Loyalty rewards management and processing system and method

• US 20080262915A1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ValueCentric Marketing Group, Inc. (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ValueCentric Marketing Group, Inc. (Fidelity National Information Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gojkovic, Mirko, Stojanovic, Nenad, Halliday, Daryl Colin
• Granted Patent: US 10,803,469 B2
• 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 30/0224 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 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives

Abstract

A system and method for processing a transaction in connection with a loyalty rewards program comprising identifying at least one individual associated with said transaction, communicating associated information to a processing component that includes rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program, determining an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion, determining at least one reward based on said eligible amount and said at least one promotion, and storing detailed, comprehensive, line item information associated with the transaction. Said system and method may further comprise determining an owed amount associated with at least one loyalty provider based on said rules and logic and charging said at least one loyalty provider for said owed amount. Such a system will facilitate marketing strategies, processing of returns, and management of cross-promotional arrangements, and will enable merchants to develop, implement, and manage complex loyalty rewards programs.

Claims

1. A system for processing a transaction in connection with a loyalty rewards program, said system comprising:

an identification component associated with at least one individual;

a transaction processing component configured to identify said at least one individual associated with a transaction based on said identification component; and

a loyalty rewards processing component that includes rules and logic associated with a loyalty rewards program and that is configured to receive information associated with said at least one individual and said transaction from said transaction processing component, determine an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion, determine at least one reward based on said eligible amount and said at least one promotion, and store information associated with each item purchased in said transaction, including information associated with said purchased item, said at least one individual, said transaction, said at least one promotion, said eligible amount, and said at least one reward.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component comprises at least one computer.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said transaction processing component comprises at least one computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component determines said eligible amount based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising an interface component that enables an individual to maintain said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said interface component is a web based interface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to determine whether one or more items purchased are eligible items based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program, and wherein said loyalty rewards processing component determines said eligible amount based on whether said one or more items purchased are eligible items.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said transaction includes the use of one or more tenders, said loyalty rewards processing component being further configured to determine whether one or more tenders used in said transaction are eligible tenders based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program, and wherein said loyalty rewards processing component determines said eligible amount based on whether said one or more tenders used in said transaction are eligible tenders.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to determine whether said at least one individual is eligible for said at least one promotion based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program and existing stored information, if any, associated with said at least one individual, and wherein said loyalty rewards processing component determines said eligible amount based on whether said at least one individual is eligible for said at least one promotion.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said existing stored information associated with said at least one individual includes demographic information.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said existing stored information associated with said at least one individual includes information associated with prior transactions of said at least one individual.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to access said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction if one or more purchased items are returned and retract any rewards associated with said items.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to determine an owed amount, if any, associated with at least one loyalty provider based on said at least one promotion and said at least one reward and charge said at least one loyalty provider for said owed amount, if any.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction also includes information associated with said owed amount and said at least one loyalty provider.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program include rules and logic to be used in determining said owed amount associated with said at least one loyalty provider for said at least one promotion.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to generate a statement for said at least one loyalty provider, wherein said statement includes selected components of said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction and said owed amount associated with said at least one loyalty provider.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to access said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction if one or more purchased items are returned and retract any rewards associated with said items, determine whether any owed amounts are associated with said items, refund any of said associated owed amounts that have been paid, and void any of said associated owed amounts that have not been paid.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to generate a statement for said at least one individual, wherein said statement includes selected components of said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said statement further includes information associated with fulfillment of selected ones of said at least one reward.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said statement further includes advertising information.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component further includes existing stored information associated with said at least one individual, and wherein said at least one promotion is customized based on said existing stored information.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein said transaction processing component identifies a plurality of individuals, and wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to determine said eligible amount, determine said at least one reward, and store said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction for each said individual.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said transaction involves a plurality of promotions, and wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to determine said eligible amount, determine said at least one reward, and store said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction for each said promotion.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said plurality of promotions are associated with a plurality of loyalty providers, and wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to determine an owed amount, if any, associated with one or more selected one(s) of said plurality of loyalty providers for each said promotion based on each said promotion and said respective reward, and charge said loyalty providers for said respective owed amounts.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component is further configured to store information for each item purchased in said transaction, each said promotion, each said reward, each said eligible amount, each said owed amount, and each said loyalty provider.

26. A method for processing a transaction in connection with a loyalty rewards program, said method comprising:

identifying at least one individual associated with a transaction;

communicating information associated with said individual and said transaction to a loyalty rewards processing component that includes rules and logic associated with a loyalty rewards program and that is configured to receive said information associated with said at least one individual and said transaction;

determining an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion;

determining at least one reward based on said eligible amount and said at least one promotion; and

toring information associated with each item purchased in said transaction, including information associated with said purchased item, said at least one individual, said transaction, said at least one promotion, said eligible amount, and said at least one reward.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein determining an eligible amount comprises determining said eligible amount based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising enabling an individual to maintain said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program via an interface.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said interface is web based.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining whether one or more items purchased are eligible items based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program, and wherein determining an eligible amount comprises determining an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion based on whether said one or more items purchased are eligible items.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein said transaction includes the use of one or more tenders, further comprising determining whether one or more tenders used in said transaction are eligible tenders based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program, and wherein determining an eligible amount comprises determining an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion based on whether said one or more tenders used in said transaction are eligible tenders.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining whether said at least one individual is eligible for said at least one promotion based on said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program and existing stored information, if any, associated with said at least one individual, and wherein determining an eligible amount comprises determining an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion based on whether said at least one individual is eligible for said at least one promotion.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said existing stored information associated with said at least one individual includes demographic information.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said existing stored information associated with said at least one individual includes information associated with prior transactions of said at least one individual.

35. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

accessing said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction if one or more purchased items are returned; and

retracting any rewards associated with said items.

36. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

determining an owed amount, if any, associated with at least one loyalty provider based on said at least one promotion and said at least one reward; and

charging said at least one loyalty provider for said owed amount, if any.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein storing information associated with each item purchased in said transaction also includes storing information associated with said owed amount and said at least one loyalty provider.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said rules and logic associated with said loyalty rewards program include rules and logic to be used in determining said owed amount associated with said at least one loyalty provider for said at least one promotion.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising generating a statement for said at least one loyalty provider, wherein said statement includes selected components of said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction and said owed amount associated with said at least one loyalty provider.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

accessing said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction if one or more purchased items are returned;

retracting any rewards associated with said items;

determining whether any owed amounts are associated with said items;

refunding any of said associated owed amounts that have been paid; and

voiding any of said associated owed amounts that have not been paid.

41. The method of claim 26, further comprising generating a statement for said at least one individual, wherein said statement includes selected components of said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said statement further includes information associated with fulfillment of selected ones of said at least one reward.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein said statement further includes advertising information.

44. The method of claim 26 wherein said loyalty rewards processing component further includes existing stored information associated with said at least one individual, and wherein said at least one promotion is customized based on said existing stored information.

45. The method of claim 26, wherein identifying at least one individual associated with said transaction comprises identifying a plurality of individuals, and wherein the steps of determining said eligible amount, determining said at least one reward, and storing said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction are performed for each said individual.

46. The method of claim 26 wherein said transaction involves a plurality of promotions, and wherein the steps of determining said eligible amount, determining said at least one reward, and storing said information associated with each item purchased in said transaction are performed for each said promotion.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said plurality of promotions are associated with a plurality of loyalty providers, further comprising:

determining an owed amount, if any, associated with one or more selected one(s) of said plurality of loyalty providers for each said promotion based on each said promotion and said respective reward; and

charging said loyalty providers for said respective owed amounts.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein storing information comprises storing information for each item purchased in said transaction, each said promotion, each said reward, each said eligible amount, each said owed amount, and each said loyalty provider.

49. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium storing means for identifying at least one individual associated with a transaction;

communicating information associated with said individual and said transaction to a loyalty rewards processing component that includes rules and logic associated with a loyalty rewards program and that is configured to receive said information associated with said at least one individual and said transaction;

determining an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion;

determining at least one reward based on said eligible amount and said at least one promotion; and

storing information associated with each item purchased in said transaction, including information associated with said purchased item, said at least one individual, said transaction, said at least one promotion, said eligible amount, and said at least one reward.

50. An on-line system for processing a transaction in connection with a loyalty rewards program, said system comprising:

an identification component associated with at least one individual;

a transaction processing component configured to identify said at least one individual associated with a transaction based on said identification component; and

a loyalty rewards processing component that includes rules and logic associated with a loyalty rewards program and that is configured to receive information associated with said at least one individual and said transaction from said transaction processing component, determine an eligible amount associated with said transaction for at least one promotion, determine at least one reward based on said eligible amount and said at least one promotion, and store information associated with each item purchased in said transaction, including information associated with said purchased item, said at least one individual, said transaction, said at least one promotion, said eligible amount, and said at least one reward.