System and method for facilitating mobile commerce

• US 7,979,316 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Hedleston, James, Coelho, Sohail, Sacchetti, Paul, Gebb, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunham; Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/741,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27, 705/39
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating the purchase of goods and/or services between the holder of a wireless communications device and a commerce system is disclosed. The system enables consumers who wish to participate in promotional sales offers to register with a mobile commerce system. Consumers may further define the types of items that they are interested in purchasing. Prior to the start of a promotion, the system sends a text message alert to registered consumers, giving them an opportunity to opt-in via text message from a wireless communications device. When the promotion is activated, the opted-in consumers are alerted via text message and are given an opportunity to send a text message back to the system indicative of a desire to purchase the promotional item. If defined conditions are met, the consumer'"'"'s financial account is debited in the amount of the purchase and the consumer is instructed as to how to acquire their purchase.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving pre-approval data, by a computer based system for facilitating a purchase of an item using a wireless device, wherein said pre-approval data qualifies a user to be able to agree to purchase an item without the transmission of payment information in response to a purchase;

issuing, by said computer based system, pre-approval status to said user in response to receiving an account number on a transaction card;

transmitting, by said computer based system, a notification of an offer for sale of an item;

receiving, by said computer based system, an agreement to purchase said item and to initiate a purchase transaction;

transmitting, by said computer based system, a confirmation in response to acceptance of said agreement;

processing, by said computer based system, a payment for said item using a medium related to said transaction card for said item, in response to acceptance of said agreement; and

wherein said step of receiving an agreement to purchase said item comprises receiving an indication to initiate a purchase transaction using a portion of loyalty points, wherein said medium related to said transaction card is loyalty points.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless device is at least one of:

a telephone, a personal digital assistant, and an email device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving an agreement to purchase comprises receiving an indication to reserve said item for purchase at a later time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from said user, an indication of interest to receive additional notifications in response to said item being offered for sale.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving an agreement comprises receiving an agreement via at least one of:

an email, text message and verbal request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving an agreement comprises a word, a transaction card number, a personal identification number (PIN) and a code.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting a notification of said offer for sale occurs at pre-defined times.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving an agreement to purchase comprises receiving a bid to purchase said item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting a notification comprises transmitting at least one of:

an item descriptor, item price, date available for purchase, and time available for purchase.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting a confirmation comprises sending a confirmation via at least one of:

text message, email message, telephone call, facsimile, and pager message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting a notification of an offer for sale of an item is based on receiving a selection of said item from a web site.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting a notification of an offer for sale of an item is based on at least one of:

a desired price, desired quantity, desired purchase date, desired purchase time, and an item availability alert mode.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing loyalty points based on at least one of said step of transmitting a confirmation and a successful purchase.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a purchase transaction.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a purchase transaction by automatically populating web form.

16. A commerce management utility comprising:

a non-transitory memory in communication with a processor for facilitating a purchase of an item using a wireless device;

the processor, in response to executing a computer program, is configured to;

receive, by said processor, pre-approval data and to issue pre-approval status to a user in response to receiving an account number on a transaction card, wherein said pre-approval data qualifies said user to be able to agree to purchase an item without transmission of payment information in response to a purchase;

transmit, by said processor, a notification of offers for sale of an item;

receive, by said processor, from said user an agreement to purchase said item and to initiate a purchase transaction;

transmit, by said processor, via a messaging gateway, a confirmation in response to said agreement being accepted;

process a payment for said item using a medium related to said transaction card for said item in response to acceptance of said agreement; and

receive an indication to initiate a purchase transaction using a portion of loyalty points, wherein said medium related to said transaction card is loyalty points.

17. The commerce management utility of claim 16, wherein said commerce management utility is further configured to receive an indication of interest to receive additional notifications in response to said item being offered for sale.

18. The commerce management utility of claim 16, further comprising a user database configured to store said pre-approval data.

19. The commerce management utility of claim 16, further comprising a wireless network configured to receive said agreement to purchase and to transmit said notification.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing a set of instructions that in response to being executed by a computing device for facilitating a purchase of an item cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

submitting, by a computer based system, pre-approval date including an account number on a transaction card to a host, wherein said pre-approval date qualifies a user to be able to agree to purchase an item without the transmission of payment information in response to a purchase of said item using a wireless device;

obtaining, by a computer based system, pre-approval status,

receiving, by a computer bases system, from a host, a notification of offers for sale of an item,

transmitting, by a computer based system, to said host, an indication of interest to receive additional notifications in response to said item being offered for sale;

transmitting, by a computer based system, to said host, an agreement to purchase said item and to initiate a purchase transaction;

receiving a confirmation in response to said agreement being accepted;

processing a payment for said item using a medium related to said transaction card for said item, in response to acceptance of said agreement; and

wherein said step of receiving an agreement to purchase said item comprises receiving an indication to initiate a purchase transaction using a portion of loyalty points, wherein said medium related to said transaction card is loyalty points.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein said computer readable storage medium is located in a wireless device.