Utilizing Near Field Communication to Improve Customer Interactions

• US 20140100925A1
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MoneyGram International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MoneyGram International Incorporated
• Inventors: Popescu, Daniela, Crowson, Mark, Trubitsyna, Elena, Tse, Byron, Ware, Nick, Walker, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,727,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means 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 30/01 Customer relationship services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices which utilize near field communication-style technologies in conjunction with one or more of personal devices and communication networks in order to provide for improved customer interactions with a service establishment are provided. In one embodiment an application is configured to provide for various functionality upon the triggering of a near-field communication stimulus. For example, upon scanning a near field device, an application may launch that provides a user with pre-determined information. Such information may include information regarding the nearest locations of a service establishment and approximate wait times for transactions at the listed locations. In another embodiment, the pre-determined information may include information regarding promotions available to a customer such as special offers, coupons, advertisements, and the like.

Claims

1. A method for directing customer traffic to a physical establishment, said method comprising:

providing a near field communication device which is configured to be scanned by a potential customer; and

upon a customer scanning the near field communication device, transmitting information regarding a plurality of locations corresponding to an establishment associated with the near field communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said information regarding a plurality of locations includes current waiting times of the locations.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said information regarding a plurality of locations includes address information corresponding to the locations.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising transmitting travel direction information upon receiving a selection of an address corresponding to a location of the plurality of locations.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting at least one promotional offer to a customer upon the customer scanning the near field communication device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said at least one promotional offer comprises a discount offer to an establishment associated with the near field communication device.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said at least one promotional offer comprises a discount offer to a third party establishment.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a plurality of near field communication devices at a physical establishment, said plurality of near field communication devices configured to assist in the transaction flow of a customer encounter.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of near field communication devices located at a physical establishment is configured to initiate the reception of customer profile data to be used in a given transaction.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of near field communication devices located at a physical establishment is configured to monitor wait times for a customer undertaking a transaction.

11. A method for generating a money transfer transaction, said method comprising:

a scanning a near field communication device associated with a sending party;

retrieving profile data of the sending party;

retrieving transaction data corresponding to a receiving party and a transaction amount; and

receiving payment to fund the money transfer transaction.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein retrieving data corresponding to a receiving party includes retrieving data which is already associated with the profile of the sending party.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving payment includes receiving payment from an account which is associated with the profile data of the sending party.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising scanning the near field communication device associated with the sending party an additional time in order to confirm the transaction details.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising scanning the near field communication device associated with the sending party in order to obtain information regarding waiting time to complete a transaction.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the near field communication device associated with the sending party is scanned by an agent at a physical location.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the near field communication device associated with the sending party is scanned by a kiosk associated with a money transfer service.

18. A computer program product having a computer readable medium with code stored thereon which, when executed performs the steps of:

retrieving information in response to a scan of a near field communication device;

directing a user to a physical location of an entity associated with the near field communication device;

assisting the user with providing transaction details to the entity associated with the and every of communication device; and

verifying transaction details of a transaction which is completed at the physical location.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein said verifying is implemented by scanning an additional near field communication device located at the physical location.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the retrieved information includes one or more promotional offers.

21. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the near field communication device is selected from a group including a bar code, a Quick Response (QR) code, a Near Field Communication radio chip (NFC chip), a Smart Card, and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

22. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the computer program product comprises a mobile smart phone application.

23. A system for managing transaction flow at a physical establishment, said system comprising:

a plurality of near-field communication devices configured to be scanned by one or more customers and to direct data flow for a transaction;

a transaction processing device configured to retrieve transaction information for a customer upon a customer scanning at least one of said near-field communication devices.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the transaction information includes customer profile information.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the customer profile information is retrieved from a user device.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the customer profile information is retrieved from a central server.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein transaction information includes information corresponding to one or more products or services to be purchased by the customer.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein at least one of said plurality of near-field communication devices is configured to compile waiting time data.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein at least one of said plurality of near-field communication devices is configured to authenticate payment for a transaction.