System and method for purchasing in a digital channel

• US 9,754,277 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2012
• 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: King, Kathleen, Miller, Matthew, Muthukrishnan, Sathish, Norman, Philip, Prentice, Anthony, Schultz, Stephanie, Vakil, Elizabeth, Wolf, David
• Primary Examiner(s): LEVINE, ADAM L
• Application Number:
  US13/889,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0637 Approvals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The systems, methods, and computer program products (collectively “systems”) described herein are generally configured to monitor actions in digital channels. More specifically, the systems are capable of initiating purchases in a broadcast channel. The systems are capable of syncing transaction accounts with various digital channels. Moreover, the systems are capable of initiating or completing transaction based on user information. The systems may also be capable of providing rewards based on activities or accomplishments in the digital channels. Moreover, the systems may be capable of verifying activities based on transaction information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

presenting, by a processor and via a web client, a plurality of broadcast channels which are selectable by a user;

receiving, by the processor and via a selectable link, an indication of a selection of a broadcast channel by the user from the plurality of broadcast channels;

providing, by the processor, action information that is formatted to be sent via the broadcast channel,

identifying, by the processor and via a sync module, a user profile based on user profile information of the user of the broadcast channel;

determining, by the processor and via a transaction account system, a transaction account associated with the user;

syncing, by the processor and via the sync module, the transaction account, the broadcast channel and the user profile, in response to receiving the indication of the selection;

identifying, by the processor and to the broadcast channel, the user profile;

receiving, by the processor, a plurality of broadcasts from the broadcast channel,

wherein the plurality of broadcasts comprise a first broadcast,

wherein the broadcast channel is a publicly accessible social media channel,

analyze, by an activity monitoring module in communication with the processor and in response to the receiving the plurality of broadcasts, a content of the plurality of broadcasts to identify the action information to create a subset of the plurality of broadcasts having the action information for tracking;

tracking, by the activity monitoring module in communication with the processor and based on the synching, the subset of the plurality of broadcasts with the action information from within the broadcast channel,

wherein the action information includes codes having a predetermined purchase indicator that triggers an initiation of a purchase of an item;

determining, by the processor, the user associated with the action information in the broadcast channel based on the user profile associated with the transaction account;

selecting, by the processor, the first broadcast from the plurality of broadcasts based on the user that transmitted the first broadcast in the broadcast channel;

identifying, by the processor, the transaction account associated with the user and the broadcast channel;

parsing, by the processor, the action information of the first broadcast into elements;

analyzing, by the processor and in response to the parsing, the elements to identify the predetermined purchase indicator;

comparing, by the processor, the predetermined purchase indicator to a criteria;

identifying, by the processor, an item and an item supplier based on the predetermined purchase indicator at least partially satisfying the criteria,

wherein the item supplier is a third party merchant;

requesting, by the processor and from the item supplier, an inventory status of the item;

determining, by the processor, that the item has an available inventory status;

determining, by the processor, that the transaction account is associated with the broadcast channel such that the transaction account is configured for purchases in response to a broadcast in the broadcast channel;

requesting, by the processor and via the broadcast channel, confirmation information that the broadcast is for the purchase of the item based on the item having an available inventory status,

wherein the request is presented to the user in the broadcast channel and

wherein the confirmation is captured by the broadcast channel and provided to the processor;

receiving, by the processor, the confirmation information from the broadcast channel that is indicative of the confirmation that the item has the available inventory status;

initiating, by the processor, a purchase transaction with the transaction account that is enabled for purchases with the item supplier for the item, in response to receiving the confirmation information from the broadcast channel and using the transaction account associated with the broadcast channel profile for conducting the purchase transaction,

obtaining, by the processor, a shipping address in response to the initiating the purchase transaction;

transmitting, by the processor, the shipping address to the item supplier,

wherein the item supplier charges the transaction account for the purchase transaction for the item, based on the transaction information; and

transmitting, by the processor via the broadcast channel, a confirmation notification that the purchase transaction for the item is initiated and the inventory status of the item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the processor, an indicator to the broadcast channel, wherein the indicator identifies the transaction account, and wherein the broadcast channel tracks the action information based on the indicator associated with the transaction account.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating preferences with the transaction account and the user profile, wherein the preferences are associated with the confirmation notification, shipping and offers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving activities, accomplishments, trends, and interests of the user from the digital channel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating, by the processor, the transaction account with the broadcast channel based on user profile information associated with at least one of the transaction account or the broadcast channel.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the processor, a token associated with the broadcast channel, wherein the token confirms the association of the transaction account with the broadcast channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel is a social media channel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the processor, the transaction account from the broadcast channel, wherein the broadcast channel captures the transaction account in the broadcast channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first broadcast is a hashtag.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, the first broadcast is a predefined action defined by a sponsoring entity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a notification of a reward is provided through the broadcast channel, in response to the first broadcast at least partially satisfying an offer defined by a sponsoring entity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a transaction account issuer generates the transaction information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating, by the processor, a broadcast channel profile with the transaction account based on transaction account information provided by a user in the broadcast channel.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring, by the processor, user broadcasts based on an association of a broadcast channel profile and the transaction account.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating, by the processor, a transaction on the transaction account associated with the broadcast channel based on transaction instructions.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting, by the processor, payment information to a merchant providing the item, in response to the initiating.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating, by the processor, an authorization to the merchant providing the item, in response to the initiating.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the processor, preference information for a user to a merchant providing the item.

19. A non-transitory computer program product having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer based system, causes the computer based system to be capable of performing operations comprising:

presenting, by the computer based system and via a web client, a plurality of broadcast channels which are selectable by a user;

receiving, by the computer based system and via a selectable link, an indication of a selection of a broadcast channel by the user from the plurality of broadcast channels;

providing, by the computer based system, action information that is formatted to be sent via the broadcast channel,

identifying, by the computer based system and via a sync module, a user profile based on user profile information of the user of the broadcast channel;

determining, by the computer based system and via a transaction account system, a transaction account associated with the user;

syncing, by the computer based system and via the sync module, the transaction account, the broadcast channel and the user profile, in response to receiving the indication of the selection;

identifying, by the computer based system and to the broadcast channel, the user profile;

receiving, by the computer based system, a plurality of broadcasts from the broadcast channel,

wherein the plurality of broadcasts comprise a first broadcast,

wherein the broadcast channel is a publicly accessible social media channel,

analyze, by an activity monitoring module in communication with the computer based system and in response to the receiving the plurality of broadcasts, a content of the plurality of broadcasts to identify the action information to create a subset of the plurality of broadcasts having the action information for tracking;

tracking, by the activity monitoring module in communication with the computer based system and based on the synching, the subset of the plurality of broadcasts with the action information from within the broadcast channel,

wherein the action information includes codes having a predetermined purchase indicator that triggers an initiation of a purchase of an item;

determining, by the computer based system, the user associated with the action information in the broadcast channel based on the user profile associated with the transaction account;

selecting, by the computer based system, the first broadcast from the plurality of broadcasts based on the user that transmitted the first broadcast in the broadcast channel;

identifying, by the computer based system, the transaction account associated with the user and the broadcast channel;

parsing, by the computer based system, the action information of the first broadcast into elements;

analyzing, by the computer based system and in response to the parsing, the elements to identify the predetermined purchase indicator;

comparing, by the computer based system, the predetermined purchase indicator to a criteria;

identifying, by the computer based system, an item and an item supplier based on the predetermined purchase indicator at least partially satisfying the criteria,

wherein the item supplier is a third party merchant;

requesting, by the computer based system and from the item supplier, an inventory status of the item;

determining, by the computer based system, that the item has an available inventory status;

determining, by the computer based system, that the transaction account is associated with the broadcast channel such that the transaction account is configured for purchases in response to a broadcast in the broadcast channel;

requesting, by the computer based system and via the broadcast channel, confirmation information that the broadcast is for the purchase of the item based on the item having an available inventory status,

wherein the request is presented to the user in the broadcast channel and

wherein the confirmation is captured by the broadcast channel and provided to the computer based system;

receiving, by the computer based system, the confirmation information from the broadcast channel that is indicative of the confirmation that the item has the available inventory status;

initiating, by the computer based system, a purchase transaction with the transaction account that is enabled for purchases with the item supplier for the item, in response to receiving the confirmation information from the broadcast channel and using the transaction account associated with the broadcast channel profile for conducting the purchase transaction,

obtaining, by the computer based system, a shipping address in response to the initiating the purchase transaction;

transmitting, by the computer based system, the shipping address to the item supplier,

wherein the item supplier charges the transaction account for the purchase transaction for the item, based on the transaction information; and

transmitting, by the computer based system via the broadcast channel, a confirmation notification that the purchase transaction for the item is initiated and the inventory status of the item.

20. A system comprising:

a processor,

a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,

the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

presenting, by the processor and via a web client, a plurality of broadcast channels which are selectable by a user;

receiving, by the processor and via a selectable link, an indication of a selection of a broadcast channel by the user from the plurality of broadcast channels;

providing, by the processor, action information that is formatted to be sent via the broadcast channel,

identifying, by the processor and via a sync module, a user profile based on user profile information of the user of the broadcast channel;

determining, by the processor and via a transaction account system, a transaction account associated with the user;

syncing, by the processor and via the sync module, the transaction account, the broadcast channel and the user profile, in response to receiving the indication of the selection;

identifying, by the processor and to the broadcast channel, the user profile;

receiving, by the processor, a plurality of broadcasts from the broadcast channel,

wherein the plurality of broadcasts comprise a first broadcast,

wherein the broadcast channel is a publicly accessible social media channel,

analyze, by an activity monitoring module in communication with the processor and in response to the receiving the plurality of broadcasts, a content of the plurality of broadcasts to identify the action information to create a subset of the plurality of broadcasts having the action information for tracking;

tracking, by the activity monitoring module in communication with the processor and based on the synching, the subset of the plurality of broadcasts with the action information from within the broadcast channel,

wherein the action information includes codes having a predetermined purchase indicator that triggers an initiation of a purchase of an item;

determining, by the processor, the user associated with the action information in the broadcast channel based on the user profile associated with the transaction account;

selecting, by the processor, the first broadcast from the plurality of broadcasts based on the user that transmitted the first broadcast in the broadcast channel;

identifying, by the processor, the transaction account associated with the user and the broadcast channel;

parsing, by the processor, the action information of the first broadcast into elements;

analyzing, by the processor and in response to the parsing, the elements to identify the predetermined purchase indicator;

comparing, by the processor, the predetermined purchase indicator to a criteria;

identifying, by the processor, an item and an item supplier based on the predetermined purchase indicator at least partially satisfying the criteria,

wherein the item supplier is a third party merchant;

requesting, by the processor and from the item supplier, an inventory status of the item;

determining, by the processor, that the item has an available inventory status;

determining, by the processor, that the transaction account is associated with the broadcast channel such that the transaction account is configured for purchases in response to a broadcast in the broadcast channel;

requesting, by the processor and via the broadcast channel, confirmation information that the broadcast is for the purchase of the item based on the item having an available inventory status,

wherein the request is presented to the user in the broadcast channel and

wherein the confirmation is captured by the broadcast channel and provided to the processor;

receiving, by the processor, the confirmation information from the broadcast channel that is indicative of the confirmation that the item has the available inventory status;

initiating, by the processor, a purchase transaction with the transaction account that is enabled for purchases with the item supplier for the item, in response to receiving the confirmation information from the broadcast channel and using the transaction account associated with the broadcast channel profile for conducting the purchase transaction,

obtaining, by the processor, a shipping address in response to the initiating the purchase transaction;

transmitting, by the processor, the shipping address to the item supplier,

wherein the item supplier charges the transaction account for the purchase transaction for the item, based on the transaction information; and

transmitting, by the processor via the broadcast channel, a confirmation notification that the purchase transaction for the item is initiated and the inventory status of the item.