Patent Publication Number: US-2015088643-A1

Title: Method and system for linking social data instantaneously to purchase transactions

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the generating of a social network message linked to a purchase transaction, specifically the automatic and instantaneous generation of a message to be published on a social network based on transaction data corresponding to a purchase transaction. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Social networks have provided consumers with the ability to quickly and easily be in contact with a vast number of friends, family members, colleagues, associates, and followers. The ability to quickly reach to a large number of people has led many merchants and retailers to encourage consumers to publish posts, tweets, or other messages to social networks indicating their participation at the merchant as a targeted marketing effort without the expense and resources of traditional marketing methods. However, publishing messages on a social network may take a significant amount of time and effort for a consumer, and thus many consumers may be unwilling to publish a message to their social networks as a benefit to the merchant. 
     In order to encourage consumers to publish social network messages as advertising, some merchants have begun offering incentives to consumers. For example, some merchants may provide discounts or other offers if a consumer shows proof of a social network post or message regarding their visit, such as the consumer checking-in to the merchant on Foursquare prior to transacting. However, such methods similarly require significant actions to be performed by the consumer and thus may discourage consumers from participating. 
     In an effort to ease the burden on consumers, some merchants have begun pre-populating messages for posting to social networks as part of the processing of an e-commerce transaction. In some instances, the merchant may request the consumer to publish a message to a social network following a successful transaction, providing the consumer with a pre-populated message advertising the merchant and/or the completed transaction. In such instances, the burden on the consumer is reduced, as the message has been generated for them. However, such methods often require significant modification to existing merchant systems, which may be costly in both time and resources and may accordingly be unavailable to a variety of merchants. 
     Thus, there is a need for a technical system configured to provide for automatic generation of messages based on purchase or payment transactions for publishing by a social network without requiring modification or expelling of merchant resources. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a description of systems and methods for generation social network messages linked to purchase transactions. 
     A method for generating a social network message linked to a payment transaction includes: storing, in a profile database, a plurality of consumer profiles, wherein each consumer profile includes data related to a consumer including at least a consumer identifier, a social network identifier, a device identifier, and one or more preferences; receiving, by a receiving device, an authorization request for a payment transaction, wherein the authorization request includes at least transaction data and a specific consumer identifier; identifying, in the profile database, a specific consumer profile wherein the included consumer identifier corresponds to the specific consumer identifier; generating, by a processing device, a social network message, where the social network message includes at least the transaction data and the social network identifier included in the specific consumer profile and is generated pursuant to the one or more preferences included in the specific consumer profile; transmitting, by a transmitting device, the generated social network message to a computing device corresponding to the device identifier included in the specific consumer profile; receiving, by the receiving device, an indication of approval of the generated social network message from the computing device; and transmitting, by the transmitting device, the generated social network message to a social network for publishing. 
     A system for generating a social network message linked to a payment transaction includes a profile database, a receiving device, a processing device, and a transmitting device. The profile database is configured to store a plurality of consumer profiles, wherein each consumer profile includes data related to a consumer including at least a consumer identifier, a social network identifier, a device identifier, and one or more preferences. The receiving device is configured to receive an authorization request for a payment transaction, wherein the authorization request includes at least transaction data and a specific consumer identifier. The processing device is configured to: identify, in the profile database, a specific consumer profile where the included consumer identifier corresponds to the specific consumer identifier; and generate a social network message, wherein the social network message includes at least the transaction data and the social network identifier included in the specific consumer profile and is generated pursuant to the one or more preferences included in the specific consumer profile. The transmitting device is configured to transmit the generated social network message to a computing device corresponding to the device identifier included in the specific consumer profile. The receiving device is further configured to receive an indication of approval of the generated social network message from the computing device. The transmitting device is further configured to transmit the generated social network message to a social network for publishing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The scope of the present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Included in the drawings are the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a high level architecture illustrating a system for generating social network messages linked to payment transactions in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the processing server of  FIG. 1  for the generating of social network messages linked to payment transactions in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating the profile database of the processing server of  FIG. 2  for the storing of consumer profiles in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating a process for generating and publishing a social network message based on payment transaction data in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for generating a social network message in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for distributing an offer based on a published social network message in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for generating a social network messaged linked to a payment transaction in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a computer system architecture in accordance with exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description of exemplary embodiments are intended for illustration purposes only and are, therefore, not intended to necessarily limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Definition of Terms 
     Payment Network—A system or network used for the transfer of money via the use of cash-substitutes. Payment networks may use a variety of different protocols and procedures in order to process the transfer of money for various types of transactions. Transactions that may be performed via a payment network may include product or service purchases, credit purchases, debit transactions, fund transfers, account withdrawals, etc. Payment networks may be configured to perform transactions via cash-substitutes, which may include payment cards, letters of credit, checks, financial accounts, etc. Examples of networks or systems configured to perform as payment networks include those operated by MasterCard®, VISA®, Discover®, American Express®, PayPal®, etc. Use of the term “payment network” herein may refer to both the payment network as an entity, and the physical payment network, such as the equipment, hardware, and software comprising the payment network. 
     Payment Account—A financial account that may be used to fund a transaction, such as a checking account, savings account, credit account, virtual payment account, etc. A payment account may be associated with an entity, which may include a person, family, company, corporation, governmental entity, etc. In some instances, a payment account may be virtual, such as those accounts operated by PayPal®, etc. 
     Payment Card—A card or data associated with a payment account that may be provided to a merchant in order to fund a financial transaction via the associated payment account. Payment cards may include credit cards, debit cards, charge cards, stored-value cards, prepaid cards, fleet cards, virtual payment numbers, virtual card numbers, controlled payment numbers, etc. A payment card may be a physical card that may be provided to a merchant, or may be data representing the associated payment account (e.g., as stored in a communication device, such as a smart phone or computer). For example, in some instances, data including a payment account number may be considered a payment card for the processing of a transaction funded by the associated payment account. In some instances, a check may be considered a payment card where applicable. 
     Merchant—An entity that provides products (e.g., goods and/or services) for purchase by another entity, such as a consumer or another merchant. A merchant may be a consumer, a retailer, a wholesaler, a manufacturer, or any other type of entity that may provide products for purchase as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. In some instances, a merchant may have special knowledge in the goods and/or services provided for purchase. In other instances, a merchant may not have or require and special knowledge in offered products. In some embodiments, an entity involved in a single transaction may be considered a merchant. 
     Issuer—An entity that establishes (e.g., opens) a letter or line of credit in favor of a beneficiary, and honors drafts drawn by the beneficiary against the amount specified in the letter or line of credit. In many instances, the issuer may be a bank or other financial institution authorized to open lines of credit. In some instances, any entity that may extend a line of credit to a beneficiary may be considered an issuer. The line of credit opened by the issuer may be represented in the form of a payment account, and may be drawn on by the beneficiary via the use of a payment card. 
     Acquirer—An entity that may process payment card transactions on behalf of a merchant. The acquirer may be a bank or other financial institution authorized to process payment card transactions on a merchant&#39;s behalf. In many instances, the acquirer may open a line of credit with the merchant acting as a beneficiary. The acquirer may exchange funds with an issuer in instances where a consumer, which may be a beneficiary to a line of credit offered by the issuer, transacts via a payment card with a merchant that is represented by the acquirer. 
     Payment Transaction—A transaction between two entities in which money or other financial benefit is exchanged from one entity to the other. The payment transaction may be a transfer of funds, for the purchase of goods or services, for the repayment of debt, or for any other exchange of financial benefit as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. In some instances, payment transaction may refer to transactions funded via a payment card and/or payment account, such as credit card transactions. Such payment transactions may be processed via an issuer, payment network, and acquirer. The process for processing such a payment transaction may include at least one of authorization, batching, clearing, settlement, and funding. Authorization may include the furnishing of payment details by the consumer to a merchant, the submitting of transaction details (e.g., including the payment details) from the merchant to their acquirer, and the verification of payment details with the issuer of the consumer&#39;s payment account used to fund the transaction. Batching may refer to the storing of an authorized transaction in a batch with other authorized transactions for distribution to an acquirer. Clearing may include the sending of batched transactions from the acquirer to a payment network for processing. Settlement may include the debiting of the issuer by the payment network for transactions involving beneficiaries of the issuer. In some instances, the issuer may pay the acquirer via the payment network. In other instances, the issuer may pay the acquirer directly. Funding may include payment to the merchant from the acquirer for the payment transactions that have been cleared and settled. It will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art that the order and/or categorization of the steps discussed above performed as part of payment transaction processing. 
     System for Generating Social Network Messages Linked to Payment Transactions 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system  100  for generating social network messages including transaction data for a linked payment transaction. 
     A consumer  102  may use a computing device  104  to access one or more social networks operated by one or more social network operators  106 . The computing device  104  may be any type of computing device suitable for performing the functions as disclosed herein, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, cellular phone, smart phone, point of sale device, etc., or such as the computer system  800  illustrated in  FIG. 8  and discussed in more detail below. 
     The social network operator  106  may operate one or more social networks, such as Facebook®, Twitter®, Myspace®, Google+®, Foursquare®, LinkedIn®, DeviantArt®, Reddit®, Instagram®, Vine®, or any other suitable social network as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. The consumer  102  may register an account with the social network operator  106  and may receive an identifier to be associated with the consumer  102  for identification of the consumer  102  by the social network operator  106 . The social network identifier may be an identification number, username, e-mail address, nickname, or other suitable value as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     The social network (e.g., or networks) operated by the social network operator  106  may enable the consumer  102  to post, share, tweet, upload, or otherwise publish content viewable by other consumers. In some instances, the social network may enable the consumer  102  to control the privacy of published content, such as by limiting other consumers that may view the content. For example, some social networks may allow the consumer  102  to limit published content to be viewed only by friends, family, followers, friends of friends, or one or more custom groups of consumers. The social network operator  106  may also provide for additional preferences for the consumer  102  for publishing content, such as by including location information (e.g., the geographic location of the consumer  102  when providing content, such as based on an identified geographic location of the computing device  104  or provided by the consumer  102 ), or other information (e.g., mood, background entertainment, etc.) that may be provided by the consumer  102 , the computing device  104 , or other device or entity. 
     The consumer  102  may, such as by using the computing device  104 , register with a service for generating social network messages provided by a processing server  108 . The processing server  108 , discussed in more detail below, may receive registration information from the consumer  102  for storage in a profile database  110 , also discussed in more detail below. The registration information may include at least a social network identifier for a social network operated by the social network operator  106 . 
     The consumer  102  may then engage in a payment transaction with a merchant  112 . The merchant  112  (e.g., or an acquirer associated with the merchant  112 ) may generate an authorization request for the payment transaction, which may be submitted to a payment network  114  for processing. Methods and systems for processing payment transactions will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. The payment network  114  may be configured to transmit the authorization request, or transaction data included therein, to the processing server  108 . 
     The processing server  108  may receive the transaction data, which may include a consumer identifier associated with the consumer  102 , such as a payment account number associated with a payment account used to fund the payment transaction. The processing server  108  may identify a consumer profile in the profile database  110  associated with the consumer  102  based on the consumer identifier. The processing server  108  may then generate a social network message for one or more social networks operated by the social network operator  106  based on the transaction data. The transaction data may include, for example, a merchant name, merchant category, payment details, product data, transaction amount, transaction time and/or date, and transaction geographic location. 
     The generated social network message may include one or more elements of the transaction data. For example, the social network message may express that the consumer  102  recently shopped at the merchant  112 , that the consumer  102  purchased a specific product at the merchant  112 , that the consumer  102  recently made a purchase using a specific payment card, etc. In some instances, the merchant  112  may specify the content of the generated social network message. In other instances, the consumer  102  may specify the content, such as via one or more preferences established by the consumer  102  and stored in the corresponding consumer profile. Additional considerations for content to be included in the generated social network message will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     The processing server  108  may transmit the generated social network message to the computing device  104  for approval by the consumer  102 . The consumer  102  may approve the social network message, which may prompt the computing device  104  to transmit an indication of approval to the processing server  108 . The processing server  108  may then transmit the social network message to the social network operator  106  for publishing to the social network of the consumer  102 . In some embodiments, the consumer  102  may modify the social network message and/or set preferences or settings prior to or concurrent with approving the social network message. For example, the consumer  102  may modify the content of the social network message, the social network or networks on which the message is to be published, which consumers and/or groups of consumers may view the message, etc. 
     The use of the processing server  108  to generate the social network automatically and based on the transaction data for the payment transaction may enable for significantly faster, more efficient, and thereby more prolific publishing of content to social networks. The processing server  108  may enable the publishing of content on behalf of the merchant  112  without modification to existing merchant processing systems. In addition, by generating the message automatically and seeking approval of the consumer  102 , the burden of production may be lowered on the consumer  102 , which may result in a significant increase in the publishing of social network messages while still enabling the consumer  102  to control content that is to be published. 
     In some embodiments, the processing server  108  may also obtain offers for the purchase of goods or services from one or more offer providers (e.g., the merchant  112  or a third party). As discussed in more detail below, each offer may include one or more terms of eligibility. The terms of eligibility may include terms under which the corresponding offer is to be distributed to the consumer  102 . For example, an offer may be distributed upon any social network message posted regarding the merchant  112 , upon reaching a predetermined number of pieces of social network content published regarding the merchant  112 , publishing content regarding the merchant  112  among a predefined number of social networks, or other suitable terms as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     The processing server  108  may store a history regarding social network messages published for the consumer  102  and may, upon transmitting a new social network message to the social network operator  106 , identify any offers for which the consumer  102  may be eligible based on an updated history. The processing server  108  may identify the eligible offers and may transmit them to the consumer  102  (e.g., via the computing device  104  and/or via any suitable method, such as a method selected by the consumer  102 ). In some instances, the consumer  102  may accept an offer, and the processing server  108  may be notified of the offer acceptance. The processing server  108  may then transmit notification of the acceptance to the offer provider, if necessary. 
     By identifying eligible offers and transmitting them to the consumer  102 , the processing server  108  may further provide for incentives to the publishing of content on a social network, without the need for the merchant  112  to modify existing processing systems or to expend the resources necessary to operate a closed system. As such, the systems and methods discussed herein may generate social network messages linked to payment transactions and the distribution of offers based thereon more efficiently and with greater success than in traditional systems. 
     Processing Device 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the processing server  108  of the system  100 . It will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art that the embodiment of the processing server  108  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is provided as illustration only and may not be exhaustive to all possible configurations of the processing server  108  suitable for performing the functions as discussed herein. For example, the computer system  800  illustrated in  FIG. 8  and discussed in more detail below may be a suitable configuration of the processing server  108 . 
     The processing server  108  may include a receiving unit  202 . The receiving unit  202  may be configured to receive data over one or more networks via one or more network protocols. The receiving unit  202  may receive registration information from the consumer  102  (e.g., via the computing device  104 ), wherein the registration information includes at least a social network identifier, a consumer identifier, and a device identifier for the computing device  104  which the consumer  102  will use to approve social network messages. In some embodiments, the registration information may also include one or more consumer preferences. 
     The processing server  108  may further include a processing unit  204 . The processing unit  204  may be configured to generate a consumer profile  208  based on the received registration information and store the generated consumer profile  208  in the profile database  110 . The consumer profile  208 , discussed in more detail below, may include the consumer identifier, the social network identifier, the device identifier, and the one or more preferences. 
     The receiving unit  202  may further receive an authorization request for a payment transaction involving the consumer  102 . The authorization request may include at least the consumer identifier associated with the consumer  102  and transaction data. The processing unit  204  may identify the consumer profile  208  in the profile database  110  including the consumer identifier included in the authorization request. The processing unit  204  may be further configured to generate a social network message based on the transaction data for publishing on a social network associated with the social network identifier included in the consumer profile  208 . 
     The processing server  108  may include a transmitting unit  206 . The transmitting unit  206  may be configured to transmit data over one or more networks via one or more network protocols. The transmitting unit  206  may transmit the generated social network message to the computing device  104  associated with the device identifier included in the consumer profile  208 . The receiving unit  202  may then receive an indication of approval from the computing device  104 . 
     If the indication of approval includes requested modifications to the social network message or preferences or parameters for its publishing, the processing unit  204  may be configured to make the requested changes. The transmitting unit  206  may then transmit the modified social network message to the social network operator  106  for publishing. 
     In some embodiments, the receiving unit  202  may be configured to receive offer data for one or more offers for the purchase of goods or services. The processing unit  204  may be configured to generate an offer data entry  212  corresponding to each received offer, and store the offer data entries  212  in an offer database  210 . Each offer data entry  212  may include at least a merchant identifier (e.g., associated with the merchant  112  with whom the corresponding offer may be redeemed) and/or limits on eligibility. 
     The processing unit  204  may be configured to update a social network history in the consumer profile  208  for the consumer  102  when a social network message is transmitted to the social network operator  106  for publishing. The processing unit  204  may be further configured to identify offer data entries  212  corresponding to offers for which the consumer  102  may be eligible based on the consumer social network history and the limits on eligibility for each corresponding offer data entry  212 . The transmitting unit  206  may then transmit offer data for the eligible offers to the computing device  104  or via a method indicated by the consumer  102  (e.g., and stored in the consumer profile  208 ). Methods for transmitting offer data to the consumer  102  may include e-mail, traditional mail, short message service message, multimedia message service message, via an application program executed by the computing device  104 , or other suitable method as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     In a further embodiment, the receiving unit  202  may be configured to receive an indication from the computing device  104  of the acceptance of an offer by the consumer  102 . The transmitting unit  206  may forward the acceptance of the offer to a corresponding offer provider (e.g., the merchant  112  or a third party). 
     Consumer Profiles 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the profile database  110  configured to store a plurality of consumer profiles  208 , illustrated in  FIG. 3  as consumer profiles  208   a ,  208   b , and  208   c . Each consumer profile  208  may include at least a consumer identifier  302 , a device identifier  304 , a social network identifier  306 , and one or more social network preferences  308 . In some embodiments, each consumer profile  208  may further include a social network history  310 . Additional data that may be included in each consumer profile  208 , such as preferred methods of distribution for offers, additional social network identifiers  306 , data for the targeting of offers (e.g., demographic data), etc. will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     The consumer identifier  302  may be a unique value associated with a consumer  102  that may be used to identify the corresponding consumer profile  208  as related to the associated consumer  102 . The consumer identifier  302  may be an identification number, username, e-mail address, name, street address, phone number, or any other suitable value as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. In one embodiment, the consumer identifier  302  may be a payment account number corresponding to a payment account associated with the consumer  102 . In such an embodiment, a received authorization request may include the payment account number, which may result in a fast and efficient identification of the consumer profile  208  using the payment account number as the consumer identifier  302 . 
     The device identifier  304  may be a unique value associated with the computing device  104  to which the generated social network message is to be sent for approval. The device identifier  304  may be a media access control address, an internet protocol address, a registration number, a serial number, a local area network address, a manufacturer number, a username, a combination thereof, or any other suitable value as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     The social network identifier  306  may be a unique value associated with the consumer  102  for one or more social networks. In some embodiments, the consumer profile  208  may include more than one social network identifier  306 . The social network identifier  306  may be a username, e-mail address, web address, handle, identification number, or other suitable value as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. In some embodiments, the consumer profile  208  may also include an indication as to the social network associated with each social network identifier  306 . In some instances, the associated social network may be identified based on the social network identifier  306  itself (e.g., based on the formatting of the social network identifier  306 ). 
     The social network preferences  308  may include one or more preferences of the consumer  102  with regard to at least one of: transaction data preferences (e.g., what transaction data is to be included in generated social network messages), privacy settings (e.g., who may view published content), display settings, groups for display (e.g., for selection for viewing of a published message), tagging preferences, geographic location preferences, and follower settings (e.g., requiring consumers be followers to view published content). Additional preferences will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. In embodiments where the consumer profile  208  may include more than one social network identifier  306 , the social network preferences  308  may include preferences regarding priority and/or selection of the corresponding social networks for the publishing of the social network message. 
     The social network history  310  may include transaction data and additional information regarding generated social network messages transmitted to the social network operators  106  for publishing. The processing server  108  may use the social network history  310  to identify eligible offers for distribution to the corresponding consumer  102  based on limitations associated with the respective offers and the social network history  310 . In some embodiments, the processing server  108  may analyze the social network history  310  or distribute the social network history  310  to a third party for analysis. In such an embodiment, the processing server  108  may distribute the social network history  310  stripped of any personally identifiable information and/or with the permission of the corresponding consumer  102 . 
     Process for Generating and Approving a Social Network Message for Publishing 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a process for the generation of a social network message linked with payment transaction data and approval thereof by a consumer for publishing. 
     In step  402 , the consumer  102  may register for a social network operated by the social network operator  106 . Registration with the social network operator  106  may include the identification and/or generation of a social network identifier  306  associated with the consumer  102  with the respective social network. In step  404 , the consumer  102  may register with a social buying service operated by the processing server  108 . In step  406 , the processing server  108  may receive (e.g., via the receiving unit  202 ) the registration information, which may include the consumer identifier  302 , the device identifier  304 , and the social network identifier  306 . In some embodiments, the registration information may further include one or more social network preferences  308 . 
     In step  408 , the processing server  108  may generate and store (e.g., via the processing unit  204 ) a consumer profile  208  for the consumer  102  in the profile database  110  using the registration information. In step  410 , the consumer  102  may conduct a payment transaction with the merchant  112 . The payment transaction may be processed by the payment network  114 . In step  412 , the processing server  108  may receive an authorization request for the payment transaction conducted by the consumer  102  and processed by the payment network  114 , wherein the authorization request includes at least the consumer identifier  302  and transaction data. 
     In step  414 , the processing unit  204  of the processing server  108  may identify, in the profile database  110 , the consumer profile  208  corresponding to the consumer  102  based on the consumer identifier  302  included in the authorization request. In step  416 , the processing server  108  may generate a social network message based on the transaction data to be published by the social network that the consumer  102  is registered with. In step  418 , the transmitting unit  206  of the processing server  108  may transmit the generated social network message to the computing device  104  associated with the device identifier  304  of the consumer profile  208 . 
     In step  420 , the consumer  102  may view the generated social network message using the computing device  104 . In step  422 , the consumer  102  may make any changes or modifications to the social network message or preferences for publishing of the message and may input an approval of the generated message into the computing device  104 . The computing device  104  may then transmit the approval to the processing server  108 , which may receive the approval in step  424 . The processing unit  204  may update the generated social network message if necessary based on the received approval message. In step  426 , the transmitting unit  206  may transmit the generated (e.g., and updated) social network message to the social network operator  106  for publishing. 
     Method for Generating a Linked Social Network Message 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a method for the generation of a social network message based on payment transaction data by the processing server  108 . 
     In step  502 , the receiving unit  202  of the processing server  108  may receive an authorization request for a payment transaction, wherein the authorization request includes a consumer identifier  302  and transaction data. The transaction data may include, for example, a merchant name, merchant category, payment data, product data, a transaction amount, a transaction time and/or date, and a geographic location. In step  504 , the processing unit  204  of the processing server  108  may identify a consumer profile  208  in the profile database  110  where the included consumer identifier  302  corresponds to the consumer identifier  302  included in the authorization request. 
     In step  506 , the processing unit  204  may determine if the consumer  102  associated with the identified consumer profile  208  is registered with the social buying service. If the consumer  102  is not registered, then the process may end. If the consumer  102  is registered, then, in step  508 , the processing server  108  may generate a social network message based on the transaction data included in the authorization request. In step  510 , the transmitting unit  206  of the processing server  108  may transmit the generated social network message to a computing device  104  associated with the device identifier  304  included in the consumer profile  208 . 
     In step  512 , the receiving unit  202  may receive a response from the consumer  102  regarding the generated social network message. In step  514 , the processing unit  204  may identify, in the consumer response, if the social network message was approved. If the generated message was not approved, then the method may end. In some embodiments, the processing server  108  may request modification of the social network message by the consumer  102  or notify the merchant  112  of the denial of the generated social network message. 
     If the message was approved, then, in step  516 , the processing unit  204  may identify if modification of the generated social network message was requested by the consumer  102 . If modification was requested, then the processing unit  204  may modify the social network message pursuant to the requested modifications in step  518 . Once the message has been modified, or if no modification was requested, then, in step  520 , the transmitting unit  206  may transmit the social network message to the social network operator  106  for publishing. 
     Method for Identifying and Distributing Offers Based on Publishing Social Network Content 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method for the identification and distribution of offers based on social network messages published via the method illustrated of  FIG. 5 . 
     In step  602 , the processing unit  204  may update the social network history  310  of the consumer  102  in the corresponding consumer profile  208  based on a social network message generated and transmitted to the social network operator  106  following a payment transaction involving the consumer  102 . The data regarding the social network message stored in the social network history  310  may include the transaction data, the social network message, user preferences, publishing settings or preferences, and other data that will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     In step  604 , the processing unit  204  may identify offer data entries  212  stored in the offer database  210  related to offers for which the consumer  102  may be eligible based on offer data and/or limitations included in the respective offer data entries  212  and the social network history  310  of the consumer profile  208 . In step  606 , the processing unit  204  may identify if any eligible offers were identified in the previous step. If the processing unit  204  identifies that the consumer  102  is not eligible for any offers at that point in time, then the process may be completed. 
     If, on the other hand, the processing unit  204  determines that the consumer  102  is eligible for one or more offers, then, in step  608 , the processing unit  204  may transmit offer data for the one or more offers to the computing device  104  of the consumer  102  for viewing by the consumer  102 . In embodiments where the consumer  102  may be eligible for more than one offer, the processing unit  204  may be configured to select a single offer for distribution to the consumer  102 . In further embodiments, the processing unit  204  may select the single offer based on one or more targeting rules or models, such as using consumer data, social network history  310 , transaction data, demographic data, and other data that will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     In step  610 , the processing unit  204  may determine if each offer distributed to the consumer  102  is required to be accepted by the consumer  102  for use. It will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art that some offers may be freely used by the consumer  102 , whereas other offers may require acceptance and/or purchasing by the consumer  102  prior to their use (e.g., for exclusivity, tracking, targeting, etc.). If no acceptance is required for any distributed offer, then the method may be completed. 
     If acceptance is required, then, in step  612 , the receiving unit  202  may receive acceptance of one or more offers by the consumer  102 . In step  614 , the transmitting unit  206  may forward the acceptance of each offer to a respective offer provider. The transmitting unit  206  may further provide any additional data requested by the offer provider regarding acceptance of an offer, such as the consumer identifier  302  associated with the consumer  102 . It should be noted that the method illustrated in  FIG. 6  is provided as an illustration only, and that additional systems and methods for distributing and receiving acceptance of offers by a consumer will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     Exemplary Method for Generating a Social Network Message Based on a Payment Transaction 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary method  700  for the generation of a social network message based on transaction data of a payment transaction involving a consumer (e.g., the consumer  102 ). 
     In step  702 , a plurality of consumer profiles (e.g., consumer profiles  208 ) may be stored in a profile database (e.g., the profile database  110 ), wherein each consumer profile  208  includes data related to a consumer  102  including at least a consumer identifier (e.g., the consumer identifier  302 ), a social network identifier (e.g., the social network identifier  306 ), a device identifier (e.g., the device identifier  304 ), and one or more preferences (e.g., the social network preferences  308 ). In some embodiments, the one or more preferences  308  may include at least one of: transaction data preferences, privacy settings, display settings, groups for display, tagging preferences, geographic location preferences, and follower settings. In one embodiment, the consumer identifier  302  may include at least one of: a payment account number, name, phone number, e-mail address, and street address. In another embodiment, the consumer identifier  302  and the device identifier  304  may be the same value. 
     In step  704 , a receiving device (e.g., the receiving unit  202 ) may receive an authorization request for a payment transaction, wherein the authorization request includes at least transaction data and a specific consumer identifier. In one embodiment, the transaction data may include at least one of: merchant name, merchant category, merchant identifier, payment details, product data, transaction amount, transaction time and/or date, and transaction geographic location. In step  706 , a specific consumer profile  208  may be identified, in the profile database  110 , where the included consumer identifier  302  corresponds to the specific consumer identifier. 
     In step  708 , a social network message may be generated, by a processing device (e.g., the processing unit  204 ), wherein the social network message includes at least the transaction data and the social network identifier  306  included in the specific consumer profile  208  and is generated pursuant to the one or more preferences  308  included in the specific consumer profile  208 . In step  710 , the generated social network message may be transmitted, by a transmitting device (e.g., the transmitting unit  206 ) to a computing device (e.g., the computing device  104 ) corresponding to the device identifier included in the specific consumer profile. In one embodiment, the computing device  104  may be a mobile computing device. In a further embodiment, transmitting the generated social network message to the computing device  104  may include transmitting the generated social network message for display on the computing device  104  via an application program executed by the mobile computing device. 
     In step  712 , an indication of approval of the generated social network may be received, by the receiving device  202 , from the computing device  104 . In step  714 , the generated social network message may be transmitted, by the transmitting device  206 , to a social network for publishing. In another embodiment, the indication of approval may include one or more modifications to the generated social network message, and the method  700  may further include updating, by the processing device  204 , the generated social network message to incorporate the one or more modifications prior to transmitting the generated social network message. 
     In one embodiment, the transaction data may include at least a specific merchant identifier and the method  700  may further include: storing, in an offer database (e.g., the offer database  210 ), a plurality of offer data entries (e.g., offer data entries  212 ), wherein each offer data entry  210  includes data related to an offer for the purchase of goods or services including at least offer data and a merchant identifier; identifying, in the offer database  210 , one or more offer data entries  212  where the included merchant identifier corresponds to the specific merchant identifier; and transmitting, by the transmitting device  206 , the offer data included in each of the identified one or more offer data entries  212  to the computing device  104 . In a further embodiment, the offer data may include at least one of: offer name, offer description, offer amount, offer type, offer category, product name, product description, product category, start date, end date, quantity, and limitations on redemption. 
     Computer System Architecture 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a computer system  800  in which embodiments of the present disclosure, or portions thereof, may be implemented as computer-readable code. For example, the processing server  108  of  FIG. 1  may be implemented in the computer system  800  using hardware, software, firmware, non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon, or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. Hardware, software, or any combination thereof may embody modules and components used to implement the methods of  FIGS. 4-7 . 
     If programmable logic is used, such logic may execute on a commercially available processing platform or a special purpose device. A person having ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can be practiced with various computer system configurations, including multi-core multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, computers linked or clustered with distributed functions, as well as pervasive or miniature computers that may be embedded into virtually any device. For instance, at least one processor device and a memory may be used to implement the above described embodiments. 
     A processor device as discussed herein may be a single processor, a plurality of processors, or combinations thereof. Processor devices may have one or more processor “cores.” The terms “computer program medium,” “non-transitory computer readable medium,” and “computer usable medium” as discussed herein are used to generally refer to tangible media such as a removable storage unit  818 , a removable storage unit  822 , and a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  812 . 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described in terms of this example computer system  800 . After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art how to implement the present disclosure using other computer systems and/or computer architectures. Although operations may be described as a sequential process, some of the operations may in fact be performed in parallel, concurrently, and/or in a distributed environment, and with program code stored locally or remotely for access by single or multi-processor machines. In addition, in some embodiments the order of operations may be rearranged without departing from the spirit of the disclosed subject matter. 
     Processor device  804  may be a special purpose or a general purpose processor device. The processor device  804  may be connected to a communication infrastructure  806 , such as a bus, message queue, network, multi-core message-passing scheme, etc. The network may be any network suitable for performing the functions as disclosed herein and may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network (e.g., WiFi), a mobile communication network, a satellite network, the Internet, fiber optic, coaxial cable, infrared, radio frequency (RF), or any combination thereof. Other suitable network types and configurations will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. The computer system  800  may also include a main memory  808  (e.g., random access memory, read-only memory, etc.), and may also include a secondary memory  810 . The secondary memory  810  may include the hard disk drive  812  and a removable storage drive  814 , such as a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a flash memory, etc. 
     The removable storage drive  814  may read from and/or write to the removable storage unit  818  in a well-known manner. The removable storage unit  818  may include a removable storage media that may be read by and written to by the removable storage drive  814 . For example, if the removable storage drive  814  is a floppy disk drive, the removable storage unit  818  may be a floppy disk. In one embodiment, the removable storage unit  818  may be non-transitory computer readable recording media. 
     In some embodiments, the secondary memory  810  may include alternative means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into the computer system  800 , for example, the removable storage unit  822  and an interface  820 . Examples of such means may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (e.g., as found in video game systems), a removable memory chip (e.g., EEPROM, PROM, etc.) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  822  and interfaces  820  as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     Data stored in the computer system  800  (e.g., in the main memory  808  and/or the secondary memory  810 ) may be stored on any type of suitable computer readable media, such as optical storage (e.g., a compact disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.) or magnetic tape storage (e.g., a hard disk drive). The data may be configured in any type of suitable database configuration, such as a relational database, a structured query language (SQL) database, a distributed database, an object database, etc. Suitable configurations and storage types will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. 
     The computer system  800  may also include a communications interface  824 . The communications interface  824  may be configured to allow software and data to be transferred between the computer system  800  and external devices. Exemplary communications interfaces  824  may include a modem, a network interface (e.g., an Ethernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via the communications interface  824  may be in the form of signals, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. The signals may travel via a communications path  826 , which may be configured to carry the signals and may be implemented using wire, cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, a radio frequency link, etc. 
     Computer program medium and computer usable medium may refer to memories, such as the main memory  808  and secondary memory  810 , which may be memory semiconductors (e.g., DRAMs, etc.). These computer program products may be means for providing software to the computer system  800 . Computer programs (e.g., computer control logic) may be stored in the main memory  808  and/or the secondary memory  810 . Computer programs may also be received via the communications interface  824 . Such computer programs, when executed, may enable computer system  800  to implement the present methods as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, may enable processor device  804  to implement the methods illustrated by  FIGS. 4-7 , as discussed herein. Accordingly, such computer programs may represent controllers of the computer system  800 . Where the present disclosure is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into the computer system  800  using the removable storage drive  814 , interface  820 , and hard disk drive  812 , or communications interface  824 . 
     Techniques consistent with the present disclosure provide, among other features, systems and methods for generating a social network message based on a payment transaction. While various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed system and method have been described above it should be understood that they have been presented for purposes of example only, not limitations. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practicing of the disclosure, without departing from the breadth or scope.