as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication co) Pub. No.: US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`(43) Pub. Date: Aug.4, 2011
`Blackhurstet al.
`
`US 20110191177A1
`
`(54)
`
`PRE-POPULATION OF MERCHANT
`CHECK-OUT ENTRY FIELDS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors:
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee:
`
`Jason Blackhurst, Charlotte, NC
`(US); Michael W. Upton,
`Charlotte, NC (US)
`
`BANK OF AMERICA
`CORPORATION,Charlotte, NC
`(US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`13/013,691
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 25, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 61/299,726, filed on Jan.
`29, 2010.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06Q 30/00
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) US. CMe coeeccccssccsssssssssssssenseeseeses 705/14.51; 705/27.1
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Embodiments of the invention provide for systems, devices,
`apparatus, methods and computer program products for pre-
`population ofdata entry fields ina merchant checkout system.
`Based on the offer program customer’s relationship with the
`financial institution and the financial institution relationship
`with the merchants the check-out system is able to leverage
`these relationships to provide for a more efficient check-out
`process.
`
`PROCESSOR14
`
`MEMORY 16
`COMPUTER READABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS 18
`MERCHANT OFFER
`PROGRAMAPPLICATION
`10
`
`MERCHANT OFFER
`PROGAM SYSTEM
`
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE 42
`
`PROCESSOR 44
`
`MEMORY46
`COMPUTER READABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS 48
`
`MERCHANT
`APPLICATIONS
`40
`
`
`
`DATASTORE49
`
`
`OO
`CUSTOMERS
`
`
`
`CUSTOMER
`COMPUTER
`SYSTEMS
`
`¥
`iS
`
`
`
`/
`
`MERCHANT
`SYSTEMS
`
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE 22
`EO
`PROCESSOR 24
`
`MEMORY26
`
`INSTRUCTIONS 28
`WEB BROWSER
`APPLICATION
`20
`
`COMPUTER READABLE
`
`LOCAL MERCHANTOFFER
`PROGRAM APPLICATION
`it
`
`DATASTORE 29
`
`a)
`8
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SAMSUNG 1010
`
`CUSTOMER ACCOUNT SYSTEMS
`
`
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE 32
`bo
`
`PROCESSING DEVICE 34
`
`MEMORYDEVICE 36
`COMPUTER READABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS 38
`
`ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
`APPLICATIONS
`30
`
`DATASTORE39
`
`SAMSUNG 1010
`
`1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`Apparatus 12
`
`Computing Platform 13
`
`Memory 16
`
`Financial Institution-Based
`Transaction Tracking Application 60
`
`Information 66
`
`CustomerInput 62
`
`Transaction Information Routine 64
`
`Customer-Specific Transaction
`
`FIG.1
`
`2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`
`
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`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`Apparatus 32
`
`Computing Platform 33
`
`Memory 36
`
`Account ManagementApplications 30
`
`Customer Account Database 90
`
`Configuration Information 106
`
`Merchant Offer Program Profile
`Information 104
`
`Customer Account 92
`
`Customer Profile 94
`
`Transaction Information 76
`
`PaymentInformation 9
`
`Shipping Information 98
`
`Billing Information 100
`
`Other Information 102
`
`Customer's Offer
`
`FIG.3
`
`4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`110
`
`+.
`
`Receive, at a Computing Device, a Customer Input that
`Indicates the Customer’s Desireto Initiate an
`Online Transaction with an Online Merchant
`
`Merchant's Online Check-Out Web Page
`
`Communicate, via a Computing Device Processor,
`to a Merchant Website in Response to Receipt of
`the Customer Input, Financial Institution-Stored
`Customer-Specific Transaction Information that is
`Configured to Pre-Populate Data Entry Fields in a
`
`FIG.4
`
`5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 5 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`
`
`MEMORY16
`COMPUTER READABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS 18
`
`MERCHANT OFFER
`PROGRAM APPLICATION
`10
`
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE 22
`
`PROCESSOR 24
`
`MEMORY26
`COMPUTER READABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS 28
`
`WEB BROWSER
`APPLICATION
`20
`
`LOCAL MERCHANT OFFER
`PROGRAM APPLICATION
`i
`
`
`
`CUSTOMER
`COMPUTER
`
`
`
`
`
`SYSTEMS
`
`cD
`
`DATASTORE 29
`
`NETWORK 2 FT
`
`
`HoT
`
`8
`
`Opt
`
`CUSTOMER ACCOUNT SYSTEMS
`
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE 32
`
`PROCESSING DEVICE 34
`
`MEMORYDEVICE 36
`COMPUTER READABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS 38
`
`ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
`APPLICATIONS
`30
`
`DATASTORE39
`
`/
`
`$
`
`S
`S
`Ss
`MERCHANT
`SYSTEMS
`
`9 S
`
`FIG. 5
`
`MERCHANT OFFER
`PROGAM SYSTEM
`
`
`
`MEMORY46
`COMPUTER READABLE
`INSTRUCTIONS 48
`
`MERCHANT
`APPLICATIONS
`40
`
`DATASTORE49
`
`6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`200 -——~.
`
`“4
`
`CUSTOMER 6 DOWNLOADS THE MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM WIDGET(11) TO THE
`CUSTOMER COMPUTER SYSTEM (4)
`202
`t
`CUSTOMER (6) BROWSES THE INTERNET FOR CONTENT, INCLUDING INFORMATION AND
`OFFERS ABOUT PRODUCTS, SERVICES, DEALS, AND/OR ADVERTISEMENTS, USING THE WEB
`BROWSERAPPLICATION(20)
`204
`
`
`
`t
`THE MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION (10) COMMUNICATES WITH THE WEB
`BROWSER APPLICATION 20 TO DETERMINE WHAT CONTENT THE CUSTOMER(6) IS VIEWING
`THROUGH THE LOCAL MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION(11)
`206
`
`THE LOCAL MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION (11) COMMUNICATES WITH THE
`MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION (10) TO SEND THE INFORMATION RELATED TO
`THE CONTENT THE CUSTOMER (6) IS VIEWING IN BLOCK 206 TO THE MERCHANT OFFER
`PROGRAM APPLICATION(10)
`208
`
`|
`
`THE MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION(10) DETERMINES ONE OR MORE OFFERS
`IN WHICH THE CUSTOMER (6) MAY BE INTERESTED BASED ON WHAT CONTENT THE
`CUSTOMER (6) IS VIEWING, THE CUSTOMER’S PROFILE INFORMATION, AND/OR THE
`CUSTOMER'S TRANSACTION HISTORY(/.E., BUYING HABITS AND PREFERENCES)
`210
`
`|
`
`THE LOCAL MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION (11) NOTIFIES THE CUSTOMER (6)
`THAT ONE OR MORE OFFERSEXIST IN WHICH THE CUSTOMER(6) MAY BE INTERESTED
`212
`
`\
`yo
`/ CONTINUE \
`
`| TO FIGURE
`\
`2B
`
`é
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`200 ——~.
`‘
`
`(
`
`FROM \
`|
`FIGURE
`, OA
`
`|
`
`CUSTOMER SELECTS THE NOTIFICATION INDICATOR(304)IN ORDER TO DISPLAY THE ONE
`OR MORE OFFERS THAT THE MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION (10) DETERMINES
`THE CUSTOMER 6 WOULD BE INTERESTED IN
`
` |
`214 216 |
`SUGGESTED BY THE MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAMAPPLICATION(10) SPECIFIC ONE OR MORE OFFERS 220 PROGRAM APPLICATION (10)
`224 FIG. 6B
`222 CUSTOMER 6 SELECTS FOR PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL ADD-ON OFFER RELATED TO THE
`
`THE LOCAL MERCHANT OFFER PROGRAM APPLICATION (11) DISPLAYS THE ONE OR MORE
`OFFERSIN A LOCAL INTERFACE (400) FOR THE CUSTOMER(6) TO REVIEW
`
`LINKS ARE PROVIDED FOR ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE
`
`CUSTOMER(6) SELECTS FOR PURCHASE AN ORIGINAL OFFER OR A REPLACEMENT OFFER
`
`218
`
`|
`
`ORIGINAL OFFER OR REPLACEMENT OFFER SUGGESTED BY THE MERCHANT OFFER
`
`THE CUSTOMER(6) SELECTS WHICH ACCOUNT OR COMBINATION OF ACCOUNTS TO USE TO
`PAY FOR THE PURCHASE
`
`|
`
`8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`
`
`(4)
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 9 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`
`
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`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Aug. 4, 2011 Sheet 10 of 10
`
`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`400
`
`fo
`
`
`Merchant Offer Program
`
`410
`
`412
`
`414 —Checking
`
`Accounts
`
`
`
`
`Sony 46" LCD
`
`
`
`$12,542.50
`Savings
`416
`$ 3,832.21
`ie "> Credit Card (Remaining Balance)
`
`~~—— Reward Points § 4,957.86
`
`§ 2,7433.41
`
`/
`
`432
`434
`436
`438
`[Item|Savings %|_Saving $
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`Sony 46" LCD
`Sony 45°10
`Sony 46" LCD
`Samsung 46"LCD
`Samsung 46"LCD
`
`440
`
`Seerelated offers
`TF
`
`
`Advertisements
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`Aug. 4, 2011
`
`PRE-POPULATION OF MERCHANT
`CHECK-OUT ENTRY FIELDS
`
`CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119
`
`[0001] The present application for patent claimspriority to
`Provisional Application No. 61/299,726 entitled “Financial
`Institution-Specitic Online Check-Out System”filed Jan. 29,
`2010 and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby
`expressly incorporated by reference herein.
`
`FIELD
`
`In general, embodiments of the invention relate to
`[0002]
`methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products
`for merchant check-out process and, more particularly, pre-
`populating data entry fields in a merchant check-out system
`with financial institution-stored customerdata.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0003] The advent of the Internet has provided merchants
`with new channels for reaching customers and providing
`information, advertising, and offers related to their products
`or services. However, sales and marketing campaigns are
`often not as effective as they might be, because they provide
`customers the wrong information, advertisements, or offers,
`or alternatively provide customers the right information,
`advertisements, or offers at the wrong time. The Internet,
`likewise, provides customers withthe ability to quickly locate
`information about products or services in which they are
`interested, and to purchase those products or services, with-
`out leaving their computer. However, customers who shop
`online often cannotfind the exact productorservice that they
`want, they fail to find what they wantat a price that they find
`attractive, or they fail to utilize discounts thatare available for
`the products for services. These scenarios result in discounts
`or promotions offered by merchants not being utilized or in
`customersnot receiving the benefit of applicable discounts or
`promotions.
`[0004]
`Financial institutions have large amounts of cus-
`tomerdata because they maintain or administer their custom-
`ers’ various financial accounts (i.e., credit card account,
`checking account, savings account, etc.) and because they
`also have datarelated to their customers’ purchases. Financial
`institutions track andstore data related to when their custom-
`
`ers made purchases, how much the customers spent, what
`merchants the customers used to make purchases, etc. for
`both online and offline purchases. Furthermore, financial
`institutions also havedirect relationships with manydifferent
`merchants that use the financial institutions for their own
`
`financial needs. Dueto the relationships financialinstitutions
`have with both customers and merchants, as well as the data
`that they capture because of those relationships, financial
`institutions are uniquely positionedto facilitate merchants in
`providing targeted sales and marketing offers to customers at
`the time of purchase; and to provide customers with payment
`options and information(i.e., balances) for making purchas-
`ing decisions for products and services.
`[0005]
`In online transactions, either a customer provides
`necessary transaction information, such as shipping, billing
`information each time she engages in a transaction with a
`merchantor, the customer sets-up a customer account with
`the merchant to store requisite transaction information and
`imports the data from the customer accountat the time of the
`transaction. Having the customerprovide the necessary trans-
`
`action information each time she engages in a transaction
`with the merchantis a burdensomeand time-consuming task
`that impedes check-out and makes online shoppingless desir-
`able. Moreover, setting up accounts with each online mer-
`chantis also a time-consuming endeavorand poses a security
`risk in the event that the customer accounts are comprised.
`[0006] A need exists to develop systems, methods, appara-
`tus, computer programsand the like that provide highly effec-
`tive meansfor delivering targeted sales and marketing offers
`to customersand, specifically, financial institution customers.
`In addition, the desired systems, methods, apparatus and
`computer program products should provide for an overall
`improved merchant and/or customer experience, the check-
`out process is expedited.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0007] The followingpresents a simplified summary of one
`or more embodiments in orderto provide a basic understand-
`ing of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive
`overview ofall contemplated embodiments, and is intended
`to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodi-
`ments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its
`sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more
`embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more
`detailed description that is presentedlater.
`[0008] Embodiments of the present invention address the
`above needs and/or achieve other advantages by providing
`apparatuses(e.g., a system, computer program product, and/
`or other device), methods, or a combination of the foregoing
`for providing pre-population of data entry fields in an e mer-
`chant check-out system with financial institution-stored cus-
`tomer data. The pre-population method herein disclosed
`eliminates the need for the customerto fill-in the check-out
`entry fields each time a transaction occurs or to create, and
`incur the risk associated with, maintaining a customer
`account at the merchant’s website. By providing the data from
`financial institution storage, the customer benefits from a
`higher level of confidence in the security ofthe customerdata
`than would be afforded by storing the customer data at the
`merchant server. In addition, by pre-populating data entry
`fields in a merchant check-out system with financial institu-
`tion-stored customer data, the customer data may include
`customerconfigured default payment options.
`[0009] According to specific embodiments of the inven-
`tion, the pre-population is associated with a financial institu-
`tion merchantoffer program. In such embodiments, merchant
`offers are communicatedto the customer and based on accep-
`tance of an offer at a merchant, pre-population of the data
`entry fields in the merchant’s check-out system occurs.
`[0010] A method for providing data entry for a merchant
`transaction defines first embodiments of the invention. The
`
`methodincludesreceiving, at a computing device, a customer
`input that indicates the customer’s desire to initiate a trans-
`action with a merchant. The method additionally includes
`communicating, via a computing device processor, to a mer-
`chant website in response to receipt of the customer input,
`financial
`institution-stored customer-specific transaction
`information that is configured to pre-populate data entry
`fields in a merchant’s check-out system.
`[0011]
`In specific embodiments of the method, communi-
`cating the transaction information further includes commu-
`nicating, via the computing device processor, the financial
`institution-stored customertransaction information including
`paymentinformation. In one specific embodiment, the pay-
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`Aug. 4, 2011
`
`ment information may include a single-use payment identi-
`fier. In such embodiments, communicating the transaction
`information may further include communicating, via the
`computing device processor,
`the payment
`information
`including the single use paymentidentifier that is configured
`to provide payment from one or more customer-configured
`payment accounts. In such embodiments, the method may
`further include determining, via a computing device proces-
`sor, the one or more customer-configured payment accounts
`based on customer-configured paymentcriteria, such as, but
`notlimited to, one or more oftransaction amount, transaction
`producttype or transaction date.
`[0012]
`In further specific embodiments of the method,
`communicating the transaction information further includes
`communicating, via the computing device processor,
`the
`financial institution-stored customertransaction information
`
`including one or moreof shipping information,billing infor-
`mation and personalinformation.
`[0013]
`In still further specific embodiments the method
`includes communicating, via a computing device processor,
`to the customer, one or more merchantoffers associated with
`a financial institution-based merchantoffer program, wherein
`the merchant offer is a basis for the transaction. In such
`embodiments the method may further include verifying, at a
`computing device, authentication of the customer prior to
`communicating the one or more merchant offers or after
`receiving the offer acceptance communication and prior to
`communicating the transaction information.
`[0014] Moreover,
`in such embodiments of the method,
`communicating the one or more merchants offers may further
`include communicating, via the computing device, to the
`financial institution customer, one or more pre-approved mer-
`chants offers that provide for the financial
`institution to
`extend credit to the customer as payment for a transaction
`associated with a pre-approved merchant offer.
`In such
`embodiments the method may further include determining,
`via a computing device processor, the one or more pre-ap-
`proved merchant offers based on one or more of the current
`customer account balances, current customercredit rating or
`customercredit history.
`[0015]
`In still further specific embodiments the method
`includes receiving, via a computing device, a transaction
`confirmation from a merchant that confirms the transaction
`
`and automatically indicating, via a computing device proces-
`sor, in a transaction record associated with the transaction,
`that the merchant is guaranteed payment by the financial
`institution.
`
`[0016] An apparatus for providing data entry for a mer-
`chanttransaction defines second embodiments of the inven-
`
`tion. The apparatus includes a computing platform including
`at least one processor and a memory. Additionally, the appa-
`ratus includes a financialinstitution-based transaction track-
`ing application stored in the memory, executable by the pro-
`cessor and configured to receive a customer input
`that
`indicates the customer’s desire to initiate a transaction with a
`
`merchant. In addition, the apparatus includes a transaction
`information routine stored in the memory, executable by the
`processor and configured to communicate, to a merchant
`website in responseto receipt ofthe customerinput, financial
`institution-stored customer-specific transaction information
`that pre-populates entry fields in the merchant’s check-out
`system.
`In specific embodiments of the apparatus, the trans-
`[0017]
`action information routine is further configured to communi-
`
`institution-stored customer transaction
`cate the financial
`information including payment information, such as, but not
`limited to, a single-use paymentidentifier. In such embodi-
`ments of the apparatus, the single use paymentidentifier is
`configured to provide payment from one or more customer-
`configured payment accounts. In further such embodiments
`the apparatus may include a payment determining routine
`configured to determine the one or more customer-configured
`paymentaccounts based customer-configured paymentcrite-
`ria, such as, but notlimited to, transaction amount,transaction
`product type or transaction date.
`[0018]
`In other specific embodiments of the apparatus, the
`transaction information routine is further configured to com-
`municatethe financialinstitution-stored customertransaction
`
`information including one or more of shipping information,
`billing information and personal information.
`[0019]
`In still further specific embodiments the apparatus
`includes a merchant offer program application stored in the
`memory, executable by the processor, including the financial
`institution-based transaction tracking application and config-
`ured to communicate one or more merchantoffers to a finan-
`cial institution customer and to receive the customer input
`that indicates the customer’s desire to accept one of the mer-
`chant offers and initiate the transaction with a merchant. In
`
`such embodiments of the apparatus, the merchant offer pro-
`gram application maybe further configured to verify authen-
`tication of the financial institution customerprior to commu-
`nicating the one or more merchantoffers orafter receiving the
`offer acceptance communication and prior to communicating
`the transaction information. In other related embodiments of
`the apparatus, the merchant offer program application is fur-
`ther configured to communicate, to the financial institution
`customer, one or more pre-approved merchant offers that
`provide for the financial institution to extend credit to the
`customeras paymentfor a transaction associated with a pre-
`approved merchantoffer. In such embodiments the apparatus
`may further include a pre-approved offer determination rou-
`tine stored in the memory, executable by the processor and
`configured to determine the one or more pre-approved mer-
`chant offers based on one or more of the current customer
`
`account balances, current customercredit rating or customer
`credit history. In still further specific embodiments of the
`apparatus, the merchant offer program application is further
`configured to receive a transaction confirmation from a mer-
`chant that confirms the transaction and automatically indi-
`cate, in a transaction record associated with the transaction,
`that the merchant is guaranteed payment by the financial
`institution.
`
`[0020] A computer program product including a non-tran-
`sitory computer-readable medium provides for third embodi-
`ments of the invention. The computer-readable medium
`includesa first set of codes for causing a computerto receive
`a customer input that indicates the customer’s desire to ini-
`tiate a transaction with a merchant. Additionally, the com-
`puter readable-readable medium includes a second set of
`codes for causing a computer to communicate to a merchant
`website in responseto receipt of the customerinput,financial
`institution-stored customer-specific transaction information
`that is configured to pre-populate data entry fields in a mer-
`chant’s check-out system.
`[0021] Thus, systems, apparatus, methods, and computer
`program products herein described provide for pre-populat-
`ing data entry fields at a merchant check-out system with
`financial institution-stored customerdata.
`
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`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`Aug. 4, 2011
`
`To the accomplishmentof the foregoing andrelated
`[0022]
`ends, the one or more embodiments comprise the features
`hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the
`claims. The following description and the annexed drawings
`set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or
`more embodiments. These features are indicative, however,
`of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of
`various embodiments may be employed,and this description
`is intendedto includeall such embodiments and their equiva-
`lents.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbersrefer to
`like elements throughout. Although some embodiments of
`the invention described herein are generally described as
`involving a “financial institution,” one of ordinary skill in the
`art will appreciate that the invention maybe utilized by other
`businessesthat take the place of or work in conjunction with
`financial institutions to perform one or moreofthe processes
`or steps described herein as being performed by a financial
`institution.
`
`[0035] As will be appreciated by one ofskill in theart in
`view ofthis disclosure, the present invention may be embod-
`ied as an apparatus(e.g., a system, computer program prod-
`uct, and/or other device), a method, or a combination of the
`foregoing. Accordingly, embodiments of the present inven-
`tion may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment,
`an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resi-
`dent software, micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combin-
`ing software and hardware aspects that may generally be
`referred to herein as a “system.” Furthermore, embodiments
`of the present invention may take the form of a computer
`program product comprising a computer-usable storage
`medium having computer-usable program code/computer-
`readable instructions embodied in the medium.
`
`[0023] Having thus described embodiments of the inven-
`tion in general terms, reference will now be made to the
`accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to
`scale, and wherein:
`[0024]
`FIG. 1 provides a block diagram illustrating an
`apparatus configured for pre-population of data entry fields in
`a merchant check-out system, in accordance with embodi-
`ments of the present invention;
`[0025]
`FIG. 2 provides a block diagram illustrating cus-
`tomerand financial institution apparatus for implementing a
`financial institution-based merchantoffer program, in accor-
`[0036] Any suitable computer-usable or computer-read-
`dance with present embodiments of the invention;
`able medium maybeutilized. The computer usable or com-
`
`[0026] FIG.3provides a block diagram illustrating a finan-
`puter readable medium may be, for example but not limited
`cial institution apparatus for indicating/storing a merchant
`to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared,
`offer customer profile information including transaction
`or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device. More specific
`information, in accordance with embodimentsofthe present
`examples (e.g., a non-exhaustivelist) of the computer-read-
`invention;
`able medium would include the following: an electrical con-
`[0027]
`FIG. 4 provides a flow diagram of a method for
`nection having one or more wires; a tangible medium such as
`pre-populating of data entry fields in a merchant check-out
`a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access
`system,
`in accordance with embodiments of the present
`memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable
`invention;
`programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash
`[0028] FIG.5 provides a block diagramillustrating a com-
`memory), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or
`prehensive financial institution-based merchant offer pro-
`other tangible optical or magnetic storage device.
`gram environment, in accordance with an embodimentofthe
`[0037] Computer
`program
`code/computer-readable
`present invention;
`instructions for carrying out operations of embodiments of
`[0029]
`FIG. 6A provides an integrated online financial
`the present invention may be written in an object oriented,
`banking and customer shopping process, in accordance with
`scripted or unscripted programming language such as Java,
`an embodimentof the present invention;
`Pearl, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer
`[0030]
`FIG. 6B provides a continuation of the integrated
`program code/computer-readable instructions for carrying
`online financial banking and customer shopping process, in
`out operations of the invention may also be written in con-
`accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;
`ventional procedural programming languages, such as the
`[0031]
`FIG. 7 provides a web browser and merchant offer
`“C” programming language or similar programming lan-
`program notification alert, in accordance with an embodi-
`guages.
`mentof the present invention;
`[0038] Embodiments ofthe present invention are described
`[0032]
`FIG. 8 provides a local merchant offer program
`below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block
`application interface, in accordance with an embodimentof
`the present invention; and
`[0033]
`FIG. 9 provides a local merchant offer program
`application interface activated by a customer searching the
`Internet, in accordance with an embodimentof the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0034] Embodiments of the present invention will now be
`described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accom-
`panying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments
`of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be
`embodied in many different forms and should not be con-
`strued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
`these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
`
`14
`
`diagrams of methods or apparatuses (the term “apparatus”
`including systems and computer program products). It will be
`understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/
`
`or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flow-
`chart
`illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be imple-
`mented by computer program instructions. These computer
`program instructions may be provided to a processor of a
`general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other
`programmable data processing apparatus to produce a par-
`ticular machine,such that the instructions, which execute via
`the processor of the computer or other programmable data
`processing apparatus, create mechanisms for implementing
`the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block
`diagram block or blocks.
`[0039] These computer program instructions may also be
`stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a com-
`
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`

`US 2011/0191177 Al
`
`Aug. 4, 2011
`
`puter or other programmable data processing apparatus to
`function in a particular manner, such that the instructions
`stored in the computer readable memory producean article of
`manufacture including instructions, which implement the
`function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram
`block or blocks.
`
`[0040] The computer program instructions may also be
`loaded onto a computer or other programmable data process-
`ing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be
`performed on the computeror other programmable apparatus
`to produce a computer implemented process such that the
`instructions, which execute on the computer or other pro-
`grammable apparatus, provide steps for implementing the
`functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram
`block or blocks. Alternatively, computer program imple-
`mented steps or acts may be combined with operator or
`human implemented steps or acts in order to carry out an
`embodimentofthe invention.
`
`[0041] Embodiments of the present invention provide for
`systems, devices, apparatus, methods and computer program
`products for providing pre-population of data entry fields ina
`merchant check-out system with financial-institution-stored
`customerdata. The pre-population method herein disclosed
`eliminates the need for the customertofill-in the check-out
`
`entry fields each time a transaction occurs or to create, and
`incur the risk associated with, maintaining a customer
`account at the merchant’s website. By providing the data from
`financial institution storage, the customer benefits from a
`higher level of confidence in the security ofthe customer data
`than would be afforded by storing the customer data at the
`merchant server. In addition, by pre-populating data entry
`fields in a merchant check-out system with financial institu-
`tion-stored customer data, the customer data may include
`customerconfigured default payment options.
`[0042] Referring to FIG. 1 a block diagram is depicted ofan
`apparatus configured for pre-populationof data entry fields in
`a merchant check-out system. The pre-populated data is cus-
`tomer-specific transaction data stored at a financial institution
`or a server under control of a financial institution. The appa-
`ratus 12 includes a computing platform 13 having a processor
`14 and a memory 16 in communication with the processor.
`[0043] The memory 16 of apparatus 12 stores financial
`institution-based transaction tracking application 60 config-
`ured to receive a customerinput 62 thatindicates the custom-
`er’s desire to initiate a transaction with a merchant. The trans-
`action tracking application 60 which may be an applet, widget
`or the like may be executed on locally on the customer’s
`computing device or executed on the merchant’s website. The
`customer input 62 may be provided directly to a graphical
`user interface (GUI) associated with the transaction tracking
`application 60 or the customer input 62 may be provided to
`the merchantserver, such as activating an “add to cart” but-
`ton/key or the like, and communicated to the transaction
`tracking application 60.
`[0044]
`In specific embodiments, discussed in relation to
`FIG. 2,
`infra.,
`the transaction tracking application 60 is
`included within a financial-institution based merchant offer
`program. Based on predetermined relationships between a
`financial institution and merchants, the financial institution
`provides participat