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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of processing a payment for a universal transaction identifier, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving at an enterprise infrastructure a purchase request, said request comprising a purchase price and an identifier associated with one or more accounts;   determining by the enterprise infrastructure at least one account associated with the identifier sufficient to cover the transaction, from among the one or more accounts; and   authorizing the payment if the at least one account is successfully identified.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein method includes authentication of a consumer using the universal transaction identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more accounts are gift cards accessed via the universal transaction identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the universal transaction identifier is a card and the receiving is from a point of sale terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the universal transaction identifier is a telephone number associated with a consumer and one or more accounts. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the universal transaction identifier is configured to be accepted by more than one retailer, service provider or manufacturer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the universal transaction identifier is associated with at least one loyalty account and wherein the consumer's loyalty account is updated to reflect loyalty account activity associated with the payment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after determining at least one account associated with the identifier, receiving from a consumer, information indicating the consumer chooses to use the balance; and causing the account balance to be reduced accordingly. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein causing comprises causing the transaction to be processed and recorded. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the enterprise infrastructure tracks the balance of the account. 
     
     
         11 . A system of processing a payment for a universal transaction identifier, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   non-transitory computer readable memory in communication with the at least one processor, the memory storing a plurality of processing instructions for directing the at least one processor to:
 receive, at a server, a request for authorization of the payment; 
 attempt to identify at least one account for making the payment, from among one or more accounts associated with the universal transaction identifier; and 
 authorize the payment if the at least one account is successfully identified. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises a payment gateway. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the account includes at least one of a credit card, a gift card, a bank account, redemption coupons, and a loyalty account. 
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further operable to send an authorization code to a retailer. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having source code stored therein for processing a payment for a universal transaction identifier, said source code comprising:
 a first computer readable program code for receiving, at a server, a request for authorization of the payment;   a second computer readable program code for attempting to identify at least one account for making the payment, from among one or more accounts associated with the universal transaction identifier; and   a third computer readable program code for authorizing the payment if the at least one account is successfully identified.