Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20090276309 | SELF LEARNING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AN ADVERTISEMENT - A self-learning computer-based system for managing an advertisement, including: a memory element for at least one specially-programmed general purpose computer for storing: an artificial intelligence program (AIP) and a plurality of advertisements for at least one good or service offered by a first business entity; and an interface element for the at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer and a processor for the at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer for identifying a customer. The processor is for selecting an advertisement from the plurality of advertisements, using the AIP and the customer identification, and the interface element is for transmitting the selected advertisement. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281888 | Method And Apparatus For Establishing Time-Based Loyalty Relationship - A method and apparatus that determine a time window based on a presentation schedule for a multimedia content in response to receiving the presentation schedule is described herein. The multimedia content is played according to the presentation schedule at a predetermined location. During the time window, an interactive user interface pattern is presented within a vicinity of the predetermined location. In response to receiving a user input via the interactive user interface pattern, a reward is generated during the time window. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281889 | DISPLAYING TARGETED ADS IN UNUSED AREAS OF BROWSER WINDOWS AND USING USER PREMISSSIONED PERSONAL PRIVATE INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH WEIGHTED DISPLAY OF ADS, ONLINE SEARCH RESULTS AND SEARCH ADS - A method comprises obtaining a user profile from a user who registers with an online service, providing the user profile to an ad server, receiving from the ad server a targeted ad based on the user profile, and displaying the targeted ad in an unused area of a browser window as an overlay to the browser window while the user views a page from a website or search results from a search engine | 11-12-2009 |
20090292605 | DETERMINING COMPLEMENTARY PRODUCT CONTENT FROM PRIMARY PRODUCT DOCUMENT INFORMATION AND PROVIDING SUCH COMPLEMENTARY PRODUCT CONTENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PRIMARY PRODUCT DOCUMENT, IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT - When purchasing a product or service from an online merchant (“first merchant”), e-commerce consumers might want to purchase a complementary product and/or service not offered by the first merchant. Such consumers are provided with an opportunity to purchase or otherwise learn about such complementary products and/or services, and secondary merchants are provided with the opportunity to sell or market such complimentary products and/or services in a way that would not jeopardize the first merchant's sale, and indeed, in a way that might provide a benefit to the first merchant. | 11-26-2009 |
20090299843 | TARGETED TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF AN ONLINE USER PROFILE AND PRESENTED WITH TELEVISION PROGRAMS OR CHANNELS RELATED TO THAT PROFILE - In an automatic, computer-implemented method, a selected television advertisement is presented automatically in association with a television program or channel. A relationship is identified between an online user profile and the television program or channel, and the television advertisement is selected based at least in part on information from the online user profile. The selected television advertisement is presented, in association with the television program or channel that is identified as being related to the online user profile, via a set-top box having a corresponding set-top box identifier that is associated with the online user profile. | 12-03-2009 |
20090307073 | SOCIAL MARKETING - The described implementations relate to social marketing. One technique identifies potential buyers of a product, the potential buyers belong to a social network. The technique determines a price to offer the product to individual potential buyers that considers both influence of the individual potential buyer within the social network and overall revenue from sales of the product to the potential buyers. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307074 | CRM SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED RETENTION OF CUSTOMERS - Customer relationship management (CRM) system for enhanced retention of customers of a business entity. In one embodiment, a historical data corresponding to a customer is maintained in the CRM system, with the historical data including information on prior interactions between the customer and the business entity. On receiving a call from the customer, the historical data is identified and an attrition risk (indicating the probability of retaining the customer) is computed based on the identified data. Different offers based on the computed attrition risk are then determined and communicated to the customer during the call. | 12-10-2009 |
20090313100 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVIEWING SEARCH RESULTS - An improved system and method for previewing search results from a search query is provided. A search results page may provide a preview link selectable by a user to preview text on pages of a website that include terms in the search query. A user may select a preview link for one of the search results, and a request may be sent to the server to preview content of a URL in the search results. In response, the server may return content of web pages of the website that include search terms in the search query. The content may be displayed in a preview window for a user to browse. Furthermore, advertisements may also be served and displayed in the preview window. A user may then browse through the specific context in which the search terms of the query appear and may more effectively find the content desired. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313101 | PROCESSING RECEIPT RECEIVED IN SET OF COMMUNICATIONS - Receipts may be received at a location that a customer normally uses to receive electronic correspondence, such as an e-mail address, an instant messaging address, etc. Among the items that are sent to that location, those items that contain a receipt may be identified. The identified receipts, or information extracted from such receipts, may be sent to a receipt store. An action, such as displaying the receipts to a customer, may be taken based on content stored in the receipt store. The information that is stored in a receipt store and/or that is displayed to customers may have an arbitrary level of detail. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313102 | PEER TO PEER SOCIAL NETWORKING - Accessing data through a social network. User input may be received at a node in a social network requesting access to data or requesting a search for data. The node includes data for an entity. In some embodiments, the entity controls the data at the node exclusive of centralized control of the social network. The node further comprises one or more references defining relationships to other nodes. The relationships are defined on an informational basis such that information in data at one node is related through a relationship to information in data at another node. Each of the other nodes includes other data about other entities. Embodiments may further include receiving data at the node from one or more of the other nodes based on one or more of the relationships. At the node, the data from the other nodes may be published. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313103 | Electric Vehicle Charging Transaction Interface for Managing Electric Vehicle Charging Transactions - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction is identified. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated using the electric vehicle charging information. A charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction is initiated for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station in accordance with the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises at least one of charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in an electric storage mechanism associated with the electric vehicle, and removing electricity from the electric storage mechanism to de-charge the electric vehicle. In response to completion of the charging phase, the process then settles the financial obligations of a subset of principals in accordance with the energy transaction plan. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313104 | Managing Incentives for Electric Vehicle Charging Transactions - A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for automatically managing incentives associated with an electric vehicle charging transaction is provided. Incentives are received from a set of sources to form received incentives, by an incentive service. Applicable incentives are selected from the received incentives based on an identification of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a set of principals associated with the electric vehicle charging transaction, by the incentive service. A set of selected incentives is identified from the received incentives for utilization in the electric vehicle charging transaction. The set of selected incentives is sent to an energy transaction planner, wherein the energy transaction planner incorporates the set of selected incentives into an energy transaction plan that is used to control the electric vehicle charging transaction. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313105 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MOBILE VOUCHER - A mobile voucher apparatus for administrating mobile vouchers redeemable at a Point-of Sale, the mobile voucher apparatus comprising: a module for acquiring a plurality of prepaid card accounts, unallocated to cardholders; a processor for associating a card account with a mobile device number; a transceiver for sending a mobile voucher message to the mobile device number associated with said account; wherein said mobile voucher message comprises at least transaction particulars acceptable as consideration for purchase at a Point-of-Sale. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313106 | System and Method for Granting Promotional Rewards to Both Customers and Non-Customers - Systems and methods of attracting and retaining customers of a Banking institution through an incentive program is disclosed, comprising: operating a promotional program, comprising the dispensing of a indicia redeemable for a prize, and wherein the dispensing of the indicia is accomplished through the use of an automated teller machine (ATM); and operating a rewards program, wherein upon a customer completing a triggering behavior, a specified reward is granted to the customer. Systems and methods of operating a promotional program for customers of a Banking institution is also disclosed, wherein the method comprises dispensing a indicia redeemable for a prize, and wherein the dispensing of the indicia is accomplished through the use of an automated checking machine (ATM). | 12-17-2009 |
20090319355 | PRESENTING ADVERTISEMENTS BASED ON WEB-PAGE INTERACTION - Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system, and media for presenting advertisements (or other information) based on user interaction with a web page. One embodiment of the method includes determining that programmatic code that describes the web page is to be dynamically modified before it is to be presented on a display device. The method further includes identifying remotely stored supplemental information that is associated with the web page. The supplemental information includes a listing of words on the web page that are to be considered key words which key words are to be associated with descriptive terms that relate to the key words. The descriptive terms might even be generated after a rendering of the web page as well as before. Additional supplemental information might include a listing of triggering events that are associated with different objects of the web page (such as key words, text boxes, etc.) such that if an object is interacted with in a predetermined way, then some action is to follow. The method additionally includes modifying the programmatic code of the web page according to the supplemental information, observing a triggering event, gathering descriptive words associated with the occurrence of the event trigger, communicating the appropriate descriptive words so as to return fresh advertising content, and without obscuring an initial content of the web page, presenting information based on the advertising content. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319356 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING ELECTRONICALLY DELIVERED INFORMATION CHANNELS - Systems and methods for managing electronically delivered information channels are provided. A selection of non-textual category data and a plurality of subscriber interest category data are received from a subscriber. Content associated with the non-textual category data and content associated with the subscriber interest category data are identified. The systems and methods can create a subscriber channel associated with the subscriber. The subscriber channel is configured to provide the content associated with both the non-textual category data and the subscriber interest category data to the subscriber. Through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the non-textual category data can be provided to the subscriber in a first format configured for display on a first device. At substantially the same time, through the subscriber channel, the content associated with the subscriber interest category data to the subscriber in a second format configured for display on a second device can be provided. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319357 | COLLECTION REPRESENTS COMBINED INTENT - The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates communicating intent-related data to a user. A display engine can enable exploration of a portion of image data during a browsing session. An intent component can receive a portion of data related to the browsing session, wherein the portion of data is at least one of a collection of browsing history or a portion of data displayed during a browsing session. The intent component can further evaluate the portion of data to ascertain a combined intent of a user. A selective ad component can infer an incompleteness of the combined intent to trigger a pre-qualification for an offer related to at least one of an item or service that fulfills the incompleteness. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319358 | Method for packet facilitated e-commerce - This invention generally relates to a method for facilitating the purchase of goods and services through access to online websites that populate the World Wide Web. More particularly the method discloses the use of widely distributed resealable packets of liquid that bear website addresses to prompt or facilitate explicit access to websites without use of search engine interfaces. Further, website hosting by the manufacture of the packets coordinates website form and content with packet incentives and database supported website customization. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319359 | Social behavioral targeting based on influence in a social network - Behavioral targeting to push promotional offers to members of a social network is provided. The selection and redemption of promotional offers can increase by providing members of a social network with relevant and high value offers. In addition, marketing campaigns can increase their effectiveness with knowledge and identification of members having a high degree of influence on other members. A member's measure of influence is determined by characterizations of the member's friends based on monitored actions of the friends. In other words, relevant promotional offers can be targeted to a consumer based indirectly on the actions of the friends of the consumer in addition to the direct behavior of the consumer himself. The actions and behavior of a consumer and his or her friends can be tracked within the social network setting. Pushing relevant and high value offers enables rapid and viral spread of offers. | 12-24-2009 |
20090319360 | Goods/Information Distribution Method by an ATM Terminal Without Using a Debit/Credit Card - A goods/information distribution method by ATM terminal (TE | 12-24-2009 |
20090327065 | Systems and Methods for Appending Content to Mobile Messages - The present invention relates to a system and method for including sponsorship or advertising content in mobile messages by appending a sponsored advertisement to a text or multimedia message sent from one mobile device to another. In one aspect, the content of the advertisement to be appended is selected based upon the content of the mobile message being sent, such as a particular keyword. Additionally, information on the message recipient can be used to select an appropriate message, including stored profile information on the message recipient and volatile information such as the recipient's current location or local time of day. The sponsorship content may be appended to the end of the message so it is easily visible to the recipient. | 12-31-2009 |
20090327066 | Facilitating compensation arrangements providing for data tracking components - Systems and methods for data brokering, and more specifically, data brokering regarding a data provider's search-related activities, are described. In particular implementations, various aspects of facilitating a compensation arrangement between a data provider and a data consumer regarding one or more data-provider-related search activities, including aspects of arranging for compensation to be received from the data consumer in exchange for at least one of installation of or access of a data tracking component related to at least one user interface associated with the data provider, are described. | 12-31-2009 |
20100004990 | Host Exchange in Bill Paying Services - An account exchange system is provided by a data aggregation service enabled for gathering data for a subscriber from a data repository of a first financial institution, using account exchange software operating on a server coupled to the data aggregation service. Initiated by a subscriber the account exchange software causes an account to be terminated at the first financial institution and a new account to be opened at a second financial institution, using data from the first financial institution, and processing the data to be compatible with data requirements at the second financial institution. | 01-07-2010 |
20100017283 | DYNAMIC ADVERTISING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VIRTUAL UNIVERSES - A system and method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, includes receiving bids for dynamic product placement advertisements in a virtual universe (VU) and performing a bid resolution for the received bids. Additionally, the system and method include rendering an object in the VU as a product placement advertisement by replacing a default texture of the object with a product placement texture based on the bid resolution. | 01-21-2010 |
20100030635 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAMING PROMOTIONAL PRINTER - A method and apparatus for a gaming promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine are disclosed. A gaming promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the gaming promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors. The gaming promotional printer may further include the ability to store all of the coupons, trigger conditions, and related information resident in the gaming promotional printer in a non-volatile fashion thus enabling a host system to download a promotional environment into the gaming promotional printer which will run promotional campaigns on behalf of the hosting system. | 02-04-2010 |
20100042491 | INCENTIVE BASED SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR AUTO FINANCING - A system and method for providing incentive-based auto financing is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a member database comprising a financial data relating to a plurality of members having at least a first loan, comparing the member financial data against a predetermined set of eligibility criteria to prescreen at least a portion of the plurality of members for inclusion in a second loan, and periodically evaluating the member financial data relating to the first loan. Points are assigned to the member financial data according to the evaluation that correlate to an interest rate reduction for the second loan based on the assigned points cumulating above a threshold level. The cumulated points, interest rate reduction, and a pre-approved limit may be encoded on a machine-readable card for use at a dealership. | 02-18-2010 |
20100057550 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING REWARDS IN NETWORK-BASED APPLICATIONS - A reward program that includes identifying a seller from a plurality of sellers in a network-based marketplace based on a set of criteria. When a seller is identified to qualify for a reward program, one or more listings of the seller may be promoted. The set of criteria may include seller's rating information. The set of criteria may also include other information relating to volume or activities. | 03-04-2010 |
20100076832 | VIRTUAL COUPON SERVICE SYSTEM - A virtual coupon service system is provided. The virtual coupon service system includes: an information acquiring unit acquiring member identification information of a member who wants to purchase a product for which the coupon is valid, and coupon information regarding the product; an information registering unit mapping the member identification information to the coupon information, and registering the result of the mapping; a coupon service providing unit acquiring the member identification information and a product code of the product, determining whether the member identification information is registered with the information registering unit, determining whether at least one coupon information mapped to the member identification information is associated with the product code, if the member identification information is registered in the information registering unit, providing a coupon service if the at least one coupon information includes the product code. | 03-25-2010 |
20100076833 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING AND USING A VIRTUAL CARD - A virtual card engine stored on memory executable via at least one processor for managing two or more virtual cards is provided. The virtual card engine including a value modification module configured to modify value data corresponding to at least a first virtual card based on user input, send a request to an associated card service provider to modify value data in a corresponding provider-side associative card profile, and present the first virtual card on a display of a mobile computing device to initiate a virtual card transaction between the virtual card engine and the card service provider. | 03-25-2010 |
20100094699 | CONSOLIDATED CONSUMER REWARDS SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH CARD VENDOR INTEGRATION - 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. A website is also available to merchants so they may view statistical information regarding rewards program participation. | 04-15-2010 |
20100094700 | SYSTEM TO DETECT, ADMINISTER AND/OR EVALUATE CONFIGURATION DATA DESCRIBING THE HARDWARE AND/OR SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION OF DIFFERENT DEVICES - A system for detection, administration and/or evaluation of configuration data describing the hardware or software configuration of different (in particular medical technology) devices has a central database (in particular manufacturer-spanning central database) the configuration data stored therein, which is connected to a network (in particular the Internet via at least one software unit (fashioned as a programming interface and/or Internet platform), which enables a role-specific access to the database via role-based interfaces. An operator role and/or an end user role (in particular a referrer and/or patient role) and/or a manufacturer role are provided as roles. | 04-15-2010 |
20100106589 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A POSITIVE BEHAVIOR BASED UPON AN ACCUMULATED METRIC OR TREND - The system evaluates a set of incentives based upon a variety of factors and/or predetermined rules and consumers are provided incentives when they satisfy one or more criteria of making payments for their transaction accounts. The one or more criteria include making an early payment, paying more than a minimum amount due, and making the payment through an automatic payment scheme. If a received payment satisfies one or more predefined criteria, one or more incentives are selected for the consumer, tracked, and provided to the consumer. The system analyzes payment information to determine attributes and positive (desirable) behavior and provides incentives to the consumer based on such positive behaviors. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106590 | LIST-BASED SELECTION SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME - A system and methods for enabling a user to create a list of items on a portable computing device, to communicate with external devices to locate each of the items available on the list within a geographically limited area, to provide users with visual or aural cues as to the location of items on the list, to progress through the list of items as each item is selected or rejected, and providing discounts toward, information about, or alternatives to the available items on the list. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106591 | LIST-BASED COUPON SYSTEM AND METHODS - A list-based coupon system that enables users to create a list of items to obtain, purchase or locate within a store or other geographic area, and provides users with coupons under a variety of different conditions. | 04-29-2010 |
20100121700 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCENTIVE-BASED RESOURCE CONSERVATION - Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method for administering an incentive-based program to encourage environmentally-conscious behavior. In one embodiment, a method for administering an incentive-based program to encourage environmentally-conscious behavior comprises providing a network-accessible database, hosted by an administrator, having a plurality of sets of records, each set of records corresponding to a user, monitoring an environmentally-conscious behavioral activity of a first user, and recording a record of the behavioral activity in the database, using a computer-based mathematical calculation to translate the record of the behavioral activity to a value, and storing the value within a record of a set of records corresponding to the first user, and allowing the first user to access the database, using a computing device to communicate through a data portal to the database via a network, to redeem the value for a credit at a third party retailer. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125496 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED GENERATION OF ADVERTISING - A method for searching a computer network using a descriptor for a topic, for sources that may have content concerning the topic, is provided. The method further includes searching a source for content concerning said topic and filtering the content to obtain filtered information of particular relevance for marketing purposes. The method further includes preparing a report using the filtered information if the content includes the filtered information. The topic is a business, an organization, a product, a creative work, a service, a person, or an event. The report is an advertisement, website, or marketing material related to the topic. | 05-20-2010 |
20100131346 | Method And System For Associating A Seller With Purchased Digital Content - An digital content management system provides a web interface for a user to purchase digital content from an online digital content store. The system is able to track the purchased digital content and deliver marketing content from the online digital content store when a user selects the purchased digital content for consumption through the web interface. | 05-27-2010 |
20100138287 | Flexible Savings System - A savings system, method, and apparatus that combines benefits of a layaway payment plan, a traditional Christmas savings bank account and individual savings accounts and also are able to take advantage of merchant promotional offers. The system for saving for an internet purchase has no membership or service fees to end user and includes an adjustable electronic savings structure that permits at least one end-user to create at least one flexible electronic layaway account for a topic of savings. The end user has flexibility as to how much to save, when to save and for what to save, including the ability to change to a different topic of savings. The topic of savings is a good or tangible service and not a financial instrument such as installment payments of debt, investments, retirement accounts, tuition payments, or favorable governmental tax treatment saving programs. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138288 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ACCEPTING OFFERS VIA CHECKS - In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method and system are provided for facilitating the processing of at least one check in accordance with an offer which the account holder may accept, in one example, via a check being presented by the account holder as payment for a transaction. | 06-03-2010 |
20100145783 | CAMPAIGN INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR PREMIUM CAMPAIGN - A campaign information processing system enabling reduction of the work of application to a campaign and enhancement of the campaign effect by changing the condition of application qualification according to the purchaser and the purchase environment. A purchase history data storage section ( | 06-10-2010 |
20100145784 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TIME-AND LOCATION-SENSITIVE CUSTOMER LOYALTY REWARDS PROGRAM - A method and system for transmitting a time- and location-sensitive discount code to a user participating in a loyalty program. The method includes determining a physical location of a user mobile device. The method includes determining a user local time. The method includes analyzing a user purchase history stored within a loyalty program data store. The method includes selecting a discount code based, in part, on the location, the local time, and the user purchase history. The method includes transmitting the discount code to the user mobile device. | 06-10-2010 |
20100153204 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING ITEM PRICE NOTIFICATION TO A MOBILE DEVICE - An exemplary system for delivering an item price notification to a mobile device can include a processor, an inventory database including a plurality of inventory items, and a memory that is in communication with the processor. The memory can be configured to store instructions that, when executed, perform the steps of an exemplary method. An exemplary method can include querying the inventory database to determine if an inventory item meets a price reduction threshold, generating the item price notification including a sale price for the inventory item, if the inventory item meets the price reduction threshold, and transmitting the item price notification to the mobile device. The query can be invoked by the mobile device being proximate the inventory item, such as the mobile device being located at a merchant premises. | 06-17-2010 |
20100174597 | METHOD AND SYSTEM USING WILDCARD VALUES - A method of processing data on a server computer is disclosed. The method includes receiving data at the server computer, the data including a first data string including one or more wildcard values. The first data string is specifically associated with a consumer, and the one or more wildcard values are associated with the purchase transaction. The method also includes comparing the first data string to a second data string by the server computer, and providing an output to the consumer based on the comparison. | 07-08-2010 |
20100198674 | Brand Experience System - A brand experience system includes a management server that receives data captured by a capture device over a network. The data received by the management server includes a locator ID identifying a location at which the data is captured and a user ID identifying a user account associated with the user of the capture device. The management server looks up matching services, such as a brand experience service, social networking service, or other third party services, using the user ID and the locator ID. Additional information, such as product data, date and time of data capture, in the received data can also be used for determining the matching services. The management server provides the user with links to the matching services and advertisements relating to the matching services. The management server also forwards the received data to the matching services to update user accounts. | 08-05-2010 |
20100211449 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computer implemented system for providing customers of retail outlet(s) with a transaction based gaming reward. There is a point of sale at a retail outlet ( | 08-19-2010 |
20100211450 | BUYER-DRIVEN TARGETING OF PURCHASING ENTITIES - A method for buyer-driven targeting comprising the steps of: separately receiving from each of a plurality of buyer entities a respective third party proof of purchase record; entering information contained in the received proof of purchase records into a searchable electronic database; obtaining search criteria for the database; searching the information in the database based on the search criteria to obtain a group of buyer entities; and providing an incentive to each of a plurality of the buyer entities in the group. | 08-19-2010 |
20100228617 | PROVIDING ONLINE PROMOTIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS - Systems and methods for providing online promotions integrated with social network-based platforms are disclosed. Promotion details such as rules, offered prizes, incentives and descriptions, survey questions, display banners, terms and conditions, privacy policy, and social networks to integrate the promotion with, are provided by the sponsoring organization to a server. The server generates a custom promotion application or widget for integrating with the organization's social network webpage external to social networks. A participant enters the promotion through these webpages or other links and lists friends in the social network to receive an invitation to enter the promotion. Viral features such as friend invite features, newsfeeds, minifeeds, other features that display online activities of users and people in the users' social network, notifications, requests, and other social media-based platform features to deliver messages to members of the one or more social networks further spread the word about the organization's promotion. | 09-09-2010 |
20100250359 | Electronic coupon system and data mining and use thereof in relation thereto and for use interactive participation of individuals and groups within the system - This invention relates generally to electronic commerce (e-commerce) systems and media platforms, for use with both mobile and non-mobile systems, to deploy virtual advertising and promotion via the use of electronic coupons, and more particularly a method and system for creating, deploying, transferring, clearing, managing, redeeming and reporting on the use of electronic coupons or virtual electronic rebates (VeeBates) and permitting individuals and groups within one or more social communications networks to participate in and transmit information to others about their activities related to the virtual advertising, incentives, redemption and promotion. | 09-30-2010 |
20100268589 | System and Method for Data Acquisition and Processing - A portable service escrowed event reporting system that may be sold through mass-market sales channels. Communications between a consumer and the provider of the event reporting system are not required in advance of the system being purchased by the consumer. After purchase of the system by the consumer, the system may be initialized. The service may have a finite amount of service associated with it when it is purchased. The consumer may choose to have the system report the occurrence of reportable events directly to them over a wireless network. | 10-21-2010 |
20100274652 | AUCTIONING OF ANNOUNCEMENTS - An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274653 | NOTIFICATION SOCIAL NETWORKING - A method. The method includes a) sending a first transaction notification message comprising an original payee identifier to a user. The original payee identifier may be part of original transaction information associated with a first transaction. At some point, the user sees this transaction information and wants to correct one or more items in the transaction information. For example, the user may not recognize that the original payee identifier is wrong or is otherwise unrecognizable. The user may then contact a central server (e.g., via a Web site) and may provide updated transaction information such as an updated merchant identifier to the central server computer. This updated transaction information may be stored so that subsequent transactions can be accurately conducted and reported to the user, and other uses. | 10-28-2010 |
20100324984 | VENDING MACHINE PRIZE REDEMPTION AND MARKETING SYSTEM - The present invention relates to bulk vending machines that sell items in combination with a redemption certificate for points that can be redeemed at a website for premium prizes by a customer, and for collection of marketing information by the seller. | 12-23-2010 |
20100324985 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOMMENDATION ENGINE USING PAIR-WISE CO-OCCURRENCE CONSISTENCY - The invention, referred to herein as PeaCoCk, uses a unique blend of technologies from statistics, information theory, and graph theory to quantify and discover patterns in relationships between entities, such as products and customers, as evidenced by purchase behavior. In contrast to traditional purchase-frequency based market basket analysis techniques, such as association rules which mostly generate obvious and spurious associations, PeaCoCk employs information-theoretic notions of consistency and similarity, which allows robust statistical analysis of the true, statistically significant, and logical associations between products. Therefore, PeaCoCk lends itself to reliable, robust predictive analytics based on purchase-behavior. | 12-23-2010 |
20110015982 | CLICKSTREAM ANALYSIS METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATED TO MODIFYING AN OFFLINE PROMOTION FOR A CONSUMER GOOD - Methods and systems are provided herein for the analysis of clickstream data of online users. The analysis methods and systems allow for the creation of new offline business methods based on online consumer behavior. | 01-20-2011 |
20110022453 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING RULES-BASED MEDIA BUNDLES - In various exemplary embodiments, a system and associated method to provide rule-based media subscription bundles is provided. A selection of a subscription plan is received from a subscriber. One or more content categories and rules associated with the selected subscription plan are determined. The rules comprise a designation of a number of selections of media to be made from the one or more content categories. A listing of media associated with the one or more content categories is provided to the subscriber, and a selection of media from the listing of media is received in response. The media subscription bundle comprising the selected media is then generated. | 01-27-2011 |
20110022454 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RETAINING CUSTOMER LOYALTY - A system and method for providing incentives to customers where the incentives are tailored to the customer's needs and expectations while achieving profitability to the provider are presented. The present invention determines a set of incentives based on customer segmentation, card segmentation, call type as well as other factors. Upon receiving a request for termination or other request, the customer may be routed to an appropriate person, department, or group. Information regarding the account may be identified and retrieved and the customer may be verified. Based on customer payment history and other information, the customer segment may be identified. Incentives are then determined based on customer segmentation data, product information, and call type. These incentives are offered to the customer for approval. If the customer does not accept the incentive, other sales opportunities may be offered to the customer in an effort to retain customer loyalty. | 01-27-2011 |
20110029366 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING CUSTOMERS FOR DELIVERY OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS - A method and apparatus are provided for identifying potential customers for delivery of promotional messages or materials. The method includes the steps of a programmed transaction processor tracking purchases of consumers based upon summaries of purchases from consumers and vendors, a third-party tax record database that receives summaries of purchases from the transaction processor, the received summaries forming data files about customers where the third-party database is separate from any vendor and where the third-party database also determines a tax due on previous purchases made by customers, a programmed central processing unit of a vendor forming a customer profile for targeting delivery of the promotional materials to potential customers, a programmed comparator of the database of the third party searching the formed files within the database and identifying customers which match the customer profile within the database of the third party and a programmed processor forwarding promotional materials to the identified customers, the programmed processor detecting a purchase by a customer of the identified customers and printing out the promotional materials at a point of sale of the purchase. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029367 | Systems and Methods to Generate Transactions According to Account Features - Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the generation and notification of transactions associated with account features. In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler to process transactions and a data warehouse to store transaction data recording the transactions, account data identifying at least one account feature of an account, and rules data identifying at least one qualification requirement. The system further includes a feature offer engine to use the rules data to monitor the transactions in the account to identify a first transaction, a notification engine to provide the account holder with an offer associated with a first account feature in real time with processing of the first transaction, and a portal to receive an approval of a second transaction in accordance with the offer. | 02-03-2011 |
20110040609 | COMPUTER-BASED CONSUMER/RETAILER MERCHANDIZING SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODOLOGY - A computer-based consumer/retailer/merchandizing system includes a consumer/purchasing module wherein all data relating to purchases made by at least one consumer of goods and services is stored in real-time irrespective as to whether purchases are made by way of brick and mortar stores or on-line purchases of goods and services. The purchase data is collected at the point of sale and transmitted to a database, which is identified by a unique code attributable to a consumer. Details relating to made purchases using the unique code can be reviewed by the consumer, these details being presented to via a web-based portal as an electronic summary of purchases. The system further permits at least one retailer or marketer to access purchase data and/or purchasing interests of the at least one consumer and permit target marketing of specific goods/services to the consumer based on the accessed information. | 02-17-2011 |
20110047018 | Offer Management Method And System - An offer management system may provide an open platform capable of aggregating offers from multiple offer providers. All offers may be uploaded to the offer management system and presented to consumers via a single portal so they can easily browse, select and review all available digital offers at one time, in one place. Upon visiting a hosted website, the offer management system may interact with the consumer by displaying references to digital offers on the home page or in the navigation bar. The offer management system can display personalized content that may feature any available offers targeted specifically to the consumer based upon personal information contained in a profile for the consumer that is associated with the consumer's online account, such as a loyalty card account. Moreover, the offer management system may receive requests from the consumer to print selected offers or download selected offers to the consumer's account. | 02-24-2011 |
20110060636 | TARGETED CUSTOMER BENEFIT OFFERS - Apparatus and methods for providing targeted customer benefit offers are provided. A system for associating a customer benefit offer with a purchasing instrument, the purchasing instrument associated with an account on an electronic offer platform, the account being associated with a customer, is provided. The system may include an electromagnetic receiver module configured to receive a customer benefit offer from an offer source and customer purchasing behavior data. The data may correspond to the customer. The system may also include a processor module configured to determine if the customer benefit offer is compatible with the customer based on the data and, if the customer benefit offer is compatible with the customer, store the customer benefit offer on the platform for transmission to the customer. | 03-10-2011 |
20110071894 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SERVING LOCALIZED ADVERTISEMENTS - Users create advertisement components using a browser-based application. Once the components are generated, the application compiles the components on the backend to generate a seamless advertisement. Metadata are applied to the advertisements to specify a geographic location, demographics, and keywords. The advertisements are matched up with clients based on identifying information in the user profiles. The geographic location includes zip codes and surrounding areas. The advertisement includes coupons that are presented in local stores. The cost of displaying the advertisement is negotiated between the advertiser and the publisher according to the number of slots available, and the prices that each party is willing to accept. | 03-24-2011 |
20110078009 | SEARCHABLE COUPON VALUES - A system, method, and a computer program product for pushing a coupon value to a user account are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, at a computer system, a request to perform a search using a search term. The method includes processing, at the computer system, the received search term to determine whether the search term matches at least one of predetermined keywords, each keyword associated with at least one coupon. The method includes displaying, at the computer system, at least one of a search result or a coupon based on a result of the processing. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078010 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING MULTI-FUNCTION CARDS FOR STORING, MANAGING AND AGGREGATING REWARD POINTS - 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. | 03-31-2011 |
20110078011 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIERED FILTERING OF PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS - 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. | 03-31-2011 |
20110087534 | SEARCH QUERIES AND ADVERTISING PLATFORMS UTILIZING AT LEAST ONE SOCIAL GRAPH - Systems and methods associated with search queries and advertising platforms utilizing at least one social graph and related technologies are presented herein. In one aspect, interactive communications can be disseminated within an online and/or a mobile environment based on at least one social graph. In another aspect, interactive communications, e.g., offer(s) or recommendation(s), can be stored for use in generating further interactive communications, and can be shared with person(s), member(s), organization(s), business(es), and/or advertiser(s) based on the at least one social graph. In yet another aspect, recommendation feeds can be automatically generated based on one-click activations of interactive communications, enabling, e.g., persons to supply recommendations within social networking environment(s) in a “viral” manner. In one aspect, one or more social graphs can be used to provide information to and/or solicit/obtain information from person(s) and/or business(es) associated with one or more social graphs. | 04-14-2011 |
20110106607 | Techniques For Targeted Offers - Systems and methods for analyzing and segregating payment card account profiles into clusters and targeting offers to cardholders. Offers may be targeted based on analyzing customer transactions with merchants from a merchant category as compared with transactions with merchants from a universe of merchants. Customers who have no transaction history with a merchant may be selected for offers based on similarities with respect to other customers of the merchant. Multiple merchant offers may be combined into a single mailing based on a scoring algorithm. | 05-05-2011 |
20110112897 | Program, System and Method for Linking Community Programs and Merchants in a Marketing Program - The present invention is a system, data access management utility and a method of generating links between local merchants and community programs, whereby the merchant may provide incentives to customers in relation to community programs. The present invention may track community programs, as well as both online and offline customer transactions between participants that make use of the incentive. The present invention may include as participants, customers, merchants, community organizations, intermediaries, and other groups or individuals. Participants may have participant identifiers, which may be linked to a payment source. Data may be collected about all participants, either expressly, or from offline or online transactions between participants utilizing a participant identifier, and said data may be stored in a data storage area. All data in the data storage area may be utilized by logic tool, which may provide information, such as details of consumer behaviour and analytic reporting. Matches between transactions and members and/or member activities may be identified by the system, and a level of certainty that the match is accurate may be determined. | 05-12-2011 |
20110119122 | TRANSACTION PROCESSING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A computer-implemented transaction processing method allows consumers to access offerings across a plurality of merchants using a single unique identification for each consumer. The method includes the steps of: (a) storing information on the consumers in a database including a unique identification associated with each of the consumers; (b) storing information on one or more merchant offerings from each of the plurality of merchants in a database; and (c) for each of the plurality of merchants: (i) receiving from a merchant over a communications network information on a proposed transaction with a consumer involving a merchant offering, the information including an identification of the merchant and the merchant offering, and the unique identification of the consumer; (ii) verifying that the unique identification of the consumer is valid and that the consumer is eligible to participate in the merchant offering, and transmitting an authentication and validation message to the merchant over the communications network; and (iii) receiving settlement information over the communications network from the merchant confirming that the merchant offering was applied to the transaction with the consumer, and storing the settlement information in a database. | 05-19-2011 |
20110125567 | ACCOUNT LEVEL INTERCHANGE PROFITABILITY DETERMINATION - Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for measuring, calculating, analyzing, and using account level profitability metrics are presented. Various statistics may be collected and compiled into a table, and profitability of one or more financial accounts may be determined at the account level. Interchange costs may be accounted for. Financial accounts may be classified on a variety of bases, and the results may be presented in a report. | 05-26-2011 |
20110131087 | Techniques for generating a product path with custom advertisements - Techniques for generating a product path with custom advertisements are provided. A kiosk interacts with a consumer to acquire a product or service search within a facility. The kiosk generates a path to the product or service starting from the kiosk and ending at a location with the facility where the product or service can be found. Additionally, custom advertisements are interspersed throughout the path for other goods and services available at the facility. The kiosk then delivers the path with the custom advertisements to the customer for locating the product or service. | 06-02-2011 |
20110131088 | SHOPPING SUPPORTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - According to one embodiment, a purchase file stores, by commodity, as information concerning purchase-desired commodities specified by a specifying unit, at least the numbers of purchase-planned items and purchase-planned amounts of the commodities. A privilege granting unit grants a privilege to the purchase of the purchase-desired commodities when a total of a total number of purchased items of the purchase-desired commodities obtained from a purchase-results storing unit, which stores information concerning commodities already purchased by a customer, and the numbers of purchase-planned items of the same commodities stored in the purchase file or a total of a total amount of purchased items of the purchase-desired commodities obtained from the purchase-results storing unit and purchase-planned amounts of the same commodities stored in the purchase file is equal to or larger than a threshold. A privilege display unit displays information concerning the privilege granted by the privilege granting unit. | 06-02-2011 |
20110131089 | DETERMINATION AND PRESENTATION OF PACKAGE PRICING OFFERS IN RESPONSE TO CUSTOMER INTEREST IN A PRODUCT - A system and method for determination and presentation of package offers. A package offer is an offer for sale by a retailer of a package of products at a package price. A retailer may offer products for sale in an on-line retail environment or in a physical retail environment. A determination is made that a primary product is of interest to a customer. This determination may involve detecting and interpreting input signals transmitted from a customer device. In response to detecting that the primary product is of interest to the customer, a package is determined that may comprise the primary product and at least one secondary product. A package may be determined by accessing a database to locate a pre-determined package or to select the secondary products ad hoc. A package price is determined that is less than the sum of the corresponding retail prices of the primary product and secondary products in the package. A package price may be based on a profit margin of the primary product and/or a profit margin of at least one of the secondary products. A package offer for the sale of the package at the package price is then presented to the customer. The customer may indicate an acceptance of the package offer and authorize a financial account to be charged for the amount of the package price. The package products may be shipped to the customer or may be picked up at a retail establishment. | 06-02-2011 |
20110137718 | System and method for providing shopping aids and incentives to customers through a computer network - A system and method for delivering purchasing incentives and a variety of other retail shopping aids through a computer network, such as by E-mail over the Interne or the World Wide Web. Customers ( | 06-09-2011 |
20110137719 | EVENT-CENTRIC COMPOSABLE QUEUE, AND COMPOSITE EVENT DETECTION METHOD AND APPLICATIONS USING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are an Event-centric Composable Queue (ECQ), and a composite event detection method and applications using the same. The ECQ includes a Composition Link Table (CLT) having basic information about the composition of a network of ECQs, a Shared Instance Queue (SIQ) for storing preceding event objects which are shared by a plurality of detection sentences and which are required for composite event detection, and a Partial Composition Block (PCB) for storing the intermediate results of the calculation of the extent to which each stored event object satisfies a specific composite event detection sentence. | 06-09-2011 |
20110145050 | Activity-Based Compatibility Testing For Preliminarily Matched Users Via Interactive Social Media - 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. | 06-16-2011 |
20110145051 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUGGESTING PRODUCTS FOR PURCHASE FROM A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT USING A MOBILE DEVICE - 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. | 06-16-2011 |
20110153400 | METHOD OF PRODUCT PRICE PROMOTION - 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. | 06-23-2011 |
20110161150 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS PROVIDING A MULTI-MERCHANT REWARDS PLATFORM - 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. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161151 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING ON DEMAND COUPONS - 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. An integrated system for dispensing and redeeming coupons is also provided comprising the apparatus to dispense coupons from a sponsoring manufacturer to a consumer; a data warehouse outside the apparatus which stores consumer information and shopping behavior such that when the consumer uses the apparatus customized coupons based on the users past shopping behavior are presented on the apparatus touch screen; and a point of sale system to redeem coupons; wherein the redeemed coupons are automatically validated and sent to the sponsoring manufacturer for reimbursement. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161152 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON DEMAND COUPONS TRIGGERED BY A TEXT MESSAGE - 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 message sent to users cell phone. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161153 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOMMENDING ASSETS BASED ON RECENTLY VIEWED ASSETS BASKET - 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. | 06-30-2011 |
20110178859 | System and method for resolving transactions employing optional benefit offers - 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. The system assesses the needs and circumstances faced by the user and potentially similar users and determines whether one or more products or services may be of interest to the user and presents selected products and services to the user in addition to the transaction settlement offer set when indicated by the rules provided. | 07-21-2011 |
20110178860 | System and method for resolving transactions employing goal seeking attributes - 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. | 07-21-2011 |
20110178861 | ELECTRONIC REWARD GENERATION - 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. | 07-21-2011 |
20110191156 | PRE-APPROVED CUSTOMER ACCEPTANCE VALIDATION - 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. | 08-04-2011 |
20110191157 | INTEGRATED MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM AND CUSTOMER SHOPPING - 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. | 08-04-2011 |
20110196728 | SERVICE LEVEL COMMUNICATION ADVERTISEMENT BUSINESS - 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. | 08-11-2011 |
20110196729 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REWARDS TO A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE AT THE POINT OF SALE - 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. | 08-11-2011 |
20110196730 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELLING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PERIODICALS IN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT - 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. | 08-11-2011 |
20110202401 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MULTI-MERCHANT COUPONING - 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. | 08-18-2011 |
20110202402 | MARKETING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - 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. Yet another aspect of the present invention provides methods and systems enabling a “single-swipe” transaction, wherein data is selectively packeted and transmitted to one or more institutions following a single electronic reading of a transaction card. | 08-18-2011 |
20110208575 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING INTERACTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS - 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. | 08-25-2011 |
20110213651 | Computer-Implemented Method For Enhancing Targeted Product Sales - 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. | 09-01-2011 |
20110218849 | CLOUD PLATFORM FOR MULTIPLE ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT & AUTOMATED TRANSACTION PROCESSING - 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. | 09-08-2011 |
20110225030 | INTEGRATED QUALIFICATION AND MONITORING FOR CUSTOMER PROMOTIONS - 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. | 09-15-2011 |
20110225031 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING COUPON SERVICE USING RECEIPTS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING COUPON SERVICE USING THE SAME - 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. The system according to the invention comprises: a personal terminal of the consumer which includes an image acquisition unit for acquiring an image of the receipt; a coupon product manufacturer server which stores the coupon product information for a product to which a coupon is attached; a coupon service provider server that is connected to the personal terminal and the coupon product manufacturer server through the Internet and provides point information to consumers; a database server that is connected to the coupon service provider server and stores the coupon product information, the receipt image provided by the consumer, and the point information extracted from the receipt image; and an image analyzing and processing device that extracts the coupon information from the receipt information provided by the consumer in order to accumulate the points given to the corresponding consumer, wherein the points are calculated through the extracted coupon information. | 09-15-2011 |
20110231236 | Coupon System and Method - 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. | 09-22-2011 |
20110238476 | Location-based Coupons and Mobile Devices - 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. | 09-29-2011 |
20110238477 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING CONSUMERS WITH ONE OR MORE PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROVIDERS - 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. | 09-29-2011 |
20110238478 | Method for Providing Information and Recommendations Based on User Activity - 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. The recommendations may also be provided by electronic mail, electronic pager or other methods. The recommendations are provided by various data analysis techniques including rule based inference engines and other forms of artificial intelligence. | 09-29-2011 |
20110246277 | MULTI-FACTOR PROMOTIONAL OFFER SUGGESTION - 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. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246278 | PAPER-SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PAPER-SHEET PROCESSING METHOD - 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. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246279 | COMMUNITY REWARDS - 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. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246280 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SAVINGS OPPORTUNITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT - 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. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246281 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SAVINGS OPPORTUNITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT - 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. | 10-06-2011 |
20110251882 | REWARD EXCHANGE METHOD AND SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS - 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. | 10-13-2011 |
20110251883 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING LOYALTY CARD REWARDS THROUGH AN ALTERNATE USER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - 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. | 10-13-2011 |
20110258028 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A GEOGRAPHIC MAP OF ALTERNATIVE SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES IN ASSOCIATION WITH A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DATA - 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 and the geographical location of the savings opportunity are presented. | 10-20-2011 |
20110264501 | Systems and Methods to Provide Offers to Travelers - In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a transaction handler configured to process transactions; a data warehouse configured to store transaction data recording the transactions and to store event data for travel related events; a pattern detector configured to identify correlation data relating transaction patterns in the transaction data and the events identified in the event data; a portal configured to, in response to an occurrence of a first event, provide merchants with a report of a predicted spending pattern, including the identification of a set of consumers, identified based on the correlation data and data identifying the first event; a score generator to compute a value score for a traveler based on transaction data of the traveler; and a data services platform configured to provide the value score to a hotelier in response to a transaction processed by the transaction handler to check in the traveler at the hotelier. | 10-27-2011 |
20110264502 | TRANSACTIONAL APPARATUS - A transactional apparatus for providing user identification such as a purchaser of goods or services at a Point of Sale (POS) with a reward, or providing an identity transaction of a user in say a Post Office or retailer of postal services. The apparatus comprises a device ( | 10-27-2011 |
20110270660 | Software platform - A software platform is provided. The software platform includes a rewards component; a banking component; and a social media component. The software platform further includes input from banks and other financial institutions. The rewards component includes a processor, a transaction filter, a rewards filter, and a social filter. The social filter connects to social media sites. The rewards component uses input from the banking component to determine rewards and the social media component uses input from consumer transactions, financial products and offers to output to social media websites. The output to social media websites may be location based information, feeds or mobile phone based services. The user data is determined by the use of the banking component and/or the social media component. The rewards component provides financial incentives based on data from the user. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270661 | Targeted marketing to on-hold customer - Systems and methods are described for delivering targeted content to a customer through a voice response unit (VRU). When the customer calls into the VRU, the customer is prompted to enter identification information. A unique customer identification code (UCIC) associated with the customer is used to look up an anonymized customer profile stored by a third party server. An advertisement identification code (ADIC) associated with the anonymized customer profile is used to identify targeted offers for the customer. The customer is then informed of the targeted offers verbally by the VRU. Optionally, the customer is presented with details of the offer verbally via the VRU. According to another aspect, the customer can select alternate media for delivery of the offer details (e.g., email, text message, etc.). | 11-03-2011 |
20110276382 | CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR PHYSICAL LOCATIONS - A method for outputting information about a person includes identifying the person utilizing a wireless system upon entry into a physical location, and also includes locating the person within the physical structure. An engagement plan is retrieved based on the identification of the person and output. The engagement plan has information useful for interacting with the person. The engagement plan is created based at least in part on personal information of the person, the preferences of the person, and the past transactions of the person. A system for outputting information about a person, such as a customer, includes an object carried by the person, which is capable of being identified by a wireless system. A wireless interface communicates with the object. A computing device correlates the identification of the object with the person. An output device outputs information relating to the person. | 11-10-2011 |
20110276383 | Consumer-specific advertisement presentation and offer library - Systems and methods are described for presenting targeted offer advertisements to qualified customers while browsing the Internet. A designated interaction region such as a frame or border is positioned on each advertisement, and when a customer activates the border by clicking on or hovering a cursor there over, a menu of selectable options is displayed, from which the customer may select to perform an action on the offer. For instance, the customer may select an option to save the targeted offer to an offer library for later review. Additionally, the customer may select an option to access the offer library to review details of saved offers. | 11-10-2011 |
20110288923 | System and Method for Managing a Loyalty Program Via an Association Network Infrastructure - A system and method for providing a loyalty program by utilizing a pre-existing association network. When a consumer is registered with the program, the consumer's personal information is stored in a database and associated with a token ID. The token is capable of initiating a transaction message request over an association network when used in conjunction with a merchant transaction system. A program manager is provided that includes an association network interface for receiving over the association network the transaction request message initiated by the token at a merchant, where the transaction request message includes a first set of transaction information regarding a consumer-initiated product purchase transaction. The program manager is then configured to store the first set of transaction information, transmit to the merchant a response message that includes an indication that the token cannot provide tender for a product purchase, and utilize the first set of transaction information to facilitate the identification of one or more rewards for the consumer. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288924 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED SHOPPER REWARDS - An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases to store customer data, where the customer data includes at least one retailer account and purchase history associated with the customer. The server includes a processor to allocate at least one customized offer to the retailer account using at least the purchase history associated with the customer, where the at least one customized offer includes a loyalty adjustment changing a general market price point of a product in accordance with the customized offer. The processor redeems the customized offer upon receiving a purchase notification. The customized offer is redeemed by associating the product with the loyalty adjustment independent of the general market price point associated with the product at a time of reception of the purchase notification. | 11-24-2011 |
20110288925 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED BUYER PROMOTION REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases to store customer data associated with a loyalty program of a retailer. The server includes a processor configured to select a retail product from a plurality of retail products associated with the retailer. The processor determines a first percentage indicating a percentage of time the loyalty customer purchases the selected retail product on promotion, and determines a second percentage indicating an average percentage of time a plurality of customers forming a peer group purchases the selected retail product on promotion. Further, the processor determines a comparison result by comparing the first and second percentages. Additionally, the processor allocates at least one customized offer to the retailer account associated with the loyalty customer according to at least the comparison result. | 11-24-2011 |
20110295670 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED BUYER PROMOTION REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - An individualized discount and reward server includes one or more linked databases storing customer data including at least one retailer account and purchase history associated with the customer. The server including a processor to allocate at least one customized offer to the retailer account using at least the purchase history associated with the customer, the at least one customized offer including a loyalty adjustment changing a general market price point of a retail product in accordance with a competitor price. The processor further displays to the customer, via the interface, a display page including the at least one customized offer and an option for selection of the at least one customized offer. The processor also updates, upon reception of the customer input indicating selection of the at least one customized offer, the retailer account to indicate selection of the at least one customized offer. | 12-01-2011 |
20110295671 | ADAPTABLE RETAIL PRICING ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRONIC EXCHANGE, DELIVERING CUSTOMIZED BRAND SWITCHING REWARDS AND DISCOUNTS - An individualized discount and reward server including one or more linked databases to store customer data associated with a loyalty program of a retailer, where the customer data including at least one retailer account and purchase history associated with a customer. The server further includes a processor to select a brand associated with an allocation category and determine an amount the customer spends on the allocation category. The processor determines a likelihood of brand switching indicating a likelihood of the customer purchasing the selected brand according to the purchase history associated with the customer. The processor also allocates one or more brand switching offers for the selected brand to the at least one retailer account associated with the customer for the selected brand based on at least the amount the customer spends on the allocation category and the likelihood of brand switching. | 12-01-2011 |
20110302015 | Paperless Coupon Distribution and Redemption System - A paperless coupon redemption system, consisting of manufacturers or distributors loading coupons into a database for use by consumers. Consumers being able to access an internet interface to view, find and select coupons, and redeem them at the point of sale with an issued PVC card containing a unique reference number. The point of sale terminals are equipped with a hardware or software module which facilities the interaction between the POS machines and coupon database. The hardware and software modules work by collecting the UPC codes of products to be purchased, and transmitting these to a server along with the customer reference number. The server returns the UPC codes of applicable coupons, which are then transmitted into the POS system. | 12-08-2011 |
20110302016 | AUTOMATED MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM - An automated membership system including (i) an article containing readable data to identify a user and (ii) a server for (a) storing the profile data of the user, the profile data including data representing a first identifier; (b) receiving from the user a request message identifying a vendor; (c) providing the user's profile data to the vendor, so as to enable the vendor to carry out a transaction with the user based on a second identifier; (d) storing the second identifier in association with the user's profile data, wherein the vendor accesses the second identifier based on a query including the first identifier read from the article, so as to enable the vendor to carry out a transaction with the user based on the second identifier. | 12-08-2011 |
20110313835 | Systems and Methods to Prevent Potential Attrition of Consumer Payment Account - Systems and methods are provided to generate a tool to predict voluntary account attrition in a payment processing system. In one aspect, a computing apparatus includes: a data warehouse configured to store transaction data of accounts issued by a plurality of issuers; and at least one processor configured to calculate values of a first plurality of variables for each of the accounts using the transaction data of the accounts issued by the plurality of issuers. The accounts include attrition accounts and non-attrition accounts. The at least one processor is further configured to identify a second plurality of variables from the first plurality of variables for a predictive model to distinguish, using the values and logistic regression, the attrition accounts from the non-attrition accounts. | 12-22-2011 |
20110320254 | PRODUCT MARKETING UTILIZING BROWSING HISTORY - A computer implemented method markets a particular product in an e-commerce system. A web page server receives a request for a current web page that displays a particular product. The request is accompanied by an authorization indicium to retrieve a content of a previous web page that offered the particular product at a previous price. A current price for the particular product is dynamically adjusted based on the previous price offered on the previous web page, and is then presented on the current web page. | 12-29-2011 |
20120010936 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FACILITY FOR CONDITIONAL PURCHASES - Methods and systems for a conditional purchase may include gathering transaction data from a user's financial account and analyzing the data for a savings opportunity indication. A savings opportunity is matched to the user based on the savings opportunity indication. The user may provide a conditional purchase offer for a good or service identified by the savings opportunity, wherein the offer specifies at least one of a desired discount and an offer price. The conditional purchase offer is compared with at least one of an inventory and a pricing information to determine if the conditional purchase offer is acceptable. If the conditional purchase offer is acceptable, the customer may be bound to purchase the good or service. If the conditional purchase offer is not acceptable, the user may modify at least one of the discount and offer price of the conditional purchase offer to try to gain acceptance again. | 01-12-2012 |
20120016729 | TARGETED DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRONIC COUPONS - A system, method and computer program product is described that matches commercial incentives to consumers based on targeting data associated with the commercial incentive and user data associated with consumers in a manner that advantageously allows for highly-targeted delivery of commercial incentives to the consumers that are most likely to use them. Because both the targeting data and the user data may include spatial, temporal, social and topical data, matching may be performed based on any or all of these data types, as well as based on any combination of these data types. | 01-19-2012 |
20120022936 | METHOD OF GENERATING AND REDEEMING COUPONS - A method of generating and redeeming a plurality of coupons includes generating a first coupon, generating a second coupon, distributing the first coupon to the first consumer, and distributing the second coupon to the second consumer. Generating a first coupon includes selecting a first group of offers from a plurality of offers such that the first group of offers is individually customized to the first consumer, and printing a first bar code identifying a first account and indicating that the first coupon relates to the first group of offers. Generating a second coupon includes selecting a second group of offers, and printing a second bar. Each of the plurality of offers is redeemable for a discount on a corresponding one of a plurality of products offered for sale, and the first group of offers differs from the second group of offers. | 01-26-2012 |
20120029994 | COUPON ORGANIZATION USING A BAR CODE READER - A consumer can use his or her cell phone to scan barcodes from newspaper circulars at home, on a computer screen at home and/or to scan coupon barcodes positioned on the edge of shelves in a store or displayed on a kiosk in a store. The data from all these coupons is be combined into (preferably) a single 2D barcode or in the event of a large number of coupons, into a smaller number of 2D barcodes on the cell phone's display, for scanning by an imaging barcode scanner at the point of sale. This 2D barcode can also include the user's loyalty card information, so reading a single barcode off the screen of the phone can accomplish what formerly required multiple individual scans to accomplish. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029995 | LOCATION BASED DISCOUNTS - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture for interacting with a multiple criteria buying and/or selling system to conduct business electronically. In particular, the architecture can include a dynamic discount card that includes an information access component for receiving information. In addition, the dynamic discount card can include a presentation component for displaying information to a user via the dynamic discount card. | 02-02-2012 |
20120036000 | DAS PREDICTIVE MODELING AND REPORTING FUNCTION - A system and method facilitating the management of current and prospective customers and customer information is provided. The invention includes an aggregation system adapted to provide management and generation of current and prospective customers. The invention further provides management of current and prospective customer information. Additionally, the aggregation system provides for generating advertisements based at least in part upon market information. Finally, the present invention also includes a printstream aggregation method facilitating the printing of print orders. | 02-09-2012 |
20120036001 | HOSTED DEMAND AGGREGATION - The demand aggregation system includes deal room sponsored by a third party host. The third party host facilitates commercial transactions between a plurality of buyers and at least one seller. In exchange for sponsorship of such a deal room, the third party host can receive an incentive such as a percentage of sales, seller discount or the like. Furthermore, mechanisms are provided to aid discovery of sellers and/or offers that can be included in a group buying event for a buying group. The buying group receives a greater discount as the total purchase amount in the group buying event increases. | 02-09-2012 |
20120066045 | System and Method for Dynamically Identifying, Prioritizing and Offering Reward Categories - A method for identifying and offering rewards is provided. A user's transaction history or category history, such as, for example, spending history, transaction history, merchant history, purchases history, services history, product history, channel history, frequency of spending history, SKU history, redemption history, reward earnings history, earning levels, reward categories, or currency type, currency history, customer responses to questions, and/or other data or information that enables identification of relevant rewards is determined. Next, at least one reward category based on the user's transaction history or reward category history is dynamically prioritized, and at least one top reward category based on the dynamic prioritizing of the at least one reward category is determined. Finally, the user is dynamically rewarded discounts, rebates, coupons, or other reward incentives based on the least one top reward category. | 03-15-2012 |
20120066046 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SAVINGS OPPORTUNITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH A FINANCIAL ACCOUNT - 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. | 03-15-2012 |
20120078700 | System and Method for Displaying and Selling Goods and Services in a Retail Environment Employing Electronic Shopper Aids - A system and method for supporting existing merchants and malls to better serve customers by providing easy access to merchandise and sales assistants over a communication network in order to display items dynamically and to provide expert information on products. The shopping experience is enhanced by a portable client identification to allow ease of shopping and checkout. For items purchased that need installation or service or support, access to live experts is provided. Direct connection to service providers is available over the network. If a shopper does not find the desired merchandise he is referred to another merchant who has the product with the referring merchant receiving a commission or other consideration. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078701 | Systems and Methods to Provide Services Based on Transaction Activities - Systems and methods are provided to structure services in tiers and provide services as rewards in accordance with the tiers. In one aspect, a system stores information identifying an account holder's account and information identifying features that are associated with the account. Account features include a plurality of services that are organized in tiers and any given tier determines the benefits the account holder is entitled to in connection with a set of services associated with the account feature. The account holder's account is associated with an original tier and the system monitors subsequent transactions to determine a tier that the user is entitled to based on the transactions. The tier includes all of the services that the user was previously entitled to in addition to any new services associated with a tier change. | 03-29-2012 |
20120084130 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING INDIVIDUALS VIA REMOTE TRANSMITTERS ATTACHED TO PERSONAL ITEMS - A system and method are provided for verifying presence at a location is defined. In an embodiment, user information, user identifier information, vendor information, and time information is stored in at least one database accessible to at least one processor. First electronic user identifier representing a first user is received from a first computing device respectively associated with a first identification tag reader, wherein first identification tag reader received the first electronic user identifier. In addition, first vendor information respectively associated with the vendor is received, as is first electronic time information representing a time when the first user is present at the location. The name of the first user and the name of the vendor are determined as a function of the first user identifier, the first vendor identifier, and at least some of the electronic user information; and are transmitted to at least a third computing device. | 04-05-2012 |
20120089452 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MANAGE MULTIPLE PARTY REWARDS USING A SINGLE ACCOUNT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - Systems and methods for storing a transaction history with respect to a business entity, and an incentive regarding a business entity, previously offered to an account. A desired transaction involving a holder of the account and the business entity may be generated based on the transaction history and a metric. An incentive may be generated based on an artificial intelligence program (AIP), the transaction history, and the metric. The desired transaction and the incentive may be transmitted for presentation to a holder of the account. | 04-12-2012 |
20120101889 | COUPON SELECTION SUPPORT APPARATUS, COUPON SELECTION SUPPORT SYSTEM, COUPON SELECTION SUPPORT METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Disclosed herein is a coupon selection support apparatus including: a commercial product information acquisition block configured to acquire commercial product information associated with a commercial product subject to a coupon; a commercial product analysis block configured to analyze a commercial product subject to a coupon; a usage log acquisition block configured to acquire a coupon usage log of each user; a log analysis block configured to analyze a purchase timing of a commercial product purchased by each user in the past; and a selection support block configured to predict a next purchase timing of the commercial product to preferentially present, at the next purchase timing, a coupon for the commercial product and coupons related with the coupon by the commercial product analysis block. | 04-26-2012 |
20120101890 | INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, DISPLAY METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM - A use history that at least associates a use subject identifier for identifying a user or a terminal device a user has used with a used item identifier, which is an item identifier for identifying an item used by a user, based on use information is stored in a use history storage section. Based on the use history, a degree of similarity between two item identifiers is calculated and using the degree of similarity, associated data causing a base item identifier, which is an item identifier of a base item, and an associated item identifier, which is an item identifier of an associated item similar to the base item to correspond to each other is created. A change value to change a point value managed for each use subject identifier is calculated. | 04-26-2012 |
20120109732 | CONSUMER GROUP BUYING THROUGH ONLINE ADS - A system for presenting advertising materials including group sales offers within the context of a network-accessible document such as a Web page. One embodiment stores a plurality of ads, including some group sales offers. Fulfillment of each group sales offer is conditioned upon acceptance of the offer by a prescribed minimum number of viewers. The system receives a request for online content from a client computer operated by a viewer, where the requested online content is unrelated to group sales offers. Responsive to the request, the system selects a group sales offer from the plurality of ads based on the nature of the requested content and/or viewer characteristics or past behavior accumulated from past communications with the viewer. The system automatically delivers the selected group sales offer and the requested content to the client computer for display. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109733 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING DYNAMIC MARKETING DEVICES BASED ON "REAL-TIME" DATA - A method and system for providing dynamically customized marketing devices using real-time consumer data whereby shopping analytics data associated with a consumer regarding a consumer's current purchase related activity is monitored and/or collected. The shopping analytics data associated with the consumer is then used to automatically modify, and/or create, the terms of a mobile coupon, or other marketing device, and present the transformed mobile coupon, or other marketing device, to the consumer, in relative real-time, and in response to changing circumstances indicated by the shopping analytics data associated with the consumer. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109734 | Systems and Methods to Match Identifiers - In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler to process transactions, a data warehouse to store transaction data recording the transactions processed at the transaction handler and to store mapping data between first user identifiers and first account identifiers, a profile generator to generate a profile of a user based on the transaction data, and a portal coupled to the transaction handler to receive a query identifying a second user identifier used by the first tracker to track online activities of a user. The system is to identify a second account identifier of the user from the second user identifier based on the mapping data between the first user identifiers and the first account identifiers to facilitate targeted advertising using the profile of the user and/or to provide information about certain transactions of the user related to a previously presented advertisement. | 05-03-2012 |
20120123842 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AN IDENTIFICATION REPRESENTING A MEDICATION ADHERENCE INCENTIVE - Generating an identification representing a medication adherence linked incentive and initiating a transmission of the identification to an identification display device by receiving a request from user at the server, generating the identification, associating the identification with the user, associating the combined user and identification with a medication adherence inventive protocol, and initiating a transmission of the identification to an identification display device. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123843 | Food Product Scale System And Method For Providing In-Store Incentives To Customers - A food product scale system includes a video commercial advertisement feature that is linked to an incentive item associated with a food product being weighed, where a coupon or other incentive label may also be printed for the incentive item. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123844 | SYSTEM FOR INDIVIDUALIZED CUSTOMER INTERACTION - A method and system for using individualized customer models when operating a retail establishment is provided. The individualized customer models may be generated using statistical analysis of transaction data for the customer, thereby generating sub-models and attributes tailored to customer. The individualized customer models may be used in any aspect of a retail establishment's operations, ranging from supply chain management issues, inventory control, promotion planning (such as selecting parameters for a promotion or simulating results of a promotion), to customer interaction (such as providing a shopping list or providing individualized promotions). | 05-17-2012 |
20120130790 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATION- AND HISTORY-BASED DISTRIBUTION OF OFFERS TO MOBILE DEVICES - A method of distributing context based offers to a mobile device based on device location and user transaction history is disclosed. The geographic location of a mobile device associated with a user is disclosed. At least one merchant proximate to the geographic location is identified. A user account associated with the user is analyzed in order to identify at least one previous transaction between the user and the at least one merchant. Upon identifying at least one previous transaction, an offer for goods or services associated with the at least one merchant is distributed to the mobile device. | 05-24-2012 |
20120150605 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLABORATIVE GIFTS IN A SOCIAL NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for processing a gift between users in a social network. A system configured to practice the method presents an object to a giver in a social networking site, wherein the object provides an option to give a gift to a recipient. If the giver selects to give the gift, the system receives a selection of the recipient and a policy associated with the gift, wherein the giver is associated with a giver account, the recipient is associated with a recipient account, and the giver account is independent of the recipient account. The system monitors transactions of the recipient using the recipient account to yield information, and, based on the information, if the recipient makes a qualifying transaction according to the policy, the system applies at least part of the gift to the recipient account. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150606 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REWARDING CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN A MOBILE ENVIRONMENT - A customer reward service may reward customers who show or are expected to show frequent patronage to a provider of a good or service. The type of reward given to a customer may depend on a variety of factors including the real-time location of the customer, registration or profile data, or other pertinent data provided by or about the customer including the customer's purchasing history or the customer's social interactions. By collecting and considering a variety of data associated with a customer, a business may provide rewards and incentives tailored to the customer thus improving the ability of the business to better attract and retain customers. | 06-14-2012 |
20120150607 | System for Online Sales With Automatic Rebate and Coupon Redemption - An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. | 06-14-2012 |
20120158482 | Systems and Methods for Managing In-Store Purchases Using Mobile Devices - In-store, “non” transaction data is captured and analyzed based on consumer interactions with products at the retail location. Using a mobile device, an image is acquired that identifies a product being offered for sale by a retail establishment. The image is transmitted to a purchase server, which, in return sends product information for the product back to the mobile device, where it is displayed to the consumer. An event signifying a decision by the consumer not to purchase the product is identified and information about the non-purchase event is transmitted from the mobile device to the purchase server. | 06-21-2012 |
20120173324 | Dynamic Product/Service Recommendations - Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments facilitate electronic commerce over a network. In an embodiment, a method comprises creating a user profile comprising information including data entered by a primary user related to a product or service on a user device as well as data from other users that are related to or have common interests with the primary user, wherein the user profile dynamically changes based on, at least in part, new actions by the primary user as well as new actions by the other users. The method also comprises weighing the information in the user profile to determine targeted recommendations for the primary user. And the method further comprises providing the targeted recommendations to the primary user based on the user profile. | 07-05-2012 |
20120179529 | System and Method for Managing a Loyalty Program Via an Association Network Infrastructure - A system and method for providing a loyalty program by utilizing a pre-existing association network. When a consumer is registered with the program, the consumer's personal information is stored in a database and associated with a token ID. The token is capable of initiating a transaction message request over an association network when used in conjunction with a merchant transaction system. A program manager is provided that includes an association network interface for receiving over the association network the transaction request message initiated by the token at a merchant, where the transaction request message includes a first set of transaction information regarding a consumer-initiated product purchase interaction. The program manager is then configured to store the first set of transaction information, transmit to the merchant a response message, and utilize the first set of transaction information to facilitate the identification of one or more rewards for the consumer. | 07-12-2012 |
20120179530 | E-COMMERCE VOLUME PRICING - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 07-12-2012 |
20120203613 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING SECURE TRANSACTIONS - 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. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203614 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CARD-LESS REWARD PROGRAM - Disclosed is a card-less reward system providing buyers with promotional offers and engendering buyers to be rewarded by submitting receipts obtained from sellers. A method for rewarding the buyers comprises providing to a buyer a list of promotional offers for a product or service of at least one seller, allowing the buyer to accept electronically at least one promotional offer, and allowing the buyer to submit a digital image of at least one receipt obtained from the seller, which offered the accepted promotional offer. The method further comprises processing received image to retrieve purchase data, and rewarding the buyer in response to the retrieved purchase data. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203615 | Presenting Discounted Deals - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 08-09-2012 |
20120209685 | CHECK-INS TO COMMERCIAL VENUES - A system and method are provided for a user to check-in to one or more commercial venues according to various check-in options including private, public, anonymous, and non-anonymous check-ins, and for merchants to provide one or more targeted offers to the user based on contextual data associated with the user. In one embodiment, one or more queries may be generated for the user to select at least one of a pubic check-in option, a private check-in option, an anonymous check-in option, a non-anonymous check-in option, or a combination thereof. The system may be configured to determine one or more offers configured for a merchant to be provided to the user based on the contextual data associated with the user. | 08-16-2012 |
20120215613 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING OFFERS FOR PREPAID TELEPHONY ACCOUNTS - A method for managing offers for prepaid telephony accounts of a plurality of users is provided. The method includes obtaining information related to user profiles and usage patterns of a plurality of telecommunication services offered to the plurality of users through their respective prepaid telephony accounts. The method also includes customizing prepaid telephony offers for each of the plurality of users based upon the information related to the user profiles and the usage patterns and delivering the customized prepaid telephony offers to a mobile device of each of the plurality of users via unstructured supplementary services data (USSD) messages. | 08-23-2012 |
20120226542 | PROVIDING COUPONS VIA A MOBILE DEVICE - A facility for distributing electronic coupons is described. The facility presents to a user indications of each of at least one coupon pack. Each coupon pack comprises a plurality of independently-redeemable electronic coupons. The facility receives user input selecting an indicated coupon pack, and uses payment information associated with the user to collect a price indicated for the selected coupon pack. The facility then makes the selected coupon pack available for use by the user such that the user may redeem any of the electronic coupons of the selected coupon pack. | 09-06-2012 |
20120232976 | REAL-TIME VIDEO ANALYSIS FOR REWARD OFFERS - Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for using real-time video analysis, such as augmented reality or the like to assist the user of mobile devices with reward offers. Methods include recognizing one or more objects captured in a real-time video stream, where each object is associated with a marker; determining that the one or more objects are associated with a reward offer based on the marker; and presenting one or more indicators, each indicator being associated with the reward offer. In specific embodiments, the information associated with the object captured in the real-time video stream is analyzed based on financial data associated with a user. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232977 | REAL-TIME VIDEO IMAGE ANALYSIS FOR PROVIDING TARGETED OFFERS - System, method, and computer program product are provided for using real-time video analysis, such as augmented reality or the like to assist the user of mobile devices with selecting products or business through the use of targeted offers. Through the use of real-time vision object recognition objects, logos, artwork, products, locations, and other features that can be recognized in the real-time video stream can be matched to data associated with such to assist the user with selecting products and business. Targeted offers for product and business selection may be based on the financial behavior, pre-selected favorites, or recommendations of the user, individuals associated with the user, or other individuals. This invention allows a user to make a purchase at a point-of-sale and have confidence that the product or service purchased is the proper one to fit the user's needs. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232978 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Communication systems and methods support communication between multiple devices. In some embodiments, a method initiates a communication session between a first device and a second device via a server. The method identifies a first user associated with the first device and identifies a second user associated with the second device. An interaction history between the first user and the second user is accessed from the server and communicated to the first device for display on the first device. | 09-13-2012 |
20120232979 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING SALES - Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for conducting sales. The method embodiment comprises receiving an inquiry with at least one parameter from a user associated with a sale of an item, identifying one or more discount items that satisfy the inquiry, identifying comparable items for each discount item at nondiscount rates dynamically using real-time data, presenting one or more comparable groups to the user, each comparable group comprising one discount item and the respective comparable items, and furthering the sales process based on user input responding to the presented one or more comparable groups. Also disclosed is a method further comprising receiving a request from the user for multiple sub-items associated with the item, and engaging in a dialog with the user to enable payment for each of the multiple sub-items with one of a multiple payment types. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239481 | DIGITAL SHOEBOX - A method and a system stores records of financial transactions from a user in a centralized location. A processor-implemented receipt module receives a record of a financial transaction from a mobile device. A processor-implemented item identification module identifies an item from the record of the financial transaction. A processor-implemented catalog module retrieves data corresponding to the identified item. A storage device stores the record of the financial transaction associated with the identified item along with the corresponding data. | 09-20-2012 |
20120245988 | DYNAMIC BUNDLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Techniques for bundle generation are described. Some embodiments include a mobile marketplace system (“MMS”) configured to provide dynamically generated content bundles to users in a mobile marketplace. Providing a dynamically generated content bundle may include generating a content bundle that includes multiple related content items, such as songs, ringtones, images, videos, or the like. Some embodiments generate linked bundles that include content items that share one or more attributes, such as artist, genre, or content provider. In other embodiments, content bundles may be generated based on activities of one or more users, including purchase or browsing history. The MMS may also determine a discounted price for a generated content bundle based on pricing information associated with the content items of the bundle. In addition, the MMS may assure compliance with license terms or other safeguards associated with content items. | 09-27-2012 |
20120245989 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REFINED LOCATION RELEVANT MARKETING DEVICES - A method and system for providing refined location relevant marketing devices whereby a marketing device management system obtains: data representing one or more marketing devices from one or more merchants; location refinement data associated with the merchants; location refinement data associated with the marketing devices; and location refinement data associated with a consumer. The marketing device management system includes a marketing device matching engine that includes a location refinement matching filter. The location refinement matching filter uses all, or part of: the location refinement data associated with the merchant; the location refinement data associated with the marketing devices; and the location refinement data associated with the consumer; to determine the marketing devices in the marketing device database most relevant to the consumer, and the consumer's current state. The most relevant marketing devices are then provided to the consumer. | 09-27-2012 |
20120245990 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING CUSTOMER ACQUISITION BY BUSINESSES - Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating acquisition of customers for merchants through targeted offers to prospective customers; improving the precision of targeting by Prospect Profiling and Intent Prediction. In certain embodiments, the system supports monetizing sources of data which contribute to Prospect Profiling and Intent Prediction, such as purchase history, third-party SNP data. In other embodiments, a “Customer acquisition fee” serves as the underlying business model for the Service Provider of the Platform. The system provides cost-effective marketing where merchants pay only after conversion of prospect to customer. Customers get higher savings through Opportunity Auctioning amongst merchants with the value of Discount offer as part of Bid. | 09-27-2012 |
20120245991 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COLLABORATIVE FILTERING OF CARD MEMBER TRANSACTIONS - The disclosed system allows a credit or charge card issuer to provide its card members with a list of merchants, products, services, vacation destinations or other offerings that might be of interest based on the purchases of similar card members. In one instance, this process looks at all card members that made purchases at a merchant and then it identifies all other merchants in the same category where those card members also made purchases. The associated merchants are ranked based on largest number of shared card members and the top results may be shared with card members or merchants in order to enhance promotions, card use and marketing. | 09-27-2012 |
20120253912 | Discounted Pricing - A system and method that facilitates e-commerce volume pricing is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the system includes an offers and orders component that receives and aggregates orders for a product from a plurality of buyers. The system also includes a logistics component that determines a shipping price for the product for a subset of the plurality of buyers. The shipping price is determined at least in part upon the subset of buyers sharing a shipping method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which buyers within an aggregated purchasing group may be subject to different pricing structures for the same product. | 10-04-2012 |
20120259692 | Apparatus and Method for Verifying Criteria of Coupon Users - A method, system, apparatus and computer program to establish whether a user will likely conduct repeat business with a vendor presenting a commercial offer. If the system determines the user is likely to conduct repeat business with the vendor, the system will present the offer in a first format, and if the system determines the user is less likely do conduct repeat business with the vendor, the system will present the offer in a second format. In the second format, the offer is either more expensive or less prominently displayed as compared to the first format. | 10-11-2012 |
20120271699 | PROVIDING ADVANCED REWARDS IN A LOYALTY PROGRAM BASED ON HISTORICAL PURCHASING PERFORMANCE - Embodiments of the invention provide for allocating loyalty rewards to a customer in advance of the customer earning the reward based at least in part on historical purchasing performance. For example, in accordance with embodiments of the invention, the customer/participant is rewarded (e.g., provided rewards points or bestowed another reward) at the onset of a year based on the previous year's purchasing behavior/program participation, and as the customer/participant transacts throughout the ensuing year the purchases/transactions are decremented against the reward. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271700 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA RECIPIENT STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF DATA USING A NETWORK COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A system and method for data recipient invoked electronic commerce allowing data subjects to provide and data recipients to receive information over a network relating to the needs of a data subject such as purchases, distribution of application information and the like. The system includes a server having software which gathers the information from a data subject to complete a transaction. The system has a data subject data structure that stores information for registered data subjects. The software can access the data subject data structure and enter the data subject's information during subsequent transactions. Having the software obtain and enter the data subject's purchasing information, the data subject does not have to enter the same information every time the data subject desires to effect a transaction over the network. In alternate embodiments, the same technology can be applied to other arenas where a user enters the same repetitive information. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271701 | INTERNET-BASED SYSTEM AND METHOD TO COMPENSATE FULL VALUE OF NON-COMMERCIAL USER ACTIONS - An internet-based method for compensating non-commercial user actions, the method comprising the steps of: receiving from a seller a description of its product offering, and parameters of its offering including the percentage of seller's profit to be realized from the sale of the product during a preset sale period, which seller agrees to share with users who indicate interest in the seller's product; displaying at least a portion of the description of the seller's product offering on a document of a web platform; facilitating at least one indication of interest in the seller's product by users, including recording at least one of user's indication of interest; providing data to seller regarding the interest indicated by users in the seller's offering; receiving payment from seller, the payment including said percentage of seller's profit; and, distributing to users their share of the payment received from seller. | 10-25-2012 |
20120290379 | System and method for facilitating the onboarding of prospective payersto an electronic payment system. - A system for marketing, to a prospective payer, a system which automates payments to enrolled vendors. The system comprises a vendor history file received from the prospective payer which associates identifying attributes and annual spend value with each target vendor to which the payer makes payments. Marketing instructions include, for each target vendor, determining a rebate potential by: i) using the identifying attributes to determine a industry code to associate with the target vendor; ii) using the industry code to look up a sensitivity rating; iii) calculating a transaction fee rate as a function of the sensitivity rating; and iv) calculating rebate potential as the product of the spend value multiplied by the transaction fee rate. An onboard report includes identification of the prospective payer and in association with the identification of the prospective payer, the rebate potential. | 11-15-2012 |
20120310719 | VARIABLE VALUE COUPONS - In one embodiment, a coupon is created. The coupon includes a delivery date and data associated with a variable value schema, the schema dependent upon an elapsed time between the delivery date and redemption of the coupon. | 12-06-2012 |
20120323661 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MANAGE MULTIPLE PARTY REWARDS USING A SINGLE ACCOUNT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - Systems and methods for storing a transaction history with respect to a business entity, and an incentive regarding a business entity, previously offered to an account. A desired transaction involving a holder of the account and the business entity may be generated based on the transaction history and a metric. An incentive may be generated based on an artificial intelligence program (AIP), the transaction history, and the metric. The desired transaction and the incentive may be transmitted for presentation to a holder of the account. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323662 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MANAGE MULTIPLE PARTY REWARDS USING A SINGLE ACCOUNT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - Systems and methods for storing a transaction history with respect to a business entity, and an incentive regarding a business entity, previously offered to an account. A desired transaction involving a holder of the account and the business entity may be generated based on the transaction history and a metric. An incentive may be generated based on an artificial intelligence program (AIP), the transaction history, and the metric. The desired transaction and the incentive may be transmitted for presentation to a holder of the account. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323663 | PERSONALIZED PURCHASE OFFERS BASED ON ITEM-LEVEL TRANSACTION DATA FROM A PHYSICAL RETAIL RECEIPT - Example systems and methods of generating and providing personalized purchase offers based on item-level purchase data are presented. In one example, item-level purchase data from multiple sources for each of a plurality of users are aggregated. The aggregated item-level purchase data include item-level purchase data from a physical retail receipt. Offer data are received from offer providers. At least one user is selected to receive an offer targeted to the at least user based on the aggregated item-level purchase data and the offer data. The offer is transmitted to a communication device of the at least one user. | 12-20-2012 |
20130006742 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A DYNAMIC PURCHASE INCENTIVE - A computer-implemented method of providing a dynamic purchase incentive to a purchase of a product. A product identification is input into a purchasing device which transmits it to a discount server computer along with customer identification data. The discount server computer uses the product identification to retrieve from a product discount database associated product discount data, and uses the customer identification data to retrieve from a customer profile database associated customer profile data. The discount server computer uses the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification to generate a dynamic purchase incentive to be applied to the purchase of the product by the customer, the incentive varying as a function of the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification. The discount server computer transmits the purchase incentive to the purchasing device, and the purchase incentive is applied to the purchase of the product by the customer. | 01-03-2013 |
20130013385 | LOCATION BASED DISCOUNTS - The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture for interacting with a multiple criteria buying and/or selling system to conduct business electronically. In particular, the architecture can include a dynamic discount card that includes an information access component for receiving information. In addition, the dynamic discount card can include a presentation component for displaying information to a user via the dynamic discount card. | 01-10-2013 |
20130024262 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC COUPON TARGETING - Described herein are methods and systems for implementing personalized targeting via electronic coupons, providing aggregate cap control of electronic coupons, implementing viral marketing using electronic coupons, and performing real time processing of electronic coupons. | 01-24-2013 |
20130024263 | SELF LEARNING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A GROUP REWARD SYSTEM - A system for managing a purchase agreement, including: a memory element for at least one specially-programmed general purpose computer for storing an artificial intelligence program (AIP) and a purchase agreement between a customer and at least one business entity, the purchase agreement including at least one requirement regarding at least one retail transaction between the customer and the business entity; a processor in the specially-programmed general purpose computer for: compiling a purchasing history for the customer with respect to the business entity and the purchase agreement, the memory element for storing the purchasing history, and modifying, using the purchasing history and the AIP, the at least one requirement to increase revenue or profitability of the business entity; and an interface element in the specially-programmed general purpose computer for transmitting the modified at least one requirement for presentation to the customer. | 01-24-2013 |
20130046601 | ENHANCED PRODUCT SEARCH SYSTEM AND METHOD - An enhanced product search system and method are disclosed. The system comprises a search query obtaining component that obtains a search query entered by a user, and an incentive searching component that compares the search query to an incentive database containing incentives associated with goods and services and retrieves information on any incentive relating to the search query. The system also has a security component that compares the search query to a security database containing security information on the safety of websites and retrieves any security information relating to the search query. A notifying component of the system notifies the user of any incentives found by the incentive searching component and any security information found by the security component. | 02-21-2013 |
20130046602 | METHOD OF PROVIDING AN OFFER BASED ON PROXIMITY TO A POINT OF SALE TRANSACTION - Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-program products that provide for a unique offer system, wherein the offer is generated based on proximity to a point-of-transaction device. In one embodiment of the invention, the computer-implemented method receives data associated with a financial transaction at a point-of-transaction device. The computer-implemented method then identifies the identity of the user conducting the transaction and the location of the transaction. Using the location of transaction, the computer-implemented method determines offers located in proximity to the user and provides those offers to the user. In some embodiments, the offers are customized for the user based on some characteristic of the transaction or the user. In further embodiments, the user is guided to a business associated with the offer by directions provided by the computer-implemented method. | 02-21-2013 |
20130046603 | METHOD OF PROVIDING AN OFFER BASED ON A PROJECTED PATH TRIGGERED BY A POINT OF SALE TRANSACTION - Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-program products that provide for a unique offer determination system. In one embodiment of the invention, offers are provided based on a projected path of a user triggered by a transaction at a point-of-transaction device. The system receives data associated with a transaction at a point-of-transaction device, determines the identity of the user conducting the transaction, predicts a projected path or future action of the user based on the transaction, and provides an offer to the user based on the projected path. In an embodiment, the system predicts the projected path based on pattern recognition analysis of the user's transaction history. | 02-21-2013 |
20130054332 | Computer System Supporting Green Incentive Program - A computer system processes transaction data about a customer's purchase. The computer system may access green index data that includes information about environmentally green purchases for green purchases. Based on comparing the green index data and the transaction data, an award may be provided to the customer in accordance with at least one purchase criterion, such as the purchase price and/or the degree of greenness of the purchased item. The account data for the customer is consequently updated for the award. The green index data may be derived by obtaining a list of candidate merchants and by comparing characteristics of a candidate merchant with at least one green factor. The candidate merchant may then be included in the green index data when a merchant score is greater than a predetermined score, where the merchant score may be based on the green characteristics of the candidate merchant. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054333 | PROVIDING CUSTOMER REWARDS PROGRAMS - Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing customer rewards programs are presented. According to one or more aspects, it may be determined, based on transaction history information, that a group of accountholders is associated with a common interest. Subsequently, it may be determined that one or more entities provide offerings relevant to the common interest. Thereafter, at least one new rewards program may be automatically created with the one or more entities, and the at least one new rewards program may allow the group of accountholders to earn rewards associated with the common interest. According to one or more additional aspects, it may be determined, for a particular accountholder, based on transaction history information associated with the accountholder, that a first rewards program in which the accountholder is not currently enrolled is more advantageous to the accountholder than a second rewards program in which the customer is currently enrolled. | 02-28-2013 |
20130054334 | MONITORING OF ACTIVITY TO MITIGATE ACCOUNT ATTRITION - Apparatuses, computer readable media, methods, and systems are described for identifying a change or an increased likelihood of a change in a usage pattern of an account, generating an offer in response to the identifying, the offer comprising an incentive for use of the account in future transactions, and causing transmission of the offer. | 02-28-2013 |
20130073366 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING, UTILIZING PREDICTING, AND IMPLEMENTING ONLINE CONSUMER BROWSING BEHAVIOR, BUYING PATTERNS, SOCIAL NETWORKING COMMUNICATIONS, ADVERTISEMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS, FOR ONLINE COUPONS, PRODUCTS, GOODS & SERVICES, AUCTIONS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS USING GEOSPATIAL MAPPING TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING - Systems and methods are provided for combined social behavior tracking, online surveillance and web bot software technologies via a mobile device or computer for tracking online consumer behavior and data, cookies, embedded advertisements, predicting online consumer behavior, buying patterns by monitoring online activities, online communications, search inquiries, social networking, social plugins, social applications, advertisements, purchasing, behavior, and buying patterns, consumer address books and contact lists, blogs, chat rooms, friends, acquaintances and strangers, instant messaging, text chat, internet forum, service providers, travel and hospitality, real estate, educational services, ancillary services (as defined herein) and delivery system for behavior targeting and filtering of coupons, mobile services, products, goods and services, advertisements and service providers and related company information on a three dimensional geospatial platform using multi-dimensional and scalable geospatial mapping associated with entities providing and/or members of the service and/or social networking. | 03-21-2013 |
20130073367 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MANAGE MULTIPLE PARTY REWARDS USING A SINGLE ACCOUNT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - Systems and methods for storing a transaction history with respect to a business entity, and an incentive regarding a business entity, previously offered to an account. A desired transaction involving a holder of the account and the business entity may be generated based on the transaction history and a metric. An incentive may be generated based on an artificial intelligence program (AIP), the transaction history, and the metric. The desired transaction and the incentive may be transmitted for presentation to a holder of the account. | 03-21-2013 |
20130080234 | METHOD OF TARGETING CONSUMERS FOR UP-SELLING BASED ON PURCHASING HISTORY - One aspect is a method of offering discounted goods or services including processing a requested financial transaction from a user at a point-of-sale location via a transaction processor system. Data from the requested financial transaction is compared to an existing database reflective of data from previously requested financial transactions of the user. A discount offer based upon data from previously requested financial transactions of the user is generated. The discount offer is communicated to the user at the point-of-sale location in conjunction with the completion of the requested financial transaction. | 03-28-2013 |
20130085828 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTENT DISTRIBUTION WITH INTEGRATED GAME MECHANICS - Methods and systems provided can incentivize consuming, sharing, and interacting with online content by providing redeemable points to users for their interaction with content. Points may be redeemed for real or virtual goods and services. Profiles on social networking websites relating to users or their social circles can be mined using natural language processing to determine topical interests relevant to users to facilitate displaying online content most likely to be of interest to users. | 04-04-2013 |
20130091001 | Behavior-Based Online Deal Transactions - A system and method are provided for offering product deals to users based on the online behavior and other information of groups of users. This information associated with multiple users within groups and individuals having common interests in products to be purchased online and information associated with a finite set of data elements in the computer application are analyzed to determine a configuration of the data elements such that user access to relevant information and shopping deals is improved. In some embodiments, deals are offered to “swarms” of individuals with common interest and are made active upon acceptance of the deal by a minimum number of buyers. Deals may be automatically generated based on parameters defined by a vendor. | 04-11-2013 |
20130097001 | DYNAMIC LOYALTY SERVICE - A dynamic loyalty service system allows a product provider to create a demand plan that identifies anticipated demand for a service over a number of time segments. The dynamic loyalty service system generates the demand plan using information about historic commercial data about the service and historic patterns of usage of the product by the provider's loyalty program participants. The dynamic loyalty service system allows a user to identify targets for the various time segments, wherein the targets specify desired adjustments to the demand during the respective time segment. The dynamic loyalty service system uses the demand plan and the adjustment targets to generate a communication plan that specifies the messages to be sent to the provider's loyalty program participants and the communication modality for delivering the messages. | 04-18-2013 |
20130097002 | PREDICTIVE SHOPPING NOTIFICATIONS - This document describes techniques and apparatuses that enable predictive shopping notifications. In some embodiments, the techniques determine a purchase pattern for a product based on a user's purchase history, provide this purchase pattern to potential sellers, receive discount offers for the product from those sellers, and notify the user of these offers through his or her mobile device. By so doing, the techniques enables users to pay less for a product that the techniques predict that the user will want to purchase. Also, in some embodiments, the techniques remind a user to purchase a product based on this purchase pattern, such as through a notification indicating that the user is likely running out of that product. | 04-18-2013 |
20130103479 | Credit Referral - A social networking system leverages information obtained regarding user interactions with applications hosted through the social networking system as well as information obtained regarding purchases of application-related digital items and digital currencies to provide insight into user behavior. The social networking system can use these insights to enhance the user's experience of the applications, purchases, and the social networking system generally. For example, the social networking system can customize transaction flows, provide credit referrals, and provide users with aggregated yet personally tailored sales information. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103480 | PROVIDING COUPONS - A device is configured to receive, from a first mobile device of a first user of a group of users, information identifying a first location of the first mobile device and to receive, from a second mobile device of a second user of the group, a second location of the second mobile device. The device is further configured to determine a geographic area of a venue associated with a coupon. The device is also configured to match the coupon to the group when the first location and the second location are within the geographic area, and transmit information associated with the matched coupon to the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The group is organized by the first user or the second user for a plurality of users to receive coupons for a particular type of service associated with the matched coupon. | 04-25-2013 |
20130103481 | Systems and methods for campaign offers and rewards with offer serving engine based on digitized receipt data - A campaign offers and rewards system has an offer serving engine coupled to one or more network servers. A receipt intelligence engine includes a processor and receipt processing. The receipt processing extracts information from a receipt, including information about items purchased based on a receipt from at least one of a shopping trip and an electronic receipt from an online or offline transaction. An output outputs information. An analytics engine is coupled to the receipt intelligence engine. The analytics engine includes a predictive model function using information from the receipt processing. The analytics engine determines values representing statistical correlations from the receipt processing. | 04-25-2013 |
20130110605 | PRODUCT RECOGNITION PROMOTIONAL OFFER MATCHING | 05-02-2013 |
20130110606 | REDUCTION OF POWER CONSUMPTION USING INCENTIVES | 05-02-2013 |
20130117085 | DISTRIBUTED INCENTIVE DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION - A community of members with a set of global goals and a set of individual member goals is established. The community of members provides a set of services. Further, an analysis is performed on one or more attributes of a first plurality of customers. In addition, a set of incentives is provided to at least one a second plurality of customers to interact with at least a subset of the community of members based upon the analysis to maximize the set of global goals and the set of individual member goals. | 05-09-2013 |
20130117086 | PROMOTING OFFERS THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORK INFLUENCERS - Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities. | 05-09-2013 |
20130132183 | PROVIDING, STORING, REDEEMING, AND MANAGING PROMOTIONS - Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for providing, storing, redeeming, and managing promotions. A promotion service can be called to save, manage, or redeem promotions. The promotion service can be called to generate or provide promotions based upon contextual information. The promotion service also can be accessed to save promotions as well as to view or redeem saved promotions. In some implementations, the promotions can be stored in a promotion locker or other data storage device that is accessible to the promotion service. Promotions can be redeemed at a point of sale such as a web site or a physical retailer. In one contemplated embodiment, a user accesses the promotion service via a smart phone, and a bar code or other information associated with the promotion is displayed on the smart phone in response to a user request. | 05-23-2013 |
20130138492 | MANAGING TARGETED CUSTOMER LOYALTY PROMOTIONS - Targeted customer loyalty promotions are managed by an application through a point of sale contact. The application recognizes a customer visiting a store through communication (e.g. near field communication) with a customer device. The application receives a customer identifier (ID) from the customer device. Using the customer ID, the application retrieves a customer record matching the customer ID from a local data store of the point of sale, a networked data store, or a social network data store. The application determines customer loyalty promotions associated with the customer record and transmits the customer loyalty promotions to the customer. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138493 | EPISODIC APPROACHES FOR INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING - An advertising system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an advertising station configured to output advertising content to a potential customer and a data processing system including a processor and a memory having application instructions for execution by the processor. The application instructions may include an identification engine to identify the potential customer, a tracking engine to track encounters between the potential customer and the advertising station, and a content engine to select the advertising content to be output to the potential customer based on the tracked encounters between the potential customer and the advertising station. Additional methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed. | 05-30-2013 |
20130138494 | Method for the electronic transmission of receipts to a central database and use of the contents of the receipts thereof - A method for the electronic transmission of receipts to a central database and use of the contents thereof. The use of the contents of the receipts by the consumer and at the option of the consumer to receive coupons, discounts, information and other items from manufacturers, retailers or anyone else. The invention relates to commerce, the internet, record keeping, retail purchases, credit card charges, banking, accounts payable and receivables, marketing, purchase incentives, coupons, etc. The receipts may be transmitted at points of sale or by companies or institutions to: a website, an e-mail account, a portable wireless device, a portable device that has a wire for input, a tablet computer, a portable computer, a memory card, stick or other device. The receipt is preserved and a copy is retrievable by the consumer. | 05-30-2013 |
20130151324 | Member profile website that identifies and/or acknowledges owners of verified as authentic designer goods; and whose registered members are verified owners of authentic designer handbags, apparel, jewelry, and/or accessories - for the purpose of negatively impacting the counterfeit goods industry and identifying and acknowledging buyers of authentic designer goods, thus exposing buyers of counterfeit designer goods. - A member profile website that acknowledges and/or identifies owners of verified as authentic designer goods; and whose registered members are verified owners of authentic designer handbags, apparel, jewelry, and/or accessories—for the purpose of negatively impacting the counterfeit goods industry and identifying and acknowledging buyers of authentic designer goods, thus exposing buyers of counterfeit designer goods. | 06-13-2013 |
20130159082 | MANAGING ELECTRONIC MAIL - Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for managing electronic mail are presented. In one arrangement, a plurality of incoming emails from a first user's inbox may be displayed. An option to designate an email as a series publication may also be displayed. In response to receiving a selection of the option while at least one email is selected, a new email folder dedicated to a series publication contained in the at least one email may be automatically created. Subsequently, subsequent emails containing future issues of the series publication may be redirected to the new email folder. | 06-20-2013 |
20130159083 | ORDER RECEIVING DEVICE, ORDER RECEIVING METHOD, PROGRAM AND INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - An order receiving device ( | 06-20-2013 |
20130166366 | Meal planning and coupon dispensing - Meal planning and coupon dispensing are provided. An electronic-shopping list is created. Store-specific data is procured from third-party store websites. The store-specific data is added to the electronic-shopping list. Recipes from third-party websites are saved. The third-party recipes are parsing for ingredients. The ingredients are added to the electronic-shopping list. Manufacturer and/or coupon publisher websites are analyzed for coupons. Items on the electronic-shopping list are analyzed to maximize savings through the use of manufacturer coupons. Recipe ingredients are analyzed to maximize savings through the use of manufacturer coupons and store sales items. Recipes are ranked by the number of discounted ingredients they contain. An in-store navigation map includes an in-store application interface. Thus, an integrated approach for shopping list, coupon, and recipe management is provided. | 06-27-2013 |
20130166367 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADMINISTERING MERCHANT REWARDS TO PURCHASERS WHO INCREASE SPENDING AT PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS - The disclosure relates to, among other things, systems, methods, and computer-readable media for rewarding a purchaser for increasing their purchase volume with at least one participating merchant. Embodiments may comprise offering an incentive for the purchaser to increase their purchase volume with the participating merchant. Embodiments may further comprise obtaining a first set of electronic transactions between the purchaser and the participating merchant. Embodiments may further comprise determining a merchant baseline for the purchaser based on the first set of electronic transactions. Embodiments may further comprise obtaining a second set of electronic transactions between the purchaser and the participating merchant. Embodiments may further comprise comparing the second set of electronic transactions to the merchant baseline. Embodiments may further comprise providing the reward to the purchaser based on the comparison. | 06-27-2013 |
20130179247 | Frequency Reward Method and System for Matching a Debit Card Buyer with an Advertiser Willing to Pay for a Sale - A method is provided for rewarding purchasers of prepaid debit cards and card reload packs by providing incentives based on the purchasers' buying history and user profile. | 07-11-2013 |
20130185129 | Methods and Systems of Payment for Automatic Generation of Discount Transactions - Due to increased competition in the financial services market for merchants, merchant acquiring banks, payment processors, and card-issuing banks, a method and system of payment for automatic generation of discount transactions is offered. Any actor in the purchasing process generates discounts automatically by receiving a purchase transaction dataset, comparing available discount datasets, and asynchronously generating a discount in a manner more accessible than coupons or reward cards. | 07-18-2013 |
20130191199 | DYNAMIC OFFERS - A computer-based method of managing electronic transactions is described. A dynamic amount is dynamically determined based on historic transaction data of a plurality of first charge requests of a consumer account. A merchant offer is associated with the consumer account, including the dynamic amount. A transaction is then processed, including receiving a second charge request, and processing the second charge request based on the dynamic amount. | 07-25-2013 |
20130204688 | COIN COUNTING MACHINES HAVING COUPON CAPABILITIES, LOYALTY PROGRAM CAPABILITIES, ADVERTISING CAPABILITIES, AND THE LIKE - Systems and methods for providing coupons, including targeted coupons associated with, for example, loyalty programs and the like from coin counting kiosks are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for providing a coupon includes receiving coins from a consumer and counting the coins to determine a value. The method further includes providing a voucher to the consumer that is redeemable for cash and/or merchandise. The method can further include providing a coupon to the consumer that is based at least in part on prior purchase information associated with the consumer. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211899 | CONSUMER PROMOTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A retail promotion management system presents a consumer with a set of retail promotions. The consumer selects a set of retail promotions to store in the consumer's account. When the consumer makes a purchase, the consumer provides the system with retail store receipt data, which will includes information indicating that the consumer has purchased the promoted product. The system verifies the transaction and then issues a reward to the consumer, based on the retail promotion. Sellers also may upload retail promotions to the system for presentation to the consumer as candidate promotions. | 08-15-2013 |
20130238413 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROCESS OFFERS VIA MOBILE DEVICES - A mobile device is configured with a mobile application to direct a user to a location of more interest to the user based on benefits of offers provided to the user. The mobile application may be configured to capture an image of an offer presented in an advertisement via a digital camera, identify the offer from the image, and store data associating the offer with one or more accounts of the user. The mobile application is configured to present information to suggest a direction of travel to the user for improved opportunities to take advantage of the offers. | 09-12-2013 |
20130246147 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING IMAGING AND OTHER DIGITAL REPRESENTATIONS OF RECEIPTS TO IMPART INCENTIVES ON USERS - The disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing a card-less reward program that awards rewards based on purchase data determined from digital representations of sales receipts, and facilitating analytics related to the reward program, feedback from customers, and detection of fraudulent reward redemptions. A reward server may receive a digital representation of a sales receipt, determine purchase data based on the digital representation, and determine one or more rewards to be awarded based on the determined purchase data. The reward server may generate a code in association with the one or more rewards that can be used for auditing purposes to determine whether a reward was fraudulently obtained. The reward server may provide analytics and customer surveys to determine the effectiveness of reward programs and/or other merchant efforts to build and enhance customer loyalty. | 09-19-2013 |
20130246148 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMERS OF A RETAIL ENTERPRISE WITH EARNABLE REWARDS - A shopper reward server includes a communication module to receive purchase transaction data from a plurality of purchase interfaces of a retail enterprise, a database having stored therein a plurality of shopper purchase histories each including purchase transaction data for item purchases made over time by a different one of a corresponding plurality of shoppers, a transaction module to store purchase transaction data for each shopper in a corresponding shopper purchase history, and a shopper reward module to selectively generate for any of the shoppers at least one earn requirement, based on that shopper's purchase history, that must be satisfied by the shopper via at least one purchase made via any of the purchase interfaces in order to earn a corresponding discount reward redeemable against at least one specified item via any of the purchase interfaces. | 09-19-2013 |
20130254006 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING COMMERCIAL DATA AT A STORE - The subject matter discloses a method, comprising identifying a customer in a retail store; obtaining personal data related to the customer; obtaining commercial data related to the customer; transmitting a message comprising the personal data and the commercial data to a computerized device accessible to an employee of the retail store; wherein the method is performed by a processor. In some cases, the method further comprises obtaining try-on data related to the customer and transmitting the try-on data related to the customer to the computerized device accessible to the employee of the retail store. In some cases, the method further comprises a step of recommending an article to be suggested to the customer based on the commercial data and adding data related to the article to be suggested to the message transmitted to the computerized device accessible to the employee of the retail store. | 09-26-2013 |
20130254007 | Flash Sale Systems - An apparatus and method are disclosed for receiving the identities of a plurality of users that register to be notified when a flash sale occurs. The identities of the plurality of users are ranked in a queue. When one of the plurality of users purchases a product in a flash sale, the rank of the user in the queue is improved. Variable item price discounts may be offered to users in a flash sale based on rank or based on demand (or lack thereof). If the item is a limited inventory item, discounts may be offered to the highest ranking members. Flash sales may be created based on comparison of registered user product preferences and product inventory. | 09-26-2013 |
20130268340 | Method and System for Geographically Mapping Financial Transaction Data - A method of geographically mapping financial transactions may include receiving transaction data associated with an account and a financial transaction, and mapping an indicator representing the financial transaction based on the transaction location. The mapping of the financial transactions provides the account holder with a visual summary of financial transactions and may be used to detect various patterns or potential fraud. The method may include organizing financial transactions according to a transaction status, and setting a characteristic of the indicator based on the transaction status. In addition, the method may include correlating merchant data with the geographic location of the transaction occurrence, where an invoice address of the merchant data is not the same as the transaction location, and where the transaction location is determined using an address or latitude-longitude coordinates. Further, the merchant data may be associated with a public name of a merchant. | 10-10-2013 |
20130297391 | RULE-BASED OFFER ASSOCIATION - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for implementing rule-based offer association, queuing input information for performing rule-based offer association, and implementing an intelligent offer tool for determining whether to present an offer to a user. The invention enables an entity to send targeted offers to a user that enables the user to receive at least one of a discount or a rebate on a purchase from a merchant. | 11-07-2013 |
20130297392 | INTELLIGENT OFFER TOOL - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for implementing rule-based offer association, queuing input information for performing rule-based offer association, and implementing an intelligent offer tool for determining whether to present an offer to a user. The invention enables an entity to send targeted offers to a user that enables the user to receive at least one of a discount or a rebate on a purchase from a merchant. | 11-07-2013 |
20130304557 | ONLINE REWARD POINT EXCHANGE METHOD AND SYSTEM WITH REWARD TRANSACTIONS BASED ON USER PROFILES - An online reward exchange system and method of operation, which includes an exchange computer that interoperates via a computer network with user computers, reward point issuer computers, and merchant computers. The merchants' products may be purchased by a user by requesting an issuer(s) to redeem reward points in exchange for payment to the merchant for the product. The exchange computer is the gateway to the system and manages various transactions such as providing online product catalogs to users that list the merchants products, as well as displaying to the user the reward points he has available in his reward programs with the issuers. Once a user selects a desired product the exchange computer can mediate or manage the purchase transaction in which reward points are redeemed by the selected issuer and consideration is conveyed to the merchant in exchange for the merchant providing the product to the user. | 11-14-2013 |
20130332252 | Real-Time Loyalty Management Engine - An interaction event associated with a customer is received by a real-time loyalty management engine executing on at least one data processor from an application. Thereafter, the engine retrieves data responsive to the interaction event that characterizes at least one loyalty program associated with the customer and a plurality of offerings. Next, the engine determines which of the offerings is most likely to result in an optimal conversion event based on the data characterizing the at least one loyalty program. The engine then transmits data to the application characterizing the determined offering to enable a transaction to be initiated based on the determined offering. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. | 12-12-2013 |
20130339119 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING OFFER ELIGIBILITY USING A PREDICATE LOGIC TREE AGAINST SETS OF INPUT DATA - Example computer executable instructions for determining a consumer's offer eligibility using a predicate logic tree against sets of input data are provided. In particular, the disclosed examples recite a rewards engine capable of determining a consumer's offer eligibility using a predicate logic tree against sets of input data. The rewards engine applies rules that are relevant to a particular deal offered by a retail establishment to the consumer's records to determine the consumer's offer eligibility. In some examples, the rewards engine sorts or partially sorts some or all of the consumer's records to determine the consumer's offer eligibility. | 12-19-2013 |
20130339120 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING OFFER ELIGIBILITY USING A PREDICATE LOGIC TREE AGAINST SETS OF INPUT DATA - Example computer executable instructions for determining result eligibility using a predicate logic tree against sets of input data are provided. In particular, the disclosed instructions identify a plurality of rules that have a logical relationship and select input data for analysis under the plurality of rules. The instructions evaluate a set of requirements defining the plurality of rules against the input data and resolve the logical relationship of the plurality of rules to determine result eligibility. | 12-19-2013 |
20130339121 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED EVENT ENTRY AT TRANSACTION COMPLETION - The present invention generally relates to the entry of events (e.g., donations, contests, rewards programs). Specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for providing automatic entry into an event at the completion of a transaction. | 12-19-2013 |
20130346177 | Real-World Profile Data for Making Virtual World Contacts - A method and system provides arrangements creating a relationship between a real-world entity and a virtual world environment. A virtual world patron can participate in various virtual world activities and transactions. Feedback may be provided and records kept regarding the virtual world activities and transactions. The virtual world patron may be a possible recipient of a real-world consequence or benefit based on a virtual world occurrence. In some instances confirmation of an awarded real-world benefit may be provided via a communication interconnection. Real-world profile data may be used in connection with promotional activities in a virtual world environment. | 12-26-2013 |
20140006132 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING PROMOTIONAL OFFERS | 01-02-2014 |
20140012649 | ALLOCATING OFFER SAVINGS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for allocating offer savings to a non-profit organization. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: determine a purchase associated with an offer, wherein the offer enables a user to receive at least one of a rebate or discount on the purchase; determine whether an option to donate the rebate or discount amount to a non-profit organization is selected; and in response to determining the option to donate the rebate or discount amount to the non-profit organization is selected, increase the rebate or discount amount by a predetermined amount. | 01-09-2014 |
20140025465 | Tracking Pre-Purchase/Post-Purchase Shopping Activity - A mechanism is provided for tracking and facilitating pre-shopping/post-purchase activity. An indication is received that a user has completed a task in a set of tasks of a quest, where the quest is a pre-purchase/post-purchase shopping activity quest. Verification is made as to whether the task has been completed. Responsive to verifying the task has been completed, a determination is made as to whether all of the set of tasks of the quest have been completed. Responsive to all of the set of tasks being completed, a presentation is initiated of an agreed-upon reward to the user. All information from quest is then submitted to a sponsor of the quest. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025466 | System and Apparatus for Linking Multiple Rewards Programs to Promote The Purchase of Specific Product Mixes - A method and system for linking multiple pre-existing reward programs is disclosed. The method includes receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, where the first reward program provides for a first reward, and receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward. A combination reward program is provided, and the combination reward program provides a combination reward that is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward. | 01-23-2014 |
20140032296 | MOBILE COMMERCE FRAMEWORK - A subscription-based system for providing commerce information for one or more mobile devices for one or more merchants. Some techniques employed feature a subscription-based method for presenting commercial resources to a mobile device. The method involves receiving mobile device user information relating to a geographic location to locate one or more merchants within a subscription-based shopping network, and receiving mobile device user information relating to a merchant type within the subscription-based shopping network. The method also involves receiving, from a database over a communication network, information for one or more merchants associated with the mobile device user information for the geographic location and the merchant type, and presenting the associated merchant information on the mobile device. The associated merchant information can include a merchant name and address, a merchant telephone number, a merchant advertisement, a merchant coupon, or a merchant product or service offering to subscribers of the shopping network. | 01-30-2014 |
20140040000 | SERVER APPARATUS AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A server apparatus includes an entry detection unit that detects an entry by a user from a terminal device; an entry condition determining unit that determines whether the entry satisfies a predetermined entry condition; an entry history storing unit that stores at least a history of the entry that satisfies the predetermined entry condition; a predetermined entry data providing unit that stores data indicating that the entry satisfies the predetermined entry condition as the history in the entry history storing unit; an editing unit that accepts an edition to the history under a condition that a predetermined counter value by the user is accepted; a prize condition determining unit that determines, in a current condition, whether the history satisfies the prize condition; and a prize providing unit that provides a prize to the user when, in the current condition, the history satisfies the prize condition. | 02-06-2014 |
20140067505 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERSONALIZATION OF VOUCHERS - The subject matter discloses a method, comprising obtaining transaction history of a specific customer at a voucher related business, predicting future transactions of the specific customer at the voucher related business according to the transaction history of a specific customer, said future transactions are associated with a predefined time range; determining a personalized voucher to be issued to the specific customer for the predefined time range to be redeemed at the voucher related business according to the predicted future transactions, wherein at least one step of the method is performed by a processor. | 03-06-2014 |
20140095285 | SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATING CONSUMER SHOPPING PURCHASE-DECISION - A method comprises: (a) receiving from a mobile device (MD) a first list identifying an item and a store list identifying a store. The first list of items at each store represents a basket; (b) for each store, performing in a computer remote from the MD a comparison calculation among baskets. The calculation is performed at the category or lower level, identifying a combination of commercial substitutes or at least SKU's, corresponding to items in the basket, that best satisfies the comparison calculation for each basket; (c) after step (b), receiving from a computer implemented direct marketing campaign management system, a retail incentive offer; and (d) after step (c), transmitting to the MD identification of a recommended store, or a second list containing a set of respective SKU level descriptors that best satisfy the comparison calculation for the basket, and results corresponding to the baskets for the other store. | 04-03-2014 |
20140100932 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING AND MANIPULATING TRANSACTION DATA - Described herein are apparatus and methods for collecting and manipulating transaction data. For example, presented herein is an apparatus including: a first I/O port; a second I/O port of a same type as the first I/O port, wherein the second I/O port is connected to the first I/O port such that data passed into the first I/O port is allowed to pass through the apparatus to the second I/O port unimpeded in at least a first operating mode; a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to: collect information passed from a first computing device connected to the first I/O port to a second computing device connected to the second I/O port, identify, from the information, transaction data; and provide, to a third computing device, the transaction data. | 04-10-2014 |
20140114736 | CONSUMER VENDING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A coupon dispensing module for use in conjunction with a vending machine includes a selection mechanism adapted to interrogate a database to determine whether a desired coupon corresponds to the desired product, a printing mechanism adapted to print the desired coupon, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the desired coupon upon the receipt of an actuating signal, and a control circuit coupled to the vending machine, the control circuit operating to interrogate the database to determine whether the desired coupon is available, operate the printing mechanism based on requirements of the desired coupon, and provide the actuating signal to the dispensing mechanism. | 04-24-2014 |
20140122208 | CROWDSOURCED BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing crowdsourced contest for a behavior modification plan such as a plan to modify a user's diet, spending habits, or meals. A contest definition may be formulated based on a request received from the user and an analysis of the user's purchase history. The contest may be published to potential respondents based on analysis of the respondent's own purchase history. Payments may be authorized upon selection of a respondent's plan. The user's purchasing activity may be monitored and reported to the selected respondent to facilitate coaching. Coaching activity may be facilitated and or detected and payment authorized for such activity. Achievement of goals may be verified using the purchase activity of the user and payment authorized to the selected respondent to the extent goals are achieved. | 05-01-2014 |
20140122209 | CROWDSOURCED BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing crowdsourced contest for a behavior modification plan such as a plan to modify a user's diet, spending habits, or meals. A contest definition may be formulated based on a request received from the user and an analysis of the user's purchase history. The contest may be published to potential respondents based on analysis of the respondent's own purchase history. Payments may be authorized upon selection of a respondent's plan. The user's purchasing activity may be monitored and reported to the selected respondent to facilitate coaching. Coaching activity may be facilitated and or detected and payment authorized for such activity. Achievement of goals may be verified using the purchase activity of the user and payment authorized to the selected respondent to the extent goals are achieved. | 05-01-2014 |
20140129313 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE AN OFFER CAMPAIGN BASED ON TRANSACTIONS WITH DIFFERENT MERCHANTS - Systems and methods configured to allow an offer campaign to be specified based on event requirements associated with multiple, different merchants. The event requirements are linked via prerequisite conditions to form the offer campaign. Each event may identify an event related to one merchant (e.g., a payment transaction for a purchase from the merchant) and an optional action to be performed in response to a user satisfying the requirements of the event. Each merchant in the offer campaign is allowed to insert an event related to the merchant, subsequently edit the inserted event, and identify other events in the offer campaign as prerequisite requirements of the event related to the merchant. Merchants may be prevented from inserting or editing events specific to other merchants. | 05-08-2014 |
20140136307 | USER MAP FOR EVENT OFFERS - A user is presented with locations on a map of where the user can redeem offers at an event venue. The locations may show the closest locations to the user's seat, the locations with the shortest or fastest lines, locations that have a user's size or favorite color in stock for apparel, and/or locations that provide the user more specific information than just where an incentive can be used. | 05-15-2014 |
20140156371 | Dynamic Delivery and Use of Electronic Incentives - A host system for a merchant to distributing and redeeming incentives to a consumer is provided. The merchant may create an incentive with specifications that determine the value of the incentive and to which consumers the incentive is available. The consumer may create a list of products, which the host system matches to a database of created incentives. The consumer may select and use one of more of the incentives and also may share incentives with other consumers. The host system also provides for the verification and confirmation of incentive use, thus allowing the issuer and the host system to track incentive efficiency. The host system also allows for dynamic incentive value determination based on consumer activity, such as sharing the incentive, incentive usage, reviewing products, or posting in a forum. | 06-05-2014 |
20140164087 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE BASED REWARDS - Systems and methods are disclosed for providing social-media influence based rewards to a customer. The systems and methods may provide incentives to customers of financial-service providers based on their influence in social media. A level of social-media influence may be determined for the customer by gathering data regarding the customer's social network profiles. Based on the level of social-media influence, an amount of rewards may be provided for business transactions initiated by the customer. | 06-12-2014 |
20140195320 | Systems and Methods to Determine the Name of a Physical Business Location Visited by a User of a Wireless Device and Redeem a Coupon at the Physical Business Location - Methods and systems that record the location of a user and transmit targeted content to a user based upon their current and past location. A network is configured to include a server programmed with a database of targeted content, a database of location information, a database of user information, a database searching algorithm, and a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the user's mobile device. The location of the mobile device is ascertained and recorded. Targeted content may be sent to the mobile device of the user and whether the user visits the physical locations associated with the targeted content is monitored. Once it is verified that the user has visited the physical location, then any associated promotional offers may be authorized. Payment systems, phone exchange systems, and other features may also be integrated to provide detailed conversion tracking to producers of targeted content and business owners. | 07-10-2014 |
20140222537 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An information processing system includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire pieces of first information for a plurality of services to which a user has subscribed, respectively, each piece of first information containing reduction terms for reducing a fee for the corresponding service; a second acquisition unit configured to acquire pieces of second information for the services, respectively, each piece of second information indicating a usage of the corresponding service; a determination unit configured to determine whether a value according to the piece of second information corresponding to the service satisfies the reduction terms for each of the services; and a processor configured to perform a process for reducing the fee for the service on each of the services when the services include a service for which it is determined that the value according to the piece of second information satisfies the reduction terms. | 08-07-2014 |
20140222538 | CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT FOR AN ORGANIZATION - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for customer experience management for an organization. Embodiments of the invention can be used to monitor and analyze customer activity. From larger volumes of data, data can be concentrated to identify events with higher relevance to customer or guest experiences with the organization. Data can be correlated with customer or guest experiences to provide more personalized experiences in the future. Embodiments include event processing rules. Event processing rules can be used to provide more intelligent rewards to customers or guests. Event processing rules can also be used to synthesize other events. Embodiments can apply data analytics at a range of organizational levels (e.g., operator to management level) to improve customer or guest experiences. Embodiments can provide visualizations to an organization to present correlated trend data about customers or guests. | 08-07-2014 |
20140236695 | TRANSACTION LOG FOR LOYALTY BASED OFFERS AND AWARDS - Financial transactions are tracked and a communication thread related to a financial transaction is generated. A reward stimulus is offered as part of and related to the communication thread. A third party vendor or a bank server can identify the communication thread and initiate a communication with the reward stimulus. A behavior profile can be generated based on the financial transaction and personal data including purchases tracked and spending habits. A communication exchange can be initiated on a mobile device as part of the communication thread based on predetermined options such as important dates, a geophysical location, social networking activity, a reminder, the behavioral profile, an inquiry and/or feedback received or published. | 08-21-2014 |
20140244372 | VALIDATING INTERNET AD CONVERSIONS - The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for selling advertising space for display of advertising on a website. A data broker, who controls a website, obtains information from customers, the information including identifying data, behavioral data, and demographic data concerning the customers. The data broker also obtains permission from the customers to provide this information to advertisers on the website and to track purchases made after receiving the advertising. The data broker then sells advertising space to advertisers and provides the advertisers with access to the customers' information. When the customers make purchases from the advertisers that can be attributed to the advertising, the data broker collects a payment from the advertisers and returns a portion of the payment to the customers. The customers benefit from this arrangement by receiving something in return for their purchases. The advertiser benefits by being able to target advertising to customers based on the information. The data broker benefits by collecting a payment for the sale of advertising space that is higher than would otherwise be possible. | 08-28-2014 |
20140249906 | MEDIA ITEM COLLECTION PRE-ORDER FULFILLMENT - Fulfilling a pre-order for a collection of media items in an online store and enforcing one or more pricing schemes which adjust the price charged for the collection of media items purchased as a pre-order. | 09-04-2014 |
20140249907 | METHOD TO RAISE ACCURACY OF TARGETING THE SEGMENTATION FOR SAMPLE DISTRIBUTION - There is provided a center server and a store terminal to enhance the targeting accuracy in providing services. The center server gives a unique ID to a member application, sends it to a particular mobile information terminal and manages it as authentication information about a member who is the user of the mobile information terminal. In response to purchases of a particular article by the member, the store terminal inputs the ID from the mobile information terminal and inputs purchase information about the article the member purchases. The center server then acquires attribute information about a member identified by the ID. Then, by checking the purchase information, the attribute information and service information set in association with attribute information about the member and kinds of articles and stored in particular storage means, information about a service to be provided for the member is identified. | 09-04-2014 |
20140278878 | Increase Value of Consumer Coupons - Web page data is generated for rendering coupons, for a currency of value available to a user for increasing a value of the coupons and for one or more activities that can be used to increase the currency of value. When at least one of the activities has been completed by the user, the currency of value is increased by an amount specified by the activity that has been completed. A selection is received of a coupon whose value is to be increased. Additional web page data is generated to including dollar amounts to which the coupon may be increased. When the user selects one of the dollar amounts, a number of the currency of value is determined corresponding to the selected dollar amount. The value of the coupon is increased by the selected dollar amount. The currency of value available to the user are decreased by the number of the currency of value corresponding to the dollar amount. | 09-18-2014 |
20140304053 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AN OCCUPANT OF A VEHICLE - Providing information to an occupant of a vehicle. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: identifying an occupant of a vehicle, the identifying creates an indicia of occupant identity; determining an identity of the vehicle, the determining creates an indicia of vehicle identity; tracking location of the vehicle when occupied by the occupant; and providing information to the occupant, the information selected based on the indicia of occupant identity, the indicia of vehicle identity, and/or the locations of vehicle when occupied by the occupant. | 10-09-2014 |
20140310082 | SYSTEM TO PROVIDE PRICE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON INDICATED PRODUCT INTEREST - A system to provide price adjustments based on indicated product interest includes reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a first product, reception of an indication from a customer of interest in a second product, determination of a price adjustment for the second product based on the indication of interest in the first product, and transmission of the price adjustment to the customer. By virtue of the foregoing features, a retailer may be willing to provide a price adjustment for the second product which would otherwise not be provided. Moreover, such a price adjustment may incent the customer to purchase the second product in a case that the second product would not otherwise be purchased, thereby potentially increasing a total profit received by the retailer. | 10-16-2014 |
20140316875 | METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTING A PRICE OF A VENDED PRODUCT - One variation of a method for dynamically pricing vended products includes: identifying a purchase pattern of a user at a vending machine; in response to an approaching sell-by date for a unit of a product loaded into the vending machine and based on the purchase pattern, setting a discount rate for the unit of the product for the user; transmitting an electronic communication to an account associated with the user, the electronic communication indicating the discount rate for the unit of the product; identifying the user in a transaction initiated at the vending machine; and in response to selection of the unit of the product from the vending machine during the transaction, initiating a payment with a payment mechanism supplied by the user according to the discount rate. | 10-23-2014 |
20140324562 | RECOMMENDING VIRTUAL REWARD OFFERS AND AWARDING VIRTUAL REWARDS - In an embodiment, a method performed by one or more computing devices comprises storing, for one or more marketplace associated applications, interaction information that identifies, for each particular application of said one or more marketplace associated applications, a list of devices that interacted with an instance of the particular application; receiving, from a requesting device, a request for a list of offer eligible applications; determining, based on said interaction information, a set of applications associated with the requesting device; based on said determination of the set of applications associated with the requesting device, sending a list of one or more selected eligible applications to the requesting device. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330628 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CARD-LESS REWARD PROGRAM - Disclosed is a card-less reward system providing buyers with promotional offers and engendering buyers to be rewarded by submitting receipts obtained from sellers. A method for rewarding the buyers comprises providing to a buyer a list of promotional offers for a product or service of at least one seller, allowing the buyer to accept electronically at least one promotional offer, and allowing the buyer to submit a digital image of at least one receipt obtained from the seller, which offered the accepted promotional offer. The method further comprises processing received image to retrieve purchase data, and rewarding the buyer in response to the retrieved purchase data. | 11-06-2014 |
20140337114 | Application Activity System - A data connection method for establishing a data connection between a bandwidth user (an application user) of a network connected user access device and a data source on a network connected target device over a communication network relating to the provision of data connection services to the user utilizing a subsidized application to allow the user of the subsidized application access to at least one target devices via a communication network, the method comprising: providing, via the communication network, a content and services brokerage engine, including a content and services brokerage engine web site store front, providing, via the web site, an online sale of a data connectivity package to at least one provider of a subsidized application; and, accepting, via the web site the purchase by a provider of a subsidized application of the at least one data connectivity package for inclusion by the provider of the subsidized application into a subsidized application to be used by a user of the subsidized application to access at least one target device as specified by the provider of the subsidized application on a data connection basis. | 11-13-2014 |
20140344042 | MOBILE COMMERCE FRAMEWORK - A subscription-based system for providing commerce information for one or more mobile devices for one or more merchants. Some techniques employed feature a subscription-based method for presenting commercial resources to a mobile device. The method involves receiving mobile device user information relating to a geographic location to locate one or more merchants within a subscription-based shopping network, and receiving mobile device user information relating to a merchant type within the subscription-based shopping network. The method also involves receiving, from a database over a communication network, information for one or more merchants associated with the mobile device user information for the geographic location and the merchant type, and presenting the associated merchant information on the mobile device. The associated merchant information can include a merchant name and address, a merchant telephone number, a merchant advertisement, a merchant coupon, or a merchant product or service offering to subscribers of the shopping network. | 11-20-2014 |
20140358660 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OFFERING PRODUCTS USING LINKED TRANSACTIONS - The disclosed embodiments include methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for providing offers for linked transactions. Transaction data corresponding to a first product physically purchased using a financial service account and product identification data identifying the first purchased product are received. The transaction data and the product identification data are associated. A consumer that purchased the first product is determined based on at least the transaction data. Follow-on purchase to offer for sale to the consumer based on the product identification data is determined and a follow-up purchase offer to purchase the follow-on product is generated. The consumer is provided with the follow-on purchase offer to enable the consumer to purchase the follow-on product in an electronic commerce purchase transaction. | 12-04-2014 |
20140365287 | Loyalty Point Reward System - A method to configure a loyalty points reward program, where the method configures a loyalty program server comprising computer readable program code to configure a loyalty point merchant consortium and a loyalty point customer consortium comprising a plurality of participating consumers. The method further dynamically sets a universal loyalty point value, and determines a quantity of universal loyalty points to allocate to the first customer based upon prior purchases made by the first consumer from the plurality of participating merchants. | 12-11-2014 |
20140379450 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MATCH SALES WITH COUPONS - Techniques for generating matchups of sale and coupon deals are described. For example, deal data that pertains to a sale deal and a coupon deal is received. A sale brand identification and a coupon brand identification are identified based on the deal data. A first set of deal data including the sale brand identification and corresponding to the sale deal, and a second set of deal data including the coupon brand identification and corresponding to a coupon deal are determined based on the deal data. A matchup of the sale deal and the coupon deal is generated based on matching the sale brand identification and the coupon brand identification, detecting a sale deal type in the first set of deal data and a coupon deal type in the second set of data, and determining that a sale deal's and a coupon deal's validity periods overlap and have not expired. | 12-25-2014 |
20140379451 | TARGETED-ADVERTISEMENT-BASED EVENT SAVINGS PROGRAM - Approaches to facilitating targeted-advertisement-based event savings programs are provided. In certain implementations, a product or service type may be associated with a user. An advertisement identifying a product or service that relates to the associated product or service type may be provided for presentation to the user. A purchase of the product or service by the user responsive to providing the advertisement may be determined. An amount may be credited to an account on behalf of a beneficiary associated with user based on the purchase of the product or service by the user. In some implementations, a credit amount associated with purchasing the product or service may be determined. An estimated future value of the credit amount with respect to a time that corresponds to a predetermined life event associated with the account may be determined. The estimated future value may be provided for presentation to the user. | 12-25-2014 |
20150032525 | USING TRANSACTION HISTORY TO INCENTIVIZE THE USE OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION BANK CARD - Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus, methods, and computer program products for using transaction history to incentivize the use of a financial institution bank card. In some embodiments, an apparatus is configured to receive an information associated with a transaction history from a structured database associated with a customer's financial institution account, wherein the information is a recurring periodic payment; identify a first payment type associated with the information received, wherein the first payment type is not associated with the financial institution; and provide an incentive to the customer to use a second payment type instead of the first payment type, wherein the second payment type is associated with the financial institution. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032526 | PRODUCT EVALUATION BASED ON ELECTRONIC RECEIPT DATA - Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing product evaluation. An exemplary apparatus is configured to identify purchase transaction data associated with identified electronic communications between a merchant and a customer, the purchase transaction data includes product level data from a transaction, receive the identified purchase transaction data, the purchase transaction data is received in an unstructured format, convert the purchase transaction data from the unstructured format to a structured format, associate the structured purchase transaction data with the customer's online banking application, aggregate purchase transaction data related to one or more products purchased by the customer, determine one or more products are purchased on a recurring basis, and provide the customer with one or more options based at least partially on determining the one or more products are purchased on a recurring basis. | 01-29-2015 |
20150058109 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FINANCIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS AND DATA MANAGEMENT - The principles and embodiments of the present invention relate to a system for facilitating an interaction between a person (group or sponsor) and a merchant. In some embodiments, a system is provided in which the person electronically institutes a promise to spend a specific amount of money on purchases with the particular merchant in a specific time period and the merchant electronically institutes a savings offer on transactions made using a credit or debit card in exchange for the customer setting aside the predetermined amount of money. The system can comprise an account management system, user interface, first communication system, merchant interface system, second communication system and payment processor that may be dispersed elements or nodes interconnected by communication lines. | 02-26-2015 |
20150066621 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ADVERTISEMENTS TO CUSTOMERS - A method and apparatus for providing targeted advertisements are provided herein. During operation a system will determine a shopper's intent based on the shopper's attire (i.e., what the shopper is wearing and/or carrying). Specific advertisements will be sent to the shopper based on the shopper's attire. Because advertisements will be provided to shoppers based on the shopper's attire, shoppers will be more likely to receive an advertisement better tailored to their current needs. | 03-05-2015 |
20150073889 | Dynamic Retailer Rewards Based on Attributes of Historical Transactions and Calculated Values - A system and method are described for providing dynamic retailer rewards. A database stores transaction data identifying attributes of a plurality of past purchases by a purchaser at a respective plurality of different retailers associated with one or more predefined retail sectors. An analytical engine calculates a customer value index (CVI) and a customer engagement index (CEI) for the purchaser based on attributes of the stored transaction data, the CVI indicative of a value of the purchaser to an identified retailer or retail sector based on the attributes of past purchases, and the CEI indicative of a level of engagement by the purchaser with the identified retailer or retail sector. A reward determiner calculates a dynamic reward for the purchaser based on the calculated CVI and CEI, the reward being redeemable by the purchaser against a purchase transaction at the identified retailer or a retailer of the identified retail sector. | 03-12-2015 |
20150081414 | LOTTERY PROMOTION - The present invention relates to a lottery promotional method. The method involves the step of receiving, with a server, confirmation of a ticket purchaser being at a geographic location to qualify for a promotional offer offered in conjunction with a lottery ticket purchase. The geographic location may include either a display or a reseller store. The server may receive a QR code to qualify for the promotional offer. | 03-19-2015 |
20150081415 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING A PROMOTIONAL REWARD PROGRAM - Methods and apparatus for implementing promotional reward programs are provided. One or more images of a proof of purchase are transmitted to a remote location by a mobile device. If it is determined that the one or more images meet predetermined criteria and if the transmission is eligible for a reward, the reward is instantly transmitted to the mobile device. According to another embodiment, one or more images of an item identifier provided on one or more products or displays or a text message containing the item identifier are transmitted to a promotional reward program managing apparatus by a mobile device. If it is determined that the one or more images of the item identifier or a text message containing the item identifier meet predetermined criteria and if the transmission is eligible for a reward, the reward is instantly transmitted to the consumer through the mobile device or through a loyalty program account number. | 03-19-2015 |
20150100403 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF INCENTIVE INFORMATION BASED ON USER PROXIMITY - A method and system for the electronic distribution of product or service promotion information to a mobile user are disclosed. A user may provide profile information to an online promotion service, such as user interests and preferences with respect to products and services as well as other information. The online promotion service may receive location information of point-of-sale facilities associated with particular promotions for products or services. The online promotion service may generate one or more targeted promotions to a mobile user when the user travels within a predetermined distance of an associated point-of-sale facility. A mobile user's location may be identified by a global positioning system and conveyed to the online promotion service. The user location information may be transmitted via a cell phone, a PDA, a pager or other device. This enables the user to take advantage of targeted or requested promotions while the user is within a close proximity to an associated point-of-sale facility. | 04-09-2015 |
20150106183 | METHOD AND PROCESS FOR AUTOMATIC SOCIAL COUPON CODE GENERATION AND TRACKING IN A TEMPLATE-BASED LOCAL PROMOTION SYSTEM - A system and method to provide customized coupons, the method including: receiving, by a user terminal used by a requesting user, radio-frequency (RF) signals containing information usable to determine position; determining a location of the user terminal from the RF signals; determining participating merchants within a configurable distance threshold of the location of the user terminal; retrieving a coupon template from a database, wherein the coupon template identifies business-related boundaries of an offer from a participating merchant; customizing the coupon template, by use of a media data object, to create a customized coupon; and providing the customized coupon to be shared with a recipient user. | 04-16-2015 |
20150120421 | CUSTOMER PURCHASING PREFERENCE PROFILES BASED ON COUPON CHOICES - According to an aspect, a method for creating or improving customer preference profiles includes providing a decision coupon to a customer with two or more promotional options directed to related items selected to ascertain a purchasing preference associated with the related items through selection of one of the promotional options. A selection of one of the promotional options is received and an indication of the selected promotional option is stored in a purchasing preference profile for the customer. The indication of the selected option is used to update an affinity for a product or product category for the customer within the customer's purchasing preference profile. | 04-30-2015 |
20150120422 | PRESENTATION OF PURCHASING INCENTIVES - Systems and methods for creating a presentation of purchase incentives to a shopper. A presentation to present to a shopper is created. A depiction of a store layout is depicted on the presentation, where the store layout depicts a plurality of areas with each area being associated with a respective set of associated items within a plurality of items offered for purchase. A respective depiction is depicted, on the presentation of the store layout, for each of at least one purchase incentive. Each purchase incentive has a respective associated item within a plurality of items offered for purchase. The respective depiction is graphically linked to a respective area that is associated with the respective associated item. | 04-30-2015 |
20150127445 | Customer Loyalty System and Method - A loyalty system and a method for customer retention that enables users with mobile devices to interface with venues through a loyalty system using a single application. The application is fully customizable based on the preferences of the venue and the customer and may display different information depending on the venue, location of the user, day, or time at which the customer is present at a venue. The customer interacts with the venue through the loyalty system and may set criteria for rewards and promotions. The loyalty system allows end users to participate in real-time events, receive relevant entertainment information, and receive rewards for participation. Venues may reward end users for participation and target incentives based on preferences of the venue which may be determined by the information collected or according to a schedule. | 05-07-2015 |
20150127446 | SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTION NETWORK FOR DYNAMIC SAVINGS ALLOCATION MODELING - A system and method for allowing a customer to create savings goals for one or more savings categories is provided. More particularly, the customer is enabled to contribute to the one or more savings categories an amount of funds equal to the sum of annuity payment amounts and customer-specified percentages of payroll deposits. When a predetermined number of customers meet and/or exceed a common savings goal, the customers who met and/or exceeded the common savings goal is presented with an offer featuring a discounted group rate based on the predetermined number of customers who met and/or exceeded the common savings goal. The savings goal(s) of each customer may be adjusted based on other savings goal balances. | 05-07-2015 |
20150142548 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE UTILIZATION OF MANUFACTURING MACHINES IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for improving the utilization of manufacturing machines in manufacturing processes. In a typical implementation, manufacturing machine utilization is improved by publishing a schedule of Production Events, accepting customer orders within Production Events, and calculating prices for the customers modified based on the customer orders. | 05-21-2015 |
20150302450 | COUPON RECOMMENDATION FOR MOBILE DEVICES - The present invention is a method for recommending coupons to consumers. The method is mainly designed to be carried out using the infrastructure of mobile communication networks, e.g. internet and cellular networks, and to deliver the coupons directly to the mobile devices of consumers. The method of the invention is a promotion framework that is designed to allow a service provider to propose to different businesses the option of promoting their business by offering coupons/discounts/offers to their potential customers. The goal of the method is to maximize consumption of the coupons/discounts/offers while minimizing the cost to the businesses offering the coupons. | 10-22-2015 |
20150302451 | PROGRAM, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LINKING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND MERCHANTS IN A MARKETING PROGRAM - The present invention is a system, data access management utility and a method of generating links between local merchants and community programs, whereby the merchant may provide incentives to customers in relation to community programs. The present invention may track community programs, as well as both online and offline customer transactions between participants that make use of the incentive. The present invention may include as participants, customers, merchants, community organizations, intermediaries, and other groups or individuals. Participants may have participant identifiers, which may be linked to a payment source. Data may be collected about all participants, either expressly, or from offline or online transactions between participants utilizing a participant identifier, and said data may be stored in a data storage area. All data in the data storage area may be utilized by logic tool, which may provide information, such as details of consumer behaviour and analytic reporting. Matches between transactions and members and/or member activities may be identified by the system, and a level of certainty that the match is accurate may be determined. | 10-22-2015 |
20150302454 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE CONSUMER WITH MONETARY BENEFITS IN LARGE AMOUNTS - According to one aspect of the present invention, provided is a method for providing an electronic commerce consumer with monetary benefits in large amounts, the method comprising the steps of: receiving consumer information from a consumer terminal device and generating an account of a consumer on the basis of the received consumer information; determining benefits to be provided with regard to the account of the consumer, on the basis of information on purchase of a product by the consumer; and matching a refund corresponding to at least some of the determined benefits to the consumer, wherein the refund is realized sequentially in a delayed manner. | 10-22-2015 |
20150302486 | MULTIPLE PARTY ADVERTISEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A multiple party advertisement system and method for operation are disclosed. The system provides a medium for sponsors to sell products or services to users who purchase discount spaces within an electronic discount board viewable over a network in return for a discount offer such as a coupon. In some embodiments, the user may submit content that the system displays on the purchased discount space. The discount board is associated with one or more future events that will produce a certain alphanumeric result that can be used to identify a resultant discount space for purposes of distributing the sponsored good or service to the user that purchased the resultant discount space. Additional incentives and social media features to increase viewership and participation are disclosed. | 10-22-2015 |
20150317661 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF INCENTIVE INFORMATION BASED ON USER PROXIMITY - A method and system for the electronic distribution of product or service promotion information to a mobile user are disclosed. A user may provide profile information to an online promotion service, such as user interests and preferences with respect to products and services as well as other information. The online promotion service may receive location information of point-of-sale facilities associated with particular promotions for products or services. The online promotion service may generate one or more targeted promotions to a mobile user when the user travels within a predetermined distance of an associated point-of-sale facility. A mobile user's location may be identified by a global positioning system and conveyed to the online promotion service. The user location information may be transmitted via a cell phone, a PDA, a pager or other device. This enables the user to take advantage of targeted or requested promotions while the user is within a close proximity to an associated point-of-sale facility. | 11-05-2015 |
20150317715 | System for Verifying Source of Food and Providing Customized Information with Respect Thereto - A method for operating a computer system to provide information about a product to a customer is disclosed. The method includes receiving a login request identifying a specific business establishment and the customer from a customer device that is remote from the data processing system, and initiating a session for the customer between the computer and the customer device. When the computer receives a product code identifying a product in the business establishment that originates at a producer of the product, the computer sends information to the customer about the product, the information being verified by an organization independent of the producer of the product and the business establishment. The login request can be generated by the customer device interacting with a display at the business establishment, the display identifying the business establishment and optionally a location within the business establishment at which the customer is located. | 11-05-2015 |
20150332303 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND UPDATING COMPLETE CUSTOMER PROFILE - A method and system for creating and updating customer profile are disclosed. The method includes collecting a plurality of individualized details of customer; and activities of the customer, evaluating the plurality of individualized details of customer and activities of the customer; and creating and updating the customer profile in response to the plurality of individualized details of customer and activities of the customer for enabling the plurality of merchants to view the customer profile, whereby the plurality of merchants identify the customer as a preferred customer by viewing the customer profile and provide privileged services. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332305 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING PREFERRED CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED LOYALTY CAMPAIGNS - A method comprising collecting spending activities associated with financial transactions performed by a customer with the merchants, whereby the plurality of financial transactions collected from one or more financial intermediaries, evaluating the spending activities for identifying types of merchants with whom the customer has performed a spending activity and analyzing a spending behavior of the customer, and preparing a customer profile in response to evaluating the plurality of spending activities for enabling the plurality of merchants to view the customer profile, whereby the plurality of merchants identify the customer as a preferred customer by viewing the customer profile and provide privileged services. | 11-19-2015 |
20150356589 | COUPON MANAGEMENT FOR DIGITAL CONTENT SUBSCRIBERS - Data regarding actions taken by a user, such as purchasing and bookmarking content from different digital content types, is acquired and processed to determine a digital coupon that can be used by the user when accessing additional content. Determining the coupon may include selecting a particular digital content type and a benefit based on the actions. For example, scores for the digital content types may be determined based on the actions, and the particular digital content type and the benefit may be determined based on the scores. The digital coupon may be directly provided to the user (e.g., sent to the user's set-top box) or to a third party, such as an operator of a kiosk distributing physical media. | 12-10-2015 |
20150356662 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCATION SENSING TO FACILITATE BEST PRICING OPTIONS - Systems and methods are provided for purchasing merchandise items at a desired purchase price. In accordance with certain embodiments, systems and methods are provided for specifying a desired purchase price for a merchandise item. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide systems and methods for completing purchases of the merchandise item when the purchase price of the merchandise item is less than or equal to the desired purchase price. Other embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide systems and methods to determine and/or adjust the purchase price for a merchandise item and notify the customer when the adjusted purchase price is less than or equal to the desired purchase price. | 12-10-2015 |
20150371254 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIRTUAL DISCOUNT COUPONS TO CUSTOMERS OF A RETAIL ENTERPRISE BASED ON SHOPPING HISTORY - A system and method for presenting virtual discount coupons to customers of a retail enterprise accesses a virtual coupon repository stored in a database and containing a plurality of virtual discount coupons each redeemable against at least one item purchasable from the retail enterprise, accesses a purchase history stored in the database and identifying items previously purchased by the customer from the retail enterprise, for each virtual discount coupon in at least a subset of the plurality of virtual discount coupons in the virtual coupon repository, determines a prediction value based on the purchase history, which corresponds to a likelihood that the customer will purchase an item from the retail enterprise against which the virtual discount coupon is redeemable, and identifies for the customer in the virtual coupon repository at least one of the virtual discount coupons based on the prediction value thereof. | 12-24-2015 |
20150379546 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ADVERSTISEMENTS, COUPONS, OR DISCOUNTS TO DEVICES - Systems, methods, and/or techniques for providing a digital coupon may be disclosed. For example, a server may distribute or deliver the coupons based on data collected or gathered about a user. The server may have one or more settings that may be used to collect or gather data about the user. The server may apply those settings. The settings may include a source such as asocial network, a device, websites, an application, and/or the like that may be identified and/or may have parameters associated from which the data may be collected. The server may connect to the source based on the settings and may receive data about or for a user from the source. The server may generate a user profile and/or a score associated with the user based on the data and may send a digital coupon to the user based on the user profile and score. | 12-31-2015 |
20150379547 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INCENTIVIZING A TARGETED PURCHASE USING MULTI-CHANNEL DATA - A method and apparatus for incentivizing a person to make a targeted purchase receives online data related to a person's online interaction with a company, and responsively processes the online data to determine behavior data. After determining that the person is within a physical store related to the company, the method and apparatus track the person's movement within the physical store and determine an incentive for making a purchase of a product or service within the store. The incentive is determined as a function of at least the person's position within the physical store and the behavior data. The method and apparatus then forwards an incentive message, having indicia relating to the incentive, to the person when the person is in the store. | 12-31-2015 |
20160034939 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INTERNET BASED MARKETING CHANNELS - This invention is an interactive internet based system that will allow customers to view, and participate in multiple incentive programs via said single interactive internet based system. The customers will be able to choose for themselves from a list of qualifying incentive programs. Additionally, the customers will be ready to track and control their participation, including the redemption of the aforementioned incentives. Furthermore, this system allows vendors to create, manage, and track their incentive programs utilizing the same interactive internet based system. Vendors will be able to design, submit, and manage their own customer incentive programs and business activity down to the customer level, wherein the data is updated real time or daily. | 02-04-2016 |
20160063532 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ELECTRONICALLY INCENTIVIZING HEALTHY FOOD PURCHASING - In a health promotion system, a receipt relating to a purchase of food is received. The contents of the receipt are compared with wellness incentive and/or disincentive data. A user's incentive account is updated based on a result of the comparison of the receipt with the incentive/disincentive data. | 03-03-2016 |
20160071197 | System and Method to Facilitate On-Line Ordering - A system and method facilitates continued purchases of goods convenient to a customer, while maintaining a connection to a source provider. The system and methods permit the customer to identify a referring party to receive a discount and provide rewards back to the referring party. The system may for example permit the search, selection, and purchase of goods, track purchases of goods, permit the referring party to communicate with a customer, provide historic purchasing information to either the customer or referring party, present a unique interface to the customer associated with the referring party, interface with one or more systems of the referring party or intermediary such as a distributor to facilitate the selection, purchase, filling, sending, or receipt of the purchased goods, and any combination thereof. | 03-10-2016 |
20160098741 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A DYNAMIC PURCHASE INCENTIVE - A computer-implemented method of providing a dynamic purchase incentive to a purchase of a product. A product identification is input into a purchasing device which transmits it to a discount server computer along with customer identification data. The discount server computer uses the product identification to retrieve from a product discount database associated product discount data, and uses the customer identification data to retrieve from a customer profile database associated customer profile data. The discount server computer uses the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification to generate a dynamic purchase incentive to be applied to the purchase of the product by the customer, the incentive varying as a function of the retrieved customer profile data and the product identification. The discount server computer transmits the purchase incentive to the purchasing device, and the purchase incentive is applied to the purchase of the product by the customer. | 04-07-2016 |
20160110751 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SENSOR-BASED ENVIRONMENT - Method, computer program product, and system of providing rewards to a person based on item interactions during a transaction in an environment, where the person is associated with a personal profile. The method includes generating, based on information in the personal profile, one or more tasks for the person to complete during the transaction, each task including at least one item interaction. The method further includes presenting, using an output device within the environment, the one or more tasks to the person, analyzing image information acquired by one or more visual sensors within the environment to evaluate the person's performance of the one or more tasks, and awarding, based on the evaluation, an amount of rewards to the person. | 04-21-2016 |
20160171520 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND REWARDING THE CONSUMPTION OF STREAMING MEDIA | 06-16-2016 |
20160171522 | REVERSE COUPONING | 06-16-2016 |
20160171523 | REVERSE COUPONING | 06-16-2016 |
20160180369 | Distributed Computing Platform for Improving Processing Performance | 06-23-2016 |
20160180371 | Apparatus and Method to Attract Potential Customers to a Dual Screen Coupon Kiosk | 06-23-2016 |
20160189192 | COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA FOR TARGETED OFFERS - An application platform configurable for collecting user data associated with a plurality of retail-branded credit cards is provided. The application platform includes a configurable front end comprising a graphical user interface layer that is configurable to a specific one of the plurality of retail-branded credit cards, a backend layer comprising credit card functionality for directly performing credit card transactions associated with a specific one of the plurality of retail-branded credit cards, a data collection layer comprising a data collector for collecting user data associated with the plurality of retail-branded credit cards and an offer provider for providing an offer to a user based on the user data associated with said plurality of retail-branded credit cards. | 06-30-2016 |
20160253741 | SELF LEARNING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A GROUP REWARD SYSTEM | 09-01-2016 |
20170236142 | TAP PROXIMITY | 08-17-2017 |