Methods and systems for permissions management

Abstract

In various embodiments of the present invention, a facilitation token that includes authorization for a request manager to act on behalf of a resource is received from the request manager. A user-access token is also received from the request manager; the user-access token includes (i) a request, (ii) an identity of a user making the request, and (iii) permissions information. If the request is permitted by the resource, based on information in the facilitation token, the request is fulfilled.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for facilitating an electronic payment transaction between a consumer and a resource provider, the method comprising:
 electronically receiving, from a request-manager device, a request for permission to act on behalf of a consumer;   electronically providing, to a consumer device, a request for approval of a user-access token, said request for approval comprising information concerning the request for permission;   electronically providing, to a request-manager device, the user-access token;   electronically receiving, from a request-manager device, the user-access token, a facilitation token comprising permissions for the request-manager device to act with respect to a resource provider, and a request for a payment transaction;   electronically submitting for authorization to a payment processing device a charge to a payment instrument associated with the received user-access token; and   electronically providing to a resource-provider device and to the request-manager device information concerning the payment transaction by the consumer.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of electronically receiving, from a resource-provider device, information concerning promotions offered by a resource-provider. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of determining whether the request for payment transaction qualifies for a promotion offered by a resource-provider. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the determining step comprises a comparison of information concerning prior payment transactions by the consumer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of reducing the amount of the charge submitted for authorization based on a promotion offered by a resource-provider. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of causing funds to be transferred to the resource-provider following the payment transaction. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising storing information concerning the request for payment transaction in a user database record associated with the user. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising electronically transmitting a promotional offer to the consumer device, wherein the promotional offer is based at least partly on information in the request for payment transaction. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the promotional offer is further based on at least one of a purchase history of the consumer or offer information received from the resource provider. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of automatically redeeming a promotional offer previously communicated to the consumer device in connection with a previous payment transaction request. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the request manager and resource provider are different entities. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said request for permission does not include any sensitive information of the consumer. 
     
     
         34 . A system for facilitating electronic transactions, the system comprising:
 a database for storing tokens associated with permissions; and   a computer processor configured for executing computer instructions for computationally executing the steps of:
 i. electronically receiving, from a request-manager device, a request for permission to act on behalf of a consumer; 
 ii. electronically providing, to a consumer device, a request for approval of a user-access token, said request for approval comprising information concerning the request for permission; 
 iii. electronically providing, to a request-manager device, the user-access token; 
 iv. electronically receiving, from a request-manager device, the user-access token, a facilitation token comprising permissions for the request-manager device to act with respect to a resource provider, and a request for a payment transaction; 
 v. electronically submitting for authorization to a payment processing device a charge to a payment instrument associated with the received user-access token; and 
 vi. electronically providing to a resource-provider device and to the request-manager device information concerning the payment transaction by the consumer. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the computer processor is further configured for electronically receiving, from a resource-provider device, information concerning promotions offered by a resource-provider. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of determining whether the request for payment transaction qualifies for a promotion offered by a resource-provider. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the determining step comprises a comparison of information concerning prior payment transactions by the consumer; 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the computer processor is further configured for reducing the amount of the charge submitted for authorization based on a promotion offered by a resource-provider. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the computer processor is further configured for causing funds to be transferred to the resource-provider following the payment transaction. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the computer processor is further configured for storing information concerning the request for payment transaction in a user database record associated with the user. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the computer processor is further configured for electronically transmitting a promotional offer to the consumer device, wherein the promotional offer is based at least partly on information in the request for payment transaction. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the promotional offer is further based on at least one of a purchase history of the consumer or offer information received from the resource provider. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the computer processor is further configured for the step of automatically redeeming a promotional offer previously communicated to the consumer device in connection with a previous payment transaction request. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the request manager and resource provider are different entities. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said request for permission does not include any sensitive information of the consumer.