SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING OVERAGES IN DAILY DEALS

• US 20130185125A1
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Powell, Jonathan Robert, CELORIO-MARTINEZ, Jose-Luis, Gilman, Andrea Christine, Doherty, John
• Application Number:
  US13/740,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20130185125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for using a financial transaction card number system of a payment processing network as part of an overage management system. In an embodiment, a method receives an intelligent transaction card number used with a redemption code to purchase products or services contained in an offer, wherein the intelligent transaction card number indicates a total amount of a transaction and the total includes a value of the redeemed offer and an overage spent by the consumer in addition to the value of the redeemed offer. The method conducts post-clearing adjustments based on terms of the redeemed offer and generates instructions for corresponding credits or debits of funds. The method then receives instructions to: transfer funds from a first purse for the value of the redeemed offer and authorizes, clearing and settling the transferred funds; and to transfer funds from a second purse for the overage.

Claims

1. A method of post-settlement adjustment for managing overages for offers redeemed by consumers, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of redemption of an offer by a consumer;

receiving an intelligent transaction card number used with a redemption code to purchase products or services contained in the redeemed offer, wherein the intelligent transaction card number indicates a total amount of a transaction at a merchant, wherein the total amount includes a value of the redeemed offer and an overage spent by the consumer at the merchant in addition to the value of the redeemed offer;

conducting, in a payment processing network, post-clearing adjustments based on terms of the redeemed offer;

generating, by the payment processing network, instructions for corresponding credits or debits of funds by;

debiting the value of the redeemed offer; and

crediting a value corresponding to settlement of funds with the merchant where the offer was redeemed;

receiving, from a card issuer, instructions to transfer funds from a first purse for the value of the redeemed offer;

authorizing, clearing and settling the transferred funds; and

receiving, from the card issuer, instructions to transfer funds from a second purse for the overage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the card issuer, authorization for the value of the redeemed offer; and

receiving, from the merchant, a separate transaction for the overage.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of a consumer account linked to the offer to cover the overage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the consumer account is a consumer card linked via a registration at an offer distributor website.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising initiating a second transaction with the consumer account to cover the overage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intelligent transaction card number is an Intelligent Coupon Number (ICN).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the ICN is received from the merchant where the offer was redeemed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the ICN is a 16-digit value entered at a point-of-sale (POS) terminal at the merchant.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating one or more controls put on the intelligent transaction card number;

wherein a voucher is associated with the redeemed offer, and

wherein the total amount includes a value of the voucher and an overage spent by the consumer at the merchant in addition to the value of the voucher.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the value corresponding to settlement of funds is a pre-determined percentage of the value of the voucher.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more controls include at least one of:

time(s) of day the voucher can be used;

day(s) of week the voucher can be used;

date(s) the voucher can be used;

geographic location(s) where the voucher can be used;

one or more merchants where the voucher can be used;

type(s) of merchants where the voucher can be used;

an age range of the consumer; and

a maximum overage that may be spent together with the voucher.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the generating, sending a notification confirming that a discount corresponding to the value of the redeemed offer has been applied.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is an e-mail message or an SMS text message sent to a mobile computing device associated with the consumer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is sent in an optional data field to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal at the merchant.

15. A method of managing overages for offers redeemed by consumers using a non-settlement product, the apparatus comprising:

receiving an indication of redemption of an offer by a consumer;

receiving an intelligent transaction card number used with a redemption code to purchase products or services contained in the redeemed offer, wherein the intelligent transaction card number indicates a total amount of a transaction at a merchant, wherein the total amount includes a value of the redeemed offer and an overage spent by the consumer at the merchant in addition to the value of the redeemed offer;

sending a partial approval to the merchant, wherein the partial approval includes authorization for the value of the redeemed offer;

settling the value of the redeemed offer as a first transaction; and

processing the overage as a second transaction.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising means for receiving, from the merchant, the overage outstanding after the partial approval.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising calculating the overage by a point-of-sale (POS) terminal at the merchant.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending, to a card issuer, an authorization request for the total amount;

confirming, at a payment processing network, the value of the redeemed offer as compared to an associated voucher; and

wherein the partial approval is send by the payment processing network as a partial authorization for a value of the voucher, and wherein the value of the voucher is authorized and cleared, but not settled.

19. A method of tracking overages for vouchers redeemed by consumers within a payment processing network, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of redemption, by a consumer, of a purchased voucher, the voucher having been purchased with an account previously-enrolled in the system;

receiving an intelligent transaction card number used with a redemption code to purchase products or services contained in the voucher, wherein the intelligent transaction card number indicates a total amount of a transaction at a merchant, wherein the total amount includes an amount of the voucher and an overage spent by the consumer at the merchant in addition to the amount of the voucher;

using the received intelligent transaction card number to validate the voucher;

processing, in the payment processing network, a transaction for a nominal amount to enable subsequent processing of the overage without settlement challenges;

receiving an overage calculated at the merchant;

requesting an additional form of payment for the overage in response to determining that the previously-enrolled account is not authorized to be used to pay for the overage; and

processing the calculated overage within the payment processing network.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

matching the transaction of the previously-enrolled account at the merchant;

logging the amount for purposes of tracking overage; and

posting rebates as an incentive to the consumer to enroll an account with the system, wherein the matching, logging and posting are done by a rewards services platform.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the intelligent transaction card number is a 16-digit Intelligent Coupon Number (ICN) received via a point-of-sale (POS) terminal at the merchant where the voucher was redeemed.

22. A method post settlement adjustment for averages in offer redemption, comprising:

receiving referrals of merchants interested in participating in one or more deals for a plurality of deal providers to bid on;

presenting the one or more deals to consumers via a consumer website, wherein the website enables consumers to;

rate the deals;

rate the merchants; and

make recommendations to others regarding the deals and merchants via social media;

validating consumers to ensure that only qualified consumers receive the deals;

receiving indication of redemption, by a consumer, of a purchased deal, wherein the indication identifies a total amount of a transaction at a merchant, wherein the total amount includes a value of the redeemed deal and an overage spent by the consumer at the merchant in addition to the redeemed deal;

authorizing a coupon associated with the redeemed deal at a merchant; and

clearing funding of the redeemed deal between a provider of the purchased deal and the merchant via an acquirer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the deals are time-based or based on a limited quantity.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein relevant deals are presented to consumers via the website based on previously-received consumer preferences, deal ratings, merchant rating thresholds, and transaction history for previously-registered consumer cards.