Methods for implementing a promotional reward program

• US 20080154715A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TPG Rewards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TPG Rewards Incorporated
• Inventors: Galinos, John
• Application Number:
  US11/643,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

Methods for implementing promotional reward programs are provided. A user with a unique promotion code associated with a predetermined product or service. The user can input the unique promotion code along with identifying information. The unique promotion code is verified, and upon verification, the user is provided with a debit code for the predetermined product or service, wherein the debit code is associated with a predetermined value and is instantly provided to the user through the Internet, by email, by text message, or from a kiosk, and the debit code is used to purchase the predetermined product or service.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a promotional reward program, comprising:

providing a user with a unique promotion code associated with a predetermined product or service;

allowing the user to input the unique promotion code for verification;

verifying the unique promotion code to see if it is valid; and

upon verification of the unique promotion code, providing the user with a debit code for the predetermined product or service, wherein the debit code is associated with a predetermined value and is instantly provided to the user through the Internet, by email, by text message, or from a kiosk, and the debit code is used to purchase the predetermined product or service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined product or service is one or more movie tickets, books, music or other products or services that may be purchased in a retail establishment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is provided with the unique promotion code by email, text message, on a coupon, or from a website.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user can input the unique promotion code by email, text message, at a kiosk, or through an Internet website.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to print the debit code for the predetermined product or service from the Internet, from an email or from a kiosk.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to input the debit code by email, text message, at a kiosk, or through an Internet website to purchase the predetermined product or service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the user an email containing the debit code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined product is downloaded from a website directly onto a user'"'"'s desktop computer, laptop computer, portable media player or cell phone.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the user a text message containing the debit code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the debit code appears on the screen of a user'"'"'s cell phone and the user shows the debit code on the cell phone to a retail establishment to complete the purchase of the predetermined product or service.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the debit code appearing on the screen of a user'"'"'s cell phone comprises one or more of the following:

a sixteen digit number, or a bar code.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the unique promotion code is invalid and providing the user with a notification if the unique promotion code is invalid.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the unique promotion code has already been activated and providing the user with a notification if the unique promotion code has already been activated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining whether the user activated the unique promotion code, and if the user activated the unique promotion code, providing the user with the debit code along with the notification that the unique promotion code has already been activated.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the debit code is a sixteen digit number.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the debit code is a bar code.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether a zip code entered by the user is near a retail establishment participating in the promotional reward program.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to input identifying information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identifying information comprises one or more of the following:

user'"'"'s first name, user'"'"'s last name, user'"'"'s address, zip code or user'"'"'s email address.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising verifying the identifying information.

21. A method for implementing a promotional reward program, comprising:

providing a user with a unique promotion code by email, text message, on a coupon, or from a website, wherein the unique promotion code is associated with a predetermined product or service, which is one or more movie tickets, books, music or other products or services that may be purchased in a retail establishment;

allowing the user to input the unique promotion code for verification;

verifying the unique promotion code to see if it is valid;

upon verification of the unique promotion code, providing the user with a debit code for the predetermined product or service, wherein the debit code is a sixteen digit number or a bar code associated with a predetermined value, and is instantly provided to the user through the Internet, by email, by text message, or from a kiosk; and

allowing the user to input the debit code by email, text message, at a kiosk, or through an Internet website to purchase the predetermined product or service.