Method and apparatus for providing supplementary product sales to a customer at a customer terminal

• US 6,694,300 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Tedesco, Daniel E., VanLuchene, Andrew S., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myhre, James W.
• Application Number:
  US08/994,426
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 705/17, 705/26, 705/1, 705/14, 705/15, 295/226, 295/228, 295/236, 295/237, 295/239
• US Class Current: 705/14.25
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 : Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 : electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 : Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

A system for providing supplementary product sales is provided in which a central controller, which may be operated by a credit card issuer, receives a purchase from a card authorization terminal. The purchase includes at least one purchase parameter, such as a customer account identifier, product identifiers for specifying items purchased or product price. The central controller determines a supplementary product to offer that is based on the at least one purchase parameter. A product identifier for specifying the supplementary product is transmitted to the card authorization terminal, where the customer chooses whether to accept the offered supplementary product. The card authorization terminal generates and transmits to the central controller a selection signal indicative of whether the supplementary product is accepted. If the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, the central controller adjusts a balance of a financial account in dependence on an adjustment value associated with the supplementary product. The financial account may be, for example, a credit card account of the customer, the merchant controlling the card authorization terminal, or a merchant offering the accepted supplementary product. Thus, payment for the supplementary product or rewards for accepting the supplementary product may be transferred among various parties automatically.

Claims

1. A method for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

receiving from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determining a supplementary product from a second merchant to offer to the customer based on the at least one purchase parameter, the supplementary product having associated therewith an adjustment value;

performing a comparison to establish whether a financial account may be debited an amount based at least in part on the adjustment value;

transmitting a product identifier for specifying the supplementary product;

receiving a selection signal indicative of whether the supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, adjusting a balance of the financial account in dependence on the adjustment value,

wherein the method is performed by a party that is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a financial account identifier for specifying the financial account.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the adjusted financial account comprises a financial account of the customer, and further comprising:

determining a merchant financial account in dependence on the supplementary product; and

adjusting a balance of the merchant financial account in dependence on the adjustment value.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a customer account identifier for specifying a customer account.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining, from the customer account identifier, at least one previous purchase; and

in which the step of determining a supplementary product comprises;

determining a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previous purchase.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining, from the customer account identifier, at least one previously-offered supplementary product; and

in which the step of determining a supplementary product comprises;

determining a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previously-offered supplementary product.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting the customer account identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises at least one product identifier for specifying an item purchased.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a purchase price.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the supplementary product further has associated therewith a merchant identifier for specifying a merchant.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a merchant financial account in dependence on the merchant identifier; and

in which the step of adjusting a balance of a financial account comprises;

adjusting a balance of the merchant financial account in dependence on the adjustment value.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises an indication of time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, providing notice to a third party that the supplementary product is accepted.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the step of providing notice to a third party comprises:

transmitting a signal to the third party indicative of the supplementary product.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing customer information to the third party.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an authorization code for uniquely identifying the purchase; and

printing the authorization code.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

verifying the authorization code before the step of adjusting a balance.

18. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining a supplementary product to offer comprises:

determining a plurality of supplementary products to offer, each based on at least one of the at least one purchase parameter, and each having associated therewith an adjustment value;

and in which the step of transmitting a product identifier comprises;

transmitting a plurality of product identifiers, each for specifying one of the supplementary products;

and in which the step of receiving a selection signal comprises;

receiving at least one selection signal indicative of whether any supplementary product is accepted.

19. The method of claim 18, in which the step of transmitting a plurality of product identifiers comprises:

transmitting a plurality of product identifiers simultaneously.

21. The method of claim 1, in which the step of adjusting the balance of the financial account comprises:

applying a transaction against the account, the transaction having a transaction amount dependent on the adjustment value.

23. The method of claim 21, in which the step of applying a transaction comprises:

debiting the financial account by the adjustment value.

20. A method for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

receiving from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determining a plurality of supplementary products from a plurality of other merchants to offer based on the at least one purchase parameter, each based on at least one of the at least one purchase parameter, and each having associated therewith an adjustment value;

performing a comparison to establish whether a financial account may be debited an amount based at least in part on at least one of the adjustment values;

transmitting a plurality of product identifiers, each for specifying one of the supplementary products;

receiving at least one selection signal indicative of whether any supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, adjusting a balance of the financial account in dependence on the adjustment value, in which the step of transmitting a plurality of product identifiers comprises;

transmitting a first product identifier of the plurality of product identifiers before receiving the at least one selection signal; and

transmitting a second product identifier of the plurality of product identifiers after receiving the at least one selection signal,

wherein the method is performed by a party that is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

22. A method for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

receiving from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determining a supplementary product from a second merchant to offer based on the at least one purchase parameter, the supplementary product having associated therewith an adjustment value;

transmitting a product identifier for specifying the supplementary product;

receiving a selection signal indicative of whether the supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, adjusting a balance of a financial account in dependence on the adjustment value,

the step of adjusting the balance of the financial account comprising applying a transaction against the account,

the transaction having a transaction amount dependent on the adjustment value, the step of applying a transaction comprising crediting the financial account by the adjustment value,

wherein the method is performed by a party that is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

24. An apparatus for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing

a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to

receive from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determine a supplementary product from a second merchant to offer to the customer based on the at least one purchase parameter, the supplementary product having associated therewith an adjustment value;

perform a comparison to establish whether a financial account may be debited an amount based at least in part on the adjustment value;

transmit a product identifier for specifying the supplementary product;

receive a selection signal indicative of whether the supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, adjust a balance of the financial account in dependence on the adjustment value,

wherein the apparatus is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a financial account identifier for specifying the financial account.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, in which the adjusted financial account comprises a financial account of the customer, and the processor further operative with the program to:

determine a merchant financial account in dependence on the supplementary product; and

adjust a balance of the merchant financial account in dependence on the adjustment value.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a customer account identifier for specifying a customer account.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, the processor further operative with the program to:

determine, from the customer account identifier, at least one previous purchase; and

in which the processor is further operative with the program to;

determine a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previous purchase.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, the processor further operative with the program to:

determine, from the customer account identifier, at least one previously-offered supplementary product; and

determine a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previously-offered supplementary product.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, the processor further operative with the program to:

transmit the customer account identifier.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises at least one product identifier for specifying an item purchased.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a purchase price.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the supplementary product further has associated therewith a merchant identifier for specifying a merchant.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, the processor further operative with the program to:

determine a merchant financial account in dependence on the merchant identifier; and

adjust a balance of the merchant financial account in dependence on the adjustment value.

35. The apparatus of claim 24, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises an indication of time.

36. The apparatus of claim 24, the processor further operative with the program to:

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, provide notice to a third party that the supplementary product is accepted.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, the processor further operative with the program to:

transmitting a signal to the third party indicative of the supplementary product.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, the processor further operative with the program to:

provide customer information to the third party.

39. The apparatus of claim 24, the processor further operative with the program to:

generate an authorization code for uniquely identifying the purchase; and

print the authorization code.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, the processor further operative with the program to:

verify the authorization code before the step of adjusting a balance.

41. The apparatus of claim 24, the processor further operative with the program to:

determine a plurality of supplementary products to offer, each based on at least one of the at least one purchase parameter, and each having associated therewith an adjustment value;

transmit a plurality of product identifiers, each for specifying one of the supplementary products; and

receive at least one selection signal indicative of whether any supplementary product is accepted.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, the processor further operative with the program to:

transmit a plurality of product identifiers simultaneously.

44. The apparatus of claim 24, the processor further operative with the program to:

apply a transaction against the account, the transaction having a transaction amount dependent on the adjustment value.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, the processor further operative with the program to:

debiting the financial account by the adjustment value.

43. An apparatus for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing

a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to

receive from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determine a plurality of supplementary products from a plurality of other merchants to offer base on the at least one purchase parameter, each based on at least one of the at least one purchase parameter, and each having associated therewith an adjustment value;

perform a comparison to establish whether a financial account may be debited an amount based at least in part on at least one of the adjustment values;

transmit a plurality of product identifiers, each for specifying one of the supplementary products;

receive at least one selection signal indicative of whether any supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, adjust a balance of the financial account in dependence on the adjustment value,

in which the processor is further operable to;

transmit a first product identifier of the plurality of product identifiers before receiving the at least one selection signal; and

transmit a second product identifier of the plurality of product identifiers after receiving the at least one selection signal,

wherein the apparatus is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

45. An apparatus for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing

a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to

receive from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determine a supplementary product from a second merchant to offer based on the at least one purchase parameter, the supplementary product having associated therewith an adjustment value;

transmit a product identifier for specifying the supplementary product;

receive a selection signal indicative of whether the supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted, adjust a balance of a financial account in dependence on the adjustment value,

the step of adjusting the balance of the financial account comprising applying a transaction against the account,

the transaction having a transaction amount dependent on the adjustment value,

the step of applying a transaction comprising crediting the financial account by the adjustment value,

wherein the apparatus is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

47. A method for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

receiving from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determining a supplementary product from a second merchant to offer based on the at least one purchase, parameter, the supplementary product having associated therewith

an adjustment value, and

a first financial account identifier for identifying a first financial account;

performing a comparison to establish whether the first financial account may be debited an amount based at least in part on the adjustment value;

transmitting a product identifier for specifying the supplementary product;

receiving a selection signal indicative of whether the supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted,

adjusting a balance of the first financial account in dependence on the adjustment value, and

adjusting a balance of a second financial account in dependence on the adjustment value,

wherein the method is performed by a party that is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

48. The method of claim 47, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a customer account identifier for specifying a customer account.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining, from the customer account identifier, at least one previous purchase; and

in which the step of determining a supplementary product comprises;

determining a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previous purchase.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining, from the customer account identifier, at least one previously-offered supplementary product; and

in which the step of determining a supplementary product comprises;

determining a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previously-offered supplementary product.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

transmitting the customer account identifier.

52. The method of claim 47, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises at least one product identifier for specifying an item purchased.

53. The method of claim 47, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a purchase price.

54. The method of claim 47, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises an indication of time.

55. An apparatus for providing supplementary product sales to a customer, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor connected to the storage device,

the storage device storing

a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to

receive from a first merchant a purchase having at least one purchase parameter;

determine a supplementary product from a second merchant to offer based on the at least one purchase parameter, the supplementary product having associated therewith

an adjustment value, and

a first financial account identifier for identifying a first financial account;

perform a comparison to establish whether the first financial account may be debited an amount based at least in part on the adjustment value;

transmit a product identifier for specifying the supplementary product;

receive a selection signal indicative of whether the supplementary product is accepted; and

if the selection signal indicates that the supplementary product is accepted,

adjust a balance of the first financial account in dependence on the adjustment value, and

adjust a balance of a second financial account in dependence on the adjustment value,

wherein the apparatus is not the first merchant and is not the second merchant.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a customer account identifier for specifying a customer account.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, the processor further operative with the program to:

determine, from the customer account identifier, at least one previous purchase; and

determine a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previous purchase.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, the processor further operative with the program to:

determine, from the customer account identifier, at least one previously-offered supplementary product; and

determine a supplementary product to offer based on the at least one previously-offered supplementary product.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, the processor further operative with the program to:

transmit the customer account identifier.

60. The apparatus of claim 55, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises at least one product identifier for specifying an item purchased.

61. The apparatus of claim 55, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises a purchase price.

62. The apparatus of claim 55, in which the at least one purchase parameter comprises an indication of time.