SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• US 20120296817A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John W. Daniel, Ken R. Powell
• Original Assignee: John W. Daniel, Ken R. Powell
• Inventors: POWELL, KEN R., DANIEL, JOHN W.
• Application Number:
  US13/112,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for promoting products and services in a retail environment.

Claims

1. A method for operating with a system including a first entity and a payment entity,

the first entity providing retail services, wherein the first entity effectively

sends an authorization inquiry message to the payment entity, the authorization inquiry message being in a first format;

and

receives a reply message from the payment entity, the reply message being in a second format; and

the payment entity providing payment services, the payment entity performing the steps of

receiving a message, from the first entity, in the first format; and

responsive to the message received in the receiving step, constructing a message in the second format, such that a content of the message in the second format depends on whether an account of a consumer can effect payment,

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

electronically receiving an authorization inquiry message from the first entity, the authorization inquiry message being in the first format;

responsive to the message received in the receiving step, electronically constructing a reply message in the second format, such that a content of the message in the second format depends on whether a product promotional offer is applicable; and

electronically sending the reply message to the first entity, to cause circuitry in the first entity to behave as if the message came from the payment entity.

2. A method for operating with a system including a first entity and a payment entity,

the first entity providing retail services, wherein

the first entity activates

first circuitry that sends a message to the payment entity, the message including a first field, and

second circuitry that receives a reply message from the payment entity, the reply message being in a second format;

the payment entity providing payment services, the payment entity performing the steps of

receiving a message including the first field, from the first entity;

comparing the first field to a threshold;

responsive to the comparing step; and

constructing a message in the second format;

wherein the method comprises the steps of

electronically receiving a message including the first field, from the first entity;

electronically searching for a data item by using the first field;

responsive to the searching step, electronically constructing a reply message in the second format; and

electronically sending the reply message to the first entity.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the system further includes a routing system for receiving a signal and generating a network address in response to the received signal, the routing system including a plurality of wide area communication links, the routing system being configured with a first signal and configured with a second signal, wherein payment entity receives via the routing system, and the method step of receiving includes receiving via the routing system.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the system further includes a plurality of cards, the second signal being common to the plurality of cards, wherein the method further includes causing the routing system to be configured with the second signal.

5. The method of claim 2 further including the step of

locating the first field by using a bitmap within the message.

6. The method of claim 2 further including the step of

locating the first field by using a tag within the message.

7. The method of claim 2 further including the step of

locating the first field by using an offset stored in the message.

8. The method of claim 2 further including the step of

locating the first field by using an offset stored external to the message.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the first field has a length of 12 decimal digits.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein electronically receiving an authorization inquiry message from the first entity includes receiving the authorization inquiry from a cashier station in the first entity.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the cashier station includes a cash receipt drawer, a payment card reader terminal, a keyboard, and a display.

12. A promotion system for operating with a financial system including a first entity and a payment entity,

the first entity providing retail services, wherein

the first entity activates

first circuitry that sends a message to the payment entity, the message including a first field, and

second circuitry that receives a reply message from the payment entity, the reply message being in a second format;

the payment entity providing payment services, the payment entity performing the steps of

receiving a message including the first field, from the first entity;

comparing the first field to a threshold;

responsive to the comparing step; and

constructing a message in the second format;

wherein the promotion system comprises circuitry configured to

receive a message including the first field, from the first entity,

search for a data item by using the first field;

construct a reply message in the second format; and

send the reply message to the first entity.

13. A promotion system according to claim 12 wherein the financial system further includes a routing system for receiving a signal and generating a network address in response to the received signal, the routing system including a plurality of wide area communication links, the routing system being configured with a first signal and configured with a second signal, wherein payment entity receives via the routing system, and the circuitry in the promotion system receive via the routing system.

14. A promotion system according to claim 13 wherein the circuitry in the promotion system is configured to operate with a plurality of cards, the second signal being common to the plurality of cards.

15. The promotion system of claim 12 wherein the circuitry in the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using a bitmap within the message.

16. The promotion system of claim 12 wherein the circuitry in the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using a tag within the message.

17. The promotion system of claim 12 wherein the circuitry in the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using an offset stored in the message.

18. The promotion system of claim 12 wherein the circuitry in the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using an offset stored external to the message.

19. The promotion system of claim 12 wherein the first field has a length of 12 decimal digits.

20. The promotion system of claim 12 wherein the circuitry in the promotion system is configured to receive an authorization inquiry message from a cashier station in the first entity.

21. The promotion system of claim 20 wherein the cashier station includes a cash receipt drawer, a payment card reader terminal, a keyboard, and a display.

22. A promotion system for operating with a financial system including a first entity and a payment entity,

the first entity providing retail services, wherein

the first entity activates

first circuitry that sends a message to the payment entity, the message including a first field, and

second circuitry that receives a reply message from the payment entity, the reply message being in a second format;

the payment entity providing payment services, the payment entity performing the steps of

receiving a message including the first field, from the first entity;

comparing the first field to a threshold;

responsive to the comparing step; and

constructing a message in the second format;

wherein the promotion system comprises

means for receiving a message including the first field, from the first entity;

means for earching for a data item by using the first field;

means for constructing a reply message in the second format; and

means for sending the reply message to the first entity.

23. A promotion system according to claim 22 wherein the financial system further includes a routing system for receiving a signal and generating a network address in response to the received signal, the routing system including a plurality of wide area communication links, the routing system being configured with a first signal and configured with a second signal, wherein payment entity receives via the routing system, and the promotion system includes means for receiving via the routing system.

24. A promotion system according to claim 23 the promotion system includes means for operating with a plurality of cards, the second signal being common to the plurality of cards.

25. The promotion system of claim 22 wherein the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using a bitmap within the message.

26. The promotion system of claim 22 wherein the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using a tag within the message.

27. The promotion system of claim 22 wherein the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using an offset stored in the message.

28. The promotion system of claim 22 wherein the promotion system is configured to locate the first field by using an offset stored external to the message.

29. The promotion system of claim 22 wherein the first field has a fixed length of 12 decimal digits.

30. The promotion system of claim 22 wherein the promotion system is configured to receive an authorization inquiry message from a cashier station in the first entity.

31. The promotion system of claim 30 wherein the cashier station includes a cash receipt drawer, a payment card reader terminal, a keyboard, and a display.