Method and system using wildcard values

• US 7,900,831 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DNB Nor Bank ASA Norge Filial Sverige
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Redford, Liane, Nguyen, Loc, Bortolin, Corinne
• Primary Examiner(s): St.Cyr; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/640,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/375, 235/378, 235/380, 235/381, 235/385, 235/462.01, 235/462.45, 705/17, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method of processing data on a server computer is disclosed. The method includes receiving data at the server computer, the data including a first data string including one or more wildcard values. The first data string is specifically associated with a consumer, and the one or more wildcard values are associated with the purchase transaction. The method also includes comparing the first data string to a second data string by the server computer, and providing an output to the consumer based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method of processing data on a server computer, comprising:

receiving data at the server computer, the data comprising a first data string including one or more wildcard values, wherein the first data string is specifically associated with a consumer, wherein the one or more wildcard values are associated with the purchase transaction;

comparing the first data string to a second data string by the server computer; and

providing an output to the consumer based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the server computer is associated with an organization associated with a merchant, wherein the merchant is conducting the purchase transaction with the consumer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the organization processes credit card transactions.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the organization is the merchant.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a benefit based on the comparison of the first data string to the second data string.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a benefit to the consumer if the consumer is entitled to a benefit based on the comparison of the first data string to the second data string.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the benefit is a reward.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the benefit is associated with a future purchase of a product.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data string indicates whether the consumer is a repeat customer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data string is associated with a purchasing behavior of the consumer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data string including the one or more wildcard values encompasses identification codes for two or more different products.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification codes optionally include universal product codes (UPCs) or stock keeping units (SKUs).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data string including the one or more wildcard values encompasses two or more values.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data string including one or more wildcard values represents a plurality of products associated with the purchase transaction.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data string including one or more wildcard values represents a type of product associated with the purchase transaction.

16. A server computer comprising a processor and a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium comprising code for implementing a method comprising:

receiving data comprising a first data string including one or more wildcard values, wherein the first data string is specifically associated with a consumer, wherein the one or more wildcard values are associated with the purchase transaction;

comparing the first data string to a second data string; and

providing an output to a consumer based on the comparison.

17. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the server computer is associated with an organization associated with a merchant, wherein the merchant is conducting the purchase transaction with the consumer.

18. The server computer of claim 17, wherein the organization processes credit card transactions.

19. The server computer of claim 17, wherein the organization is the merchant.

20. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises determining a benefit based on the comparison of the first data string to the second data string.

21. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises providing a benefit to the consumer if the consumer is entitled to a benefit based on the comparison of the first data string to the second data string.

22. The server computer of claim 21, wherein the benefit is a reward.

23. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the benefit is associated with a future purchase of a product.

24. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the first data string represents whether the consumer is a repeat customer.

25. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the first data string is associated with a purchasing behavior of the consumer.

26. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the first data string including the one or more wildcard values encompasses identification codes for two or more different products.

27. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the identification codes optionally include universal product codes (UPCs) or stock keeping units (SKUs).

28. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the first data string including the one or more wildcard values encompasses two or more values.

29. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the first data string including one or more wildcard values represents a plurality of products associated with the purchase transaction.

30. The server computer of claim 16, wherein the first data string including one or more wildcard values represents a type of product associated with the purchase transaction.