System and Method for Targeted Marketing and Consumer Resource Management

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing targeted marketing to goods and services provides and consumer resource management services to consumers. An example system and method for targeted marketing comprises collecting transaction data from point-of-sale (POS) terminals and using a consumer identifier in the transaction data to access stored information about the consumer. This information may be used to target offers and advertisement to the consumer. In an example system for consumer resource management, a consumer may configure a consumer account on the enterprise infrastructure via a web-site. The consumer may use the consumer account to purchase and configure gift cards that may be used for purchasing goods and services. A universal transaction identifier may be associated with the consumer account and used to purchase goods and services from more than one selected goods and services providers.

1 . A method performed by a first party, the first party comprising one or more computer processors executing executable instructions, the executable instructions causing the one or more computer processors to perform computer-implemented steps of:
 identifying a closed-loop stored-value instrument issued by a second party, wherein the second party is not the first party;   receiving purchase data from a device communicably connected to the one or more computer processors, wherein the purchase data indicates a particular amount that must be paid by a third party in order to purchase the one or more items, wherein the third party is a user of the one or more computer processors;   automatically generating and providing an offer message of the second party to be displayed to the third party, wherein the offer message includes an offer that indicates that the particular amount can be reduced if the third party accepts the offer message, wherein the offer message is automatically generated based on the current balance and the particular amount;   receiving input that indicates that the third party accepted the offer;   in response to receiving the input, automatically applying at least a portion of the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the particular amount;   automatically receiving payment data from the third party as part of acceptance of the offer, where an amount required to be paid by the third party is calculated based on the offer message and the particular amount; and   automatically transferring current balance value data from the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the second party in response to receipt of the payment data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first party is a computer-implemented gift card exchange service. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 identifying the closed-loop stored-value instrument comprises identifying a plurality of closed-loop stored-value instruments, each of which having a current balance that is positive; and   applying at least a portion of the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the particular amount comprises applying at least a portion of the current balances of each closed-loop stored-value instrument of the plurality of closed-loop stored-value instruments to the particular amount.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the particular amount further comprises applying cash or some form of electronic cash to the particular amount. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument is a first amount and the closed-loop stored-value instrument is purchased by the first party for a second amount that is less than the first amount. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument is delivered digitally. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument is delivered digitally to a user account. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument is delivered digitally to a user's mobile phone. 
     
     
         9 . A method performed by a first party, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
 identifying a closed-loop stored-value instrument that is issued by a particular merchant that is different than the first party, wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument has a current balance that is positive;   causing a message to be displayed to a user, wherein the message indicates a discount opportunity if the user makes a purchase from the particular merchant; receiving checkout data that indicates a particular amount that must be paid in order to purchase one or more items from the particular merchant; providing an offer message to be displayed to the user, wherein the offer message includes an offer that indicates that the particular amount can be reduced if the user accepts the offer;   receiving input that indicates that the user accepted the offer;   in response to receiving the input, applying the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the particular amount;   receiving payment from the user as part of acceptance of the offer, wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices, and wherein at least a portion of the method is performed using one or more non-transitory machine-readable media.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein identifying the closed-loop stored-value instrument comprises:
 identifying a plurality of closed-loop stored-value instruments, each of which having a current balance that is positive; and   applying the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the particular amount comprises applying the current balances of each closed-loop stored-value instrument of the plurality of closed-loop stored-value instruments to the particular amount.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein applying the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument to the particular amount further comprises applying cash to the particular amount. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the current balance of the closed-loop stored-value instrument is a first amount and the closed-loop stored-value instrument was purchased for a second amount that is less than the first amount. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument is delivered digitally to a user's mobile phone. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
 receiving, from a first party, card data that identifies a closed-loop stored-value instrument that is issued by a second party that is different than the first party;   causing the card data to be submitted to a web server associated with the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   after causing the card data to be submitted to the web server, receiving, from the web server, balance data that indicates a current balance associated with the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   determining, based on the balance data, an offer for the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   sending the offer to the first party; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices, wherein at least a portion of the method is performed using one or more non-transitory machine-readable media.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first party is a person who owns the closed-loop stored-value instrument. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first party is a pawn shop, an ATM, a kiosk, or a merchant; a person that owns the closed-loop stored-value instrument provides the card data to the first party prior to receiving the card data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method is performed by a computer-implemented gift card exchange service. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the offer is for a particular amount, the method further comprising:
 receiving an indication that a person that owns the closed-loop stored-value instrument accepted the offer;
 identifying an account of the person, wherein the account existed prior to receiving the card data, wherein the account has a particular balance; and 
 increasing the particular balance of the account by the particular amount. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the offer is for a particular amount, the method further comprising:
 receiving acceptance data that indicates that a person that owns the closed-loop stored-value instrument accepted the offer;   in response to receiving the acceptance data, determining a particular value and associating the particular value with the closed-loop stored-value instrument;   presenting, to the first party, information that indicates the particular value;   after providing the particular value to the first party, receiving purchase data that indicates that the first party is attempting to purchase one or more items from a third party that is different than the first and second parties, wherein the purchase data includes the particular value;   in response to receiving the purchase data, using the particular value to identify the particular amount; and   causing the particular amount to be applied to the purchase of the one or more items.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the closed-loop stored-value instrument is delivered digitally to a user's mobile phone.