Methods and apparatus for implementing loyalty programs using portable electronic data storage devices
First Claim
1. A system for managing loyalty programs which uses at least one portable user device to store data including loyalty points, said system comprising:
- a server for distributing loyalty point program information; and
a plurality of merchant terminals coupled to said server, said plurality of merchant terminals including at least a first merchant terminal and a second merchant terminal, said first and second merchant terminals being located at different locations within a first store;
the first merchant terminal comprising;
i) a memory for storing a first set of loyalty point program information, said first set of loyalty point program information including information about award points to be accorded for purchases made at said first terminal;
ii) a first interface for receiving loyalty point program information updates from said server;
iii) a first user device interface for reading from and writing to a portable user device; and
the second merchant terminal comprising;
i) a memory for storing a second set of loyalty point program information, said second set of loyalty point program information including information about award points to be accorded for purchases made at said second terminal, the second set of loyalty point information being either;
different from said first set of loyalty point information and providing for loyalty points to be awarded at a rate or in an amount that is different from a rate or an amount at which loyalty points are awarded by said first terminal in accordance with the first set of loyalty program information or being the same as the first set of loyalty point program information and providing for loyalty points to be awarded for items corresponding to a first department at a rate or in an amount that is different from a rate or an amount at which loyalty points are to be awarded for items corresponding to a second department which is different from said first department;
ii) a second interface for receiving loyalty point program information updates from said server; and
iii) a second user device interface for reading from and writing to a portable user device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Customer loyalty programs using portable data storage devices, e.g., smart cards, are described. Merchant terminals capable of reading and writing information to user smart cards are used to award points to customers based on a set of loyalty program information stored in the merchant terminal, at least some information read from the smart card, and information such as the purchase amount. Different terminals within a store maybe loaded with different loyalty program information allowing the program to be specific to a store department or location. Updating of loyalty program information from a server facilitates implementation of rapid changes in plans allowing plans to be modified or an hourly basis if desired as part of a particular promotion in a department. Bonus loyalty information is stored in the user device, eliminating any need to access a centralized location which stores point information to award and/or redeem loyalty awards.
287 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for managing loyalty programs which uses at least one portable user device to store data including loyalty points, said system comprising:
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a server for distributing loyalty point program information; and
a plurality of merchant terminals coupled to said server, said plurality of merchant terminals including at least a first merchant terminal and a second merchant terminal, said first and second merchant terminals being located at different locations within a first store;
the first merchant terminal comprising;
i) a memory for storing a first set of loyalty point program information, said first set of loyalty point program information including information about award points to be accorded for purchases made at said first terminal;
ii) a first interface for receiving loyalty point program information updates from said server;
iii) a first user device interface for reading from and writing to a portable user device; and
the second merchant terminal comprising;
i) a memory for storing a second set of loyalty point program information, said second set of loyalty point program information including information about award points to be accorded for purchases made at said second terminal, the second set of loyalty point information being either;
different from said first set of loyalty point information and providing for loyalty points to be awarded at a rate or in an amount that is different from a rate or an amount at which loyalty points are awarded by said first terminal in accordance with the first set of loyalty program information or being the same as the first set of loyalty point program information and providing for loyalty points to be awarded for items corresponding to a first department at a rate or in an amount that is different from a rate or an amount at which loyalty points are to be awarded for items corresponding to a second department which is different from said first department;
ii) a second interface for receiving loyalty point program information updates from said server; and
iii) a second user device interface for reading from and writing to a portable user device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A server for distributing loyalty point information to a plurality of merchant terminals, said plurality of merchant terminals including first and second terminals located in a first store, the server comprising:
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a memory including multiple stored sets of loyalty point program information, at least some different loyalty point program information sets corresponding to different departments within said first store; and
a terminal interface for communicating to said first and second first and second merchant terminals different sets of loyalty point program information, said different sets corresponding to different departments in which said first and second terminals are located, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (26, 30, 31, 32)
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25. The server of claim 25, wherein said server is store server located in said first store in which said first and second terminals are located, at least some of said multiple stored sets of loyalty point program information corresponding to different periods of time in which said information is to be used by one of said first and second terminals.
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27. A method of implementing at least one loyalty scheme which includes the use of portable user devices to store data including loyalty points, said method comprising:
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operating a server to distribute loyalty point program information; and
operating a plurality of merchant terminals coupled to said server to perform loyalty program functions, said plurality of merchant terminals including at least a first merchant terminal and a second merchant terminal, said first and second merchant terminals being located at different locations within a first store, the step of operating a plurality of merchant terminals including;
operating the first merchant terminal to store a first set of loyalty point program information, said first set of loyalty point program information including information about award points to be accorded for purchases made at said first terminal;
operating the first merchant terminal to receive loyalty point program information updates from said server used to update said stored first set of loyalty point program information;
when a user makes a purchase at the first merchant terminal using a portable user device, operating the first merchant terminal to read from and write to the portable user device at least some loyalty program information;
operating the second merchant terminal to store a second set of loyalty point program information, said second set of loyalty point program information including information about award points to be accorded for purchases made at said second terminal, the second set of loyalty point information being either;
different from said first set of loyalty point information and providing for loyalty points to be awarded at a rate or in an amount that is different from a rate or an amount at which loyalty points are awarded by said first terminal in accordance with the first set of loyalty program information or being the same as the first set of loyalty point program information and providing for loyalty points to be awarded for items corresponding to a first department at a rate or in an amount that is different from a rate or an amount at which loyalty points are to be awarded for items corresponding to a second department which is different from said first department;
operating the second merchant terminal to receive loyalty point program information updates loyalty point program information updates from said server; and
when a user makes a purchase at the second merchant terminal using a portable user device, operating the second merchant terminal to read from and write to the portable user device at least some loyalty program information. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification