SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A TIERED INCENTIVE PROGRAM

• US 20090063260A1
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Hibbets, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,466,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.140
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

An embodiment relates generally to a method of offering incentives. The method includes receiving a registration event of a newly registered user and designating a probationary status for the newly registered user. The method also includes accumulating probationary points for a probationary sum based on at least one answer posted by the newly registered user in a forum and elevating the newly registered user to a status of a rated user in response to the probationary sum exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method of offering incentives, the method comprising:

receiving a registration event of a newly registered user;

designating a probationary status for the newly registered user;

accumulating probationary points for a probationary sum based on at least one answer posted by the newly registered user in a forum; and

elevating the newly registered user to a status of a rated user in response to the probationary sum exceeding a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the at least one answer based on a predetermined criteria to assess the associated probationary points.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering the newly registered user as a rated user in response to a change of status to the rated user in an incentive program.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring at least one answer posted by the rated user in the forum;

assessing a number of incentive points for the at least one answer; and

accumulating the incentive points for an incentive point sum.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining whether the incentive point sum exceeds a rewards threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising awarding a predetermined threshold in response to the incentive point sum exceeding the reward threshold.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing at least one of a predetermined reward and applying the incentive point sum to a second reward threshold in response to the incentive point sum exceeding the reward threshold.

8. A system for offering a tiered incentive program, the system comprising:

a service portal configured to provide services and products;

a network coupled to the service portal, wherein the network is configured to provide access for users to access the service portal;

a forum module configured to execute on the service portal and accessible to users through the service portal, the forum module configured to provide a forum to receive and make available for display answers and questions from the users; and

a tiered incentive module configured to execute on the service portal and coupled to the forum module, wherein the tiered incentive module is configured to receive a registration event of a newly registered user for the forum;

to designate a probationary status for the newly registered user;

to accumulate probationary points for a probationary sum based on at least one answer posted by the newly registered user in the forum; and

to elevate the newly registered user to a status of a rated user in response to the probationary sum exceeding a predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to provide at least one predetermined criteria to assess the probationary points for the at least one answer.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to register the newly registered user as a rated user in response to a change of status to rated user in an incentive program.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to monitor at least one answer posted by the rated user in the forum;

to assess a number of incentive points for at least one answer; and

to accumulate the incentive points for an incentive point sum.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to determine whether the incentive point sum exceeds a rewards threshold.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to award a predetermined threshold in response to the incentive point sum exceeding the reward threshold.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to provide at least one of a predetermined reward and applying the incentive point sum to a second reward threshold in response to the incentive point sum exceeding the reward threshold.

15. An apparatus for offering an incentive program, the apparatus comprising:

a forum module configured to provide a forum for a plurality of users to post questions and answers; and

a tiered incentive module coupled to the forum module and configured to provide a tiered incentive program in the forum, wherein the tiered incentive module is configured to receive a registration event of a new registered user for the forum;

to designate a probationary status for the new registered user;

to accumulate probationary points for a probationary sum based on at least one answer posted by the new registered user in the forum; and

to elevate the new registered user to a status of a rated user in response to the probationary sum exceeding a predetermined threshold.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to provide at least one predetermined criteria to assess the probationary points for the at least one answer.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to register the newly registered user as a rated user in response to a change of status to a rated user in an incentive program.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to monitor at least one answer posted by the rated user in the forum;

to assess a number of incentive points for at least one answer; and

to accumulate the incentive points for an incentive point sum.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to determine whether the incentive point sum exceeds a rewards threshold.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to award a predetermined threshold in response to the incentive point sum exceeding the reward threshold.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the tiered incentive module is further configured to provide at least one of a predetermined reward and applying the incentive point sum to a second reward threshold in response to the incentive point sum exceeding the reward threshold.