System and method for purchasing in a digital channel

• US 9,754,278 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): Brown, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US13/889,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20140081776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1438, 705 1434, 705 1436, 705 143, 705 1417, 705 141, 705 39, 705 261
• 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:

linking, by a payment processing computer based system, a transaction account profile for a transaction account with a broadcast channel profile for a broadcast channel;

establishing, by the computer based system and based on the linking the transaction account profile with the broadcast channel profile, a registration identifier;

receiving, by the computer based system, a broadcast from a broadcast channel,

wherein the broadcast includes a functional indicator that provides an indication of a merchant and a transaction account for conducting the purchase;

identifying, by the computer based system and in response to receiving the broadcast, the functional indicator in the broadcast;

comparing, by the computer based system and in response to the identifying, the functional indicator in the broadcast to a purchase criteria;

determining, by the computer based system and based on the comparing, that the broadcast triggers the purchase;

determining, by the computer based system and in response to the determining that the broadcast triggers the purchase, that the transaction account is linked to the broadcast channel profile for conducting the transaction;

determining, by the computer based system, that a user has designated that the transaction account can be used to make purchases;

identifying, by the computer based system, an item based on the functional indicator in the broadcast and the purchase criteria;

initiating, by the computer based system, the transaction for the item;

determining, by the computer based system, in real-time, and in response to the initiating, availability of the item based on an inventory status of the item in response to the broadcast and the identifying the item;

requesting, by the computer based system, in real-time, through the mobile device via the broadcast channel, and in response to the determining availability of the item, an input confirming the broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

receiving, by the computer based system and via the mobile device, the input confirming the broadcast is for the purchase of the item,

wherein the input further confirms that the transaction is authentic;

authorizing, by the computer based system and in response to the receiving the input, the transaction based on transaction information;

determining, by the computer based system, that the transaction qualifies for a reward in response to the broadcast at least partially satisfying the purchase criteria;

accessing, by the computer based system and in response to the authorizing, a plurality of offers associated with a plurality of merchants;

selecting, by the computer based system and in response to the accessing, a subset of the plurality of offers associated with the merchant;

determining, by the computer based system and in response to the selecting, that the transaction information qualifies for a first offer of the subset of the plurality of offers based on offer parameters;

linking, by the computer based system and in response to the determining, the offer with the registration identifier;

associating, by the computer based system and in response to the linking with the registration identifier, the first offer with the transaction account based on the registration identifier;

providing, by the computer based system and contemporaneously with and in response to the associating the offer with the transaction account, offer notification instructions for the offer to the broadcast channel and based on the registration identifier,

wherein the offer instructions are for the first offer that is associated with the item and the merchant; and

crediting, by the computer based system, a discount associated with the first offer to the transaction in the transaction account.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the computer based system and in real-time, delivery information based on at least one of the broadcast channel or the transaction account and in response to the initiating the transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the computer based system and in response to the linking, a designation from the user to allow the transaction to be initiated in response to the broadcast that triggers the purchase, and the broadcast is received by the broadcast channel associated with the broadcast channel profile, and wherein the transaction is initiated using the transaction account associated with the transaction account profile that is linked with the broadcast channel profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast is a message comprising text.

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

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward is at least one of a statement credit or loyalty points.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a notification of the reward is provided through the broadcast channel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the computer based system, a notification of the transaction through the broadcast channel, in response to transmitting the transaction information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining, by the computer based system, item preferences associated with the item based on selection by the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selection by the user is provided through the broadcast channel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the computer based system, an authorization based on the transaction information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing, by the computer based system, purchase information for the item; and

defining, by the computer based system, the transaction information based on the transaction information for the item.

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

linking, by the computer based system, a transaction account profile for a transaction account with a broadcast channel profile for a broadcast channel;

establishing, by the computer based system and based on the linking the transaction account profile with the broadcast channel profile, a registration identifier;

receiving, by the computer based system, a broadcast from a broadcast channel,

wherein the broadcast includes a functional indicator that provides an indication of a merchant and a transaction account for conducting the purchase;

identifying, by the computer based system and in response to receiving the broadcast, the functional indicator in the broadcast;

comparing, by the computer based system and in response to the identifying, the functional indicator in the broadcast to a purchase criteria;

determining, by the computer based system and based on the comparing, that the broadcast triggers the purchase;

determining, by the computer based system and in response to the determining that the broadcast triggers the purchase, that the transaction account is linked to the broadcast channel profile for conducting the transaction;

determining, by the computer based system, that a user has designated that the transaction account can be used to make purchases;

identifying, by the computer based system, an item based on the functional indicator in the broadcast and the purchase criteria;

initiating, by the computer based system, the transaction for the item;

determining, by the computer based system, in real-time, and in response to the initiating, availability of the item based on an inventory status of the item in response to the broadcast and the identifying the item;

requesting, by the computer based system, in real-time, through the mobile device via the broadcast channel, and in response to the determining availability of the item, an input confirming the broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

receiving, by the computer based system and via the mobile device, the input confirming the broadcast is for the purchase of the item,

wherein the input further confirms that the transaction is authentic;

authorizing, by the computer based system and in response to the receiving the input, the transaction based on transaction information;

determining, by the computer based system, that the transaction qualifies for a reward in response to the broadcast at least partially satisfying the purchase criteria;

accessing, by the computer based system and in response to the authorizing, a plurality of offers associated with a plurality of merchants;

selecting, by the computer based system and in response to the accessing, a subset of the plurality of offers associated with the merchant;

determining, by the computer based system and in response to the selecting, that the transaction information qualifies for a first offer of the subset of the plurality of offers based on offer parameters;

linking, by the computer based system and in response to the determining, the offer with the registration identifier;

associating, by the computer based system and in response to the linking with the registration identifier, the first offer with the transaction account based on the registration identifier;

providing, by the computer based system and contemporaneously with and in response to the associating the offer with the transaction account, offer notification instructions for the offer to the broadcast channel and based on the registration identifier,

wherein the offer instructions are for the first offer that is associated with the item and the merchant; and

crediting, by the computer based system, a discount associated with the first offer to the transaction in the transaction account.

15. A computer based system, comprising:

a payment processing processor;

a non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon which cause the processor to perform the following operations;

linking, by the computer based system, a transaction account profile for a transaction account with a broadcast channel profile for a broadcast channel;

establishing, by the computer based system and based on the linking the transaction account profile with the broadcast channel profile, a registration identifier;

receiving, by the computer based system, a broadcast from a broadcast channel,

wherein the broadcast includes a functional indicator that provides an indication of a merchant and a transaction account for conducting the purchase;

identifying, by the computer based system and in response to receiving the broadcast, the functional indicator in the broadcast;

comparing, by the computer based system and in response to the identifying, the functional indicator in the broadcast to a purchase criteria;

determining, by the computer based system and based on the comparing, that the broadcast triggers the purchase;

determining, by the computer based system and in response to the determining that the broadcast triggers the purchase, that the transaction account is linked to the broadcast channel profile for conducting the transaction;

determining, by the computer based system, that a user has designated that the transaction account can be used to make purchases;

identifying, by the computer based system, an item based on the functional indicator in the broadcast and the purchase criteria;

initiating, by the computer based system, the transaction for the item;

determining, by the computer based system, in real-time, and in response to the initiating, availability of the item based on an inventory status of the item in response to the broadcast and the identifying the item;

requesting, by the computer based system, in real-time, through the mobile device via the broadcast channel, and in response to the determining availability of the item, an input confirming the broadcast is for the purchase of the item;

receiving, by the computer based system and via the mobile device, the input confirming the broadcast is for the purchase of the item,

wherein the input further confirms that the transaction is authentic;

authorizing, by the computer based system and in response to the receiving the input, the transaction based on transaction information;

determining, by the computer based system, that the transaction qualifies for a reward in response to the broadcast at least partially satisfying the purchase criteria;

accessing, by the computer based system and in response to the authorizing, a plurality of offers associated with a plurality of merchants;

selecting, by the computer based system and in response to the accessing, a subset of the plurality of offers associated with the merchant;

determining, by the computer based system and in response to the selecting, that the transaction information qualifies for a first offer of the subset of the plurality of offers based on offer parameters;

linking, by the computer based system and in response to the determining, the offer with the registration identifier;

associating, by the computer based system and in response to the linking with the registration identifier, the first offer with the transaction account based on the registration identifier;

providing, by the computer based system and contemporaneously with and in response to the associating the offer with the transaction account, offer notification instructions for the offer to the broadcast channel and based on the registration identifier,

wherein the offer instructions are for the first offer that is associated with the item and the merchant; and

crediting, by the computer based system, a discount associated with the first offer to the transaction in the transaction account.