Enhanced customer interaction channel systems and methods

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, a server, and a computer use an enhanced customer interaction channel based on a predetermined payment key associated with a specific company and location. The predetermined payment key uniquely identifies the specific company and location and enables the enhanced customer interaction channel based on existing payment processing systems. The specific company may use the enhanced customer interaction channel to reach customers who were previously unknown to the specific company for a variety of purposes such as rewards, coupons, offers, product information, and the like.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 analyzing payment data related to a customer;   determining a company based on one or more attributes of the payment data;   creating an engagement channel between the customer and the company; and   displaying data provided by or on behalf of the company to the customer through the engagement channel.   
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the payment data is related to one or more payments, one or more issuers and/or one or more payment numbers for a payment. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining the company comprises determining a location of the company. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein determining the company includes determining the company's device used to generate the payment data. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the data displayed to the customer through the engagement channel comprises data other than rewards, loyalty points, coupons, discounts or other forms of financial or non-financial incentives. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the customer receives rewards and coupons without having to request the rewards or coupons. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the payment data originates from banking applications comprising online and application based banking, online and application based personal financial management systems, aggregation data providers, and online and/or application based accounting software. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the engagement channel is displayed with banking applications comprising online and application based banking, online and application based personal financial management systems, online and application based accounting software, a portal, news feeds, social media, telephone, fax, email, instant messenger, and/or mail. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 installing an application or browser add-in on a device associated with the customer;   viewing the payment data on the device by the customer; and   displaying the engagement channel on the device responsive to the identifying the company from the one or more attributes of the payment data.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining the payment key comprises:
 providing the company a payment mechanism with known characteristics;   performing a sample payment using the payment mechanism;   analyzing payment data associated with the sample payment;   deriving a payment key based on the known characteristics and associated static data in the payment data; and   linking the payment key to the specific company.   
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 29 , wherein if the derived payment key is duplicative of a payment key associated with another company, the determining the payment key further comprises:
 determining one or more static fields for the company, wherein the one or more static fields are used in payment data for the company;   adjusting one or more of the one of static fields;   deriving the payment key from the one or more static fields, wherein the payment key is no longer duplicative of a payment key associated with the another company based on the adjusting; and   linking the payment key to the specific.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 20 , wherein the determining the payment key comprises:
 analyzing merchant data related to a company;   deriving the payment key based on static data in the merchant data; and   linking the payment key to the company   
     
     
         32 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 31 , wherein if the derived payment key is duplicative of a payment key associated with another company, the determining the payment key further comprises:
 determining one or more static fields for the company, wherein the one or more static fields are used in payment data for the company;   adjusting one or more of the one of static fields;   deriving the payment key from the one or more static fields, wherein the payment key is no longer duplicative of a payment key associated with the another company based on the adjusting; and   linking the payment key to the company.   
     
     
         33 . A server, comprising:
 a network interface communicatively coupled to a company and a customer;   a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 analyze payment data related to the customer; 
 determine the company based on one or more attributes of the payment data; 
 create an engagement channel between the customer and the company; and 
 cause data provided by or on behalf of the company to be provided to the customer through the engagement channel. 
   
     
     
         34 . The server of  claim 33 , wherein the payment data is related to one or more payments, one or more issuers and/or one or more payment numbers for a payment. 
     
     
         35 . The server of  claim 33 , wherein the payment data originates from banking applications comprising online and application based banking, online and application based personal financial management systems, aggregation data providers, and online and/or application based accounting software. 
     
     
         36 . The server of  claim 33 , wherein the engagement channel is displayed with banking applications comprising online and application based banking, online and application based personal financial management systems, online and application based accounting software, a portal, news feeds, social media, telephone, fax, email, instant messenger, and/or mail. 
     
     
         37 . A device operated by a customer, comprising:
 a network interface communicatively coupled to a server on a network;   a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
 execute an application or browser add-in; 
 analyze payment data related to a purchase by the customer; 
 determine a company based on one or more attributes of the payment data; 
 display an engagement channel between the customer and the company; and 
 display data provided by or on behalf of the company to the customer through the engagement channel.