Rebate processing system and method offering selectable disbursement options
View Patent ↗A system is disclosed that provides computer-aided processing of a rebate on a product. The system includes a rebate processing center communicating over a network with a manufacturer, a distributor, and a consumer. The rebate processing center maintains a promotion table and a transaction table in order to facilitate processing of product rebates and to offer the consumer a choice of disbursement options.
1. A computer-based interface for facilitating rebate processing, the interface operable to:
display a plurality of product identifiers using the computer-based interface, wherein each of the product identifiers is associated with a product bearing a rebate;
receive purchase information from a user, wherein the purchase information identifies a purchased product associated with a selected one of the product identifiers;
receive a rebate request for a rebate on the purchased product, the rebate request having an associated rebate transaction identifier assigned by a remote rebate processing center;
retrieve status information for the rebate request from the remote rebate processing center using the rebate transaction identifier;
display the status information;
receive authorization of the rebate request;
display rebate information retrieved from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate information comprising at least two disbursement options determined based on the purchase information, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and
receive a selection of the disbursement options.
2. The computer-based interface of claim 1 , further operable to:
receive a search string; and
display the product identifiers responsive to the search string.
3. The computer-based interface of claim 1 , wherein the rebate request comprises a request for a rebate on a purchased product, and the disbursement options comprise a plurality of products related to the purchased product available to purchase using a rebate credit.
4. The computer-based interface of claim 1 , further operable to:
display a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;
receive purchase selections from the plurality of products; and
display a total price of the purchase selections.
5. The computer-based interface of claim 4 , further operable to receive credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.
6. The computer-based interface of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a site browser and further operable to display an additional site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.
7. The computer-based interface of claim 1 , wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.
8. The computer-based interface of claim 1 , wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.
9. A method for processing a rebate, comprising:
displaying a plurality of product identifiers using a computer-based interface, wherein each of the product identifiers is associated with a product bearing a rebate;
receiving purchase information from a user, wherein the purchase information identifies a purchased product associated with a selected one of the product identifiers;
receiving a rebate request for a rebate on the purchased product, the rebate request having an associated rebate transaction identifier assigned by a remote rebate processing center;
retrieving status information for the rebate request from the remote rebate processing center using the rebate transaction identifier;
displaying the status information;
receiving authorization of the rebate request;
displaying rebate information retrieved from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate information comprising at least two disbursement options determined based on the purchase information, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and
receiving a selection of the disbursement options.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a search string; and
displaying the product identifiers responsive to the search string.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the rebate request comprises a request for a rebate on a purchased product, and the disbursement options comprise a plurality of products related to the purchased product available to purchase using a rebate credit.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
displaying a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;
receiving purchase selections from the plurality of products; and
displaying a total price of the purchase selections.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising linking to a site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.
17. A rebate processor, comprising:
a memory operable to store a promotion comprising at least two disbursement options, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and
a processor, operable to:
receive a rebate request from a user;
assign a rebate transaction identifier to the rebate request;
communicate the rebate transaction identifier to the user;
match the rebate request to the promotion;
communicate an authorization of the rebate request, wherein the authorization comprises the disbursement options; and
receive a selection of the disbursement options.
18. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein:
the promotion further comprises a first promotion identifier;
the rebate request comprises a second promotion identifier; and
the processor is further operable to match the rebate request to the promotion based on a comparison of the first promotion identifier and the second promotion identifier.
19. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
receive purchase information from a consumer; and
identify the promotion based on the purchase information.
20. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein the rebate request comprises a request for a rebate on a purchased product, and the disbursement options comprise a plurality of products related to the purchased product available to purchase using a rebate credit.
21. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein the memory is further operable to store status information, wherein status information comprises a current status of the rebate request.
22. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further operable to:
communicate a product list, wherein the product list comprises a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;
receive purchase selections from the product list; and
display a total price of the purchase selections.
23. The rebate processor of claim 22 , wherein the processor is further operable to receive credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.
24. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further operable to communicate a location of a site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.
25. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.
26. The rebate processor of claim 17 , wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.
27. A method for processing a rebate, comprising:
receiving purchase information identifying a product bearing a rebate;
communicating the purchase information to a remote rebate processing center using an electronic communications network;
receiving rebate information describing the rebate from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate information comprising at least two disbursement options, a first one of the disbursement options having a first cash value to a recipient and a second one of the disbursement options having a second cash value to a recipient, the first cash value different than the second cash value; and
displaying the rebate information;
receiving consumer information from a user, wherein the consumer information identifies a purchase of the product bearing the rebate;
communicating the consumer information to the remote rebate processing center to initiate a rebate request;
receiving a rebate transaction identifier from the remote rebate processing center, the rebate transaction identifier assigned to the rebate request by the remote rebate processing center;
outputting the rebate transaction identifier for physical delivery to the remote rebate processing center;
retrieving status information for the rebate request from the remote rebate processing center using the rebate transaction identifier; and
displaying the status information.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the disbursement options comprise a list of products available to purchase using a rebate credit, wherein the list is determined based on the purchase information.
29. The method of claim 27 , further comprising:
displaying a plurality of products available to purchase using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options;
receiving purchase selections from the plurality of products; and
displaying a total price of the purchase selections.
30. The method of claim 29 , further comprising receiving credit card information from the user if the total price exceeds the credit.
31. The method of claim 27 , further comprising linking to a site for purchasing products using a credit associated with a selected one of the disbursement options.
32. The method of claim 27 , wherein the disbursement options comprise a cash rebate and a credit voucher.
33. The method of claim 27 , wherein the credit voucher comprises a selected one of a retailer gift certificate, a manufacturer credit voucher, and a credit valid for an Internet purchase.