System and method for distributing vouchers

• US 20030236712A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Voltmer, Theodore S., Antonucci, Donna A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3437 the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0229 Multi-merchant loyalty card systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00

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.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the redemption of vouchers including:

obtaining a loyalty card account having a unique identifier and loyalty points associated therewith;

accessing a loyalty database utilizing said unique identifier;

converting at least a portion of said loyalty points to a first value associated with a first merchant;

saving said first value in a first database associated with said loyalty card;

converting at least a portion of said loyalty points to a second value associated with a second merchant;

saving said second value along with voucher information as an electronic voucher in a second database associated with said loyalty card;

redeeming said first value at said first merchant; and

, redeeming said electronic voucher at said second merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said database is within at least one of a memory on a smart card and a memory within a remotely accessible host.

3. A method for facilitating the distribution of a voucher to a consumer, including:

receiving a consumer ID;

determining a promotion based upon said consumer ID;

producing said voucher by associating said promotion with said voucher;

storing said voucher in at least one of a remotely accessible database having data fields related to different merchants and a smart card database having data fields related to different merchants; and

, enabling said consumer to receive said voucher and to use said promotion associated with said voucher for a purchase from a merchant.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said voucher is in the form of at least one of a paper document, data field, a card, authorization code, magnetic code, bar code, and electronic signal.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said voucher includes a restriction related to use of said voucher.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said determining step includes analyzing certain criteria including at least one of:

criteria, no criteria, prior purchase history, purchase of a particular product or service, frequency of purchases, infrequency of purchases, entering a website, entering a store, time within the store or website, dollar amount spent at a merchant, general amount of spend in a time period, and number of purchases.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said enabling step includes at least one of:

allowing access to said voucher on a webpage, electronically transmitting said voucher to said consumer and sending a printed voucher to said consumer.

8. An incentive engine configured to facilitate distribution of vouchers including:

an enrollment module configured to enroll at least one of consumers and merchants;

an authentication module configured to authenticate consumer IDs;

a participating merchant database in communication with said enrollment module, wherein said participating merchant database includes merchants which desire to distribute vouchers to consumers;

a consumer accounts database having a voucher database configured to store voucher data related to participating merchants; and

,

a distribution system configured to transmit voucher data to a terminal.

9. The incentive engine of claim 8, wherein said incentive engine is located within a remotely-accessible host.

10. The incentive engine of claim 8, wherein said incentive engine is located within a smart card.