SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A TRANSACTION BETWEEN A MERCHANT AND A CARDHOLDER

• US 20140344011A1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dogin, Jennifer, Maw, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,043,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating a transaction, e.g., shopping experience, between a merchant and a cardholder. The system comprises an electronic storage device having a database of cardholder profile information and location information stored therein; an access path for allowing access to the cardholder profile information and location information; and a processor for assembling the cardholder profile information and location information in the database, and for providing the assembled cardholder profile information and location information to a merchant and a cardholder that have been granted access to the database. The assembled cardholder profile information and location information are provided to the merchant and the cardholder so as to effect targeted interaction between the merchant and cardholder based at least in part on the assembled cardholder profile information and location information. A method for monitoring efficiency of a transaction between a merchant and a cardholder, and for determining customer shopping trends at a merchant facility.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating a transaction between a merchant and a cardholder, said system comprising:

an electronic storage device having a database of cardholder profile information and location information stored therein;

an access path for allowing access to the cardholder profile information and location information; and

a processor for assembling the cardholder profile information and location information in the database, and for providing the assembled cardholder profile information and location information to a merchant and a cardholder that have been granted access to the database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the assembled cardholder profile information and location information are provided to the merchant and the cardholder that have been granted access to the database so as to effect targeted interaction between the merchant and cardholder based at least in part on the assembled cardholder profile information and location information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein targeted interaction comprises services and assistance on the part of the merchant and questions and requests on the part of the cardholder, for facilitating the transaction between the merchant and the cardholder.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the access path comprises a network or web site for making the assembled cardholder profile information and location information available to the merchant and the cardholder.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the access path includes an Internet connected device for connecting to the network or web site.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said Internet connected device is one selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone, a computer, a tablet, and a personal digital assistant.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein based at least in part on the assembled cardholder profile information and location information, the merchant provides timely and targeted services and/or assistance to the cardholder.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information includes navigable floor plans of a merchant facility.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information includes 2D and 3D global positioning system (GPS) mapping and geofencing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cardholder profile information includes preferences, loyalty points number, a digital wallet, other electronic payment systems, a shopping cart, and mobile offerings.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further includes online coupons, location-based services, location-based deals and offers, and advertisements that can be accessed by the cardholder.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein access to the database is granted through a communication device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication device is configured as a mobile platform.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising said cardholder communicating with a call center to obtain payment card benefit information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the payment card benefit information comprises one or more information selected from the group consisting of extended warranty on purchases, price protection, insurance, roadside assistance, emergency travel assistance, foreign transaction fees, rental car insurance, and hotel and airline upgrades.

16. A method for facilitating a transaction between a merchant and a cardholder, said method comprising:

providing an electronic storage device having a database of cardholder profile information and location information stored therein;

allowing access via an access path to the cardholder profile information and location information;

assembling in the database via a processor the cardholder profile information and location information;

providing the assembled cardholder profile information and location information to a merchant and a cardholder that have been granted access to the database; and

effecting targeted interaction between the merchant and cardholder based at least in part on the assembled cardholder profile information and location information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said targeted interaction comprises services and assistance on the part of the merchant and questions and requests on the part of the cardholder, for facilitating the transaction between the merchant and the cardholder.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the access path comprises a network or web site for making the assembled cardholder profile information and location information available to the merchant and the cardholder.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the access path includes an Internet connected device for connecting to the network or web site.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said Internet connected device is one selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone, a computer, a tablet, and a personal digital assistant.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein based at least in part on the cardholder profile information and location information, the merchant provides targeted services and/or assistance to the cardholder.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the location information includes navigable floor plans of a merchant facility.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the location information includes 2D and 3D global positioning system (GPS) mapping and geofencing.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the cardholder profile information includes preferences, loyalty points number, a digital wallet, other electronic payment systems, a shopping cart, and mobile offerings.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the database further includes online coupons, location-based services, location-based deals and offers, and advertisements that optionally can be accessed by the cardholder.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein access to the database is granted through a communication device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the communication device is configured as a mobile platform.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising said cardholder communicating with a call center to obtain payment card benefit information.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the payment card benefit information comprises one or more information selected from the group consisting of extended warranty on purchases, price protection, insurance, roadside assistance, emergency travel assistance, foreign transaction fees, rental car insurance, and hotel and airline upgrades.

30. A method for monitoring efficiency of a transaction between a merchant and a cardholder, said method comprising:

providing an electronic storage device having a database of cardholder profile information and location information stored therein;

allowing access via an access path to the cardholder profile information and location information;

assembling in the database via a processor the cardholder profile information and location information;

providing the assembled cardholder profile information and location information to a merchant and a cardholder that have been granted access to the database;

effecting targeted interaction between the merchant and cardholder based at least in part on the assembled cardholder profile information and location information;

generating data based on the targeted interaction between the merchant and cardholder; and

analyzing the generated data to determine efficiency of the transaction between the merchant and the cardholder.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data includes length of time for a transaction, survey by a cardholder, and whether or not a transaction was completed.

32. A method for determining customer shopping trends at a merchant facility, said method comprising:

providing an electronic storage device having a database of cardholder profile information and location information stored therein;

allowing access via an access path to the cardholder profile information and location information;

assembling in the database via a processor the cardholder profile information and location information;

providing the assembled cardholder profile information and location information to a merchant and a cardholder that have been granted access to the database;

effecting targeted interaction between the merchant and cardholder based at least in part on the assembled cardholder profile information and location information;

generating data based on the targeted interaction between the merchant and cardholder; and

analyzing the generated data to determine customer shopping trends at the merchant facility.