Card-linked merchant promotional credit processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10956927-B2
Application number	US-201715853392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A system of servers and algorithms allows merchants to award value to a customer when certain criteria have been met, such as buy $100 worth of clothing and get a $20 credit toward a future purchase. Unlike a gift card, the funding for the award is held by the merchant until the award is used, at which time the award funds are transferred to the user's designated account, such as an open loop credit or debit card.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer-implemented method of using a monitoring infrastructure for identifying qualifying events associated with a merchant award, the method comprising:
generating, at a merchant server of a merchant, a transaction corresponding to a user presenting a payment instrument with a personal account number (PAN);
receiving, by a monitor computer that is part of an acquirer processor and distinct from the merchant server, the transaction from the merchant server;
identifying, by the monitor computer, the transaction as a transaction that meets first criteria for a qualifying transaction;
responsive to identifying the transaction meeting the first criteria, causing, by the monitor computer, the merchant award having a first value associated with the merchant award to be stored in a user record indexed by the PAN at a database of the acquirer processor without transferring the merchant award to any user, issuer, settlement entity, or clearing service;
receiving, by the monitor computer, second criteria from the merchant for the user to redeem the merchant award;
generating, at the merchant server, a second transaction corresponding to the user presenting the payment instrument;
receiving, by the monitor computer, the second transaction from the merchant server;
identifying, by the monitor computer and using the user record indexed by the PAN at the database of the acquirer processor, the second transaction associated with the PAN and that satisfies the second criteria, wherein the second transaction occurs subsequent to the first transaction, and the second criteria comprises a requirement that the PAN corresponding to the second transaction matches the PAN indexing the user record at the database of the acquirer processor;
in response to identifying that the second transaction satisfies the second criteria:
calculating, by the monitor computer, a credit amount that is less than or equal to the first value to be applied to the second transaction; and
sending, by the monitor computer, a second message that, when received by the merchant server, causes the credit amount to be applied to the second transaction; and
generating, by the monitor computer, a credit message transferring at least a remainder of the first value less the credit amount directly from the merchant to a clearing service distinct from the merchant server and the monitor computer.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a first notification message to a user device associated with the PAN responsive to causing the merchant award to be stored in the user record.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
sending a second notification message to the user device associated with the PAN responsive to sending the second message.

4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein receiving the transaction comprises receiving, at the monitor computer, all transaction requests made by the merchant server.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the transaction comprises comparing a feature of a transaction request to a previously defined offer, the offer defined by one or more qualifying features of one or more transactions required to qualify for the merchant award.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a qualifying feature of the one or more qualifying features is a transaction value of the transaction data exceeding a predetermined qualifying value.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein another qualifying feature of the one or more qualifying features is a transaction date falling within a qualifying date range.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the merchant server, a registration of the PAN for use with the merchant award from the user associated with the PAN.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second transaction comprises receiving every transaction generated by the merchant server for use in identifying the second transaction.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second transaction that satisfies the second criteria comprises identifying the second transaction as satisfying a time rule defining a date range for use of the merchant award.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second transaction that satisfies the second criteria comprises identifying the second transaction as satisfying a brand rule defining one or more merchants with which the second transaction must be performed.

12. A monitor computer that identifies and manages merchant awards, the monitor computer being part of an acquirer processor and comprising:
a central processing unit (CPU);
a memory coupled to the CPU;
an input coupled to the CPU and further coupled to a merchant server that is distinct from the monitor computer;
the CPU programmed with instructions stored in the memory to:
receive first data from the merchant server corresponding to a transaction between a user presenting an open loop card having a personal account number (PAN) and a merchant, the first data including transaction details and an identity of the merchant and the user;
select individual component elements from the first data set to generate a query string for a database;
compare, using the query string at the database, the transaction to an offer sponsored by the merchant and having first criteria;
responsive to identifying that the transaction meets the first criteria, causing a merchant award having a first value associated with the merchant award to be stored in a user record indexed by the PAN of the open loop card of the user at a database of the acquirer processor without transferring the merchant award to any user, issuer, settlement entity, or clearing service;
receive from the merchant server, second data corresponding to a second transaction subsequent to the first transaction, the second transaction corresponding to the user presenting the open loop card having the PAN;
determine using the user record indexed by the PAN at the database of the acquirer processor that the second transaction meets the second criteria, wherein the second criteria comprises a requirement that the PAN corresponding to the second transaction matches the PAN indexing user record at the database of the acquirer processor; and
responsive to determining that the second transaction satisfies the second criteria:
calculate a credit amount to apply to the second transaction, wherein the credit amount is less than or equal to the first value and less than or equal to a value of the second transaction,
generate a message that, when received by the merchant server, causes the credit amount to be moved from the merchant to the open loop card, and
generate a credit message transferring a remainder of the first value less the credit amount directly from the merchant to a clearing service distinct from the merchant server and the monitor computer.

13. The monitor computer of claim 12 , wherein the merchant funds the credit amount to be moved from the merchant to the open loop card from a merchant account holding the first value.

14. The monitor computer of claim 12 , wherein the credit message is sent to an issuer of the open loop card.

15. The monitor computer of claim 12 , wherein the message is generated in real time to reduce an amount of the second transaction by the value of the credit amount at a point of sale.

16. The monitor computer of claim 12 , wherein the CPU is further programmed to receive a registration message that enrolls the PAN of the open loop card with the merchant prior to receipt of the first data from the merchant.

17. A computer-implemented method of iden

Assignees

• Rhee Peter
• Soriano Edmar
• Campbell Alexander
• Visa Int Service Ass

Inventors

• Rhee Peter
• Soriano Edmar
• Campbell Alexander

Classifications

• G06Q20/346

  Cards serving only as information carrier of service · CPC title

• G06Q20/387

  Payment using discounts or coupons (relating to marketing G06Q30/02) · CPC title

• G06Q20/023

  the neutral party being a clearing house · CPC title

• G06Q30/0238 Primary

  at point-of-sale [POS] · CPC title

• G06Q20/3433

  the counter having monetary units · CPC title