SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE THE REDEMPTION OF LOYALTY CURRENCY

• US 20140129314A1
• Filed: 11/05/2013
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Nancy L.
• Application Number:
  US14/072,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20140129314A1
• 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

Systems and methods configured with a user interface to allow a user to request automated periodic offers that provide benefits to the consumer account of the user in exchange for a loyalty currency (e.g., loyalty points) the user has earned.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, in a computing apparatus, a user input identifying a loyalty currency source and a preference for redeeming loyalty currency from the loyalty currency source;

determining, by the computing apparatus, that the user is eligible for an offer that satisfies the preference;

transmitting, by the computing apparatus, a message to the user identifying the offer, in response to the determination that the user is eligible for the offer;

monitoring, by the computing apparatus, transactions in a consumer payment account of the user to identify a first transaction that satisfies benefit redemption requirements of the offer;

in response to the first transaction being processed for authorization, providing a benefit of the offer to the consumer account in exchange for an amount of reduction in a balance of the loyalty currency source; and

transmitting, by the computing apparatus, a message to the user about the reduction in the balance in exchange for the benefit of the offer applied to the first transaction in the consumer payment account of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer is provided to the user periodically when the balance of the loyalty currency source is above a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer provides a benefit of discount in additional to the exchange for the reduction in the balance.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the benefit of discount is funded by a combination of redeemed loyalty currency from the loyalty currency source and funds provided by a sponsor processor of the offer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically associating a respective offer that satisfies the preference of the user with the consumer payment account of the user to facilitate provisioning of a benefit of the respective offer during authorization processing of a respective transaction in the consumer payment account of the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

generating a trigger record to detect the respective transaction that satisfies benefit redemption requirements of the respective offer that is associated with the consumer payment account of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

enrolling the user in an offer campaign configured to periodically associate the respective offer with the consumer payment account of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the balance of the loyalty currency source, wherein the offer is communicated to the user when the balance of the loyalty current source is above a threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the benefit of the offer includes:

redeeming a predetermined amount of loyalty currency from the loyalty currency source during authorization of the first transaction.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing of the benefit of the offer includes:

obtaining an authorization of a benefit sponsored by a sponsor processor of the offer during authorization of the first transaction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing an authorization response to an acquirer processor in response to an authorization request received from the acquirer processor, after the redeeming of the predetermined amount of loyalty currency from the loyalty currency source and the obtaining of the authorization of the benefit sponsored by the sponsor processor of the offer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the redeeming of the predetermined amount of loyalty currency from the loyalty currency source and the obtaining of the authorization of the benefit sponsored by the sponsor processor of the offer are preformed concurrently.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing of the benefit of the offer includes:

modifying a transaction amount of the first transaction to provide a discount sponsored by a merchant.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

communicating with an issuer processor of the consumer payment account to obtain an authorization of an amount in the consumer payment account reduced in accordance with the benefit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the authorization of the first transaction requested by a merchant is supported by loyalty currency redeemed from the loyalty currency source, the reduced amount in the consumer payment account, and authorization of funds provided by a sponsor processor of the offer.

16. A non-transitory computer-storage medium storing instructions configured to instruct a computing apparatus to at least:

receive, in the computing apparatus, a user input identifying a loyalty currency source and a preference for redeeming loyalty currency from the loyalty currency source;

determine, by the computing apparatus, that the user is eligible for an offer that satisfies the preference;

monitor, by the computing apparatus, transactions in a consumer payment account of the user to identify a first transaction that satisfies benefit redemption requirements of the offer; and

in response to the first transaction being processed for authorization, provide a benefit of the offer to the consumer account in exchange for an amount of reduction in a balance of the loyalty currency source.

17. A computing apparatus, comprising:

at least one microprocessor; and

a memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one microprocessor to perform operations, the computing apparatus including;

a portal configured to receive a user input identifying a loyalty currency source and a preference for redeeming loyalty currency from the loyalty currency source, the portal further configured to determine that the user is eligible for an offer that satisfies the preference; and

a transaction handler configured to monitor transactions in a consumer payment account of the user to identify a first transaction that satisfies benefit redemption requirements of the offer and in response to the first transaction being processed for authorization, provide a benefit of the offer to the consumer account in exchange for an amount of reduction in a balance of the loyalty currency source.

18. The computing apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a data warehouse configured to store the user input to periodically determine whether or nor an offer satisfying the preference of the user can be provided to the user.

19. The computing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the portal is further configured to transmit, in response to the determination that the user is eligible for the offer, a message to a communication reference of the user, the message configured to identify the offer.

20. The computing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the transaction handler is configured to combine the loyalty currency source of the user, the consumer payment account of the user, and a sponsor account of a sponsor to satisfy an authorization request received from a merchant for the first transaction.