Rebate automation
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, via a computing device, information relating to a transaction comprising a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder by an issuer, wherein the product is a predetermined combination of a plurality of different items;
requesting, via the computing device, from the issuer, payment for the transaction to the merchant;
confirming, via the computing device, that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period and that there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, wherein the sponsor comprises a plurality of entities each having a corresponding account number, wherein each of the plurality of entities is associated with a respective one of the plurality of different items; and
transmitting, via the computing device, to a transaction handler, instructions to debit the rebate from a sponsor account of the sponsor, wherein the debiting of the rebate to the account of the sponsor comprises debiting a predetermined portion of the rebate respectively to each of the account numbers of the plurality of entities.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer receives information that a request is made to authorize a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder in a transaction conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder. When the computer confirms that the transaction is authorized and that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, the computer communicates that the rebate is to be debited to an account of the sponsor and either: (i) given as a discount by the merchant at the point of sale to the account holder; or (ii) credited to an account issued to the account holder by the issuer.
296 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, via a computing device, information relating to a transaction comprising a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder by an issuer, wherein the product is a predetermined combination of a plurality of different items; requesting, via the computing device, from the issuer, payment for the transaction to the merchant; confirming, via the computing device, that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period and that there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, wherein the sponsor comprises a plurality of entities each having a corresponding account number, wherein each of the plurality of entities is associated with a respective one of the plurality of different items; and transmitting, via the computing device, to a transaction handler, instructions to debit the rebate from a sponsor account of the sponsor, wherein the debiting of the rebate to the account of the sponsor comprises debiting a predetermined portion of the rebate respectively to each of the account numbers of the plurality of entities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer processor, performs a method comprising:
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receiving, via a computing device, information relating to a transaction comprising a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder by an issuer, wherein the product is a predetermined combination of a plurality of different items; requesting, via the computing device, from the issuer, payment for the transaction to the merchant; confirming, via the computing device, that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period and that there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, wherein the sponsor comprises a plurality of entities each having a corresponding account number, wherein each of the plurality of entities is associated with a respective one of the plurality of different items; and transmitting, via the computing processor, to a transaction handler, instructions to debit the rebate from a sponsor account of the sponsor, wherein the debiting of the rebate to the account of the sponsor comprises debiting a predetermined portion of the rebate respectively to each of the account numbers of the plurality of entities.
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11. A method comprising:
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transmitting, via a computing device, a request, for delivery to an acquirer, for authorization of a transaction on an account issued to an account holder by an issuer for the purchase of a product from a merchant, wherein the product is a predetermined combination of a plurality of different items; receiving, via the computing device, information sent from the acquirer, wherein the information includes an answer to the request for authorization as to whether; the account issued to the account holder is registered to receive a rebate; the product is eligible for the rebate; the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period; a sponsor is financially responsible for the rebate, wherein the sponsor comprises a plurality of entities each having a corresponding account number, wherein each of the plurality of entities is associated with a respective one of the plurality of different items transmitting, via the computing device, information, for delivery to the acquirer, as to an amount substantially to be; debited to the account of the account holder for the transaction; debited to a sponsor account of the sponsor for the rebate, wherein the debit of the rebate to the account of the sponsor comprises debiting a predetermined portion of the rebate respectively to each of the account numbers of the plurality of entities; and credited to an account issued by the acquirer, wherein when the account is registered to receive the rebate and the product is eligible for the rebate; and receiving, via the computing device, notice as to the crediting of an amount substantially equal to the rebate to the account issued by the acquirer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer processor, performs a method comprising:
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transmitting a request, for delivery to an acquirer, for authorization of a transaction on an account issued to an account holder by an issuer for the purchase of a product from a merchant wherein the product is a predetermined combination of a plurality of different items; receiving, via the computing device, information sent from the acquirer, wherein the information includes an answer to the request for authorization as to whether; the account issued to the account holder is registered to receive a rebate; the product is eligible for the rebate; the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period; a sponsor is financially responsible for the rebate, wherein the sponsor comprises a plurality of entities each having a corresponding account number, wherein each of the plurality of entities is associated with a respective one of the plurality of different items transmitting, via the computing device, information, for delivery to the acquirer, as to an amount substantially to be; debited to the account of the account holder for the transaction; debited to a sponsor account of the sponsor for the rebate, wherein the debit of the rebate to the account of the sponsor comprises debiting a predetermined portion of the rebate respectively to each of the account numbers of the plurality of entities; and credited to an account issued by the acquirer, wherein when the account is registered to receive the rebate and the product is eligible for the rebate; and receiving, via the computing device, notice as to the crediting of an amount substantially equal to the rebate to the account issued by the acquirer.
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18. A method comprising:
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receiving, via a computing device, information requesting authorization of a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder by an issuer, wherein the product is a predetermined combination of a plurality of different items; and when the requested authorization is authorized and the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate; debiting, via the computing device, the rebate to a sponsor account of the sponsor, wherein the sponsor comprises a plurality of entities each having a corresponding account number, with each of the plurality of entities associated with a respective one of the plurality of different items, wherein the debit of the rebate to the account of the sponsor further comprises debiting a predetermined portion of the rebate respectively to each of the account numbers of the plurality of entities; crediting, via the computing device, the rebate to a merchant account issued to the merchant; and when information is received that the product was returned by the account holder; crediting, via the computing device, the rebate to the sponsor account of the sponsor; and debiting, via the computing device, the rebate to the merchant account issued to the merchant. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computing apparatus, performs a method comprising:
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receiving information requesting authorization of a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder in a transaction conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder by an issuer, wherein the product is a predetermined combination of a plurality of different items; and when the requested authorization is authorized and the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate; debiting the rebate to a sponsor account of the sponsor, wherein the sponsor comprises a plurality of entities each having a corresponding account number, with each of the plurality of entities associated with a respective one of the plurality of different items, wherein the debit of the rebate to the account of the sponsor further comprises debiting a predetermined portion of the rebate respectively to each of the account numbers of the plurality of entities; crediting the rebate to a merchant account issued to the merchant; and when information is received that the product was returned by the account holder; crediting the rebate to the sponsor account of the sponsor; and debiting the rebate to the merchant account issued to the merchant.
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Specification