Transaction tracking and incentives

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9767474-B1
Application number	US-82094910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 22, 2010
Priority date	Mar 23, 2010
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

Techniques for providing friction-free transactions using geolocation and user identifiers are described herein. These techniques may ascertain a user's location based on a location of a mobile device. A transaction between the user and a merchant may be completed with zero or minimal input from the user based on the geolocation of the mobile device and the user identifiers. In some implementations, a transaction initiated earlier is completed when the mobile device arrives at the merchant. Additionally, a parent-child or similar relationship may be established between multiple devices. Security on the mobile device based may be provided by biometric identification and calculation of variance from regular movement patterns. Advertisements may be sent to the mobile device based on bids from merchants near to the mobile device. Points may be accumulated through transactions with merchants and later redeemed for free or discounted goods and/or services.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method implemented at least in part by one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, the method comprising:
sending an electronic punch card to a mobile device prior to the mobile device completing a first transaction with one or more devices of a system of a merchant, the electronic punch card corresponding to the merchant;
sending a message to the mobile device indicating information about the electronic punch card, wherein the message is sent in response to the mobile device being located within a first threshold distance of a merchant location associated with the merchant;
completing a second transaction between the mobile device and at least one of the one or more devices of the system of the merchant at least partly in response to determining that the mobile device is located within a second threshold distance of the merchant location, wherein the first threshold distance and the second threshold distance are different distances, and wherein the second transaction is subsequent to the first transaction; and
responsive to completing the second transaction, adding, by the one or more computer systems and without action by a user of the mobile device, a number of punches to the electronic punch card stored on or accessible by the mobile device.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the punch card to the mobile device responsive to the user designating the merchant as a trusted merchant.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the number of punches added is based at least in part on a period of time since the user last transacted with the merchant.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the number of punches added is based at least in part on a cost of an item purchased during the second transaction.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the message to the mobile device indicating information about the punch card indicates a number of punches remaining until a predetermined number.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
when a number of punches on the punch card equals a predetermined number, receiving authorization from the user to use the punch card as payment.

7. A mobile computing device comprising:
one or more processors;
a wireless network interface in communication with the one or more processors; and
a memory in communication with the one or more processors, wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile computing device to:
receive an electronic punch card prior to the mobile device completing a first transaction with one or more devices of a system of a merchant, the electronic punch card corresponding to the merchant;
receive a message indicating information about the electronic punch card, wherein the message is received based at least in part on the mobile device being located within a threshold distance of a merchant location associated with the merchant;
initiate a second transaction with the merchant by initiating a payment to the merchant, wherein the second transaction is based at least in part on a location of the mobile computing device being within a different threshold distance of the merchant location and at least in part on a user identifier associated with a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the location and the user identifier are used to identify the first transaction from a transaction record, and the second transaction is subsequent to and similar to or identical to the first transaction with the merchant; and
automatically and without action by the user of the mobile computing device:
add a punch to the electronic punch card when the second transaction with the merchant is completed, and
remove punches from the electronic punch card when the electronic punch card is provided as at least part of the payment to the merchant, wherein the electronic punch card is configured to track a number of purchases made at the merchant.

8. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further caused to buy, sell, or exchange punches with another computing device or an account associated with the another computing device.

9. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the computing device is further caused to ask the user if the electronic punch card will be used as the payment to the merchant when the electronic punch card has a predetermined number of punches, and responsive to the user indicating that the electronic punch card will be used as the payment to the merchant, remove the predetermined number of punches from the electronic punch card.

10. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the electronic punch card is accepted by the merchant as payment when a number of punches equals a predetermined number.

11. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the message comprise notification of:
a number of punches remaining until the number of punches equals a predetermined number, and
a good or service that the merchant will provide when the predetermined number of punches are presented as at least partial payment.

12. The mobile computing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the user identifier is included in the memory and the computing device is further caused to add punches to the electronic punch card when the user is associated with the user identifier and the user completes a purchase from the merchant.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, instruct a computing device to perform acts comprising:
sending, to a memory associated with a mobile device of a user, an electronic punch card for tracking punches earned by making purchases, the punches redeemable for a discount on a good or service from a merchant, the electronic punch card sent prior to the mobile device completing a first transaction with one or more devices of a system of the merchant, the electronic punch card corresponding to the merchant;
sending a message to the mobile device indicating information about the electronic punch card based at least in part on the mobile device being located within a threshold distance of a merchant location associated with the merchant;
causing a first payment from the mobile device for a purchase that completes a second transaction between the mobile device and at least one of the one or more devices of the system of the merchant, the second transaction completed subsequent to the first transaction based at least in part on a determination that the mobile device is located within a different threshold distance of the merchant location;
responsive to processing the first payment, sending, without action by the user, a punch to the electronic punch card in the memory associated with the mobile device;
causing a second payment from the user for an on-line purchase to be processed, the on-line purchase made independent of the mobile device; and
responsive to processing the second payment, crediting a punch to the electronic punch card in the memory associated with the mobile device.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13 , wherein a good or service that is a subject of the purchase is associated with the punch and a predetermined number of punches associated with the good or service is accepted as at least partial payment for a future purchas

Assignees

• Ramalingam Harsha
• Walsh Paul J
• Carr Michael
• Liden Lars H
• Mittal Nishant
• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Ramalingam Harsha
• Walsh Paul J
• Carr Michael
• Liden Lars H
• Mittal Nishant

Classifications

• G06Q20/229

  Hierarchy of users of accounts · CPC title

• G06Q20/2295

  Parent-child type, e.g. where parent has control on child rights · CPC title

• H04M1/724631

  by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad · CPC title

• G06Q30/0601

  Electronic shopping [e-shopping] · CPC title

• H04L67/306

  User profiles · CPC title