SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURCHASE BENEFITS AT A POINT OF SALE

• US 20090070270A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: YT Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Goff, Tennille V., Watson, Timothy Neil, Robinson, Timothy L., Schildt, Bradford R., Corwin, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,769,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/66
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A system and method of providing users with an accessible system and convenient method for conducting purchase benefit transactions. When enrolling in a biometric authorization system, a user may authorize the system to apply for purchase benefits on the user'"'"'s behalf at subsequent transactions.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A method for biometrically processing a rebate transaction for a user purchasing an item at a merchant location, the method comprising:

receiving information relating to the item for purchase at a point of sale, said item having an associated rebate offer;

obtaining biometric data from the user for processing of said rebate offer, wherein the obtained biometric data is compared against biometric data stored at a database remote from said point of sale in a record relating to the user to determine a match without the use of a token; and

upon a match of the obtained biometric data and the stored biometric data, retrieving user identifying information from the user record and transmitting a rebate request to a benefit provider, wherein said rebate request includes the user identifying information and information associated with the rebate offer, wherein funds associated with fulfillment of said rebate request are distributed to said user at said point of sale.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said information associated with the rebate offer is retrieved from one or more of a point of sale and a user record.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said information associated with the rebate offer includes one or more product identifiers.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising employing said record during one of a return and an exchange, wherein one of a return value and an exchange value is discounted by said funds associated with fulfillment.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein funds are distributed as one or more of cash and a store-credit token.

53. A method for authorizing a purchase benefit transaction in a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving information for a purchase transaction of an item that has an associated purchase benefit transaction, wherein said received information includes transaction biometric data; and

automatically initiating processing of said purchase benefit transaction on behalf of said user upon a match of said transaction biometric data with said registered biometric data that is retrieved from said user record stored at a remote database.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said purchase benefit transaction is one or more of a rebate, a warranty, and a consumer reward.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein said purchase benefit transaction is a rebate, and wherein a form of value for said rebate is one or more of cash, a store-credit token, a store-credit account, a negotiable instrument, and a deposit in a financial account.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said form of value is determined by one of the biometric authorization system, a system operator, a benefit provider and one or more user preferences.

57. The method of claim 53, further comprising receiving user consent to an authorization agreement for conducting associated purchase benefit transactions during one or more of enrollment in said biometric authorization system, a purchase transaction, and a user record update.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said authorization agreement appoints legal authority to one or more of said biometric authorization system and a third party.

59. The method of claim 53, further comprising offering said user the option to authorize one or more additional purchase benefits.

60. A method for authorizing a consumer reward via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving information relating to an item for purchase at a point of sale, wherein said item is associated with a consumer reward;

obtaining biometric data from a user for processing said consumer reward, wherein said obtained biometric data is compared against biometric data stored in a record relating to the user to determine a match without use of a token; and

upon a match of the obtained biometric data and the stored biometric data, retrieving user identifying information from said record and transmitting a consumer reward request to a benefit provider, wherein said consumer reward request includes said user identifying information and information relating to the item.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said information relating to the item includes one or more product identifiers.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said product identifier is one of a product code, a radio frequency identifier, a barcode and an identification number.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising transferring said consumer reward to another individual.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said transferring occurs at an authorization station.

65. The method of claim 60, further comprising receiving said consumer reward.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein the benefit provider comprises a manufacturer of the item.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein the benefit provider comprises a merchant.