Patent Publication Number: US-2011060634-A1

Title: Activation of electronic customer benefit offers

Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     Aspects of the disclosure relate to distribution and redemption of electronic offers. In particular, the disclosure relates to the acceptance of electronic offers at, or in association with, a point of sale device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a typical credit card transaction, a customer (the “customer”) purchases from a merchant or service provider (“the merchant”) goods, items or services (“the goods”) using credit. The credit is extended to the customer by an issuing bank (the “issuer”). The merchant presents a debit to an acquiring bank (the “acquirer”). The acquirer pays the merchant for (and thus “acquires”) the goods. A transaction processing network in communication with the issuer and the acquirer settles the transaction between the issuer and the acquirer. The transaction processing network may collect transaction processing network fees from the issuer and the acquirer in connection with the settlement. 
     The issuer may impose upon the acquirer a fee for participating in the transaction. The fee may be referred to as “interchange.” Interchange may be a fixed fee for the transaction or a percentage of the transaction. Interchange flows from the acquirer, through the transaction processing network, to the issuer. The issuer typically uses interchange to cover costs of acquiring credit card customers, servicing credit card accounts, providing incentives to retain customers, mitigating fraud, covering customer credit risk, group comp and other expenses. 
     The acquirer may deduct a “transaction fee” from the amount that the acquirer pays the merchant in exchange for the goods. The transaction fee may cover the acquirer&#39;s transaction processing network fee, interchange, and other expenses. The acquirer may obtain a profit from the transaction fee. 
       FIG. 1  shows typical credit card transaction settlement flow  100 . Flow  100  involves transaction participants such as a merchant, a customer, and transaction service providers that are identified below. At step  1 , the merchant provides transaction information related to a proposed transaction between the merchant and a customer to a transaction authorization and clearance agent. The transaction authorization and clearance provider may provide transaction authorization and clearance information to the merchant. The transaction authorization and clearance information may include authorization for the transaction to proceed. At step  2 , the merchant provides $100 in goods to a customer. The customer pays with a credit card. At step  3 , the issuer transmits to the customer a statement showing the purchase price ($100.00) due. The issuer collects the purchase price amount, along with interest and fees if appropriate, from the customer. At step  4 , the issuer routes the purchase price amount ($100.00) through the transaction processing network to the acquirer. At step  5 , the acquirer partially reimburses the merchant for the purchase price amount. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the partial reimbursement is $98.00. The difference between the reimbursement amount ($98.00) and the purchase price amount ($100.00) is a two dollar ($2.00) transaction fee. 
     At step  6 , the acquirer pays an interchange amount ($1.50), via the transaction processing network, to the issuer. At step  7 , both the acquirer and the issuer pay a transaction processing network fee ($0.07 for acquirer and $0.05 for the issuer) to the transaction processing network. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Net positions, by participant, based on settlement 
               
               
                 flow 100 (shown in FIG. 1). 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Participant 
                 Net ($) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Issuer 
                 1.45 
               
               
                   
                 Acquirer 
                 0.43 
               
               
                   
                 Transaction processing network 
                 0.12 
               
               
                   
                 Merchant 
                 −2.00 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In settlement  100  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), the transaction fee is based on a merchant discount rate of 2%. The $1.50 interchange is based on an interchange rate of 1.5%. The sum of the transaction processing network fees ($0.07 and $0.05) is based on a total transaction processing network fee rate of 12%. 
     Transaction processing networks and transaction processing network services offered under the trademarks VISA, MASTERCARD, NYCE and PULSE are known. Transaction processing networks typically set interchange rates. Interchange rates often depend for each transaction processing network on merchant type and size, transaction processing method and other factors. Some transaction processing networks set rules that prohibit merchants from charging an incremental fee for credit card payments, establishing minimum or maximum purchase price amounts or refusing to accept selected cards. 
     The transaction fee increases the merchant&#39;s operating expenses and may cause the prices of the merchant&#39;s goods to increase. 
     A customer may present to the merchant one or more discount offers from the merchant or a third party. The customer usually presents the discount offer at the point of sale. By honoring the discount offer, the merchant may reduce the price of goods for the customer. 
     One type of discount offer is a coupon. A coupon may function like cash and be applied toward payment for goods. 
     For manufacturers and retailers, coupons are a tool for product marketing. Capitalizing on customers&#39; desire for savings, coupons provide incentives to choose a particular product over a competitor&#39;s product. 
     One deterrent to conventional coupon use is the requirement that coupons be physically carried and presented at a point of sale. Even web-based coupons delivered electronically must be presented at a point of sale. 
     Conventional coupons also are not easily targeted toward the customers most likely to be interested in the featured product. Individual customer purchasing history is not always accessible to manufacturers, retailers or coupon publishers. 
     It would be desirable, therefore, to provide apparatus and methods for applying electronic coupons at a point of sale. It would further be desirable for the electronic coupons to be linked to a purchasing instrument, such as a credit card, a debit card, a check and bank card, a stored-value card, a bar-coded article, an instrument or device that includes a contactless chip, such as an ISO14443-compliant contactless chip, a cell phone, a personal data assistant or any other suitable electronic, encoded or information-bearing purchasing device. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method for activating a customer benefit offer is provided. The method may include using an electromagnetic transmitter module to transmit customer benefit offer information from an offer platform to a customer via a communication channel selected by the customer. The customer benefit offer information may correspond to the customer benefit offer. The method may further include using an electromagnetic receiver module to receive from the customer an acknowledgment of the customer benefit offer. The method may also include using a data processing machine to mark a record in an account on the offer platform as “active.” The record may correspond to the customer benefit offer and the account corresponding to the customer. Furthermore, in certain embodiments of the invention, a purchasing instrument identifier may be linked to the account and the active customer benefit offer can be redeemed by use of the purchasing instrument to purchase goods corresponding to the customer benefit offer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a prior art process; 
         FIG. 2  shows an arrangement in which apparatus and methods in accordance with the principles of the invention may be used; 
         FIG. 3  shows apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows yet other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of a process in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a high level flow diagram of another process in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow diagram that corresponds to a portion of the process shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is another flow diagram that corresponds to a portion of the process shown in  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is another flow diagram that corresponds to a portion of the process shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 16  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 17  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 18  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 19  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 20  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 21  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 22  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 23  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 24  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 25  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 26  shows still other apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus and methods for distributing and providing a customer benefit are provided. The customer benefit may include a voucher, a certificate, an award, an incentive, a discount, a coupon, an electronic coupon, a value or any other benefit. The customer benefit may be provided to a customer in connection with the purchase of goods from a merchant. 
     In some embodiments, an offer agent may gather offers of customer benefits from one or more offer sources. The agent may provide offer accounts on an offer platform. The accounts may be linked to the customer, the customer&#39;s purchasing instrument or instruments, an offer source and any other suitable entity or device. 
     The offer agent may provide customer benefit information to the customer. The customer benefit information may notify the customer about the benefit. For example, the customer benefit information may include information about goods for which a customer benefit may be redeemed. The offer agent may provide the customer benefit itself at a point of sale terminal in connection with the customer&#39;s purchase of goods to which the customer benefit applies. 
     In some embodiments, the offer platform may be used for compilation, publication, storage, application and/or settlement of customer benefit offers. Use of the purchasing instrument to execute a transaction may trigger the application of customer benefits stored on the platform. 
     The apparatus and methods may enroll a purchasing instrument in a customer benefit program. The purchasing instrument may be a credit card, a debit card, a check and bank card, a stored-value card, a bar-coded article, an instrument or device that includes a contactless chip, such as an ISO14443-compliant contactless chip, a cell phone, an RFID-based device, a personal data assistant or any other suitable electronic, encoded or information-bearing purchasing device. 
     Purchasing instruments may store data in a magnetic strip, a bar code, a silicon chip or any other suitable data storage device or format. A merchant may provide a point of sale terminal that is configured to receive data from, provide data to, or exchange data with the purchasing instrument. 
     Enrollment of the purchasing instrument may be carried out electronically via a web-based portal, via a kiosk at a participating retailer, or by any other appropriate device or medium. A customer may enroll one or more purchasing instruments. Each of the purchasing instruments may be tied to a financial account at an issuing financial institution, such as issuer I (shown in  FIG. 2 ). A customer may enroll purchasing instruments that are issued by different financial institutions. 
     In some embodiments, purchasing instrument enrollment may be carried out via a web-based portal. The web portal may be associated with the issuer of a purchasing instrument. The customer may enter account information for the purchasing instrument account which may be then be electronically verified. The customer may select one or more communication methods for the receipt of coupon offers. 
     In some embodiments, purchasing instrument enrollment may be carried out via a kiosk at a participating retailer. For example, the customer may swipe a payment card magnetic strip or enter another form of identification so that the account may be verified electronically. The customer may select one or more communication options for the receipt of coupon offers. 
     In some embodiments, a purchasing instrument may be enrolled using a pin pad in a check-out lane. The pin pad may be peripheral to or part of a POS terminal. (The use herein of “POS terminal” may include a pin pad or other customer-interactive device.) For example, an offer agent may recognize after a card swipe that the card is not enrolled. A display at the pin pad may invite the customer to enroll. The customer may enroll by pushing appropriate buttons on the pin pad. The POS terminal may print out terms of the customer benefit offer program. The terms may be printed on a sales receipt. The terms may be printed on a separate document. 
     After enrollment, the customer may be eligible to receive customer benefit offers. The apparatus and methods may compile customer benefit for transmission to the customer. 
     The customer benefit offers may be electronic versions of circulated manufacturer or retailer paper coupons, such as the coupons printed in a newspaper or in a retailer circular. Coupons may be solicited directly from manufacturers, retailers, or any other appropriate party by the offer agent. 
     In some embodiments, customer benefit offers may be filtered based on customer data. The customer data may be drawn from purchasing instrument account information, past purchasing instrument use, previously selected customer benefit offers, past redeemed customer benefit offers or any other appropriate data source. Examples of customer data may include information regarding geographic region, categories of product purchases, specific product purchases, shopping history with identified merchants, and any other relevant data. 
     Predictive analytics or any other appropriate technique may be a used to analyze the customer data and apply it to the customer benefit offers. A set of customer benefit offers may be narrowed, as customer benefit offers that are compatible with the customer data are chosen and incompatible customer benefit offers are not chosen. For example, the address on a debit card account may be used to direct customer benefit offers from local retailers to a customer. 
     The filtered customer benefit offers may be stored and transmitted to a customer via communication methods that the customer may select, for example, upon enrollment in an offer program. The customer may modify the communication methods selected or select additional methods of communication. The customer benefit offers may be transmitted to the customer weekly, monthly or on any other appropriate schedule. In addition to, or in place of, the scheduled transmission, individual offers or groups of offers may be transmitted as a special promotion. 
     In some embodiments, the communication method may involve an email message. Customer benefit offers may sent via email and the desired coupon offers may be selected. Reminders regarding available offers may also be sent in email messages. 
     In some embodiments, the communication method may involve transmission to a mobile device. For example, a text message to a mobile phone may be used to deliver customer benefit offer information. Reminders about available offers or offers previously selected may also be sent to a mobile device. For example, entering a participating retail location may trigger a message regarding customer benefit offers available for use. 
     In some embodiments, customer benefit offers may be available via a web-based portal. The website may be associated with a purchasing instrument provider. Reminders may be sent via another communication method, such as an email or text message, regarding the availability of customer benefit offers for selection, and/or the availability of selected customer benefit offers for use. 
     In some embodiments, the offer platform may communicate customer benefit offer information to a customer upon receiving an indication that the customer has presented an enrolled purchasing instrument at a POS terminal. In some embodiments, the offer platform may communicate the customer benefit offer information to the customer upon receiving an indication that the customer has presented for purchase goods for which a customer benefit offer is present in an offer platform account to which the customer and/or the customer&#39;s purchasing instrument is linked. In some embodiments, transmission of the customer benefit offer information may be via the POS terminal at which the customer presented the purchasing instrument or the goods. 
     For example, when a customer presents for purchase a particular item at merchant M and the item is logged for purchase (scanned, e.g.) by the POS terminal, the offer platform may identify and transmit to the customer benefit information regarding a customer benefit that is available for the item when purchased at merchant M. 
     In some embodiments, the customer benefit offers may be available via a kiosk at a participating retailer. The customer may select any desired offers, print a record of them at the kiosk and immediately proceed to shop for the featured items. 
     In some embodiments, the communication method may be associated with regular communication related to a bank account underlying the purchasing instrument. For example, the list of available customer benefit offers may be appended to a monthly financial statement, whether an electronic statement or a paper copy. In another example, a reminder may appear on a printed receipt from an ATM transaction. 
     In some embodiments, after receiving the customer benefit offer information, the customer may select one or more customer benefit offers. The selected customer benefit offers may be stored for later redemption and viewed at any time via a web-based portal, a kiosk or using any other appropriate method. For example, the selected customer benefit offers may be stored on the offer platform and applied at checkout when payment is made with the enrolled purchasing instrument. 
     In some embodiments, the customer benefit offers may be discounts that are associated with use of a purchasing loyalty card. The purchasing loyalty card may be issued by a merchant, a manufacturer, a service provider or any other suitable vendor or provider of goods. Conventionally, presenting a loyalty card at a point of sale triggers merchant-specific discounts on various products. Loyalty card discounts from participating merchants may be stored on the platform and linked to the enrolled payment account, in some embodiments, even without communication to (or selection by) the customer. Payment with the enrolled purchasing instrument may trigger the application of loyalty card discounts, in some embodiments, even without presentation of the loyalty card at the point of sale. Linking loyalty card discounts to the purchasing instrument may allow a single payment instrument to replace one or more loyalty cards from different participating merchants. 
     At a point of sale, goods may be scanned for checkout. Any paper coupons may be applied, any merchant loyalty card may be processed, and these discounts may be deducted from product prices. At this point, the customer may pay with the enrolled purchasing instrument. The purchasing instrument information and product identifiers such as stock-keeping unit numbers (“SKUs”) may be transmitted to the platform. The stored coupons may be compared to the product SKUs. Stored coupons corresponding to purchased goods may be applied. The coupon data may be transmitted from the platform to a merchant at the point of sale. Prices may be adjusted as the coupon discounts are applied. In some embodiments, the discounts stemming from the coupons may be itemized separately on the customer receipt. 
     After application in connection with a transaction, redeemed customer benefit offers may be processed for electronic settlement. Data associated with the redeemed customer benefit offers may be transmitted to a clearinghouse for processing. Payment may be made electronically to reimburse the merchant. Payment may also be made to another party such as a manufacturer, retailer or coupon provider, as part of a negotiated relationship with the publisher of the customer benefit offers. 
     Data regarding the customer benefit offer redemption may be stored on the platform for analysis. The sales data may be used to direct appropriate customer benefit offers to the customer going forward. 
     Illustrative embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-26 . 
     In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art upon reading the following disclosure, various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, or a computer program product. Accordingly, those aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. 
     Furthermore, such aspects may take the form of a computer program product stored by one or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable program code, or instructions, embodied in or on the storage media. Any suitable computer readable storage media may be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or any combination thereof. In addition, various signals representing data or events as described herein may be transferred between a source and a destination in the form of electromagnetic waves traveling through signal-conducting media such as metal wires, optical fibers, and/or wireless transmission media (e.g., air and/or space). 
       FIG. 2  shows illustrative arrangement  200  for executing a transaction between customer C and merchant M. Arrangement  200  may include offer agent  201 . Offer agent  201  may control offer processor  202  and offer platform  203 . Offer processor  202 , in conjunction with offer platform  203 , may provide customer C with a discount offer. Offer Customer C may present the discount offer to merchant M to offset the purchase price of goods. Merchant M may provide the goods to customer C based on acquisition of the goods by acquirer ACQ, a credit relationship between customer C and issuer I, and a settlement relationship between issuer I and acquirer ACQ. (The settlement relationship may be based on a transaction processing network, as shown in  FIG. 2 , or any other suitable settlement relationship.) 
     Merchant M may provide a voucher to offer processor  202 . Offer processor  202  may effect reimbursement of merchant M in the amount of the discount offer.  FIG. 2  illustrates the discount offer as $1.00. Offers sources  204  may provide discount offers to offer agent  201 . Offer agent  201  may provide the discount offers to customer C. Customer C may select the discount offers that customer C desires. The desired discount offers may be stored in an account on offer platform  203  for later use by customer C. In some embodiments, the discount offers may be pushed into the account without customer C&#39;s selection. In such embodiments, customer C may redeem at a POS terminal (e.g., of merchant M) some or all of the coupons in customer C&#39;s account that are valid for goods that merchant M processes (e.g., at “register check-out”) for purchase by customer C. 
     Offer sources may include one or more of a loyalty program, an advertiser, a consumer packaged goods manufacturer, a retailer, a bank, a restaurant or any other suitable entity.  FIG. 2  shows that an offer source may provide a monetary reimbursement to the offer platform (e.g., $1.00, as illustrated). The offer source may also pay a fee to the offer platform (e.g., $0.005, as illustrated). The reimbursement funds and fees may be routed in any suitable manner, and in any suitable proportions, to any of the participants in the transaction. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram that illustrates a generic computing device  301  (alternatively referred to herein as a “server”) that may be used according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The computer server  301  may have a processor  303  for controlling overall operation of the server and its associated components, including RAM  305 , ROM  307 , input/output module  309 , and memory  315 . 
     Input/output (“I/O”) module  309  may include a microphone, keypad, touch screen, and/or stylus through which a user of device  301  may provide input, and may also include one or more of a speaker for providing audio output and a video display device for providing textual, audiovisual and/or graphical output. Software may be stored within memory  315  and/or storage to provide instructions to processor  303  for enabling server  301  to perform various functions. For example, memory  315  may store software used by server  301 , such as an operating system  317 , application programs  319 , and an associated database  321 . Alternatively, some or all of server  301  computer executable instructions may be embodied in hardware or firmware (not shown). As described in detail below, database  321  may provide storage for enrolled purchasing instrument information, available customer benefit offer information, customer selections of customer benefit offers, redeemed customer benefit offers data and any other suitable information. 
     Server  301  may operate in a networked environment supporting connections to one or more remote computers, such as terminals  341  and  351 . Terminals  341  and  351  may be personal computers or servers that include many or all of the elements described above relative to server  301 . The network connections depicted in  FIG. 3  include a local area network (LAN)  325  and a wide area network (WAN)  329 , but may also include other networks. When used in a LAN networking environment, computer  301  is connected to LAN  325  through a network interface or adapter  323 . When used in a WAN networking environment, server  301  may include a modem  327  or other means for establishing communications over WAN  329 , such as Internet  331 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are illustrative and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used. The existence of any of various well-known protocols such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like is presumed, and the system can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-based server. Any of various conventional web browsers can be used to display and manipulate data on web pages. 
     Additionally, application program  319 , which may be used by server  301 , may include computer executable instructions for invoking user functionality related to communication, such as email, short message service (SMS), and voice input and speech recognition applications. 
     Computing device  301  and/or terminals  341  or  351  may also be mobile terminals including various other components, such as a battery, speaker, and antennas (not shown). 
     Terminal  351  and/or terminal  341  may be portable devices such as a laptop, cell phone, blackberry, or any other suitable device for storing, transmitting and/or transporting relevant information. 
     Data related to coupon offers, data related to purchasing instrument use and any other suitable information may be stored in memory  315 . 
     The invention may be operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, mobile phones and/or other personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like. 
     The invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices. 
       FIG. 4  shows illustrative system  400  for processing and communicating transaction information. The transaction information may include customer information, merchant information, purchasing instrument information, financial information, customer benefit information, inventory information and any other suitable information. 
     System  400  may include merchant component  402 , network component  404  and issuer component  406 . In general, a system such as  400  may include many merchant components such as  402  and many issuer components such as  406 . System  400  may include offer processor  422  and offer platform  424 . Offer processor  422  may correspond to offer processor  202  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Offer platform  424  may correspond to one or more of offer sources  204  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In some embodiments, offer platform  424  may include offer processor  422 . 
     A customer may purchase goods by transferring customer information from a purchasing instrument, such as a credit card, to POS terminal  408 . POS terminal  408  may read the customer information from the purchasing instrument. The customer information may include purchasing instrument identification information (e.g., a credit card number, a device identifier or other suitable identifier), issuer information, account information and any other suitable information. In some embodiments, sensitive information, such as purchasing instrument identification information, may be hashed using any suitable hash function prior to storage and/or transmission to other devices. 
     POS terminal  408  may transmit transaction information to POS controller  410 . The transaction information may include some or all of the customer information and any other suitable information, such as the transaction amount and information regarding the purchased goods (such as SKU information). 
     In some embodiments, the transaction information may include offer information. The offer information may include information by which the customer may obtain a discount on the price of the goods. For example, the offer information may include a purchasing instrument identifier, a customer benefit offer identifier, information regarding the purchased goods and the like). 
     POS controller  410  may act as a server for providing user prompts and displaying layout information to one or more POS terminals such as POS terminal  408 . POS controller  410  may receive transaction information from one or more of the POS terminals. 
     POS controller  410  may transmit the transaction information to host data capture system  412 . Host data capture system  412  may store transaction information from POS controller  410 . Host data capture system  412  may store accounting data, inventory data and other suitable data that may be included in the transaction information. 
     Host data capture system  412  may route merchant information to processor  414 . Processor  414  may include a credit card network “processor,” which is known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The illustrative systems shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  may include one or more other processors that perform tasks that are appropriate for the components thereof. 
     The merchant information may include some or all of the transaction information. The merchant information may include information about the merchant, the merchant&#39;s business, the merchant&#39;s network membership, the merchant&#39;s business behavior and any other suitable information. Processor  414  may route some or all of the merchant information, via network  416 , to database  418 . The routing may be governed by transaction information. For example, the routing may be governed by a bank issuer number (“BIN”) that is encoded in the customer&#39;s credit card. Authorization engine  420  may render a transaction authorization decision based on the merchant information. 
     Authorization engine  420  may transmit authorization information back to POS terminal  408  through network  416 , processor  414 , host data capture system  412  and POS controller  410 . The authorization information may include the authorization decision (e.g., “GRANTED” or “DENIED”). The authorization information may include some or all of the merchant information. The merchant information may be used by processor  414  to route the authorization information back to the merchant and the POS terminal where the customer is present. 
     Transaction information may include some or all of the information that is necessary to identify the transaction fee for the transaction. The transaction fee may depend on one or more transaction fee factors, such as interchange rate, network rates, merchant type, merchant size, transaction processing method, and any other suitable factors. Transaction information may include one or more of the foregoing factors and any other suitable factors. 
     The transaction information may be stored in any suitable element of merchant component  402 , network component  404  and issuer component  406 . For example, transaction information may be stored in processor  414 . Processor  414  may include algorithms that may be used in conjunction with the transaction information to identify the transaction fee corresponding to the customer transaction taking place at POS terminal  408 . After the transaction fee is identified, processor  414  may transmit the transaction fee, via merchant components  402 , to POS terminal  408 . POS terminal  408  may display the transaction fee for viewing by the customer. 
     POS terminal may have one or more interactive features that the customer may use. The features may provide the customer with information that may help the customer decide whether to execute the transaction. The customer may use the features to obtain more information about the merchant, the transaction, the transaction fee, transaction fees associated with different purchasing instruments (e.g., credit cards, debit cards, instruments or devices that include a contact chip, such as an ISO14443-compliant contactless chip, or other electronic purchasing devices) or other suitable information. 
     Purchasing instruments may store data in a magnetic strip, a bar code, a silicon chip or any other suitable data storage device or format. 
     When offer information is present in the transaction information, host data capture system  412  may determine, prior to routing the transaction information to processor  414 , whether the customer&#39;s purchasing instrument and/or associated customer benefit offers qualifies for redemption of one or more offers that are included in the offer information. 
     In some embodiments, host data capture system  412  may transmit customer benefit offer information to offer processor  422 . The customer benefit offer information may identify an offer for a customer benefit in connection with an item that the customer has presented at checkout for payment. In some of these embodiments, offer processor  422  may determine whether the customer has acknowledged receipt of the customer benefit offer. The acknowledgment may be logged by offer platform  424 . If the acknowledgment was logged, offer processor  422  may transmit to host data capture system  412  a validation message indicating that the customer is entitled to the customer benefit. If the acknowledgment was not logged, offer processor  422  may transmit to host data capture system  412  a message indicating that the customer is not entitled to the customer benefit. In such embodiments, a customer may be denied the benefit if the customer has not acknowledged receipt of the customer benefit offer. 
     In some embodiments, acknowledgment may not be required. 
     In some embodiments, POS terminal  408  may be provided with logic configured to detect a situation in which the customer first presents a purchasing instrument that is qualified for offer redemption and then executes payment of the transaction with a different purchasing instrument that is not qualified for the redemption. 
     If the purchasing instrument is qualified for the redemption, host data capture system  412  may transmit some or all of the offer information to offer processor  422 . Offer processor  422  may decrypt (using an inverse hash function, e.g.) hashed information, such as the purchasing instrument identifier. Offer processor  422  may use the decrypted information to associate the purchasing instrument with an offer platform such as  424 . Offer processor may transmit the offer information to offer engine  426  in offer platform  424 . Offer engine  426  may query database  428  for customer benefit information. The customer benefit information may include one or more discounts, incentives, vouchers or further offers. For example, the customer benefit information may include a discount amount for purchase of product X, a coupon for savings on a future purchase of product Y, a voucher for a product offered by merchant M or a partner or affiliate of merchant M or further offers or coupons for future transaction with merchant M. 
     Offer engine  426  may route the customer benefit information back to POS terminal  408 . POS terminal  408  may deduct discount amounts from the purchase price of the goods and recalculate any amounts payable. POS terminal  408  may then transmit transaction information to POS controller  410  and initiate transaction information processing as discussed above in connection with merchant component  402 , network component  404  and issuer component  406 . 
       FIG. 5  shows illustrative system  500  for processing and communicating transaction information. System  500  may include merchant component  502 , network component  504  and issuer component  506 . In general, a system such as  500  may include many merchant components such as  502  and many issuer components such as  506 . System  500  may have one or more of the features that are described herein in connection with system  400 . For example, system  500  may include offer processor  522  and offer platform  524 . Offer platform  524  may include offer engine  526  and database  528 . Offer processor  522 , offer platform  524 , offer engine  526  and database  528  may have one or more of the features that are described herein in connection with offer processor  422 , offer platform  424 , offer engine  426  and database  428  (all shown in  FIG. 4 ), respectively. 
     In system  500 , processor  514  may be present in merchant component  502 . Corresponding processor  414  is present in network component  404  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Systems such as  400  are designed for merchants that require high throughput of merchant information and transaction information. Systems such as  500  are designed for merchants that do not require high throughput of merchant information and transaction information. 
       FIG. 6  shows illustrative architecture  600  for transmission of offer notifications from an offer platform such as  602  to a customer such as customer n and for transmission of customer information from customer n to a POS terminal such as  604 . 
     In architecture  600 , customer n may receive offer notifications from offer platform  602  via mobile wallet  606 , which may be in communication with the operating system of a cellular telephone. The notifications may include information regarding discounted products, offering merchants, locations, discount amounts, offer terms (including, for example, a period of validity, identities of participating merchants and the like) and other suitable information. Offer platform  602  may select the offers for which to send the notifications based on an account established for customer n on offer platform  602 . Customer n may use the offer notifications in connection with purchasing decisions. 
     When customer n purchases one or more items from a merchant, customer n may present purchasing instrument  608 , such as a credit card, to the merchant. The credit card may include offer information, such as an identification number. The identification number may be a credit card number. POS terminal  604  may transmit the number to offer platform  602 . Offer platform  602  may return to POS terminal  604  customer benefit information that corresponds to customer n&#39;s account. POS terminal  604  may identify in the customer benefit information benefits that correspond to goods that customer n has presented for purchase at POS terminal  604 . POS terminal may apply the benefits to the transaction with customer n. 
       FIG. 7  shows illustrative architecture  700  for transmission of offer notifications from an offer platform such as  702  to a customer such as customer m and for transmission of customer information from customer m to a POS terminal such as  704 . POS terminal  704  may be an internet protocol based POS terminal. 
     In architecture  700 , offer platform  702  may transmit to customer m offer notifications and customer benefit information. The offer notifications may be transmitted using a protocol that requires validation of customer m&#39;s identity. Customer m&#39;s identity may be encoded in mobile wallet  706 , which may be present in purchasing instrument  712 . For example, mobile wallet  706  may be in a cellular telephone and may be in communication with the operating system of the cellular telephone. Mobile wallet  706  may include secure identification information that associates customer m with customer m&#39;s personal and credit information. 
     The notifications may include information regarding discounted products, offering merchants, locations, discount amounts and other suitable information. Offer platform  702  may select the offers for which to send the notifications based on an account established for customer m on offer platform  702 . Customer m may view the notifications on a display (not shown) on purchasing instrument  712 . Customer m may use the offer notifications in connection with purchasing decisions. 
     When customer m purchases one or more items from a merchant, customer m may present purchasing instrument  712  to the merchant. Purchasing instrument  712  may include transaction module  708 . Transaction module  708  may include instructions and protocols for exchanging customer, offer, customer benefit, transaction and any other suitable information with POS terminal  704 . Purchasing instrument  712  may include near field communication (“NFC”) module  710  for wireless communication of the customer, offer, customer benefit, transaction and other suitable information with POS terminal  704 . 
     POS terminal  704  may use some or all of the customer, offer, customer benefit, transaction and other suitable information to recalculate prices that customer m will pay for goods being purchased. 
     POS terminal  704  may communicate with offer terminal  702  via electronic communication network  716 . Electronic communication network  716  may be the Internet. POS terminal  704  may communicate with offer platform  702  to validate the validity of information such as offer information, customer benefit information and other suitable information. POS terminal  704  may communicate with offer platform  702  to verify that customer m is entitled to present an offer. POS terminal  704  may communicate with offer platform  702  to verify the identity of the entity that is to pay for the value of the offer (e.g., a product manufacturer). POS terminal  704  may communicate with offer platform  702  to notify the paying entity about the transaction. 
       FIG. 8  shows illustrative process  800  for enrollment of a purchasing instrument and establishment of communication methods. In illustrative process  800 , the purchasing instrument is a debit card and the customer benefit offer is an electronic coupon. The vertical paths in the flow diagram show primary processes and the horizontal paths show related sub-processes. 
     Process  800  shows two parallel methods for debit card enrollment. At steps  801  through  805 , the debit card is enrolled via a web-based portal associated with the debit card provider. At steps  806  through  809 , the debit card is enrolled via a kiosk. 
     At step  801 , a customer accesses the enrollment website. At step  802 , the customer enters account information. At step  803 , the account information is verified. At step  804 , the customer selects a communication method. More than one communication method may be selected. At step  805 , the communication method preferences are stored. 
     In some embodiments, the communication method may support bidirectional communication between an offer platform such as offer platform  424  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) and a customer such as customer C (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The offer platform may transmit, via the selected communication method, customer benefit offer information to the customer. The customer benefit offer information may include information about benefits that are available to the customer. The customer may acknowledge receipt of the customer benefit information. Appropriate apparatus (such as a personal computer, a cell phone, a PDA, a kiosk, an ATM or any other suitable apparatus) may transmit customer benefit offer acknowledgment information to the offer platform. The offer platform may log receipt of the customer benefit offer acknowledgment. In some embodiments, the receipt may be used as a requirement for authorizing application of the customer benefit at a POS terminal. 
     In an alternative enrollment process, at step  806 , a customer accesses a kiosk at a participating retailer. At step  807 , the customer enters account information by swiping the magnetic stripe of the debit card in a card reader. At step  808 , the customer selects a communication method. At step  809 , the communication method preferences are stored. 
     A more detailed illustration of the communication methods from steps  804  and  808  is detailed at steps  810  through  813 . 
     In illustrative process  800 , a list of coupon offers is transmitted to the customer on a weekly basis. At step  810 , the weekly list of coupon offers is compiled. At step  811 , the list of coupon offers is transmitted to the customer. Process  800  includes three illustrative methods of transmission: making the list available on a website, sending the list in an email message, or sending a text message to a mobile device. At step  812 , the customer acknowledges the offers and may select coupons for application. The selected coupons are stored. At step  813 , the coupons are available for application at a point of sale. The coupon discounts will be applied when the enrolled debit card is used for a purchase at a point of sale. 
       FIG. 9  shows high level process  900  illustrating the entities involved in customer benefit offer publication, selection and redemption. The primary entities identified in process  900  may be companies, individuals or technological processes. In process  900 , the customer benefit offer is an electronic coupon offer. 
     Entity  901  is an advertiser. Entity  902  is an integrated electronic platform. Coupon offers from various advertisers may be compiled on the integrated electronic platform. Sources for coupon offers include manufacturers, retailers and commercial coupon sources. Predictive analytics may be applied filter the offers based on customer history. Entity  903  is a publisher of coupon offers. The publisher may be a payment card provider in a coupon offer program designed for its payment card users. In illustrative process  900 , the publisher is a bank publishing coupons for account holders enrolling a bank issued debit or credit card. Entity  904  is a customer with a debit or credit card. The customer may enroll the card and choose a communication method to receive the published coupons. Entity  905  is a retailer. The customer may use the enrolled payment card at a participating retailer to trigger application of coupons. Entity  906  is a retail processor. Coupons may be processed for redemption and settlement by the retailer or may be electronically transmitted directly to the platform for redemption and settlement. Feedback regarding coupon redemption may be transmitted back to the advertiser  901 . 
       FIG. 10  shows illustrative process  1000  outlining the process of distributing and applying customer benefit offers. Process  1000  may correspond in whole or in part to a portion of the process shown in  FIG. 9 . In process  1000 , the customer benefit offer is a coupon offer. 
     Step  1001  shows three illustrative sources for coupon offers. At step  1002 , the coupon offers are filtered based on stored customer data and are stored on an offer platform. At step  1003 , the coupon offers are distributed to the customer. Process  1000  shows four illustrative communication methods. At step  1004 , the coupons are applied at a point of sale. At step  1005 , the redeemed coupons are processed for settlement. 
     Kiosk  1006  may be in or near merchant m&#39;s facility, in any location that is convenient for customer C or in any other suitable location. Customer C may use a purchasing instrument to communicate with kiosk  1006 . For example, customer C may enroll in an offer program by providing customer identification information to kiosk  1006 . An offer processor such as  202  may provide customer C with offer information via kiosk  1006 . 
       FIG. 11  shows illustrative process  1100  outlining a purchase at a point of sale where customer benefits are applied. In process  1100 , the purchasing instrument is a debit card and the customer benefit is an electronic coupon. Process  1100  may correspond in whole or in part to a portion of the process illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     At step  1101 , the customer visits a participating retailer. At step  1102  the customer selects products for purchase. At step  1103 , the products are checked out. Paper coupons and any store loyalty card may be processed and any discounts applied. At step  1104 , the customer may swipe a debit card for payment. At step  1105 , the encrypted debit card information and the product SKUs are transmitted to the integrated electronic platform storing pre-selected coupons. 
     At step  1106 , the card information and the product SKUs are verified. In a sub-process, coupons are discharged and ready for settlement. At step  1107 , coupon offers for the products purchased are disabled. At step  1108 , the disabled offers are ready for settlement. 
     The primary process continues at step  1109 . At step  1109 , the details from coupon offers for the purchased products are transmitted to the retailer. At step  1110 , the retailer accepts the details of the discount and adjusts prices or totals for the items purchased. At step  1111 , the customer is provided with a receipt showing the discounts attributable to the electronic coupons. 
       FIG. 12  shows illustrative process  1200  for the settlement of redeemed electronic coupons. At step  1201  redeemed coupon offers stored on the electronic platform are ready for settlement. At step  1202 , the redeemed offer data is transmitted to a clearinghouse. At step  1203 , the coupons are processed and the payment for retailers is allocated. Retailers will be reimbursed for the face value of the coupons. At step  1204 , the offers are settled. At step  1205 , payment is transmitted from the electronic platform to the retailers. At step  1206 , payment is transmitted to partners participating in providing the coupon offers. At step  1207 , redemption data is transmitted to offer analytics and stored on the platform for use in directing future coupon offers to the customer. 
       FIG. 13  shows illustrative kiosk  1300 . Kiosk  1300  may be a kiosk that performs tasks in connection with enrollment of customers in an offer program, distribution of offer information to customers and any other suitable tasks. Kiosk  1300  may placed in a location that is convenient for customers to use before or during shopping activities in connection with merchant M. Kiosk  1300  may perform one or more of the tasks associated with step  806  (shown in  FIG. 800 ), one or more of the tasks associated with kiosk  1006  (shown in  FIG. 10 ) or any other suitable tasks. In particular, kiosk  1300  may be used to allow a customer to instantly enroll in an offer program or to view, print or download customer benefit information so that a customer can receive benefits, including discounts, in connection with purchases from merchant M. 
     Kiosk  1300  may include one or more of the features of the devices shown in  FIG. 3 . Kiosk  1300  may include touch screen display  1302  for displaying instructions, offer information and any other suitable information to customer C. Kiosk  1300  may include printer  1312  for printing customer benefit, offer, and other suitable information. Kiosk  1300  may include card reader  1304  for reading a swipable purchasing instrument, such as a credit or debit card. Kiosk  1300  may include near field communication module  1306  for communicating with an NFC-equipped purchasing instrument such as a cellular telephone. Kiosk  1300  may include processor  1308  for encoding data from the purchasing instrument. Kiosk  1300  may include communications module  1310  for exchanging the encoded data via an electronic communication network with an offer processor such as  202  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In some embodiments, some or all of the functions of kiosk  1300  may be present in a self-service device, such as an automatic teller machine (“ATM”), a ticket- or token-vending machine or an information dispensing machine (such as are found in public transportation stations, such as train and bus stations and airports). 
       FIG. 14  shows illustrative self-service device  1400 , which may be an ATM. Self-service device  1400  may include monitor  1402 , keypad  1404 , card reader port  1406 , document acceptor  1408 , item dispenser  1410  and security screen  1412 . 
     Monitor  1402  may exchange visual and or audio information with a customer. Keypad  1404  may include alphanumeric keys  1414  for the customer to enter numerical and textual data. Keypad  1404  may include control keys  1416 . In some embodiments, control keys  1416  may be used to communicate control information, such as instructions, to self-service device  1400 . Keypad  1404  may include soft keys. Soft keys  1418  may have functions that are dictated by programming and are presented to the customer using information that may be displayed on monitor  1402 . 
     Card reader port  1406  may be the front end of any suitable card reader. The card reader may read magnetically encoded information on transaction instruments such as bank cards. In some embodiments, self-service device  1400  may include a contactless chip reader such as NFC module  1420 , a wireless transceiver or any other suitable interface for exchanging transaction information with a transaction instrument. The transaction instrument may be a chip, an RFID tag, a smart card, a PDA, a telephone or any other suitable device. 
     In some embodiments, self-service device  1400  may include a biometric sensor (not shown). The biometric sensor may identify a customer based on a feature, such as an anatomical feature, of the customer. For example, the biometric sensor may be configured to identify the customer based on all or part of a face, a fingerprint, an iris, a retina a hand or any other suitable anatomical feature. The biometric sensor may identify the customer based on a behavioral feature such as a signature, a voice, a gait or any other suitable behavioral feature. 
     Document acceptor  1408  may accept any suitable documents. For example, document acceptor  1408  may accept envelopes, deposit forms, bills, checks or any other suitable documents. In some embodiments, document acceptor  1408  may feed into a scanner that digitizes the documents for image-based transaction processing. 
     Item dispenser  1410  may dispense items. For example, item dispenser  1410  may dispense bills. 
     Security screen  1412  may visually screen a surveillance device (not shown). The surveillance device may provide video information about individuals that are present near the self-service device and the conditions there. 
       FIG. 15  shows illustrative self-service device  1500 . Self-service device  1500  may have one or more of the features of self-service device  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Self-service device  1500  may include housing  1502 . Self-service device  1500  may include vault  1504 . Vault  1504  may contain items (not shown). Item handling mechanism  1506  may be present in vault  1504 . Item handling mechanism  1506  may store, arrange, dispense and/or otherwise handle items for dispensing from self-service device  1400 . For example, item handling mechanism  1506  may include conveyors (not shown) for positioning and repositioning items for dispensing by dispenser  1508  through item port  1510 . Items (not shown) in item handling mechanism  1506  may be contained in item cartridges  1512 . For example, when the items are bills, item cartridges  1512  may be cash cartridges. 
     Item handling mechanism  1506  may include item counter  1514 . Item counter  1514  may count items prior to dispensing by dispenser  1508 . 
     Self-service device  1500  may include LCD display  1516  and a keypad (not shown) for customer interaction. Card reader  1518  may be present for receiving transaction information from the customer via a suitable transaction instrument. Self-service device  1500  may include receipt printer and dispenser module  1520 . Receipt printer and dispenser module  1520  may provide the customer with a record of a transaction. CPU  1520  may control customer I/O, dispensing processes, which may include initialization, actuation, dispensing and any other suitable processes, receipt printing and dispensing, transaction channel communications and any other suitable processes. The transaction channel communications may be performed using modem  1524 , which may be any suitable communication device. Modem  1524  may communicate with a local or regional network router (not shown). Service monitor  1526  may be provided for a service technician to exchange information and instructions with CPU  1522 . 
       FIG. 16  shows control system  1600  for controlling a self-service device such as  1500  (shown in  FIG. 15 ). System  1600  is controlled by CPU  1602 . CPU  1602  exchanges transaction information with electronic communication network N via modem  1604 , which is in communication with router R. CPU  1602  may receive transaction information from a customer via monitor  1606 , keypad  1608 , card reader  1610 , NFC module  1616 , storage  1618  and deposit acceptor  1612 . CPU  1602  may dispense bills through bill dispenser  1614 . Offer information may be provided to customer C via monitor  1606  and/or printer  1620 . Design and layout information may be stored in storage  1618 . The design and layout information may be provided to printer  1620  to provide printed media with graphic illustrations. For example, when the offer information includes a coupon, the coupon may be provided with graphic illustrations and/or patterns. 
     CPU  1602  may be configured to use monitor  1606  to prompt customer C to inquire about offer information that is related to merchant M&#39;s goods. For example, merchant M may be set as a default merchant in memory  1618  when ATM  1400  is located at, near or in association with merchant M&#39;s facility. In some embodiments, CPU  1602  may prompt customer C to select a merchant about whose offers customer C desires to inquire. CPU  1602  may receive customer information from a mobile wallet or card via card reader  410  or NFC module  416 . CPU  1602  may encode or hash some or all of the customer information. CPU  1602  may provide the coded customer information to offer processor  1622 . Offer processor  1622  may have some or all of the features of offer processor  202  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Offer processor  1602  may return customer benefit, offer and other suitable information to CPU  1602 . The customer benefit, offer and other suitable information may be displayed by monitor  1606  and/or printed on printer  1620 . 
       FIGS. 17-25  show illustrative views for display to customer C at a kiosk such as  1300  (shown in  FIG. 13 ). Some customer-interactive aspects of views  17 - 25  involve the use of swipable cards. It will be understood that swipable cards are discussed as an example of a purchasing instrument and that any suitable purchasing instrument may be used. 
       FIGS. 17-20  may be displayed on the kiosk to offer customer C an opportunity to view offers to which customer C may be entitled and to enroll in an offer program (identified as an “e-discount” program in view  1700 ). 
       FIG. 17  shows illustrative view  1700 . View  1700  may include text  1702  that invites customer C to have customer C&#39;s card read. The kiosk may then identify offers available to C by communicating with an offer processor such as  202  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The kiosk may display textual, graphical or audio representations (not shown) of the offers. The kiosk may provide customer C with an opportunity to request a print-out of the offers. In some embodiments, the kiosk may print out the offers in response to a card swipe or the detection of a purchasing instrument NFC signal. 
     View  1700  may include touch-screen control  1704  that invites customer C to enroll in an offer program such as that shown in and described in connection with  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 18  shows illustrative view  1800 . The kiosk may display view  1800  in response to a card swipe by customer C. View  1800  shows customer benefit information  1802 , which may be associated with customer C. Customer benefit information  1802  may include for each customer benefit  1804  quantity  1806 , item identifier  1808 , regular price  1810 , discounted price  1812  and location in store (“AISLE”)  1814 . Any other suitable information may be included. 
       FIG. 19  shows illustrative view  1900 . The kiosk may display view  1900  in response to customer C&#39;s activation of control  1704  (shown in  FIG. 17 ). Text  1902  may instruct customer C to swipe a card to initiate an enrollment process such as that including illustrative steps  807 - 809  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). 
       FIG. 20  shows illustrative view  2000 . The kiosk may display view  2000  in connection with a step such as  808  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) in which an offer communication method is selected. View  2000  may include instruction  2002  that requests that customer C select an offer communication method. View  2000  may include controls  2004 ,  2006 ,  2008  and  2010 , which correspond to selections of communication by cell phone, e-mail, web and regular mail, respectively. 
       FIGS. 21-25  show illustrative views that may be displayed by a POS terminal such as  408  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), which may be associated with a merchant such as M (shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 21  shows illustrative view  2100 . View  2100  may be displayed by the POS terminal to offer customer C supplemental goods that customer C may pay for as part of the transaction with merchant M. The supplemental goods may be offered or sold by merchant M or a third party. The third party may be an offer source such as one of offer sources  204 . The offer source may provide to the offer agent promotional information that is to be displayed or performed on or by a POS terminal at merchant M&#39;s facility. The promotional information may include text, images, audio, video and any other suitable type of information. 
     The third party may arrange with an offer agent such as  201  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to purchase promotional opportunities on merchant M&#39;s POS terminals to promote and sell a product. Merchant M collects payment for the product and is reimbursed by the third party. Merchant M may “invoice” the third party through agent  201  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     View  2100  may include item identifier  2102 , item regular price  2104 , item discounted price  2106 , control  2108  and map  2110 . Customer C may activate control  2108  to accept the offer of supplemental goods. If customer C accepts the offer of supplemental goods, the POS terminal may add the price of the supplemental goods to customer C&#39;s payable amount. The POS terminal may provide a printed voucher for the supplemental goods. In some embodiments, the POS terminal may instruct the offer agent to instruct the third party to prepare the supplemental goods for pick-up at a designated time. The POS terminal may print a copy of map  2110 . 
       FIGS. 22-25  show illustrative views that may be displayed by a POS terminal such as  408  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), which may be associated with a merchant such as M (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The views relate to an offer of instant credit to pay merchant M for the purchase of goods by customer C. The credit may be provided by merchant M or a third party. The third party may be a bank, a financial institution or any other suitable third party. The third party may be an offer source such as one of offer sources  204 . The third party may arrange with an offer agent such as  201  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to purchase opportunities on merchant M&#39;s POS terminals to offer its credit. Merchant M receives payment for the product from the third party. 
       FIG. 22  shows illustrative view  2200 . View  2200  may include instruction  2202 , which may instruct customer C to swipe a card. The POS terminal may receive information identifying the customer from the card. 
       FIG. 23  shows illustrative view  2300 . View  2300  may include “Pay Now” control  2302 . View  2300  may include “Pay Later” control  2304 . If customer C activates “Pay Now” control  2302 , the POS terminal may initiate a normal purchase transaction. 
     If customer C activates “Pay Later” control  2304 , the POS terminal may initiate an instant credit application. In an illustrative instant credit application process, the POS terminal may provide the identification information (in hashed form, e.g.), along with transaction information such as a purchase amount, to the offer agent, which may route the identification to the third party or an agent, such as an authorization/clearance agent (like that shown in  FIG. 1 ) for credit and risk decisioning. In embodiments in which the POS terminal is based on internet protocols, the identification information may be routed directly to the third party or the agent. 
       FIG. 24  shows illustrative view  2400 . View  2400  may include application decision information  2402 . In this view, application decision information  2402  informs customer C that customer C&#39;s credit application was approved. View  2400  may include credit information  2404 . Credit information  2404  may include lending institution information  2408  and credit terms information  2410 . Credit terms information  2410  may include a due date, an interest rate and other suitable information. The POS terminal may provide customer C with other views (not shown) that include legal terms of the credit and interactive controls for customer C to accept or reject the terms. 
       FIG. 25  shows illustrative view  2500 . View  2500  may include application decision information  2502 . In this view, application decision information  2502  informs customer C that customer C&#39;s credit application was denied. The POS terminal then may initiate a normal purchase transaction. 
       FIG. 26  shows illustrative record  2600 . Record  2600  may be a printed document, such as a transaction receipt, an electronic message (which may be in any suitable format such as HTML, SMS text, image or any other suitable format) or any other suitable type of document. Record  2600  may be printed out by the POS terminal or an associated printer. Record  2600  may be transmitted to customer C by email, near field communication, cell phone or any other suitable method. 
     View  2600  may include itemized purchase information  2607 . Itemized purchase information  2607  may list items that are the subject of a transaction between merchant M and customer C. Itemized purchase information  2607  may include merchant identification information  2602 , transaction identification information  2604 , date information  2606 , item index information  2608 , stock identification information  2610 , quantity information  2612 , amount information  2614  and other suitable itemized purchase information. 
     View  2600  may include itemized discount information  2616 . Itemized discount information may list items for which customer C received a discount. The discount may be based on apparatus and methods shown and described herein. View  2616  may include item index information  2618 , stock identification information  2620 , discount information  2622 , amount paid information  2624  and other suitable itemized purchase information. Discount information  2622  may include discounts represented as a percentage and as an amount. 
     Thus, apparatus and methods for electronically distributing customer benefit offers are provided. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and that the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.