Methods and systems for locating a mobile merchant

• US 10,332,192 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zolotov, Andrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Robert M
• Application Number:
  US14/997,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20170206593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26, 705 27
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A computer-based method for determining a location of a mobile merchant computing device is provided. The method is implemented using a location manager (LM) computing device in communication with a processor and a memory device. The method comprises receiving from the mobile merchant computing device at least one authorization request message including a merchant identifier for the mobile merchant and a first location variable, determining a location of the mobile merchant using the first location variable, transmitting to a consumer computing device operable by a consumer, by the LM computing device, a location data message including the merchant identifier and the location of the mobile merchant, and causing, by the transmission, the consumer computing device to display the location on a display interface coupled to the consumer computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for determining a future location of a mobile merchant computing device associated with a mobile merchant, the method implemented using a location manager (LM) computing device comprising a processor in communication with a memory device, the method comprising:

receiving from the mobile merchant computing device through a payment processing network, by the LM computing device, a plurality of authorization request messages, each authorization request message associated with a payment transaction initiated with the mobile merchant, each authorization request message including a merchant identifier for the mobile merchant and a location variable identifying a location of the payment transaction, and wherein the mobile merchant computing device and the LM computing device are both communicatively coupled to the payment processing network;

identifying, using the LM computing device, the location variable for each of the plurality of authorization request messages;

extracting, using the LM computing device, the location variables from the plurality of authorization request messages;

determining, by the LM computing device, a plurality of locations for the mobile merchant using the location variables extracted from the plurality of authorization request messages;

generating, by the LM computing device, a plurality of location patterns for the mobile merchant from the determined plurality of locations;

determining, by the LM computing device, a number of times that the mobile merchant has followed a particular location pattern of the plurality of location patterns;

comparing, by the LM computing device, the determined number of times to a predetermined threshold number of times;

in response to determining that the number of times exceeds the predetermined threshold number of times, predicting, by the LM computing device, a future location for the mobile merchant;

transmitting to a consumer computing device, by the LM computing device, a location data message including the merchant identifier and the future location; and

causing, by the transmission, the consumer computing device to display the future location on a display interface coupled to the consumer computing device.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving the location variables from the mobile merchant computing device independent of the plurality of authorization request messages.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the consumer computing device, by the LM computing device, a location request message including a location of interest, a second merchant identifier associated with the mobile merchant, and a consumer contact identifier;

comparing, by the LM computing device, the location of interest to the future location and the merchant identifier to the second merchant identifier; and

based on the comparison, determining, by the LM computing device, that the location of interest identified in the location request message and the future location of the mobile merchant match.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the consumer contact identifier includes one or more of:

a telephone number, an email address, a social network address, and a messaging service address, and wherein comparing the future location to the location of interest comprises comparing one or more of a street identifier, a city identifier, a state identifier, a zip code identifier, and a set of geographic coordinates.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

determining a location of the consumer computing device; and

setting the location of interest equal to the determined location.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

storing the location variable and the merchant identifier for each of the plurality of authorization request messages in the memory device;

associating the location variable and the merchant identifier for each of the plurality of authorization request messages in the memory device;

receiving at least one other authorization request message from the merchant computing device, including an updated location variable from the merchant computing device for at least one of the plurality of authorization request messages;

replacing the location variable with the updated location variable in the memory device for the at least one of the plurality of authorization request messages; and

determining, using the location variable and the updated location variable, a recently traveled path of the mobile merchant.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a registration data message from the consumer computing device; and

storing the consumer computing device as a registered device in the memory device.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein transmitting the location data message further comprises:

transmitting the location data message based on a schedule including one or more time intervals;

transmitting the location data message on demand from the consumer computing device; and

transmitting the location data message at a predetermined time.

9. A system for determining a future location of a mobile merchant computing device associated with a mobile merchant, the system comprising:

a database configured to store location data; and

a location manager (LM) computing device configured to be coupled to the database, the LM computing device further configured to;

receive, from the mobile merchant computing device through a payment processing network, a plurality of authorization request messages, each authorization request message associated with a payment transaction initiated with the mobile merchant, each authorization request message including a merchant identifier for the mobile merchant and a location variable identifying a location of the payment transaction, and wherein the mobile merchant computing device and the LM computing device are both communicatively coupled to the payment processing network;

identify the location variable for each of the plurality of authorization request messages;

extract the location variables from the plurality of authorization request messages;

determine a plurality of locations for the mobile merchant using the location variables extracted from the plurality of authorization request messages;

generate a plurality of location patterns for the mobile merchant from the determined plurality of locations;

determine a number of times that the mobile merchant has followed a particular location pattern of the plurality of location patterns;

compare the determined number of times to a predetermined threshold number of times;

in response to determining that the number of times exceeds the predetermined threshold number of times, predict, by the LM computing device, a future location for the mobile merchant;

transmit, to a consumer computing device, a location data message including the merchant identifier and the future location; and

cause the consumer computing device to display the future location on a display interface coupled to the consumer computing device.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the LM computing device is further configured to receive the location variables from the mobile merchant computing device independent of the plurality of authorization request messages.

11. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the LM computing device is further configured to:

receive, from the consumer computing device, a location request message including a location of interest, a second merchant identifier associated with the mobile merchant, and a consumer contact identifier;

compare the location of interest to the future location and the merchant identifier to the second merchant identifier; and

based on the comparison, determine that the location of interest identified in the location request message and the future location of the mobile merchant match.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the LM computing device is further configured to:

determine a location of the consumer computing device; and

set the location of interest equal to the determined location.

13. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the LM computing device is further configured to:

store the location variable and the first merchant identifier for each of the plurality of authorization request messages in the memory device;

associate the location variable and the merchant identifier for each of the plurality of authorization request messages in the memory device;

receive at least one other authorization request message from the merchant computing device, including an updated location variable from the merchant computing device for at least one of the plurality of authorization request messages; and

replace the location variable with the updated location variable in the memory device for the at least one of the plurality of authorization request messages.

14. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the LM computing device is further configured to:

receive a registration data message from the consumer computing device; and

store the consumer computing device as a registered device in the memory device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium that includes computer executable instructions for determining a future location of a mobile merchant computing device, wherein when executed by a Location manager (LM) computing device comprising a processor in communication with a memory device, the computer executable instructions cause the LM computing device to:

receive, from the mobile merchant computing device through a payment processing network, a plurality of authorization request messages, each authorization request message associated with a payment transaction initiated with the mobile merchant, each authorization request message including a merchant identifier for the mobile merchant and a location variable identifying a location of the payment transaction, and wherein the mobile merchant computing device and the LM computing device are both communicatively coupled to the payment processing network;

identify the first location variable for each of the plurality of authorization request messages;

extract the location variables from the plurality of authorization request messages;

determine a plurality of locations for the mobile merchant using the location variables extracted from the plurality of authorization request messages;

generate a plurality of location patterns for the mobile merchant from the determined plurality of locations;

determine a number of times that the mobile merchant has followed a particular location pattern of the plurality of location patterns;

compare the determined number of times to a predetermined threshold number of times;

in response to determining that the number of times exceeds the predetermined threshold number of times, predict a future location for the mobile merchant;

transmit, to a consumer computing device, a location data message including the merchant identifier and the future location; and

cause the consumer computing device to display the future location on a display interface coupled to the consumer computing device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium in accordance with claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the LM computing device to receive the location variables from the mobile merchant computing device independent of the plurality of authorization request messages.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium in accordance with claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the LM computing device to:

receive, from a consumer computing device, a location request message including a location of interest, a second merchant identifier associated with the mobile merchant, and a consumer contact identifier;

compare the location of interest to the future location and the first merchant identifier to the second merchant identifier; and

based on the comparison, determine that the location of interest identified in the location request message and the future location of the mobile merchant match.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium in accordance with claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the LM computing device to:

store the location variable and the merchant identifier for each of the plurality of authorization request messages in the memory device;

associate the location variable and the merchant identifier for each of the plurality of authorization request messages in the memory device;

receive at least one other authorization request message from the merchant computing device, including an updated location variable from the merchant computing device for at least one of the plurality of authorization request messages; and

replace the location variable with the updated location variable in the memory device for the at least one of the plurality of authorization request messages.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium in accordance with claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the LM computing device to:

transmit the location data message based on a schedule including one or more time intervals;

transmit the location data message on demand from the consumer computing device; and

transmit the location data message at a predetermined time.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium in accordance with claim 15, wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the LM computing device to:

receive a registration data message from the consumer computing device; and

store the consumer computing device as a registered device in the memory device.