CAUSE GIFT CARD PLATFORM FOR PROVIDING REDEMPTION OF FUNDS ACROSS MULTIPLE UNAFFILIATED ENTITIES
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for redemption of cause gift cards comprising generating a roster of unaffiliated entities for receipt of a value associated with a cause gift card;
- providing instructions for redeeming the cause gift card, the instructions including an allocation of benefits, represented by the cause gift card, between one or more of the unaffiliated entities; and
distributing the benefits to one or more accounts of the respective one or more unaffiliated entities according to the allocation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cause gift card system allows for redemption of a gift card with one or more unaffiliated organizations—including both for-profit and not for-profit entities. The system automatically distributes any unredeemed funds to participating entities associated with the particular cause gift card type per defined business rules. The system provides for purchase of cause gift cards through retail merchants, websites, or other authorized sellers for either fixed denominations or variable amounts. The recipient can elect to direct the funds, in whole or in part, to one of a basket of pre-determined organizations that are specific to each cause gift card type, for example, environmental services, health and wellness, political actions, and more.
41 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for redemption of cause gift cards comprising generating a roster of unaffiliated entities for receipt of a value associated with a cause gift card;
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providing instructions for redeeming the cause gift card, the instructions including an allocation of benefits, represented by the cause gift card, between one or more of the unaffiliated entities; and distributing the benefits to one or more accounts of the respective one or more unaffiliated entities according to the allocation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable code that, when executed by a computing system, causes the computing system to perform operations comprising
generating a roster of unaffiliated entities for receipt of a value associated with a cause gift card; -
providing instructions for redeeming the cause gift card, the instructions including an allocation of benefits, represented by the cause gift card, between one or more of the unaffiliated entities; and distributing the benefits to one or more accounts of the respective one or more unaffiliated entities according to the allocation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for redeeming cause gift cards executing on a card processing system with a computer-readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable code that, when executed by the card processing system, configures the card processing system to perform operations comprising
enabling a plurality of merchant systems to connect to the card processing system; -
accepting transactions for the purchase of cause gift cards at the card processing system from multiple merchant systems; storing cause gift card parameters on at least one database included within the card processing system; employing a business rules engine included within the card processing system to manage automated redemption and redemption rules based on a type of cause gift card; and distributing funds associated with respective cause gift cards to one or more unaffiliated entities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for redeeming cause gift cards executing on a card processing system with a computer-readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable code that, when executed by the card processing system, configures the card processing system to perform operations comprising
receiving registration information from a purchaser after the purchaser user purchases a cause gift card; -
tracking a redemption status of the cause gift card; generating a tax report based on the redemption status of the cause gift card; and sending the tax report to the purchaser once the cause gift card is redeemed. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification