METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROCESSING REBATES

• US 20130132188A1
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Ohana Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Ohana Companies Incorporated
• Inventors: Quinlan, Christopher F., Kirker, Sean R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase

Abstract

The invention provides efficient and convenient rebate systems and methods which facilitate application of the value of a rebate redeemed by a purchaser to additional purchases by the purchaser prior to termination of a rebate redemption session.

Claims

1. A system for processing rebates comprising:

a rebate value calculator configured to calculate a rebate value for at least one rebate claim received from a purchaser system during a rebate claim processing session;

a source of information related to a purchaser;

a source of information related to items for sale;

an offer analyzer coupled to said source of information related to said purchaser and to said source of information related to said items, said offer analyzer selecting at least one of said items to be offered to said purchaser during said session, the selection based, at least in part, upon said information related to said offers, said information related to said purchaser and said calculated rebate value.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a purchaser interface coupled to said offer analyzer and configured for communication with said purchaser system to provide a graphical user interface for enabling said purchaser system to display said offer to said purchaser during said session.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said graphical user interface is configured to enable said purchaser to select, during said session, said at least one offer to be provided to said purchaser.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said graphical user interface is configured to enable said purchaser to apply said calculated rebate value to reduce a purchase price of said selected at least one offer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said offer analyzer comprises:

a logic unit coupled to an offer module, said logic unit implementing rules for selecting offers from said offer module;

a rules module coupled to said logic unit and to an administrator system for adjusting said rules in accordance with administrator instructions;

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a product offer module coupled to said redemption history module; and

a redemption history analyzer coupled to said memory, a product offer module coupled to said redemption history module, said product offer module comprising a plurality of product offers;

said redemption history analyzer determining at least one product offer to be offered to said consumer based on analysis of redemption history associated with said consumer.

7. A method for processing rebates comprising steps of:

initiating a rebate claim processing session between a rebate claim processing system and a purchaser system;

determining a value of a rebate claim received from a purchaser during said session;

receiving purchaser information from a source of purchaser information during said session;

receiving information related to items offered for sale by a vendor during said session;

during said session, selecting at least one of said items to be offered for sale to said purchaser based, at least in part on said value, said purchaser information and said item information.

8. The method of claim 7 further including steps of:

during said session offering selected items to said purchaser in response to receiving said rebate claim;

receiving an indication of purchaser selection of at least one of said offered items;

applying at least a portion of said rebate value toward the purchase price of said selected at least one item;

providing said at least one item to said purchaser in lieu of providing said portion of said rebate value.

9. A method for providing rebates comprising steps of:

receiving from a purchaser information related to a rebate;

receiving from at least one vendor information related to at least one offer;

determining the value of said rebate;

offering said at least one offer to said purchaser;

if said purchaser elects to purchase said at least one offer, applying at least a portion of the value of said rebate to the purchase price of said at least one offer.