Abstract: A method of operating a data collection and analysis system. An exchange computer receives customer identification data associated with a customer. A quantitative analysis algorithm determines whether the exchange computer has received an amount of customer identification data sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified, and if so, then a linking service computer or a plurality of remote database computers perform a qualitative analysis algorithm with the customer identification data to determine if the customer identification data is sufficient for the customer to be uniquely identified. If the qualitative analysis algorithm passes, then customer information may be retrieved from the remote databases and collated and analyzed at the exchange computer. The customer may automatically register with reward programs using already-entered user information. A data analysis embodiment enables offers to be generated that are tailored towards specific users.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to comparison shopping and usage based service analysis for consumers, primarily for financial products. A consumer may not be aware of a provider's services, options, terms, conditions, costs, or how the service options change based on the consumer's particular usage characteristics. The disclosed comparison shopping method uses actual or predicted service usage data from the consumer. Service provider information is used to present the consumer with relevant alternative service offering options. Transaction data is gathered from a user's financial account and is analyzed for a savings opportunity indication. The analysis is used to match a savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities, and the savings opportunity may be displayed in a statement of a user's financial account. Past responses to a savings opportunity indication may be gathered and analyzed. In one example, a savings opportunity is presented for use in a subsequent transaction.

Abstract: A product discount system, apparatus, and method are herein disclosed. A discount server may receive one or more product discounts from a use. A wireless device may retrieve product identification information from a product and generate a discount request message that is transmitted to a discount server. The discount server may identify potential discounts associated with the product identification information and transmit product availability data to the wireless device. The wireless device may notify a user of available product discounts based on the product availability data. Once notified, the user may proceed by redeeming one or more of the available product discounts.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus related to generating, transmitting and/or tracking coupons. Specifically, the disclosed methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to generating, transmitting and/or tracking a plurality of coupons among a plurality of consumers using social media channels and other electronic distribution channels. Some exemplary embodiments may include authenticating consumers and/or coupons.

Abstract: Electronic buying and selling systems and methods are provided. In particular, relations among distinct price curves and buyers or potential buyers are disclosed. For instance, a price offered to a system user can vary based on total volume of all people aggregating in private environments, cumulative total order by user, ship date, optimal time, as well as terms and conditions associated with the offer (e.g., no cancellation of order, cancellation possible, payment method . . . ).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to comparison shopping and usage based service analysis for consumers, primarily for financial products. A consumer may not be aware of a provider's services, options, terms, conditions, costs, or how the service options change based on the consumer's particular usage characteristics. The disclosed comparison shopping method uses the consumer's actual or predicted service usage data. Service provider information is used to present the consumer with relevant alternative service offering options. Transaction data is gathered from a user's financial account and is analyzed for a savings opportunity indication. The analysis is used to match a savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities, and the savings opportunity may be displayed in a statement of a user's financial account. Past responses to a savings opportunity indication may be gathered and analyzed. In one example, a savings opportunity is presented with a statement of the consumer's financial account.

Abstract: A paper-sheet processing apparatus including an authenticating unit, a reading unit, a fee changing unit, and a cashing processing unit is provided. The authenticating unit authenticates a user. The reading unit reads, from a check, check information containing an amount of the check. The fee changing unit changes a fee necessary for cashing the check based on user information associated with the user authenticated by the authenticating unit and the check information read by the reading unit. The cashing processing unit performs a cashing process of the check based on the amount read by the reading unit.

Abstract: Electronic buying and selling systems and methods are provided. In particular, relations among distinct price curves and buyers or potential buyers are disclosed. For instance, a price offered to a system user can vary based on total volume of all people aggregating in private environments, cumulative total order by user, ship date, optimal time, as well as terms and conditions associated with the offer (e.g., no cancellation of order, cancellation possible, payment method . . . ).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing community rewards. For example, systems and methods are provided for: (1) accessing transaction data associated with a particular financial institution; (2) determining a threshold; (3) identifying from the transaction data a group of transactions associated with a predefined community and time period; (4) aggregating a particular aspect of the group of transactions associated with the predefined community to determine a community total; and (5) determining that a reward should be provided to the community based on a comparison of the community total and the threshold. In some embodiments, the predefined community is defined by a particular geographic area. In other embodiments, the predefined community is created by the consumers themselves.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to comparison shopping and usage based service analysis for consumers, primarily for financial products. A consumer may not be aware of a provider's services, options, terms, conditions, costs, or how the service options change based on the consumer's particular usage characteristics. The disclosed comparison shopping method uses the consumer's actual or predicted service usage data. Service provider information is used to present the consumer with relevant alternative service offering options. Transaction data is gathered from a user's financial account and is analyzed for a savings opportunity indication. The analysis is used to match a savings opportunity from a database of savings opportunities, and the savings opportunity may be displayed in a statement of a user's financial account. Past responses to a savings opportunity indication may be gathered and analyzed. In one example, a savings opportunity is presented online with a user's financial transaction data.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, method, and article of manufacture for augmented-reality marketing with a virtual coupon. A virtual representation of an object is provided. A real representation of the object is provided. An association of the virtual representation and the real representation is rendered with a user interface. A virtual coupon is made available to a user when the virtual representation and the real representation are rendered. A graphical metaphor may be integrated into the virtual representation according to an environmental characteristic of the object. The environmental characteristic may include a physical environmental characteristic, a data environmental characteristic, a computer environmental characteristic or a user environmental characteristic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to send a promotional offer from a business entity. The method steps include obtaining a profile of the business entity from a financial management application (FMA) executing on a central processing unit (CPU) and configured to manage operations of the business entity, analyzing a plurality of messages from a message source based on a pre-determined criterion to identify a keyword, qualifying the keyword to generate a qualified keyword with a keyword rating, wherein the keyword rating represents how relevant the keyword is to the business entity based on the profile of the business entity, searching for the qualified keyword in the promotional offer among a plurality of promotional offers in a library to generate a match between the qualified keyword and the promotional offer, adjusting a score of the promotional offer, in response to generating the match, based on the keyword rating, and sending the promotional offer to a consumer based on the score.

Abstract: Techniques for providing electronic coupons to users of mobile devices are described herein. The coupons may be redeemable at certain merchant locations and at certain times. Users may actively select coupons they wish to access from a mobile device. Alternatively, the users may opt in to a system that automatically presents potentially relevant coupons. The relevance of the coupons may be determined based on the distance of the mobile device from a merchant location and/or a time period during which the coupon is valid. The users may activate coupons by logging into a remote computing system from their respective mobile devices. Activated coupons may be transmitted as an electronic signal from a mobile device to a merchant computing device. Alternatively, a display screen of a mobile device may show a barcode or image of the coupon that is read by a machine or employee of the merchant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that for matching consumers with product or service providers is disclosed. The method may include establishing one or more profiles from one or more product or service providers, establishing one or more profiles from one or more consumers, receiving a consumer's subject matter request, matching the consumer with one or more products or service providers based on at least one of the consumer's profile and subject matter request, and providing the consumer's contact information to the matched one or more products or service providers.

Abstract: A method for providing recommendations to a user based on user activity. A plurality of activity data tracking a plurality of activities of a user is obtained. The activity data may be obtained over a wide area network such as the internet or downloaded from a data card which stores activity data whenever the user participates in an activity. The activity data is either stored on the data card or transmitted over the network whenever the user uses a card when participating in any activity such as when making a purchase of goods, paying for services, watching television, etc. The activity data is processed to identify a plurality of user patterns. The user patterns are used to form a user profile and may include user habit data. Recommendations specific to the user based on the user patterns are then created for and provided to the user. The recommendations are provided to a user when the user logs onto a computer network such as the internet.

Abstract: A data processing system is disclosed that provides an efficient market for: (1) the provision of loans and lines of credit between lenders and those seeking loans and lines of credit, and (2) the sale of loans between loan pool traders. One embodiment of the present invention comprises: receiving at a data processing system a lending criteria from each of a plurality of lenders; compiling a first set of statistics in the data processing system based on the lending criteria from each of the plurality of lenders; and outputting from the data processing system the first set of statistics to a first lender at a price that is based on a measure of fees incurred with respect to the first lender.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a proximity-sensitivity score is determined for each of a plurality of merchants. The proximity-sensitivity scores may indicate, for example, a likelihood that potential offers from the merchants would be accepted by customers based on distances between customer locations and merchant locations. An indication of a customer's current location may be received, and a selection engine may automatically select for a customer, in substantially real time, at least one selected offer from a plurality of potential offers based at least in part on proximity-sensitivity scores and the customer's current location. Data associated with the selected offer may then be transmitted, via a wireless communication network, to a mobile device associated with the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for promotions of selected products in a retail grocery setting include providing electronic coupons for immediate use. Customers are provided an RFID tag that can communicate with RFID devices placed on the grocery shelves adjacent or near the selected products. Touching or approaching the shelf devices with a tag transfers the coupon information to the tag, and an RFID reader at the point of sale retrieves the coupon information and applies the discounts at checkout.

Abstract: Methods and electronic device system for effective disposing attentions among large number of attention seekers. A server system that registers attention seekers' requests, votes and/or monetary bids, ranks the requests according the statistics of the received votes or bids and personal interest of the attention giver. The requests of the higher ranks are selected for attention of the attention giver.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing a coupon service using receipts and a method for providing a coupon service using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to the system and the method that extract coupon information from the image of a receipt provided by a customer or a distribution store in order to accumulate points for a corresponding coupon given to the customer, wherein the consumer and the distribution store are respectively registered as a member and a member store of the coupon service provider.

Abstract: A device receives, from a user device, a request for qualified offers for a particular customer, and retrieves, based on the request, profile information associated with the particular customer. The device generates a call to a backend database based on the profile information, and receives, from the backend database, offer qualification indicators based on the call. The device determines qualified offers based on the offer qualification indicators, and provides the qualified offers to the user device for display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically preparing a client communication pertaining to a financial product for a client, wherein the client communication is for combined use with a corresponding host vehicle. The method comprises providing a format for the client communication wherein the communication format includes a variable portion; inputting into a computer-accessible storage medium variable information other than a client identification; inputting into the storage medium decision information; and using the decision information to select a subset of the variable information for inclusion in a variable portion of the client communication corresponding to the variable portion of the client communication format.

Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods for managing multiple accounts is provided comprising causing an interface screen to be displayed at a client device that allows a user to link a plurality of accounts to a unified payment device, each of the plurality of accounts having a unique identification number; receiving a request to purchase at least one item from a merchant at a point of sale using the unified payment device; identifying at least one of the plurality of accounts linked to the unique unified payment device to be used to pay for the purchase; processing the request to purchase the at least one item with the at least one of the plurality of accounts identified; and communicating approval for the purchase to the merchant.

Abstract: A system for managing absenteeism in an organization includes an absenteeism module to process absenteeism data relating to absenteeism of a person. A health module processes health data relating to the use of a plurality of health related facilities and/or services by the person. A reward determining module determines a reward for the person wherein the reward is determined based on the absenteeism of the person and on the use by the person of the plurality of health related facilities and/or services and a reward allocating module to allocate the reward to the person.

Abstract: A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing customer recommendations for a product is disclosed. For each target product for which a customer recommendation is desired, one or more customers likely to purchase the target product are identified using a mathematical model that considers customers' prior purchases of products that are similar or related to the target product.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a plurality of interactive advertisements are provided. The system includes an advertisement generator operable to generate online advertisements displaying coupon offers. An ad server is provided for rendering the advertisements to users. Each advertisement includes an interactive button operable to display a printable copy of the advertised coupon to the user. The coupon includes a unique identifier visibly embedded therein, wherein the unique identifier enables the user to redeem the coupon.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided for a domains template management system. In some cases, a domain landing page may be presented to a plurality of users, and historical user action data associated with the landing page may be collected. A subsequent presentation of the landing page may then be dynamically adjusting based on the historical user action data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to real-time, automated marketing programs implementing one or more program rules matrix modules that calculate benefits to customers based on one or more customer identifier(s), one or more merchant identifier(s) and one or more customer behavior(s). In one embodiment, program rules matrix modules implement Points Multiplier Program(s) that award benefits in an accelerated fashion, based upon one or more qualifying customer identifier(s), merchant identifier(s), and customer behavior(s). Marketing programs are implemented using a host controller that communicates with a plurality of remote transaction systems to provide real-time, individualized, automated awards and sophisticated multi-variable analysis of transaction data. Another aspect of the present invention relates to systems and methods implementing a plurality of marketing programs, offered by a plurality of merchants or merchant groups, upon presentation of a qualifying identifier, such as a (single) transaction card.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling multi-merchant coupon campaigns within an online publication system are described. In an example, a method can include generating an item listing, receiving information specifying a set of coupon criteria, detecting an event within a multi-merchant publication system, and present a coupon in response to detecting the event. The generating an item listing can be based on information received from a merchant-computer. If the set of coupon criteria is detected it can result in presenting a coupon for the item listing. The event can satisfy a particular coupon criteria from the set of coupon criteria.

Abstract: Providing rewards to a user by storing a user profile in memory of a computing device, the user profile including profile data including prior purchase history by the user including details of a plurality of transactions that have been previously executed by the user. The profile data is analyzed in accordance with a scoring algorithm to provide a score that is indicative of the relative value of the user, and the user is provided with a reward in accordance with the user's score as indicated by the scoring algorithm. The reward provided to the user may be a coupon, a rebate, a discount or reward points.

Abstract: A system comprises a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a MS controller, a retail subscription system. The POS terminal allows a cashier to enter subscription sales data into the POS controller. The POS controller maintains databases on available subscriptions and produces databases containing data relating to subscriptions sold to customers. The retail subscription system verifies the subscriptions by reference to its own databases and transmits the subscriptions to a fulfillment house for distribution.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for implementing service level advertisement distribution. The method includes receiving a service request from a requesting device, intercepting, by an advertisement application running on the requesting device, the service request, and presenting an advertisement offer including an advertisement. The advertisement offer includes an associated reduced rate offer for the requested service. The method further includes presenting the advertisement to the requesting device, and in response to accepting the advertisement offer, verifying that the requestor has received, viewed, and/or listened to the advertisement. Further, the method includes presenting the requested service at the associated reduced rate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a merchant offer program application, which is downloaded onto a customer computer, and that works in connection with the customer's accounts at an institution. The merchant offer program application monitors the websites that the customer views, as well as the content the customer is viewing on those websites, such as the products offered for sale through the website or other information on the website. The merchant offer program provides additional information to the customer, such as special offers that are available for the product being viewed, the identity of other merchants that offer the product or a competing product, advertisements or offers regarding other ancillary products typically sold along with the product being considered, etc. The information sent to the customer can be based not only on the website product being viewed, but on the customer's past purchase behavior, account balances, interests, etc.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for producing a financial offer that is specific to a customer and storing the electronic acceptance and authentication of the acceptance in a digital medium. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to identifying a customer, providing a financial offer that is specific to that customer, and electronically storing both the authentication of the identity of the customer and the accompanying acceptance of the financial offer.

Abstract: Social network reward techniques are described. In an implementation, a method implemented by at least one computing device includes obtaining data that describes users' interaction with a social network service and determining influence of one or more said users on other said users via the social network service from the obtained data. A reward is computed based on the determined influence for at least one said user.

Abstract: A system and method for the online settling of a transaction is provided. The system includes a server having a rules based engine including rules established on behalf of a party to the transaction, such as a creditor. The rules based engine is configured to process data and present a transaction settlement offer set comprising a plurality of selectable offers to the user based on at least one decision made by the rules based engine. The server is further configured to seek additional benefits for the party to the transaction, such as offering enhanced payment options beyond those deemed agreeable to the user. Enhanced payment options may be determined by various factors, including but not limited to information obtained with respect to the user such as available funds, creditworthiness, delinquency rates, and so forth. Depending on the amount agreed to by the user, the system seeks to enhance recovery above that amount, either in funds paid immediately or over time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sharing advertisement payment revenues with users of a search engine, as well as other user content recipients are disclosed. A user's general profile is established by tracking usage of the system by the user. The user general profiles are used to better target advertisements and enhance suitability of search results. User participation in establishing a comprehensive profile is encouraged by providing monetary or other types of incentives based upon a user's search engine usage and responses to served advertisements.

Abstract: A system (and method) are configured to generate vouchers to exchange for rewards associated with a physical commerce center having a plurality of retailers. The vouchers are disseminated by several modes, including issuance apparatuses. Voucher-related data is tracked in a system including a central computer, issuance apparatuses, other remote devices, and a database. On behalf of a shopping center, vouchers exchangeable for rewards serve to attract visitor traffic, promote consumer spending, and bolster rents, occupancy, and tenant retention. Advances are achieved by differentiating and automating functions at a shopping center level, as distinct from a retailer level. Functions include voucher dissemination, qualification, verification, tracking, redemption, and fraud countermeasures; brokering of rewards with reward providers; administration of surveys to procure marketing information; and issuance of reports. The configuration enables formation of a market of reward providers.

Abstract: A system and method for the online settling of a transaction is provided. The system includes a server having a rules based engine including rules established on behalf of a party to the transaction, such as a creditor. The rules based engine is configured to process data and present a transaction settlement offer set comprising a plurality of selectable offers to the user based on at least one decision made by the rules based engine, as well as provide selected options to the user based on data processed. Selected options may include products or services deemed of interest to the user based on his or her financial position, including but not limited to loans, financial accounts, and financial services, and other products or services determined to potentially be useful to the debtor/user.

Abstract: The system monitors user actions in a user payment system and provides targeted advertisements to a user where the user opts-in as a participant in an advertising program. The system is further configured to track and distribute revenue from the advertising program to various parties including the user, healthcare providers, and user payment systems providers.

Abstract: A system and method for managing, distributing, and processing promotional offers is provided. The system includes at least one consumer interface that enables communication between the promotional offer processing system and a plurality of consumers; a consumer information database for storing consumer data for a plurality of consumer profiles; an offer catalog having a plurality of offers; a product catalog having product codes corresponding to products associated with each of the accepted offers; and an offer management module.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a multi-merchant rewards platform are discussed. In an example, a system can include an administration interface, a user tracking module, a rewards engine, and a database. The administration interface can receive a campaign rule from a merchant registered within an online marketplace. The user tracking module can identify a user accessing the online marketplace from a remote computer system. The rewards engine can determine, while the user is accessing the online marketplace, whether the user satisfies the campaign rule and calculate, based on the determination that the user satisfies the campaign rule, a non-monetary point allocation associated with a user action. The rewards engine can also receive input from the user indicating selection of the user action. The database can store the non-monetary point allocation associated with the user action.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method and system, for dispensing coupons on demand comprising a digital LCD screen for advertisements; a touch screen; a controller unit connected to a network for controlling all internal and external communication to and from the apparatus including a means for providing real time reporting of the coupons dispensed and redeemed; and a printer with a paper supply for printing the coupons; wherein the apparatus permits a user to select desired coupons displayed on said LCD screen or said touch screen and print them on demand.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for recommending assets for a user include receiving the user's recently viewed assets list for a web domain that includes a plurality of assets; calculating a score for each asset in the web domain having an overlap of user interest based on mutual information; generating a set of neighbors for each item in the recently viewed assets list using the score; calculating a strength for each set of neighbors using the sum of the score for each neighbor in the set; generating an asset recommendation using the neighbor set with the highest score; and transmitting the asset recommendation.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for on-demand coupon printing of offers/coupons received as a user text message comprising: a LCD screen for advertising products or services with discounted offers/coupons; wherein the offers/coupons include a code or text number; a means for receiving the code or text number from a user as a user text message to request the offers/coupons displayed on the screen; a database for identifying the user by checking the users cell phone number or an assigned identification code to determine if user is an existing user or a new user in the database; a means for sending an apparatus text message to the users cell phone requiring the user to acknowledge receipt of the apparatus text message; a means for accepting the acknowledgement and sending a coupon text message to users cell phone including the offers/coupons to the user; a touch screen for offer/coupon display and to enable the user to enter their cell phone number or identification code; and a printer to print said coupon text

Abstract: A method for customizing direct marketing campaigns, by utilizing relationships within a computer social network and information that is known about the social network members to find the best opportunity to provide an offer for goods and services to potential customers; providing offers for the goods and the services via the computer based upon receiving recommendations from acquaintances of potential customers via the social networks; and sending offers to the potential customers via the computer on behalf of their acquaintance.

Abstract: A method of product price promotion, which is based on allocating a plurality of Cycled Discount Labels to product types and labeling a plurality of product type members. Cycled Discount Labels are associated with product type member lots. The price promotion option for each product type member, which is associated with a Cycled Discount Label, is calculated and presented to the consumer. The price promotion option for a product type member is further discounted as the product type member approaches its expiration date.

Abstract: Matchmaking between a plurality of users is facilitated. This may include providing a virtual space to the users that enables the user to interact in an immersive manner. Matches may be proposed between users, and then activities to be attempted by the matched users may be provided. The activities may be conducted via interactive, electronic social media. The interactive, electronic social media may include the virtual space and/or electronic social media hosted or provided by one or more third-parties. Based on the performance of matched users during an activity, user information may be released to the matched users. As such, before a user is provided with some information related to another user, the user must first participate in an interactive activity with the other user. This may facilitate deeper interactions between matched users.

Abstract: Techniques for suggesting products for purchase from a retail establishment using a mobile device allow a user to receive, on the user's mobile device, product suggestions and offers that are relevant to one or more products that the user has already scanned for purchase in the retail establishment, that are relevant to the user's shopping history, and/or that are relevant to the user's current location within the retail establishment as measured via the mobile device. While the mobile device is used to scan products into an electronic shopping cart, the server may analyze the current contents of the cart to generate a suggestion or offer for a product which the user may be likely to decide to purchase. If the user accepts the product suggestion, the purchase facilitating server may transact the user's purchase of the suggested product via the mobile device while the user is within the retail establishment.