REWARD PROGRAM SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USING SAME

• US 20130132187A1
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MotivAction LLC (Augeo Affinity Marketing, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MotivAction LLC (Augeo Affinity Marketing, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burmaster, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US13/475,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20130132187A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

A reward program system is disclosed that comprises a server hosting a database of rewards, a user interface connected to the server, and an algorithm configured to present a reward purchase opportunity to a participant upon the participant'"'"'s completion of a behavior objective, and the algorithm is configured to allow a participant to purchase one or more rewards from the database wherein the participant pays at least a first portion of the reward price and a sponsor pays at least a second portion of the price. The algorithm may be configured to allow the participant to select at least two rewards from the database prior to the completion of the objective and the algorithm may establish an expiration time by which the participant may purchase or forfeit the rewards from the database.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of operating a reward program, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing one or more rewards wherein each reward has a reward price; and

(b) selling the one or more rewards to a reward program participant via an online user interface, wherein the reward program participant pays a first portion of the reward price, and a reward program customer pays a second portion of the reward price.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more rewards are made available for sale to the reward program participant only after the reward program participant has met a pre-defined goal.

3. The method of claim 2, the pre-defined goal including achieving a sales goal, achieving a service goal, receiving an award, completing a task, and using a particular product.

4. The method of claim 3, the one or more rewards being displayed to the reward program participant via the online user interface before the reward program participant has met or failed to meet the pre-defined goal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a bonus reward if the reward program participant completes a pre-defined bonus goal, wherein the bonus reward is not displayed to the reward program participant via the online user interface until the pre-defined bonus goal is met.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a time limit by which the reward program participant must meet the pre-defined bonus goal and if the pre-defined bonus goal is not met within the time period, the bonus reward cannot be won by the reward program participant.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a time limit by which the reward program participant must meet the pre-defined goal and if the pre-defined goal is not met within the time period, the one or more rewards are no longer made available to the reward program participant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the time period expires at the same time for each of the one or more rewards.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the time period expires at a different time for each of the one or more rewards.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more rewards becomes less valuable as the time period gets closer to expiring.

11. A computer-implemented method of operating a reward program, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing one or more rewards wherein each reward has a reward price, and the one or more rewards and the reward price is displayed to a reward program participant via an online user interface;

(b) presenting a reward purchase opportunity to the reward program participant upon the participant'"'"'s attainment of a goal; and

(c) selling a reward to the reward program participant wherein the reward program participant pays a first portion of the reward price and a reward program customer pays a second portion of the reward price.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reward price is paid in dollars.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a point bank, wherein the participant can earn points that are tracked in a database.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the points are earned based on the participant'"'"'s progress toward attaining the goal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the portion of the reward price paid by the participant is paid in points.

16. A computer-implemented method of operating a reward program, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing one or more rewards wherein each reward has a reward price;

(b) presenting a reward purchase opportunity to a reward program participant to purchase at least one of at least two rewards upon the participant'"'"'s attainment of a goal; and

(c) selling a reward to the reward program participant via an online user interface wherein the reward program participant pays a first portion of the reward price and a reward program customer pays a second portion of the reward price.

17. The method of claim 16, the one or more rewards being displayed to the reward program participant via the online user interface before the reward program participant has met or failed to meet the pre-defined goal.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a bonus reward if the reward program participant completes a pre-defined bonus goal, wherein the bonus reward is not displayed to the reward program participant via the online user interface until the pre-defined bonus goal is met.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a time limit by which the reward program participant must meet the pre-defined bonus goal and if the pre-defined bonus goal is not met within the time period, the bonus reward cannot be won by the reward program participant.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a time limit by which the reward program participant must meet the pre-defined goal and if the pre-defined goal is not met within the time period, the one or more rewards are no longer made available to the reward program participant.