SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURCHASING IN A DIGITAL CHANNEL

• US 20140081809A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: King, Kathleen, Miller, Matthew, Muthukrishnan, Sathish, Norman, Philip, Prentice, Anthony, Schultz, Stephanie, Vakil, Elizabeth, Wolf, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,754,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.82
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• 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 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0637 Approvals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems are capable of initiating purchases in a broadcast channel. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a computer based system for processing payments, a broadcast from a broadcast channel, wherein the broadcast and the broadcast channel are associated with a transaction account,

comparing, by the computer based system, the broadcast to a criteria;

requesting, by the computer based system, confirmation information in response to the broadcast at least partially satisfying the criteria; and

transmitting, by the computer based system, transaction instructions for an item in response to receiving the confirmation information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation information is a verification code associated with the transaction account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation information particularly identifies at least one of a user and the transaction account.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating, by the computer based system, the transaction account with the broadcast channel based on user profile information associated with at least one of the transaction account and the broadcast channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the confirmation information particularly identifies at least one of the user and the transaction account.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel is a social media channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast is a message comprising text.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast is a hashtag.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, the broadcast is a predefined action defined by a sponsoring entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a notification of a reward is provided through the broadcast channel, in response to the broadcast at least partially satisfying an offer defined by a sponsoring entity.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the computer based system, a notification of a transaction based on the transaction instructions through the broadcast channel, in response to transmitting the transaction instructions.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating, by the computer based system, a broadcast channel profile with the transaction account based on transaction account information provided by a user in the broadcast channel.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring, by the computer based system, user broadcasts based on an association of a broadcast channel profile and the transaction account.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating, by the computer based system, a transaction on the transaction account associated with the broadcast channel based on the transaction instructions.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting, by the computer based system, payment information to a merchant providing the item, in response to the initiating.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating, by the computer based system, an authorization to the merchant providing the item, in response to the initiating.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the computer based system, preference information for a user to a merchant providing the item, in response to the transaction instructions.

4. The method of claim 4, wherein the confirmation information is an e-mail address associated with at least one of the user and the transaction account.

19. A non-transitory computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer based system capable of processing payments, causes the computer based system to be capable of performing operations comprising:

receiving, by the computer based system, a broadcast from a broadcast channel, wherein the broadcast and the broadcast channel are associated with a transaction account;

comparing, by the computer based system, the broadcast to a criteria;

requesting, by the computer based system, confirmation information in response to the broadcast at least partially satisfying the criteria; and

transmitting, by the computer based system, transaction instructions for an item in response to receiving the confirmation information,

20. A computer based system, comprising:

a processor for processing payments;

a non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon;

a monitoring module configured to receive a broadcast from a broadcast channel, wherein the broadcast and the broadcast channel are associated with a transaction account, the monitoring module further configured to compare the broadcast to a criteria;

a transaction module configured to request confirmation information in response to the broadcast at least partially satisfying the criteria; and

a transaction account system configured to create transaction instructions for an item, in response to receiving the continuation information.