Retail Point-of-Transaction Systems, Program Products, and Related Methods to Provide a Customized Set of Identification Data to Facilitate a Retail Transaction Using Electronic Coupons

• US 20120330763A1
• Filed: 07/23/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Frank Joseph Gangi
• Inventors: Gangi, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,596,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• 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 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/383 Anonymous user system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 : the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 : the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification

Abstract

Retail point-of-transaction systems, program products, and related computer implemented methods to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a retail sales point-of-sale transaction which includes the use of one or more electronic coupons is provided. The retail point-of-sale system can include a computer having memory and configured to facilitate one or more transactions each of which include the use of one or more electronic coupons through a retail point-of-transaction terminal positioned remote from, and adapted to be in communication with, the computer. The computer can also include a set of instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to redeem one or more electronic coupons for one or more retail transactions responsive to a customized set of identification data provided by the computer responsive to a data profile derived from a set of personal data of at least one of a plurality of remotely positioned users.

Claims

1. A method for processing a transaction comprising:

providing to a user, through a communications network, a graphical user interface wherein a user can;

input personal data,

select a merchant of interest, and

provide payment information,

providing to the user, through the communications network, data relating to the merchant, including details of a transaction;

receiving from a merchant an indication that the user desires to engage in the transaction;

comparing the indication received from the merchant to the personal data input by the user to determine whether the transaction is authorized; and

providing to the merchant an indication that the transaction is authorized in the event the comparing step indicates an authorized transaction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction is a coupon redemption.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the details of a transaction include information relating to the coupon in a format that is electronically readable by a point of transaction terminal at a merchant location.

4. The method of claim 3 further including converting information received from a merchant into the format that is electronically readable by a point of transaction terminal at a merchant location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the format that is electronically readable by a point of transaction terminal at a merchant location is a bar code display.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the personal data includes user identification data and user payment data.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing to the merchant data derived from the user'"'"'s previous transactions.

8. A method for processing a transaction comprising:

through a communications network including a wireless link, providing to a user a graphical user interface wherein a user can;

input personal data, including a personal ID,

select a merchant of interest, wherein the merchant is a retail merchant or a retail service provider, and

provide payment information including credit or debit card data,

receiving through the communications network data input by a user and storing said data in a computer database;

providing to the user, through the communications network, data relating to the merchant, including details of a transaction;

receiving from the merchant an indication that the user desires to engage in the transaction;

using a server coupled to the communications network, comparing the indication received from the merchant to the personal data input by the user to determine whether the transaction is authorized; and

providing to the merchant an indication that the transaction is authorized in the event the comparing step indicates an authorized transaction.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the transaction is an electronic coupon redemption.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the details of a transaction include information relating to the coupon in a format that is electronically readable by a point of transaction terminal at a merchant location.

11. The method of claim 10 further including converting information received from a merchant into the format that is electronically readable by a point of transaction terminal at a merchant location.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the format that is electronically readable by a point of transaction terminal at a merchant location is a bar code display.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the server and the database are located at a location remote from the merchant.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of comparing the indication received from the merchant to the personal data input by the user includes verifying the identity of the user.

15. The method of claim 8 further including logging the geographical location of a user in response to receiving from the merchant an indication that the user desires to engage in the transaction.

16. The method of claim 8 further including logging a timestamp of an event in response to receiving from the merchant an indication that the user desires to engage in the transaction.

17. A method for processing a transaction comprising:

receiving from a customer an electronic coupon, the electronic coupon being stored on a cellular communications device;

receiving from the customer personal data and payment data, stored on the cellular communications device;

through a communications network including a wireless link, providing to a remote server data about the electronic coupon and the customer personal data;

receiving from the remote server to an indication that the transaction is authorized;

receiving from the remote server an incentive to promote future transactions by the customer; and

presenting to the customer the incentive.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the electronic coupon is received via a radio link at a point of transaction terminal.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the personal data includes a personal ID and a password.

20. The method of claim 17 further including receiving from the remote server customized an image of the customer and displaying the image on a point of transaction terminal.