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 system for providing logistics for an electronic gift card transaction, said system: receiving at a processor from a first consumer via an internet connection, a description of a gift card owned by said first consumer and the value desired by the first consumer for the gift card, wherein prior to providing the gift card description, the gift card has been enabled for purchases from at least one retailer of goods or services and wherein the first consumer is not said retailer;
 said system displaying to consumers via an internet connection, the gift card description and he value desired by the first consumer for the gift card;   said system providing financial logistics and transfer logistics for completing the electronic gift card transaction; and   transferring the gift card to a second consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system transfers the gift card to the second consumer over a communications network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to provide the first consumer the option to cancel the electronic gift card transaction prior to transferring the gift card to the second consumer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to verify a balance associated with the gift card. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to make a determination that the gift card can be transferred electronically and based upon such determination, transferring the gift card electronically to the second consumer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said transfer logistics include transferring the gift card from a consumer account associated with the first consumer to a consumer account associated with the second consumer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the consumer account associated with the first consumer and the consumer account associated with the second consumer are maintained by the system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to transmit data regarding one or more offers relating to the transaction. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to transmit data regarding the first consumer or second consumer to retailers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system includes a user interface for interaction with consumers, including the first consumer and the second consumer, through an online web based program. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for providing logistics for a gift card transaction comprising an exchange between consumers comprising the steps of:
 receiving information at an enterprise infrastructure from a network terminal that a first consumer desires to exchange a gift card owned by said first consumer for a value;   receiving from the first consumer, a description of a the gift card owned by said first consumer and the value desired by the first consumer for the gift card, wherein prior to receiving the information at an enterprise infrastructure the gift card has been enabled for purchases from at least one retailer of goods or services and wherein the first consumer is not the at least one retailer;   displaying to consumers, information regarding the gift card, including the value desired by the first consumer for the gift card; and   transferring the gift card to a second consumer.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing the first consumer an option to cancel the transaction prior to transferring the gift card to the second consumer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising verifying a balance associated with the gift card. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising making a determination that the gift card can be transferred electronically and based upon such determination, transferring the gift card electronically to the second consumer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first gift card is canceled and a second gift card is issued and transferred to the second consumer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the value desired by the first consumer is less than the balance associated with the gift card. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gift card is electronically transmitted from a consumer account associated with the first consumer to a consumer account associated with the second consumer, wherein the consumer account associated with the first consumer and the consumer account associated with the second consumer are maintained by the enterprise infrastructure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further transmitting data regarding one or more offers relating to the transaction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further transmitting data regarding the transaction to at least one retailer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said displaying is through an online web based program.