SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ELECTRONIC GEOCACHING

• US 20150032527A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hunt, Patrick James
• Granted Patent: US 10,685,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search

Abstract

A method and system for transferring electronic units of value to a mobile device using a computer device coupled to a database are provided. The method includes establishing a transfer account associated with the mobile device, initiating, by the mobile device, a transfer of an identifier encoded in a geo.Chip to the mobile device, receiving, by the mobile device, the identifier and a geolocation of the mobile device, transmitting the received identifier and geolocation for verification of the identifier using the geolocation, and receiving, by the mobile device, an indication of the units of value associated with the geo.Chip location.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for transferring electronic units of value to a mobile device, the method comprising:

establishing a transfer account associated with the mobile device;

initiating, by the mobile device, a transfer of an identifier encoded in a geo.Chip to the mobile device;

receiving, by the mobile device, the identifier and a geolocation of the mobile device;

transmitting the received identifier and geolocation for verification of the identifier using the geolocation; and

receiving, by the mobile device, an indication of the units of value associated with the geo.Chip location.

2. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein locating a geo.Chip location comprises receiving, at the mobile device, at least one of a push notification of the geo.Chip location, a response to a request for a geo.Chip location, and a graphical display of the geo.Chip location with respect to a current location of the mobile device.

3. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein receiving the identifier and a geolocation of the mobile device comprises interrogating the geo.Chip using the mobile device using a wireless signal.

4. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein locating a geo.Chip location comprises using an indication displayed on the mobile device to follow a path to the geo.Chip location.

5. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein initiating a transfer of an identifier encoded in a geo.Chip to the mobile device comprises initiating a transfer of an identifier encoded in the geo.Chip to the mobile device using at least one of a bump technology and a near-field communications (NFC).

6. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein initiating a transfer of an identifier encoded in a geo.Chip to the mobile device comprises positioning the mobile device proximate the geo.Chip.

7. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein initiating a transfer of an identifier encoded in a geo.Chip to the mobile device comprises interrogating the geo.Chip from the mobile device.

8. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein the units of value comprise a coupon for a discount at a merchant and wherein receiving, by the mobile device, an indication of the units of value associated with the geo.Chip location comprises:

receiving a first electronic coupon for a first merchant; and

trading the electronic coupon for a second electronic coupon for a second merchant that is accessible via a second consumer mobile device using a communication link between the first consumer mobile device and the second consumer mobile device.

9. A computer-based method for transferring electronic units of value to a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving user information from a user through an electronic communications network;

establishing an account for the user associated with the user information;

receiving an identifier of a geo.Chip and a geolocation of a mobile device associated with the account;

determining that the identifier is associated with an active offer;

determining that the received geolocation matches a location of the geo.Chip; and

if the identifier is associated with an active offer and the received geolocation matches a location of the geo.Chip, crediting the account with a value associated with the identifier.

10. The computer-based method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the value associated with the identifier to the mobile device.

11. The computer-based method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting a geo.Chip location to the mobile device.

12. The computer-based method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting a next geo.Chip location in a series of geo.Chip locations to the mobile device.

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

receiving a request for a geo.Chip location from the mobile device, the request including an indication of a type of offer sought and a radius of search;

matching the type of offer sought with active offers within the radius of search; and

transmitting the matched active offers to the mobile device.

14. The computer-based method of claim 9, further comprising receiving indication of a payment authorization for a financial transaction contemporaneous with crediting the account with a value associated with the identifier.

15. A system for transferring electronic units of value to a mobile device, said system comprising:

an electronic communication network;

a mobile device communicatively couplable to said network said mobile device configured to determine its location in geographic coordinates;

a plurality of semiconductor chips, each comprising an identifier unique to an associated one of said plurality of semiconductor chips, said plurality of semiconductor chips each interrogatable by said mobile device whereby said mobile device is able to determine the unique identifier of the interrogated one of said plurality of semiconductor chips; and

a geo.Server communicatively couplable to said network, said geo.Server comprising a processor communicatively coupled to a memory device;

said geo.Server programmed to;

receive a request for respective locations of semiconductor chips positioned proximate a selected location;

transmit to a third party server the respective locations for a fee paid from the third party to the location provider.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said geo.Server programmed to:

receive, from said mobile device, the unique identifier from an interrogated one of said plurality of semiconductor chips and the geographic coordinates determined by said mobile device proximate a time of the interrogation,

determine a value associated with the interrogated semiconductor chip; and

credit an amount of the value to an account associated with said mobile device if the geographic coordinates match geographic coordinates of the interrogated semiconductor chip.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the units of value comprise at least one of currency or currency equivalent, a discount offer from a merchant, goods, and services.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive the geographic coordinates of one of the plurality of semiconductor chips in at least one of a push notification based on a proximity of said mobile device to any of the plurality of semiconductor chips, a message in response to a request for a semiconductor chip location, and a message in response to a challenge question.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said geo.Server is programmed to determine a value associated with the interrogated semiconductor chip using a database stored in the memory device.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of semiconductor chips are positioned in a predetermined location where a merchant would like to draw customers.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of semiconductor chips are positioned in predetermined locations along a route to be traversed by the mobile device.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising a web server programmed to host a geopass website or web page, the web server communicatively couplable to said geo.Server.