SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PROCESS REFERRALS IN OFFER CAMPAIGNS

• US 20130204703A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Mark, Spears, Joseph, Stan, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,466,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.56
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events, and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are processed independently from each other and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. In one embodiment, the requirements for the detection of the events are specified based on predetermined types of events, including a first type for an event specified for interaction with a first user when the first user performs an action as a result of a referral from a second user, and a second type for an event specified for interaction with the second user in response to the first user performing the action.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a computing apparatus, enrollment information corresponding to an enrollment request from an enrolling user;

determining, by the computing apparatus, an identifier of a referring user based on the enrollment information; and

determining, by the computing apparatus, whether the referring user is eligible to qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a second event specified by a merchant for an offer campaign in which the referring user is participating, and if so, storing data to indicate an association of the referring user with the second event of the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the computing apparatus, whether the enrolling user is eligible to qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a first event specified by the merchant for an offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating, and if so, storing data to indicate an association of the enrolling user with the first event of the offer campaign;

wherein each of the offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating and the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating is specified by the merchant based on a set of events connected via prerequisite conditions, wherein the events specified by the merchant include parameters identified by merchants.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising at least one of:

sending a notification to the enrolling user in accordance with an action specified by the merchant in relation to the first event; and

sending a notification to the referring user in accordance with an action specified by the merchant in relation to the second event.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the notification to the enrolling user is by way of at least one of:

SMS, email, telephone call, webpage, direct mail and social network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the enrollment request is for a program designed to allow the enrolling user to at least one of:

use a website, receive purchase discounts, attend an event, play a game, view media, and participate in a social network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating is the same as the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating.

7. A computing apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to;

define a first offer campaign of a merchant in terms of a set of required events linked by prerequisite conditions;

when an enrolling user completes an enrollment as a result of a referral from a referring user, perform an action for the enrolling user for a matching event in the first offer campaign;

identify the referring user based on enrollment information associated with the enrolling user; and

track progress of the enrolling user in the first offer campaign.

8. The computing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processor to update a record set of the referring user in a second offer campaign.

9. The computing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processor to, when the enrolling user performs a required action in accordance with the referral, update a record set of the enrolling user in the first offer campaign to indicate a new milestone achieved by the enrolling user.

10. The computing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the required action is one of filling out a form, clicking a link, and swiping a card.

11. The computing apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the set of required events is based on a respective pre-defined event type.

12. The computing apparatus of claim 11, wherein each respective pre-defined event type allows the merchant to define criteria for matching user actions to referred enrollment events that qualify as achieving a milestone in the first offer campaign.

13. The computing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the referring user is identified based on a web page that hosts a link clicked by the enrolling user to visit an enrollment service.

14. The computing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the referring user is required to identify the enrolling user prior to the enrolling user performing the enrollment.

15. A non-transitory computer-storage medium storing instructions configured to instruct a system to:

receive enrollment information corresponding to an enrollment request from an enrolling user;

determine an identifier of a referring user based on the enrollment information;

determine, by a computing apparatus, whether the enrolling user is eligible to qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a first event specified for an offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating, and if so, store data to indicate an association of the enrolling user with the first event of the offer campaign; and

determine, by the computing apparatus, whether the referring user is eligible to qualify for a status of completing a set of requirements associated with a second event specified for an offer campaign in which the referring user is participating, and if so, store data to indicate an association of the referring user with the second event of the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating.

16. The computer-storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first event and the second event are specified by a merchant, and the offer campaign in which the referring user is participating is specified by the merchant based on a set of events.

17. The computer-storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the system to send a notification to the referring user in accordance with an action specified by a merchant in relation to the second event.

18. The computer-storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computing apparatus comprises a transaction handler or portal configured to process enrollment of the enrolling user.

19. The computer-storage medium of claim 15, wherein the enrollment request is for a program designed to allow the enrolling user to participate in a social network.

20. The computer-storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the system to record, by a data warehouse, upon verification of enrollment of the enrolling user, data indicating achievement of the enrolling user in the offer campaign in which the enrolling user is participating.