Rebate processing system and method offering selectable disbursement options

• US 7,146,328 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Engagement Solutions, Inc. (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Parago, Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Mason, Reynolds, Michael D., Doxey, Jack W., Melvin, Kelly R., Minor, Barbara A., Solomon, Steven B., Johnsen, Kenneth R., Spottiswood, Juli C., Adams, Andrew F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMPAGNE, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US09/470,580
• Time in Patent Office: 2,540 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14, 705/16, 705/17, 705/39, 705/40, 705/44, 379/113, 379/144
• US Class Current: 705/14.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• 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 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A system is disclosed that provides computer-aided processing of a rebate on a product. The system includes a rebate processing center communicating over a network with a manufacturer, a distributor, and a consumer. The rebate processing center maintains a promotion table and a transaction table in order to facilitate processing of product rebates and to offer the consumer a choice of disbursement options.

Claims

1. A computer-based interface for facilitating rebate processing, the interface operable to:

display a plurality of product identifiers using the computer-based interface, wherein each of the product identifiers is associated with a product bearing a rebate;

receive purchase information from a user, wherein the purchase information identifies a purchased product associated with a selected one of the product identifiers;

receive a rebate request for a rebate on the purchased product, the rebate request having an associated rebate transaction identifier assigned by a remote rebate processing center;

retrieve status information for the rebate request from the remote rebate processing center using the rebate transaction identifier;

display the status information;

receive authorization of the rebate request;

display rebate information retrieved from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate information comprising at least two disbursement options determined based on the purchase information, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and

receive a selection of the disbursement options.

2. The computer-based interface of claim 1, further operable to:

receive a search string; and

display the product identifiers responsive to the search string.

3. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the rebate request comprises a request for a rebate on a purchased product, and the disbursement options comprise a plurality of products related to the purchased product available to purchase using a rebate credit.

4. The computer-based interface of claim 1, further operable to:

display a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;

receive purchase selections from the plurality of products; and

display a total price of the purchase selections.

5. The computer-based interface of claim 4, further operable to receive credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.

6. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a site browser and further operable to display an additional site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.

7. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.

8. The computer-based interface of claim 1, wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.

9. A method for processing a rebate, comprising:

displaying a plurality of product identifiers using a computer-based interface, wherein each of the product identifiers is associated with a product bearing a rebate;

receiving purchase information from a user, wherein the purchase information identifies a purchased product associated with a selected one of the product identifiers;

receiving a rebate request for a rebate on the purchased product, the rebate request having an associated rebate transaction identifier assigned by a remote rebate processing center;

retrieving status information for the rebate request from the remote rebate processing center using the rebate transaction identifier;

displaying the status information;

receiving authorization of the rebate request;

displaying rebate information retrieved from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate information comprising at least two disbursement options determined based on the purchase information, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and

receiving a selection of the disbursement options.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a search string; and

displaying the product identifiers responsive to the search string.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the rebate request comprises a request for a rebate on a purchased product, and the disbursement options comprise a plurality of products related to the purchased product available to purchase using a rebate credit.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;

receiving purchase selections from the plurality of products; and

displaying a total price of the purchase selections.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising linking to a site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.

17. A rebate processor, comprising:

a memory operable to store a promotion comprising at least two disbursement options, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and

a processor, operable to;

receive a rebate request from a user;

assign a rebate transaction identifier to the rebate request;

communicate the rebate transaction identifier to the user;

match the rebate request to the promotion;

communicate an authorization of the rebate request, wherein the authorization comprises the disbursement options; and

receive a selection of the disbursement options.

18. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein:

the promotion further comprises a first promotion identifier;

the rebate request comprises a second promotion identifier; and

the processor is further operable to match the rebate request to the promotion based on a comparison of the first promotion identifier and the second promotion identifier.

19. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive purchase information from a consumer; and

identify the promotion based on the purchase information.

20. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein the rebate request comprises a request for a rebate on a purchased product, and the disbursement options comprise a plurality of products related to the purchased product available to purchase using a rebate credit.

21. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein the memory is further operable to store status information, wherein status information comprises a current status of the rebate request.

22. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein the processor is further operable to:

communicate a product list, wherein the product list comprises a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;

receive purchase selections from the product list; and

display a total price of the purchase selections.

23. The rebate processor of claim 22, wherein the processor is further operable to receive credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.

24. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein the processor is further operable to communicate a location of a site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.

25. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.

26. The rebate processor of claim 17, wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.

27. A method for processing a rebate, comprising:

receiving purchase information identifying a product bearing a rebate;

communicating the purchase information to a remote rebate processing center using an electronic communications network;

receiving rebate information describing the rebate from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate information comprising at least two disbursement options, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and

displaying the rebate information;

receiving consumer information from a user, wherein the consumer information identifies a purchase of the product bearing the rebate;

communicating the consumer information to the remote rebate processing center to initiate a rebate request;

receiving a rebate transaction identifier from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate transaction identifier assigned to the rebate request by the remote rebate processing center;

outputting the rebate transaction identifier for physical delivery to the remote rebate processing center;

retrieving status information for the rebate request from the remote rebate processing center using the rebate transaction identifier; and

displaying the status information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the disbursement options comprise a list of products available to purchase using a rebate credit, wherein the list is determined based on the purchase information.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;

receiving purchase selections from the plurality of products; and

displaying a total price of the purchase selections.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising receiving credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising linking to a site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.