System and method for facilitating a transaction between a merchant and a consumer

• US 6,988,658 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Smith, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVE S
• Application Number:
  US10/439,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20040226995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/381, 235/382, 235/385, 235/451, 235/487, 235/492, 235/380, 705/39, 705/41
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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

Abstract

A system for facilitating a transaction between a merchant and a consumer includes a consumer interface and a settlement administrator. The consumer interface is configured to emit a consumer identity signal configured to identify a consumer, and the settlement administrator is configured to receive the consumer identity signal and to receive an amount owing signal indicative of an amount owing from said consumer. The settlement administrator is further configured to facilitate one or more payments between an account of the merchant and an account of the consumer upon receipt of the consumer identity signal and the amount owing signal. In addition, the system may include an incentive administrator configured to emit an offer signal indicative of an incentive offer. The incentive administrator may be configured to receive the consumer identity signal so that the incentive offer may be based at least in part on the consumer identity signal.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating a transaction between a merchant and a consumer comprising:

a settlement administrator configured to receive a consumer identity signal from a consumer device, wherein said consumer device is configured to emit said consumer identity signal via a first radio frequency, said consumer identity signal configured to identify said consumer and provide consumer payment information;

wherein said settlement administrator is further configured to receive an amount owing signal indicative of an amount owing from said consumer, wherein said amount owing signal is based at least in part on a second radio frequency signal emanating from inventory associated with said consumer; and

wherein said settlement administrator is further configured to facilitate a payment between an account of said merchant and an account of said consumer upon receipt of said consumer identity signal and said amount owing signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said consumer device is further configured to receive and retain an offer signal indicative of an incentive offer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said consumer device is further configured to emit said offer signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said offer signal is based on at least one of age of said consumer, gender of said consumer, purchasing history of said consumer, time occupied by said consumer inside an establishment of said merchant, path traversed by said consumer inside an establishment of said merchant, economic information regarding said consumer and population information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said settlement administrator is further configured to receive an offer signal indicative of an incentive offer.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said payment is based at least in part on said offer signal.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an incentive administrator configured to emit an offer signal indicative of an incentive offer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said incentive administrator is configured to receive a consumer identity signal and wherein said incentive offer is based at least in part on said consumer identity signal.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a merchandizing administrator in communication with said settlement administrator and said incentive administrator;

wherein said settlement administrator is further configured to provide merchandizing information to said merchandizing administrator;

wherein said merchandizing administrator is configured to receive said merchandizing information and to provide incentive information to said incentive administrator; and

wherein said incentive offer is based at least in part on said merchandizing information.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inventory acquirer in communication with said consumer device, wherein said inventory acquirer is configured to determine inventory information based on said second radio frequency signal emanating from said inventory.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said inventory information comprises at least one of type of said inventory, price of said inventory, amount of said inventory, location of said inventory, consumer tracking information, relation of said inventory with respect to other inventory, frequency of purchase of said inventory, relation of said inventory to an incentive offer, and radio frequency tag information.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said inventory acquirer is a cart.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said first radio frequency and said second radio frequency are at least one of identical and different.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a consumer tracker, wherein said consumer tracker is configured to receive said consumer identity signal, and wherein said consumer identity signal includes at least one of consumer incentive information, consumer payment information, consumer path information and consumer location information.

14. A method for a settlement administrator to facilitate a transaction between a merchant and a consumer comprising:

receiving a consumer identity signal from a consumer device, wherein said consumer identity signal includes a first radio frequency and identifies said consumer and provides consumer payment information;

receiving an amount owing signal indicative of an amount owing from said consumer, wherein said amount owing signal is based at least in part on a second radio frequency signal emanating from consumer selected inventory; and

facilitating a payment between an account of said merchant and an account of said consumer.