Patent ID: 7251625
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for identifying a customer in a customer database system that tracks purchase transactions, the customer having purchased a product at a point of sale location by using a payment mechanism to pay for the product purchase, the method comprising: a) determining a customer name for the customer from the payment mechanism without requiring the customer to disclose their customer name other than by completing the purchase with the payment mechanism; b) creating a computerized list of potential matches, the potential matches each being an identity of a particular person, wherein an identity constitutes information that uniquely identifies a particular person, the list of potential matches being created by c) developing a profile of demographic characteristics based upon the purchased product, at least one of the demographic characteristics included in the profile coming from the set of characteristics comprising income, parental status, marital status, education, and age; d) selecting a best match identity from the computerized list of potential matches, the best match identity indicating which of the plurality of identities in the list of potential matches is to be selected as the identity for the customer name, the best match being selected by e) using the best match identity as the identity for the customer name in the customer database system.