U.S. patent application number 12/900261 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-27 for matching merchant names from transaction data.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bank of America Corporation. Invention is credited to Thomas E. Boettger, Kevin L. Kramer, Sunil Mathur, Peter A. Tavormina, William W. Wagner, Kevin P. Wren.
Application Number | 20110022628 12/900261 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32849778 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110022628 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kramer; Kevin L. ; et
al. |
January 27, 2011 |
Matching Merchant Names from Transaction Data
Abstract
A computer system processes a merchant name from transaction
data to determine a matched merchant name. The computer system
retrieves a retrieved merchant name from transaction data, obtains
a processed merchant name from the retrieved merchant name, and
matches the processed merchant name to one of a collection of
standard merchant names, where the retrieved merchant name may be a
name variation of a standard merchant name. At least one character
of the retrieved merchant name may be altered to obtain the
processed merchant name. For example, characters may be deleted
from the accessed merchant name or characters may be ignored from a
portion of the retrieved merchant name.
Inventors: |
Kramer; Kevin L.;
(Greenville, DE) ; Wagner; William W.; (Chadds
Ford, PA) ; Wren; Kevin P.; (Wilmington, DE) ;
Tavormina; Peter A.; (Hainesport, NJ) ; Boettger;
Thomas E.; (Wilmington, DE) ; Mathur; Sunil;
(Hockessin, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD;ATTORNEYS FOR CLIENT NUMBER 007131
10 SOUTH WACKER DR., SUITE 3000
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Bank of America Corporation
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
32849778 |
Appl. No.: |
12/900261 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10366559 |
Feb 14, 2003 |
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12900261 |
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10078162 |
Feb 20, 2002 |
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10366559 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
707/769 ;
707/E17.014 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/102 20130101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q 20/10 20130101; G06Q 30/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/769 ;
707/E17.014 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A computer-assisted method comprising: receiving, by a computer
system, a retrieved merchant name retrieved from transaction data;
determining, by the computer system, merchant name variations based
on the retrieved merchant name; querying, by the computer system, a
merchant names database comprising a plurality of standard merchant
names using the merchant name variations; and matching, by the
computer system, the retrieved merchant name to one of the
plurality of standard merchant names.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:
altering at least one character of the retrieved merchant name to
obtain the merchant name variations.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining comprises:
deleting the at least one character of the retrieved merchant
name.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieved merchant name
comprises a center portion, a beginning portion, and an ending
portion.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining comprises:
ignoring all characters associated with the beginning portion of
the retrieved merchant name.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining comprises:
ignoring all characters associated with the ending portion of the
retrieved merchant name.
7. A computer-assisted method comprising: receiving, by a computer
system, merchant name retrieved from transaction data; querying, by
the computer system, a merchant names database comprising a
plurality of merchant name variations and their corresponding
standard merchant names; and matching, by the computer system, the
retrieved merchant name to one of the plurality of standard
merchant names.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the merchant names database is a
merchant look-up table.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the querying is a wildcard-based
querying for potential iterations of the retrieved merchant
name.
10. An apparatus comprising: at least one memory; and at least one
processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to
perform, based on instructions stored in the at least one memory:
receiving a retrieved merchant name retrieved from transaction
data; determining merchant name variations based on the retrieved
merchant name; querying a merchant names database comprising a
plurality of standard merchant names using the merchant name
variations; and matching the retrieved merchant name with one of a
plurality of standard merchant names.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor
is further configured to perform: deleting at least one character
from the retrieved merchant name.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor
is further configured to perform: ignoring all characters
associated with a beginning portion of the retrieved merchant
name.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor
is further configured to perform: ignoring all characters
associated with an ending portion of the retrieved merchant
name.
14. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable
instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a
method comprising: receiving a retrieved merchant name retrieved
from transaction data; determining merchant name variations based
on the retrieved merchant name; querying a merchant names database
comprising a plurality of standard merchant names using the
merchant name variations; and matching the retrieved merchant name
with one of a plurality of standard merchant names.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, said method further
comprising: altering at least one character of the retrieved
merchant name to obtain the processed merchant name.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, said method further
comprising: deleting at least one character of the retrieved
merchant name.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, said method further
comprising: ignoring all characters associated with a beginning
portion of the retrieved merchant name.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, said method further
comprising: ignoring all characters associated with an ending
portion of the retrieved merchant name.
19. An apparatus comprising: a transaction data structure; a
merchant look-up table; a processing system configured to perform:
accessing an accessed merchant name from the transaction data
structure; comparing the accessed merchant name with entry names in
the merchant look-up table until the accessed merchant name matches
one of the entry names; and determining a determined merchant name
from the matched entry.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing system is
further configured to perform: ignoring a beginning sequence of
characters in the accessed merchant name when matching the accessed
merchant name with the matched entry.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing system is
further configured to perform: ignoring an ending sequence of
characters in the accessed merchant name when matching the accessed
merchant name with the matched entry.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing system is
further configured to perform: generating a hyperlinked transaction
entry based on the determined merchant name.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the is a continuation of and claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/366,559, filed Feb.
14, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/078,162, filed Feb. 20, 2002 all of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to an Internet web
site providing an online account statement web page having
hyperlinks, and especially having hyperlinked special offer indicia
for a special offer related to a transaction entry on the online
account statement.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Currently, credit card companies and the like provide online
access for their customers to obtain information regarding a credit
card account of the customer. The customer can access the
information on the credit card account from a web site of the
credit card company via the Internet. Such information generally
available at a web site of a credit card company includes balance
information, payment information, available cash, total minimum
payment due, and a transaction history. Such web sites may also
contain advertisements having a hyperlink to the advertising
merchant. However, such advertisements are not related to the
transactions of the customer. Instead, the advertisements are, for
example, displayed on each web page viewed by a customer or
displayed on a revolving basis with other advertisements on various
web pages viewed by customers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Aspects of the embodiments address one or more of the issues
mentioned above by providing methods, computer readable media, and
apparatuses for retrieving a retrieved merchant name from
transaction data, obtaining a processed merchant name from the
retrieved merchant name, and matching the processed merchant name
to one of a collection of standard merchant names.
[0007] With another aspect of the embodiments, at least one
character of the retrieved merchant name may be altered to obtain
the processed merchant name. With some embodiments, at least one
character may be deleted from the retrieved merchant name or
characters may be ignored from a portion of the retrieved merchant
name.
[0008] With another aspect of the embodiments, the retrieved
merchant name may be a name variation of a standard merchant
name.
[0009] With another aspect of the embodiments, a processing system
accesses an accessed merchant name from a transaction data
structure, compares the accessed merchant name with entry names in
the merchant look-up table, repeats the comparing until the
retrieved merchant name matches one of the entry names in the
merchant look-up table, and determines a determined merchant name
from the matched entry.
[0010] Aspects of the embodiments may be provided in a
computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to
perform one or more of the process steps described herein.
[0011] These and other aspects of the embodiments are discussed in
greater detail throughout this disclosure, including the
accompanying drawings.
[0012] Definitions
[0013] A "computer" refers to any apparatus that is capable of
accepting a structured input, processing the structured input
according to prescribed rules, and producing the results of the
processing as output. Examples of a computer include: a computer; a
general purpose computer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super
mini-computer; a mini-computer; a workstation; a micro-computer; a
server; an interactive television; a web appliance; a
telecommunications device with internet access; a hybrid
combination of a computer and an interactive television; and
application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or
software. A computer can be stationary or portable. A computer can
have a single processor or multiple processors, which can operate
in parallel and/or not in parallel. A computer also refers to two
or more computers connected together via a network for transmitting
or receiving information between the computers. An example of such
a computer includes a distributed computer system for processing
information via computers linked by a network.
[0014] A "computer-readable medium" refers to any storage device
used for storing data accessible by a computer. Examples of a
computer-readable medium include: a magnetic hard disk; a floppy
disk; an optical disk, such as a CD-ROM and a DVD; a magnetic tape;
a memory chip; and a carrier wave used to carry computer/readable
electronic data, such as those used in transmitting and receiving
e-mail or in accessing a network.
[0015] "Software" refers to prescribed rules to operate a computer.
Examples of software include: software; code segments;
instructions; computer programs; and programmed logic.
[0016] A "computer system" refers to a system having a computer,
where the computer comprises a computer-readable medium embodying
software to operate the computer.
[0017] A "network" refers to a number of computers and associated
devices that are connected by communication facilities. A network
involves permanent connections such as cables or temporary
connections such as those made through telephone, wireless, or
other communication links. Examples of a network include: an
internet, such as the Internet; an intranet; a local area network
(LAN); a wide area network (WAN); and a combination of networks,
such as an internet and an intranet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following, more particular
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The left most digits in
the corresponding reference number indicate the drawing in which an
element first appears.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of
the invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary enroll/login web page.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary account selection web
page.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary online account statement web
page.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary merchant home page.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary merchant web page with links
to the merchant web site.
[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary merchant web page with a
link to a merchant special offer web page.
[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view for a computer system for the
invention.
[0027] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary merchant entry for the
merchant database.
[0028] FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart for analyzing a merchant
name in the transaction history.
[0029] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary online account statement
web page for a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary merchant web page for the
second exemplary embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary merchant entry for the
merchant database for the second exemplary embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 14 illustrates an optional exemplary merchant entry for
the merchant database for the second exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
[0033] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is discussed in
detail below. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed,
it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes
only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that
other components and configurations can be used without parting
from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments and
examples discussed herein are non-limiting examples.
[0034] A company provides online account statements for its
customers via a web site provided by or for the company. The
company can be, for example, a credit card company, a debit card
company, a bank, a savings and loan, a brokerage firm, a financial
institution, a department store, a store selling goods and/or
services, a catalogue merchant, a telecommunications company, a
utility company, an Internet-based company, a rewards program
provider, a technology provider for such companies, or the like.
After initially enrolling with the web site, a customer can log in
to the web site to view an online account statement for one or more
accounts with the company. For an account selected, or if the
customer has a single account with the company, an online account
statement web page is provided for the account. The online account
statement web page includes a transaction history of the
account.
[0035] The transaction history includes hyperlinked indicia for
transactions listed in the transaction history. The linked indicia
includes, for example, hyperlinked merchant names and hyperlinked
special offer indicia. The hyperlinked special offer indicia
provide the customer with special offers from merchants listed in
the transaction history and/or from related and/or competing
merchants. The hyperlinked special offers identified for the
customer are related to the transaction entries in the transaction
history of the online account statement web page for the customer.
The special offers can be customized for the customer.
[0036] The special offer provided by the hyperlink of the online
account statement can be provided only to customers who are
enrolled with the online account statement service. The special
offer can be redeemable, for example, online at the merchant web
site, at a physical merchant location by a printable coupon, or via
a telephone through use of a special tracking code.
[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart for an exemplary embodiment
of the invention. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 1 is with
reference to a web site provided by or for a company providing
online account statements for its customers. The invention is
provided by a server side and not a client side in a client-server
relationship.
[0038] FIG. 1 is discussed in relation to FIGS. 2-7, which
illustrate exemplary web pages for an exemplary embodiment of the
invention. For the exemplary embodiment illustrated with the FIGS.
2-7, the company is a credit card company, and the online account
statement is an online credit card account statement.
[0039] In block 101 of FIG. 1, an enrollment/login web page is
initially provided. An exemplary enroll/login web page for an
exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2.
This initial page is provided to all customers desiring access to
their online account statements.
[0040] In block 102, if a customer desiring to access the online
account statement is accessing the web site for the first time, the
customer is enrolled. A customer is enrolled by entering, for
example: a valid account number (e.g., area 201); verifying
specific pieces of information (e.g., card verification code (CVC),
card verification value (CVV), mother's maiden name, and/or social
security number); and selecting a user name and a password. Upon
enrollment, the customer accepts terms and conditions for receiving
the online account statement.
[0041] In block 103, once the customer is enrolled, the customer
can log in. To log in, the customer is required to enter a correct
user name and password combination. If the customer is already
enrolled, the customer can log in (e.g., area 202).
[0042] The enroll/login web page can also provide for accepting
users who are not yet customers of the company (e.g., area
203).
[0043] Once logged in, the web site determines in block 104 if the
customer has more than one account. If the customer has more than
one account, flow proceeds to block 105. If the customer has one
account, flow proceeds to block 107.
[0044] In block 105, an account selection web page is provided as
an interstitial web page. An exemplary account selection web page
for an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.
3. The account selection web page lists the multiple accounts of
the customer (e.g., area 301). The customer is requested to select
one of the displayed accounts. In block 106, the web site receives
an account selection from the customer. Once the account selection
is received, flow proceeds to block 107.
[0045] In block 107, an online account statement web page is
provided for the customer. An exemplary online account statement
web page is illustrated in FIG. 4 for an exemplary embodiment of
the invention. The online account statement page can include
customer information for the account, for example: customer name
(e.g., area 401); billing address (e.g., area 402); telephone
number; balance information for the account (e.g., area 403);
payment information for the account (e.g., area 404); available
credit for the account (e.g., area 405); a total minimum payment
due and corresponding due date for the account (e.g., area 406);
and any current offers being promoted by the company unrelated to
the transaction history of the customer (e.g., conventional
advertising of products and/or services of the company). The online
account statement may also include advertisements form third
parties, which are unrelated to the transaction history of the
customer (e.g., areas 407 and 408).
[0046] The online account statement includes a transaction history
(e.g., area 409). The transaction history can be for current
activity or past activity of the account of the customer. Current
activity can include, for example, all activity in the account
since the most recent statement date. Past activity of the account
can include, for example, activity from one or more previous
statements, from one or more payments on the account, from a year
(e.g., a year end account report), from a rolling period (e.g., the
past 4 weeks or the past 12 months), or from a predetermined or
customer selected date range. As an option, an interstitial web
page can be provided to the customer with a selection of current
activity, for example, since the most recent statement, past
activity from one or more previous statements, or activity over a
date range.
[0047] The transaction history of the online account statement
includes zero or more transaction entries (e.g., area 410). Each
transaction entry corresponds to a discrete activity of the
account. Each transaction entry in the transaction history can
include fields for, for example: a posting date (e.g., area 411),
which is the date the entry was posted to the account; a
transaction date (e.g., area 412), which is the date the merchant
entered as the date of the transaction; a reference number (e.g.,
area 413), which is a reference number associated with the
transaction to identify individual transactions for merchant
processing, settlement, and dispute; a card type (e.g., area 414),
which is an identifier of the type of card, such as MC for a
MasterCard credit card, V for a Visa credit card, A for an American
Express credit card, and a D for a Discover credit card; a category
(.g., area 415), which is a category designating how the charge is
to be treated for purposes of calculating finance charges, such as,
C for retail purchases at the annual percentage rate (APR) for
retail purchases and A for transferred balances at the APR for
transferred balances; a merchant description (e.g., area 416),
including, for example, a merchant name (e.g., "GAP #0611/THE"), a
merchant address (e.g., "WILMINGTON Del."), and an optional
merchant telephone number; a charge (e.g., area 417) for the amount
charged to the account for the transaction entry; and a credit
(e.g., area 418) for the amount credited to the account for the
transaction entry.
[0048] One or more of the transaction entries in the transaction
history are displayed as hyperlinked transaction entries. A
hyperlinked transaction entry can be designated, for example, by
varying the format of the transaction entry (e.g., underline, bold,
italics, color, and/or font size) for some or all of the
transaction entry. When the user clicks on the hyperlinked
transaction entry, a merchant web page is opened that contains
information specific to that merchant and/or the transaction entry.
In FIG. 4, a hyperlinked transaction entry is designated via a
hyperlinked merchant name. FIG. 4 includes non-hyperlinked merchant
names (e.g., area 419) and hyperlinked merchant names (e.g., area
420). For area 420, the exemplary hyperlinked merchant name is
underlined (i.e., GAP #0611/THE) and in a different color than the
rest of the transaction history.
[0049] Each transaction entry can include one or more hyperlinked
special offer indicia related to the transaction entry. For
example, the indicia can be a red icon shaped like a sales tag and
having the word "SAVE" therein (e.g., area 421). The hyperlinked
special offer indicia can be situated as part of the transaction
entry. For example, the hyperlinked special offer indicia can be
directly adjacent to, approximately next to, or collocated with the
merchant name in the transaction entry. Other techniques can be
used to draw attention to a special offer related to the
transaction history, for example: a red icon shaped like a sales
tag and having the word "VALUE" or other special offer word or
words therein; a special icon (e.g., a gold star) to indicate a
special offer or a special merchant; an icon indicating the type of
savings (e.g., "%" indicating a percentage off or "$" indicating a
credit or dollars off); or a rollover pop-up image and text box. By
clicking on the hyperlinked special offer indicia, a merchant web
page is opened that contains one or more special offers related to
the respective transaction entry in the transaction history.
[0050] As an option, instead of opening a merchant web page, an
online registration faun is provided when the customer clicks on
the hyperlinked special offer indicia. The registration form can be
for, for example: a product and/or a service of the merchant; a
warranty; or a reservation (e.g., a reservation for a restaurant, a
movie, a play, a concert, or travel). The registration form can be
populated with information provided by the customer when the
customer enrolled. For example, the name, telephone number, e-mail
address, credit card number, and/or substitute credit card number
of the customer obtained during enrollment of the customer can be
used to populate the registration form. The customer can complete
any additional information required on the registration form and
can elect to send the registration form to the merchant. If the
customer so elects, the registration form is passed to the
merchant, and the merchant thereafter contacts the customer
regarding the special offer.
[0051] For each different merchant name, each hyperlinked special
offer indicia can have a different hyperlink (e.g., areas 421 and
422).
[0052] As an option, the same merchant name can have different
hyperlinked special offer indicia. With this option, the special
offer for the transaction entry can be selected based on, for
example, a rolling serial determination, a random determination, a
determination based on an analysis of the transaction entry and/or
the customer. For example, if the merchant is a company selling
camping equipment, various special offers are available depending
on the analysis of the transaction entry. For instance, if the
transaction entry is for a customer having a transaction with the
company, a special offer of free shipping is offered; if the
transaction entry is for a customer having a transaction with a
competitor of the company, a special offer of $5 off is offered;
and if the transaction entry is for a customer having a transaction
with a related merchant to the company (e.g., a campground), a
special offer of free shipping and 10% off is offered.
[0053] As another option, the same merchant name can have one or
more different hyperlinked special offer indicia associated
therewith. Decisions on which special offers to offer the customer
and how many can be selected are based on, for example, a rolling
serial determination, a random determination, a determination based
on an analysis of the transaction entry and/or the customer. For
example, if the merchant is a company selling camping equipment,
two special offers are selected. For instance, a first special
offer of free shipping is offered from the merchant, and a second
special offer is offered for a related merchant (e.g., a
campground) for a free night at the campground if two are
booked.
[0054] When the online account statement page is generated for the
customer, the web site determines for each transaction entry in the
transaction history whether the transaction entry is hyperlinked
and whether a special offer is associated with the transaction
entry. The selection of which transaction entries in the
transaction history to hyperlink and which to provide special
offers is discussed further below with respect to FIGS. 8-10.
[0055] As an option, the online account statement can include a
hyperlinked special offer summary indicia. The indicia is
hyperlinked to a web page that presents a listing and/or a
description of all matched merchants having special offers related
to the transaction history of the customer. The listing can be
arranged, for example, chronologically per the transaction history,
alphabetically, in a predetermined ranking based on arrangements
between the merchants and the company, or the like. The listing can
coincide with the date range in the transaction history or can be
different (e.g., a predetermined date range, such as the last 6
months, or a customer selected date range).
[0056] As a further option, the hyperlinked special offer summary
indicia can be a summary box in, for example, the heading of the
online account statement. The summary box can identify the various
merchants having special offers related to the transaction history
of the customer. The summary box can include a personal message for
the customer.
[0057] In block 108 of FIG. 1, the customer clicks on a hyperlink
in the transaction history indicating a selection for a merchant
web page, and the selection is received by the web server. For
example, referring to FIG. 6, the customer clicks on a hyperlinked
merchant name (e.g., "GAP NO 0611/THE" of area 420) or clicks on a
hyperlinked special offer indicia (e.g., the "SAVE" tag of area
421).
[0058] In block 109, the merchant web page is provided to the
customer. An exemplary merchant web page for an exemplary
embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. The web
server for the company with which the customer has the account, and
not the web server for the merchant, generates the merchant web
page. The merchant web page includes, for example: a merchant logo
(e.g., area 501); a merchant description (e.g., area 502); a
merchant name and a merchant address (e.g., area 503); a merchant
telephone number (e.g., area 504); a merchant customer service
telephone number (e.g., area 505); a hyperlinked merchant home page
indicia (e.g., area 506); a hyperlinked merchant store locator web
page indicia (e.g., area 507); a hyperlinked merchant customer
service web page indicia (e.g., area 508); and a hyperlinked
special offer indicia (e.g., areas 509 and 510). The hyperlinked
special .offer indicia can be, for example, a stylized red tag
having the word "SAVE" therein. Other types of indicia can be used
as discussed above for the hyperlinked special offer indicia of the
online account statement web page.
[0059] As an option, the merchant web page can include a
hyperlinked dispute resolution indicia. With this feature, a
dispute resolution regarding a transaction entry in the transaction
history is initiated. The indicia is hyperlinked to, for example, a
web page for the company (e.g., an e-form for the customer to fill
out) or another web site to resolve the dispute. The hyperlinked
dispute resolution indicia can also be provided as part of the
online account statement.
[0060] In block 110, the web server receives a selection from the
customer for one of the hyperlinks on the merchant web page. If the
customer clicks on the hyperlinked merchant home page indicia
(e.g., area 506), flow proceeds to block 111. If the customer
clicks on the hyperlinked merchant store locator web page indicia
(e.g., area 507), flow proceeds to block 112. If the customer
clicks on the hyperlinked merchant customer service web page
indicia (e.g., area 508), flow proceeds to block 113. If the
customer clicks on the hyperlinked special offer indicia (e.g.,
area 509 or area 510), flow proceeds to block 114.
[0061] In block 111, the customer clicked on the hyperlinked
merchant home page indicia, and the customer is linked to the
merchant home page. An exemplary merchant web page with links to
the merchant web site for an exemplary embodiment of the invention
is illustrated in FIG. 6. By clicking on a hyperlinked merchant
home page indicia (e.g., area 506), the merchant home page (e.g.,
area 601) is displayed.
[0062] In block 112, the customer clicked on the hyperlinked
merchant store locator web page indicia on the merchant web page,
and the customer is linked to the merchant store locator web page.
Referring to the example in FIG. 6, by clicking on a hyperlinked
merchant store locator web page indicia (e.g., area 507), the
merchant store locator web page (e.g., area 602) is displayed.
[0063] In block 113, the customer clicked on the hyperlinked
merchant customer service web page indicia on the merchant web
page, and the customer is linked to the merchant customer service
web page. Referring to the example in FIG. 6, by clicking on a
hyperlinked merchant customer service web page indicia (e.g., area
508), the merchant customer service web page (e.g., area 603) is
displayed.
[0064] In block 114, if the customer clicked on the hyperlinked
special offer indicia on the merchant web page, the customer is
linked to a merchant special offer web page. An exemplary merchant
special offer web page for an exemplary embodiment of the invention
is illustrated in FIG. 7. By clicking on a hyperlinked merchant
home page indicia (e.g., area 509 or area 510), a merchant special
offer web page (e.g., area 701) is displayed. The merchant special
offer web page can be, for example: an advertisement for a special
offer (e.g., a sale or a credit) from the merchant; a special offer
customized to the customer; loyalty program information; a web page
having hyperlinks for various products and/or services of the
merchant; or an interstitial web page. The special offer provided
on the merchant special offer web page can be used for online
shopping with the merchant, a printable coupon for taking to the
merchant, or information for use with a telephone sale with the
merchant.
[0065] The merchant special offer web page can include a special
offer code (e.g., area 702). The special offer code can be used by
the customer for one or more additional transactions with the
merchant. The special offer code can uniquely identify the special
offer, the company providing the account to the customer, and/or
the customer. In FIG. 7, the special offer code in area 702 is used
in this example for online shopping with the merchant.
[0066] The merchant special offer web page can be established only
to be available via navigating the online account statement. The
merchant can use tracking codes obtained via the path navigation to
the merchant special offer web page and beyond to fulfill the
special offer and to report on one or more orders and/or closed
sales.
[0067] As an option, the merchant special offer web page is for a
special offer for a company different from the merchant identified
in the transaction entry of the online account statement web page.
Instead, the special offer can be from, for example: a subsidiary
or related company; a partner company; a merchant selling a related
and/or complimentary product and/or service (for example, if the
customer purchased a boat, the related merchant sells nautical
supplies or boat trailers); or a competitor of the merchant
identified in the transaction entry. As an example, a transaction
entry in the transaction history for a fine restaurant can have a
hyperlinked special offer indicia from the restaurant itself,
another fine restaurant in the same vicinity, and/or a gourmet
foods distributor. To distinguish the types of special offers,
hyperlinked special offer indicia from the merchant in the
transaction entry can be one style, and hyperlinked special offer
indicia from a merchant different from the one in the transaction
entry can be another style (e.g., a different icon, color, or
font).
[0068] As an option, and as discussed above, the merchant special
offer web page can include special offers from one or more
merchants.
[0069] As an option, the merchant special offer web page can
include an active accept indicia with the special offer. The active
accept indicia can be, for example, a radio button with the text
"Accept Offer" or "Buy Now." The active accept indicia can be, for
example, located next to or incorporated with the special offer. If
the customer clicks on the active accept indicia, the customer
accepts the special offer, and an order is automatically placed
with the merchant using the information provided by the customer
when the customer enrolled. The enrollment information regarding
the customer is transmitted to the merchant to fill the accepted
special offer. The enrollment information of the customer
transmitted to the merchant can include, for example: name,
telephone number, e-mail address, credit card number or substitute
credit card number, and/or expiration date of credit card. By
clicking on the active accept indicia, the customer can accept the
special offer without needing to navigate through additional web
pages or the merchant's web site.
[0070] As an option, if the customer clicks on a hyperlinked
special offer indicia in the online account statement web page
(e.g., area 421), flow can proceed directly from block 108 to block
114 without displaying the merchant web page.
[0071] In blocks 111-114, the web pages created can be static web
pages and/or dynamic web pages (i.e., web pages created on the
fly). These web pages can be generated either by the web server of
or for the company having the account with the customer or by the
web site provided by or for the merchant presenting the material in
the provided web page. The web pages are generated on the server
side and not the client side. No additional software is needed by
the customer on the client side to generate the web pages. The
provided web page can be opened within the web browser used by the
customer, or it can be opened in a separate window.
[0072] FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view for a computer system for
implementing a web site of the invention. The computer system 801
includes a computer 802 for implementing the invention. The
computer 802 includes a computer-readable medium 803 having
software for implementing the invention and/or software to operate
the computer 802 in accordance with the invention. The
computer-readable medium 803 additionally includes a transaction
database 804 and a merchant database 805. The merchant database 805
includes a merchant look-up table 806. The computer system 801
includes a connection to a network 807. A computer 808 also
includes a connection to the network 807. The computer system 801
and the computer 808 communicate via the network 807.
[0073] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer system 801
implements a web server and provides web pages in accordance with
the invention, and the network 807 is the Internet. The computer
808 includes a web browser, communicates with the web server
implemented by the computer system 801, and receives web pages from
the computer system 801. The server side (i.e., the computer system
801), and not the client side (i.e., the computer 808), provides
the web pages. As an option, the computer 808 can be a computer
system.
[0074] In FIG. 8, software, the transaction database 804, and the
merchant database 805 are described and illustrated as part of the
computer-readable medium 803. Alternatively, software, the
transaction database 804, and the merchant database 805 can more
generally be part of the computer 802 or the computer system
801.
[0075] In FIG. 8, the transaction database 804 and the merchant
database 805 are illustrated as part of the computer 802.
Alternatively, the transaction database 804 can be incorporated
more generally as part of the computer system 801. Likewise, the
merchant database 805 can be incorporated more generally as part of
the computer system 801.
[0076] The transaction database 804 contains information for
populating the online account statement web page (e.g., FIG. 4).
For each customer, the transaction database 804 includes a
transaction history for each account of each customer of the
company. Each transaction history includes the transaction entries
described above.
[0077] The merchant database 805 contains information for
populating the merchant web page (e.g., FIG. 5). The merchant
database 805 includes merchant entries for a number of merchants
that can be identified in the transaction history in the online
account statement. In generating the merchant web page in block
109, the computer system 801 accesses a merchant entry in the
merchant database 805 to populate the merchant web page.
[0078] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary merchant entry 900 in the
merchant database. The merchant entry 900 includes the following
fields, for example: a merchant identification 901; a merchant name
902; a merchant address 903; a merchant description 904; a merchant
logo path 905; a merchant corporate telephone number 906; a
merchant corporate customer service telephone number 907; a
merchant home page uniform resource locator (URL) 908; a merchant
store locator web page URL 909; a merchant customer service web
page URL 910; and a merchant special offer web page URL 911. For
more than one special offer, additional merchant special offer web
page URL's are provided. The additional special offers can be from
the merchant and/or one or more other merchants. Other possible
fields for the merchant entry include: a merchant rating URL (e.g.,
as available online from the Better Business Bureau (BBB));
additional merchant special offer web page URLs; special offer
descriptions; merchant offer image path; and icon paths for a print
button for printable coupon redemption, a telephone button for
telephone coupon redemption, or a computer button for online coupon
redemption. Each of the fields (or optionally zero or more of the
fields) for the merchant entry 900 has an on/off indicator to
control when the data is to be displayed on the merchant web
page.
[0079] Referring to the exemplary merchant web page in FIG. 5, the
merchant name 902 and the merchant address 903 are used to populate
area 503. The merchant description 904 is used to populate area
502. The merchant logo path 905 is used to identify the path for
displaying the merchant logo in area 501. The merchant corporate
telephone number 906 is used to populate area 504. The merchant
customer service telephone number 907 is used to populate area 505.
The merchant home page URL 908 is used to provide the hyperlink for
area 506. The merchant store locator web page URL 909 is used to
provide the hyperlink for area 507. The merchant customer service
web page URL 910 is used to provide the hyperlink for area 508. The
merchant special offer web page URL 911 is used to provide the
hyperlink for areas 509 and 510.
[0080] FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart for analyzing a merchant
name in the transaction history of the online account statement.
Specifically, the flowchart is for determining whether a
transaction entry in the transaction history should be indicated as
a hyperlinked transaction entry (e.g., a hyperlinked merchant name)
and whether a hyperlinked special offer indicia should be included
with the transaction entry.
[0081] In block 1001, for each merchant name in each transaction
entry in the transaction history of the online account statement
web page, the computer system 801 compares the merchant name from
the transaction database 804 with variations on the merchant name
in the merchant database 805. The computer system 801 determines if
the merchant name from the transaction database 804 matches with a
merchant name 902 in the merchant database 805. To assist in the
matching, the merchant look-up table 806 is provided. The merchant
look-up table 806 includes possible variations of the merchant name
for a merchant in the transaction history. For example, for the
merchant name 902 of "Wal-Mart," potential occurrences of the
merchant name may include: "Wal-Mart Store 123" and "Wal-Mart Store
234."
[0082] As a supplement to, or instead of, using the merchant
look-up table 806, wildcard-based queries can be provided for
potential iterations of the merchant name. For example, for the
merchant name "Wal-Mart," and if the wildcard is an asterisk ("*"),
the following wildcard entries can be included, for example, in the
merchant look-up table 806: "*Wal-Mart*," "*Wal-Mart," and "*Wal
Mart*."
[0083] In block 1002, it is determined if a match occurred between
the merchant name in the transaction history and a merchant name
902 in the merchant database 805. If a match did not occur, flow
proceeds to block 1003. If a match occurred, flow proceeds to block
1004.
[0084] In block 1003, no match occurred, and the transaction entry
in the transaction history of the online account statement for the
merchant is not indicated as being hyperlinked (e.g., area 419 in
FIG. 4).
[0085] In block 1004, the merchant name for the transaction entry
in the transaction database 804 matched with a merchant name 902 in
the merchant database 805. The transaction entry for the
transaction history of the online account statement is displayed as
a hyperlinked transaction entry (e.g., area 420 in FIG. 4).
[0086] In block 1005, it is determined if a special offer exists
for the merchant identified in the transaction entry. Initially,
the on/off indicator for the merchant special offer web page URL
911 is examined. If the on/off indicator is off, no special offer
exists for the merchant. If the on/off indicator is on, a special
offer may exist. Next, the presence of an entry in the field 911 is
determined. If no entry in the field 911 is present, no special
offer exists for the merchant. If an entry in the field 911 is
present, a special offer exists for the merchant. The same
conditions are checked for additional merchant special offer web
page URL's.
[0087] In block 1006, if a special offer does not exist, flow
proceeds to block 1007, and if a special offer exists, flow
proceeds to block 1008.
[0088] In block 1007, a special offer does not exist, and the
transaction entry is displayed as a hyperlinked transaction entry
in the transaction history of the online account statement (e.g.,
area 420 in FIG. 4).
[0089] In block 1008, a special offer exists, and a hyperlinked
special offer indicia (e.g., area 421 in FIG. 4) is displayed with
the hyperlinked transaction entry in the transaction history of the
online account statement (e.g., area 420 in FIG. 4).
[0090] As an option, flow can proceed from block 1003 to block
1005. With this option, in block 1007, the transaction entry is
displayed as determined in block 1003, and in block 1008, the
transaction entry is not displayed as a hyperlinked transaction
entry but does include a hyperlinked special offer indicia. As an
example of this option, a merchant name in a transaction entry of
the transaction history is not hyperlinked, but a hyperlinked
special offer indicia is located next to the merchant name in the
transaction entry for a special offer from a competitor of the
merchant named in the transaction entry.
[0091] The previous discussion of the invention is hereinafter
referred to as the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. In
a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, a description of
the special offer is provided with the merchant web page. With such
a description, the inventors discovered that a much higher than
expected number of customers clicked on the special offer indicia
on the merchant web page. FIGS. 11-13 illustrate the second
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0092] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary online account statement
web page for the second exemplary embodiment of the invention. The
exemplary online account statement web page of FIG. 11 is similar
to the exemplary online account statement web page of FIG. 4 but in
a different format. The features in FIG. 11 that are the same as
those in FIG. 4 are identified with the same reference numerals as
those in FIG. 4. A distinguishing difference between the exemplary
online account statement web pages of FIGS. 4 and 11 is the
hyperlinked special order indicia. In FIG. 11, the exemplary
hyperlinked special order indicia is a red icon shaped like a sales
tag and having the word "VALUE" therein (e.g., area 1101), whereas
the exemplary hyperlinked special order indicia in FIG. 4 is a red
icon shaped like a sales tag and having the word "SAVE" therein
(e.g., area 421). As explained above, by clicking on the
hyperlinked special offer indicia, a merchant web page is opened
that contains one or more special offers related to the respective
transaction entry in the transaction history.
[0093] A distinguishing difference between the merchant web pages
of the first and second exemplary embodiments is the description of
the special offer. In the second exemplary embodiment, a
description of the special offer is included with the merchant web
page provided in block 109. In contrast, for the first exemplary
embodiment, a description of the special offer is provided in the
merchant special offer web page from block 114. FIG. 12 illustrates
an exemplary merchant web page for the second exemplary embodiment.
The exemplary merchant web page of FIG. 12 is similar to the
exemplary merchant web page of FIG. 5, and the features in FIG. 12
that are the same as those in FIG. 5 are identified with the same
reference numerals as those in FIG. 5.
[0094] Including the features discussed above for a merchant web
page in the first exemplary embodiment, a merchant web page of the
second exemplary embodiment includes: a hyperlinked special offer
indicia (e.g., area 1201); a title or brief description for the
special offer (e.g., area 1202); a description of the special offer
(e.g., area 1203); and an additional information indicia, such as a
radio button (e.g., area 1204). (The exemplary description of the
special offer in area 1203 is for illustration purposes and
exemplifies text.) Other types of indicia besides the stylized red
tag can be used for the hyperlinked special offer indicia as
discussed above for the hyperlinked special offer indicia of the
online account statement web page. To access the merchant special
offer web page via block 114, the user clicks on the hyperlinked
special offer indicia (e.g., area 1201) or the additional
information indicia (e.g., area 1204).
[0095] Another difference between the merchant web pages of the
first and second exemplary embodiments is the inclusion of
additional special offers on the merchant web page of the second
exemplary embodiment. The additional special offers provide the
customer with access to special offers beyond the initial one
selected. The additional special offers can be provided, for
example: directly on the merchant web page; via a menu selection,
such as a drop-down menu of various merchants and/or special
offers; or via an interstitial web page providing selections of
various merchants and/or special offers. If the additional special
offers are provided directly on the merchant web page, a similar
format can be used as for the single special offer (e.g., areas
1201-1204), and/or any other web page presentation technique can be
used (e.g., banners, pop-up windows, and/or child windows).
[0096] For example, in FIG. 12, if the user clicks on a drop-down
menu selector (e.g., area 1205), a drop-down menu (e.g., area 1206)
is displayed. The drop-down menu contains a listing of merchants
and/or special offers for the customer. The merchants and/or
special offers can be selected based on, for example: a rolling
serial determination, a random determination, or a determination
based on an analysis of the transaction entry and/or the customer.
For the example in FIG. 12, merchants with or related transactions
in the transaction history are displayed in one section of the
drop-down menu (e.g., area 1207), and other merchants (e.g.,
without or unrelated to transactions in the transaction history)
are displayed in another section of the drop-down menu (e.g., area
1208). Clicking on a merchant and/or special offer in the drop-down
menu provides for the customer a merchant web page corresponding to
the clicked-on merchant and/or special offer.
[0097] To populate the merchant web page of the second exemplary
embodiment, appropriate fields are added to the merchant entries in
the merchant database 805. FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary
merchant entry 1300 in the merchant database for the second
exemplary embodiment of the invention. In addition to the exemplary
fields discussed above for the exemplary merchant entry 900, the
exemplary merchant entry 1300 includes the following fields, for
example: a special offer title 1301; and a special offer
description 1302. Referring to the exemplary merchant web page in
FIG. 12, the special offer title 1301 is used to populate area
1202, and the special offer description 1302 is used to populate
area 1203.
[0098] As an option to having a single special offer, a number of
special offers can be associated with a merchant, as discussed
above for the first exemplary embodiment. For each additional
special offer, appropriate fields are added to the merchant entries
in the merchant database 805. FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary
merchant entry 1400 in the merchant database for this option. In
addition to the exemplary fields discussed above for the exemplary
merchant entry 900, the exemplary merchant entry 1400 includes the
following fields, for example, for two special offers: a first
special offer title 1401; a first special offer description 1402; a
first merchant special offer web page URL 1403; a second special
offer title 1404; a second special offer description 1405; and a
second merchant special offer web page URL 1406. For more than two
special offers, similar additional fields can be added to the
merchant entry. The one or more special offers can be from the
merchant and/or one or more other merchants.
[0099] Although the invention has been described for use with the
Internet, web servers, and web pages, other types of networks,
networking devices, and networked displayable information can be
used with the invention, as will be appreciated by those skilled in
the art.
[0100] The embodiments and examples discussed herein are
non-limiting examples.
[0101] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, it should be understood that they have been
presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the
breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by
any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should
instead be defined only in accordance with the following claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *