System and method for purchasing in digital channels

• US 10,846,734 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2020
• 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: King, Kathleen, Miller, Matthew, Muthukrishnan, Sathish, Norman, Philip, Prentice, Anthony, Schultz, Stephanie, Vakil, Elizabeth, Wolf, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Qayyum, Zeshan
• Application Number:
  US13/889,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,758 Days
• Field of Search: 705 59
• 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 described herein are capable of initiating a transaction with a transaction account based on an action in any suitable 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:

associating, by a computer system and in response to receiving a selection via a selectable link, a transaction account with channel profile information associated with a broadcast channel;

tracking, by the computer system, broadcasts with action information from within the broadcast channel;

analyzing, by the computer system, content of the broadcasts;

identifying, by the computer system and based on the analyzing, the action information;

receiving, by the computer system and from the broadcast channel, the action information indicative of an action in the broadcast channel,

wherein the action information triggers an initiation of a purchase of an item from a merchant, and

wherein the action information includes elements of a name of the merchant sponsoring a first offer for the item, and elements of a name of an entity distributing the action information;

determining, by the computer system, a source of the action information in the broadcast channel based on the channel profile information being associated with the transaction account;

identifying, by the computer system and in response to receiving the broadcasts, the action information in the broadcasts;

determining, by the computer system, that the action information triggers the purchase;

determining, by the computer system, that the transaction account is linked to the broadcast channel for conducting a transaction;

comparing, by the computer system, the action information to a criteria associated with an event provided by the merchant, the criteria corresponding to an activity performed by a user in relation to a service provided by the merchant;

identifying, by the computer system, the item based on the action information in a first broadcast of the broadcasts and the criteria;

initiating, by the computer system via the broadcast channel, in response to the triggering from the action information, the purchase for the item from the merchant, the initiation of the purchase being based on the elements of the name of the merchant sponsoring the first offer for the item and the elements of the name of the entity distributing the action information contained in the action information;

evaluating, by the computer system, an inventory of the item to determine an available inventory;

requesting, by the computer system, in real-time, through a mobile device via the broadcast channel, and in response to the evaluating, an input confirming the first broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

receiving, by the computer system and via the mobile device, the input confirming the first broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

initiating, by the computer system, the transaction for the item in response to the action information satisfying the criteria and in response to the evaluating the available inventory;

authorizing, by the computer system and in response to the initiating, the transaction;

accessing, by the computer system, a plurality of offers associated with the merchant;

selecting, by the computer system, a subset of the plurality of offers associated with the

merchant and the transaction;

determining, by the computer system and in response to the selecting, that the transaction qualifies for a reward associated with an offer of the plurality of offers, and based on offer parameters;

associating, by the computer system, the first offer with the transaction account and the transaction;

requesting, by the computer system, a confirmation of acceptance of the purchase, wherein the first offer is transmitted through the broadcast channel;

adjusting, by the computer system, an amount of the transaction based on the first offer; and

settling, by the computer system, the adjusted amount.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, by the computer system, the channel profile information in response to the action.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying the channel profile information is provided by the source through the broadcast channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifying the channel profile information is associated with the transaction account.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system and from the broadcast channel, transaction account information and profile information associated with the broadcast channel;

evaluating, by the computer system, transaction account information to confirm that the transaction account is valid to conduct the transaction through the broadcast channel; and

associating, by the computer system, the profile information with transaction account information, in response to the transaction account being valid to conduct the transaction through the broadcast channel.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the computer system, the action information to a channel provider of the broadcast channel, wherein the action information identifies the transaction account, and

wherein the broadcast channel tracks the action information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel is a social media channel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating preferences with the transaction account and the channel profile information, wherein the preferences are associated with the offer notification details, shipping and offers.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving activities, accomplishments, trends, and interests of the source from a channel provider of the broadcast channel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer notification details include transaction account information, item information and the channel profile information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the computer system, a token associated with the broadcast channel, wherein the token confirms the association of the transaction account with the broadcast channel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the computer system, the transaction account from the broadcast channel, wherein the broadcast channel captures the transaction account in the broadcast channel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating is based on a request by a user in the broadcast channel.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transaction account information associated with the transaction account is provided through the broadcast channel.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising synching the transaction account with a reservation channel in the broadcast channel based on the action in the broadcast channel with the transaction account.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the associating is triggered in response to the user providing transaction account information.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the action is detected by the broadcast channel.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating, by the computer system, the association of the transaction account with the channel profile information to a channel provider of the broadcast channel.

19. A non-transitory computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer system, causes the computer system to perform steps of:

associating, in response to receiving a selection via a selectable link, a transaction account with channel profile information associated with a broadcast channel;

tracking broadcasts with action information from within the broadcast channel;

analyzing content of the broadcasts;

identifying based on the analyzing, the action information;

receiving and from the broadcast channel, the action information indicative of an action in the broadcast channel,

wherein the action information triggers an initiation of a purchase of an item from a merchant, and

wherein the action information includes elements of a name of the merchant sponsoring a first offer for the item, and elements of a name of an entity distributing the action information;

determining a source of the action information in the broadcast channel based on the channel profile information being associated with the transaction account;

identifying, in response to receiving the broadcasts, the action information in the broadcasts;

determining that the action information triggers the purchase;

determining, that the transaction account is linked to the broadcast channel for conducting a transaction;

comparing the action information to a criteria associated with an event provided by the merchant, the criteria corresponding to an activity performed by a user in relation to a service provided by the merchant;

identifying the item based on the action information in a first broadcast of the broadcasts and the criteria;

initiating, via the broadcast channel in response to the triggering from the action information, the purchase for the item from the merchant, the initiation of the purchase being based on the elements of the name of the merchant sponsoring the first offer for the item and the elements of the name of the entity distributing the action information contained in the action information;

evaluating an inventory of the item to determine an available inventory;

requesting, in real-time, through a mobile device via the broadcast channel, and in response to the evaluating, an input confirming the first broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

receiving via the mobile device, the input confirming the first broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

initiating the transaction for the item in response to the action information satisfying the criteria and in response to the evaluating the available inventory;

authorizing, in response to the initiating, the transaction;

accessing a plurality of offers associated with the merchant;

selecting a subset of the plurality of offers associated with the merchant and the transaction;

determining, in response to the selecting, that the transaction qualifies for a reward associated with an offer of the plurality of offers, and based on offer parameters;

associating the first offer with the transaction account and the transaction;

requesting a confirmation of acceptance of the purchase, wherein the first offer is transmitted through the broadcast channel;

adjusting an amount of the transaction based on the first offer; and

settling the adjusted amount.

20. A computer based system, comprising:

a processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory memory, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

associating, in response to receiving a selection via a selectable link, a transaction account with channel profile information associated with a broadcast channel;

tracking broadcasts with action information from within the broadcast channel;

analyzing content of the broadcasts;

identifying based on the analyzing, the action information;

receiving from the broadcast channel, the action information indicative of an action in the broadcast channel,

wherein the action information triggers an initiation of a purchase of an item from a merchant, and

wherein the action information includes elements of a name of the merchant sponsoring a first offer for the item, and elements of a name of an entity distributing the action information;

determining a source of the action information in the broadcast channel based on the channel profile information being associated with the transaction account;

identifying in response to receiving the broadcasts, the action information in the broadcasts;

determining that the action information triggers the purchase;

determining that the transaction account is linked to the broadcast channel for conducting a transaction;

comparing the action information to a criteria associated with an event provided by the merchant, the criteria corresponding to an activity performed by a user in relation to a service provided by the merchant;

identifying the item based on the action information in a first broadcast of the broadcasts and the criteria;

initiating, via the broadcast channel in response to the triggering from the action information, the purchase for the item from the merchant, the initiation of the purchase being based on the elements of the name of the merchant sponsoring the first offer for the item and the elements of the name of the entity distributing the action information contained in the action information;

evaluating an inventory of the item to determine an available inventory;

requesting, in real-time, through a mobile device via the broadcast channel, and in response to the evaluating, an input confirming the first broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

receiving via the mobile device, the input confirming the first broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

initiating the transaction for the item in response to the action information satisfying the criteria and in response to the evaluating the available inventory;

authorizing in response to the initiating, the transaction;

accessing a plurality of offers associated with the merchant;

selecting a subset of the plurality of offers associated with the merchant and the transaction;

determining, in response to the selecting, that the transaction qualifies for a reward associated with an offer of the plurality of offers, and based on offer parameters;

associating the offer with the transaction account and the transaction;

requesting a confirmation of acceptance of the purchase, wherein the first offer is transmitted through the broadcast channel;

adjusting an amount of the transaction; and

settling the adjusted amount.