Systems and methods for providing gratuities to merchants

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for facilitating a merchant transaction comprises providing a list of one or more merchants that are in geographic proximity to a geolocation of a payer, and receiving a request from the payer to conduct a transaction with a merchant among the one or more merchants. The request can be received by a computer system programmed to facilitate the transaction. The transaction can then be processed with the aid of the computer system. A tip selection, which can include a tip amount, can be applied to the transaction. In some cases the tip selection is received from the payer as a selectable option. In other cases, the tip selection is automatically applied to the transaction without involvement from the payer during or upon the termination of the transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for facilitating a merchant transaction, comprising:
 (a) providing a list of one or more merchants that are in proximity to a geolocation of a payer;   (b) receiving a request from said payer to conduct a transaction with a merchant among said one or more merchants, wherein said request is received by a computer system programmed to facilitate said transaction;   (c) receiving, from said payer, a tip selection to apply to said transaction; and   (d) processing said transaction with the aid of a processor of said computer system,   wherein said tip selection is applied to said transaction during or upon the termination of said transaction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, between (b) and (c), further comprising providing said payer a tip option. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tip selection comprises a tip amount to apply to said transaction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tip selection is selected by said payer from one or more tip options provided to said payer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said one or more tip options are provided to said payer by the computer system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said list is provided on a graphical user interface of an electronic device of said payer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said request of (b) is received from an electronic device of said payer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device is a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, prior to (a), said geolocation of said payer is determined with the aid of a geolocation device of said payer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the request of (b) is received from said geolocation device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing said payer a receipt upon the completion of said transaction between said payer and said merchant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein between (b) and (c), said computer system informs said merchant that said payer has requested to conduct a transaction with said merchant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said payer is permitted to request to conduct said transaction if said payer is at or in proximity to said merchant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein upon receiving the request of (b), said computer system initiates said transaction between said payer and said merchant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said computer system initiates said transaction if said payer is at or in proximity to said merchant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more merchants are within a given distance from said geolocation of said payer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said list is provided on a graphical user interface of an electronic device of said payer. 
     
     
         18 . A computer readable medium comprising code that, upon execution by one or more processors, implements a method, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a list of one or more merchants that are in proximity to a geolocation of a payer;   (b) receiving a request from said payer to conduct a transaction with a merchant among said one or more merchants, wherein said request is received by a computer system programmed to facilitate said transaction;   (c) receiving, from said payer, a tip selection to apply to said transaction; and   (d) processing said transaction with the aid of a processor of said computer system, wherein said tip selection is applied to said transaction during or upon the termination of said transaction.   
     
     
         19 . A system for facilitating a merchant transaction, comprising:
 (a) one or more computer processors; and   (b) a memory location coupled to said one or more computer processors, said memory location comprising code that, upon execution by said one or more computer processors, implements a method, the method comprising:
 (i) providing a list of one or more merchants that are in proximity to a geolocation of a payer; 
 (ii) receiving a request from said payer to conduct a transaction with a merchant among said one or more merchants; 
 (iii) receiving, from said payer, a tip selection to apply to said transaction; and 
 (iv) processing said transaction with the aid of a computer processor, wherein said tip selection is applied to said transaction during or upon the termination of said transaction. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said system is adapted to receive said request of (ii) from an electronic device of said payer.