System for Payment via Electronic Wallet

• US 20130054470A1
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackhawk Network Incorporated (Albertsons Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: LLACH, Teri, ANSARI, Ansar, CAMPOS, Tomas Ariel, MILLER, Keith, HARPER, Kellie D.
• Application Number:
  US13/483,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20130054470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• 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

Abstract

A method includes receiving a request to process, against an electronic wallet, a portion of a transaction, an electronic wallet optionally comprising a sub-wallet, the transaction processed against the wallet and/or sub-wallet. The method further includes identifying one or more electronic value tokens in the e-wallet and/or sub-wallet that, when used together, will cover the portion of the transaction. The method further includes applying the electronic value tokens to the portion of the transaction.

Claims

1. A computer implemented electronic wallet managing method, comprising:

receiving a request to process a payment transaction against an electronic wallet;

identifying authentication information of the request;

identifying a value token in the electronic wallet; and

applying at least a portion of the value token to at least a portion of the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic wallet comprises a primary wallet and a sub-wallet.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

processing at least a portion of the request via the primary wallet.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

processing at least a portion of the request via the sub-wallet.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein an aggregator system receives the request, the method further comprising:

determining at least a portion of the request may be processed in the sub-wallet; and

sending the portion of the request from the aggregator system to a third party.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the sub-wallet comprises a sub-sub-wallet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the value token comprises an electronic representation of value, wherein the electronic representation of value comprises a credit card, debit card, gift card, prepaid telephone card, loyalty card, membership card, ticket or ticket card, entertainment card, sports card, prepaid card, coupon, admission pass, prepaid or pre-purchases of goods or services, cash, currency, credit card account, debit card account, merchant account, bank account, merchant-issued credit, merchant-issued point, merchant-issued promotional value, merchant-accepted credit, merchant-accepted point, merchant-accepted promotional value, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the value token further comprises at least two electronic representations of value of different types.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein applying at least a portion of the value token comprises using the value token according to a set of configurable rules specifying priority of the value tokens.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the priority is based on a transaction information variable comprising physical location of a retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

transaction amount;

type of retailer;

time of day;

day of week;

week of month;

month of year;

department of retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

lane of retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

identification of checker;

parent company of a retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

value of value tokens;

type of the electronic wallet request;

or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein applying at least a portion of the value token comprises using the value token according to a set of configurable rules specifying percentages of the electronic wallet request to which value tokens may be applied.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

exchanging at least a portion of the value token of the electronic wallet for at least a portion of a second value token not located in the electronic wallet.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

applying an exchange rate against the second value token or an asset located in the electronic wallet.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein exchanging at least a portion of the value token comprises:

contacting a second value token distributor; and

requesting the second value token distributor to provide the second value token.

15. A computer implemented electronic wallet managing method, comprising:

receiving a request to process a payment transaction against an electronic wallet, wherein the electronic wallet comprises a primary wallet and a sub-wallet;

determining the request contains valid authentication information;

determining a value token, or a combination of value tokens, associated with the electronic wallet is capable of meeting the request; and

applying at least a portion of the value token to at least a portion of the request.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic wallet comprises two or more value tokens, wherein the primary wallet comprises at least one of the two or more value tokens, wherein the sub-wallet comprises at least another of the two or more value tokens.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining a portion of the request is related to the primary wallet; and

determining another portion of the request is related to the sub-wallet.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

applying at least a portion of the primary wallet'"'"'s value token to the request; and

applying at least a portion of the sub-wallet'"'"'s value token to the request.

19. A computer implemented electronic wallet managing method, comprising:

receiving a request related to an electronic wallet, wherein the request comprises an electronic wallet request, a balance inquiry request, a registration request, an activation request, a redemption request, or combinations thereof; and

managing the contents of the electronic wallet according to the request.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein managing the contents comprises:

exchanging at least a portion of a value token of the electronic wallet for at least a portion of a second value token not located in the electronic wallet.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

applying an exchange rate against the second value token or an asset located in the electronic wallet.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein exchanging at least a portion of the value token comprises:

contacting a second value token distributor of the second value token; and

requesting the second value token distributor to provide the second value token.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the electronic wallet comprises a first sub-wallet and a second sub-wallet, wherein the first sub-wallet comprises a value token, the method further comprising:

placing the value token of the first sub-wallet into the second sub-wallet.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

provisioning the electronic wallet with a value token.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein provisioning the electronic wallet comprises adding the value token to the electronic wallet.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the value token is provisioned in an amount different than the purchase price.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein provisioning the electronic wallet comprises encoding the value token with a coupon code.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the electronic wallet comprises a savings-designated sub-wallet, the method further comprising:

placing at least a portion of a value token in the savings-designated sub-wallet.