Methods and systems for reconciliation of discount certificates

A method for processing plurality of discounted transactions, the method comprising:

• receiving at a transmission controller transaction information for each of the plurality of discounted transactions, the transaction information identifying terms for application of a discount amount;
• determining with the transmission controller whether the terms have been met;
• and
• transmitting the transaction information to a host computer if the terms have been met.

A method for providing an electronic discount instrument, the method comprising:

• providing an electronic customer interface to present a plurality of possible discount-term selections, each such selection specifying at least an item and discount amount;
• receiving a customer identifier for a customer through the interface;
• receiving an identification of at least one selected discount-term selection from the customer through the interface;
• and
• transmitting the customer identifier and the at least one selected discount-term selection to a transmission controller.

A method for providing an automatic transaction discount, the method comprising:

• receiving qualifying demographic criteria and an item identification for application of a discount amount;
• receiving transaction information for purchase of the item from a point-of-sale device;
• receiving customer identification information for the purchase of the item;
• accessing demographic information for a customer with the customer identification information;
• and
• transmitting instructions to the point-of-sale device to apply the discount amount if the demographic information for the customer is consistent with the qualifying demographic criteria.

A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a host computer including a communications system, a processor, and a storage device, wherein the computer-readable program includes instructions for operating the host computer to process a plurality of discounted transactions in accordance with the following:

• receiving with the communications system transaction information for each of the plurality of discounted transactions, the transaction information identifying a discount amount applied to a sale of an item by a retailer on behalf of an issuer of a corresponding discount;
• determining with the processor an amount due from each issuer in accordance with the transaction information for the plurality of discounted transactions;
• determining with the processor an amount due to each retailer in accordance with the transaction information for the plurality of discounted transactions;
• and
• transmitting requests with the communications system to one or more financial institutions to transfer funds in accordance with the determined amounts due from each issuer and to each retailer.

A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a transmission controller including a communications system, a processor, and a storage device, wherein the computer-readable program includes instructions for operating the transmission controller to process a plurality of discounted transactions in accordance with the following:

• receiving with the communications system transaction information for each of the plurality of discounted transactions, the transaction information identifying terms for application of a discount amount;
• determining with the processor whether the terms have been met;
• and
• transmitting the transaction information with the communications system to a host computer if the terms have been met.