REWARDS PROGRAM MANAGER

• US 20080195473A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bodington, Shaun, Laramy, Jodene, O'Brien, Denise Nay, Johnson-Alosi, Paula Marie
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A method for managing rewards programs is disclosed. The method includes reviewing a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants on a host site via the Internet. The offers are associated with rewards to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices. An offer from the plurality of offers is selected and a customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of an issuer that selected the offer is generated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering a business entity with a rewards program manager; and

allowing the business entity to manage multiple rewards programs via a host site.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the business entity is an issuer, and wherein the method further comprises:

providing reminders to the business entity, wherein the reminders are associated with event timelines for the multiple rewards programs.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing merchant offers to the business entity, wherein the business entity can select one or more of the merchant offers.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein registering and allowing are conducted via a communication medium, wherein the communication medium comprises the Internet.

5. A computer readable medium comprising code for performing the method of claim 1.

6. A server computer comprising the computer readable medium of claim 5.

7. A system comprising:

means for registering a business entity with a rewards program manager; and

means for allowing the business entity to manage multiple rewards programs via a host site.

8. A method comprising:

providing information to register a business entity with a rewards program manager; and

managing multiple rewards programs via a host site.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving reminders regarding events associated with the multiple rewards programs.

10. A system adapted to perform the method of claim 8.

11. A method comprising:

reviewing a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants on a host site, wherein the offers are associated with rewards to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices;

selecting an offer from the plurality of offers; and

reviewing a generated customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of a business entity that selected the offer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the customized offer element is an image of a letter comprising an identifier for the business entity and terms relating to the offer, and wherein the business entity is an issuer.

13. A method comprising:

providing for a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants on a host site, wherein the offers are associated with rewards provided to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices;

receiving a selection of an offer from the plurality of offers; and

generating a customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of a business entity that selected the offer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the customized offer element is in the form of a customized letter.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

mailing the customized offer letter.

16. A computer readable medium comprising code for performing the method of claim 13.

17. A server computer comprising the computer readable medium of claim 16.

18. A system comprising:

means for providing for a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants on a host site via the Internet, wherein the offers are associated with rewards to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices;

means for receiving a selection of an offer from the plurality of offers; and

means for generating a customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of a business entity that selected the offer.

19. A method comprising:

reviewing a plurality of offers from a plurality of merchants on a host site via the Internet, wherein the offers are associated with rewards provided to consumers after the consumers use their portable consumer devices;

selecting an offer from the plurality of offers; and

reviewing a generated a customized offer element including the offer and an identifier of a business entity that selected the offer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the customized offer element is a customized offer letter.