ELECTRONIC COUPON ISSUANCE AND REDEMPTION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20130211890A1
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heitmueller, Kathy, Truelson, Chris J., Frantz, Douglas R., Taylor, Mary T., Granville, Walter J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,953,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions

Abstract

The ELECTRONIC COUPON ISSUANCE AND REDEMPTION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“ECIR”) transforms user coupon purchase and redemption request inputs via ECIR components into coupon issuance, transaction, and analytics outputs. In some embodiments, the ECIR may receive an inventory request from a coupon program manager, including at least a virtual coupon issue criteria. The ECIR may generate one or more account identifiers, and transmit the account identifiers to the coupon program manager. The ECIR may receive, from the coupon program manager, an issue request along with the purchase information, which may include one or more purchase identifiers corresponding to one or more buyers. The ECIR may determine when the received purchase information satisfies the virtual coupon issue criteria, when it satisfies the criteria, the ECIR may issue one or more virtual coupons having the one or more account identifiers, and transmit the issued virtual cards to the coupon program manager.

Claims

1. A virtual prepaid coupon account issuance processor-implemented method, comprising:

receiving an inventory request from a coupon program manager, the inventory request including at least a virtual coupon issue criteria;

generating in accordance with the inventory request one or more account identifiers;

transmitting the generated account identifiers to the coupon program manager;

receiving an issue request, along with purchase information, from the coupon program manager, the purchase information including one or more purchase identifiers corresponding to one or more buyers;

determining in response to the issue request when the received purchase information satisfies the virtual coupon issue criteria; and

when the received purchase information satisfies the virtual coupon issue criteria, issuing one or more virtual coupons having the one or more account identifiers; and

transmitting the issued virtual cards to the coupon program manager.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a coupon purchase request from the one or more buyers;

retrieving the purchase information from the coupon purchase request; and

providing the issued virtual cards to the one or more buyers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the issued virtual cards are permanent account numbers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the issued virtual cards are single use a associated with one buyer and one coupon.

5. A virtual prepaid coupon account issuance system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor issuable instructions to;

generate in accordance with the inventory request one or more account identifiers;

transmit the generated account identifiers to the coupon program manager;

receive an issue request, along with purchase information, from the coupon program manager, the purchase information including one or more purchase identifiers corresponding to one or more buyers;

determine in response to the issue request if the received purchase information satisfies the virtual coupon issue criteria; and

if the received purchase information satisfies the virtual coupon issue criteria, issuing one or more virtual coupons having the one or more account identifiers; and

transmit the issued virtual cards to the coupon program manager.

6. The system of claim 5, the memory further storing instructions to:

receive a coupon purchase request from the one or more buyers;

retrieve the purchase information from the coupon purchase request; and

provide the issued virtual cards to the one or more buyers.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the issued virtual cards are permanent account numbers.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the issued virtual cards are single use associated with one buyer and one coupon.

9. A processor-readable tangible medium storing processor-issuable virtual prepaid coupon account issuance instructions to:

generate in accordance with the inventory request one or more account identifiers;

transmit the generated account identifiers to the coupon program manager;

receive an issue request, along with purchase information, from the coupon program manager, the purchase information including one or more purchase identifiers corresponding to one or more buyers;

determine in response to the issue request if the received purchase information satisfies the virtual coupon issue criteria; and

if the received purchase information satisfies the virtual coupon issue criteria, issuing one or more virtual coupons having the one or more account identifiers; and

transmit the issued virtual cards to the coupon program manager.

10. The medium of claim 9, further storing instructions to:

receive a coupon purchase request from the one or more buyers;

retrieve the purchase information from the coupon purchase request; and

provide the issued virtual cards to the one or more buyers.

11. The medium of claim 9, wherein the issued virtual cards are permanent account numbers.

12. The medium of claim 9, wherein the issued virtual cards are single use associated with one buyer and one coupon.

13. A virtual prepaid coupon account authorization system, comprising:

an issuer processor; and

a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-issuable instructions to;

receive the coupon authorization request from the transaction processor;

determine based on the coupon program identifier if the coupon is authorized for redemption at the merchant; and

if the value associated with the coupon program identifier is sufficient for redemption, approve the coupon for redemption based on the determination.

14. A virtual coupon issuance analysis processor-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining a virtual coupon issuance analysis request associated with a virtual coupon issuance;

selecting a first virtual prepaid coupon account used to redeem the virtual coupon issuance;

determining a first card-based financial account associated with the first virtual prepaid coupon account;

aggregating first card transaction data records from the first card-based financial account;

determining a first coupon redemption date of the first virtual coupon issuance; and

calculating a first number of transactions before and post the first coupon redemption date using the first card transaction data records.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

selecting a second virtual prepaid coupon account used to redeem the virtual coupon issuance;

determining a second card-based financial account associated with the second virtual prepaid coupon account;

aggregating second card transaction data records from the second card-based financial account;

determining a second coupon redemption date of the second virtual coupon issuance;

calculating a second number of transactions before and post the second coupon redemption date using the second card transaction data records;

aggregating the first number of transactions before the first coupon redemption date and the second number of transactions before the second coupon redemption date;

aggregating the first number of transactions post the first coupon redemption date and the second number of transactions post the second coupon redemption date;

comparing the number of transactions before and post coupon redemption date; and

generating a correlation report of the compared results.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a prospective virtual coupon issuance amount based on the generated correlation report.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the prospective virtual coupon issuance amount is provided based on business revenue changed before and post coupon redemption date.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the prospective virtual coupon issuance amount is provided based on total coupon cost.

19. A virtual coupon issuance analysis system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory disposed in communication with the processor and storing processor-issuable instructions to;

obtain a virtual coupon issuance analysis request associated with a virtual coupon issuance;

select a first virtual prepaid coupon account used to redeem the virtual coupon issuance;

determine a first card-based financial account associated with the first virtual prepaid coupon account;

aggregate first card transaction data records from the first card-based financial account;

determine a first coupon redemption date of the first virtual coupon issuance; and

calculate a first number of transactions before and post the first coupon redemption date using the first card transaction data records.

20. The system of claim 19, the memory further storing instructions to:

select a second virtual prepaid coupon account used to redeem the virtual coupon issuance;

determine a second card-based financial account associated with the second virtual prepaid coupon account;

aggregate second card transaction data records from the second card-based financial account;

determine a second coupon redemption date of the second virtual coupon issuance;

calculate second number of transactions before and post the second coupon redemption date using the second card transaction data records;

aggregate the first number of transactions before the first coupon redemption date and the second number of transactions before the second coupon redemption date;

aggregate the first number of transactions post the first coupon redemption date and the second number of transactions post the second coupon redemption date;

compare the number of transactions before and post coupon redemption date; and

generate a correlation report of the compared results.