Method and system for conducting promotional programs

• US 7,844,490 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patterson, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Carlson; Jeffrey D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gatling; Stacie D
• Application Number:
  US11/266,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/14.14, 705/14.24, 705/14.38
• US Class Current: 705/14.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• 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 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0223 based on inventory
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements

Abstract

A method for using promotional programs and merchant values is disclosed. In one example, the method includes receiving an authorization request message including a merchant verification value through a payment processing network, where the authorization request message is associated with a purchase by a consumer. A merchant-specific promotional program is then determined using the merchant verification value, and the merchant specific promotional program is performed. For example, the promotional program can be a sweepstakes and the task may be determining of the consumer is an instant winner.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an authorization request message at a server computer from a terminal, wherein the authorization request message is associated with a purchase transaction made by a consumer at a merchant using a portable consumer device;

after receiving the authorization request message, electronically searching a database to determine a merchant-specific promotional program using a merchant verification value associated with the merchant;

performing the determined merchant-specific promotional program after receiving the authorization request message, wherein the performing determines that the consumer is a winner;

after receiving the authorization request message, sending, by the server computer, the authorization request message to an issuer associated with the portable consumer device, wherein the issuer thereafter determines whether or not the transaction is authorized and then generates an authorization response message indicating whether or not the transaction is authorized, and wherein the authorization response message includes an authorization code;

receiving the authorization response message at the server computer from the issuer;

modifying the authorization response message by the server computer by replacing the authorization code with an indication that the consumer is a winner, thereby creating a modified authorization response message; and

sending the modified authorization response message by the server computer, to the terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the merchant-specific promotional program is a sweepstakes program.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable consumer device is a credit card or a debit card.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing an interchange process using the merchant verification value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner is printed on a credit or debit card receipt produced using the terminal, where the authorization code would normally be present.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner is printed on a credit or debit card receipt produced using the terminal, where the authorization code would normally be present, wherein the authorization code and the indication that the consumer is a winner are each six digits.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner is printed on a credit or debit card receipt produced using the terminal, where the authorization code would normally be present, wherein the authorization code and the indication that the consumer is a winner are each six digits, and wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner comprises the word “

winner.”

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the terminal is a POS terminal.

9. A computer readable medium comprising code, executable by a processor, for implementing a method comprising:

receiving an authorization request message at a server computer from a terminal, wherein the authorization request message is associated with a purchase transaction made by a consumer at a merchant using a portable consumer device;

after receiving the authorization request message, electronically searching a database to determine a merchant-specific promotional program using a merchant verification value associated with the merchant;

performing the determined merchant-specific promotional program after receiving the authorization request message, wherein the performing determines that the consumer is a winner;

after receiving the authorization request message, sending, by the server computer, the authorization request message to an issuer associated with the portable consumer device, wherein the issuer thereafter determines whether or not the transaction is authorized and then generates an authorization response message indicating whether or not the transaction is authorized, and wherein the authorization response message includes an authorization code;

receiving the authorization response message at the server computer from the issuer;

modifying the authorization response message by the server computer by replacing the authorization code with an indication that the consumer is a winner, thereby creating a modified authorization response message; and

sending the modified authorization response message by the server computer, to the terminal.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the merchant-specific promotional program is a sweepstakes program.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the portable consumer device is a credit card or a debit card.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 further comprising:

performing an interchange process using the merchant verification value.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner is printed on a credit or debit card receipt produced using the terminal, where the authorization code would normally be present.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner is printed on a credit or debit card receipt produced using the terminal, where the authorization code would normally be present, wherein the authorization code and the indication that the consumer is a winner are each six digits.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner is printed on a credit or debit card receipt produced using the terminal, where the authorization code would normally be present, wherein the authorization code and the indication that the consumer is a winner are each six digits, and wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner comprises the word “

winner.”

16. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the terminal is a POS terminal.

17. A server computer comprising a processor, and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium comprising code, executable by the processor, for implementing a method comprising:

receiving an authorization request message at a server computer from a terminal, wherein the authorization request message is associated with a purchase transaction made by a consumer at a merchant using a portable consumer device;

after receiving the authorization request message, electronically searching a database to determine a merchant-specific promotional program using a merchant verification value associated with the merchant;

performing the determined merchant-specific promotional program receiving the authorization request message, wherein the performing determines that the consumer is a winner;

after receiving the authorization request message, sending, by the server computer, the authorization request message to an issuer associated with the portable consumer device, wherein the issuer thereafter determines whether or not the transaction is authorized and then generates an authorization response message indicating whether or not the transaction is authorized, and wherein the authorization response message includes an authorization code;

receiving the authorization response message at the server computer from the issuer;

modifying the authorization response message by the server computer by replacing the authorization code with an indication that the consumer is a winner, thereby creating a modified authorization response message; and

sending the modified authorization response message by the server computer, to the terminal.

18. The server computer of claim 17 wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner is printed on a credit or debit card receipt produced using the terminal, where the authorization code would normally be present, wherein the authorization code and the indication that the consumer is a winner are each six digits, and wherein the indication that the consumer is a winner comprises the word “

winner.”

19. The server computer of claim 17 wherein the merchant-specific promotional program is a sweepstakes program.

20. The server computer of claim 17 wherein the portable consumer device is a credit card or a debit card.