METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING SMART CARD LOYALTY POINTS

• US 20020065712A1
• Filed: 01/21/1999
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: KAWAN, JOSEPH C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4093 Monitoring of device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A method and system for tracking and redeeming smart card loyalty points includes storing loyalty program information related to transactions with at least one merchant in a loyalty register residing on a smart card microcomputer for the customer. Transaction information about transactions with the merchant is stored in a purchase log likewise residing on the smart card microcomputer for the customer. The stored transaction information is compared with the stored loyalty program information, and transaction information about one or more transactions with the merchant which is stored in the purchase log, but which is omitted from the loyalty register, is automatically identified. The stored loyalty program information is then automatically updated with the omitted transaction information. The transaction information includes, for example, a plurality of unique transaction numbers in ascending order, and identifying the omitted transaction information involves identifying one or more transaction numbers in the stored transaction information that is greater than any transaction number stored in the loyalty program information.

Claims

1. A method of tracking smart card merchant loyalty program information for a customer, comprising:

storing loyalty program information on a smart card microcomputer related to transactions with at least one merchant for the customer;

storing transaction information on the smart card microcomputer about transactions with the merchant for the customer;

comparing the stored transaction information with the stored loyalty program information;

automatically identifying stored transaction information about at least one transaction with the merchant which is omitted from the stored loyalty program information; and

automatically updating the stored loyalty program information with the omitted transaction information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing loyalty program information further comprises loading a loyalty program application into programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer at a terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein loading the loyalty program application further comprises inputting customer information to the loyalty program load application on the terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein storing loyalty program information further comprises storing the information in a loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein storing the information further comprises storing the information in the loyalty register of a loyalty program application on the smart card microcomputer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein storing the information further comprises storing the information in the loyalty register of the loyalty program application loaded into programmable memory on the smart card microcomputer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the loyalty program information comprises a merchant identification number associated with the merchant.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein storing transaction information further comprises storing the information for the customer in a transaction log on the smart card microcomputer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein storing the information further comprises storing the information on a purchase log of the transaction log.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein storing transaction information further comprises performing a merchant transaction for the customer with the smart card at a terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein performing the merchant transaction further comprises transferring information representing monetary value between a stored value application on the smart card microcomputer and a terminal application for the customer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transferring the information further comprises automatically logging the transfer for the customer to a purchase log on the smart card microcomputer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction information comprises a transaction identifier associated with a merchant transaction for the customer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transaction identifier comprises a unique transaction number associated with the merchant transaction.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transaction identifier further comprises a merchant identification number associated with the merchant.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the transaction information further comprises a transaction amount and a transaction date for the merchant transaction.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing further comprises automatically comparing by an application on the smart card microcomputer of the transaction information stored in a purchase log on the smart card microcomputer with loyalty program information stored in a loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing further comprises automatically comparing transaction information stored in a purchase log on the smart card microcomputer with loyalty program information stored in a loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer at a terminal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically identifying further comprises automatically identifying by an application on the smart card microcomputer of a transaction identifier associated with the transaction information for which a corresponding merchant identifier is stored in the loyalty program information.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically identifying further comprises automatically identifying a transaction identifier associated with the transaction information for which a corresponding merchant identifier is stored in the loyalty program information.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the transaction identifier comprises a unique transaction number associated with the merchant transaction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the transaction identifier further comprises a merchant identification number associated with the merchant.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein automatically identifying further comprises automatically identifying the transaction identifier at a terminal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating further comprises storing information about the omitted transaction with the stored loyalty program information for the customer by an application on the smart card microcomputer.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically updating further comprises storing information about the omitted transaction with the stored loyalty program information for the customer.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the information about the omitted transaction information comprises a unique transaction number associated with the merchant transaction.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the omitted transaction information further comprises a merchant identification number associated with the merchant.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein storing the omitted transaction information further comprises storing the omitted information in a loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer for the customer at a terminal.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising automatically printing a summary report of the updated loyalty program information for the merchant on a printer associated with the terminal.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising automatically uploading the updated loyalty program information by the terminal to a back office loyalty server.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the transaction information further comprises storing a plurality of unique transaction numbers in ascending order, each of which transaction numbers is associated with one of a plurality of merchant transactions for the customer.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein storing the plurality of transaction numbers further comprises storing the numbers on a purchase log of a smart card at a terminal.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the stored loyalty program information comprises at least one of the unique transaction numbers.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein identifying further comprises identifying at least one of the transaction numbers stored with the transaction information that is numerically greater than the transaction number stored with the loyalty program information.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein identifying at least one of the transaction numbers further comprises identifying the transaction number at a terminal.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored loyalty program information comprises information representing a balance of accumulated loyalty points stored in a loyalty program register on the smart card microcomputer.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising accessing the balance information on the smart card loyalty register by the customer at a terminal.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein accessing the balance information further comprises displaying the balance information for the customer on a display screen associated with the terminal.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising displaying information about redeeming at least some of the accumulated loyalty points for the customer on the display screen.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising entering a request for the customer for redemption of least some of the accumulated loyalty points on an input device associated with the terminal.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising automatically updating the balance information for the customer with information about the redemption of the loyalty points.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising automatically printing a redemption coupon for the customer representing a redemption value of the redeemed loyalty points on a printer associated with the terminal.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the transaction information storing means comprises a transaction log on the smart card microcomputer.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the transaction log comprises a purchase log on the smart card microcomputer.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the transaction storing means further comprises a merchant application communicating with the transaction log at a terminal.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the loyalty program information storing means comprises a loyalty register on the smart card microcomputer.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the loyalty program information storing means further comprises a merchant loyalty program application on the smart card microcomputer.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the merchant loyalty program application resides on a transaction log on the smart card microcomputer.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the merchant loyalty program information storing means further comprises a terminal.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

68. The system of claim 57, wherein the comparing means comprises an application on the smart card microcomputer.

69. The system of claim 57, wherein the comparing means comprises a terminal.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

72. The system of claim 57, wherein the updating means comprises an application on the smart card microcomputer.

73. The system of claim 57, wherein the updating means comprises a terminal.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the terminal comprises a merchant terminal.

75. The system of claim 73, wherein the terminal comprises a stand alone terminal.

57. A system of tracking smart card merchant loyalty program information for a customer, comprising:

means for storing loyalty program information on a smart card microcomputer related to transactions with at least one merchant for the customer;

means for storing transaction information on the smart card microcomputer about transactions with the merchant for the customer;

means associated with the transaction information storing means and the loyalty program information storing means for comparing the stored transaction information with the stored loyalty program information;

means associated with the comparing means for automatically identifying stored transaction information about at least one transaction with the merchant for which loyalty program information related to the transaction is omitted from the stored loyalty program information;

means associated with the identifying means and the loyalty program information storing means for automatically updating the stored loyalty program information with the omitted transaction information.