Processing value-ascertainable items

US8751294B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• E2INTERACTIVE, INC. · US

Inventors

• Ashmit Bhattacharya · New York, US
• Bruce Bower · Williamsport, US
• Gary Briggs · Houston, US
• Marc Gendron · Clovis, US
• Steve Grove · San Jose, US
• Tina Henson · Fresno, US
• Parker Thomas · Alameda, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 9, 2012
• Grant date: Jun 10, 2014
• Expiry date: May 9, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/02
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques are provided for allowing a merchant to process third party closed-loop instruments (such as gift cards) as if the closed-loop instruments were open-loop instruments. A customer provides card data of a third party gift card to a merchant, e.g., online or in a merchant store, for the purchase of one or more items provided by the merchant. The merchant sends the gift card data to an intermediary that deducts at least a portion of the balance of the gift card. The intermediary sends an offer for the gift card to the customer. If the customer accepts the offer, then the merchant applies the offer towards the total purchase price of the one or more items.