentive is then provided to the user of the mobile which has received the advertisement. The incentive may optionally comprise a monetary payment to the user of the mobile device.

Abstract: A Globally Unique IDentifier (GUID) is used to match an authorization request with an authorization response for a transaction between a merchant and a consumer upon an account within a payment processing system where the payment amount is unknown until after the merchant receives the authorization response that includes the GUID. After receiving the authorization response and when the payment amount is known, the merchant forms a transmission that has information for delivery to an issuer of the account. This information is sufficient for the issuer to forward the payment amount from the account to pay the merchant for the transaction. While including the GUID and the payment amount, the information does not include an identifier of the account.

Abstract: Systems and methods can provide customer rewards programs. Example embodiments can include a rewards program that includes: identifying a rewards program associated with a financial institution to reward a customer of the financial institution; and identifying at least one rewards rule associated with the rewards program that indicates at least one reward to be provided if multiple criteria are satisfied. Upon determining that the criteria are satisfied, a transaction can be generated to provide a reward for the customer.

Abstract: Disclosed are gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including stored value cards. Networked gaming systems are described which include one or more gaming machines with a stored value card acceptor, casino and/or slot management systems with a stored value server for authenticating stored value cards, verifying stored value, and updating value associated with the stored value cards, and a kiosk system for issuing, validating, and accounting for value associated with updateable stored value cards.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for processing gifts based on a web page context. A system practicing the method receives an indication that a giver has selected a user-selectable object on a web page, the selectable object being associated with a gift the giver desires to give to a recipient. The system presents to the giver a proposed gift based on a context of the web page. Upon giver confirmation of the gift for the recipient, the system establishes a policy such that when the recipient makes a qualifying purchase to buy the gift using a recipient account, wherein the recipient account exists prior to the giver confirmation, a gift amount is applied to the recipient account.

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

Abstract: In a charging fee billing system according to the invention, a preferential card having preferential information stored thereon is issued, the preferential information allowing for an investor having borne costs required for power storage facilities for use in a commercial power system to receive a discount for electricity fees involved in the charging of an electric automobile. When charging is performed for an electric automobile that is equipped with a preferential card, a charging unit set up at a charging stand acquires preferential information from the preferential card. The charging unit bills a charging fee to which a preferential rate has been applied based on the preferential information acquired from the preferential card.

Abstract: Information can be shared across a pre-approved (PA) channel and a non pre-approved (NPA) channel to reduce unnecessary offers of a transactional instrument or transactional instrument upgrade to prospects. All prospects listed in the NPA channel that have been evaluated in the PA channel may be removed from a NPA offeree list. This may be done by matching the NPA prospect list with a list of prospects who have been evaluated in the PA channel. The list of prospects evaluated in the PA channel may include, for example, prospects who were pre-approved for an offer as well as prospects who were considered for a pre-approved offer but who were denied the offer. Prospects in the NPA channel that are removed from the NPA offer list may be dropped from further NPA processing, as such prospects are either unprofitable or do not meet a transactional account company's standards for credit.

Abstract: A transaction aggregator aggregates a plurality of transaction account charges for a user transaction account. The transaction charges are received from merchants for acquisitions made by a user. The user is offered an option to make at least a partial payment to the user transaction account by redeeming rewards from at least one user reward account associated with a rewards issuer. A reward redemption instruction is received from the user, the reward redemption instruction designating the redemption of rewards from at least one user reward account. The user reward account(s) designated by the user is caused to redeem the rewards by decreasing the rewards in the user reward account and conveying corresponding consideration to the transaction aggregator. A credit is provided on the user transaction account for an amount corresponding to the value of the rewards decreased in the user reward account(s).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing a multi-purse consumer discount card. The systems and methods may use transaction data to provide one or more negotiated discount rates to a consumer. For example, an amount may be credited to a consumer's purse for a merchant based on that consumer's transaction volume for that merchant.

Abstract: An enrolling system verifies an enrollee, counter-offers a second transaction account in response to a decline of a first account, wherein the second transaction account includes more restrictions than a first transaction account, associates an enrollee's main and overdraft account, and issues a transaction account. Enrolling in the second transaction account may include enrolling in a second transaction account automatic payment program; and/or associating a demand deposit account to the second transaction account. The method may also include relaxing use restrictions of the transaction account based upon at least one of: receiving payment of a pre-selected amount, receiving payments over a pre-selected period, and receiving payment on or before a pre-selected date.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method comprising detecting, by one or more banking servers, selection of an investment product, wherein the investment product pays interest according to terms of the investment product. The method can also include selling the investment product, wherein the selling includes: 1) receiving personal information about a purchaser of the investment product, wherein the personal information identifies a loyalty program account receiving, by the one or more banking servers, payment information indicating payment was received for the investment product, and 2) determining, by the one or more banking servers, an interest value for the investment product based on the terms of the investment product. The method can also include requesting transfer of loyalty currency into the loyalty program account, wherein the loyalty currency is valued at the interest value, and wherein the requesting transfer is performed by the one or more banking servers.

Abstract: A multi-account payment consolidation system and process, comprising a payment terminal at a point-of-sale. A central computer system is operatively coupled to the payment terminal through a network connection, the central computer system including at least a processor, and memory comprising program instructions. The program instructions are executable by the processor to register a plurality of external financial accounts and associate them with a user, register at least one customized rule-set for processing a payment associated with the user, authenticate the user when the user logs in at the payment terminal, automatically process the payment in accordance with the customized rule-set by accessing the external financial accounts, and receive a payment confirmation from the external financial accounts for display to the user on the payment terminal.

Abstract: A reward system and method including a card issuing institution that issues debit or credit cards to cardholders. Each cardholder has a cash back account set up by the institution and a cash back program rewards its cardholders with a cash value dependent on the cardholder's usage of the credit or debit card and depositing the cash value in the cardholder's cash back account. The institution provides the identity of a provider of goods or services to a user and each cardholder has online access to the provider so that the cardholder can purchase goods or services from the provider upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of cash in the cardholder's cash back program. The institution provides an online clearing program for receiving sales information from the provider when a purchase is made by a cardholder and debiting the cardholder's cash with the amount of the sales information.

Abstract: A method of advertizing using a device called Personal Companion. The Personal Companion is a specially designed device or existing Smart Phone linked to cloud based servers via Communication Careers. The device and other enabling gadgets and services are distributed free of charge to members of the public in return for a continuous, uninterruptible flow of consented advertisements. Watching these adverts will typically result in compensation accruing to the user. Users may, however, opt to stop flow of ad, but may forfeit that compensation. The ad server distributes marketing data to the device based on it's physical location, amongst other factors. Preferably, the geographical coordinates of the navigation device are fed to the ad server, which then returns advertisements from businesses operating within those coordinates. The navigation device receives and outputs navigational or entertainment information, in conjunction with marketing data.

Abstract: A system to incentivize financial account holders, such as a checking account, by providing a cash bonus for certain activities in the financial account, including certain deposits, electronic payments, debit card purchases, and receiving an electronic statement (instead of paper statements). The cash bonus is calculated on the current time period, for example monthly and credited to the financial account at the end of such current time period.

Abstract: Techniques for administering an account with a financial institution are disclosed. The financial institution may establish the account for the account holder. An account holder may execute purchase transactions using the account. A first and second affiliate may be associated with the account. Rewards information associated with the first affiliate may be calculated based on use of the account for purchase transactions. A compensation, to be provided by the financial institution to the second affiliate, may be calculated based on use of the account for purchase transactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing health care information to health care providers and for obtaining information pertaining to the practice of a health care provider by providing incentives for provision of such information.

Abstract: An advertising social network grid system and method for enabling a user/advertiser to buy and schedule advertisement spots on multiple media-platforms in a cost efficient manner using an electronic device. The system includes a computer-implemented advertising network grid including a server with a database adapted to transmit and receive messages. The server is in communication with at least one broadcast network. Content entry means is included for entering advertisement content. Calendar means is provided for buying and scheduling at least one date and time for airing advertisement content. Region selection means is provided for selecting at least one region located within the broadcast network. Means for receiving and storing advertisement content is provided, and a central processor processes the advertising spot data and transmits it to the broadcast network for playing the advertising spot.

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.

Abstract: A virtual-world benefit may be used to motivate a physical-world purchase. A game machine presents a suggestion that a user (e.g., a player of a game hosted by the game machine) make a purchase of physical-world item, and the suggestion includes an indication that the purchase entitles the user to the virtual-world benefit, thus providing the user with an incentive to make the purchase of the physical-world item. The virtual-world benefit may include a virtual world item, an amount of virtual-world currency, or both. Supposing that the user makes the purchase, the game machine accesses purchase data of the physical-world item. The purchase data indicates that the user has made the purchase. Based on the purchase data, the game machine changes a data structure of the user. The data structure is accessible by a process that configures the virtual environment as including the virtual-world benefit.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for offering virtual gifts to consumers. In some embodiments, the method includes offering a virtual gift to a purchaser. Upon electronic acceptance of the virtual gift by the purchaser, establishing or maintaining an association of the accepted virtual gift with at least one form of payment associated with the purchaser. Upon a purchaser's request to transfer the virtual gift to a recipient and electronic acceptance of the virtual gift by the recipient, establishing or maintaining an association of the accepted virtual gift with at least one form of payment associated with the recipient. Upon purchase of the subject matter of the accepted virtual gift with the form of payment associated with the recipient, electronically receiving a redemption of the accepted virtual gift.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to receive an input specifying a set of users, identify a set of triggers, each of which corresponds to a set of one or more conditions which when satisfied cause transmission of a message to the set of users, rank the triggers based at least in part on transaction data of the users that was recorded by a transaction handler, and generate a ranked list of the triggers based on the ranking.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for linking multiple payment card accounts to a single rewards program account which include associating, in a program management computer system, a first program identifier with the single rewards program account, associating, in the program management computer system, the first program identifier with a first payment card account, associating, in the program management computer system, the first program identifier to at least a second payment card account; and storing, in the program management computer system, at least a first set of reward program rules associated with the single reward program account, the first set of reward program rules specifying at least one of a reward conversion ratio and a promotion rule. Payment transactions conducted using the first and at least second payment card accounts earning a reward amount are associated with the single rewards program account and the first set of reward program rules are applied to the payment transactions.

Abstract: Purchase rewards account holders accumulate rewards currency. A network-based investment management system allows account holders to purchase shares in investments using reward currency. When all the shares for a particular investment have been purchased, the underlying investment is acquired. Account holders owning shares in an investment may sell shares to other account holders through the system. Account holders are thereby able to invest their rewards dollars in investments typically requiring cash or cash equivalents and to grow their rewards currency.

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.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for selectively distributing rewards to a user is provided. A rewards management platform is provided for managing the rewards of the user. The rewards management platform compensates the user with the rewards based on one or more activities, for example, confirming viewing of multimedia content, referring the multimedia content to other users, etc., performed by the user on the rewards management platform. The user selects one or more of multiple deposit accounts associated with the user via a graphical user interface for allocating one or more of the rewards. Each of the deposit accounts is associated with a conversion rate. The rewards management platform establishes an electronic connection to each of the selected deposit accounts via a communication network. The rewards management platform distributes the allocated rewards to the selected deposit accounts based on the conversion rate via the established electronic connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating monetary currency using a mobile communications device for immediate use for the purchase of items, wherein the monetary currency comprises a credit instrument or a credit associated with a credit or debit card, the credit is valid for a defined period of time, and the credit is generated from converting non-monetary reward currency into monetary currency. The system and method are implemented by accessing a currency software module operating on the mobile communications device, which facilitates account log-in, entry of an item purchase amount and user selection of a loyalty program from which non-monetary currency can be redeemed and converted to monetary currency. The mobile communications device receives the credit from a payment provider server, typically via a currency server.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for integrating on-line and off-line virtual currency into electric gift certificates. The present invention includes a step of receiving an identifying ID and an identifying authentication number of a business member providing virtual currency, and a reference denomination value of the virtual currency, a step of generating an electric gift certificate having the reference denomination value of the virtual currency, a step of sending a unique identification number of the generated electric gift certificate, a step of receiving a identification number of an owner to whom the electric gift certificate is to be sent, and a step of recording the identification number of the owner of the electric gift certificate and sending the generated electric gift certificate to the owner of the electric gift certificate.

Abstract: The present invention involves spending loyalty points over a computerized network to facilitate a transaction. With this system, a loyalty program participant is able to use an existing transaction card to purchase an item over a computerized network, while at the same time offsetting the cost of that transaction by converting loyalty points to a currency value credit and having the credit applied to the participant's financial transaction account. Currency credit from converted loyalty points may also be applied to stored value cards, online digital wallet accounts and the like. Further, currency credit may also be applied to other accounts to effect a gift or donation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented offer redemption method includes the steps of: (a) storing information on a consumer and a payment account associated with the consumer in a computer storage system; (b) receiving activation of an offer from the consumer covering a product or service or a purchase from a retailer; (c) linking the offer to the consumer's payment account; (d) monitoring transactions in the consumer's payment account; and (e) when the consumer has purchased the product or service or made a purchase from the retailer covered by the linked offer using the consumer payment account, making payment for offer settlement to a payment processor managing the consumer's payment account to be credited to the consumer's payment account.

Abstract: Let Me Pay is a system invented to help users find sponsors that would pay their bills. In exchange, the sponsors can send targeted advertisements to the users receiving their sponsorship. Sponsored amounts for goods or services desired by the users would usually be of small value. To receive sponsorship, the user needs to register on users' portal and provide their demographic data. They can send a sponsorship request from a remote terminal, e.g., computer, mobile phone or any other network-capable device with a unique user id, digital certificate or phone number. The user's request can have a form of a phone call, missed call, instant message, email, click on a web link or any other type of message or communication sent to the system. The system's response to the request carries a targeted advertisement from the sponsor, along with information on the sponsorship terms and conditions. The information is sent to the user's terminal (e.g., computer, mobile phone, PDA).

Abstract: A system and method for matching a savings opportunity using third party data includes gathering transaction data from a user's financial account and analyzing the transaction data for a savings opportunity indication. Third party data regarding the savings opportunity may be used in addition to the savings opportunity indication to match a savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities to the user. The savings opportunity is displayed in association with a statement of the user's financial account.