Integrated frequency and award redemption program for installment based receivables behavior modification and customer loyalty management

• US 20020111859A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timely Rewards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Timely Rewards Incorporated
• Inventors: Jarol, Scott, Pena, Marisa, Sheldon, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US09/788,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date

Abstract

An integrated automated frequency award program is disclosed. An installment payment transaction processing system forwards the details of a customer'"'"'s payment to a secondary transaction processing system, which evaluates whether the payment was received on or before the due date. If paid by the due date, the secondary transaction processing system calculates award points based on variable criteria, updates the points account balance for the enrolled customer or Member, and communicates the reward to the Member. Members may browse a catalog of available products and services for which they may redeem their awarded points. When a Member selects a product or service for redemption of his or her points, the system verifies that the Member'"'"'s points account balance contains sufficient points to purchase the item, then places the order with the appropriate vendor or fulfillment service and subtracts the redeemed points from the Member'"'"'s account balance.

Claims

1. A method for implementing an on-line incentive program for members who are making installment payments, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an Internet webpage accessible to at least a member, via a computer system, for on-line interactive communications between said member and said Internet webpage;

offering, on said Internet webpage, installment payment schedule information to said member;

determining whether said member qualifies for one or more award points based on said member making one or more timely installment payment;

calculating said award points according to a preprogrammed formula if said member qualifies for said award points; and

issuing said award points to an account of the member if the member qualifies for said award points, wherein said award points are redeemable by the member for an award.

2. A method for implementing an on-line incentive program for members who are making installment payments as recited in claim 1, said method further comprising the step of offering, on said Internet webpage, electronic installment payment capability to said member.

3. A method for redeeming incentive awards in an on-line incentive program, said method comprising the steps of:

implementing an on-line incentive program that issues award points to members who are making installment payments, wherein said award points are redeemable by said members for an award;

implementing an Internet webpage accessible, via a computer system, to at least one member of said on-line incentive program for on-line interactive communications between said member and said Internet webpage;

offering, accessible from or on said Internet webpage, at least one redeemable award available to said member for exchange of said award points; and

permitting said member to initiate a process to receive said at least one redeemable award for exchange of said award points issued to said member through said on-line incentive program.

4. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

providing an Internet webpage accessible to at least one member, via a computer system, for on-line interactive communications between said member and said Internet webpage;

offering, on said Internet webpage, installment payment schedule information to said member;

determining whether said member qualifies for one or more award points based on said member making one or more timely installment payments;

calculating said award points according to a pre-programmed formula if said member qualifies for said award points; and

issuing said award points to an account of said member if said member qualifies for said award points, wherein said award points are redeemable by said member for an award.

5. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 4, and further comprising the step of offering, on said Internet webpage, electronic installment payment capability to said member.

6. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

implementing an on-line that issues award points to members wherein said award points are redeemable by said member for an award;

providing an Internet webpage accessible to at least one member, via a computer system, for on-line interactive communications between said member and said Internet webpage;

offering, on said Internet webpage, installment payment schedule information to said member;

determining whether said member qualifies for one or more award points based on said member making one or more timely installment payments;

calculating said award points according to a preprogrammed formula if said member qualifies for said award points; and

issuing said award points to an account of said member if said member qualifies for said award points, wherein said award points are redeemable by said member for an award.

7. A computer system for implementing an on-line incentive program, said computer system comprising:

software for offering at least one product for sale to at least one member via an Internet webpage, said Internet webpage being accessible to said member for on-line interactive communications between said member and said Internet webpage; and

software for determining whether said member qualifies for one or more award points based on said member making one or more timely installment payments, for calculating said award points according to a preprogrammed formula if said member qualifies for said award points, and for issuing said award points to an account of said member if said member qualifies for said award points, wherein said award points are redeemable by said member for an award.