Abstract: Rewards programs in which rewards are awarded for a series of transactions using a universal transaction associating identifier to associate transactions in common within each rewards program in a reward processing system. The system includes resource providers, a rewards program rule implementer having access to a rewards program database, and an implementer processor. The implementer processor receives transaction data whenever a transaction occurs using the universal transaction associating identifier, determines when a consumer has performed the transactions satisfying rules requirements, and identifies and awards a reward, including vouchers, for the consumer. The reward processing system generates a universal transaction associating identifier from a plurality of identification sources and provides for objects containing the universal transaction associating identifier. The reward processing system issues and redeems vouchers exchangeable for rewards.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods including providing a mobile application associated with a first subject matter, providing a challenge to selected users, wherein the challenge is related to a second subject matter, and rewarding the selected user upon completion of the challenge, wherein the reward is associated with the first subject matter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing targeted marketing to goods and services provides and consumer resource management services to consumers. An example system and method for targeted marketing comprises collecting transaction data from point-of-sale (POS) terminals and using a consumer identifier in the transaction data to access stored information about the consumer. This information may be used to target offers and advertisement to the consumer. In an example system for consumer resource management, a consumer may configure a consumer account on the enterprise infrastructure via a web-site. The consumer may use the consumer account to purchase and configure gift cards that may be used for purchasing goods and services. A universal transaction identifier may be associated with the consumer account and used to purchase goods and services from more than one selected goods and services providers.

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 analysis and/or analysis 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.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a third party network location, a business profile from a business partner, wherein the business profile includes a customer incentive program identifier that identifies the business partner and a customer incentive program provided by the business partner. The business partner is included in a list of available retailers. The method also includes receiving, from a user device, customer profile information for a customer and a selected retailer from the list of available retailers. The method further includes storing a customer profile that includes the customer profile information in association with the selected retailer. The method includes sending a customer incentive program user identifier associated with the selected retailer to the user device. The user device is operable to present the customer incentive program user identifier to participate in a customer incentive program provided by the selected retailer.

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: 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.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a rewards program through a financial institution for granting rewards to customers enrolled in the rewards program wherein the customer receives one or more reward credits in an account associated with the financial institution if the customer meets certain qualification criteria. The method may include determining if the account qualifies for an award credit; assigning a reward credit to the account; receiving purchase information regarding a purchase made at a merchant associated with the customer's account; identifying from the purchase information whether the purchase was made at a qualifying merchant; and applying the reward credit towards the purchase made by the customer at the qualifying merchant by applying a reward credit to the customer's account based upon the business rules applicable to the reward program.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods operable by computing device having one or more applications configured to perform functions based on a received verbal input. The method may comprise receiving a verbal input, obtaining one or more textual phrases corresponding to the received verbal input, and providing the one or more textual phrases to an appropriate application on the computing device. The method may further comprise accumulating data on the one or more textual phrases. The data comprises at least a count of a number of times a particular textual phrase is obtained based on a given received verbal input. Based on the count exceeding a threshold, the method may further comprise providing a query corresponding to the textual phrase, where the query is usable to search an advertisement database for one or more advertisements relating to the textual phrase.

Abstract: Methods and systems for paying with loyalty currency at a merchant website by a user using a browser app are provided. The user is presented with the loyalty currency balance information based on the loyalty currency units available in the loyalty currency account. Thereafter, the user is presented with an option to pay for the purchase transaction using the loyalty currency. The user may select the option of paying for the purchase transaction using the loyalty currency, thereby redeeming the loyalty points.

Abstract: A system and computer program product for differentiating reward programs that use the same identity holder. This differentiation allows different businesses to offer their own tailored rewards program while the consumer has the convenience of using a single identity holder. Moreover, the system and computer program product provide for integrating proximity and affinity into multi-business rewards programs. Finally, the system and computer program product provide for members of a consumer membership organization to receive rewards based on their membership, thus allowing the organization to receive financial incentives based on encouraging their members to shop at certain businesses.

Abstract: In an online advertising system, advertisers compete with each other for advertising space. There may be multiple advertising positions available, where the placement of advertisements is determined by an auction. To encourage competition, some advertisements may be presented with enhanced features. These enhanced features create an incentive for which advertisers can compete, thereby increasing the effectiveness, usefulness and/or profitability of the advertising system. The application of enhanced features may be determined using at least one or more of pricing information, performance information and advertising information.

Abstract: The invention provides consumers with the services of multiple cards or accounts while allowing consumers to carry a single card, transponder, code and/or other access device. Because the card may access combined services such as financial transaction services and transportation services, the system may facilitate charging the financial account for the transportation services. The system may allow the consumer to use loyalty points or geographic based loyalty points to pay for the transportation services. The system may also limit the use of certain loyalty points based upon the geographic area for certain transportation services in certain geographic areas.

Abstract: A retailer computer system receives from a first computing device a shopping recap having data indicative of one or more products that were shown to a customer by the sales associate while the customer was within a retail establishment. The received shopping recap is stored within a data repository where it is linked to a customer identifier that is associated with the customer and an associate identifier that is associated with the sale associate. If the customer later purchases a product, data indicative of the product being purchased is compared against data within any shopping recap that is linked to that customer to determine if a sales associate that is also linked to any shopping recap linked to that customer is to be awarded a commission for the product being purchased. The purchase of the product by the customer may further generate a digital receipt where the digital receipt includes a notice that the customer is being awarded an incentive, such as a coupon.

Abstract: Methods and associated systems related to generating, managing, and accessing data related to contractual obligations of a consumer and a plurality of different merchants in a universal consumer card redemption system are disclosed. A universal consumer card redemption system may comprise a universal software platform including a network of linked databases configured to store data associated with contractual relationships between at least one consumer and a plurality of different merchants. The universal software platform may be configured to link with both physical universal consumer cards and virtual universal consumer cards over a web-based interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for attaching loyalty program data to an electronic payment in a payment processing network. In an embodiment, a method transmits, from a merchant to a bank network (BankNet), an authorization request comprising a primary account number (PAN) of a customer and routes the request to a payment card issuer. The method then identifies a loyalty program associated with the PAN and receives, at the BankNet, an authorization response comprising an indicator of the loyalty program. The method forwards the authorization response to an acquirer and sends the authorization response to the merchant. In another embodiment, a system transmits an authorization request and routes the authorization request to a BankNet in response to determining that a merchant is a member of a loyalty program. The system receives an authorization response comprising an indicator of the loyalty program, forwards the response to an acquirer and the merchant.

Abstract: A method and system for managing enrollment in a collaborative computing environment community are provided. One or more of a group of users wishing to enroll in the collaborative computing community are identified and an enrollment model is implemented. It is then determined if any of the group of users are selected to be enrolled based upon the selected enrollment model. The current community membership is then updated as a result of determining whether to enroll any of the group of users based upon the selected enrollment model.

Abstract: A computerized system and method that enables identifying the best payment currency for a product or service is disclosed. Payment currencies include cash, reward programs and the unit or currency in which reward programs are denominated, and combinations thereof. A single product search request initiates searches of multiple payment currencies. Availability, discounts, prices, comparable costs, net values and relative values are determined and/or calculated per each payment currency. Comparable cost, relative value, or other criteria, may be used to determine the best payment method, that is, the lowest cost in a common currency, such as cash. Determination of the best payment currency is accomplished in “real-time” and has an advantage of leveraging quantitative and qualitative analysis in its determination. In addition, the search may be personalized by adding information unique to each user.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for assessing consumers' emotional attachment to product brand for targeted advertising, development of new products, valuation of products, brand marketing and other purposes. A method for determining consumer product brand loyalty is provided by quantifying a consumer's emotional attachment to a consumer product brand. The consumer's emotional attachment to a consumer product brand is indicated by the consumer's willingness to give up the consumer product brand. The willingness to give up the consumer product brand is measured, and applied to commercial uses such as advertising, marketing, product research and development and valuation of brands.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and system for collaborative affinity marketing including a processor, an aggregator, a participant, and a merchant. The method and system include enrolling with the collaborative affinity marketing by the aggregator, participant, and merchant; assigning a participant identification code to the participant; storing enrollment information of the aggregator, participant, and merchant; providing the participant identification code to the merchant, when the participant initiates a purchase transaction with the merchant; storing the participant identification code and amount of purchase transaction by the merchant; sending the stored participant identification code, the amount of purchase transaction, and funds corresponding to a portion of the amount of purchase transaction to the processor; and sending a portion of the funds received by the processor from the merchant to the aggregator.

Abstract: The consolidated consumer service platform replaces multiple loyalty, coupon, ticket, gift, membership and any other products that use a unique identifier (numeric, alphanumeric, barcode, magnetic stripe, RFID, NFC, etc.) with a single device and single unique identifier (which may also be numeric, alphanumeric, barcode, magnetic strip, RFID, NFC, etc.) and manages synchronization of consumer demographic information, existing loyalty memberships, and new enrollments—all automatically and electronically. The platform and data synchronization of the consolidated consumer service system of the present invention are important and novel components of the technology in addition to and in combination with the devices which can be used to store and communicate the unique consumer identifier.

Abstract: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may be taken by the distributed system with regard to the player. For instance, the player may be provided a complimentary offer, provided an award, and invitation to come to a gambling location, presented an advertisement, or other action may be performed involving the player. Further, the distributed computer system may permit a player to manage their frequent player accounts and receive complimentary offers based on a set of criteria specified by the player.

Abstract: A method for administering the loyalty programs of multiple merchants. The method includes enrolling a plurality of customers in a universal system for administering multiple loyalty programs. The method further includes receiving lookup requests from a plurality of distinct merchants, each lookup requests relating to a customer's wish to receive loyalty program benefits from a merchant. The method further includes providing computerized customer record information in response to each lookup request, the customer record information being used by the merchants for invoking each merchant's respective loyalty program and providing loyalty benefits to the customer.

Abstract: A method of using a stored-value card to reserve an item includes providing a stored-value card to a customer prior to the release date of an item, adding value to the stored-value card prior to the release date of the item, and reserving the item with the stored-value card. Other method and product embodiments are disclosed.

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.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for rewarding users of content and hosting applications is presented. Content is accessed using a hosting application. The presence of a reward code within the content is determined and the user is rewarded for accessing the content with the hosting application. The reward is provided by either the content provider or by the hosting application provider.

Abstract: A system and method that allows a group of organizations, e.g. a group of transit agencies, to provide their users with a stored value smart card payment method that rewards them for actual use. The system and method include a card interface device and a smart card for storing respective reward applications, wherein the card interface device reward application retrieves transaction and reward data from the smart card and processes the data within the card interface device in order to determine a transaction reward.

Abstract: The present invention includes providing a universal loyalty program, such as, for example, a loyalty program that includes participation of multiple separately-owned large retail companies as well as users who are customers of each of the companies. Wide and large scale participation and data sharing, among companies or other entities as well as users, may be encouraged, incentivized, obtained and rewarded, such as through programs provided by the universal loyalty program. Such programs may include, among others, a food recall related program, a medicine recall related program, an anti-counterfeiting program, a credit card fraud prevention program, and an anti-identity theft program. Moreover, the universal loyalty program, as well as the other programs, may themselves benefit and be strengthened by the wide and large scale participation, including the resulting wide and large scale data sharing, collection, mining and uses afforded in part thereby.

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.

Abstract: A system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level is disclosed. 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. 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.

Abstract: As a customer conducts qualifying transactions with a participating merchant within a group of merchants, the customer accumulates reward points which can be redeemed at any participating merchant within the group at the time of redemption. A promotion/award determination engine and associated database track the points. A redemption engine is coupled to the database for the redemption of the points.

Abstract: Provision of enhanced rewarding schemes. A first server of a first service domain is configured to maintain a reward database for users of a first service domain. A second server of a second service domain is configured to identify event data items of the second service domain from which information is to be forwarded to the first service domain, and derive information from the identified event data items to forwarded data items. The first server is configured to update the reward account of the user in response to event data items generated in response to activities of the user in the first service domain, and in response to forwarded data items received from the second server.

Abstract: A presentation instrument package is constructed of a carrier having a package identifier. The package defines an enclosure into which is held a presentation instrument having a human readable presentation instrument identifier such that the human readable information is hidden from view.

Abstract: A campaign offers and rewards system includes an offer serving engine, and an analytics engine with data intelligence. The analytics engine compares information about similar goods or services sold by different entities, manufacturers or service providers to create product and service categories. A redemption engine is included.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A loyalty rewards provider hosts a website providing registered users access to a loyalty rewards account for use at multiple merchants and retailers. This loyalty rewards provider has an established network of participating merchants allowing a user to accumulate and redeem loyalty rewards at multiple merchants. According to this system, a user is only required to have one loyalty rewards account that is used to accumulate all of their customer loyalty rewards which may be redeemed for cash and rewards at participating merchants free of charge. These rewards can be accessed online through a website or through a rewards card carried by the user.

Abstract: Included are systems and methods for providing a personalized directory. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a request to view at least one listing, the at least one listing including information related to a plurality of criteria. Other embodiments include providing a display that includes at least a portion of the information, the display further including a user option to store at least a portion of the information in a personal directory.

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.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for operating a gift card network are disclosed. The system receives registration data from first and second merchants, each having one or more points of sale, and processes the registration data to establish membership of the merchants in a gift card network. The system then receives card issuance data from the first merchant, the card issuance data reflecting at least a unique serial number and a monetary value associated with a network gift card issued by the first merchant. The network gift card is redeemable at the first merchant or at other merchants which have established membership in the gift card network. When a transaction occurs in which the card issued by the first merchant is used at the second merchant, transaction data is received from the second merchant, the transaction data indicating that at least a portion of the monetary value of the network gift card has been redeemed at the second merchant.

Abstract: A method for providing a customer-centric rewards platform configured to communicate to a customer information related to one or more rewards programs associated with one or more customer accounts includes initiating presentation, using a processing device, to the customer of the rewards platform comprising information related to one or more rewards programs associated with the customer, wherein each of the rewards programs is associated with at least one customer account, determining a non-account transaction event indicating one or more rewards should be applied to one or more rewards accounts has occurred, each of the one or more rewards accounts associated with one or more customer accounts, and crediting one or more rewards accounts with one or more rewards based at least in part on the occurrence of the non-account transaction event.

Abstract: A universal digital information management and transaction system facilitates a consumer's ability to organize, use and obtain personal data related to a consumer, including for example, the consumer's financial, health, and personal records. A consumer is provided with an online profile that stores all of the relevant consumer information, with a token associated with the consumer's profile to enable the consumer to securely login remotely to the system to access and manage all of their relevant information.

Abstract: A system and method provide rewards or loyalty incentives to card member customers. The system includes an enrolled card member customer database, an enrolled merchant database, a participating merchant offer database and a registered card processor. The registered card processor receives a record for charge for a purchase made with an enrolled merchant by an enrolled card member customer and uses the record of charge to determine whether the purchase qualifies for a rebate credit in accordance with an offer. If the purchase qualifies for a rebate credit, the registered card processor provides the rebate credit to an account of the enrolled card member customer. The registered card processor also provides for electronic notification of rewards offers in response to purchases conforming to a specific set of merchant criteria. The system provides a coupon-less way for merchants to provide incentives to customers, and notify customers of other available offers.

Abstract: A system and method are described for managing a contacts database within an online stationery service.

Abstract: The system and method of present invention provides a user with a single account that separately tracks prepaid and/or reward balances from multiple merchants. Multiple merchant purses are associated with the user's account. Each purse corresponds to one merchant, and represents the user's credit balance with the merchant (e.g., prepaid deposits plus reward). The balance associated with each merchant purse is separately tracked. In one embodiment, each merchant purse is associated with its own set of rules for calculating a reward or otherwise managing the purse. When a user deposits prepaid money into a merchant purse, the system that manages the user's account executes any rules associated with the purse related to a deposit. If there is a rule associated with a rewards calculation, a reward amount is calculated in accordance with the rule and, if the reward is greater than zero, the merchant purse is credited with the reward.

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.

Abstract: Managing entitlements to rewards from multiple entitlement programs includes receiving transaction data associated with a reward entity. The transaction data is generated by a computer application that is separate from an entitlement management component used to manage entitlements to rewards from multiple entitlement programs. One of the multiple entitlement programs that applies to the received transaction data is identified. Each entitlement program is associated with a type of reward and has an entitlement rule for determining, from transaction data, an amount of reward credit for the type of reward of the entitlement program. An entitlement rule of the identified entitlement program is used to determine an amount of reward credit to be provided to the reward entity associated with the received transaction data. The determined amount of reward credit is associated with the reward entity associated with the received transaction data.

Abstract: A system and method for accumulating bonus points using an image recognition code are disclosed.

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.