Patent Application
20100063874
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to payment and purchase systems and consumer/payment system relationships and consumer/merchant relationships and, in particular, to a method and system for providing incentives during a purchase transaction between a consumer and a merchant, such as an online purchase transaction.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to enable convenient purchases of goods and services by consumers, the financial service industry has developed many alternative payment methods that allow a consumer to engage in a transaction and receive goods and services on credit. For example, such alternative payment methods may include checks, ATM or debit cards, credit cards, charge cards, etc. Prior to the birth of virtual commerce, as discussed below, such payment options provided adequate convenience and transactional security to consumers and merchants in the marketplace. Virtual commerce and the growth of the Internet as a medium for commerce have placed pressure on the payment options discussed above on the convenience, transactional security and profitability by the credit issuer. Currently, available payment options include significant shortcomings when applied to remote purchasers, such as purchases where the buyer and the seller (that is, the merchant) are not physically proximate during the transaction. Specific examples of remote purchases are mail order, telephone order, the Internet and wireless purchases.
In a typical credit transaction and process, a consumer engages with a merchant at the point-of-sale, such as online at the merchant's website, at the merchant's business or store, over the telephone with the merchant's call/sales center, etc. The merchant sends a request to the credit issuer to obtain authorization or verification data for allowing the consumer to consummate the sale. For example, the credit issuer may indicate to the merchant whether the consumer is creditworthy, is over his or her limit, is verified, has the available funds/balance to make the purchase, etc.
Once consummated, the credit issuer provides the merchant with certain transactional data on a periodic basis. For example, on a monthly basis, the credit issuer may provide the merchant with a listing of all credit transactions for their credit product and the total amount of each consumer's transaction. Using this information, the merchant is able only to determine the total amount a consumer spent using a specific credit product on a specific day.
Although credit transactions have been discussed, other purchase methods are available and yield valuable data. For example, even cash, check, debit and other electronic payment transactions provide important transactional and consumer data. This information would also be useful in connection with analyzing the actions and experiences of both the consumer and the merchant.
While the above-discussed total transaction value data is somewhat useful in making a limited amount of business decisions, it has the potential to be much more robust. If the merchant has additional transactional data from a system, a wide variety of useful and beneficial business decisions could be made, including: offers to the consumer, discounts, advertising directives, website analysis and streamlining, identification of potential consumers, other merchant data, reasons for lost consumers, etc. This lack of information represents a deficiency in the consumer/merchant/credit issuer relationship.
One embodiment provides a method and system for determining transactional data between a consumer and a merchant engaged in a purchase transaction that overcomes the drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art. Another embodiment provides a method and system for determining transactional data between a consumer and a merchant engaged in a purchase transaction that provides the merchant with valuable transactional data. Yet another embodiment provides a method and system for determining transactional data between a consumer and a merchant engaged in a purchase transaction that collects, processes, analyzes and/or supplies transactional data. A further embodiment provides a method and system for determining transactional data between a consumer and a merchant engaged in a purchase transaction that provides a user, such as a merchant, with a purchase data set, such as in the form of an analytical report based upon this transactional data. The purchase data set can be used by the merchant to provide incentives for the consumer during the transaction, such as coupons, preferred credit financing terms, discounts, etc. A payment provider or third party system may also use the purchase data set, transaction data set, or other data to provide the user and/or merchant with a suitable incentive. The incentive may be provided during an on-line transaction on the merchant site or payment provider site. The incentives may also be provided at a physical point of sale.
The purchase data set may be presented in the form of an analytical report. In addition, the analytical report may include an itemized list of purchased items or services, category data of purchased items or services, price data of purchased items or services, manufacturer of purchased items, provider of purchased services, identification of items or services, associated purchasing consumer, consumer type, associated selling merchant, merchant type, associated credit issuer, credit issuer type, credit data, credit product data, no-purchase data, consumer choice data or any combination thereof.
Another embodiment is directed to a system for determining transactional data between a consumer and a merchant engaged in a purchase transaction. This system includes a storage mechanism having a transaction database. An input mechanism is used for transmitting, to the storage mechanism, a transaction data set having a plurality of data fields populated with consumer data, merchant data, transaction data, purchase data or any combination thereof. A processor mechanism processes data input, data requests, data manipulation, data transmission, or any combination thereof. In addition, the system includes a merchant output mechanism for presenting, to a user, e.g., the merchant, a purchase data set including at least one data field therein. Such information and/or the transaction data set may be used by the merchant and/or a payment provider to provide incentives to the consumer during the purchase transaction, such as on-line at the merchant or payment provider site. The incentives may also be provided at a physical point of sale.
Because the incentives are provided real-time based on a current transaction, there is a higher likelihood of an improved transaction, e.g., an additional sale, a larger sale, etc., since the consumer is already involved with a purchase and the incentive is specifically targeted toward the consumer and current transaction. If the consumer is a new or relatively new consumer to the merchant, the payment provider may be able to provide a more desirable incentive, based on additional information available to the payment provider about the consumer.
These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.
It is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention.
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method 100 and system 10 for use in determining transactional data between a consumer C and a merchant M engaged in a purchase transaction. In particular, the method 100 and system 10 are used to present, to a user, a purchase data set 12. For example, the user may be the above-mentioned merchant M or other party.
The method 100 and system 10 are useful in connection with credit-based transactions involving a variety of credit products, such as credit cards, online credit accounts, and other similar credit vehicles. In addition, the method 100 and system 10 can be used in connection with a variety of payment methods and structures, such as online payment, cash transactions, debit transactions, check transactions, electronic checks, etc. Further, the method 100 and system 10 can be used in connection with a variety and any quantity of credit issuers CI, payment systems, online payment systems, consumers C and merchants M, and at a variety of points-of-sale, such as at an in-store location, over the telephone, in an online environment, etc.
The purchase data set 12 can be presented or delivered to any of these entities whether or not involved in the purchase transaction. Accordingly, the purchase data set 12 can be presented, delivered or communicated to transacting merchant M at any time during or after the transaction, or even to another merchant M during or after this transaction. Therefore, the method 100 and system 10 provides a dynamic delivery of data (in the form of a purchase data set 12) to a user.
This purchase data set 12 can include a variety of data fields and take a variety of forms. For example, as discussed in detail hereinafter, the purchase data set 12 may be in the form of an analytical report 24 having multiple data points. However, the purchase data set 12 may include scores, data, codes, keys, values, identifiers, etc. for presentation to the user to effectively use the data in making transactional, advertising, business, financial and other decisions.
The method 100 and system 10 may take a variety of forms. For example, in one embodiment, the method 100 and system 10 are implemented wholly or partially in an online environment, such as through the use of servers, networked computers and the Internet. Alternatively, the method 100 and system 10 may be in the form of a downloadable program or applet located on a merchant, consumer or other system.
With reference to
In one embodiment, the method 100 is in the form of a system 10 that provides an automated or computerized platform to enable this method 100. Accordingly, the system 10 is capable of determining certain transactional data between the consumer C and the merchant M engaged in a purchase transaction before, during or after the purchase transaction is consummated. In particular, the system 10 generates a transaction data set 13 including a plurality of data fields 14 populated with consumer data 16, merchant data 18, transaction data 20, credit data 22 or any combination thereof. Further, the system 10 includes the appropriate programming, algorithms and engines to process and/or analyze the transaction data set 13 based upon one or more of the data fields 14 in the transaction data set 13. Finally, the system 10 is capable of generating and presenting a purchase data set 12, such as in the form of an analytical report 24, to a user, such as a merchant M.
With specific reference to
The analytical report 24 provides additional information, including the price 32 of the item 28, an identification 34 of the merchant M, credit product data 36, purchase date 38 and consumer type 40. The identification 34 of the merchant M would be a specific notation or other means for identifying the merchant M from whom the consumer C purchased the item 28. The credit product data 36 identifies the type of credit product used by the consumer C in the transaction. The purchase date 38 indicates when the consumer C purchased the item 28 from the merchant M, and the consumer type 40 indicates what type of consumer C made the purchase, such as a “repeat” consumer C or a “first time” consumer C.
The analytical report 24 can also provide additional useful information and data, as indicated by the “notes” section 42 at the bottom of the report 24. As seen in this exemplary embodiment, the “notes” section 42 includes consumer action data 44 regarding why the consumer or consumers acted in the manner that they did with respect to the merchant M. For example, in this example, the consumer indicated that while the price at Merchant “A” was lower than Merchant “B,” the service plan offered by Merchant “B” was better for computers. This consumer further indicated that the experience at Merchant “B” was much more positive than the experience at Merchant “A.” Therefore, Merchant “A” (to whom the analytical report 24 is directed) now has a better understanding of the consumer C experience with respect to the merchant M, as well as the reasons purchases were made at different merchants M.
As seen in another exemplary embodiment of an analytical report 24 sent to a merchant M,
While not specifically required, in one embodiment, the purchase data set 12 or analytical report 24 is in electronic form. Of course, a hard copy of this purchase data set 12 or analytical report 24 could also be sent to the merchant M. Still further, in the embodiment where the purchase data set 12 or analytical report 24 is in electronic form, this data set 12 or report 24 includes multiple data fields 50, which are presented to a user, such as the merchant M.
In order to present the purchase data set 12 (in this embodiment, the analytical report 24) in electronic form, and as seen in
The interactive interface 54 is in communication with a central system 58, which is in communication with or otherwise houses the transaction database 52 discussed above. In addition, this central system 58 may be configured or programmed to authenticate the consumer C, verify the consumer C, approve or deny the transaction, verify the transaction, process consumer data 16, process merchant data 18, process transaction data 20, process credit issuer CI data, process payment system data, process credit data 22, process credit product data 36, etc. In order to process this information and appropriately analyze it, the central system 58 may include a processor mechanism 60. This processor mechanism includes the appropriate engines, algorithms and programs to analyze, sort, arrange and present the analytical report 24 to the user, such as the merchant M.
As discussed above, the interactive interface 54 allows the user to provide input data 56 that can be used in connection with the analytical report 24. For example, as seen in
As seen in the embodiment of
Returning to the embodiment of
As seen in
A further embodiment is illustrated in
Also as seen in the embodiment of
It is envisioned that a variety of data can be input, obtained, communicated, stored, analyzed and presented and the results used to provide purchasing incentives to the consumer and/or merchant. For example, the transaction data may include data fields populated with data reflecting purchased items 28 or services, category 30 of purchased items 28 or services, price 32 of purchased items 28 or services, tax costs of purchased items 28 or services, shipping costs of purchased items 28, price range 46, tax or shipping costs of purchased items 28 or services, model information of purchased items 28, SKU (stock keeping unit) of purchased items 28, type or identification 48 of purchased items 28 or services, description of purchased items 28 or services, item group data, associated purchase of consumer C, associated selling merchant M, associated payment system or method, associated credit issuer CI, no-purchase data, consumer choice data, etc. The “no-purchase data” or consumer choice data (e.g., consumer action data 44) would be based upon consumer data 16 provided through the interactive interface 54 to either the merchant M or directly to the credit issuer CI regarding the consumer C experience, reasons for purchase, reasons for not purchasing, etc.
The merchant data 18 includes multiple data fields populated with data reflecting name, identification, code, contact information, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a country, a telephone number, a facsimile number, an e-mail address, location, distributor data, store data, website data, category 30, product offerings, service offerings, associated items, associated services, field, focus field, focus application, focus category, item focus data, item group data, etc. In addition, credit data may include multiple data fields 14 populated with data reflecting payment system, credit issuer CI, name, identification, code, contact information, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a country, a telephone number, a facsimile number, an e-mail address, location, participant data, credit product data 36, terms and conditions data, consumer/credit issuer data, consumer/credit issuer historical data, merchant/credit issuer data, merchant/credit issuer historical data, etc.
In order to provide the appropriate input information, the consumer data 16 also includes a variety of data fields 14 and information. For example, the consumer data 16 includes multiple data fields populated with data reflecting a name, a consumer key, a consumer identification, an account number, an address, a city, a state, a zip code, a country, a telephone number, a facsimile number, an e-mail address, a social security number, a date of birth, the merchant's name, an identification, an order number, an authorization number, an authorization time, an authorization amount, a ship-to address, a bill-to address, a transaction amount, a consumer purchase demographic, a transaction date, a transaction type, a product identification, a service identification, shipping costs, delivery type, consumer type, a company identity, a merchant identity, previous transaction data, geographical data, credit account data, bankcard balance data, delinquency data, credit segment data, previous transaction data, time between transactions data, previous transaction amount, previous transaction approval status, previous transaction time stamp data, a response code, consumer payment method, consumer payment history, consumer account history, consumer credit account balance, income data, family data, employment data, relationship data, expense data, application data, acknowledgement data, selection data, choice data, no-purchase data, consumer action data 44, etc.
The analytical report 24 can be provided to the merchant M or user in a variety of forms. Of course, as discussed above, the user is not limited to strictly the merchant M, but may also be a consumer C, a credit issuer CI, an auditor, a reviewer, a third party, a consultant, a gate or repository, etc. In addition, the analytical report 24 that is presented to the user may be in static form, dynamic form, manipulatable form, configurable form, user-configurable form, summary form, etc. Still further, this analytical report 24 may include data reflective of multiple consumers C, credit issuers CI, credit products, merchants M, categories 30, groupings, etc.
As discussed above, in one embodiment, the credit-based transaction is an electronic transaction in an online environment. In this case, the point-of-sale for the transaction is an online location of the merchant M. Still further, in this online environment, the presenting step includes displaying a web page, an electronic document, a window and/or a pop-up window, which would display the analytical report 24 to the user.
In a further embodiment, and as illustrated in
In this manner, the method 100 and system 10 determines transactional data between a consumer C and a merchant M engaged in a purchase transaction that provides the merchant M (or user) with a purchase data set 12 and/or an analytical report 24. Therefore, the method 100 and system 10 determines transactional data between the consumer C and the merchant M that provides the merchant M with valuable transactional data for further analysis and action. The method 100 and system 10 collects, analyzes and supplies the transactional data in the form of a purchase data set 12 and/or an analytical report 24 that is dynamic and further configurable by the user. In summary, the method 100 and system 10 are robust, dynamic and provide the merchant M (or user) with valuable information in an analytical form for use in making appropriate consumer-directed decisions, and otherwise improve the processes and purchasing experience associated with that merchant M.
Client device 710, merchant server 740, and payment service provider server 770 may each include one or more processors, memories, and other appropriate components for executing instructions such as program code and/or data stored on one or more computer readable mediums to implement the various applications, data, and steps described herein. For example, such instructions may be stored in one or more computer readable mediums such as memories or data storage devices internal and/or external to various components of system 700, and/or accessible over network 760.
Network 760 may be implemented as a single network or a combination of multiple networks. For example, in various embodiments, network 760 may include the Internet or one or more intranets, landline networks, wireless networks, and/or other appropriate types of networks.
Client device 710 may be implemented using any appropriate combination of hardware and/or software configured for wired and/or wireless communication over network 760. For example, in one embodiment, client device 710 may be implemented as a personal computer of a consumer or user 705 in communication with the Internet. In other embodiments, client device 710 may be implemented as a wireless telephone or smart phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), notebook computer, and/or other types of computing devices.
As shown, client device 710 may include one or more browser applications 715 which may be used, for example, to provide a convenient interface to permit consumer 705 to browse information available over network 760. For example, in one embodiment, browser application 715 may be implemented as a web browser configured to view information available over the Internet.
Client device 710 may also include one or more toolbar applications 720 which may be used, for example, to provide client-side processing for performing desired tasks in response to operations selected by consumer 705. In one embodiment, toolbar application 720 may display a user interface in connection with browser application 715 as further described herein.
Client device 710 may further include other applications 725 as may be desired in particular embodiments to provide desired features to client device 710. For example, in various embodiments, such other applications 725 may include security applications for implementing client-side security features, programmatic client applications for interfacing with appropriate application programming interfaces (APIs) over network 760, or other types of applications. Applications 725 may also include payment applications that allow consumer 705 to make and receive payments through network 760. Client device 710 includes one or more user identifiers 730 which may be implemented, for example, as operating system registry entries, cookies associated with browser application 715, identifiers associated with hardware of client device 710, or other appropriate identifiers. In one embodiment, user identifier 730 may be used by a payment service provider to associate user 705 with a particular account maintained by the payment service provider as further described herein.
Merchant server 740 may be maintained, for example, by an on-line merchant offering various products and/or services in exchange for payment to be received over network 760, or hosted by a third party provider (e.g., ISP and shopping carts). In one embodiment, merchant server 740 includes a database 745 identifying available products and/or services (e.g., collectively referred to as items) which may be made available for viewing and purchase by user 705. Accordingly, merchant server 740 also includes a marketplace application 750 which may be configured to serve information over network 760 to browser 715 of client device 710. For example, in one embodiment, user 705 may interact with marketplace application 750 through browser applications over network 760 in order to search and view various products or services identified in database 745.
Merchant server 740 also includes a checkout application 755 which may be configured to facilitate the purchase by user 705 of goods or services identified by marketplace application 750. Checkout application 755 may be configured to accept payment information from user 705 from payment service provider server 770 over network 760.
In one embodiment, merchant server 740 further includes an incentive generating application 735 which may be configured to generate various incentives such as discounts and coupons which may be redeemed by user 705 during interactions with merchant server 740. For example, in one embodiment, incentive generating application 735 may be configured to generate and provide incentives to user 705 on the merchant web site based on information, such as the purchase data set 12 and/or the transaction data set, received from payment service provider server 770 during a transaction between user 705 and the merchant.
Payment service provider server 770 may be maintained, for example, by an online payment service provider which may provide payment on behalf of user 705 to the operator of merchant server 740. Payment service provider server 770 may include one or more payment applications 775 which may be configured to interact with client device 710 and/or merchant server 740 over network 760 to facilitate the purchase of goods or services by user 705 of client device 710 from merchant server 740.
Payment service provider server 770 also maintains a plurality of user accounts 780, each of which may include account information 785 associated with individual users. For example, in one embodiment, account information 785 may include private financial information of users of devices such as account numbers, passwords, credit card information, bank information, or other financial information, as well as purchase history information of individual users. Advantageously, payment application 775 may be configured to interact with merchant server 740 on behalf of user 705 during a transaction with checkout application 755 to track, process, and manage purchases made by users.
In particular, payment service provider server 770 also provides an incentive processing application 790 which may be configured to receive information from merchant server 740 and/or the consumer, such as the transaction data set 20, for processing in application 790. Application 790 may determine, from the transaction data set 20, incentives for the consumer making the transaction with the merchant. Application 790 may also generate the purchase data set 12. The purchase data set 12, along with other incentive-related information, may be stored in an incentive database 195. Information from incentive database 195 may be used with the transaction data set 20 for subsequent incentives for a particular consumer. Incentive processing application 790 may be further configured to select incentives from incentive database 795 to be provided to consumer 705.
Payment service provider server 770 further includes an incentive generating application 796 which may be configured to generate various incentives such as coupons or discounts which may be redeemed by consumer 705 during interactions with merchant server 740 when consumer 705 is in or just finished a purchase transaction with the merchant. For example, in one embodiment, incentive generating application 796 may be configured to generate and distribute an incentive to consumer 705 on the website of the merchant for immediate use by the consumer. Note that the incentives may also be delivered to the merchant at a physical point of sale (POS) for the consumer to use.
Processing may include using just the information from the transaction data set, (either completely or partially) or using information from the transaction data set in conjunction with information about the consumer available at the payment provider and/or a third party, such as a credit reporting service. Thus, the consumer is not required to have made purchases through the payment provider. However, with more history and information about the consumer, the payment provider may be able to process the information more accurately. The result of the processing, in one embodiment, is either the purchase data set 12, as discussed above, or an incentive for the merchant and/or consumer.
A determination is made at step 808 whether the incentive is to be provided by the payment provider or the merchant. If it is by the merchant, the purchase data set 12 (or analytical report 24, as discussed above) is provided to the merchant at step 810. With the information contained in the purchase data set 12 (or analytical report 24), the merchant generates an incentive for the consumer to use at step 812. For example, if the merchant knows that the consumer has a past history of purchasing items on sale or with a discount/coupon, the merchant may offer the consumer a sale item or coupon. If the merchant knows that the consumer has purchased several DVDs of a certain type (such as action, recent release, featuring a certain actor or actress, an Academy Award winning movie, etc.), the merchant may offer the consumer a discount or sale of a similar category of DVD. Thus, with the information provided by the payment provider (such as in the form of a purchase data set or analytical report), the merchant can provide an incentive specifically for the consumer during or just after a transaction/purchase.
If the incentive is to be provided directly by the payment provider, as determined at step 808, an incentive is generated by the payment provider at step 814 using the transaction data set. Note that in some embodiments, the payment provider may generate the purchase data set 12 (or analytical report 24) for the merchant regardless, and use the purchase data set 12 (or analytical report 24) to generate the consumer-specific incentive.
After the incentive is generated, either by the merchant (at step 812) or the payment provider (at step 814), the incentive is provided to the consumer at step 816. This may be accomplished in many different ways. For example, the incentive may be placed on the merchant's web page where the consumer is currently at, such as a visual coupon or a textual link, printed out at a merchant POS to be given to the consumer or scanned by the merchant, sent as a barcode or sequence of numbers that the consumer can enter for a purchase, etc. The incentive may have an expiration, e.g., the incentive must be used at the time of the current purchase/transaction or within the same day or within a specified amount of hours. By requiring the consumer to use the incentive at the time of the current purchase, it may be more likely that the consumer will actually use the incentive to make the additional purchase.
After being presented with the incentive at step 816, the consumer decides, at step 818, whether to use the incentive. If not, the consumer completes the initial purchase, if not earlier completed, and ends the session. However, if the consumer decides to use the incentive, the consumer selects the item(s) for purchase and redeems the incentive at step 820. Redemption may depend on how the incentive is presented to the consumer. In different embodiments, the consumer may simply click on the incentive, which automatically shows the discount for the selected purchase, enter in a code, or have a barcode scanned, either by a clerk or via an unmanned kiosk or teller.
After the incentive is used or redeemed, the payment provider or merchant processes the information to reflect the discount at step 822. In one example, if the incentive is a merchant discount, the merchant processes the incentive and provides the consumer with the discounted price. If the incentive is a payment provider credit, the payment provider processes the incentive and credits the consumer's account with the specified amount. Thus, the incentive may be provided by the merchant or the payment provider. The incentive may also be provided by manufacturers or other parties and may be a combination of any number of different entities.
The consumer then makes the payment, at step 824. Payment can be made in a variety of ways, such as presenting cash, a check, a credit card, or a bank card to the merchant at a physical POS, or if the transaction is on-line, entering in requested payment information, such as credit card number, bank account number, password, name, address, etc., or clicking on one or more buttons or links, such as selecting a pre-established funding source and/or a confirmation of payment. Note that another incentive may be provided when or after the consumer makes this additional purchase, based on this additional purchase. Consequently, multiple incentives may be provided during one shopping session.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, computer system 900, such as a personal computer and/or a network server, includes a bus 902 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, which interconnects subsystems and components, such as a processing component 904 (e.g., processor, micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP), etc.), a system memory component 906 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component 908 (e.g., ROM), a disk drive component 910 (e.g., magnetic or optical), a network interface component 912 (e.g., modem or Ethernet card), a display component 914 (e.g., CRT or LCD), an input component 916 (e.g., keyboard, keypad, or virtual keyboard), and a cursor control component 918 (e.g., mouse, pointer, or trackball). In one implementation, disk drive component 910 may comprise a database having one or more disk drive components.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, computer system 900 performs specific operations by processor 904 executing one or more sequences of instructions contained in system memory component 906, such as described above. Such instructions may be read into system memory component 906 from another computer readable medium, such as static storage component 908 or disk drive component 910. In other embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the present disclosure.
Logic may be encoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor 904 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. In various implementations, non-volatile media includes optical or magnetic disks, such as disk drive component 910, volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as system memory component 906, and transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including wires that comprise bus 902. In one example, transmission media may take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications.
Some common forms of computer readable media includes, for example, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer is adapted to read.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution of instruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may be performed by computer system 900. In various other embodiments of the present disclosure, a plurality of computer systems 900 coupled by a communication link 920 to the network (e.g., such as a LAN, WLAN, PTSN, and/or various other wired or wireless networks, including telecommunications, mobile, and cellular phone networks) may perform instruction sequences to practice the present disclosure in coordination with one another.
Computer system 900 may transmit and receive messages, data, information and instructions, including one or more programs (i.e., application code) through communication link 920 and a communication interface 912. Received program code may be executed by processor 904 as received and/or stored in disk drive component 910 or some other non-volatile storage component for execution.
Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosure may be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardware and software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein may be combined into composite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein may be separated into sub-components comprising software, hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated that software components may be implemented as hardware components and vice-versa.
Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as program code and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readable mediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein may be implemented using one or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may be changed, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide features described herein.
The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. For example, the incentives may be provided and processed solely by the payment provider, such as through a link to the payment provider on the merchant web page. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/651,143, filed Jan. 9, 2007, which is herein incorporated by references for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11651143 | Jan 2007 | US |
| Child | 12620391 | US |
