System and Method for Offering, Tracking and Promoting Loyalty Rewards

• US 20110004497A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deem, Incorporated (Jack Taylor Family Voting Trust U A D 4 14 99)
• Original Assignee: Deem, Incorporated (Jack Taylor Family Voting Trust U A D 4 14 99)
• Inventors: Mortimore, William Charles JR., Aggarwal, Gautam, Low, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 10,552,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems

Abstract

Data to define a travel rewards promotion is received over a network. The travel rewards promotion comprises traveler eligibility criteria and travel rewards criteria. At least one traveler is selected where the travel itinerary of the respective traveler matches traveler eligibility criteria for the promotion. The traveler is notified that he or she is eligible for the travel rewards promotion, the notification comprising a representation of the travel rewards criteria. A travel rewards promotion total is then compiled for the traveler and the traveler is notified of his or her respective promotion rewards total. In one embodiment, the traveler'"'"'s current context is determined and matched to promotion alert criteria. The traveler is then altered, over the network, that a travel rewards promotion is available to the respective traveler in the respective traveler'"'"'s current context, the alert comprising a representation of the travel rewards criteria.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, over a network, data to define a travel rewards promotion comprising traveler eligibility criteria and travel rewards criteria;

selecting, using at least one computing device, at least one traveler wherein a travel itinerary of the respective traveler matches traveler eligibility criteria;

notifying, over a network, the at least one traveler that the respective traveler is eligible for the travel rewards promotion, the notification comprising a representation of the travel rewards criteria

compiling, using the at least one computing device, a travel rewards promotion total for the at least one traveler; and

notifying, over the network, the at least one traveler of the respective traveler'"'"'s promotion rewards travel rewards promotion total.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the travel rewards promotion additionally comprises travel promotion alert criteria and the method additionally comprises:

determining, using the at least one computing device, the at least one traveler'"'"'s current context;

matching, using the at least one computing device, the traveler'"'"'s current context to the promotion alert criteria; and

alerting, over the network, the at least one traveler that the at least travel rewards promotion is available to the respective traveler in the respective traveler'"'"'s current context, the alert comprising a representation of the travel rewards criteria.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a location of a promotion provider in the promotion criteria is selected based on the travel itinerary.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one traveler'"'"'s current context is determined by geo-locating a device of the respective traveler.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one traveler'"'"'s current context is estimated based on the traveler itinerary for the respective traveler.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one traveler'"'"'s current context is determined by a location where the respective traveler'"'"'s credit card was used.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein if the at least one traveler'"'"'s current context cannot be determined, the respective traveler is sent at least one reminder message, over the network, the reminder message comprising a representation of the travel rewards criteria.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the traveler eligibility criteria comprises using a credit card to book at least a portion of the travel itinerary.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the traveler eligibility criteria comprises using reward points accumulated for a credit card to book at least a portion of the travel itinerary.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the traveler eligibility criteria comprises using all of the reward points accumulated for the credit card to book at least a portion of the travel itinerary

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion has a date range that overlaps at least a portion of the travel itinerary.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the travel rewards criteria provides that reward points are added to the respective traveler'"'"'s promotion rewards total when the traveler makes purchases according to the promotion criteria.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion criteria provides that reward points are awarded when the respective traveler purchases a specific type of merchandise.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one traveler is selected based on at least a portion of a profile for the at least one traveler.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one traveler is selected based on the traveler'"'"'s membership in a rewards program.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one traveler is selected based on the traveler'"'"'s ownership of a specific credit card.

17. A system comprising:

a promotion data receiving module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for receiving, over a network, data to define travel rewards promotions comprising traveler eligibility criteria and travel rewards criteria;

a traveler selection module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for selecting travelers wherein travel itineraries of the respective travelers matches traveler eligibility criteria;

an eligibility notification module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for notifying, over the network, travelers that the respective travelers are eligible for the travel rewards promotions, the notifications comprising a representation of travel rewards criteria

a travel rewards compilation module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for compiling a travel rewards promotion total for the at least one traveler;

a travel rewards notification module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for notifying, over the network, travelers of the respective travelers'"'"' promotion rewards travel rewards promotion total.

18. The system of claim 17 additionally comprising

a context determination module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for determining traveler'"'"'s current context;

a context matching module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for matching travelers'"'"' current context to promotion alert criteria;

a promotion alert module comprising one or more processors programmed to execute software code retrieved from a computer readable storage medium storing software for alerting, over the network, travelers that travel rewards promotions are available to the respective traveler in the respective traveler'"'"'s current context, the alerts comprising a representation of travel rewards criteria.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for a method comprising:

receiving, over a network, data to define a travel rewards promotion comprising traveler eligibility criteria and travel rewards criteria;

selecting, using at least one computing device, at least one traveler wherein a travel itinerary of the respective traveler matches traveler eligibility criteria;

notifying, over a network, the at least one traveler that the respective traveler is eligible for the travel rewards promotion, the notification comprising a representation of the travel rewards criteria

compiling, using the at least one computing device, a travel rewards promotion total for the at least one traveler;

notifying, over the network, the at least one traveler of the respective traveler'"'"'s promotion rewards travel rewards promotion total.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the travel rewards promotion additionally comprises travel promotion alert criteria additionally comprising

determining, using the at least one computing device, the at least one traveler'"'"'s current context;

matching, using the at least one computing device, the traveler'"'"'s current context to the promotion alert criteria;

alerting, over the network, the at least one traveler that the at least travel rewards promotion is available to the respective traveler in the respective traveler'"'"'s current context, the alert comprising a representation of the travel rewards criteria.