Abstract: Collaborative constituents collaborate to develop a loyalty program within a transaction processing system. Transmissions addressed to the collaborative constituents are formed and received from the collaborative constituents containing suggested parameters for the loyalty program. At least one remaining parameter for the loyalty program that a set of remaining collaborative constituents have agreed upon is determined. Another transmission addressed to each of the collaborative constituents in the set of remaining collaborative constituents is formed, the another transmission including the remaining parameters for the loyalty program.

Abstract: Collaborative constituents collaborate to develop a loyalty program within a transaction processing system. Transmissions addressed to the collaborative constituents are formed and received from the collaborative constituents containing suggested parameters for the loyalty program. At least one remaining parameter for the loyalty program that a set of remaining collaborative constituents have agreed upon is determined. Another transmission addressed to each of the collaborative constituents in the set of remaining collaborative constituents is formed, the another transmission including the remaining parameters for the loyalty program.

Abstract: A computer receives information that a request is made to authorize a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder in a transaction conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder. When the computer confirms that the transaction is authorized and that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, the computer communicates that the rebate is to be debited to an account of the sponsor and either: (i) given as a discount by the merchant at the point of sale to the account holder; or (ii) credited to an account issued to the account holder by the issuer.

Abstract: A computer receives information that a request is made to authorize a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder in a transaction conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder. When the computer confirms that the transaction is authorized and that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, the computer communicates that the rebate is to be debited to an account of the sponsor and either: (i) given as a discount by the merchant at the point of sale to the account holder; or (ii) credited to an account issued to the account holder by the issuer.

Abstract: The eligibility of an transaction between a consumer and a merchant toward an incentive for a loyalty program is determined using a globally unique identifier (GUID) matching algorithm. Information characterizing the transaction may include a GUID for the merchant and a GUID for an account of the consumer on which the transaction is payable. The GUIDs are each matched against GUIDs of merchants and accounts stored in a database, some of which are distinguished as loyalty program participants. When both the GUID for the merchant and the GUID for the account match with respective GUIDs in the database that are distinguished as loyalty program participants, the transaction is eligible toward the incentive.

Abstract: A wireless communication system may include first and second wireless communications devices communicating with one another via a wireless communications link having a settable link characteristic. The first and second wireless communications devices may include respective first and second wireless transceivers and respective first and second controllers coupled thereto. The first controller may be for detecting received interference, for determining a type of the interference from among interference types comprising wideband interference and narrowband interference, and for setting the settable link characteristic to compensate for the interference based upon the interference type.

Abstract: A communication system may include a wireless communications device having a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith, and a wireless base station having a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for communicating with the wireless communications device using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based upon pilot sub-carriers. The controller of the wireless base station may randomly allocate the pilot sub-carriers over time.

Abstract: A portable radio communications device is for transmitting data and voice communications. The portable radio communications device may include a portable housing, a radio transceiver operating at a frequency in a range of 30 MHz-3000 MHz and being carried by the portable housing for direct communication with a corresponding radio transceiver, and a metropolitan area network (MAN) transceiver carried by the portable housing for indirect communication with a corresponding MAN transceiver via a MAN base station. The portable radio communications device may also include a controller carried by the portable housing for selectively allocating transmission of the data and voice communications between the radio transceiver and the MAN transceiver based upon a received signal characteristic. The controller may preferentially allocate the voice communications and the data communications to the radio transceiver and the MAN transceiver, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle wireless communications blocker may be used in a vehicle for an occupant's wireless communications device and may include a long-range and short-range wireless transceiver both coupled to a controller. The controller may be switchable between off-hook and on-hook states based upon control signals via the short-range wireless transceiver, and the occupant's wireless communications device may be blocked from occupant communication via the long-range transceiver when in the off-hook state.

Abstract: A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) may include a plurality of mobile nodes. Each mobile node may include a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for exchanging isosynchronous Internet Protocol (IP) communications with at least one adjacent mobile node. The isosynchronous IP communications may comprise at least one of voice communications and data communications.

Abstract: A wireless communications system may include wireless communications devices with each including a wireless transceiver and a processor coupled thereto for transmitting and receiving communications and using a challenge-response authentication protocol. The wireless communications devices may also include a master wireless communications device and a slave wireless communications device. The master wireless communications device may transmit a polling message including an unencrypted portion and an initial encrypted challenge portion. The slave wireless communications device may transmit a polling reply message including an unencrypted portion and an initial encrypted response portion based upon receiving the polling message from the master wireless communications device.

Abstract: A communications system may include a first wireless communications device communicating based upon a first wireless communications protocol, a second wireless communications device communicating based upon a second wireless communications protocol different from the first wireless communications protocol, and a wireless base station. The wireless base station may communicate with the first wireless communications device and the second wireless communications device based upon a frame structure. The frame structure may be defined by sub-carriers at respective different frequencies and symbols at respective different times. The frame structure may include a frame control header, a first frame portion for communicating with the first wireless communications device based upon the first wireless communications protocol, and a second frame portion for communicating with the second wireless communications device based upon the second wireless communications protocol.

Abstract: A computer receives information that a request is made to authorize a transaction for a sale of a product by a merchant to an account holder in a transaction conducted on a consumer account issued to the account holder. When the computer confirms that the transaction is authorized and that the transaction occurs within a predetermined time period for which there is a rebate associated with the product and a corresponding sponsor financially responsible for the rebate, the computer communicates that the rebate is to be debited to an account of the sponsor and either: (i) given as a discount by the merchant at the point of sale to the account holder; or (ii) credited to an account issued to the account holder by the issuer.

Abstract: A value of an incentive in a loyalty program is debited from a funding balance and credited to an account used in a transaction that qualifies for the incentive. A computing device receives a plurality of transactions upon accounts issued to account holders by corresponding issuers. After the transactions that qualify for the incentive are cleared and settled, funds matching the value of the incentive is transferred from a funding balance of the sponsor of the incentive to the account used in the qualified transaction. The issuer's interchange fee remains intact after the credit is applied.

Abstract: A loyalty program for a transaction processing system includes a loyalty program database with loyalty program business rules that are usable to determine when a transaction qualifies for the loyalty program. A loyalty program rule implementer receives transaction data whenever a transaction occurs and uses the received transaction data and the program business rules to determine when a transaction qualifies for the loyalty program. The loyalty program rule implementer is an entity other than an issuer, an acquirer or a merchant. The loyalty program business rules require that the transaction relate to at least one of a specific merchant, a specific issuer, a specific acquirer, a specific consumer, a specific product/service, a consumer having a specific characteristic, a merchant having a specific characteristic, an issuer having a specific characteristic, an acquirer having a specific characteristic and a product/service having a specific characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for facilitating transactions with real-time awards determinations for a cardholder. Each transaction includes transaction information, where the transaction information includes: cardholder information, merchant information, and a transaction amount. An engine determines if an award should be granted based on award criteria, such that the engine compares the transaction information with each award criterion in order to determine if the award should be granted in real-time with the transaction by the cardholder.

Abstract: A vehicle wireless communications blocker may be used in a vehicle for an occupant's wireless communications device and may include a long-range and short-range wireless transceiver both coupled to a controller. The controller may be switchable between off-hook and on-hook states based upon control signals via the short-range wireless transceiver, and the occupant's wireless communications device may be blocked from occupant communication via the long-range transceiver when in the off-hook state.

Abstract: A wireless communications system may include wireless communications devices with each including a wireless transceiver and a processor coupled thereto for transmitting and receiving communications and using a challenge-response authentication protocol. The wireless communications devices may also include a master wireless communications device and a slave wireless communications device. The master wireless communications device may transmit a polling message including an unencrypted portion and an initial encrypted challenge portion. The slave wireless communications device may transmit a polling reply message including an unencrypted portion and an initial encrypted response portion based upon receiving the polling message from the master wireless communications device.

Abstract: A wireless communication system may include first and second wireless communications devices communicating with one another via a wireless communications link having a settable link characteristic. The first and second wireless communications devices may include respective first and second wireless transceivers and respective first and second controllers coupled thereto. The first controller may be for detecting received interference, for determining a type of the interference from among interference types comprising wideband interference and narrowband interference, and for setting the settable link characteristic to compensate for the interference based upon the interference type.

Abstract: A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) may include a plurality of mobile nodes. Each mobile node may include a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for exchanging isosynchronous Internet Protocol (IP) communications with at least one adjacent mobile node. The isosynchronous IP communications may comprise at least one of voice communications and data communications.