SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING MOBILE GIFT CARDS

• US 20090179074A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mocapay, Inc. (Moca Financial, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hurst, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,463,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A system and method for distributing mobile gift cards is described. One embodiment, a computer-server-based method, receives a selection of a merchant with which to associate a mobile gift card, receives an indication of a monetary amount for the mobile gift card, receives an electronic payment for the monetary amount, applies the monetary amount to the mobile gift card, associates the mobile gift card with a recipient'"'"'s phone number, and transmits a notification of the mobile gift card to a mobile device associated with the recipient'"'"'s phone number, the computer server acting as a server-side wallet for the mobile gift card, the mobile gift card being usable, through interaction with the computer server, by the recipient for the purchase of goods from the merchant associated with the mobile gift card.

Claims

1. A computer-server-based method for distributing a mobile gift card, the computer-server-based method comprising:

receiving a selection of a merchant with which to associate the mobile gift card;

receiving an indication of a monetary amount for the mobile gift card;

receiving an electronic payment for the monetary amount;

applying the monetary amount to the mobile gift card;

associating the mobile gift card with a recipient'"'"'s phone number; and

transmitting a notification of the mobile gift card to a mobile device associated with the recipient'"'"'s phone number;

wherein the computer server acts as a server-side wallet for the mobile gift card, and the mobile gift card is usable, through interaction with the computer server, by the recipient for the purchase of goods from the merchant associated with the mobile gift card.

2. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes a personalized message for the recipient.

3. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes instructions to the recipient regarding how to activate the mobile gift card via the computer server.

4. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein the mobile gift card is activated automatically at the computer server when the notification is transmitted.

5. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

6. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes a voice message.

7. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein the notification is conveyed to the recipient via an application executing on the mobile device.

8. The computer-server-based method of claim 7, wherein the application is an Internet browser.

9. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving a selection of a merchant with which to associate the mobile gift card, presenting an aggregated list of a plurality of different merchants from which a user can select the merchant to associate with the mobile gift card.

10. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an activation date for the mobile gift card, the notification of the mobile gift card being transmitted to the mobile device associated with the recipient'"'"'s phone number on the activation date.

11. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone.

12. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein a purchase of goods from the merchant associated with the mobile gift card by the recipient includes using the mobile device to communicate with the computer server to access the mobile gift card.

13. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the monetary amount, minus a predetermined fee, to be remitted to the merchant associated with the mobile gift card.

14. The computer-server-based method of claim 1, wherein a user from whom the electronic payment is received and the recipient are one and the same person.

15. A system for distributing a mobile gift card, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory containing a plurality of program instructions executable by the at least one processor, the plurality of program instructions being configured to cause the at least one processor to;

receive a selection of a merchant with which to associate with the mobile gift card;

receive an indication of a monetary amount for the mobile gift card;

receive an electronic payment for the monetary amount;

apply the monetary amount to the mobile gift card;

associate the mobile gift card with a recipient'"'"'s phone number; and

transmit a notification of the mobile gift card to a mobile device associated with the recipient'"'"'s phone number;

wherein the system acts as a server-side wallet for the mobile gift card, and the mobile gift card is usable, through interaction with the system, by the recipient for the purchase of goods from the merchant associated with the mobile gift card.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the notification includes instructions to the recipient regarding how to activate the mobile gift card via the system.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile gift card is activated automatically at the system upon receipt, by the mobile device, of the notification.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the system includes a server in communication with the Internet.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to present, prior to receipt of the selection of a merchant with which to associate the mobile gift card, an aggregated list of a plurality of different merchants from which a user can select the merchant to associate with the mobile gift card.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to:

receive an activation date for the mobile gift card; and

transmit the notification of the mobile gift card to the mobile device associated with the recipient'"'"'s phone number on the activation date.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone.