System for selectively printing messages and adding inserts to merchant statements

• US 6,202,005 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/246,025
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 700/221, 700/220, 270/52.07, 270/52.19, 270/52.14, 270/1.03
• US Class Current: 700/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system for selectively printing messages and adding inserts to merchant statements includes defining messages and inserts. Merchant parameters for each message and insert are then selected. Merchants having the selected parameters for each message and insert are identified. The messages and inserts are associated with the merchant statements of the merchants having the selected merchant parameters. Messages associated with the merchant statements are printed on the merchant statements. Inserts associated with the merchant statements are added to the envelopes containing the merchant statements.

Claims

1. A system for selectively printing messages to merchant statements to be mailed within envelopes to merchants and for selectively adding inserts to the envelopes containing the merchant statements, the merchant statements regarding credit transactions between the merchants and consumers of the merchants, the system comprising:

a computer for defining a plurality of messages to be printed on the merchant statements and for defining a plurality of inserts to be inserted into envelopes containing the merchant statements, the computer defining each message to contain text to be printed on the merchant statements, the computer defining each insert to be a printed document for insertion into the envelopes containing the merchant statements,

wherein the computer includes a graphical user interface for enabling a user to define a message and for enabling a user to define an insert,

wherein the computer defines a respective merchant parameter to be associated with each message and insert, the merchant parameters defining characteristics that merchants must satisfy to receive merchant statements having messages and inserts associated with the respective merchant parameters,

wherein the computer identifies merchants satisfying the characteristic of each merchant parameter,

wherein the computer associates a message with the merchant statement of a merchant if the merchant has been identified as satisfying the characteristic of the merchant parameter associated with the message,

wherein the computer associates an insert with the merchant statement of a merchant if the merchant has been identified as satisfying the characteristic of the merchant parameter associated with the insert,

wherein the computer generates directions for adding inserts associated with the merchant statements of the merchants; and

a printer for printing messages associated with merchant statements of the merchants onto the merchant statements of the merchants.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the merchant parameters include a merchant category code.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the computer further defining each message to contain a priority code, an effective date, an expiration date, a print detail listing, and a requestor identifier.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein:

the print detail listing is a flag used by the computer for listing the merchants identified as satisfying the characteristic of the merchant parameter associated with a message.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the computer further defining each insert to have a description, a form number, an expiration date, a print detail listing, and a requester identifier.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein:

the print detail listing is a flag used by the computer for listing the merchants identified as satisfying the characteristic of the merchant parameter associated with an insert.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the computer includes a graphical user interface for enabling a user to define a merchant parameter.