Granted Patent B2

US 12,260,396 · App. 13/483,711 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Inventors: Tomas Ariel Campos (Berkeley, CA); Keith Miller (Livermore, CA); Teri Llach (Palo Alto, CA); Kellie D. Harper (Alpine, UT); Ansar Ansari (Santa Clara, CA)

Assignee: Blackhawk Network, Inc.

G06Q20/36G06Q20/16G06Q20/3674G06Q20/40

Abstract

Claims (105)

1. A computer implemented electronic wallet managing method comprising:

receiving, by an electronic value token transaction computer at initiation of a request to process a payment transaction, an authentication token, wherein the authentication token is generated at the initiation of the request to process the payment transaction and wherein the authentication token provides for secure access to an electronic wallet and uniquely identifies the payment transaction;

receiving, by the electronic value token transaction computer via a user's smart phone or a user's proxy card, which is distinct from value token issuers' authorization systems, the request to process the payment transaction, wherein the request to process the payment transaction is by a user against the user's electronic wallets maintained by an e-wallet aggregator system at another entity, wherein the user is a consumer, and wherein the user's electronic wallets comprises a primary electronic wallet and a plurality of electronic sub-wallets within the primary electronic wallet;

determining, by the electronic value token transaction computer, a portion of the request is related to values in the primary electronic wallet; and

determining, by the electronic value token transaction computer, another portion of the request is related to values in an electronic sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets;

identifying, by the electronic value token transaction computer using the authentication token received, the primary e-wallet and sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets necessary to effectuate the received e-wallet transaction request;

sorting, by a sorting processor unit of the electronic value token transaction computer, various communications for routing according to a type of the communication;

routing, by the sorting processor unit of the electronic value token transaction computer via an e-wallet aggregator system interface using the type of communication, the request to the identified primary e-wallet and sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets at the e-wallet aggregator system;

requiring, by the electronic value token transaction computer, to process the payment transaction, the authentication token;

identifying, by the electronic value token transaction computer, respective value tokens in the user's identified primary electronic wallet and electronic sub-wallets;

authorizing, by the electronic value token transaction computer, the request; and

applying, by the electronic value token transaction computer, at least a respective portion of the respective value tokens from the identified primary electronic wallet and electronic sub-wallet to at least the respective portion of the request based on rules.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

processing, by the electronic value token transaction computer, at least a portion of the request via at least one of the user's electronic the sub-wallets.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the e-wallet aggregator system receives the request, the method further comprising:

sending, by the electronic value token transaction computer, the portion of the request from the e-wallet aggregator system to a third party.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one electronic sub-wallet comprises a sub-sub-wallet.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value token comprises an electronic representation of value, wherein the electronic representation of value comprises a credit card, debit card, gift card, prepaid telephone card, loyalty card, membership card, ticket or ticket card, entertainment card, sports card, prepaid card, coupon, admission pass, prepaid or pre-purchases of goods or services, cash, currency, credit card account, debit card account, merchant account, bank account, merchant-issued credit, merchant-issued point, merchant-issued promotional value, merchant-accepted credit, merchant-accepted point, merchant-accepted promotional value, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the value token further comprises at least two electronic representations of value of different types.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying at least a portion of the value token comprises using the value token according to a set of configurable rules specifying priority of the value tokens.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the priority is based on a transaction information variable comprising:

physical location of a retailer originating the user's electronic wallet request;

transaction amount;

type of retailer;

time of day;

day of week;

week of month;

month of year;

department of retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

lane of retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

identification of checker;

parent company of a retailer originating the user's electronic wallet request;

value of value tokens;

type of the user's electronic wallet request; or

combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying at least the portion of the value token comprises using the value token according to a set of configurable rules specifying percentages of the user's electronic wallet request to which value tokens may be applied.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

exchanging, by the electronic value token transaction computer, at least the portion of the value token of the user's electronic wallet for at least a portion of a second value token not located in the user's electronic wallet.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

applying, by the electronic value token transaction computer, an exchange rate against the second value token or an asset located in the user's electronic wallet.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein exchanging at least a portion of the value token comprises:

contacting, by the electronic value token transaction computer, a second value token distributor; and

requesting, by the electronic value token transaction computer, the second value token distributor to provide the second value token.

13. The computer implemented electronic wallet managing method of claim 1 wherein the user's electronic wallet is accessible via the Internet by use of a personal digital assistant.

14. An electronic wallet managing system comprising:

a processor, and

a memory comprising executable instructions, that when executed by the processor performs operations comprising:

receiving, at initiation of a request to process a payment transaction, an authentication token, wherein the authentication token is generated at the initiation of the request to process the payment transaction and wherein the authentication token provides for secure access to an electronic wallet and uniquely identifies the payment transaction;

receiving, via a user's smart phone or a user's proxy card, which is distinct from value token issuers' authorization systems, the request to process the payment transaction, wherein the request to process a payment transaction is by a user against electronic wallets of the user maintained by an e-wallet aggregator system at another entity, wherein the user is a consumer, and wherein the electronic wallets of the user comprises a primary electronic wallet and a plurality of electronic sub-wallets within the primary electronic wallet;

determining a portion of the request is related to values in the primary electronic wallet;

determining another portion of the request is related to values in an electronic sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets;

identifying, using the authentication token received, the primary electronic wallet and a first electronic sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets necessary to effectuate the received electronic wallet transaction request;

sorting, various communications for routing according to a type of communication;

routing, via an e-wallet aggregator system interface, using the type of communication, the request to the identified primary electronic wallet and the first electronic sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets at the e-wallet aggregator system;

requiring the authentication token to process the payment transaction;

identifying respective value tokens in the user's primary electronic wallet and electronic sub-wallets;

authorizing the request; and

applying at least a respective portion of the respective value tokens from the identified user's primary electronic wallet and electronic sub-wallets to at least the respective portion of the request based on rules.

15. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 , further comprising processing at least a portion of the request via at least one of the user's electronic the sub-wallets.

16. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 further comprising:

the e-wallet aggregator system configured to receive the request; and

the electronic value token transaction computer configured to send the portion of the request from the e-wallet aggregator system to a third party.

17. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 , wherein at least one electronic sub-wallet comprises a sub-sub-wallet.

18. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 ,

wherein the value token comprises an electronic representation of value,

wherein the electronic representation of value comprises a credit card, debit card, gift card, prepaid telephone card, loyalty card, membership card, ticket or ticket card, entertainment card, sports card, prepaid card, coupon, admission pass, prepaid or pre-purchases of goods or services, cash, currency, credit card account, debit card account, merchant account, bank account, merchant-issued credit, merchant-issued point, merchant-issued promotional value, merchant-accepted credit, merchant-accepted point, merchant-accepted promotional value, or combinations thereof.

19. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 18 , wherein the value token further comprises at least two electronic representations of value of different types.

20. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 , wherein the electronic value token transaction computer applies at least a portion of the value token using the value token according to a set of configurable rules specifying priority of the value tokens.

21. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 20 , wherein the priority is based on a transaction information variable comprising:

physical location of a retailer originating the user's electronic wallet request;

transaction amount;

type of retailer;

time of day;

day of week;

week of month;

month of year;

department of retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

lane of retailer originating the electronic wallet request;

identification of checker;

parent company of a retailer originating the user's electronic wallet request;

value of value tokens;

type of the user's electronic wallet request; or

combinations thereof.

22. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 , further comprising:

applying at least the portion of the value token using the value token according to a set of configurable rules specifying percentages of the user's electronic wallet request to which value tokens may be applied.

23. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 , further comprising:

exchanging at least the portion of the value token of the user's electronic wallet for at least a portion of a second value token not located in the user's electronic wallet.

24. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 23 , further comprising:

applying an exchange rate against the second value token or an asset located in the user's electronic wallet.

25. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 23 , wherein the exchange of the value token comprises:

the electronic value token transaction computer contacting a second value token distributor; and

the electronic value token transaction computer requesting the second value token distributor to provide the second value token.

26. The electronic wallet managing system of claim 14 , wherein the user's electronic wallet is accessible via the Internet by use of a personal digital assistant.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions, that when executed by a processor of a computer causes the computer to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at initiation of a request to process a payment transaction, an authentication token, wherein the authentication token is generated at the initiation of the request to process the payment transaction and wherein the authentication token provides for secure access to an electronic wallet and uniquely identifies the payment transaction;

receiving, via a user's smart phone or a user's proxy card, which is distinct from value token issuers' authorization systems, the request to process the payment transaction, wherein the request to process a payment transaction is by a user against electronic wallets of the user maintained by an e-wallet aggregator system at another entity, wherein the user is a consumer, and wherein the electronic wallets of the user comprises a primary electronic wallet and a plurality of electronic sub-wallets within the primary electronic wallet;

determining a portion of the request is related to values in the primary electronic wallet;

determining another portion of the request is related to values in an electronic sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets;

identifying, using the authentication token received, the primary electronic wallet and a first electronic sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets necessary to effectuate the received electronic wallet transaction request;

sorting, various communications for routing according to a type of communication;

routing, via an e-wallet aggregator system interface, using the type of communication, the request to the identified primary electronic wallet and the first electronic sub-wallet of the plurality of electronic sub-wallets at the e-wallet aggregator system;

requiring the authentication token to process the payment transaction; identifying respective value tokens in the user's primary electronic wallet and electronic sub-wallets;

authorizing the request; and

applying at least a respective portion of the respective value tokens from the identified user's primary electronic wallet and electronic sub-wallets to at least the respective portion of the request based on rules.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions of claim 27 , that when executed by the processor of the computer caused the computer to perform operations further comprising processing at least a portion of the request via at least one of the user's electronic the sub-wallets.

Assignments (6)

Continuity (13)

References Cited (400)