GIFT-CARD AND ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM

• US 20110112919A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Retail Royalty Company (American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Retail Royalty Company (American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.)
• Inventors: GRAY, BEAU
• Granted Patent: US 8,700,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"

Abstract

A method, system, media, and device are directed to providing a check-out of a merchant transaction. A gift-card redemption interface is provided for redeeming a gift-card. A payment interface is provided for presenting a plurality of additional non-gift-card payment options comprising a credit-card payment option and a non-credit-card payment option. A mechanism is provided for performing operations. The operations include restricting a use of the gift-card redemption interface with the payment options; and processing the merchant transaction based on payments the gift-card.

Claims

1. A method for providing a check-out of a merchant transaction comprising:

providing a gift-card redemption interface for redeeming a gift-card;

providing a payment interface for presenting a plurality of additional non-gift-card payment options comprising a credit-card payment option and a non-credit-card payment option;

providing a mechanism for performing operations comprising;

restricting a use of the gift-card redemption interface with the payment options; and

processing the merchant transaction based on payments from the gift-card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gift-card redemption interface and the payment interface are configured to be provided in a side-by-side view, and wherein the non-credit-card payment option comprises a bill-me-later option or a payment from an online account.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a purchase interface for modifying the merchant transaction in a side-by-side view with the gift-card redemption interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein restricting the use of the gift-card redemption interface comprises at least one of:

disabling a user interface entry for the non-credit-card payment option if the gift-card redemption interface is selected;

or

restricting a use of a combination of the gift-card and at least one of the non-gift card payment options for the payments.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

including in the payments to be processed another payment from the credit-card option if a value of the gift-card is insufficient to pay for the merchant transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a credit value for fulfilling another merchant transaction; and

applying the credit value to the payments before processing the merchant transaction.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in a computer memory information about any remaining balance on the gift-card after processing the merchant transaction; and

providing the gift-card with the remaining balance as an option for fulfilling another merchant transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the merchant transaction further comprises:

sending, to a payment processor, the merchant transaction and payments.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the gift-card redemption interface further comprises:

providing an entry for a gift-card or a selection of at least one available gift-card for a user authorized to fulfill the merchant transaction.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the gift-card redemption provides a management of a plurality of gift-cards, wherein the management comprises adding or removing the gift cards, or modifying attributes of the plurality of gift-cards.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of providing the gift-card redemption interface and providing the payment interface is performed by a server device, wherein the server device provides the interfaces over a network to a client device, and wherein the step of restricting is performed by the client device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of restricting is performed by a browser operating with the client device, and wherein the browser receives the interfaces, restricts the use of the gift-card, and receives the combination of the gift-card and the credit-card payment option asynchronous with communications to the server device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the payment interface is provided as a flip-through interface that operates within the browser asynchronous with communications to the server device.

14. A system for providing a check-out of a merchant transaction comprising:

a server device configured to perform actions comprising;

providing a gift-card redemption interface for redeeming a gift-card;

providing a payment interface for providing a plurality of additional non-gift-card payment options comprising a credit-card payment option and a non-credit-card payment option.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a client device in communication with the server device and configured to perform actions comprising;

restricting a use of the gift-card redemption interface to a provided payment option of the plurality of additional non-gift-card payment options; and

processing the merchant transaction based on payments from the gift-card.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the actions of the client device further comprise:

providing the gift-card redemption interface, the payment interface, and a purchase interface for modifying the merchant transaction in a side-by-side view.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein restricting the provided payment option comprises:

disabling a user interface entry for the non-credit-card payment option or the gift-card redemption interface.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the actions of the client device further comprise:

including in the payments to be processed another payment from the credit-card option if a value of the gift-card is insufficient to pay for the merchant transaction.

19. A processor readable medium for providing a check-out of a merchant transaction comprising instructions that when executed by processor causes the processor to perform actions that comprises:

providing a gift-card redemption interface for redeeming a gift-card;

providing a payment interface for providing a plurality of additional non-gift-card payment options comprising a credit-card payment option and a non-credit-card payment option;

providing a mechanism for performing operations comprising;

restricting a use of the gift-card redemption interface with the payment options; and

processing the merchant transaction based on payments from a combination of the gift-card and any necessary amounts from the credit-card payment option if a value of the gift-card is insufficient to pay for the merchant transaction.

20. A processor readable medium for providing a check-out of a merchant transaction comprising instructions that when executed by processor causes the processor to perform actions that comprises:

receiving a gift-card redemption interface for redeeming a gift-card;

receiving a payment interface with a plurality of additional non-gift-card payment options comprising a credit-card payment option and a non-credit-card payment option;

restricting a use of the gift-card redemption interface with the payment options; and

processing the merchant transaction based on payments from a combination of the gift-card and any necessary amounts from the credit-card payment option if a value of the gift-card is insufficient to pay for the merchant transaction.

21. A computer implemented interface configured to:

provide an ability to accept multiple cards for payments and to combine the card payments with other forms of tender;

automatically block determined combinations of tenders; and

provide projected post transaction value of each of the multiple cards used for payments.

22. The interface of claim 21, further comprising:

a digital wallet configured to provide a plurality of images of the multiple cards, wherein the images are configured to be selected to activate the card to be used for payments.

23. The interface of claim 21, wherein the multiple cards comprise at least one gift-card.

24. The interface of claim 21, wherein the combinations of tenders are blocked real-time.