Systems and Methods to Generate Transactions According to Account Features

• US 20110029367A1
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norris, Mark, Bodington, Shaun, Carr, John, Woods, Rosann, Olson, Ray, Martin, Janet, Stiff, Nicola
• Application Number:
  US12/845,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.25
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the generation and notification of transactions associated with account features. In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler to process transactions and a data warehouse to store transaction data recording the transactions, account data identifying at least one account feature of an account, and rules data identifying at least one qualification requirement. The system further includes a feature offer engine to use the rules data to monitor the transactions in the account to identify a first transaction, a notification engine to provide the account holder with an offer associated with a first account feature in real time with processing of the first transaction, and a portal to receive an approval of a second transaction in accordance with the offer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

storing account data identifying at least one account feature of an account, the account feature to provide a benefit to an account holder of the account;

storing rules data identifying at least one qualification requirement associated with identification of transactions that qualify for the benefit of the account feature;

monitoring, by a computing apparatus, transactions in the account using the rules data;

identifying, by the computing apparatus and based on the monitoring, a first transaction that qualifies for the benefit of the account feature; and

providing, by the computing apparatus, the account holder with a notification of a second transaction to be generated according to the account feature, prior to generation of the second transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing apparatus, an approval of the second transaction, prior to the generation of the second transaction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second transaction is to pay for a product or service afforded by the account feature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the benefit comprises a discount in a price of the product or service;

and the method further comprises;

detecting, by the computing apparatus, the second transaction processed by a transaction handler; and

providing, by the computing apparatus, the benefit via statement credit initiated by the transaction handler.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the benefit comprises a privilege to access the product or service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is provided in real time with authorization processing of the first transaction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is provided in response to settlement of the first transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is via one of:

a text message to a mobile phone of the account holder, an email and a voice message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a second account feature based on a third transaction in the account;

offering, by the computing apparatus, the account holder to purchase the second account feature.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the offering is in real time with processing of the third transaction.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing transaction data recording transactions in the account;

wherein the second account feature is identified based at least in part on the transaction data.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a propensity score of the second account feature based on the transaction data;

wherein the second account feature is offered when the propensity score is above a threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining an aggregated spending amount based on the transaction data; and

wherein the second account feature is offered when the aggregated spending amount is above a threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the aggregated spending amount is based on transactions of a particular type in the account.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the offering includes a notification in one of:

email, text message and voice message.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving from the account holder a confirmation to purchase the second account feature;

charging the account a price for the second account feature; and

updating the account data to include the second account feature.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the account data is updated to include the second account feature without changing an account number of the account.

18. A computer storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a computing apparatus, cause the computing apparatus to perform a method, the method comprising:

storing account data identifying at least one account feature of an account, the account feature to provide a benefit to an account holder of the account;

storing rules data identifying at least one qualification requirement;

monitoring transactions in the account using the rules data;

identifying a first transaction based on the monitoring; and

providing the account holder with an offer associated with a first account feature in response to the identifying of the first transaction in real time with processing of the first transaction.

19. A system, comprising:

a transaction handler to process transactions, each of the transactions being processed to make a payment from an issuer to an acquirer via the transaction handler in response to an account identifier of a customer, as issued by the issuer, submitted by a merchant to the acquirer, the issuer to make the payment on behalf of the customer, the acquirer to receive the payment on behalf of the merchant;

a data warehouse coupled to the transaction handler, the data warehouse to store transaction data recording the transactions processed at the transaction handler, account data identifying at least one account feature of an account, the account feature to provide a benefit to an account holder of the account, and rules data identifying at least one qualification requirement;

a feature offer engine coupled to the date warehouse to use the rules data to monitor the transactions in the account to identify a first transaction; and

a notification engine coupled to the feature offer engine to provide the account holder with an offer associated with a first account feature in real time with processing of the first transaction.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a portal coupled to the transaction handler to receive an approval of a second transaction in accordance with the offer;

wherein the transaction handler is to process the second transaction to pay for a purchase identified in the offer.