Inventors:
Robert Connor - Wyndmoor PA, US
International Classification:
G06F017/60
Abstract:
A variety of electronic payment solutions and user affinity system and methods are provided. The electronic payment solutions allow participating customers to exploit legacy transaction systems and provide a basis to electronically establish user affinities that may be employed as part of one or more targeted marketing efforts. In an illustrative implementation, a participating user is issued a UPC bar code ID that is storable on a variety of media ranging from print medium to electronic media (FOB wand, stored in a cell phone, SIM Card, or other mobile computing device). The UPC bar code ID may be linked to the participating user's bank and/or credit card accounts. In operation, when the participating user purchases a product and/or service, the participating user offers the UPC bar code ID to the retailer to pay for the product and/or service. The retailer processes the UPC bar code ID using legacy UPC bar code ID transaction equipment to indicate the appropriate charges against the participating users' account(s).