System and method for targeted marketing and consumer resource management

• US 10,672,022 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.), Leverage Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Roberts, Mark E., Mathe, Jennifer K., Nguyen, Khanh
• Primary Examiner(s): Rudy, Andrew Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/700,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 705 21, 705 261, 705 271, 705 44, 705 64, 235379-385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing gift card exchange opportunities to consumers. For example, a consumer may elect to trade registered gifts cards by selecting the gift cards to swap and indicating the value of the card to be swapped. Cards may be digitally swapped, for example, via a universal transaction card, or gift cards may be cancelled and replaced with one or more new cards and partial gift card values may be exchanged. The consumer may use a consumer account to purchase and configure gift cards that may be used for purchasing goods and services. A universal transaction identifier may be associated with the consumer account and used to purchase goods and services from more than one selected goods and services providers.

Claims

1. A method of gift card exchange performed by an enterprise infrastructure comprising one or more processors and non-transitory computer readable memory storing executable instructions, the one or more processors executing the executable instructions to cause the enterprise infrastructure to perform the method comprising:

identifying a first gift card owned by a consumer, wherein the first gift card has a value and the value is associated with an account of the consumer;

identifying the value associated with the first gift card;

cancelling the first gift card; and

digitally replacing the first gift card with one or more new gift cards.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more new gift cards are digital.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gift card may be digitally exchanged.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more new gift cards have the associated value of the first gift card.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein a portion of the value of the first gift card is exchanged that is less than the entire value of the first gift card.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the consumer receives value in exchange for the first gift card.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the value received by the consumer is a lesser value than the first gift card.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the value received by the consumer is a different gift card than the first gift card.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a computer system transfers the value to the consumer in exchange for the first gift card.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer system transfers the value into a consumer account.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gift card is replaced by more than one new gift cards.

12. A method of gift card exchange performed by an enterprise infrastructure comprising one or more processors and non-transitory computer readable memory storing executable instructions, the one or more processors executing the executable instructions to cause the enterprise infrastructure to perform the method comprising:

identifying a first gift card owned by a consumer for purchases at a first store;

identifying a value associated with the first gift card, wherein the value associated with the first gift card is associated with an account of the consumer; and

digitally swapping the first gift card with one or more other gift cards for purchases at other stores.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying information is received by a system network, and wherein the identifying information is received from a mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone capable of running a web browser.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein identifying information is received by a system network and wherein the identifying information is received from a network terminal over the internet.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the identifying information is received by a system network from a point-of-sale terminal which is connected with the system network over a secured network connection.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first gift card is digitally swapped with a universal transaction identifier that can be used to purchase goods from more than one retailer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the universal transaction identifier is a gift card.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the universal transaction identifier is associated with the account of the consumer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein information relating to the account of the consumer is kept in a database which is connected to the system network.