SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING GIFT CARDS
First Claim
1. A method of giving a gift card, the method comprising:
- receiving an identification of a giver of a gift card and a recipient of the gift card at a first time;
associating the giver with a giver account and the recipient with a recipient account that existed prior to the first time;
associating a policy with the gift card;
monitoring transactions of the recipient using the recipient account;
receiving information based on the monitoring that the recipient has made a transaction using the recipient account according to the policy, the transaction occurring at a second time which is later than the first time; and
applying an amount of money from the giver account to the transaction according to the policy.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for enabling gift card recipients to redeem gift card amounts using existing accounts such as a credit/debit card. A system practicing the method identifies a giver and recipient of a gift card amount and associated accounts. A policy is established which governs how the gift card is redeemed, such as a specific merchant or item. When the recipient makes a purchase using an existing credit/debit card according to the policy, the gift card amount is applied to the transaction. No special codes, separate physical gift cards, or printable coupons are necessary for redemption. The recipient makes purchases using their normal purchasing credit/debit card via a qualifying purchase according to the policy, and the gift card is applied automatically. The recipient credit/debit card becomes a combination of an open-looped card and a closed-loop card. Thus, no money is wasted or lost.
474 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of giving a gift card, the method comprising:
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receiving an identification of a giver of a gift card and a recipient of the gift card at a first time; associating the giver with a giver account and the recipient with a recipient account that existed prior to the first time; associating a policy with the gift card; monitoring transactions of the recipient using the recipient account; receiving information based on the monitoring that the recipient has made a transaction using the recipient account according to the policy, the transaction occurring at a second time which is later than the first time; and applying an amount of money from the giver account to the transaction according to the policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for controlling a device to manage a transaction involving a gift card, the instructions comprising:
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receiving an identification of a giver of a gift card and a recipient of the gift card; associating the giver with a giver account and the recipient with a recipient account that existed prior to the first time; associating a policy with the gift card at a first time; monitoring transactions of the recipient using the recipient account; receiving information based on the monitoring that the recipient has made a transaction using the recipient account according to the policy and at a second time which is later than the first time; and applying an amount of money from the giver account to the transaction according to the policy.
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20. A system for managing a transaction involving a gift card, the system comprising:
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a processor; a first module configured to control the processor to an identification of a giver of a gift card and a recipient of the gift card; a second module configured to control the processor to associate the giver with a giver account and the recipient with a recipient account that existed prior to the first time; a third module configured to control the processor to associate a policy with the gift card at a first time; a fourth module configured to control the processor to monitor transactions of the recipient using the recipient account; a fifth module configured to control the processor to receive information based on the monitoring that the recipient has made a transaction using the recipient account according to the policy and at a second time which is later than the first time; and a sixth module configured to control the processor to apply an amount of money from the giver account to the transaction according to the policy.
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Specification