System and method for tracking and establishing a progressive discount based upon a customer's visits to a retail establishment

• US 7,406,438 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Van Luchene, Andrew S., Mik, Magdalena, Chuprevich, John
• Primary Examiner(s): WINTER, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US11/668,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/16, 705/26, 705/27, 705/41, 235/375, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/14.35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

In accordance with one described embodiment, methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for determining a progressive discount for a customer. In one example, a customer is provided with a discount that is incremented if the customer visits at least once in a pre-defined period.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a customer identifier that indicates a customer;

determining a previous purchase associated with the customer and a time of the previous purchase;

determining a first discount associated with the customer and a time of the first discount;

determining a current transaction associated with the customer and a time of the current transaction;

determining a first difference between the time of the current transaction and the time of the previous purchase;

determining a second difference between the time of the current transaction and the time of the first discount; and

determining a second discount based on whether the first difference is less than a predetermined minimum transaction period and whether the second difference is greater than a predetermined discount adjustment period.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which the method further comprises:

applying the second discount to the current transaction.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which the method further comprises:

applying the second discount to a future transaction associated with the customer.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which determining a second discount further is based on the first discount.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which determining a second discount further is based on a predefined value.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, in which determining a second discount further is based on increasing the first discount by the predefined value.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which determining a second discount further comprises:

increasing the first discount by a predefined value, if the first difference is less than the predetermined minimum transaction period and the second difference is greater than the predetermined discount adjustment period.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which determining a second discount further comprises:

decreasing the second discount by a predefined value, if the first difference is not less than the predetermined minimum transaction period.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which determining a second discount further comprises:

setting the second discount equal to the first discount, if the first difference is less than the predetermined minimum transaction period and the second difference is not greater than the predetermined discount adjustment period.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 1, in which the method further comprises:

exchanging at least one item for a payment amount that is based on the second discount.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving a customer identifier that indicates a customer;

determining a previous purchase associated with the customer and a time of the previous purchase;

determining a first discount associated with the customer and a time of the first discount;

determining a current transaction associated with the customer and a time of the current transaction;

determining a first difference between the time of the current transaction and the time of the previous purchase;

determining a second difference between the time of the current transaction and the time of the first discount; and

determining a second discount based on whether the first difference is less than a predetermined minimum transaction period and whether the second difference is greater than a predetermined discount adjustment period.