Method and system using wildcard values

• US 8,141,777 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bortolin, Corinne, Nguyen, Loc Duc, Redford, Liane
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/019,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20110191155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/375, 235/378, 235/380, 235/381, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/462.45, 705/17, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method of processing data on a server computer is disclosed. The method includes receiving data at the server computer, the data including a first data string including one or more wildcard values. The first data string is specifically associated with a customer, and the one or more wildcard values are associated with the purchase transaction. The method also includes comparing the first data string to a second data string by the server computer, and providing an output to the consumer based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of processing coupons, the method comprising:

Receiving, by a computer, a coupon in form of a first data string including one or more wildcard values;

Comparing, by the computer, the first data string to a second data string; and

Providing, by the computer, a benefit to a consumer based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data string is a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) associated with a particular product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data string is an identification code configured to identify a category of products.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data string includes identification code for one or more products.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising

determining whether the first data string encompasses the second data string.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data string is received from a portable consumer device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the portable consumer device is a payment card.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the portable consumer device is a cellular phone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the benefit is a discount for a product.

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

receiving a coupon in form of a first data string including one or more wildcard values;

comparing the first data string to a second data string; and

providing a benefit to a consumer based on the comparison.

11. The server computer of claim 10, wherein the second data string is a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) associated with a particular product.

12. The server computer of claim 10, wherein the first data string is received from a portable consumer device.

13. The server computer of claim 10, wherein the benefit is a discount for a product.

14. The server computer of claim 10, wherein the second data string includes identification code for one or more products.

15. A method for using coupon comprising:

presenting a coupon, to a computer system, in form of a first data string including one or more wildcard values, wherein the first data string is stored in a portable consumer device; and

receiving benefit after a comparison is made, by the computer system, between the first data string and a second data string.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second data string is a Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) associated with a particular product.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second data string is an identification code configured to identify a category of products.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the portable consumer device is a payment card.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the portable consumer device is a cellular phone.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the benefit is a discount for a product.