Use of limited identification information on point-of-sale systems

• US 20040200898A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DS-IQ Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Concept Shopping, Inc. (DS-IQ Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kepecs, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US10/778,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20040200898A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• 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 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

Techniques for processing loyalty-based promotions using conventional, retail POS systems with minimal or no required changes to the POS system are described. An identifier is read by a POS system that is conventionally used to read financial cards. The identifier is determined to be a limited identification (“limited ID”) associated with a loyalty program. The limited ID is then stored in a transaction log (“tlog”) at the POS. The limited ID is not communicated to that part of a financial processing network involved in balance access or manipulation, and may in some embodiments not involve the financial processing network at all. The tlog can be analyzed for loyalty program transactions.

Claims

1. A method of recording a limited identification into a transaction log generated by a point-of-sale system, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier at a checkout system, the checkout system being configured to facilitate performance of financial transactions;

identifying that the identifier is the limited identification and no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification; and

recording the limited identification into the transaction log by the point-of-sale system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the limited identification is associated with a loyalty program account.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the limited identification is encoded in a magnetic stripe located on a card.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the limited identification is encoded in a bar code located on a card.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the limited identification.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the checkout system comprises at least one checkout terminal and at least one card reader.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the checkout system comprises at least one checkout terminal and at least one UPC scanner.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein recording the limited identification into the transaction log is accomplished by a null transaction.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying comprises matching the limited identification against a list of valid limited identifications.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying step is performed by a back-end system.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying comprises matching at least one digit of the limit identification against a loyalty card identifier code.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a button, wherein selection of the button indicates the identifier is a limited identification.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a first button and a second button, wherein selection of the first button indicates accumulation of a loyalty program account associated with the limited identification and selection of the second button indicates redemption of a loyalty program account associated with the limited identification.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein selection of at least one of the first button or the second button indicates that no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification.

15. A method of recording a limited identification into a transaction log generated by a point-of-sale system, the method comprising:

receiving the limited identification at the point-of-sale system;

communicating the limited identification from the point-of-sale system to a system configured to facilitate performance of financial transactions;

identifying, prior to invoking a financial processing function, that no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification received from the point-of-sale system;

communicating a response to the point-of-sale system; and

inserting the limited identification into the transaction log.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the identify is performed by the point-of-sale system.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the identify is performed by a POS controller.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the identify is performed by a central store computer.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the identify is performed by a computer of a financial institution.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the limited identification.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the response is a null transaction.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a button, wherein selection of the button identifies that no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a first button and a second button, wherein selection of the first button indicates an accumulation operation for a loyalty program account associated with the limited identification and selection of the second button indicates a redemption operation for a loyalty program account associated with the limited identification.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein selection of at least one of the first button or the second button identifies that no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification.

25. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for recording a limited identification into a transaction log generated by a point-of-sale system, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving an identifier at a checkout system, the checkout system being configured to facilitate performance of financial transactions;

code for identifying that the identifier is the limited identification and no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification; and

code for recording the limited identification into the transaction log by the point-of-sale system.

26. The computer program code of claim 25 wherein the limited identification is associated with a loyalty program account.

27. The computer program code of claim 25 further comprising:

code for receiving a personal identification number (PIN) associated with the limited identification.

28. The computer program code of claim 25 further comprising:

code for matching the limited identification against a list of valid limited identifications.

29. The computer program code of claim 25 further comprising:

code for matching at least one digit of the limit identification against a loyalty card identifier code.

30. The computer program code of claim 25 further comprising:

code for receiving a signal from an apparatus comprising a button, wherein selection of the button indicates the identifier is a limited identification.

31. The computer program code of claim 25 further comprising:

code for receiving a first signal and a second signal from an apparatus comprising a first button and a second button, wherein selection of the first button indicates accumulation of a loyalty program account associated with the limited identification and selection of the second button indicates redemption of a loyalty program account associated with the limited identification.

32. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for recording a limited identification into a transaction log generated by a point-of-sale system, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving the limited identification at the point-of-sale system;

code for communicating the limited identification from the point-of-sale system to a system configured to facilitate performance of financial transactions;

code for identifying, prior to invoking a financial processing function, that no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification received from the point-of-sale system;

code for communicating a response to the point-of-sale system; and

code for inserting the limited identification into the transaction log.

33. The computer program code of claim 32 wherein the identify is performed by the point-of-sale system.

34. The computer program code of claim 32 wherein the identify is performed by a POS controller.

35. The computer program code of claim 32 wherein the identify is performed by a central store computer.

36. The computer program code of claim 32 wherein the identify is performed by a computer of a financial institution.

37. A system for recording a limited identification into a transaction log generated by a point-of-sale system, the system comprising:

a data processing system; and

an apparatus coupled to the data processing system;

wherein the apparatus is configured to receive an identifier;

wherein the data processing system is configured to;

identify that the identifier is the limited identification and no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification; and

record the limited identification into the transaction log.

38. A system for recording a limited identification into a transaction log generated by a point-of-sale system, the system comprising:

a data processing system;

an apparatus coupled to the data processing system; and

a system configured to facilitate performance of financial transactions;

wherein the apparatus is configured to receive an identifier;

wherein the data processing system is configured to;

communicate the limited identification from the point-of-sale system to the system configured to facilitate performance of financial transactions; and

insert the limited identification into the transaction log;

wherein the system configured to facilitate performance of financial transactions is configured to;

identify, prior to invoking a financial processing function, that no financial transaction is to be performed responsive to the limited identification received from the point-of-sale system; and

communicating a response to the data processing system.