System and method for creating reservations

• US 9,633,362 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael, Schultz, Stephanie, Tsangaris, Ilias, Wolf, David, Yu, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): CRAWLEY, TALIA F
• Application Number:
  US13/889,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 705 21, 707749
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0637 Approvals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems are capable of creating reservations for items and initiating payments for the items based on actions or information received from the digital channel. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

presenting, by a computer based system, a plurality of selectable channels to a user system of a user;

syncing, by the computer based system, a financial transaction account associated with the user with one or more channels of the plurality of selectable channels selected by the user,

wherein the syncing is in response to the user system providing an account code for the financial transaction account to the computer based system;

receiving, by the computer based system and from the channel, reservation information representative of a reservation of an item from a merchant system;

associating, by the computer based system and in response to the receiving, a unique identifier with the reservation information;

enabling, by the computer based system and in response to the associating, access to the reservation information by using the unique identifier,

wherein the reservation information is accessible by a user system, the computer based system, the channel and a third party by using the unique identifier;

synching, by the computer based system and in response to the receiving, the reservation information with the financial transaction account,

wherein the reservation is created in the channel based on an action in the channel, and

wherein a channel profile associated with the action is associated with the financial transaction account;

creating, by the computer based system, reservation instructions for the item that indicate that the item is reserved as a reserved item for the user associated with the channel profile and the financial transaction account,

wherein the reservation instructions indicate that the item is unavailable to other users, and

wherein the channel modifies a listing of inventory to show that the item is unavailable;

monitoring, by the computer based system and via the channel, a status of the reserved item;

receiving, by the computer based system and in response to an indication that the reserved item was used, purchase instructions with a request to initiate a payment within the channel,

wherein the purchase instructions and the request to initiate payment is provided by the merchant system through the channel and to the computer based system,

generating, by the computer based system, release instructions for the item in response to the receiving the request to initiate the payment,

wherein the channel modifies the listing of inventory to show that the item is available;

evaluating, by the computer based system, the purchase instructions received through the channel, the request to initiate payment received through the channel, the financial transaction account synched with the channel and the reservation instructions received through the channel;

confirming, by the computer based system and based on the evaluating, that the purchase instructions comply with the reservation instructions;

requesting, by the computer based system, a review of the reserved item;

confirming, by the computer based system and in response to the requesting, that the reserved item conforms to the reservation information and the financial transaction account;

initiating, by the computer based system and based on the confirming that the purchase instructions comply and based on the confirming that the reserved item conforms, a financial transaction in response to the indication that the reserved item has been used and the receiving the financial transaction information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing alternative payment options and adjusting the financial transaction based on the alternative payment options.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising syncing, by the computer based system, the financial transaction account and the channel profile based on an input by the user in the channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reservation is provided to the merchant system and a financial transaction account issuer system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a merchant point of sale operatively communicates with the channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an input to the channel from the merchant system changes a status of the reserved item to at least one of open or closed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the financial transaction information is generated in response to the status of the reserved item being closed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user system is presented with the financial transaction information through the channel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the user system is presented with financial transaction account information through the channel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the channel is accessible through a portable electronic device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the user system initiates the financial transaction with the financial transaction account associated with the channel based on an input from the user system in the channel.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the financial transaction is automatically initiated on the financial transaction account associated with the channel in response to the status of the reserved item being closed.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein a review of the reserved item is requested in response to the reserved item being closed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the financial transaction verifies the review provided by the user system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel is configured to determine an inventory of items in response to receiving the reservation information.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a channel provider transmits in real-time and via the channel a notification to the user system of the financial transaction information.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer based system is administered by a financial transaction account issuer.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the price of the item is adjusted in response to an indication that the reserved item was used.

19. A non-transitory computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer based system, causes the computer based system to be capable of performing operations comprising:

presenting, by the computer based system, a plurality of selectable channels to a user system of a user;

syncing, by the computer based system, a financial transaction account associated with the user with one or more channels of the plurality of selectable channels selected by the user,

wherein the syncing is in response to the user system providing an account code for the financial transaction account to the computer based system;

receiving, by the computer based system and from the channel, reservation information representative of a reservation of an item from a merchant system;

associating, by the computer based system and in response to the receiving, a unique identifier with the reservation information;

enabling, by the computer based system and in response to the associating, access to the reservation information by using the unique identifier,

wherein the reservation information is accessible by a user system, the computer based system, the channel and a third party by using the unique identifier;

synching, by the computer based system and in response to the receiving, the reservation information with the financial transaction account,

wherein the reservation is created in the channel based on an action in the channel, and

wherein a channel profile associated with the action is associated with the financial transaction account;

creating, by the computer based system, reservation instructions for the item that indicate that the item is reserved as a reserved item for the user associated with the channel profile and the financial transaction account,

wherein the reservation instructions indicate that the item is unavailable to other users, and

wherein the channel modifies a listing of inventory to show that the item is unavailable;

monitoring, by the computer based system and via the channel, a status of the reserved item;

receiving, by the computer based system and in response to an indication that the reserved item was used, purchase instructions with a request to initiate a payment within the channel,

wherein the purchase instructions and the request to initiate payment is provided by the merchant system through the channel and to the computer based system,

generating, by the computer based system, release instructions for the item in response to the receiving the request to initiate the payment,

wherein the channel modifies the listing of inventory to show that the item is available;

evaluating, by the computer based system, the purchase instructions received through the channel, the request to initiate payment received through the channel, the financial transaction account synched with the channel and the reservation instructions received through the channel;

confirming, by the computer based system and based on the evaluating, that the purchase instructions comply with the reservation instructions;

requesting, by the computer based system, a review of the reserved item;

confirming, by the computer based system and in response to the requesting, that the reserved item conforms to the reservation information and the financial transaction account;

initiating, by the computer based system and based on the confirming that the purchase instructions comply and based on the confirming that the reserved item conforms, a financial transaction in response to the indication that the reserved item has been used and the receiving the financial transaction information.

20. A computer based system, comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

presenting, by the processor, a plurality of selectable channels to a user system of a user;

syncing, by the processor, a financial transaction account associated with the user with one or more channels of the plurality of selectable channels selected by the user,

wherein the syncing is in response to the user system providing an account code for the financial transaction account to the processor;

receiving, by the processor and from the channel, reservation information representative of a reservation of an item from a merchant system;

associating, by the processor and in response to the receiving, a unique identifier with the reservation information;

enabling, by the processor and in response to the associating, access to the reservation information by using the unique identifier,

wherein the reservation information is accessible by a user system, the processor, the channel and a third party by using the unique identifier;

synching, by the processor and in response to the receiving, the reservation information with the financial transaction account,

wherein the reservation is created in the channel based on an action in the channel, and

wherein a channel profile associated with the action is associated with the financial transaction account;

creating, by the processor, reservation instructions for the item that indicate that the item is reserved as a reserved item for the user associated with the channel profile and the financial transaction account,

wherein the reservation instructions indicate that the item is unavailable to other users, and

wherein the channel modifies a listing of inventory to show that the item is unavailable;

monitoring, by the processor and via the channel, a status of the reserved item;

receiving, by the processor and in response to an indication that the reserved item was used, purchase instructions with a request to initiate a payment within the channel,

wherein the purchase instructions and the request to initiate payment is provided by the merchant system through the channel and to the processor,

generating, by the processor, release instructions for the item in response to the receiving the request to initiate the payment,

wherein the channel modifies the listing of inventory to show that the item is available;

evaluating, by the processor, the purchase instructions received through the channel, the request to initiate payment received through the channel, the financial transaction account synched with the channel and the reservation instructions received through the channel;

confirming, by the processor and based on the evaluating, that the purchase instructions comply with the reservation instructions;

requesting, by the processor, a review of the reserved item;

confirming, by the processor and in response to the requesting, that the reserved item conforms to the reservation information and the financial transaction account;

initiating, by the processor and based on the confirming that the purchase instructions comply and based on the confirming that the reserved item conforms, a financial transaction in response to the indication that the reserved item has been used and the receiving the financial transaction information.