System and method for purchase benefits at a point of sale

• US 7,769,695 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: YT Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Goff, Tennille V., Watson, Timothy Neil, Robinson, Timothy L., Schildt, Bradford R., Corwin, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/266,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 705/64, 705/67, 235/381, 713/186
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A system and method of providing users with an accessible system and convenient method for conducting purchase benefit transactions. When enrolling in a biometric authorization system, a user may authorize the system to apply for purchase benefits on the user'"'"'s behalf at subsequent transactions.

Claims

1. A method for biometrically processing a rebate transaction for a user purchasing an item at a merchant location, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, information relating to the item for purchase at a point of sale, said item having an associated rebate offer;

obtaining biometric data from the user for processing of said rebate offer, wherein the obtained biometric data is compared against biometric data stored at a database remote from said point of sale in a record relating to the user to determine a match without the use of a token; and

upon a match of the obtained biometric data and the stored biometric data, retrieving user identifying information from the user record and transmitting a rebate request to a benefit provider, wherein said rebate request includes the user identifying information and information associated with the rebate offer, wherein funds associated with fulfillment of said rebate request are distributed to said user at said point of sale.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information associated with the rebate offer is retrieved from one or more of a point of sale and a user record.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said information associated with the rebate offer includes one or more product identifiers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing said record during one of a return and an exchange, wherein one of a return value and an exchange value is discounted by said funds associated with fulfillment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein funds are distributed as one or more of cash and a store-credit token.

6. A method for authorizing a consumer reward via a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, information relating to an item for purchase at a point of sale, wherein said item is associated with a consumer reward;

obtaining biometric data from a user for processing said consumer reward, wherein said obtained biometric data is compared against biometric data stored in a record relating to the user to determine a match without use of a token; and

upon a match of the obtained biometric data and the stored biometric data, retrieving user identifying information from said record and transmitting a consumer reward request to a benefit provider, wherein said consumer reward request includes said user identifying information and information relating to the item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said information relating to the item includes one or more product identifiers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said product identifier is one of a product code, a radio frequency identifier, a barcode and an identification number.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising transferring said consumer reward to another individual.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said transferring occurs at an authorization station.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving said consumer reward.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the benefit provider comprises a manufacturer of the item.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the benefit provider comprises a merchant.