Method of distributing information via mobile devices and enabling its use at a point of transaction

Abstract

Methods and systems for utilizing promotion data accessible via a mobile device are disclosed. A digital record of promotion data from a product provider may be stored in a database. A plurality of such digital records may be aggregated for one or more providers. A digital record may be associated with an incentive account associated with an individual. An electronic request to apply promotion data associated with the individual to a transaction and authentication data identifying the individual may be received. A digital record associated with the individual's incentive account may be located and transmitted to a transaction processing system. A processing result record associated with the digital record may be received from the processing system. Usage information derived from the processing result record may be associated in a database.

1 . A method for utilizing promotion data accessible via a mobile device, the method comprising: 
 storing in a database a digital record of promotion data supplied by a product provider;    aggregating a plurality of digital records of promotion data supplied by one or more product providers;    associating a digital record of promotion data with an incentive account associated with an individual;    receiving an electronic request to apply promotion data associated with the individual to a transaction;    receiving authentication data identifying the individual;    locating at least one digital record of promotion data associated with the incentive account associated with the individual;    transmitting the digital record of the promotion data to a transaction processing system;    receiving from the transaction processing system a processing result record associated with said at least one digital record of promotion data; and    associating, in a database, usage information derived from the processing result record.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating a digital record of promotion data with an incentive account further comprises evaluating the promotion data via one or more personalization criterion associated with the individual.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a personalization criterion is one of a keyword, time data, a registered individual preference, or location data.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the associating of a digital record of promotion data with an incentive account is initiated by the individual.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising relaying usage information to a product provider associated with the promotion data.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein authentication data includes one or more of biometric data, a phone number, a password, an account number, a loyalty number, membership number, and a personal number.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein authentication the individual is obtained from a card.  
     
     
         8 . A method for utilizing promotion data accessible via a mobile device, the method comprising: 
 determining promotion data to be of interest to an individual, wherein the promotion data is selected from an aggregation of data provided by one or more product providers;    associating the promotion data with the individual via an account associated with a mobile device;    transmitting the promotion data to a mobile device registered in association with the individual;    receiving transaction data from a point of transaction;    analyzing the received transaction data, wherein analyzing comprises determining whether the received transaction data includes information associated with the transmitted promotion data; and    storing data indicative of the presence of information associated with the transmitted promotion data.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising relaying the data indicative of the presence of information associated with the transmitted promotion data to a product provider associated with the promotion data.  
     
     
         10 . A system to facilitate the distribution of promotion data to individuals via mobile devices and the use of the promotion data, the system comprising: 
 an information management component comprising: 
 a product provider subcomponent for storing product provider information;  
 an information management controller for relaying promotion data to a mobile server;  
 a targeting engine for associating promotion data with individuals based upon the analysis of product provider information stored by a product provider; and  
 a targeted promotion data database for storing the promotion data associated by the targeting engine;  
 a device registration database for storing device information associated with individuals; and  
   a server comprising: 
 a gateway component enabled to receive transmissions from mobile devices; and  
 a mobile controller for formatting promotion data per the capabilities of particular mobile devices and for transmitting the promotion data to mobile devices.  
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the promotion data includes one or more of offer information, a product description, and an advertisement.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a product provider is a merchant, a manufacturer, or a healthcare provider.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the information management controller is further enabled to transmit promotion data to locations to facilitate use of the promotion data.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the information management component further comprises: 
 one or more of a biometric database for storing registered biometric data of individuals and a knowledge database for storing registered verification data of individuals;    an authentication server coupled to one or more of the biometric database and the knowledge database to retrieve data;    an electronic wallet database for storing electronic wallets associated with individuals; and    an electronic wallet server coupled to the electronic wallet database to retrieve electronic wallets.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein product provider information includes one or more of location information, client information, transaction information, product taxonomy information, and client segmentation information.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the information management component further comprises a campaign manager component that provides a product provider with access to the system.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the targeted promotion data database further stores promotion data associated with individuals by sources other than the targeting engine.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the gateway component enables the receipt of transmissions via a voice channel, a text message channel, a data channel, or a Wireless Application Protocol channel.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the mobile controller further enables the relaying of requests for information to the information management component.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the mobile server further comprises a device manager containing data indicative of the communication capabilities of particular mobile devices.