Multi-merchant Loyalty Card System Patents (Class 705/14.3)
  • Publication number: 20120173314
    Abstract: A system and method for accumulating bonus points using an image recognition code are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventor: Kang-il Lee
  • Patent number: 8190471
    Abstract: A method and system for using a rebate card are disclosed. The method may comprise initiating a purchase transaction for one or more products at a point of sale, determining whether the purchase transaction qualifies for a rebate, determining a rebate value based on the purchase transaction and the rebate, activating a rebate value in a rebate card account associated with a rebate card based on the determining action, and delivering the rebate card to a customer of the one or more products during the purchase transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: e2interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip C. Graves, Phil M. Chakiris, Karl Denzer, Dustin Young
  • Patent number: 8190472
    Abstract: Methods for using a rebate card and preventing the retention of rebate value when the product that prompted the rebate is returned are disclosed. Methods for using the rebate card may be limited for use at a particular retailer and/or for a particular manufacturer's goods or services. Methods for preventing the improper retention of rebate value may comprise: determining the amount the customer paid for the product; determining if a rebate value was provided for the product being returned; deducting the amount of the rebate from the amount the customer paid for the product; and providing the remaining amount the customer paid for the product being returned to the customer. In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of the rebate value that was provided based on the purchase of the product being returned may be deducted from the customer's rebate account. Additionally, rebate cards may be RFID enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: e2interactive, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip C. Graves, Phil M. Chakiris, Karl Denzer, Dustin Young
  • Patent number: 8180671
    Abstract: The invention facilitates pooling, gifting or transferring of geographic area loyalty points between accounts. The invention also facilitates a transfer of geographic area loyalty points from a consumer account associated with a sponsoring company to a consumer account associated with a host company. The invention may also facilitate gifting of loyalty points to charitable organizations on a recurring basis, wherein the gifting may transfer any portion of geographic based points to various charities. The system may also convert the geographic area loyalty points to a monetary value, thereby allowing the points to be donated to a charity such that the donation appears to be a monetary value donation to the charity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Propulsion Remote Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Perry A. Cohagan, Birgitta Mayer, Julia Menichilli, Theodore S. Voltmer, Penelope Wood-Kulko
  • Patent number: 8157166
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for managing transaction card accounts involves enabling a transaction card account by a card issuer for use with pre-defined categories of providers of goods/services and goods/services sold and issuing a transaction card and establishing an associated pre-qualified category card account. Upon receiving data for a transaction with the transaction card at a transaction terminal by a processing platform of the card issuer via a card association processing network, the category of the provider and goods/services is interrogated to determine whether or not the transaction can be posted on the pre-qualified category card account of the cardholder, and the transaction is approved and posted to the pre-qualified category card account if the transaction falls within the pre-qualified category of the cardholder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services, Inc.
    Inventor: William Johnson
  • Patent number: 8155999
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing a merchant loyalty program is disclosed. The invention includes receiving purchase data, wherein the purchase data comprises a consumer account code, a purchase amount, and a service establishment code; associating the service establishment code with a merchant proprietor rewards account code; calculating a reward amount based on the purchase amount; and, crediting a merchant proprietor reward account with at least a portion of said reward amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Propulsion Remote Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Elts de Boer, Glyn Philip Jackson, Samuel Martin Ramsey, Theodore S. Voltmer
  • Publication number: 20120078695
    Abstract: A universal rewards system for consolidating reward and bonus programs across a series of programs in which a consumer participates. The system includes at least one computer having a computer-readable medium with program instructions stored thereon to cause the processor to receive data streams regarding participating merchants, determine and/or identify qualified transactions, identify appropriate rewards/bonuses, and identify participating consumers, generate data regarding the qualified transactions and the appropriate rewards/bonuses, and transmit information regarding the qualified transactions and issuance of the appropriate rewards/bonuses. The system also includes an identification device for distribution to the participating consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Alexander Thomas Paterson
  • Publication number: 20120054002
    Abstract: A network platform for marketing products or services to consumers. A transaction source processes a customer purchase from a business, and produces transaction data including at least a unique identifier for the customer. A networking server coupled to the transaction source has a corporate network or web interface to enable the business to define marketing campaigns and enter data and information concerning its customers, and a consumer network interface that allows a customer to perform at least one of (a) manage integration of his/her social network(s) with the business, (b) customize the form or content of messages sent to the customer's friends over the social networks, (c) opt in or out of certain services, (d) group the customer's friends for targeting by the business campaigns, and (e) obtain statistical data on the customer's business patronage. A social network interface enables the networking server to communicate with the social networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Richard F. Rotbard, David J. Gosman
  • Publication number: 20120022930
    Abstract: A media targeting system may be configured to coordinate media and manage media conflicts in its delivery to consumers. The media targeting system may in near real-time arbitrate between all offers assigned to a particular consumer or available to the consumer via one or more channels to ensure that a consumer only receives non-conflicting offers during particular time periods. The media targeting system may translate offers into a real-time, in-store loyalty environment including consumer real-time behavior assignment into traits in order to make a real-time offer assignment based on the traits. An application on a mobile device of a consumer may allow the consumer to share offers with other consumers via a bump of the consumers' mobile devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Jesse Brouhard
  • Patent number: 8065182
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates implementation of an incentive or loyalty program by providing a universal rewards currency. This universal rewards currency may be “spent” by participants who have earned rewards and accepted by the other participants in the multi-tiered network created by the system. The network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers, retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore S. Voltmer, Fauziah B. Ariff
  • Patent number: 8050968
    Abstract: The invention includes facilitating the substantially real-time transfer of loyalty points between accounts. The method and system include receiving a transfer request (e.g., consumer request, triggering event, etc) for a transfer of a certain number of loyalty points, accessing and analyzing the total number of loyalty points in the transferor account to determine if a sufficient number of points exist, analyzing the type/level of consumer and type/level of points to be involved in the transfer, deducting the requested loyalty points from the transferor account, determining if any rules exist for restricting or limiting the transfer of points, using a conversion engine to convert the point value to an appropriate point value in the transferee account and increasing the point balance in the transferee account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Donna Antonucci, Theodore S. Voltmer
  • Publication number: 20110238471
    Abstract: A method and system for enabling a customer to participate in a plurality of rewards programs, operated by a plurality of retailers, using the same generic loyalty card. The customer submits registration information, and is issued a card which may be used to participate in rewards programs with any of a plurality of retailers. The generic loyalty card may be used for rewards programs in either an in-store visit or an online transaction with the retailer. Additional registration information may be submitted using a customer mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: John Richard Trzcinski
  • Publication number: 20110238465
    Abstract: A system of controlling money through a card, where at least one allocating individual can determine what goods and services the card user may purchase, and what vendors the card user may patronize. The at least one allocating individual accesses a database that is secure and limited to use by the at least one allocating individual. The database permits the at least one allocating individual to select what goods, services and vendors will be accepted and what will be denied when the card is used. These selections are then transmitted to the card company's network, which will accept or decline a purchase request from a vendor. In an additional embodiment, the selections may be transmitted directly to a strip or chip within the card via a card reader or access port such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) located on the card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Leesa Shapiro Willet
  • Patent number: 8024220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns, for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers (such primary and supplementary members of an aggregate consumer account), retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like. In accordance with one aspect, the system enables participation by supplementary members who are associated with a primary member and, in this manner, facilitates the tracking of supplementary member purchasing behavior, reward points earning behavior, and reward points redemption behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Fauziah B Ariff, Theodore S Voltmer, Donna A Antonucci, Scott M Greenhut, John Hayes, Kendall Sneddon, Christine D Ciccarone, Jason Ewell, Johnson Lam, Joanne Zaiac, Laura Lang, Seraq Bharwani, Michel P Zeisser, Joseph Fernandes, Elizabeth Hilton Segel
  • Patent number: 8015060
    Abstract: A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Visa USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Liane Redford, Bryan Shimko, James Mazour, Rajkumar Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20110213647
    Abstract: An electronic fund transfer system that provides vital marketing information to participating merchants and purchasing records to customers while offering the most efficient and effective system to deliver the best terms and conditions for the products and services requested by customers. The system includes an electronic funds transfer card that can be used as a debit or charge card to purchase goods and services. At checkout, the system operates invisibly to the consumer and the cashier. Approval of the transaction operates similarly to a conventional debit card or credit card. All discounts are managed by the data clearinghouse which receives consumer data and merchant data. The clearinghouse communicates with the financial institution and forwards a statement which displays the accumulated discounts to the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Alejandro G. Asmar, Arturo Diaz
  • Publication number: 20110202395
    Abstract: The present invention provides a single payment and rewards card (or device) which can be used to purchase goods/services from a large variety of participating merchants. According to one aspect of the invention, card or device is arranged to earn and redeem different kinds of rewards points. For example, the single card/device can be used to earn airline miles from a participating airline and also grocery store rewards from participating grocery stores. It can also be arranged to obtain different kinds of rewards simultaneously. For example, when purchasing merchandise from a merchant, the card/device can be enabled to earn three different kinds of rewards: from the merchant, from the manufacturer of the merchandise, and from the financial institution that issued the card/device. All of the rewards can be subject to different rules, each set of rules imposed by the entity granting the rewards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Tim Swan, JR., Brian L. Mott
  • Patent number: 7996252
    Abstract: A global customer satisfaction system includes point-of-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving in-store customer feedback including satisfaction ratings and other customer feedback regarding participating vendors as the customer pays for purchases. The system also includes post-sale customer feedback terminals for receiving more detailed customer feedback regarding the vendors from members after the sales have been completed. The system also includes an aggregation and dissemination system for combining the ratings received form customers into global customer satisfaction ratings for participating vendors, and disseminating the customer satisfaction information through customer satisfaction qualified directories, which are organized or searchable by geographical, type of product or service offered by the participating vendors, and other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Global Customer Satisfaction System, LLC
    Inventors: Abdolhamid Shahrabi, Poorya Pasta
  • Publication number: 20110153397
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for awarding an incentive to a customer. An incentive program may be tailored to suit the needs of a merchant. The incentive program may be provided to a customer to reward specific customer behavior, such as regularly visiting a brick-and-mortar store to purchase store credit and/or to spend store credit and/or rewards, thereby providing the opportunity for increased sales for the merchant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Jerold I. Wagenheim
  • Patent number: 7949543
    Abstract: The disclosed methods, systems, and computer-program products allow a credit or charge card issuer to promote healthcare information technology (HIT) products to physician card members that are affiliated with a healthcare organization, such as a preferred-provider organization (PPO). In an embodiment, the PPO endorses at least one HIT product, such as an electronic medical record (EMR), and the PPO identifies the endorsed HIT product to a transactional card provider. The transactional card provider then identifies at least one supplier of the endorsed HIT product and negotiates a discount on the endorsed HIT product when purchased from identified HIT supplier using a financial transaction instrument issued by the transactional card provider. The financial transaction instrument may be provided to the physician card member, who may purchase the endorsed HIT product from the identified supplier at the negotiated discount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Oltine Acquisitions NY LLC
    Inventors: Cheung Tat Chan, Andrew L. Gorrin, Nancy E. Hood
  • Publication number: 20110066482
    Abstract: A discounted coupon card for use by a consumer and methods for using the same are disclosed and described herein. The card comprises two sides and is about the size of a standard credit card. One side of the card includes a sponsoring theme or advertising. The opposite side of the card includes a magnetic strip that includes electro-magnetic data corresponding to the merchants and the purchase incentives and indicia identifying the merchants and purchase incentives or discounts. The magnetic strip is adapted to be read by a magnetic strip reader and the data on the strip can be transmitted to a computer network to provide instant and future discounts for advertised goods or services from a plurality of businesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: William A. DePlato
  • Patent number: 7890367
    Abstract: A filtering module to process purchase transaction data received from a retailer POS is disclosed. Merchant information is used to filter purchase transactions by determining whether the purchase transaction qualifies an initiating purchaser for a reward. The retailer POS transmits purchase data from a merchant to a host, wherein the purchase data includes retailer data, transaction data and a retailer item identifier, and wherein the retailer item identifier enables the host to determine a manufacturer item identifier. The retailer POS then receives a determination that the merchant is a qualifying merchant when the purchase data corresponds to the loyalty program data and causes the host to issue loyalty awards based on the manufacturer item identifier and the loyalty program data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Medina J. Senghore, Tracey R. Thomas, Fauziah Ariff
  • Patent number: 7856377
    Abstract: The invention facilitates a loyalty system which is associated with pre-determined geographic locations and/or services and goods offered in a specific geographic area. The system is configured with one product platform with a modularized approach to facilitate the development of market specific rewards and communication materials. The loyalty points may be earned within a specific geographic location, then redeemed in one geographic location, a subset of locations or without restrictions. Similarly, the loyalty points may be earned in one geographic location, a subset of locations or without restrictions, then redeemed only in a specific geographic location. The geographic features of the system may be implemented using existing data that is associated with geographic areas such as, for example, zip codes, retailer identification codes, service establishment codes and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry A. Cohagan, Birgitta Mayer, Julia Menichilli, Theodore S. Voltmer, Penelope Wood-Kulko
  • Publication number: 20100287039
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a media that incorporates several distinct rewards/relationship/fidelity/loyalty programs, and/or other sorts of information into a single media, particularly, but not limited to, a card, making it easier for the user who typically carries and uses several such cards or media, in a simple and convenient way. The invention concerns a method of creating such a single media, as well as the single media itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Marco A. Telles
  • Publication number: 20100274625
    Abstract: An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Mark Carlson
  • Patent number: 7813955
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns, for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers (such primary and supplementary members of an aggregate consumer account), retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like. In accordance with one aspect, the system enables participation by supplementary members who are associated with a primary member and, in this manner, facilitates the tracking of supplementary member purchasing behavior, reward points earning behavior, and reward points redemption behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Fauziah B Ariff, Theodore S Voltmer, Donna A Antonucci, Scott M Greenhut, John Hayes, Kendall Sneddon, Christine D Ciccarone, Jason Ewell, Johnson Lam, Joanne Zaiac, Laura Lang, Seraq Bharwani, Michel P Zeisser, Joseph Fernandes, Elizabeth Hilton Segel
  • Publication number: 20100257033
    Abstract: A method of conduction transactions at a point-of-sale terminal using a wireless device is disclosed and may include attempting to read information from the point-of-sale terminal via a wireless link, receiving a merchant identification when an attempt to read is successful, and searching a payment table using the merchant identification. In a particular aspect, the merchant identification may include a merchant identification number, a merchant name, a merchant store number, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: John R. Roberts, Jose Ricardo Dos Santos
  • Publication number: 20100223118
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns reward points from a plurality of independent reward points issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned reward points in a user reward point account stored on a multi-function card (such as a frequent flyer account or a credit card loyalty account). The multi-function card is adapted to aggregate some or all of the user's earned reward points from the reward accounts and credit the aggregated points into a single reward exchange account on the multi-function card. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated reward points from the multi-function card. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the reward points from the multi-function card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: SIGNATURE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Publication number: 20100223110
    Abstract: A method for delivering customized data items to users of electronic privilege cards includes receiving a customized data item to be delivered to a user having an electronic privilege card, identifying the electronic device storing the targeted user's electronic privilege card, and transmitting the customized data item to the electronic device. In one embodiment, the data item is an offer or coupon that the user may redeem from an entity associated with the electronic privilege card, such as a retailer or service provider. In another embodiment, the electronic device storing the electronic privilege card is a mobile telephone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Slavin, Pero Smrzlic
  • Patent number: 7788129
    Abstract: The invention includes an improved system and method for creating, distributing and storing vouchers. The method includes a loyalty system obtaining a loyalty card account having a unique identifier and loyalty points associated therewith, accessing a loyalty database utilizing the unique identifier, converting at least a portion of the loyalty points to a first value associated with a first merchant, saving the first value in a first database associated with the loyalty card, converting at least a portion of the loyalty points to a second value associated with a second merchant, saving the second value along with other voucher information as an electronic voucher in a second database associated with the loyalty card, redeeming the first value at a first merchant and redeeming the electronic voucher at a second merchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Donna Antonucci, Theodore S. Voltmer
  • Patent number: 7769630
    Abstract: A loyalty or reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of a typical credit card network. In one embodiment, a user makes a purchase at a merchant of a product using a credit card. The merchant contacts the acquiring bank (which may be any type of financial institution but is referred to generically herein as a bank) with which it has contracted for credit card network services, and as known in the art, will get an approval or decline message after the acquiring bank contacts the issuing bank of the credit card used by the purchaser. Assuming that the purchase transaction is approved, the user is awarded loyalty points from the merchant based on the amount of the purchase (e.g. 100 points for a $100 purchase). A central server resides on the credit card network and tracks the transaction between the merchant, the acquiring bank, and the issuing bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Patent number: 7765124
    Abstract: A loyalty reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of network such as a credit card network. A user makes a purchase at a merchant using a token such as a credit card. As part of the purchase transaction, the user is awarded reward points from the merchant based on the purchase, which are stored in an account associated with the merchant and the user by the issuing bank. The reward account is maintained on the issuing bank server on behalf of the merchant and the user, and the number of reward points in the user's account for that merchant is increased accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Publication number: 20100174589
    Abstract: A terminal for supporting allocation, to a customer, of reward points redeemable for an article or a service is provided. The terminal includes a soon-to-be-lost-point calculation portion that calculates, for each of reward programs in which the customer participates, an amount of soon-to-be-lost-reward points that is an amount of reward points to be lost during a predetermined period among the reward points, and a reward points information display process portion that displays, based on the result of calculation performed by the soon-to-be-lost-point calculation portion, a screen for indicating, among the reward programs, a reward program having the soon-to-be-lost-reward points whose amount is equal to or more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takeshi Asai
  • Patent number: 7742943
    Abstract: A loyalty reward point system that utilizes the pre-existing infrastructure of network such as a credit card network. A user makes a purchase at a merchant using a token such as a credit card. As part of the purchase transaction, the user is awarded reward points from the merchant based on the purchase, which are stored in an account associated with the merchant and the user by the acquiring bank. The reward account is maintained on the acquiring bank server on behalf of the merchant and the user, and the number of reward points in the user's account for that merchant is increased accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Publication number: 20100145778
    Abstract: A multi-provider rewards program in which rewards are awarded for a series of transactions using an account in a transaction processing system. The transaction processing system includes at least one issuer, at least one acquirer, a plurality of resource providers, a transaction handler, a rewards program rule implementer having access to the rewards program database, and an implementer processor. The implementer processor receives transaction data whenever a transaction occurs using the consumer account, uses the transaction data to determine when a consumer has performed the separate transactions associated with each of a plurality of merchants that are required by a rewards rule and when a consumer has performed the separate transactions with each of the plurality of resource providers, and identifies a reward for the consumer that performed the transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Edward W. Fordyce, III, Karteek Hasmukh Patel, David C. Shepard
  • Publication number: 20100131369
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product defines an identity of a patron of a casino. Whether the patron has an account within the casino is determined. If the patron has an account, the account associated with the patron is determined. If the patron does not have an account, an account is generated and associated with the patron. The account is associated with a group of patrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Jude Dominguez, Michael Anthony Grimsley, Luc Doan
  • Publication number: 20100114661
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, computer-program products, and systems for running a promotional campaign across a plurality of rewards programs offered by rewards-program owners. Each rewards program is associated with a rewards currency. In such a method, transactions of members of the rewards programs are monitored to identify a subset of members that performed a desired action. Then, the rewards currency of respective rewards programs is distributed to respective rewards-program owners for the subset of members that performed the desired action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Sevices Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly A. Alderfer, Scott M. Roen
  • Publication number: 20100106570
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus, computer program code and means are provided for enrolling payment cardholders in loyalty programs and processing loyalty transactions. Some embodiments include receiving, from a consumer associated with a payment device, loyalty program enrollment information and a payment device identifier, the loyalty program enrollment information including a loyalty program identifier, and providing the loyalty program enrollment information and the payment device identifier to at least one of an issuer of the payment device and an agent of the issuer. The loyalty program identifier is caused to be stored in a memory of said payment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Cristian Radu, Fikret Ates, Jan Landequist, Ainsley Charles Ward, Steven Van Sweevelt, David Grossman, Aziz Koufkouf
  • Publication number: 20100091465
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus and method for improving customer retention. In accordance with one embodiment, a telecommunication device comprising a chassis that includes features for operating the telecommunication device and a display module removably coupled to the chassis is presented. The chassis is compatible with different display modules. Thus, the disclosed embodiments enable a telecom customer to upgrade a telecommunication device at minimal cost, thereby, improving customer retention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Mike Roberts, Jeffrey Stafford, Tony Dandridge
  • Publication number: 20100094690
    Abstract: A consumer tracking and rewards system and related methods that provide for consolidating two or more merchant-branded rewards accounts into a single source. A single unique identifier referred to as a consumer number used to track and credit purchases with respect to multiple retail establishments. The consumer number may exist simply as a data element in the system or may be printed, bar coded, or programmed onto any physical medium or device. Components of the system include a consumer rewards platform, a merchant-consumer rewards system and potentially a card vendor system. The consumer rewards platform facilitates communication and the transfer of data between the various components of the system. A cross-reference between single consumer numbers and one or more merchant rewards program numbers is used to accommodate the trading and linking of information among participating merchants. Consumers may communicate with the various system components through a consumer web portal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Bryan BEAL
  • Publication number: 20100076826
    Abstract: A system and method for making a sale of a ticket for an available first class seat, to a passenger seated in second class, when a carrier is underway to a final destination (i.e. is not scheduled to pick up additional passengers). The system may offer to sell the first class seat ticket only to members of the carrier's customer loyalty program (e.g. frequent flyer), or to any passenger seated in second class. When two or more passengers are seated in second class, the price of the ticket may be established by auction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Anthony Jeremiah Bayne
  • Publication number: 20100070354
    Abstract: A merchant debit card program is described that includes a plurality of authorized issuers for debit card accounts. The merchant debit card program includes a merchant loyalty program that provides rewards to enrolled debit card accounts. The authorized issuers provide management of the debit card accounts including customer statements, payment authorizations and customer service. Application data for a new debit card account is transmitted from the merchant to the selected issuer by a card processing system. Enrollment data to the merchant loyalty program may also be transmitted from the merchant to an authorized issuer by the card processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: VISA USA, INC.
    Inventors: EDWARD WINFIELD FORDYCE, III, MARY PAT MCMAHON, JENNIFER SCHULZ
  • Patent number: 7680687
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from of the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Patent number: 7676393
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Signature Systems LLC
    Inventor: Richard Postrel
  • Patent number: 7660737
    Abstract: A method to control advertising messages directed at a user is provided. Such control might include setting a filter to control advertisements directed at a user. Advertisements are sent to a user based on the filter settings. The user may accept the advertisements. If the user accepts the advertisements, the user is provided with a reward. In addition, a method using a quiz to determine if a user is human or an automated respondent is provided. The user is presented with a quiz. The user is advised of the acceptable manner for responding to the quiz. The user's response to the quiz is received. A determination based on the user's response as to whether the user is a human or an automated respondent is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Smartpenny.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley T. Lim, John Galen Giddings, Laura Giddings
  • Publication number: 20100017279
    Abstract: An improved universal affinity system and method is uniquely configured to be implemented and operated with a reduced impact on existing merchant point of sale and affinity systems. The improved system and method also enables merchants to provide highly targeted incentives and advertising to users of the universal affinity system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Robert W. Connor, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100006652
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for business marketing and client management and in particular to, a client welcome pack which provides a complete customer relationship management/marketing system that is designed to assist a business owner in meeting the basic business objectives that need to be achieved on a daily basis to drive and grow the business.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Boutique Marketing
    Inventor: Vanessa Louise McDonald
  • Publication number: 20100010889
    Abstract: The loyalty system allows a consumer to accumulate general loyalty points from one or more merchants, and convert any desired subset of general points to loyalty dollars associated with a specific merchant. The system stores, for each consumer, the merchant loyalty dollars (or monetary equivalent) by merchant within a remotely-accessible host database or within a smart card database. Upon conducting a purchase at a particular merchant, the consumer may utilize a code key to facilitate access to the consumer's own loyalty dollars for the particular merchant. The loyalty dollars are then applied to the purchase transaction as a discount or rebate. The consumer may also re-load the merchant loyalty dollar accounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donna A. Antonucci
  • Publication number: 20090319349
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile member operation method suitable for a mobile electronic device, and the mobile electronic device is connected to a service server by a network. The mobile member operation method comprising: the mobile electronic device receives an update command. The mobile electronic device transmits the update command to the service server by the network. The service server determines that whether the user is a member and searches discount information by specific searching criteria, such as store location, industries, or other criteria, according to the update command. The service server transmits the discount information to the mobile electronic device for storing in a memory of the mobile electronic device if the user is a member. The mobile electronic device displays the discount information and receives a using command; and the mobile electronic device outputs the discount information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: VPON INC.
    Inventor: I Hung Wu
  • Publication number: 20090319166
    Abstract: Direction based pointing services are enabled for a portable electronic device including a positional component for receiving positional information as a function of a location of the portable electronic device, a directional component that outputs direction information as a function of an orientation of the portable electronic device and a location based engine that processes the positional information and the direction information to determine points of interest relative to the portable electronic device as a function of at least the positional information and the direction information. A set of scenarios with respect to non-movable endpoints of interest in the system emerge and these scenarios and other embodiments are described in more detail below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Moe Khosravy, Lev Novik, Irena Hudis