Transaction tracking and incentives

• US 9,767,474 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramalingam, Harsha, Walsh, Paul J., Carr, Michael, Liden, Lars H., Mittal, Nishant
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Fonya
• Assistant Examiner(s): REFAI, SAM M
• Application Number:
  US12/820,949
• Time in Patent Office: 2,646 Days
• Field of Search: 705 141- 1473
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/229 Hierarchy of users of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/2295 Parent-child type, e.g. where parent has control on child rights
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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 20/409 Device specific authentication in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 : based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 : User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 : based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 : based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 : Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 : Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 : Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 : using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 : wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 : according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 : by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 : Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 : based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user'"'"'s location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Points may be accumulated through transactions with merchants and later redeemed for free or discounted goods and/or services.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method implemented at least in part by one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, the method comprising:

sending an electronic punch card to a mobile device prior to the mobile device completing a first transaction with one or more devices of a system of a merchant, the electronic punch card corresponding to the merchant;

sending a message to the mobile device indicating information about the electronic punch card, wherein the message is sent in response to the mobile device being located within a first threshold distance of a merchant location associated with the merchant;

completing a second transaction between the mobile device and at least one of the one or more devices of the system of the merchant at least partly in response to determining that the mobile device is located within a second threshold distance of the merchant location, wherein the first threshold distance and the second threshold distance are different distances, and wherein the second transaction is subsequent to the first transaction; and

responsive to completing the second transaction, adding, by the one or more computer systems and without action by a user of the mobile device, a number of punches to the electronic punch card stored on or accessible by the mobile device.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

sending the punch card to the mobile device responsive to the user designating the merchant as a trusted merchant.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the number of punches added is based at least in part on a period of time since the user last transacted with the merchant.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the number of punches added is based at least in part on a cost of an item purchased during the second transaction.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message to the mobile device indicating information about the punch card indicates a number of punches remaining until a predetermined number.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

when a number of punches on the punch card equals a predetermined number, receiving authorization from the user to use the punch card as payment.

18. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

when the number of punches on the electronic punch card equals a predetermined number, accepting the electronic punch card as payment and reducing the number of punches on the electronic punch card.

7. A mobile computing device comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless network interface in communication with the one or more processors; and

a memory in communication with the one or more processors, wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile computing device to;

receive an electronic punch card prior to the mobile device completing a first transaction with one or more devices of a system of a merchant, the electronic punch card corresponding to the merchant;

receive a message indicating information about the electronic punch card, wherein the message is received based at least in part on the mobile device being located within a threshold distance of a merchant location associated with the merchant;

initiate a second transaction with the merchant by initiating a payment to the merchant, wherein the second transaction is based at least in part on a location of the mobile computing device being within a different threshold distance of the merchant location and at least in part on a user identifier associated with a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the location and the user identifier are used to identify the first transaction from a transaction record, and the second transaction is subsequent to and similar to or identical to the first transaction with the merchant; and

automatically and without action by the user of the mobile computing device;

add a punch to the electronic punch card when the second transaction with the merchant is completed, and

remove punches from the electronic punch card when the electronic punch card is provided as at least part of the payment to the merchant, wherein the electronic punch card is configured to track a number of purchases made at the merchant.

8. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the computing device is further caused to buy, sell, or exchange punches with another computing device or an account associated with the another computing device.

9. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the computing device is further caused to ask the user if the electronic punch card will be used as the payment to the merchant when the electronic punch card has a predetermined number of punches, and responsive to the user indicating that the electronic punch card will be used as the payment to the merchant, remove the predetermined number of punches from the electronic punch card.

10. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the electronic punch card is accepted by the merchant as payment when a number of punches equals a predetermined number.

11. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the message comprise notification of:

a number of punches remaining until the number of punches equals a predetermined number, and

a good or service that the merchant will provide when the predetermined number of punches are presented as at least partial payment.

12. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the user identifier is included in the memory and the computing device is further caused to add punches to the electronic punch card when the user is associated with the user identifier and the user completes a purchase from the merchant.

19. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the punches comprise encrypted, electronic coupons.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, instruct a computing device to perform acts comprising:

sending, to a memory associated with a mobile device of a user, an electronic punch card for tracking punches earned by making purchases, the punches redeemable for a discount on a good or service from a merchant, the electronic punch card sent prior to the mobile device completing a first transaction with one or more devices of a system of the merchant, the electronic punch card corresponding to the merchant;

sending a message to the mobile device indicating information about the electronic punch card based at least in part on the mobile device being located within a threshold distance of a merchant location associated with the merchant;

causing a first payment from the mobile device for a purchase that completes a second transaction between the mobile device and at least one of the one or more devices of the system of the merchant, the second transaction completed subsequent to the first transaction based at least in part on a determination that the mobile device is located within a different threshold distance of the merchant location;

responsive to processing the first payment, sending, without action by the user, a punch to the electronic punch card in the memory associated with the mobile device;

causing a second payment from the user for an on-line purchase to be processed, the on-line purchase made independent of the mobile device; and

responsive to processing the second payment, crediting a punch to the electronic punch card in the memory associated with the mobile device.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, wherein a good or service that is a subject of the purchase is associated with the punch and a predetermined number of punches associated with the good or service is accepted as at least partial payment for a future purchase of a same or similar good or service.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, wherein the acts further comprise:

receiving a predetermined number of punches from the memory associated with the mobile device; and

authorizing the good or service to be provided to the user of the mobile device.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, wherein the acts further comprise:

receiving an indication that the mobile device is located within the different threshold distance of the merchant location;

determining if the electronic punch card includes at least a predetermined number of punches; and

when the electronic punch card includes at least the predetermined number of punches, debiting the electronic punch card at least the predetermined number of punches and providing the user of the mobile device with the good or service for free.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, wherein the message indicates a number of additional punches to receive the good or service and a description of the good or service.