System, Device and Method for Incorporating Randomly Selected Prizes with Transactions
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- at least one terminal adapted to identify an individual via a personally identifying transaction instrument;
a rewards network in communication with the at least one terminal; and
a rewards processing component in communication with the rewards network for generating and storing a pool of prizes, and further for generating a random index into the pool of prizes and retrieving a prize upon receiving an indication from the rewards network that the personally identifying transaction instrument has been employed coincident with a transaction.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system, method and device for issuing random benefits to users of transaction cards and other personally identifying transaction instruments. The present invention provides a network accessible by various input devices or terminals, wherein the devices can receive a personally identifying transaction instrument and determine a user account associated therewith. When the personally identifying transaction instrument is presented as part of a transaction, the system of the present invention determines whether the user is to receive a benefit. If so, the system of the present invention selects a benefit at random from a pool of benefits and presents it to the user.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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at least one terminal adapted to identify an individual via a personally identifying transaction instrument; a rewards network in communication with the at least one terminal; and a rewards processing component in communication with the rewards network for generating and storing a pool of prizes, and further for generating a random index into the pool of prizes and retrieving a prize upon receiving an indication from the rewards network that the personally identifying transaction instrument has been employed coincident with a transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for issuing rewards in connection with transactions, comprising:
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issuing a personally identifying transaction instrument to a user; generating, by a rewards processing component, a pool of prizes capable of being won by a user of the transaction instrument; receiving an indication from a terminal that the transaction instrument has been employed coincident with a transaction; generating, by the rewards processing component, a random index into the pool of prizes; and retrieving, by the rewards processing component, a prize that is issued to the user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A terminal, comprising:
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a reader element capable of identifying a user via a personally identifying transaction instrument; and a communications component for communicating with a rewards processing component, with the rewards processing component capable of generating a pool of prizes and further capable of generating a random index into the pool of prizes and retrieving a prize to be issued to the user.
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18. A system, comprising:
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at least one terminal adapted for reading a transaction instrument; a lottery rewards network in communication with the at least one terminal; and a rewards processing component in communication with the lottery rewards network for generating a pool of lottery prizes, receiving an indication that the transaction instrument has been employed coincident with a transaction and, upon determining that a prize is to be issued, generating a random index into the pool of prizes and retrieving a lottery prize to be issued through the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification