System and method of providing discounts on the purchase of gasoline

• US 20060095318A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Phoenix Intangibles Holding Company
• Original Assignee: Phoenix Intangibles Holding Company
• Inventors: Kane, Rebecca B., Ross, Russell G.
• Application Number:
  US10/975,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095318A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• 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 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0232 Frequent usage rewards other than merchandise, cash or travel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• 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 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method of providing a customer with a gasoline discount including determining accumulated discount information each time: the customer performs a predefined action, customer identification information is obtained, such as by using a customer identification element, and information relating to the performed action is received. The accumulated discount information is based on the information and is stored in association with the customer identification information. When the customer purchases gasoline, the customer identification information is obtained, the accumulated discount information is obtained using the customer identification information, and the customer may receive a discount based on the accumulated discount information. Also, a discount system includes a retailer POS terminal having a reader device, a main server, a customer database connected to the main server that stores the accumulated discount information, a pump having a reader device, and a gas station computing device connected to the pump and the main server.

Claims

1. A method of providing a customer with a discount on the purchase of gasoline, said customer having customer identification information, the method comprising:

determining accumulated discount information each time;

(i) said customer performs one of one or more predefined actions, (ii) said customer identification information is received in association with said one of one or more predefined actions, and (iii) first information relating to said one of one or more predefined actions is received, said accumulated discount information being based on said first information;

storing in a database said accumulated discount information in association with said customer identification information;

obtaining said customer identification information when said customer initiates the purchase of gasoline;

accessing said stored accumulated discount information from said database using said customer identification information;

providing said customer with an ability to elect a discount, if any, based on said accessed accumulated discount information; and

providing said customer with an elected discount, if any, on said purchase of gasoline.

2. The method according to claim 1, said customer having one or more customer identification elements each having said customer identification information associated therewith, wherein said customer identification information is received in association with said one of one or more predefined actions as a result of said customer allowing said customer identification information to be obtained using one of said one or more customer identification elements, and wherein said customer identification information is obtained when said customer initiates the purchase of gasoline using one of said one or more customer identification elements.

3. The method according to claim 2, said one or more customer identification elements being a customer card, said customer identification information being provided on said customer card in bar code form, said customer identification information being obtained by reading said customer identification information from said customer card.

4. The method according to claim 1, said gasoline having a per-unit price, said step of providing said customer with an elected discount, if any, comprising adjusting said per-unit price based on said elected discount, if any.

5. The method according to claim 1, said determining step comprising converting said first information into a point value, and deriving said accumulated discount information from said point value.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

storing accumulated points information in association with said customer identification information; and

determining new accumulated points information each time said first information is converted into a point value, said new accumulated points information being a sum of said point value and said accumulated points information;

wherein said step of deriving said accumulated discount information comprises;

(i) determining a first multiplier by determining the number of times said new accumulated points information is evenly divisible by a predetermined point amount;

(ii) increasing said accumulated discount information by a first amount equal to said first multiplier multiplied by a predetermined discount amount; and

(iii) setting said accumulated points information equal to a value obtained by decreasing said new accumulated points information by a second amount equal to said first multiplier multiplied by said predetermined point amount.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising determining an available discount amount, said available discount amount being the lesser of said per-unit price and said accumulated discount information, wherein said elected discount is based on said available discount amount.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said elected discount, if any, equals said available discount amount.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising receiving a fractional discount amount from said customer, said fractional discount amount being a fraction of said available discount amount, wherein said elected discount, if any, equals said fractional discount amount.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising decreasing said accumulated discount information by said fractional discount amount after said adjusting step and storing said decreased accumulated discount information in said database in association with said customer identification information.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising decreasing said accumulated discount information by said available discount amount after said adjusting step and storing said decreased accumulated discount information in said database in association with said customer identification information.

12. The method according to claim 4, further comprising decreasing said accumulated discount information based on an amount by which said per-unit price is adjusted after said adjusting step and storing said decreased accumulated discount information in said database in association with said customer identification information.

13. The method according to claim 1, said determining step comprising converting said first information into one of a point value and a discount amount, and deriving said accumulated discount information based on said one of a point value and a discount amount.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a discount report to said customer after said storing step, said discount report being based on said accumulated discount information.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said discount report is provided on a receipt.

16. The method according to claim 1, said one or more predefined actions being one or more of purchasing one or more items from a retail location or website, purchasing a particular item at said retail location or website, completing a predetermined event at said retail location, and presenting a discount containing coupon at said retail location.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein when said one of said one or more predefined actions performed by said customer is purchasing one or more items from a retail location or website, said one or more items having a purchase amount, said first information comprises said purchase amount and said first information is converted into said point value based on a one point for each dollar of said purchase amount basis.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein when said one of said one or more predefined actions performed by said customer is purchasing a particular item or brand from a retail location or website, said first information comprises an identification of said particular item or brand and said point value is a corresponding predetermined point value.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein when said one of said one or more predefined actions performed by said customer is completing a particular predetermined event at a retail location, said first information comprises an identification of said particular predetermined event and said point value is a corresponding predetermined point value.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein when said one of said one or more predefined actions performed by said customer is presenting a discount containing coupon at a retail location, said first information comprises discount information from said coupon and said discount amount is based on said discount information.

21. The method according to claim 2, said one or more customer identification elements being selected from the group consisting of a customer card, a key fob device, an RFID tag, a credit card, a debit card, a phone number, a social security number, a password, the customer'"'"'s fingerprint, and the customer'"'"'s retina.

22. A system for providing a customer with a discount on the purchase of gasoline, said customer having customer identification information, comprising:

a main server;

a customer database in electronic communication with said main server, said customer database storing accumulated discount information in association with said customer identification information, said accumulated discount information being determined each time said customer performs one of one or more predefined actions and said customer identification information is obtained in association with said one of one or more predefined actions, said one of one or more predefined actions having first information related thereto, said accumulated discount information, when determined, being based on said first information;

a computing device located at a gas station location, said computing device being in electronic communication with said main server, said computing device being adapted to access said accumulated discount information from said main server based on said customer identification information when said customer initiates the purchase of gasoline at said gas station location, provide said customer with an ability to elect a discount, if any, based on said accessed accumulated discount information, and provide said customer with an elected discount, if any, on said purchase of gasoline.

23. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a point-of-sale terminal located at a retailer location and a gasoline pump located at said gas station location that is in electronic communication with said computing device located at said gas station location, said customer having one or more customer identification elements each having said customer identification information associated therewith, said point-of-sale terminal having a first reader device for reading one or more of said one or more customer identification elements, said gasoline pump having a second reader device for reading one or more of said one or more customer identification elements, wherein said customer identification information is obtained in association with said one of one or more predefined actions by reading one of said one or more customer identification elements using said first reader device, wherein said customer identification information is obtained when said customer initiates the purchase of gasoline at said gas station location by reading one of said one or more customer identification elements using said second reader device, and wherein said customer identification information is sent to said computing device located at said gas station location.

24. The system according to claim 23, said one or more customer identification elements being a customer card, said customer identification information being provided on said customer card in bar code form, said first and second reader devices each comprising a bar code reader.

25. The system according to claim 22, said gasoline having a per-unit price, said computing device being further adapted to adjust said per-unit price based on said elected discount, if any.

26. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a retailer computing device in electronic communication with said main server, said retailer computing device receiving said first information and converting said first information into a point value when said customer performs said one of one or more predefined actions and said customer identification is obtained in association with said one of one or more predefined actions, said accumulated discount information, when determined, being based on said point value.

27. The system according to claim 26, said customer database storing accumulated points information in association with said customer identification information, said retailer computing device being adapted to determine new accumulated points information each time said first information is converted into a point value, said new accumulated points information being a sum of said point value and said accumulated points information, wherein said accumulated discount information is determined by:

(i) determining a first multiplier by determining the number of times said new accumulated points information is evenly divisible by a predetermined point amount, and (ii) increasing said accumulated discount information by a first amount equal to said first multiplier multiplied by a predetermined discount amount, and wherein said accumulated points information is set equal to a value obtained by decreasing said new accumulated points information by a second amount equal to said first multiplier multiplied by said predetermined point amount.

28. The system according to claim 27, said accumulated discount information being determined by said main server and said accumulated points information being set by said main server.

29. The system according to claim 25, said computing device located at said gas station location being further adapted to determine an available discount amount, said available discount amount being the lesser of said per-unit price and said accumulated discount information, wherein said elected discount, if any, is based on said available discount amount.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said elected discount, if any, is equal to said available discount amount.

31. The system according to claim 29, said computing device located at said gas station location being further adapted to receive a fractional discount amount from said customer, said fractional discount amount being a fraction of said available discount amount, wherein said wherein said elected discount, if any, is equal to said fractional discount amount.

32. The system according to claim 24, wherein said main server is adapted to decrease said accumulated discount information based on an amount by which said per-unit price is adjusted by said computing device located at said gas station location, said decreased accumulated discount information being stored by said customer database in association with said customer identification information.

33. The system according to claim 22, further comprising a retailer computing device in electronic communication with said main server, said retailer computing device receiving said first information and converting said first information into one of a point value and a discount amount when said customer performs said one of one or more predefined actions and said customer identification element is obtained in association with said one of one or more predefined actions, said accumulated discount information being based on said one of a point value and a discount amount.

34. The system according to claim 23, said point-of-sale terminal being adapted to provide a discount report to said customer, said discount report being based on said accumulated discount information.

35. The system according to claim 34, said discount report being a receipt printed by said point-of-sale terminal.

36. The system according to claim 23, said one or more customer identification elements being selected from the group consisting of a customer card, a key fob device, an RFID tag, a credit card, a debit card, the customer'"'"'s fingerprint, and the customer'"'"'s retina.

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

49. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

51. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

53. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

56. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

58. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

60. (canceled)

61. (canceled)

62. (canceled)

63. (canceled)

64. (canceled)

65. (canceled)

66. (canceled)

67. (canceled)

68. (canceled)

69. (canceled)

70. (canceled)

71. (canceled)