U.S. patent application number 12/037003 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for system for brand name gift card exchange.
Invention is credited to Carl Phillip Gusler, Rick Allen Hamilton, Steven Jay Lipton, Timothy Moffett Waters.
Application Number | 20080162299 12/037003 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35061732 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080162299 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gusler; Carl Phillip ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
SYSTEM FOR BRAND NAME GIFT CARD EXCHANGE
Abstract
The present invention provides for exchanging a gift card. Data
associated with a first gift card is provided. The data associated
with the first gift card is validated. With a money rebate
associated with the first gift card, or a second gift card is
selected. The first gift card is exchanged for either a money or
the second gift card. An exchange fee is generated by both the
vendor associated with the gift card and the company performing the
exchange.
Inventors: |
Gusler; Carl Phillip;
(Austin, TX) ; Hamilton; Rick Allen;
(Charlottesville, VA) ; Lipton; Steven Jay;
(Flower Mound, TX) ; Waters; Timothy Moffett;
(Hiram, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gregory W. Carr
670 Founders Square, 900 Jackson Street
Dallas
TX
75202
US
|
Family ID: |
35061732 |
Appl. No.: |
12/037003 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10821134 |
Apr 8, 2004 |
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12037003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/26.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0225 20130101;
G06Q 30/0234 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101; G06Q 10/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/0207 20130101; G06Q 30/0237 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/26 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/00 20060101
G06Q030/00 |
Claims
1. A system for exchanging a gift card, comprising: at least one
consumer input device; a consumer transaction server coupled to the
at least one consumer input device; a transaction exchange server
coupled to the consumer transaction server and configured to
exchange the gift card for either: (i) a monetary amount dependent
upon a total value of the gift card, or (ii) another gift card; a
vendor transaction server configured to release funds as a function
of the exchanged gift card; and wherein the transaction exchange
server is configured to purchase the another gift card with the
released funds.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an exchange database
coupled to the transaction exchange server.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a data mining and
query system coupled to the exchange database.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a printer coupled to
the consumer transaction server.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer input device
comprises a telephone.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer input device
comprises a personal computer.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the consumer input devices
comprises a kiosk.
8. A computer program product for exchanging a gift card, the
computer program product having a medium with a computer program
embodied thereon, the computer program comprising: computer code
for providing data associated with a first gift card; computer code
for validating the data associated with the first gift card;
computer code for selecting either a money rebate associated with
the first gift card, or a second gift card; computer code for
exchanging the first gift card for either a money rebate or the
second gift card; and charging a first service fee for issuing the
second gift card.
9. A processor for exchanging a gift card, the processor including
a computer program comprising: computer code for providing data
associated with a first gift card; computer code for validating the
data associated with the first gift card; computer code for
selecting either a money rebate associated with the first gift
card, or a second gift card; computer code for exchanging the first
gift card for either a money rebate or the second gift card; and
charging a first service fee for issuing the second gift card.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of, and claims the
benefit of the filing date of, co-pending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/821,134 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BRAND NAME GIFT
CARD EXCHANGE, filed Apr. 8, 2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to electronic
commerce and, more particularly, to the exchange of gift cards.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many consumers have received gift cards, also known as gift
certificates, from different stores, especially franchises, for
Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and so forth. Sometimes these
gift cards are welcome, and sometimes they are for stores and
shopping boutiques that the recipient/consumer does not wish to
frequent. In many instances, these gift cards tend to "burn a hole"
in the pocket of the consumer, as the consumer looks for a way to
use the card, whether or not the consumer needs or desires anything
from those particular stores. Furthermore, if these cards are
redeemed for cash, they are typically redeemed at the store of the
card issuer, necessitating an unwanted trip by the consumer.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need to exchange of redeem gift cards
in a manner that addresses at least some of the problems associated
with conventional gift card redemptions or exchanges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides for exchanging a gift card.
Data associated with a first gift card is provided. The data
associated with the first gift card is validated. Either a money
rebate associated with the first gift card, or a second gift card
is selected. The first gift card is exchanged for either a money
rebate or the second gift card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, which:
[0007] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a system for electronically
exchanging or redeeming gift cards; and
[0008] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a method for electronically
exchanging or redeeming gift cards.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] In the following discussion, numerous specific details are
set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present
invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the present invention my be practices without such specific
details. In other instances, well-known elements have been
illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to
obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. Additionally,
for the most part, details concerning network communications,
electro-magnetic signaling techniques, and the like, have been
omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to
obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are
considered to be within the understanding of persons of ordinary
skill in the relevant art.
[0010] In the remainder of this description, a processing unit (PU)
may be a sole processor of computations in a device. In such a
situation, the PU is typically referred to as an MPU (main
processing unit). The processing unit may also be one of many
processing units that share the computational load according to
some methodology or algorithm developed for a given computational
device. For the remainder of this description, all references to
processors shall use the term MPU whether the MPU is the sole
computational element in the device or whether the MPU is sharing
the computational element with other MPUs, unless otherwise
indicated.
[0011] It is further noted that, unless indicated otherwise, all
functions described herein may be performed in either hardware or
software, or some combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment,
however, the functions are performed by a processor, such as a
computer or an electronic data processor, in accordance with code,
such as computer program code, software, and/or integrated circuits
that are coded to perform such functions, unless indicated
otherwise.
[0012] Turning to FIG. 1, disclosed a system 100 in which gift card
redemption can occur. The redemption can occur in the form of an
exchange of a gift card for another gift card, or the exchange of a
gift card for money. The gift card transaction typically occurs
through an electronic or optical medium, such as through accessing
the Internet, DTMF telephone signals, information entered into an
ATM, and so on. In a further embodiment, the gift card for one
store can be exchanged for the gift card of another store. This
also typically occurs through an electronic medium, such as through
accessing the Internet, DTMF telephone signals, information entered
into an ATM, and so on.
[0013] The system 100 generally incorporates "business to business"
(B2B) and "business to consumer" (B2C) technologies to provide the
business participants of the B2B with new marketing opportunities,
and provides consumers with new customer satisfaction services.
Generally, the B2B exchange will either instigate the partial
refund of a gift card, for a fee, or the B2B exchange will issue
another gift card for a participating vendor, minus a transaction
fee.
[0014] In the system 100, a plurality of consumer personal
computers (PCs) 107 are employed by consumers 114. Alternatively,
the consumers 114 can use a phone 105. The PCs are coupled to
Internet 115, and the phone 105 is coupled to a voice response unit
(VRU) 110. Both the Internet 115 and the VRU 110 are coupled to a
consumer transaction server (CTS) 120. The transaction exchange
server (TES) 140 is coupled to a vendor transaction server (VTS)
145, an exchange database 150, and Federal Reserve Electronic Funds
Transfer (EFT) 165. The Internet 115 is further coupled to a
plurality of vendor servers. The exchange database 150 is coupled
to a data mining and query system 170. The federal EFT 165 is
coupled to a plurality of consumer banks 175, 180.
[0015] The system 100 can work substantially as follows. The
consumer 114 can either phone or interact with the Internet through
consumer PC's 107 or through the employment of a Kiosk/ATM machine
in a store. The consumer 114 wishes to either exchange the original
gift card for another gift card, or have a check issued and mailed
or otherwise have a credit issued to his account. The consumer 114
also inputs his or her checking or banking information and/or
mailing address, or the name of another gift card brand for which
the consumer 114 selects to have the present gift card swapped.
[0016] The consumer transaction server 120 receives the consumer's
request. The consumer transaction server 120 forwards the request
to the transaction exchange server 140, which accesses the exchange
database 150 to determine whether the card brand type is a valid
card brand type (that is, whether it is supported, such as a
"Borders Bookstore" or "WalMart" card) . The transaction exchange
server 140 accesses the vendor transaction server 145 to verify
that a card to be exchanged is individually a valid card, that is,
whether it has a valid identification number. If it is valid, the
vendor transaction server 145 releases the equivalent of the value
of the card, minus a transaction fee, to the transaction exchange
server 140. The transactional exchange server 140 can either
request that the Federal Reserve EFT 165 transfer funds from the
vendor banks 180 to the consumer banks 175. Alternatively, the
server 140 can order a printer 125 to issue a check 130 to be sent
through the US mail 135 to the consumer. Alternatively, a
replacement card 127 can be sent through the US mail 135.
[0017] In the system 100, the vendor transaction server 145, when
allowing its card to be exchanged or cashed, would typically charge
a fee for this, for instance 2% of the face value of the card.
Then, the transaction exchange server 140 would charge an
additional fee, say 8% of the face gift card amount, to send a
check directly to the consumer, or 6% to exchange the original gift
card for another gift card. The exchange of cards can happen as
described in the following.
[0018] The consumer 114 inputs the card to which he or she wishes
to exchange, as well as the identification number on the original
card. The transaction exchange server 140 gets the release of the
credit from the original vendor, as described above. However, the
transaction exchange server then authorizes another exchange to
another card, minus a transaction fee for the exchange. For
instance, a "Borders Book Store" could be exchanged for a "WalMart"
card. The original vendor takes its cut, such as 2%, and credits
the B2B exchange, such as at the TES 140, with the remaining amount
of cash. The TES 140 then requests that the second vendor authorize
a second gift card for its own brand.
[0019] In a further embodiment, the exchanges made over the TES 140
could be monitored to aid in the determination of marketing trends.
For instance, the exchange database 150 could record information
pertinent to each gift card exchange, such as the brand name
associated with the issued card, the amount of money of the gift
card, the date that the card was issued, the date that the gift
card was exchanged, the zip code of the consumer making the
exchange, whether money or another gift card was requested in the
exchange, and if so, what the brand name the card was switched to,
and so on. Then, this information is requested or searched for by
the data mining and query system 170 to look for patterns or other
pieces of information of merit for use by marketers to determine
the buying patterns/exchange patterns of consumers. In the system
100, this can be performed by the data mining and query system 170,
but other means to perform data mining is within the scope of the
present invention.
[0020] Turning now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, illustrated is a method 200
for exchanging or refunding a gift-card. In step 210, the consumer
decides that an exchange or refund is warranted. In step 220, the
consumer accesses the B2B gift card exchange. This can be through
the Internet, through DTMF tones, through an ATM machine, or other
information exchange mechanism.
[0021] In step 230, the consumer provides the merchant name on the
gift card, and in step 240, the consumer provides the gift card
account number on the gift card. In step 250, the system 100
queries the consumer as to whether he or she wishes to get cash, or
another gift card. If the consumer chooses cash, the gift card
account number is checked for validity in step 263. If the card is
found to be not valid in step 271, then the flow stops in step 295.
If the flow is valid, then credit is transferred from the named
merchant to the "B2B Gift Card Exchange" in step 275, less a
service fee originated by the vendor, such as a $2.00 fee. In step
281, a check, such as for $90 is printed for a consumer, or a
credit of $90 is generated for the consumer. The B2B charges a
transaction fee for converting the gift credit to a form usable by
the consumer is generated, such as $8.00. In step 290, the check or
credit for the refund is routed through the system. In step 293,
the B2B exchange recognizes an $8.00 profit for a cash back option.
Alternatively, a kiosk is used to either receive gift cards/gift
card information, and/or to output a new gift card or the
equivalent cash amount. Generally, the consumer provides the
information as detailed above to the kiosk, and the kiosk can also
issue either the cash, a check, credit a checking or savings
account, or an alternative gift card. The method 200 stops in step
295.
[0022] Alternatively, in step 250, if the consumer chooses an
alternative gift card instead of the cash back option, the gift
card account number is checked for validity in step 266. If the
card is not valid in step 273, then the flow stops in step 295. In
the flow is valid, then credit is transferred from the named
merchant to the "B2B Gift Card Exchange" in step 277, less a
service fee originated by the vendor, such as a $2.00 fee. In step
283, the selected second gift card for $92.00 is purchased on line,
and is mailed or otherwise bestowed upon the consumer. (The B2B
takes a service fee of $6.00, for example). Alternatively, the
kiosk is used to either and/or receive gift cards/ gift card
information, and to output a new gift card or the equivalent cash
amount. Generally, the consumer provides the information as
detailed above to the kiosk, and the kiosk can also issue either
the cash, a check, credit a checking or savings account, or an
alternative gift card.
[0023] In step 293, the B2B exchange recognizes a $6.00 profit for
the exchange of gift card option. The method flow 200 stops in step
295.
[0024] It is understood that the present invention can take many
forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made
in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of
the invention. The capabilities outlined herein allow for the
possibility of a variety of programming models. This disclosure
should not be read as preferring any particular programming model,
but is instead directed to the underlying mechanisms on which these
programming models can be built.
[0025] Having thus described the present invention by reference to
certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the
embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in
nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes,
and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and,
in some instances, some features of the present invention may be
employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many
such variations and modifications may be considered desirable by
those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing
description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is
appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a
manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
* * * * *