Methods and systems for applying promotion codes to payment transactions

Abstract

A method for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction is provided. The method uses at least one input device in communication with a database. The payment transaction includes a purchase made by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network. The method includes storing promotion data within the database including at least one merchant participating in the payment card network, each promotional program offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder, and promotion codes associated with each promotional program offered to the cardholder. The method further includes accessing the promotion data using the at least one input device, receiving a selected promotional program from the cardholder using the at least one input device, and automatically applying the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction.

1 . A method for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction using at least one input device in communication with a database, the payment transaction including a purchase made by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network, said method comprising the steps of:
 storing promotion data within the database, the promotion data including at least one merchant participating in the payment card network, each promotional program offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder, and promotion codes associated with each promotional program offered to the cardholder;   accessing the promotion data using the at least one input device;   receiving a selected promotional program from the cardholder using the at least one input device; and   automatically applying the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising generating accounting entries representing the payment transaction including terms of the selected promotional program applied to the payment transaction, and transmitting the accounting entries to the merchant associated with the selected promotional program and issuer associated with the cardholder. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein storing promotion data further comprises storing promotion data within the database for a plurality of merchants participating in the payment card network, the promotion data including at least one of a merchant name, a merchant identification (ID) number, promotion identifiers, transaction qualifications, terms of promotions, and promotion codes. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein storing promotion data further comprises storing promotion data within the database including a list of available promotional programs being offered by a merchant to each cardholder. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein receiving a selected promotional program further comprises:
 displaying on the at least one input device a list of at least one available promotional program being offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder, the input device including at least one of a computer system, a cellular telephone, a person digital assistant and a point of sale device associated with the merchant;   receiving a selected promotional program included within the displayed list; and   storing selection data in the database, wherein the selection data represents the selected promotional program.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one input device is in communication with a server system, and wherein receiving a selected promotional program further comprises:
 pushing promotion data from the server system to the at least one input device including displaying on the at least one input device a list of at least one available promotional program being offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder;   receiving a selected promotional program selected by the cardholder from the displayed list; and   transmitting selection data from the at least one input device to the server system, wherein the selection data represents the promotional program selected by the cardholder.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one input device is in communication with a server system, the server system associated with the payment card network, and wherein automatically applying the promotion codes further comprises:
 receiving at the server system data representing the promotional program selected by the cardholder;   processing the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder with the payment card;   validating at the server system that the payment transaction satisfies transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program; and   applying the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the validated payment transaction such that terms of the selected promotional program are applied to the payment transaction of the cardholder.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one input device is in communication with a server system, the server system associated with the payment card network, and wherein automatically applying the promotion codes further comprises:
 receiving at the server system data representing the promotional program selected by the cardholder;   interrogating the payment transaction at the server system to determine whether the payment transaction satisfies transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program;   applying the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction if the transaction qualifications are satisfied; and   generating accounting entries associated with the payment transaction including at least one of crediting and debiting funds between merchant and issuer accounts.   
     
     
         9 . A network-based system for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction including a purchase made by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network, said system comprising:
 a client system;   a database for storing information; and   a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said database, said server further configured to:   store promotional data within the database including at least one merchant participating in the payment card network, each promotional program offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder, and promotion codes associated with each promotional program offered to the cardholder;   display the promotion data on the client system including each promotional program offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder;   receive selection data from the client system, the selection data representing the promotional program selected by the cardholder; and   automatically apply the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction.   
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the server is further configured to:
 generate accounting entries representing the payment transaction including terms of the selected promotional program applied to the payment transaction; and   transmit the accounting entries to the merchant associated with the selected promotional program and issuer associated with the cardholder.   
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the promotion data comprises at least one of a merchant name, a merchant identification (ID) number, promotion identifiers, transaction qualifications, terms of promotions, and promotion codes. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the promotion data comprises a list of available promotional programs being offered by a merchant to each cardholder. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the server is further configured to:
 push the promotion data to the client system to display on the client system a list of at least one available promotional program being offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder;   prompt the cardholder to select a promotional program from the displayed list; and   receive selection data from the client system, wherein the selection data represents the promotional program selected by the cardholder.   
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the server is associated with the payment card network, and wherein the server is further configured to:
 store transaction qualifications within the database, wherein the transaction qualifications include terms a payment transaction must include for a corresponding promotional program to be applicable;   validate the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder with the payment card, wherein the validation comprises determining whether the payment transaction satisfies the transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program; and   apply the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the validated payment transaction such that terms of the selected promotional program are applied to the payment transaction of the cardholder.   
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the server is associated with the payment card network, and wherein the server is further configured to:
 receive data representing the promotional program selected by the cardholder;   interrogate the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder to determine whether the payment transaction satisfies transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program;   apply the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction if the transaction qualifications are satisfied; and   generate accounting entries associated with the payment transaction including at least one of crediting and debiting funds between merchant and issuer accounts.   
     
     
         16 . A computer coupled to a database for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction performed by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network, the computer in communication with an input device, wherein the database stores promotional data including each merchant participating in the payment card network, each promotional program offered by each merchant to the cardholder, and promotion codes associated with each promotional program offered to the cardholder, and wherein the input device accesses the database and displays the promotion data including each promotional program offered by each merchant to the cardholder, said computer programmed to:
 receive selection data from the input device, the selection data representing the promotional program selected by the cardholder for application to a payment transaction initiated by the cardholder with the merchant offering the selected promotional program; and   automatically apply the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction.   
     
     
         17 . A computer according to  claim 16  wherein said computer comprises a merchant screening module, a promotion code processing module and a merchant accounting system module, wherein the merchant accounting system module is programmed to generate accounting entries representing the payment transaction including terms of the selected promotional program applied to the payment transaction, and transmits the accounting entries to the merchant associated with the selected promotional program and issuer associated with the cardholder. 
     
     
         18 . A computer according to  claim 17  wherein the input device displays a list of available promotional programs being offered by a merchant to the cardholder, and wherein
 the merchant screening module is programmed to process the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder with the payment card, and determine whether the cardholder has selected a promotional program; and   the promotion code processing module is programmed to validate the payment transaction including determining whether the payment transaction satisfies transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program, and apply the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the validated payment transaction such that terms of the selected promotional program are applied to the payment transaction of the cardholder.   
     
     
         19 . A computer according to  claim 17  wherein said merchant accounting system module is programmed to process chargebacks and adjustments for the payment transaction directly between the merchant and issuer accounts. 
     
     
         20 . A computer according to  claim 16  wherein said computer is further programmed to:
 interrogate the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder to determine whether the payment transaction satisfies transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program;   apply the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction if the transaction qualifications are satisfied; and   generate accounting entries associated with the payment transaction including at least one of crediting and debiting funds between merchant and issuer accounts.   
     
     
         21 . A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for applying promotion codes to a payment transaction including a purchase made by a cardholder using a payment card over a payment card network, said program comprising at least one code segment that:
 stores within a database promotion data including at least one merchant participating in the payment card network, each promotional program offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder, and promotion codes associated with each promotional program offered to the cardholder;   enables access to the promotion data using at least one input device;   receives selection data from the at least one input device, the selection data representing a promotional program selected by the cardholder; and   applies the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder.   
     
     
         22 . A computer program in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising at least one code segment that:
 displays on the at least one input device a list of at least one available promotional program being offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder;   receives a selected promotional program from the displayed list; and   stores selection data in the database, wherein the selection data represents the promotional program selected by the cardholder.   
     
     
         23 . A computer program in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising at least one code segment that:
 pushes promotion data to the at least one input device including displaying on the at least one input device a list of at least one available promotional program being offered by the at least one merchant to the cardholder;   prompts the cardholder to select a promotional program from the displayed list; and   receives selection data from the input device, wherein the selection data represents the promotional program selected by the cardholder.   
     
     
         24 . A computer program in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising at least one code segment that:
 receives data representing the promotional program selected by the cardholder;   processes the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder with the payment card;   validates the payment transaction including confirming that the payment transaction satisfies transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program; and   applies the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the validated payment transaction such that terms of the selected promotional program are applied to the payment transaction of the cardholder.   
     
     
         25 . A computer program in accordance with  claim 21  further comprising at least one code segment that:
 receives data representing the promotional program selected by the cardholder;   interrogates the payment transaction initiated by the cardholder to determine whether the payment transaction satisfies transaction qualifications associated with the selected promotional program;   applies the promotion codes associated with the selected promotional program to the payment transaction if the transaction qualifications are satisfied; and   generates accounting entries associated with the payment transaction including at least one of crediting and debiting funds between merchant and issuer accounts.