SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING GIFT CARDS
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, via a processor, an identification of a merchant at a first time from a recipient, wherein a giver of an offer is associated with a giver payment account existing prior to the first time, and the recipient is associated with a recipient payment account comprising a credit payment account or a debit payment account existing prior to the first time;
associating, via a processor, a policy with the gift, wherein the policy is at least in part defined by the recipient'"'"'s identification of the merchant;
monitoring, via a processor and according to the policy, purchases using the recipient payment account at a second time, which is later than the first time, to yield purchasing information;
based on the purchasing information, determining, via a processor, whether a qualifying purchase has been made at the merchant using the recipient payment account; and
if the qualifying purchase has occurred, transferring, via a processor, an amount of money associated with the offer from the giver payment account to the recipient payment account.
1 Assignment
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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, via a processor, an identification of a merchant at a first time from a recipient, wherein a giver of an offer is associated with a giver payment account existing prior to the first time, and the recipient is associated with a recipient payment account comprising a credit payment account or a debit payment account existing prior to the first time; associating, via a processor, a policy with the gift, wherein the policy is at least in part defined by the recipient'"'"'s identification of the merchant; monitoring, via a processor and according to the policy, purchases using the recipient payment account at a second time, which is later than the first time, to yield purchasing information; based on the purchasing information, determining, via a processor, whether a qualifying purchase has been made at the merchant using the recipient payment account; and if the qualifying purchase has occurred, transferring, via a processor, an amount of money associated with the offer from the giver payment account to the recipient payment account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising; receiving, via a processor, an identification of a merchant at a first time from a recipient, wherein a giver of an offer is associated with a giver payment account existing prior to the first time, and the recipient is associated with a recipient payment account comprising a credit payment account or a debit payment account existing prior to the first time; associating, via a processor, a policy with the gift, wherein the policy is at least in part defined by the recipient'"'"'s identification of the merchant; monitoring, via a processor and according to the policy, purchases using the recipient payment account at a second time, which is later than the first time, to yield purchasing information; based on the purchasing information, determining, via a processor, whether a qualifying purchase has been made at the merchant using the recipient payment account; and if the qualifying purchase has occurred, transferring, via a processor, an amount of money associated with the offer from the giver payment account to the recipient payment account. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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receiving, via a processor, an identification of a merchant at a first time from a recipient, wherein a giver of an offer is associated with a giver payment account existing prior to the first time, and the recipient is associated with a recipient payment account comprising a credit payment account or a debit payment account existing prior to the first time; associating, via a processor, a policy with the gift, wherein the policy is at least in part defined by the recipient'"'"'s identification of the merchant; monitoring, via a processor and according to the policy, purchases using the recipient payment account at a second time, which is later than the first time, to yield purchasing information; based on the purchasing information, determining, via a processor, whether a qualifying purchase has been made at the merchant using the recipient payment account; and if the qualifying purchase has occurred, transferring, via a processor, an amount of money associated with the offer from the giver payment account to the recipient payment account. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification