MOBILE RETAIL LOYALTY NETWORK
First Claim
1. A system for implementing a loyalty program, the system comprising:
- a server system that stores loyalty program account data of customers of a merchant, said server system accessible over a network;
a point-of-sale system that is configured to convey, to a mobile device of a customer, transaction information associated with a transaction between a customer and the merchant; and
a mobile application configured to run on the mobile device of the customer, said mobile application configured to send the conveyed transaction information, and authentication information associated with the customer, via a wireless network to the server system;
wherein the server system is configured to use the information received from the mobile device to, at least, credit a loyalty program account of the customer for said transaction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A loyalty network enables customers to use their mobile devices to participate in a merchant'"'"'s customer loyalty program. When a customer conducts a transaction, the merchant'"'"'s point-of-sale (POS) system generates a code image containing transaction information. The POS system may print the code image on a transaction record (such as a bill or receipt) provided to the customer, and/or may display the code image on a display screen. The customer can then photograph/scan the code image with their mobile device, which sends the transaction information and authentication information to a loyalty program server. The loyalty program server may use this information to credit the customer'"'"'s loyalty program account, and may, in some cases, interact with the POS system to enable loyalty program credits to be redeemed. In some embodiments, the transaction information may alternatively be conveyed to the mobile device using Near Field Communications.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for implementing a loyalty program, the system comprising:
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a server system that stores loyalty program account data of customers of a merchant, said server system accessible over a network; a point-of-sale system that is configured to convey, to a mobile device of a customer, transaction information associated with a transaction between a customer and the merchant; and a mobile application configured to run on the mobile device of the customer, said mobile application configured to send the conveyed transaction information, and authentication information associated with the customer, via a wireless network to the server system; wherein the server system is configured to use the information received from the mobile device to, at least, credit a loyalty program account of the customer for said transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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5. A method performed by a point of sale system to enable customers to use their mobile devices to participate in a loyalty program, the method comprising:
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generating a uniform resource identifier that is associated with a point of sale transaction with a customer, said uniform resource identifier including an address portion that includes a network address associated with a loyalty program system that maintains loyalty program accounts of customers, the uniform resource identifier additionally including transaction data associated with the point of sale transaction; generating a code image capable of being scanned by a mobile device of the customer, said code image including an encoded representation of the uniform resource identifier; and printing the code image on a bill or receipt associated with the transaction, to thereby enable the customer to access the loyalty program system by scanning the printed code image with the mobile device.
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15. A point of sale system, comprising:
a point of sale terminal, said point of sale terminal configured to generate, for a customer, a transaction record that includes a code image capable of being scanned by a mobile device of the customer, said code image having encoded therein a uniform resource identifier that includes transaction information associated with a transaction between the customer and a merchant, said uniform resource identifier associated with a server application that is configured to receive and process the transaction information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for implementing a loyalty program, comprising:
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a database that stores loyalty program account data of users, said database comprising non-transitory computer storage; and a server application that accesses the database, said server application configured to receive, from a mobile device of a user, transaction data obtained by the mobile device by scanning an encoded portion of a transaction record, said transaction record generated by a point of sale system of a merchant in connection with a transaction between the user and merchant, said server application additionally configured to communicate over a network with the point of sale system to, at least, provide loyalty program credit to the user for the transaction. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a mobile application, said mobile application including executable code for directing a mobile device of a user to perform at least the following tasks:
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scan a code image generated by a point of sale system of a merchant, said code image comprising transaction information associated with a point of sale transaction with the merchant; extract the transaction information from the code image; and transmit the transaction information, and authentication information associated with the user, to a networked computer system that provides functionality for implementing a customer loyalty program. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification