Electronic system for selecting the best card from a collection of consumer credit, debit, and discount cards

US8615467B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Raji L. Akella · Austin, US
• Marion Behnen · Austin, US
• Gaurav Jain · Sunnyvale, US
• James M. McArdle · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 7, 2007
• Grant date: Dec 24, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 13, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/06
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for enabling completion of purchase transactions by retrieving purchase card information from an electronic database of consumer cards and applying the appropriate card to the transaction. The database, managed by a central card authority, stores client account information for cards such as debit, credit, phone, and discount cards, which are accessible via a unique, secure login/access credential, such as a username and password combination. During registration with the central card authority, a client classifies key/important factors to consider when performing purchases. The central card authority is accessed by the client during purchases from a retail facility and/or other purchasing environment. The central card authority automatically selects the best card to utilize during a purchase, after weighing the important purchasing factors related to the credit, debit, phone, and discount cards registered with the central card authority.