Retail loyalty system (RLS) with embedded web server
First Claim
1. A first Retail Loyalty System Network Terminal, for shoppers to conveniently and interactively check the loyalty points and select the reward items, the first network terminal comprising:
- a) a network interface for connecting directly to the computer network infrastructure establish a connection to the company network and/or to the Internet, b) an Embedded Web Server that receives and responses to the requests sent from any Internet Browser having access to the computer network, c) a browser-based management module that allows any Internet Browser that is capable of accessing the computer network to setup and maintain the network terminal, d) a browser-based information query module that allows any Internet Browser that is capable to access the computer network to access the transaction log of the network terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Retail Loyalty System for retailers to create and sustain customer loyalty and repeat purchases, that is layered over the Internet, and utilizes the Smart Card technology to store the loyalty points and personal information; built-in Ethernet and TCP/IP Network Interface and built-in Embedded Web Server allow web-based administration; a network terminal allows the shoppers to check their loyalty points in real-time manner, and allows the shoppers to select the reward items to redeem on the LCD display with touch-screen panel; a POS Add-in Module to allow adding the loyalty points earned by the purchase transaction, and to allow deducting the loyalty points resulted by redeeming reward items. The reward scheme may be updated & readjusted remotely by the computer at the head office via the Internet, and may be synchronized across all the branches of the retailer. Optionally, all the transaction logs can be uploaded to a centralized CRM database server for CPM (Customer Relationship Management) purpose.
79 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A first Retail Loyalty System Network Terminal, for shoppers to conveniently and interactively check the loyalty points and select the reward items, the first network terminal comprising:
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a) a network interface for connecting directly to the computer network infrastructure establish a connection to the company network and/or to the Internet, b) an Embedded Web Server that receives and responses to the requests sent from any Internet Browser having access to the computer network, c) a browser-based management module that allows any Internet Browser that is capable of accessing the computer network to setup and maintain the network terminal, d) a browser-based information query module that allows any Internet Browser that is capable to access the computer network to access the transaction log of the network terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 28, 29, 30)
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19. A first POS Add-in Module that works with any existing POS (Point of Sales) system, comprising:
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a) network interface for connecting directly to the computer network infrastructure establish a connection to the company network and/or to the Internet, b) an Embedded Web Server that receives and responses to the requests sent from any Internet Browser having access to the computer network, c) a browser-based management module that allows any Internet Browser that is capable of accessing the computer network to setup and maintain the network terminal, d) a browser-based information query module that allows any Internet Browser that is capable to access the computer network to access the transaction log of the network terminal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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31. A method of implementing a Retail Loyalty System that can be used among affiliated retailers, a method comprising the steps of:
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a) dividing the memory of the loyalty card (either contact-type or contactless type smart card) into a number of sub-blocks, and each sub-block is allocated to one of the affiliated retailers, and is protected by secret keys;
b) each one of the affiliated retailers reads and writes on their allocated sub-blocks of the loyalty card only, without affecting and altering the other sub-blocks that are not allocated to the retailer.
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Specification