Online Incentive Management

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided to facilitate the centralized storage and access of online incentives such as coupons redeemable at associated online marketplaces. In one example, merchants may provide incentive information to payment service providers that in turn may associate such information with user accounts maintained by the payment service providers. Payment service providers may permit users to view incentives associated with their user accounts, thereby providing users with a comprehensive way to manage incentives from a plurality of online merchants. In another example, merchants may advise users of previously registered incentives in response to user activities in relation to online marketplaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories adapted to store a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to:   maintain a plurality of user accounts of one or more particular users;   store incentive information identifying one or more incentives associated with one or more merchants;   associate the incentive information with corresponding user accounts of the one or more particular users; and   provide a repository or electronic wallet that stores and provides access to the incentive information identifying the incentives to be used in one or more transactions with the one or more merchants or other service providers.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to: receive the incentive information identifying the one or more incentives offered by one or more merchants 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to: permit the one or more particular users to view the incentive information associated with their user accounts, wherein the one or more particular users manage the incentive(s) associated with the merchants 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to:
 store the incentive information identifying one or more incentives as incentive records in an incentive database; and   select one or more incentive records from the incentive database to be provided to the one or more particular users.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to: generate incentives for association with the user accounts, wherein the generated incentives are to be redeemed by the one or more particular users during interactions associated with purchases corresponding to an incentive. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to: receive, from a user device of a particular user, the incentive information identifying the one or more incentives offered by one or more merchants. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by the one or more processors are adapted to cause the system to: receive, from the user device of the particular user, incentive information comprising at least one of an incentive offered to the user by a merchant, multiple merchants, a payment service provider, or an entity through an electronic, paper, or verbal communication. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the incentive information identifies at least one of a coupon redeemable through at least one online marketplace associated with at least one of the merchants, a promotional campaign associated with the one or more merchants, or an account balance redeemable through the online marketplace(s). 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 maintaining a plurality of user accounts of one or more particular users;   storing incentive information identifying one or more incentives associated with one or more merchants;   associating the incentive information with corresponding user accounts of the one or more particular users; and   providing a repository or electronic wallet that stores and provides access to the incentive information identifying the incentives to be used in one or more transactions with the one or more merchants or other service providers.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: receiving the incentive information identifying the one or more incentives offered by one or more merchants. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: permitting the one or more particular users to view the incentive information associated with their user accounts, wherein the one or more particular users manage the incentive(s) associated with the merchant(s). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 storing the incentive information identifying one or more incentives as incentive records in an incentive database; and   selecting one or more incentive records from the incentive database to be provided to the one or more particular users.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: generating incentives for association with the user accounts, wherein the generated incentives are to be redeemed by the one or more particular users during interactions associated with purchases corresponding to an incentive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: receiving, from a user device of a particular user, the incentive information identifying the one or more incentives offered by one or more merchants. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: receiving, from the user device of the particular user, incentive information comprising at least one of an incentive offered to the particular user by a merchant, multiple merchants, a payment service provider, or an entity through an electronic, paper, or verbal communication. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the incentive information identifies at least one of a coupon redeemable through at least one online marketplace associated with at least one of the merchants, a promotional campaign associated with the one or more merchants, or an account balance redeemable through the online marketplace(s). 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium on which are stored computer readable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 store incentive information identifying one or more incentives associated with one or more merchants;   associate the incentive information with corresponding user accounts of the one or more particular users; and   provide a repository or electronic wallet that stores and provides access to the incentive information identifying the incentives to be used in one or more transactions with the one or more merchants or other service providers.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 receive the incentive information identifying the one or more incentives offered by one or more merchants.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 generate incentives for association with the user accounts, wherein the generated incentives are to be redeemed by the one or more particular users during interactions associated with purchases corresponding to an incentive.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 receive, from a user device of a particular user, the incentive information identifying the one or more incentives offered by one or more merchants.