Method for selectively printing messages and adding inserts to merchant statements

• US 6,349,242 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• 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): Valenza, Joseph E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/801,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20010012974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 700/220, 700/221, 270/52.07, 270/52.19, 270/52.14, 270/1.03
• US Class Current: 700/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method 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 method 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 payment transactions between the merchants and consumers of the merchants, the method comprising:

using a graphical user interface of a computer for defining a plurality of messages to be printed on the merchant statements, wherein defining the plurality of messages includes defining each message to contain text to be printed on the merchant statements;

using a graphical user interface of a computer for defining a plurality of inserts to be inserted into envelopes containing the merchant statements, wherein defining the plurality of inserts includes defining each insert to be a printed document for insertion into the envelopes containing the merchant statements;

defining 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;

identifying merchants satisfying the characteristic of each merchant parameter;

associating 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;

associating 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;

generating directions for adding inserts associated with the merchant statements of the merchants; and

printing messages associated with merchant statements of the merchants onto the merchant statements of the merchants.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the merchant parameters include a merchant category code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

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

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

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

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

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

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

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

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

defining a respective merchant parameter to be associated with each message and insert includes using a graphical user interface for enabling a user to define the respective merchant parameters.