Online loyalty program

• US 20060073809A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Girl LLC (Mattel Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Girl LLC (Mattel Incorporated)
• Inventors: Juetten, Jeanette, Gundrum, Todd, Christenson, Glenn, Krejcarek, John, Ziche, Bill, Neely, Tiffany, Rink, Cindy, Anderson, Renee, Hollenstein, Cindy, Reynolds, Sean
• Application Number:
  US11/236,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073809A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0232 Frequent usage rewards other than merchandise, cash or travel

Abstract

A system for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising a server computer hosting a Web site. The server computer enables a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user to access the Web site over a computer network through a client computer and stores data in a database, including a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the user, and one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the affiliated sub-user. The server computer enables the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the user account and to credit one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user account. The server computer enables the user to distribute one or more reward points from the user account to at least one of the affiliated sub-user accounts and enables the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.

Claims

1. A system for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising a server computer hosting a Web site, wherein the server computer is configured to:

enable a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user to access the Web site over a computer network through a client computer;

store data in a database, wherein the data comprises;

a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the user; and

one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the affiliated sub-user;

enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing a first activity defined by the sponsor;

enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing a second activity defined by the sponsor;

enable the user to distribute one or more reward points from the user account to at least one of the affiliated sub-user accounts; and

enable the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is a parent or guardian of the affiliated sub-user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the merchandise comprises one or more tangible products.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more of the tangible products are associated with the sponsor'"'"'s brand.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the merchandise comprises one or more virtual products.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the virtual products comprises enhanced functionality in use of the Web site by the affiliated sub-user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first activities defined by the sponsor is a physical act by the user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the physical act includes the user traveling to a physical location associated with the sponsor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the second activities defined by the sponsor is a physical act by the affiliated sub-user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the second activities defined by the sponsor includes the affiliated sub-user executing a virtual task through the Web site.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the Web site provides one or more online activities to the affiliated sub-user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more online activities involve interaction with one or more other sub-users.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the server computer is configured to enable the user to supervise the affiliated sub-user'"'"'s participation in the online activities.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein one or more of the other sub-users involved in the one or more online activities is not affiliated with the user.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the Web site provides narrative content to the affiliated sub-user.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the server computer enables the user to exercise control over the reward point balance of the affiliated sub-user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user account includes a history tracking one or more of the affiliated sub-user'"'"'s reward point transactions.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the server computer enables the user to prevent the sponsor from crediting one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user'"'"'s reward point balance.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the server computer enables the user to prevent the sub-user from redeeming one or more reward points to the sponsor.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the Web site enables the affiliated sub-user to exchange messages with one or more other sub-users.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the Web site enables the user to exercise control over the affiliated sub-user'"'"'s exchange of messages with the one or more other sub-users.

22. A method for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising:

providing a server computer accessible over a computer network;

storing data on the server computer in a database, wherein the database comprises;

a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a user; and

one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a sub-user affiliated with the user;

crediting one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;

transferring, at the request of the user, one or more reward points from the user account to at least the one affiliated sub-user account;

crediting one or more reward points to at least the one affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;

redeeming, at the request of the affiliated sub-user, one or more reward points from at least the one affiliated sub-user account to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing one or more online activities to the affiliated sub-user.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein providing the one or more online activities includes providing online interaction between the affiliated sub-user and one or more other sub-users.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing the user with a supervision interface enabling the user to exercise control over one or more of the affiliated sub-user'"'"'s reward point transactions.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising creating a reward point history in the user account, wherein the reward point history includes a record of one or more of the affiliated sub-user'"'"'s reward point transactions.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising enabling the user to prevent the sponsor from crediting one or more reward points to at least the one affiliated sub-user account.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising enabling the user to prevent the sub-user from redeeming one or more reward points to the sponsor.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing one or more virtual trading cards to the affiliated sub-user.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising enabling the affiliated sub-user to exchange one or more of the virtual trading cards with one or more other sub-users.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising enabling the affiliated sub-user to exchange messages with one or more other sub-users.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising enabling the user to exercise control over the affiliated sub-user'"'"'s exchange of messages with one or more other sub-users.

33. Storage media having embodied therein a plurality of machine-readable instructions, wherein, when a processor executes the instructions, the instructions provide for:

storing data on a server computer in a database, wherein the database comprises;

a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a user; and

one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for a sub-user affiliated with the user;

crediting one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;

transferring, at the request of the user, one or more reward points from the user account to at least the one affiliated sub-user account;

crediting one or more reward points to at least the one affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity defined by the sponsor;

redeeming, at the request of the affiliated sub-user, one or more reward points from at least the one affiliated sub-user account to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.

34. Storage media having embodied therein a plurality of machine-readable instructions adapted to be executed by a computer processor, to:

enable a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user to access a Web site over a computer network through a client computer;

store data in a database, wherein the data comprises;

a user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the user; and

one or more sub-user accounts affiliated with the user account, each affiliated sub-user account having a reward point balance associated therewith for the affiliated sub-user;

enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the user account in exchange for the user performing a first activity defined by the sponsor;

enable the sponsor to credit one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user account in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing a second activity defined by the sponsor;

enable the user to distribute one or more reward points from the user account to at least one of the affiliated sub-user accounts; and

enable the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points to the sponsor in exchange for merchandise.

35. A system for increasing consumer affinity for a brand, comprising a server hosting an online environment accessible by a user and a sub-user affiliated with the user, wherein the server is configured to:

enable the user to supervise the online activities of the affiliated sub-user;

issue one or more reward points to the user;

enable the user to transfer one or more reward points from the user to the affiliated sub-user;

issue one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity specified by the online environment;

enable the affiliated sub-user to redeem one or more reward points in exchange for branded merchandise from an owner of the brand;

provide an online forum enabling the affiliated sub-user to communicate with one or more other sub-users, wherein the server is configured to enable the user to;

supervise the content of messages sent and received by the affiliated sub-user through the online forum;

control to which of the one or more other sub-users the affiliated sub-user may transmit messages through the online forum; and

control from which of the one or more other sub-users the affiliated sub-user may receive messages through the online forum;

maintain a database storing interests associated with the affiliated sub-user and at least one of the one or more other sub-users; and

enable the affiliated sub-user to access the database to select other sub-users whom the affiliated sub-user desires to engage in communication.

36. A method for increasing consumer affinity for a brand associated with a sponsor, comprising:

providing a server hosting an online environment, wherein the online environment enables a user to supervise the activities of an affiliated sub-user within the online environment;

issuing one or more reward points to the user;

transferring, at the request of the user, one or more reward points of the user to the affiliated sub-user;

issuing one or more reward points to the affiliated sub-user in exchange for the affiliated sub-user performing an activity specified by the sponsor;

redeeming, at the request of the affiliated sub-user, one or more reward points of the affiliated sub-user in exchange for branded merchandise from an owner of the brand;

providing an online forum enabling the affiliated sub-user to communicate with one or more other sub-users, the online forum enabling the user to;

review the content of messages transmitted and received by the affiliated sub-user;

select other sub-users to whom the affiliated sub-user may transmit messages; and

select other sub-users from whom the affiliated sub-user may receive messages;

maintaining a database on a computer accessible over a computer network, wherein the database includes interests associated with the affiliated sub-user and at least one of the one or more other sub-users;

enabling the affiliated sub-user to access the database using the online environment; and

enabling the affiliated sub-user to select other sub-users with whom the affiliated sub-user desires to exchange messages using the online forum.