Patent ID: 8083133
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A system for purchasing and activating gift cards from a plurality of card issuers, wherein the plurality of card issuers are gift card merchants at which the gift cards may be used for purchases or redemption, wherein the gift cards are physically distributed to retail locations by a distributor, and wherein amounts owed on account of the purchase and activation are calculated, the system comprising: a POS device at retailer locations where at each location the gift cards from a plurality of different card issuers are separately purchased and activated, the POS device for receiving identifying data from each gift card to be activated by the retailer; a distribution database operated by the distributor for receiving the identifying data and creating an activation record for each activated card, wherein the identifying data includes a universal product (UPC) code, and wherein each UPC code is associated with at least one card type ID stored in the database for each of the plurality of card issuers, and wherein for each card type ID there is both associated distributor fee data and associated retailer commission data; a separate gift card account database for establishing an account in response to an activation request having the identifying data for the card to be activated, the gift card account database operated by an independent party that is not the retailer, distributor, or one of the plurality of card issuers; a distribution processing system associated with the distribution database and operated by the distributor, wherein the processing system forwards the activation request to the gift card account database for establishing the account for the card to be activated, and wherein the processing system uses the activation record to calculate any amounts owed to at least one of the retailer, distributor and plurality of card issuers for cards purchased and activated at the retailer locations, so that not only the physical distribution of cards, but also the activation of cards and the accounting for amounts owed among the retailer, distributor and each of the plurality of card issuers are all handled by the distributor; and a financial network for conducting electronic ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers to an account of at least one of the retailer, distributor and plurality of gift card issuers for paying any owed amounts calculated by the processing system; wherein the UPC code is associated with data in the distribution database that identifies one of the plurality of card issuers, and for each card type of each issuer, a commission rate used for paying retailers, a distribution fee paid to the distributor that distributes the gift card to the retailer locations, and a value associated with the gift card.