| CPC G06Q 20/409 (2013.01) [G06Q 20/202 (2013.01); G06Q 20/203 (2013.01); G06Q 20/204 (2013.01); G06Q 20/342 (2013.01); G06Q 40/02 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. A method for facilitating real-time item-specific application of a gift card balance to a purchase within a collaborative gift card network, the collaborative gift card network comprising:
a network-connected server, the server comprising:
one or more communications modules configured to establish one or more communicative connections with external computer systems over one or more computer networks;
a long-term memory store;
a blockchain record maintained on the long-term memory store;
short-term memory; and
a processor;
wherein the communications module, the long-term memory store, and the short term memory store are operatively connected with the processor to allow the processor to access the communications module, the long-term memory store, and the short-term memory thereby providing the processor with access to data therefrom and transfer of data thereto;
a retailer computer system;
a consumer computing device; and
a bank card processor computer system;
the method comprising:
storing, in the blockchain record of the long-term memory store, information relating to one or more items for which use of a one-time-use gift card is authorized, the information relating to one or more items for which use of a one-time-use gift card is authorized comprising information selected from the group consisting of a stock keeping unit (SKU), a global trade item number (GTIN), a universal product code (UPC), an international article number (ARN), and an Australian product number (APN) or the one or more items for which use of a one-time-use gift card is authorized;
generating a list of one-time-use gift card numbers and associated gift card amounts;
storing the one-time-use gift card numbers and associated gift card amounts in the blockchain record of the long-term memory store with an association between each one-time-use gift card number and its associated gift card amount and information identifying one or more items for which use of the one-time-use gift card number and its associated gift card amount is authorized;
establishing a bank card processor communicative connection between the server and bank card processor computer system;
establishing a retailer communicative connection between the server and the retailer computer system;
forming a geofence to create a geofenced area;
determining passage of the consumer computing device into the geofenced area, as determined by at least one of GPS data and RFID data obtained from the consumer computing device;
upon passage of the consumer computing device into the geofenced area, as determined by at least one of GPS data and RFID data obtained from the consumer computing device, issuing one of the one-time-use gift card numbers to a consumer through the consumer computing device for use in purchasing the one or more items for which of use of the one-time-use gift card number is authorized;
receiving the one-time-use gift card number at the retailer computer system as at least partial payment for a purchase;
receiving an authorization request at the bank card processor computer system from the retailer computer system over a bank card authorization communicative connection;
receiving at the server, over the bank card processor communicative connection from the bank card processor computer system, an electronic communication comprising the one of the one-time-use gift card numbers and information identifying a retailer where the one of the one-time-use gift card numbers was provided as at least partial payment for a purchase;
updating the blockchain record with information related to the purchase when the purchase includes the one or more items for which use of the one-time-use gift card number and its associated gift card amount is authorized; and
automatically transmitting from the server, over the retailer communicative connection to the retailer computer system, information authorizing the retailer where the one-time-use gift card number was provided as at least partial payment to apply the gift card amount to the purchase only when the purchase includes the one or more items for which use of the one-time-use gift card number and its associated gift card amount is authorized.
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