Method and System for Linking Additional Value to a Stored Value or Gift Card

• US 20070210152A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Read
• Original Assignee: John Read
• Inventors: Read, John
• Application Number:
  US11/608,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20070210152A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

In a system that utilizes a stored value or gift card (SVGC), additional value is linked to the SVGC. This additional value may provide an added incentive for purchasing the SVGC. The additional value may be a product or service, for example. The additional value may be linked to certain actions associated with the SVGC. For example, a customer may be given access to the additional value upon activation of the SVGC, upon the purchase of a particular product, upon the purchase of a product from a particular group of products, upon using the SVGC to purchase during a particular time period, upon adding value to the SVGC, etc.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a stored value or gift card (SVGC), comprising:

activating the SVGC, the SVGC having an associated purchasing value;

determining whether the SVGC is linked to an added value, the added value in addition to the associated purchasing value and any additional purchasing value that may be associated with the SVGC;

if the SVGC is linked to the added value, determining whether the added value has been activated; and

if the added value has been activated, permitting a consumer to redeem the added value.

2. A method for permitting redemption of added value linked to stored value or gift card (SVGCs), comprising:

storing indications of SVGCs that are linked with respective added values, the added values in addition to any stored purchasing values or gift card purchasing values that are or will be associated with the SVGCs;

activating the linked added values for at least some of the SVGCs;

determining if the respective added value linked to one of the SVGCs is activated based on an indicator of the one SVGC; and

permitting a user to redeem the respective added value linked to the one of the SVGCs if the linked added value is activated.

3. A method for permitting redemption of added value linked to stored value or gift card (SVGCs), comprising:

providing SVGCs that are linked with respective added values, the added values in addition to any stored purchasing values or gift card purchasing values that are or will be associated with the SVGCs; and

permitting a user to redeem the respective added value linked to the one of the SVGCs if the SVGC is activated and if linked added value is activated.