Consumer processing system and method

• US 8,756,099 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bill Me Later Incorporated (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keithley, Thomas H., Talbert, Vincent W., Lavelle, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nigh, James D
• Application Number:
  US11/102,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,354 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/10, 705/16, 705 26- 27, 705/50, 705/64, 705/75, 705/14.1
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Disclosed is a consumer processing system for identifying and recognizing a consumer engaged in a transaction with a merchant. The system includes a consumer processing system interface for receiving, from a merchant, a consumer/transaction data set with a plurality of fields. A consumer/transaction database is populated with data sets, and each data set is related to a specific consumer and also includes multiple data fields therein. The consumer/transaction data set is established as part of an initial data set in the consumer/transaction database, and thereafter, during subsequent transactions, compared to an existing data field in an existing data set in the consumer/transaction database. Based upon the establishment or comparison, a consumer activity data set is communicated from the consumer processing system interface to the merchant. A method of identifying and recognizing a consumer engaged in a transaction with a merchant is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:

building a consumer/transaction database configured to be populated with a plurality of data sets, each data set relating to a specified consumer and a specified merchant and having a plurality of data fields therein, wherein the building comprises using received data from a merchant or consumer related to a specified consumer and a specified merchant in the consumer/transaction database;

receiving, from a merchant computer, a consumer/transaction data set having a plurality of data fields therein during a transaction between the specified consumer and the specified merchant;

comparing at least a portion of the received consumer/transaction data set to at least one existing data field in an existing data set relating to the specified consumer and the specified merchant in the consumer/transaction database;

determining in real time, based at least in part upon the comparing, a consumer activity data set, wherein the consumer activity data set includes;

data of prior activity of the consumer with the specified merchant and with an unaffiliated merchant who have both agreed to sharing information about the consumer compiled by the specified merchant and the unaffiliated merchant, and

data of a merchant offering to allow the specified merchant to make a real-time decision regarding the transaction or a future transaction with the consumer; and

communicating, in real-time to the merchant computer of the specified merchant prior to consummation of the transaction, the consumer activity data set, including the prior activity data and the real time merchant offering data.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of data fields in the consumer/transaction data set is populated with data reflecting at least one of the consumer and the transaction between the consumer and the merchant.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of data fields in the consumer/transaction data set is populated with data reflecting at least one of information about the consumer, the merchant, or a transaction between the consumer and the merchant.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of data fields in the consumer/transaction database is populated with data reflecting at least one of the historical interaction between the consumer and the merchant and a previous consumer/merchant transaction.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of data fields in the consumer/transaction database is populated with data reflecting at least one of information about the consumer, the merchant, or a transaction between the consumer and the merchant.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising a consumer recognition database including a plurality of data fields therein, wherein at least one of the plurality of data fields is populated with data reflecting consumer recognition data.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein, based upon at least one data field in the consumer/transaction data set, at least one data field in the consumer/transaction database and at least one data field in the consumer recognition database, a consumer activity data set is established.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the consumer recognition data includes merchant offering data reflecting an established offer to the consumer of at least one of the following:

a service, an item, a discount, a redemption, a coupon, a voucher, a non-cash benefit, an incentive, a ticket, an invitation, an event, or any combination thereof.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the consumer activity data set includes consumer recognition data, which is selected based upon at least one of the following:

(i) the current transaction between the consumer and the merchant;

(ii) a previous transaction between the consumer and the merchant;

(iii) historical transaction data between the consumer and the merchant;

(iv) tracking data specific to a consumer;

(v) a value reflective of the consumer'"'"'s transaction history with the merchant;

(vi) data associated with transactions with the merchant;

(vii) transaction-specific data;

(viii) consumer-specific data;

(ix) transaction frequency data;

(x) transaction amount data;

(xi) cumulative transaction frequency data;

(xii) cumulative transaction amount data;

(xiii) consumer demographic data, or any combination thereof.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein a computer with the consumer recognition database is in communication with and maintained by at least one of the following:

a central processing system, a merchant, a seller, an Internet site, an online entity, a web store, a telephone seller, a group of merchants, an organization of merchants, an entity, a corporation, a company, an offeror of goods, an offeror of services, an affiliation of a plurality of entities, or any combination thereof.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the consumer recognition database is modifiable and configurable by at least one of the following:

a central processing system, a merchant, a seller, an Internet site, an online entity, a web store, a telephone seller, a group of merchants, an organization of merchants, an entity, a corporation, a company, an offeror of goods, an offeror of services, an affiliation of a plurality of entities, or any combination thereof.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the consumer recognition data is received from the merchant computer by the consumer processing system computer on at least one of the following:

a continual, dynamic, batch and periodic basis, wherein the consumer recognition data is stored in the consumer recognition database.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the consumer recognition data includes merchant denial data reflecting a negative merchant/consumer interaction.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the merchant denial data is an instruction to the merchant, advising the merchant to at least one of the following:

deny the transaction, deny a purchase request, deny a credit request, take a specified action with respect to the consumer, or any combination thereof.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein, based upon the transaction, a consumer processing system computer is configured to track the consumer'"'"'s transactions with the merchant, thereby compiling tracking data specific to a consumer.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the consumer activity data set is established based upon at least a portion of the tracking data specific to a consumer.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the merchant is at least one of the following:

a seller, an Internet site, an online entity, a web store, a telephone seller, a group of merchants, an organization of merchants, an entity, a corporation, a company, an offeror of goods, an offeror of services, an affiliation of a plurality of entities, or any combination thereof.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the consumer processing system interface receives, from the merchant computer, a plurality of consumer/transaction data sets, each data set specific to an identified consumer, wherein the plurality of consumer/transaction data sets are stored in the consumer/transaction database.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the merchant is provided with a report including compiled merchant-specific data.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the report is a compilation of data representing at least a portion of at least one consumer/transaction data set in the consumer/transaction database.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the consumer activity data set includes at least one of the following:

consumer/transaction data, consumer recognition data, consumer/merchant historical data, transaction data, consumer demographic data, suggested consumer interaction data, suggested consumer offer data, pre-established consumer interaction data, pre-established consumer offer data, offer data, redemption data, merchant denial data, denial instruction data, or any combination thereof.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the consumer activity data set includes at least one of the following:

(i) merchant offering data reflecting an established offer to the consumer of at least one of the following;

a service, an item, a discount, a redemption, a coupon, a voucher, a non-cash benefit, an incentive, a ticket, an invitation, an event, or any combination thereof; and

(ii) merchant denial data reflecting an instruction to the merchant, advising the merchant to at least one of the following;

deny the transaction, deny a purchase request, deny a credit request, take a specified action with respect to the consumer, or any combination thereof.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the consumer/transaction data set and the consumer/transaction database includes a consumer identification key, which is unique to at least one of a specific individual consumer and a specified grouping of a plurality of consumers.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the consumer activity data set is established based at least in part on the consumer identification key.

25. A computer-implemented method of identifying and recognizing a consumer engaged in a transaction with a merchant, the method comprising:

building, by a computer, a consumer/transaction database on a consumer processing system computer, the consumer/transaction database configured to be populated with a plurality of data sets, each data set relating to a specified consumer and a specified merchant and having a plurality of data fields therein;

receiving, from a merchant computer, a consumer/transaction data set having a plurality of data fields therein at a consumer processing system interface on the consumer processing system computer;

comparing, by the computer, at least a portion of the consumer/transaction data set to at least one existing data field in an existing data set relating to the specified consumer and the specified merchant in the consumer/transaction database;

determining in real time, based at least in part upon the comparing, a consumer activity data set, wherein the consumer activity data set includes;

data of prior activity of the consumer with the specified merchant and with an unaffiliated merchant who have both agreed to sharing information about the consumer compiled by the specified merchant and the unaffiliated merchant; and

data of a merchant offering to allow the specified merchant to make a real-time decision regarding the transaction or a future transaction with the consumer; and

communicating in real-time the consumer activity data set, including the prior activity data and the merchant offering data, from the consumer processing system interface to the merchant computer of the specified merchant.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of data fields in the consumer/transaction data set is populated with data reflecting at least one of the consumer and the transaction between the consumer and the merchant.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of data fields in the consumer/transaction database is populated with data reflecting at least one of the historical interaction between the consumer and the merchant and a previous consumer/merchant transaction.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising establishing the consumer activity data set based upon at least one of the following:

at least one data field in the consumer/transaction data set, at least one data field in the consumer/transaction database, at least one data field in a consumer recognition database, or any combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising tracking the consumer'"'"'s transactions with the merchant, thereby compiling tracking data specific to a consumer.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the merchant is at least one of the following:

a seller, an Internet site, an online entity, a web store, a telephone seller, a group of merchants, an organization of merchants, an entity, a corporation, a company, an offeror of goods, an offeror of services, an affiliation of a plurality of entities, or any combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving at the consumer processing system computer, from the merchant computer, a plurality of consumer/transaction data sets, each data set specific to an identified consumer; and

storing the plurality of consumer/transaction data sets in the consumer/transaction database.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing the merchant with a report including compiled merchant-specific data.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the consumer activity data set includes at least one of the following:

consumer/transaction data, consumer recognition data, consumer/merchant historical data, transaction data, consumer demographic data, suggested consumer interaction data, suggested consumer offer data, pre-established consumer interaction data, pre-established consumer offer data, offer data, redemption data, merchant denial data, denial instruction data, or any combination thereof.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the consumer activity data set includes at least one of the following:

(i) merchant offering data reflecting an established offer to the consumer of at least one of the following;

a service, an item, a discount, a redemption, a coupon, a voucher, a non-cash benefit, an incentive, a ticket, an invitation, an event, or any combination thereof; and

(ii) merchant denial data reflecting an instruction to the merchant, advising the merchant to at least one of the following;

deny the transaction, deny a purchase request, deny a credit request, take a specified action with respect to the consumer, or any combination thereof.

35. The method of claim 25, further comprising assigning a consumer identification key to at least one of a unique individual consumer and a specified grouping of a plurality of consumers.