System and apparatus for linking multiple rewards programs to promote the purchase of specific product mixes

• US 20050071225A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Loc, Bortolin, Corinne
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.350
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0227 Frequent usage incentive value reconciliation between diverse systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing

Abstract

A method and system for linking multiple pre-existing reward programs is disclosed. The method includes receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, where the first reward program provides for a first reward, and receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward. A combination reward program is provided, and the combination reward program provides a combination reward that is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, wherein the first reward program provides for a first reward;

(b) receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward; and

(c) providing for a combination reward program that provides a combination reward that is based on at least the purchase of the first product and the second product, and wherein the combination reward is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) reducing or eliminating the combination reward, if a third product is purchased.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information about a third pre-existing reward program for a third product, wherein the third reward program provides a third reward, wherein the combination reward is greater than the third reward.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the combination reward program is provided by a host organization, and wherein the host organization also provides a portable consumer device, wherein the combination reward is provided to the consumer after the user uses the portable consumer device, and wherein (a), (b), and (c) are performed using one or more digital computers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the combination reward program is provided by a host organization, and wherein the host organization also provides a portable consumer device, wherein the portable consumer device is a smart card.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the combination reward is an extension of time to receive at least one of the first reward and the second reward.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the combination reward is the ability to access the combination reward or another reward at an earlier date.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the combination reward to a customer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first reward program is created by a first merchant and wherein the second reward program is created by a second merchant, and wherein the combination reward program is created by a host organization that is affiliated with the first merchant and the second merchant.

10. A computer readable medium comprising:

(a) code for receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, wherein the first reward program provides for a first reward;

(b) code for providing for receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward; and

(c) code for providing for a combination reward program that provides a combination reward that is based on at least the purchase of the first product and the second product, and wherein the combination reward is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 further comprising:

(d) code for reducing or eliminating the combination reward, if a third product is purchased.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10 further comprising:

code for receiving information about a third reward program for a third product, wherein the third pre-existing reward program provides a third reward, wherein the combination reward is greater than the third reward.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the combination reward program is provided by a host organization, and wherein the host organization also provides a portable consumer device.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the combination reward program is provided by a host organization, and wherein the host organization also provides a portable consumer device, wherein the portable consumer device is a smart card, and wherein the combination reward is provided to the consumer after the consumer uses the portable consumer device.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the combination reward is an extension of time to receive at least one of the first reward and the second reward.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the combination reward is the ability to access the combination reward or another reward at an earlier date.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 10 further comprising:

code for providing the combination reward to a customer.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the first reward program is created by a first merchant and wherein the second reward program is created by a second merchant, and wherein the combination reward program is created by a host organization that is affiliated with the first merchant and the second merchant.