GIFT CARD EXCHANGE MARKETPLACE
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing a marketplace for gift card exchange, the apparatus comprising:
- a computing platform including a memory and a processor in communication with the memory;
a gift card exchange marketplace application stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to;
receive a request from a gift card holder to exchange at least one first gift card issued by a first merchant, wherein the request includes gift card information;
determine a balance amount remaining on the first gift card based on the gift card information;
determine one or more gift card exchange options for the gift card holder, wherein each option includes at least one available second gift card issued by a merchant other than the first merchant and a balance amount remaining on the second gift card, wherein the options are determined based on the balance amount remaining on the first gift card and an exchange rate between the first gift card and the second gift card;
receive a selection from the gift card holder of one of the options;
in response to receiving the selection, validate that the balance amount remaining on the second gift card associated with the selected option is currently available; and
in response to validating the balance amount on the second gift card, retaining redemption rights in the exchanged first card and communicating, to the gift card holder information, associated with the selected second gift card, which allows the gift card holder to redeem the selected second gift card.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus, methods, and computer program products for gift card exchange. The gift card holder is able to exchange either the full purchased amount or a residual balance amount. In other embodiments, a gift card exchange marketplace is provided to allow gift card exchange amongst gift card holders. Thus, gift card exchange alleviates the problem of undesired gift cards (i.e., gift cards from merchants that the recipient does not prefer). Moreover, gift card exchange of residual balances eliminates the problem related to unknown residual gift card balances and keeping track and possession of multiple gift cards with minimal residual balances.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a marketplace for gift card exchange, the apparatus comprising:
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a computing platform including a memory and a processor in communication with the memory; a gift card exchange marketplace application stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to; receive a request from a gift card holder to exchange at least one first gift card issued by a first merchant, wherein the request includes gift card information; determine a balance amount remaining on the first gift card based on the gift card information; determine one or more gift card exchange options for the gift card holder, wherein each option includes at least one available second gift card issued by a merchant other than the first merchant and a balance amount remaining on the second gift card, wherein the options are determined based on the balance amount remaining on the first gift card and an exchange rate between the first gift card and the second gift card; receive a selection from the gift card holder of one of the options; in response to receiving the selection, validate that the balance amount remaining on the second gift card associated with the selected option is currently available; and in response to validating the balance amount on the second gift card, retaining redemption rights in the exchanged first card and communicating, to the gift card holder information, associated with the selected second gift card, which allows the gift card holder to redeem the selected second gift card. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for exchange of gift cards within a gift card exchange marketplace, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a computing device, a request from a gift card holder to exchange at least one first gift card issued by a first merchant, wherein the request includes gift card information; determining, by a computing device processor, a balance amount remaining on the first gift card based on the gift card information; determining, by a computing device processor, one or more gift card exchange options, wherein each option includes at least one available second gift card issued by a second merchant and a balance amount remaining on the second gift card, wherein the options are determined based on the balance amount remaining on the first gift card and an exchange rate between the first gift card and the second gift card; receiving, by a computing device, a selection, from the gift card holder, of one of the options; in response to receiving the selection, validating, by a computing device processor, that the balance amount remaining on the second gift card associated with the selected option is currently available; and in response to validating the balance amount on the second gift card, retaining redemption rights in the exchanged first gift card and communicating to the gift card holder information associated with the selected second gift card, which allows the gift card holder to redeem the selected second gift card. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to cause a computer to implement the steps of:
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receiving a request from a gift card holder to exchange at least one first gift card issued by a first merchant, wherein the request includes gift card information; determining a balance amount remaining on the first gift card based on the gift card information; determining one or more gift card exchange options, wherein each option includes at least one available second gift card issued by a merchant other than the first merchant and a balance amount remaining on the second gift card, wherein the options are determined based on the balance amount remaining on the first gift card and an exchange rate between the first gift card and the second gift card; receiving a selection from the gift card holder of one of the options; in response to receiving the selection, validating that the balance amount remaining on the second gift card associated with the selected option is available; and in response to validating the balance amount on the second gift card, retaining redemption rights in the exchanged first card and communicating to the gift card holder information associated with the selected second gift card, which allows the gift card holder to redeem the selected second gift card. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification