Multi-merchant Loyalty Card System Patents (Class 705/14.3)
  • Patent number: 11973730
    Abstract: A sender holds a first platform account with an interaction system. The sender selects a content item to be shared with a recipient. In response to determining that a recipient identifier of the recipient is not linked to a platform account, an off-platform communication is transmitted to a second user device associated with the recipient identifier. The off-platform communication is in an electronic format supported by the second user device and contains a user-selectable registration link. In response to detecting establishment of a second platform account linked to the recipient identifier, the recipient is enabled to access the content item on the second user device via a user interface provided by an interaction application. A relationship between the first platform account and the second platform account is established within the interaction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Kenneth Boyd, David Phillip Taitz, Jeremy Baker Voss, Xingnan Xia
  • Patent number: 11861651
    Abstract: An omni-channel coupon system may link electronic coupons across several couponing channels by storing the electronic coupons in association with a user profile or loyalty account. A user may clip electronic coupons from several couponing channels, such as a mobile application, retail web page, social networking web page, email, short message service (SMS) message, a physical coupon, a manufacturer/third-party web page or other affiliated web page, a manufacturer/third-party application, etc. Each clipped electronic coupon may be stored with a user profile for the user. When the user purchases products or items at an online or retail store, the electronic coupons may be retrieved from the user profile and redeemed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: WALGREEN CO.
    Inventors: Jason Fei, Rosie Bu
  • Patent number: 11847582
    Abstract: A system for managing a financial account in a low cash mode. The system may include a memory storing instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform operations. The operations may include providing an interface; providing a notification to a user when a balance in the first account is deemed to be in low cash mode; presenting, when the first account balance is deemed to be in low cash mode, an option for a transfer request; receiving, a selection of the option for the transfer request to connect the first account with a second account; transferring funds from the second account to the first account; notifying the user that funds have been transferred from the second account to the first account; and further notifying the user that the balance in the first account is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: THE PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Urich T. Bowers, Mecal McDade, Todd Tkach, Jeremy Moore, Fernando Alfaro, Robert Haberstroh
  • Patent number: 11810138
    Abstract: Provided is a method including determining a combined plurality of accounts, determining, for each account of the combined plurality of accounts, aggregate transaction data associated with a plurality of transactions involving the account; determining a first cohort level group including a group of exposed accounts and controls accounts; determining a first segment level group of accounts from the first cohort level group of accounts; generating a prediction model based on a plurality of control accounts that are included in the first segment level group of accounts; identifying a first exposed account of a plurality of exposed accounts; determining a first control account of the plurality of control accounts that corresponds to a first exposed account using the prediction model; and outputting a report comprising data associated with the first control account that corresponds to the first exposed account. Systems and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: William J. Burton, Tanya Soluk, Qingyuan Zhang, Jingjing Zhang, Bingxin Mao, Jiaqi Xu, Linjun Chen
  • Patent number: 11682034
    Abstract: An electronic record related to a first transaction of a user can be received at a point-of-sale device. A user interface with real-time transaction data can be generated and displayed on the user device. An eligibility of the first transaction for a reward program can be determined. A portion of the reward program based on said determined eligibility can be selected and the electronic record of the first transaction can be updated by modifying the real-time transaction data currently displayed within the UI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paayal Desai, Katrina Lane, Peter Likoudis, Stephanie Rainero, Josh Silverman, Phyllis Summers, Peter Tobin
  • Patent number: 11669853
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining a number of distance points connected to a person at a point in time, scraping a plurality of indexes corresponding to a respective plurality of journey hosts to identify a plurality of journey possibilities for each journey host of the plurality of journey hosts, generating a plurality of reachable locations based on the number of distance points and the journey possibilities, the plurality of reachable locations comprising at least a subset of the plurality of journey possibilities correlated to the number of distance points, receiving location signals generated via a location sensor of a device associated with the person, identifying one or more previous locations of the device based on the location signals, identifying a subset of the reachable locations based on the previous locations of the device, and generating a graphical interface to visually display the subset of the reachable locations on a map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Siddharth Mangalik, Brian Lin
  • Patent number: 11653200
    Abstract: Described embodiments provide systems and methods for policy-based authentication, where the policy may designate locations and/or forms of proof of locations, for use in authentication. Some embodiments include or utilize a database storing authentication policies. In an example system, an authentication server in communication with the database is configured to receive a request from a device needing authentication. The request may include a credential. The authentication server is configured to retrieve, from the database storing authentication policies, an authentication policy corresponding to the device, the retrieved authentication policy specifying a location parameter. The authentication server is configured to receive location data from the device and resolve the authentication request using the credential and the received location data pursuant to the retrieved authentication policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 11210665
    Abstract: According to one aspect there is provided a method comprising a secondary payment device: receiving a device primary account number (DPAN) and a funding source proxy (FSP) derived from a funding primary account number (FPAN) of a funding source according to a predetermined algorithm; and transmitting a secondary payment device transaction request comprising said DPAN and said FSP to a payment terminal. According to another aspect there is provided a method comprising a payment terminal: receiving a secondary payment device transaction request comprising a device primary account number (DPAN) and a funding source proxy (FSP) derived from a funding primary account number (FPAN) of a funding source according to a predetermined algorithm; responsive thereto, determining that the FSP is not present on a deny list stored at the payment terminal; and responsive thereto, authorizing said secondary payment device transaction request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John Tierney, James Christian Noe
  • Patent number: 11144947
    Abstract: A method for managing loyalty groups at point-of-sale (POS) accesses is discussed. The method includes determining that a user account is a member of a loyalty group, responsive to determining that a user device of the user account is used at merchant's POS. The method includes determining a loyalty membership type for the user account that indicates whether user details of the user account are accessible by the merchant. The method includes determining another user account from the loyalty group, the loyalty membership type further indicating whether the user details are accessible by the another user account. The method includes determining whether the loyalty membership type for the user account can be upgraded, and if so, providing communication to the user device to cause a user interface of the user device to display a prompt for providing access to additional user details to upgrade the loyalty membership type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Sumeet Ahuja, Michael Charles Todasco
  • Patent number: 11055412
    Abstract: A trust-less system for sharing event information among autonomous nodes may include: a plurality of autonomous nodes, each of which creates an event related to a condition, a first ledger configured to collect and store a record of each event; a second ledger configured to store reputation information for the plurality of autonomous nodes; and a bookmaker module operable to determine a reward and a penalty for each event. The bookmaker module may be operable to modify the reputation information based on a status of the condition determined by subsequent events created by autonomous nodes where the subsequent events either validate or invalidate the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Joshua Whitney, Martin Patrick McEnroe, Eric Zavesky
  • Patent number: 10977626
    Abstract: A first merchant node on a semi-private blockchain virtual currency exchange system is exclusively capable of creating first virtual currency units. Unaffiliated merchant node(s) are exclusively capable of creating other merchant-specific virtual currency units in the system, while customer computing devices are incapable of creating virtual currency units. The first merchant node creates and issues first virtual currency units to a first customer account associated with a first customer computing device. Upon receiving a transaction request for exchanging first virtual currency unit(s) for a second currency type between the first customer account and another customer account, the first merchant node validates the first transaction request, and creates and sends a first transaction receipt to unaffiliated merchant node(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mossoba, Joshua Edwards
  • Patent number: 10963902
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to apparatus and methods for managing rewards for a customer of a financial institution, including but not limited to, determining a transaction pattern associated with transactions made by the customer, determining a deviation from the transaction pattern, determining an event associated with the customer based on the deviation, and determining rewards that correspond to the event for the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Mohammed Ahmed, Robin M. Carter, Megan Collins, H. Brock Kolls, Minhthe Luu, David Patron, Sarah W. Phelps, Barry Trexler
  • Patent number: 10878440
    Abstract: A system and techniques are provided that enable an affinity pooling application executing on the mobile device and an aggregation of affinity reward programs. The affinity pooling application may enable a mobile device to enroll in the aggregation of affinity reward program. The enrollment with an affinity exchange server enables the mobile device to select affinity reward programs for participation and management by the affinity exchange server. The affinity exchange server may enable determination of an affinity reward exchange rate. Other examples and techniques are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Sophie Bermudez, Salik Shah, Michael Mossoba
  • Patent number: 10857458
    Abstract: The disclosed technology concerns methods, apparatus, and systems for delivering content in a distributed computing system. In particular, the disclosed technology concerns tools and techniques for selecting and delivering customizable and user-aware content in a memory-efficient manner. For example, embodiments of the disclosed technology use a centralized backend computing device to implement a system that communicates with one or more client computing devices (e.g., PCs, gaming consoles, mobile devices, and the like). The centralized backend computing device(s) can be configured to compute and transmit content that is adaptive and customizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Carnahan, Andrew C. Hampton, Jeremy M. Hill, Christopher M. Blohm
  • Patent number: 10802886
    Abstract: A system for resource aggregation and deployment is provided. The system comprises: a memory device with computer-readable program code stored thereon; a communication device connected to a network; and a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to execute the computer-readable program code to: generate a user profile comprising historical user interaction data associated with a user; establish a connection to a resource location associated with the user; identify an existing resource associated with the resource location; determine an additional resource based on identifying the existing resource, wherein the additional resource is complementary to the existing resource; aggregate the existing resource and the additional resource; and configure a resource deployment based on the existing resource, the additional resource, and the user profile, wherein the resource deployment is configured to complete an interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA CORORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Benjamin Castinado, Kapil Chhibber, Catherine Ann Crepps, John Allen Sellers
  • Patent number: 10776809
    Abstract: A computer-implemented technique for applying rewards points associated with a payment card is disclosed. A computer system stores information associated with a person's payment card, such as a credit or debit card, including information indicative of rewards points associated with the card. The computer system then receives from a remote device a first message indicative of a transaction between the person and another entity. The transaction includes a payment of a specified amount from the person to the other entity. In some embodiments the transaction has already been completed, and the computer system causes rewards points to be applied to it post-transaction. In other embodiments the transaction has not yet been executed and may be a requested cash transfer. The computer system determines how many rewards points correspond to the specified amount and causes the rewards points to be used for at least a portion of the transaction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Aaron, Keisuke Omi, Matthew Dolan
  • Patent number: 10761417
    Abstract: A smart watch comprising a camera, and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The present application can provide a smart watch and a method for controlling the same, the smart watch comprising: a case; a display which is located in the case and is configured to display various types of information including the current time; a band which is connected to the case and is configured to wrap around a user's wrist; and a camera which is provided on the band to obtain images, wherein the camera is configured to be movable so as to be precisely oriented to a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinyung Park, Hongjo Shim, Hyeokjin Kwon, Hanna Lee, Seonghyok Kim
  • Patent number: 10692097
    Abstract: A system and method for instantly measuring and updating customer loyalty for one or more brands on a digital world map through utilization of color and digits is disclosed. The system may include a measuring and updating customer loyalty for one or more brands non-transitory storage media. The method may include uploading a measuring and updating customer loyalty for one or more brands non-transitory storage media onto a memory system declaring brand loyalty thereby increasing a brand's indicia color on a digital world map and retracting brand loyalty thereby decreasing the brand's indicia color on the digital world map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventors: Bhekimpilo M Sigelagelani, Michael Cho
  • Patent number: 10417217
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to implementation of a syntax for altering one or more rules by which a blockchain may be modified wherein the software implementing each client of a blockchain network are programmed to be responsive to requests or directives to alter one or more rules by which blocks may be added to a blockchain responsive to transactions received for storage therein, the requests/directives being processed by the client as a transaction and added to the block in accordance with the current state of the operating rules, thereby adding a new rule or modifying an existing rule for subsequent operation of the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Pierce, Ajay Madhavan, Stanislav Liberman, Mansoor Ahmed
  • Patent number: 10354250
    Abstract: An advertised incentive system receives advertised incentive configuration information provided by a merchant. The advertised incentive configuration information defines the content of advertised incentive banners. The advertised incentive banners are provided as needed to merchants to display on the merchant's website. Advertised incentive registration information is received from an account holder after the account holder interacts with the advertised incentive banner. Transaction information is received that contains a qualified purchase made by the account holder. The advertised incentive registration and the qualified purchase are matched. A statement credit is issued against the account holder's account and a debit is issued against the merchant's account in the amount of the statement credit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: John Hamilton MacIlwaine, Patrick Stan, Surendra Keshan, Mark Carlson
  • Patent number: 10157400
    Abstract: An interoperable reward currency apparatus, system, and method comprising a proprietary general interoperable reward currency comprising voucher-tag-objects; a network of reward systems that generate and use the interoperable reward currency; reward system members; a network processor; physical tags, tag-objects and apparatuses including modules configured for identification, qualification, generation, aggregation, detection, and redemption of elements including the interoperable reward currency in accordance with interoperability rules; a process to identify transactions instead of consumers for qualifying for and using the interoperable reward currency; reward providers configured to redeem the interoperable reward currency; consumers that receive and redeem the interoperable reward currency in exchange for a reward; a process to collect value to pay for the interoperable reward currency generated; and a process to disburse value to reward providers that redeem the interoperable reward currency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: Randolph Georgi
  • Patent number: 10049347
    Abstract: An electronic receipt system may include a point-of-sale (POS) terminal having a near field communication (NFC) device for communicating with a mobile wireless communications device during a transaction for purchasing at least one item, and a server. The server may be for receiving a user identifier transmitted from the mobile communication device via the NFC device, verifying an enrollment status of the user identifier, based upon results of the verifying, generating an electronic receipt associated with the transaction, and generating a social media network link feature in the electronic receipt and associated with the item, the social media network link feature for sharing the purchase of the item on a corresponding social media network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FLEXRECEIPTS INC.
    Inventors: Jay Patel, Tomas Diaz, Kiran Kshatriya
  • Patent number: 9947045
    Abstract: A method and system for configuring a resource conservation program that receives information about a level of responsiveness for each of a plurality of users, receives information about resource usage for each of the plurality of users, determines an expected value, using a processor, for each of the plurality of users, using the received information about the level of responsiveness and the received information about resource usage, and configures the resource conservation program based on the determined expected value for each of the plurality of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: OPOWER, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Shilts, Agustin Fonts
  • Patent number: 9727888
    Abstract: Sales promotion assisting systems are disclosed. Such systems include a sales promotion assisting system in which specific incentive is retrieved by passing a portable terminal or the like over a predetermined terminal installed in a store such as an eating and drinking establishment. An incentive can be exchanged for an item or the like of application software such as a game, which can lead to sales promotion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: GURUNAVI, INC.
    Inventors: Batara Eto, Jun Tamura, Emi Tsubakiyama, Masuru Kurita, Munetoshi Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20150100396
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an Integrated Incentive Network incentivizes traffic to merchant storefronts by tying member merchants and member users into an integrated incentive network that incentivizes member users to become repeat visitors to member merchant sites through the use of network points. Such points not only may be earned at any member merchant site, but may also be redeemed at any member merchant site. Member merchants may additionally offer their own unique points redeemable only at their sites in order to increase repeat business. Also, network points may be redeemable at a higher value/discount when redeemed at the same member merchant site at which they were earned. The pricing of network points may also be different for one member merchant as compared to another such that the redemption value at one merchant may be different than at the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Hani Boury
  • Patent number: 8996548
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to identifying consuming entity behavior across domains. Identity records are stored in a memory accessible to a computing system. Each of the identity records comprises at least one attribute, and the identity records originate from a plurality of domains. A determination is made as to whether a first one of the identity records identifies a consumption entity that is identified by a second one of the identity records. The first and the second identity records originate from separate ones of the domains, and the second one of the identity records is associated with a persistent key. The persistent key is associated with the consumption entity. The first identity record is associated with the persistent key if the first identity record is determined to identify the consumption entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Inmar Analytics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronnie J. Garmon, Jim J. Deffenbaugh
  • Publication number: 20150066611
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a consolidated merchant programs system comprising at least a merchant node operated by a merchant; at least a mobile consumer node operated by a consumer; a server having a user interface to provide an online platform for the merchant to launch one or more merchant programs through the merchant node; a merchant code generated by the server based on the merchant program; a primary consumer code generated by the server and assigned to the consumer as an identity of the consumer; the primary consumer code is downloaded to the consumer node upon signing up for a consumer account on the system; and a secondary consumer code containing data of the merchant program enrolled by the consumer and the identity of the consumer; the secondary consumer code is generated through capturing the primary consumer code by the merchant node and sending the primary consumer code and merchant code by the merchant node to the server for processing to generate the secondary consumer code or through ca
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Wee Ping Chua, Mei Yea Tia
  • Publication number: 20150066610
    Abstract: A method for administering an incentive award system in which a bank issues a credit or debit card account to a participant and sets up an interest bearing account for the participant to receive the incentive award. Specific merchants are designated who have agreed to make awards of a specified amount to the participant. After sale of goods to the participant and charging the sales to the credit or debit card account, an award amount is determined based on the charges, which is sent to the issuing bank to be credited to the participant account. In preferred embodiments, the participant account has time restrictions against withdrawal of funds. In other embodiments, the award amount is determined by an oversight organization that calculates the mount of the award as a percentage of the transaction, which may be lower for non-merchant brands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Chris Morales, Antonio Flores Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20150006265
    Abstract: A computerized fulfillment system incentivizes loyaltization between providers and seekers by enrolling providers in an agnostic morphable voucher program for the recruiting of seekers. The agnostic morphable voucher program has a variable plurality of morphable fungible virtualized voucher options; and the plurality of providers includes at least two categories of providers. The voucher options are configured to be morphed by a recruited seeker of the plurality of seekers; the recruited seeker morphing one of the voucher options into a potentially redeemable voucher redeemed for an urgent goods or service by one of a plurality of providers. The plurality of morphable fungible virtualized voucher options are distributed to the plurality of seekers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Keith T. White, Michael A. Keefe
  • Patent number: 8920243
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing an in-game offer to one or more players of an online game. The offer is provided to players that have newly joined the game and/or to players that have not yet made a purchase. In some implementations, the offer may be meant to incentivize purchase upon entry into the game. The in-game offer may comprise an offer to one or more items and a bonus comprising one or more bonus items provided to the player responsive to the offered items being purchased. The in-game offer may only be made available to a qualifying player for a certain amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kabam, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curtis, Kellen Christopher Smalley, Christopher Pitz, Michael C. Caldarone
  • Patent number: 8864024
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is capable of proactive assessment of transactions and communication of alerts based on pre-set rules to increase transaction integrity and mitigate fraud. Unauthorized transactions may be stopped before processing through an account to enhance the security of transactions and decrease fraudulent transactions without the account holder seeing a negative transaction in their account. Chip-enabled cards may be configured to alert account holders of transactions prior to being processed through an account based on pre-set rules stored on the chip or in a remote data store. The transaction can be stopped until the account holder authorizes the transaction based on the alert. The alert can be sent through the merchant system or wirelessly from the chip-enabled card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Toronto-Dominion Bank
    Inventors: Michael D. Cummins, Prabaharan Sivashanmugam, Lauren Van Heerden, Gunalan Nadarajah, Orin Del Vecchio
  • Publication number: 20140310077
    Abstract: A computer implemented platform for creating a virtual community of sellers thereby enabling said sellers to jointly endorse the products and services, has been disclosed. The platform detects the presence of handheld devices of the users within a predetermined communication range, along with the coordinates. The platform presents to the users the location specific information corresponding to the products and service offered by the virtual community of sellers. The platform tracks the response of the user to the presented information along with the previous interactions of the users. The platform prompts each of the users to provide said platform with access at least their respective social networking profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TELIBRAHMA CONVERGENT COMMUNICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventor: SURESH NARASIMHA
  • Publication number: 20140304046
    Abstract: A platform for universal recognition (UR) is described. A consumer has one or more UR numbers, each of which is uniquely recognizable within the UR platform. During a transaction with a merchant, the consumer uses a non-payment token that presents a UR number or uses a payment token that presents a payment number associated with a UR number. A membership identifier used to recognize the consumer within a membership program of the merchant is retrieved and routed to the merchant. Each UR number begins with a six-digit Issuer Identification Number (IIN) which identifies the UR platform from which the UR number was issued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: One Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Moscoe, Sacha Diab, Marc Lavine, Michael Anthony Eubanks
  • Patent number: 8799067
    Abstract: A merchant debit card program is described that includes a plurality of authorized issuers for debit card accounts. The merchant debit card program includes a merchant loyalty program that provides rewards to enrolled debit card accounts. The authorized issuers provide management of the debit card accounts including customer statements, payment authorizations and customer service. Application data for a new debit card account is transmitted from the merchant to the selected issuer by a card processing system. Enrollment data to the merchant loyalty program may also be transmitted from the merchant to an authorized issuer by the card processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Visa USA Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Winfield Fordyce, III, Mary Pat McMahon, Jennifer Schulz
  • Publication number: 20140195314
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a loyalty program on a network-wide level. Embodiments may associate UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns, for example. In accordance with one embodiment, the network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers (such as primary and supplementary members of an aggregate consumer account), retailers (e.g. including any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like. In accordance with one embodiment, this disclosure enables participation by supplementary members who are associated with a primary member and, in this manner, facilitates the tracking of supplementary member purchasing behavior, reward points earning behavior, and reward points redemption behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: PROPULSION REMOTE HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Fauziah B. Ariff, Theodore S. Voltmer, Donna A. Antonucci, Scott M. Greenhut, John Hayes, Kendall Sneddon, Christine D. Ciccarone, Jason Ewell, Johnson Lam, Joanne Zaiac, Laura Lang, Seraj Bharwani, Michel P. Zeisser, Joseph Fernandes, Elizabeth Hilton Segal
  • Patent number: 8770473
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a financial account with incentives. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes receiving a selection of at least one identified merchant from a customer, the customer being associated with the financial account. The method also includes providing a first incentive to the financial account for one or more purchases made with the financial account at a merchant other than the identified merchant. Further, the method may include providing a second incentive to the financial account for one or more purchases made at the identified merchant with the financial account, wherein the first incentive is different than the second incentive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Bufford, Christine Landi, Jon Lintvet
  • Patent number: 8768775
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles for automating the process of registering a product purchased by a consumer from a merchant in a purchase transaction. Product data including product identification data is obtained from a merchant electronic point of sale system as the consumer checks out. The product data is then automatically transmitted to a product registration system, such as via a consumer's mobile communication device having a product registration app. An auto-registration database is accessed to see if auto-registration is available for the product. If auto-registration is available for the product, then a request is made to the consumer to authorize auto-registration for the product. If the consumer accepts the auto-registration, then consumer data, such as the consumer name and contact information, is sent to the product registration system. The product registration system then creates a product registration record using the product data and the consumer data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Colin John Roper, Christian Gregory Dalit
  • Patent number: 8751297
    Abstract: A server or Internet service provider computer selects a soliciting merchant and an outputting merchant based on various factors. In one embodiment, the soliciting merchant is selected is its activity rate (e.g. sales rate) is low. The outputting merchant provides offers for bonuses to customers on behalf of the soliciting merchant. The bonus is provided to the customer in exchange for consummating a transaction with the soliciting merchant. Thus, the soliciting merchant benefits from the increased patronage such offers encourage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Inventor Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Andrew S. Van Luchene, Daniel E. Tedesco, Magdalena Mik, James A. Jorasch
  • Patent number: 8732013
    Abstract: A filtering module to process purchase transaction data received from a retailer POS is disclosed. Merchant information is used to filter purchase transactions by determining whether the purchase transaction qualifies an initiating purchaser for a reward. The retailer POS transmits purchase data from a merchant to a host, wherein the purchase data includes retailer data, transaction data and a retailer item identifier, and wherein the retailer item identifier enables the host to determine a manufacturer item identifier. The retailer POS then receives a determination that the merchant is a qualifying merchant when the purchase data corresponds to the loyalty program data and causes the host to issue loyalty awards based on the manufacturer item identifier and the loyalty program data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Propulsion Remote Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Medina J. Senghore, Tracey R. Thomas, Fauziah Ariff
  • Patent number: 8719087
    Abstract: A consumer tracking and rewards system and related methods that provide for consolidating two or more merchant-branded rewards accounts into a single source. A single unique identifier referred to as a consumer number used to track and credit purchases with respect to multiple retail establishments. The consumer number may exist simply as a data element in the system or may be printed, bar coded, or programmed onto any physical medium or device. Components of the system include a consumer rewards platform, a merchant-consumer rewards system and potentially a card vendor system. The consumer rewards platform facilitates communication and the transfer of data between the various components of the system. A cross-reference between single consumer numbers and one or more merchant rewards program numbers is used to accommodate the trading and linking of information among participating merchants. Consumers may communicate with the various system components through a consumer web portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Bryan Beal
  • Patent number: 8690054
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is capable of proactive assessment of transactions and communication of alerts based on pre-set rules to increase transaction integrity and mitigate fraud. Unauthorized transactions may be stopped before processing through an account to enhance the security of transactions and decrease fraudulent transactions without the account holder seeing a negative transaction in their account. Chip-enabled cards may be configured to alert account holders of transactions prior to being processed through an account based on pre-set rules stored on the chip or in a remote data store. The transaction can be stopped until the account holder authorizes the transaction based on the alert. The alert can be sent through the merchant system or wirelessly from the chip-enabled card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Toronto-Dominion Bank
    Inventors: Michael D. Cummins, Prabaharan Sivashanmugam, Lauren Van Heerden, Gunalan Nadarajah, Orin Del Vecchio
  • Patent number: 8682716
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Visa U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Liane Redford, Bryan Shimko, James Mazour, Rajkumar Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20140081736
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for associating a gift card with a financial account and converting the gift card to rewards points. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: receive information associated with a gift card, the gift card being associated with a merchant; associate the gift card with an account; enable selection of an option to an option to convert the gift card to rewards points; and convert the gift card to the rewards points based at least partially on the user selecting the option to convert the gift card to the rewards points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Blackhurst, Dean Lyons Henry
  • Patent number: 8676642
    Abstract: A system and method for offering rewards. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality transaction occurrences from a plurality of merchants relating to at least one account; ordering the plurality of transaction occurrences based on an ordering scheme; selecting a winning transaction from the plurality of transaction occurrences based on a reward selection scheme; and rewarding at least one reward to a user associated with the winning transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    Inventor: William S. Sheley
  • Publication number: 20140074569
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for facilitating loyalty and reward functionality in mobile commerce. In one embodiment, a method for providing a loyalty/reward program can include receiving an indication that a consumer has entered a predefined merchant location; transmitting a notification to a mobile device associated with the consumer; providing one or more payment tools on a mobile device for the consumer to facilitate a purchase from a merchant associated with the predefined merchant location; generating a loyalty/reward credit for an account associated with the consumer; and receiving an instruction from the consumer to redeem loyalty/reward credit for goods and/or service from the merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Christopher Francis, J. Scott Sanchez, Christopher T. Cox
  • Publication number: 20140074568
    Abstract: A platform for universal recognition (UR) is described. A consumer has one or more UR numbers, each of which is uniquely recognizable within the UR platform. During a transaction with a merchant, the consumer uses a non-payment token that presents a UR number or uses a payment token that presents a payment number associated with a UR number. A membership identifier used to recognize the consumer within a membership program of the merchant is retrieved and routed to the merchant. Each UR number begins with a six-digit Issuer Identification Number (IIN) which identifies the UR platform from which the UR number was issued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: One Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Moscoe, Sacha Diab, Marc Lavine, Michael Anthony Eubanks
  • Patent number: 8660893
    Abstract: Loyalty programs can be operated within a payment processing system having multiple vendors, thereby providing access to detailed transaction data and with the flexibility for customization of the loyalty programs themselves, by establishing a communication for the transfer of data via a customer-facing channel. When the payment processing system processes a transaction between a merchant and an account holder, in addition to obtaining payment for the merchant from the account via an acquirer and an issuer, respectively, a transaction handler tabulates and stores, different types of loyalty currencies in a loyalty reward account associated with the account holder if the account holder is enrolled in a loyalty program and criteria for applying the loyalty program are satisfied. The account holder is provided access to the loyalty account via the customer-facing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Visa U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Edward W. Fordyce, III
  • Publication number: 20140046738
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SIGNATURE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Patent number: 8650077
    Abstract: The loyalty system allows a consumer to accumulate general loyalty points from one or more merchants, and convert any desired subset of general points to loyalty dollars associated with a specific merchant. The system stores, for each consumer, the merchant loyalty dollars (or monetary equivalent) by merchant within a remotely-accessible host database or within a smart card database. Upon conducting a purchase at a particular merchant, the consumer may utilize a code key to facilitate access to the consumer's own loyalty dollars for the particular merchant. The loyalty dollars are then applied to the purchase transaction as a discount or rebate. The consumer may also re-load the merchant loyalty dollar accounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donna A. Antonucci
  • Patent number: 8650078
    Abstract: Methods and systems for paying with loyalty currency at a store merchant by a user using a mobile app are provided. The user is presented with the loyalty currency balance information and one or more store merchants located in proximity of the user. The user may select a store merchant from the one or more store merchants. Thereafter, user is presented with one or more transaction rules associated with the selected store and an activation button for activating pay with points. The user may opt for activating pay with points for upcoming purchase transaction at the selected store based on the one or more transaction rules, thereby redeeming the loyalty currency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Billeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Murali B. Subbarao, Shankar A. Chittoor, Allwyn Lobo